Pentecost XXIV
Fr. Damien, on a visit from Molokai, to make his confession to Bp. Dolan.
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Daily Sermons
November 2 – Fr. Lehtoranta – An Irish Legend About a Teacher’s Soul
November 3 – Fr. Lehtoranta – Our Love for Jesus
November 4 – Fr. Lehtoranta – St. Charles, Devout Son of a Pious Home
November 5 – Fr. Lehtoranta – Holy Relics Remind Us of the Resurrection
November 6 – Fr. Lehtoranta – The Angel Has Signed You For Protection
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✠ The Bishop’s Corner ✠
The altar glowed golden last Sunday for All Saints, splendid with relics and flowers. Heaven surely smiled on our little saints as we did, and enjoyed their costumes and stories afterwards. That afternoon, by exception, Fr. Cekada and I both beadled out on sick calls, but were back in time for the double Vespers. Meanwhile some devout souls stayed in church, whose doors we left open, so that they could get a head start on opening Heaven to hitherto Poor Souls, by gaining the Toties Quoties.
This quiet charitable work continued the next day, which opened with thirty some souls at the 8 o’clock Mass, and nice groups and individuals coming and going for Masses and visits all of All Souls’ Day, until the last ones left in the dark sometime after 7 PM. God reward your charity, and that of those who will be visiting Gate of Heaven with us this afternoon.
St. Martin comes only this Wednesday, with the veterans he protects, but his Summer kissed us with sweet sunny days early last week. Later in the week humidity and clouds moved in, and joints wouldn’t move, but that’s another story…
Fr. Cekada had been asked to visit someone at Jewish Hospital in Kenwood last Sunday, and got lost trying to find his way out in the maze of additions and the absence of clear signs. But it was actually his Guardian Angel, leading him to Elizabeth Smith, who had been admitted early Sunday morning. Father saw Joe Prell out of the corner of his eye, and was able to have a nice visit with the family. Providence always guides us, if we allow it to, although often its hand is hidden, as we know not God’s ways. Trust!
I’m still hearing edifying stories of the visit to St. Maria Goretti to our state, and how many of you were touched as you honored her relics. God bless and reward your devotion to this modern martyr of purity, who died for what so many today hold cheap indeed, and then came back in dreams to convert her murderer. God is indeed marvelous in His Saints. Think how many graces, how many stories go with the ever-changing relics of the saints we honor each day, all year long, on our altars.
Plan to be with us Monday, November 16th, as we celebrate St. Gertrude’s Day, Fr. McGuire’s 10th Anniversary, and the simple profession of our two founding Sisters of Reparation. A luncheon follows, as always.
Today Fr. Cekada heads down to the Seminary, Fr. McGuire over to the cemetery, and I am in Louisiana looking after our little flock.
We cannot, it seems, stop our wars, nor undo the last century’s shameful and bloody tale of wasted wars and all the rest. But, even as we pray for peace, we can honor our veterans by praying for them, especially the deceased, to know that peace “the world cannot give.” See you 11/11 at 11?
I send a blessing to you all,
–Bp. Dolan