Pentecost XX, Rosary Sunday
Daily Sermons
September 26 – Fr. Lehtoranta – The North American Martyrs
September 27 – Fr. Lehtoranta – Sts. Cosmas and Damian
September 28 – Fr. McKenna – St. Wenseslaus & the Fruits of Sacrifice
September 29 – Fr. McKenna – St. Michael & St. Aubert
September 30 – Bp. Dolan – The Grumpy Lion
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✠ The Bishop’s Corner ✠
Happy Rosary Sunday! And happy, blessed, are those who tell their beads faithfully through life’s joys and sorrows and glories. You’re on the Glory Train for sure. Many thanks to all who are participating in today’s beloved observance, the Mass and procession and breakfast, and to all who made it possible. You are all welcome to join the Rosary Confraternity, you know. You just need to say all fifteen decades once over the space of a week. The indulgences, and spiritual benefits, are many. Our next enrollment ceremony is at 10:30 AM on Sunday, October 16. But you do need to pre-enroll, even though nobody at St. Gertrude ever signs up for anything in advance! Just let us know. See you at the Communion Rail.
Today is the actual liturgical commemoration of the Guardian Angels, whom we honored devotionally, and very devoutly indeed, last Sunday. The angel altar was splendid, and the little angels came forward demurely to be blessed after each Mass as we sang the beloved hymns. As is traditional, the little ones loudly overflowed at the 11:30. Where do they all come from? Why from Heaven, of course. Angel Sunday is a joyful mystery on St. Gertrude’s rosary.
Tomorrow the Little Flower completes our joy, as does our Eucharistic patron, the Poor Man of Assisi on Tuesday. Keep Fr. Cekada in your prayers that day as he meets with the surgeon, perhaps to schedule the next step, an operation. Father seems quite back to his old self, “twinkly eyed,” somebody said. It shows in his latest entertaining and informative video, “A Dignified Burial.” Don’t miss it!
It’s remarkable to consider that even standard issue, Novus Ordo conservatives are doubting that Francis is a true pope, but the Society of St. Pius X still loudly insists that he is, while refusing to take him as the “rule of faith,” as Catholics are obliged to treat a true pope. Bishop Sanborn’s latest newsletter is excellent. I am excerpting some of it each Sunday in this bulletin. Don’t miss it. Remember to support our seminary.
Last week’s cold, rainy days tell us that Autumn is here, and right on schedule. Be sure to schedule your Fall with us. We are looking forward to Forty Hours the weekend of October 21-23, as well as to the closing candlelight Fatima Rosary Procession on the evening of October 13. Next year will be Fatima’s centennial. This Fall it is a hundred years since the Angel taught the children the “Fatima Prayers,” preparing them for Our Lady’s visit.
Somebody must have told the birds I was asking after them last week, because they showed up a few days later, and were chirping during my 5 o’clock Mass the other afternoon. A plump and imposing Blue Jay just perched on my outdoor crucifix, as if to settle the matter. Fr. McKenna tells me he read that cats kill far more creatures than we realize (only 25% of the carcasses make it to the step), sometimes just for fun. I hope they spare the sparrows and all the rest.
We had a fine Solemn High Mass for St. Michael the Archangel Thursday, with school children and Simpsons doing the honors. This is a very great feast, but I think the angels get forgotten because they are, well, invisible. On the bright side, everybody does say the St. Michael prayer with great gusto after the Sunday Low Masses.
The Angelic Prince is patron saint of policemen, and we should certainly invoke their aid for our “men in blue.” Sergeant John Vande Ryt tells me their work is often more that of a social worker in effect, but rendered very difficult by the moral breakdown of America. The problems today are complicated, and simply will not admit of a purely naturalistic solution, tempting though many an analysis is. If America is to be great again, it must turn to God again. Keep that perspective in your prayers and political discussions. Invoke the Principality who is the Guardian Angel of America every day this Autumn.
Blessed October to you. Say the Rosary.
—Bishop Dolan