Pentecost X
Daily Sermons
July 24 – Bp. Dolan – St. James & St. Christina
July 28 – Fr. Lehtoranta – St. John Bosco and Good Example
July 29 – Fr. Lehtoranta – St. John Berchmans
July 30 – Fr. Lehtoranta – St. Dominic Savio
July 31 – Fr. Lehtoranta – St. Ignatius of Loyola
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✠ The Bishop’s Corner ✠
Doesn’t August creep up quickly? Already our Summer is on the wane, and soon we will be back to school. Perhaps August arrives in haste each year for it is the month of the Eternal Wisdom, of which we are so sorely in need. (Just consider the follies of this Summer thus far!) Of course, August is also the month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and how much we need Our Blessed Mother’s Heart for refuge and for wisdom, when we consider the insanities of baby body parts for sale, of vulgar politicians and cruel and gasping abortionists, of grinding wars and persecuted Christians, of Rome and Washington making common cause to destroy what is left in their pursuit of every leftist ideal. How much we need the Eternal Wisdom, and He only comes through Her. Be with us this month to invoke the Seat of Wisdom, particularly for the feast of the Assumption on Saturday, August 15.
It’s a rainy Wednesday as I write this, but the boys seem to be having a grant time at Summer Camp, weather or no. They came in record numbers this year, 33 of all ages, to honor the number of Our Lord’s years. How fine they sounded each morning at Mass. The days went quickly, I’m sure. Many thanks to the Fathers and the fathers and some mothers too for making it all come together so well. Special thanks to Richard VandeRyt for the use of his home facilities for an enjoyable day for the boys. We went international this year, with a Canadian camper and his dad.
This week we have a wonderful bouquet of feasts, with the emphasis on the Blessed Mother and the Blessed Sacrament. Thursday offers Mass before the Blessed Sacrament Exposed for the great “Faith Feast” of the Transfiguration, and First Friday the traditional All Night Adoration. Can I count on you?
It’s curious how quickly the weeds return, especially with ample rain. It seems only yesterday that the boys got everything weeded, but they’re back now, those pesky weeds. Remember the same is true of your soul. It is easily forgotten, and the weeds return so quickly, especially in Summer. Use the Sunday confessional regularly. Don’t miss a Mass, and make a good Holy Communion as often as possible.
One of our parishioners was in the hospital last week being visited by other Catholics, when the Communion Lady popped by. “Would you like Communion?” she asked. He demurred, and some of his friends may have mentioned something about a cracker, I think. The man in the next bed, a Methodist, announced that well, he’d like Communion, and the he was “half a Catholic.” “Half a Catholic,” that’s enough, the Greek Chorus responded. The Communion Lady agreed and took her wares next door, to the Methodist. None of this should be particularly surprising. What is surprising is the number of Catholics (?) who earnestly insist on being in communion with, “one with” the Communion Lady and her curious religion.
I’m off to Milwaukee and a little mission in northwestern Illinois I’ve never visited before, dedicated to St. Joseph, and the Little Doctor Jesus. The McFathers are helping here today, with Fr. Cekada. Fr. Lehtoranta has been busy traveling. Last Sunday afternoon he went to Rochester Minnesota, and back to Milwaukee the same night. Today he braves the air for Louisiana, always a difficult trip.
How did yours go? Well, I hope, safely. After all, St. Christopher is looking after you all, you and your freshly blessed cars.
Blessed August!
–Bp. Dolan