Be sure to buy your copy of Fr. Cekada’s book, “Work of Human Hands”. “Work of Human Hands” is also available on Amazon.com.

Let’s walk through it. They say this month is named for Februa, a pagan Roman festival of purification, connected with the Latin for “I purify by sacrifice.” Think of how the Church purifies pagan festivals by sacrificing, or cutting off, the sinful part, but using the rest. This is a Catholic way to look at the calendar. Think too of the feast of the Purification, February 2nd, ingloriously disguised by the troublesome prophet, the groundhog. Finally, February is a fitting name for the month in which Lent most often begins. This spiritual season (which the world promptly forgets after noting the quaint black forehead smudges of Ash Wednesday) provides an excellent opportunity to be purified by a threefold (three, for the Trinity, February’s indulgenced devotion) sacrifice: prayer, fasting, and almsdeeds, or works of charity.

The old Irish used to consider February 1st as the start of Spring, although others waited to prognosticate upon Spring’s arrival based on shadows seen or not:

“If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Come, winter, have another flight,
If Candlemas bring clouds and rain,
Go, winter, and come not again.”

Germans got the groundhog involved, though, after blessed candles were cut out by the Protestants. I think I would prefer those pure white symbols of Christ the Light, Son of the Virgin, sacrificing Himself, to those pesky dahlia-eating marmots. Still, this makes an interesting opening to the month.

February’s high point is surely Saint Valentine’s Day. The Novus Ordo abolished it, but the world loves it yet. Wonderful legends of the saint are told, and charming Valentines sent, but sanctified love is no legend, just a rarity in this pagan world. Next comes Shrove Tuesday and Mardi Gras. Look them up to be ready before they come as Lent’s vigil. Last of all come the Ashes, that perennial Catholic symbol, humbly but proudly worn on our foreheads, our once-annual Catholic identifier if you don’t count our Mt. Carmel scapulars or Miraculous Medals.

These are all great “Catholic conversation starters.” What you do after that is up to you. Ask the Holy Ghost’s help, and plunge into the conversation. It may lead to a conversion!

Please remember our future priest, Rev. Mr. Stephen McKenna, this week. MC Rich Vande Ryt, Fr. McGuire, Fr. Lehtoranta and I head off to Boston on Friday, to ordain him a priest forever according to the Order of Melchisedech, on Saturday, feast of the Immaculata, Our Lady of Lourdes. Please pray for good weather and all the arrangements to go smoothly. Most of all pray that this young Dominican tertiary may burn bright with Christ’s Light to lead souls to Jesus through Mary and her Rosary.

Thank you for making the Candle Mass so splendid, and the Soup Supper another success! Full report next week.

May Our Lady of the Light shine away all of your darkness!
–Bishop Dolan

PS: I forgot St. Blaise! The Blessing of Throats is known and loved by Catholics, and remembered still. Non-Catholics, though, would need an explanation. Have one ready. “Go you also into my vineyard,” and work!

Still, this year’s slowly melting ice (what a blessing to be spared the cold!) did not keep most of you from church, and we had a fine Pro-Life Sunday, with prayers of petition and reparation foremost in our intentions. Fr. Cekada went off to Florida, working on a cold and sore throat, but managed to get through his classes. Deacon McKenna, Fr. McGuire and I returned from the seminary retreat in that same sunny state much refreshed. I look forward to giving the retreat each year, and feel (as so often) that I “get as good as I give” and more, and am grateful for these recollected days, all given to God. The regularity of the seminary life, with its bells and sung services and silence is a great help. Oh, and each year I appreciate all over again the excellent meals and wonderful, cool sunny weather, such a treat in the midst of winter.

Still, it is always good to get home to Cincinnati, so blessed by God in so many ways. Today we gratefully celebrate the Queen City’s patron, Saint Francis de Sales. We remember year-round that he is as well the patron of the Catholic Press, and honor him by trying to imitate his zeal. So much good reading material, so little time! Set aside some of your Sunday to read the bulletin, and share it with others, won’t you? Today I am offering you a free copy of the excellent Catholic Voice, with the hope that you will enjoy it, and give it eventually to someone else, perhaps still lost in the darkness of “reformed Catholicism.”

