Last Sunday After Pentecost
Out of the depths, I have cried to thee, O Lord
Recent Short, Daily Sermons
St. Gertrude the Great
✠ The Bishop’s Corner ✠
The McFathers arrived late Sunday night, back from a great Forty Hours Devotion and parish dinner in Milwaukee. But by 11:25 on Monday morning all was in readiness for our Solemn High Mass to mark the feast of our patroness, St. Gertrude the Great. Afterwards clergy, teachers, students and faithful retired to nicely decorated Helfta Hall for a fine pizza luncheon generously provided by a parishioner, topped off by tasty homemade desserts made by our school choir director. Thank you!
The news on Tuesday was sad not glad, as my longtime and talented cat Puccini, hero of many a story here, died after a short illness, as they say. He will be sorely missed. I had the impression that he knew he had to be going, and did his best to soften the blow. He was unusually affectionate his last few days of health, allowing me to pet him without the customary scratches. He had an excellent appetite for his last meals, and even showed unwonted piety. The cat always objected to the clergy chanting the long Latin grace, but quietly assisted at the end. Puccini then fell
very ill, but still managed to hop up on the bed for a final visit. What a cat! He and Caravaggio were a great and colorful addition to our clerical menagerie at St. Gertrude the Great. Farewell.
At some point during the week—it’s a blur now—the winds came up and blew down our statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which will have to be seen to. Otherwise, the weather continues mostly sunny and mild these now last days of November.
We had a Requiem Mass and Absolution for Joan Landry on Thursday. She was a dear soul, so long faithful, but ended up being burned and boxed and shipped out without so much as a prayer. I shudder at how we moderns treat our dead, as well as our elderly and sick. Why, it’s enough to bring down God’s punishment…
I spoke that day with Joan’s daughter, Theresa Couch, who would wish to attend if she could, but has severe health problems. Still, she prays, and I know she prays for us. Keep her in your own prayers, as she faces back surgery. I know it is prayer which has protected us thus far during this abominable world reset.
I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving. Your enthusiastic, joyful, traditional participation in this festival with friends and family is your best way to counter the Communist Revolution, this week by just giving thanks to God for all of the blessings vouchsafed to us. Start your day at Mass if you can.
Then comes, not Christmas, but Advent. Family activity for the weekend: make and light your Advent wreath, and make as well some Advent resolutions for prayer and sacrifice. Develop or maintain your family religious customs. If the days grow dark, you will certainly need to depend upon them. But God will not allow us to be tried beyond that which we are able to bear.
One of our altar boys, Jesse Stewart, was by the other evening to receive the Sacraments. He has been sick for months with three separate and painful afflictions, but continues cheerful and brave. Keep him too in your good prayers. He gives us older ones a good example.
I am thankful for all of you, and your generous prayerful perseverance. God bless you!
–Bp. Dolan