And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!”

But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it!” (Luke 11:27-28)

This homily was given during a retreat for the Deacons of the Diocese of Brooklyn at the Montfort Center in Bayshore, NY.  I guided the deacons through the 33-day process of Preparation for Total Consecration, and we brought the entire process to a grace-filled conclusion with a weekend retreat at which the deacons, along with their wives, made their Act of Total Consecration together during the celebration of holy Mass.