Lent III
Our Lady of Fatima, on a crisp Sunday morning before Mass
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Daily Sermons
March 13 – Fr. Lehtoranta – Jesus Has Gained Victory Over Sin
March 14 – Fr. Lehtoranta – The Christ-Like Humility
March 15 – Bp. Dolan – Your Mother and the Blessed Mother
March 16 – Fr. Lehtoranta – The Rich Man and Lazarus
March 17 – Fr. McGuire – St. Patrick and the Holy Shroud
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✠ The Bishop’s Corner ✠
These are busy days for us church folk: the feasts to celebrate, the fast to cultivate, devotions to be done; and God’s grace most of all to be won. What a help surely are the recollections, as well as all of the above. It all points to the above, to God and Jesus and Mary and Heaven, lest we forget. Oh, and our failures remind us of our own weakness, lest we forget to be humble. Win, win. But, “Remember, O thou man.”
The good Lord suspended our Spring and sent some more Winter, which froze the daffodils and darkened the yellow array of Forsythia. How cold it feels after the sweetness of a little warmth in March. But on the other hand, the feasts these Lenten days warm and cheer us. St. Patrick was grand with its Solemn Mass with touches of green everywhere, and the so touching music offered in praise of the adorable Trinity. I’m sure St. Joseph will be no different, but you’ll have to come back tomorrow, won’t you? The feast days of Lent have a joy all their own.
The Children’s Day of Recollection gathered some forty-three for spiritual talks and holy exercises, as well as a nice chance to get together during the lunch hour. Thank you to the Fathers, cooperating parents, and the “usual suspects” who made it happen. Everything seemed to flow quite smoothly as we considered Mary, our model and mother. After the St. Patrick’s Day break, we look forward to resuming our Friday Evening of Recollection, as well as Saturday’s for the Altar Boys.
Next Sunday is Sisters’ Sunday, as we rejoice in the rose of Laetare, or Rejoice Sunday. We wish the Sisters a happy St. Benedict’s Day this week, followed by St. Isidore, Mother Isidore’s name day. Sr. Jeanne Marie has to wait till August.
Katie took the cats to the vet last week for their annual, and Puccini did me proud for his good behavior. He got right up on the examining table, and even purred a bit. Fr. Cekada always thought Caravaggio a tad on the heavy side, but the veterinarian assures us it’s all muscle. Bunnies, beware! Even a mouse or two perhaps.
Fr. Siordia, “down old Mexico way,” is in a world of trouble to keep his church from a competing traditional group (some traditionalists are fiercely competitive, enough to do an Olympics, I think!) as well as the Novus Ordo. A very complicated situation. Pray to Our Lord of the Expiration for him?
Fr. Mardones told me a most edifying story about a poor woman to whom he gave Extreme Unction last week in Ciudad Juarez. The family is so poor that there are no windows to keep out the cold, only openings crudely covered. And it gets bitterly cold in the desert. But in the midst of her privations and pains she assured Father that she would never complain, for she accepted everything as the Will of God. May this modern day Lazarus soon receive the reward of her faithful patience.
Similarly, Fr. Nkamuke told me recently of the death of a young man for whom they had been caring, hospitalized since January with Cerebral Typhoid. This is contracted from the water which, Father explains, “we all drink.” The doctor sent him home to die, lest he should die on the premises. He died on the way. And he had aspired to the holy priesthood. He received his Last Rites from Father, who also covered the medical expenses, as there was no one else. These are some of the charities we help with through the Bishop’s Fund.
God reward your regular support of our apostolate, your contributions both to His Glory on the altar, and in the least of His brethren. Alms cover a multitude of sins, and should distinguish our Lent. Give something extra to the school, which does such a fine job, or to the Bishop’s Fund for the truly destitute. Cover your sins.
God love you, Mary keep you!
—Bishop Dolan