Pentecost VI
Some of the girls from our camp this week perform after Sunday’s High Mass.
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Daily Sermons
June 10 – Fr. Lehtoranta – Pentecost Tuesday – Show Affection to the Holy Ghost
June 19 – Fr. McGuire – Corpus Christi
June 24 – Fr. McKenna – Nativity of St. John the Baptist
July 9 – Bp. Dolan – St. Maria Goretti
July 11 – Bp. Dolan – The Adventure of Holiness
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✠ The Bishop’s Corner ✠
Curious how some people always speak first about the weather, isn’t it? Well, this past week’s was certainly worthy of a word or two, with storms and then the finest Summer days. I vaguely prayed for good weather on Sunday (there was already a lot to pray for), but I think Our Lady wanted to give us a quiet, calm, dry, goose-free Fatima Rosary for Peace, so she sent the rain, and we gathered in church, with the Blessed Sacrament. It’s a wonderful experience to pray for some time, meditating before the miraculous icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Everything is there for all of the mysteries under Mary’s sad, merciful eyes.
Some of you came back to church Sunday for Vespers and Benediction, as well as the Rosary, making it a true afternoon of recollection. Others returned to church through the storm to pray with us to avert the storm of God’s wrath – war. I am sure God is pleased with you all for thus sanctifying His day this way, and practicing the devotion He specifically requests, to His Mother’s Immaculate Heart.
The Sunday evening storm, with winds, thunder and lightning, was so violent that the 5:45 PM sermon could barely be heard. But the rains ceased after the Rosary, and we saw a bit of bright sunset behind the clouds. Was there a rainbow?
Speaking about Sunday church dress, our own faithful generally dress so well – modestly – that sometimes visitors from the other local traditional churches really stand out. It would be nice if we all could at least agree not to come to church casually dressed or even in slovenly attire, but in our Sunday best, for Our Lord, for His house and day.
Last week’s storms brought in some delightful weather. I gave in to the temptation to do some emergency gardening Tuesday morning. I love our gardens and green grounds, but seem only to get out to work there under duress. But it is true that gardening is wonderful and rewarding work. But there is so much of it. I thank all of those who’ve been helping. There’s still more to do. Of course the cats were out helping that morning, Puccini playfully scratching me as he could, a sure sign they were feeling better. The boys must have gotten into some carrion, and both were sick for several days. It is interesting how cats stay to themselves and fast while sick. Caravaggio is almost back to his old self, and was being mercilessly strafed by the killdeer to which he submitted with his wonted Davidic meekness. He must be feeling better because he’s back to rabbit hunting. I almost tripped over one in my room. Sam and Leo may want to hire him.
Quite a few cooperated to make our girls’ camp a success, and to lend a hand, too, for the cleanup, including our Summer seminarian, Mr. Abraham Chukwu. Mark Lotarski provided a fine festal buffet for Sunday’s reception for the Sisters. We had two black (the Sisters of Our Lady of Reparation, Benedictines, who’ve just moved in down the road a bit) and two white, Sisters of St. Thomas Aquinas with the golden sun over their habits. How blessed are we. May God bless this parish with religious and priestly vocations.
The girls’ camp had about 40 young ladies each day. Some came from other churches or states, and were welcome. Some little ones came for the first time, and the Sisters, and their stories of our Faith, made a big impression on them. Thanks to the older girls, and the ladies, who helped in so many ways. Thus, the Faith is being passed on to a new generation.
Well, anyway, the Sunday party was a great success. The girls sang two sweet pieces, the Sheppard sisters played the harp and the “lap harp” and quite a few attended, and made short work of the feast.
Sunday’s storms, it seems, or maybe Monday’s, brought with them a lightning strike or two, and some considerable electrical damage, which is being assessed now. There truly is always something to say about the weather. We can always count our blessings. The air conditioning and some electric went out at the most beautiful week of the Summer, cool and dry.
We might say the same about Conciliar Rome. Bergoglio, that sneaky old Jesuit, has a clever technique to float new, revolutionary notions, with plausible deniability. He gives an interview to some old Italian atheist of a newspaper publisher, saying some truly outrageous things which the atheist reports in his own words. People are shocked, incredulous. Then, Bergoglio has his press Jesuit issue a denial; “misquoted,” “not accurate,” he says. Then the same militant anti-Catholic journalist is called for another interview! The cycle repeats itself.
He’s not interested in converting non-Catholics, indissoluble marriage and clerical celibacy are problems, dogma is a waste of time, Jews are just fine where they are, etc. You wonder who is the greater atheist. After all, he denies there is a Christian God.
Good news from the German speaking world. Four of the five Pius X priests who left the Society a while ago are now full sedevacantists, no longer mentioning the apostate Bergoglio in their Mass, and will organize themselves and perhaps a German-language seminary. Gott sei Dank!
The same joyful greeting must go to our sister church in the old German town of Milwaukee. This weekend St. Hugh of Lincoln marks the 25th anniversary of its solemn dedication. Fr. Cekada, founding pastor, is quietly celebrating with them today. St. Hugh has “held its own” for all those years, a solitary outpost of Catholic sanity in a revolutionary world. Rarely rising above an attendance of 50 over the years, they have always admirably – and generously – worked together as a parish, not just to survive but to thrive, always excelling in the old German graces of music and hospitality. Lately, they have seen some wonderful growth. God bless them on their anniversary day.
This week the McFathers, in concert with several fathers in the parish, conduct our boys’ camp. We wish them well, and know that the boys will not only have a good time, but a spiritually enriching one. The boys’ Mass with sermon is daily at 9:00 AM, Tuesday through Thursday.
This week too, Fr. Lehtoranta returns from Finland, and I am sure he will have some interesting tales of his travels.
May God bless your travels. Oh, and have a blessed day.
– Bishop Dolan