Saints Phillip and James / Easter V
The Vidi Aquam is sung during Paschaltide in place of the Asperges Me. It’s also a sure sign that Spring is here.
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Daily Sermons
April 22 – Bp. Dolan – Youthful Joy
April 25 – Fr. Lehtoranta – The Roman Catholics and the Greater Litanies
April 26 – Fr. Lehtoranta – Our Lady of Good Counsel
April 27 – Fr. Lehtoranta – St. Peter Canisius, The Busy Apostle of Faith
April 28 – Bp. Dolan – 3 Saints and a Hammer
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✠ The Bishop’s Corner ✠
The first Sunday of Our Mother’s Month, May, seems almost to outshine Rogation Sunday or the two stalwart apostles, Philip and James, who watch over its opening each year. Surely those good Roman Jesuits of centuries ago, school chaplains, knew what they were doing then they instituted the May Devotions and gave the month to Mary. Stop right now and resolve on a good practice or two to mark “the fairest of seasons,” for your Blessed Mother.
Rogation Days keep us marching these first days of May, and the Holy Day calls us back to church on Thursday to accompany Our Lord as He leaves us for Heaven and glory. Then we remember His abiding presence with us “all days” in the Holy Eucharist, as we offer our First Friday and Saturday Communions and some of our time to accompany Him Friday night at the Adoration. Look what a blessed week is planned out for you. It is enough to make you ascend right into Heaven.
Many, many thanks to all who planned out and practiced such a charming school program last Sunday, and the treat of a tasty and authentic spaghetti dinner. I was happy to see so many of you there, and congratulate our talented young people, their parents and teachers. Thanks to the O’Donnells as well.
The Sunday before some of us gathered at Kinnetts in the afternoon to observe Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary. Nick and Peter McClorey led off the festivities with fine recitations, and then the eclectic crowd of thespians A.D. had gathered together enthralled us with beautiful and moving scenes from some of the plays. Very well done! Albert Daniel and I did the ghost scene from Hamlet, which I always enjoy. A fine buffet concluded the afternoon’s entertainment, along with a discussion of some of the many “Shakespearisms” which we still use in our speech today. Sincere thanks to Margaret and A.D. Kinnett. Two great Sunday afternoons in a row, and to remember!
The cats are on high hare alert of late, barely eating (cat food, that is) and only briefly visiting the clergy. Puccini’s appetite is poorly, and I wonder if it has anything to do with the feathers I had to remove from his teeth. (He’s terrible about flossing.) Caravaggio truly takes after his namesake. Oh, not that he’s produced any “chiaroscuro” canvases. He’s not much of a painter, but he is a scrappy fellow, just like the original, always getting in fights. He showed up the other day with another cut above his right eye. But I suppose bunnies do have a right to self defense. Coyote pups were howling at dusk a few weeks back, but the cats know a little about self defense too. That leaves only the rabbits who are, alas, invincibly igno-rant.
But ignorant people, the poor and unlovely, the proud and perverse, how Mary, Refuge of Sinners, loves them all, and us, all of us. Let us love her as our mother, and join together on Mothers’ Day in a great tribute to crown her our queen.
God bless your May!
Bishop Dolan