Rosary Sunday – Pentecost XVII
The blessing of children on Angel Sunday
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Daily Sermons
September 29 – Fr. Lehtoranta – St. Michael and Estonia
September 30 – Fr. McKenna – St. Jerome
October 1 – Fr. Nkamuke – St. Remigius
October 2 – Fr. McGuire – The Guardian Angels
October 3 – Fr. Lehtoranta – St. Therese and Holy Communion
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✠ The Bishop’s Corner ✠
Have you noticed our beautiful outdoor Way of the Cross, all garnished with vivid petunias and growing perennials? Well, I was telling my beads there at dusk, after dinner, earlier this Fall, accompanied by a hummingbird buzzing about in the dark, feasting on the nectar of each petunia. (I smile at this reference. Fr. Martin, the dear and crusty old Franciscan, used to invariably address his female correspondents, whom he felt needed a dressing down, as “Petunia.”) The little hummingbird sets a great example for us this month of the Rosary. Don’t miss any of the nutrition and sweetness of your daily beads. Buzz about methodically, Ave by Ave, and decade by decade. Put your nose in it, smell its perfume, taste its honey, this crown of delicious roses.
I’m writing this on October 1st, having just started my research for the Rosary Sunday sermon. So much to say, such an embarrassment of riches! The Rosaries of the orders? The Rosary and modern malaise? The Rosary, perhaps, and China, inspired by the “umbrella revolution”? (Good luck with that!) Well, I think I’ll take a break and say…a Rosary, to ask what to say come Sunday. What better way?
By the way, thanks to all of the Memorial Day, Rogation Monday crew of this past May who planted the stations so cheerfully, and thanks to you who adopted them. I wish we could adopt out more of the grounds and even the church (remember the corner project?) maintenance. Seems to work. Sr. Isidore Maria, God love her, was on her knees one Saturday morning, gardening away at the Sisters of Reparation Stations II and V. Stations I, III, VII, IX, X and XI are still available for adoption. Act now!
Thanks, too, for the increase in meal deliveries, asmore of you are signing up for the Cucina Clerical. Last night we enjoyed a Chinese meal prepared by Beverly Bailey, who read in the Bishop’s Corner about the bishop’s “seasoning malfunction” and took pity upon us, up to our knees in cayenne pepper! It was a delicious meal, and we all followed the instructions carefully. The clergy got a kick out of the chopsticks, which do make for slower, more mindful eating. I didn’t quite master them. Doubtless I’d lose weight in China.
Someone wrote in yesterday to remark on how busy October is. But this is not remarkable. It always is a very full month at St. Gertrude the Great, with Rosary Sunday, daily Rosary devotions, two Rosary processions and then our Forty Hours devotion the weekend of Christ the King, its old traditional date. October leads right into All Saints Day on First Saturday of November and All Saints Sunday, with its little saints the next day. We will need November as a quiet month, and so it is except for All Souls and St. Gertrude’s Day. Oh, and then there’s the cemetery processions, too, but I promise, that’s all!
Be with us as much as you can these beautiful Autumn days of October, Rosary in hand, joy in your eyes, a smile on your face, and quiet prayer in your heart. Thank you for doing what you can. God asks no more, but He does ask this. Thank you for all who made today’s Rosary Sunday a success, and who watched and prayed with us for First Friday’s nocturnal Adoration. Our month has well begun.
Last Sunday we started all of this with the month of the Angels, beautiful shrines in place, and beautiful children to be blessed. The church was truly magnificent as was the High Mass. The singing at the 11:30 was less so, as I was keeping the Guardian Angel hymn going and blessing children at the same time. But they are dear hymns. Fr. Cekada had to run off to Tampa, where in addition to his regular seminary courses, he was teaching chant to the new seminarians, and accounting to Fr. Desposito. Busy man. Fr. McKenna is in Milwaukee for Rosary Sunday, and reports a good visit to Louisiana. Last Sunday the Sisters drove Fr. Nkamuke up to St. Clare in Chillicothe, a beautiful Autumn drive. Most of the Fathers are with us today, thus making possible yet another Solemn High Mass for Rosary Sunday.
Solemn High or simply low, strictly Sunday or all week long, pray with us as you go, passing these days of grace, pausing to gather the nectar. Caravaggio is more interested in cat food than in petunias. If anything, his appetite has only increased as he senses the onset of Winter. I wonder if cat chopsticks would help? Poor cat, he does not know the Rosary, but he does enjoy the delights of contemplation in my lap. Who knows what cats are thinking of. Fr. Cekada calls Puccini “the Zen cat,” as he sits so alert yet still, his wants easily satisfied, his eyes closed in meditation.
Yikes! I forgot to schedule an animal blessing. But maybe we’ll wait ’til next year now…
May the Rosary be a blessing to you
– Bishop Dolan