Lastly, I sincerely recommend the latest and most striking issue of Behold Thy Mother, dedicated to America’s Madonna and Queen, La Conquistadora. This is a tranquil and controversy-free little magazine (published so well by the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Ghost), which will entertain and elevate you. Speaking of the apostolate of the press, we all must sincerely thank Lori Moore, who “did” this bulletin for us the last several years. Hers is quite literally a loyal and untiring devotion, and I am so very grateful. Gloria Zbilicki, who has been in charge of the proof-reading department (a daunting task) now takes over responsibility for this important part of our parish life. I thank both of these devoted ladies.

The sweet forty days of Christmastide have swiftly fled, leading us to the great feast of light which closes the coming of the Light of the World. Do come yourself Thursday evening for the Candlemas, and stay for a great party! Let’s cooperate together for a wonderful close to a wonderful Christmas. First Friday’s Communion of Reparation and All Night Adoration will demand an extra sacrifice or two, I am sure, but let us allow ourselves to be drawn to Jesus by the light and the warmth of the Monstrance.

God bless you!
–Bishop Dolan

I’ll report on my seminary visit and retreat next Sunday, but today I want to introduce our latest deacon, Reverend Mr. Stephen McKenna, T.O.P. of Sacred heart Church in Boston, who is with us for two weeks as he prepares for ordination to the priesthood on February 11th. It is a privilege for us at St. Gertrude the Great to help even a little with the great work of preparing future priests. Please pray for him, and maybe sign up with Cucina Clerical for a meal or two? (Word is he’s got a healthy appetite.)

Along the same lines, Fr. Cekada heads south today to teach for the week at the seminary. He continues his work on the little videos which promote his book, Work of Human Hands. Have you seen them? They are a wonderful apostolate in and of themselves.

I spoke with a fine former parishioner, Bill Buckley, the other day. Bill is very seriously ill, and wanted to speak with me. He and his wife Pat were dear and active members of St. Gertrude the Great in our early years, and we made a pilgrimage to Lourdes together. Bill has good and grateful memories of those years, and it was wonderful to visit with him after so long. Please keep him and his family in your prayers. Rare is the soul who comes back to say thanks, and whose sentiments are only positive. Such an experience is a consoling one for a priest in our day.

Join me in keeping this Lord’s Day especially holy, won’t you? Let us pray ourselves and our land back into goodness!

I send a blessing to your home.
–Bishop Dolan

After Mass, many of you came to the candlelight dinner buffet, prepared and served by Mark Lotarski. Helfta Hall was full for the celebration. Meanwhile, Our Lord in the Monstrance was adored by visitors and the faithful men of the Guard of Honor, whose vigilance continued throughout the night. Christmas has gone to its quiet setting now, still observed in church and in prayers, its lessons soaking into the soul. Soon Candlemas will come to close the forty days, and point to the other forty which wait to launch us on our career of penance. Soon enough.

Our seminarians have returned to their studies. This Sunday I am with them, beginning their annual five-day retreat. The theme of the retreat is the Holy Ghost, Whom I ask you to invoke on our behalf.

Caravaggio had been acting so strangely over Christmas that I wondered if he would have to go to a cat counselor, until I discovered he had worms, so he went to the vet instead. They come of eating rodents, I am told, but I am afraid the cats are not to be dissuaded from one of the chief perks of feline life. Still, they are generous. On Epiphany, Caravaggio arrived, Magi-like, with his gift: a large dead brown mouse in his mouth, which he deposited outside my office door. Unusually talkative, the cat seemed to be saying that this gift was not nothing, and should be properly acknowledged!

So, thank you, Caravaggio, and thank you, all of our non-feline faithful as well, for all you did for Christmas, your gifts and cards, your donations and labors. They are, indeed, “not nothing,” but show great generosity and devotion. God reward you all through this New Year, and all of eternity.

May our Lady of Prompt Succor speedily answer all of your prayers.

–Bishop Dolan