Pentecost XIV
The Angelus by Jean-Francois Millet
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Blessing of First Fruits on the Feast of Our Lady’s Assumption
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✠ The Bishop’s Corner ✠
I write this on a rainy feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Milwaukee, remembering the beautiful feast of the Assumption in West Chester just one week ago. Heaven did indeed favor us with a fine day for this great Summer feast, with its blessing, procession and Pontifical Mass.
I am especially grateful for the good turn out of children, servers of all ages, and Mrs. Lotarski’s Summer Volunteer choir. (Alternating with our other volunteer choir this Summer, the Simpson Ensemble, they have assured beautiful sung Masses for the different feasts and observances. What a wonderful spirit of devotion, and what wonderful singing!)
Our Murillo Assumption painting received some much-needed restoration, and was in its customary place in the sanctuary, above Mary’s tomb, where the angels deposited the flowers. Meanwhile, the Bischels brought baskets of garden vegetables to be blessed, which they shared with others after Mass. Keep your sacramentals, at home or in the car, and use them devoutly – that is, unless you’ve already eaten them. That’s good, too!
As I read the Matins of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (the crucial devotion for our day) I could not help but think how different the 20th century would have been, had Pius XI or the XII heeded Our Lady’s request for the Consecration of Russia to her Heart. Way too late now, of course, for the punishment has already arrived. Still, it is never too late to have recourse to her Heart, the Throne of Grace, for all of our pressing needs in these difficult days. In the end, her Heart will triumph!
These final days of August are unusually quiet ones at church, although the preparations of the new school year are begun in earnest, and the work continues inside and out, as does the great work of the daily Sacrifice at the altar, and daily prayer in church.
Workers are always welcome!
St. Joseph bless and inspire you.
– Bishop Dolan