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Daily Readings

In his masterpiece, City of God, Saint Augustine of Hippo said, “For the human race is, more than any other species, at once social by nature and quarrelsome by perversion.” The social limitations of the Coronavirus and the Presidential Election prove the wisdom of Augustine’s points.

During the run-up to the election, it was possible to see America at its best when two side-by-side neighbors were living in peace despite having opposing political candidates’ signs in their front lawns. The worst of America was seen as opposing sides insulted one another and even did violence to one another.

It was jarring to the American psyche to see store fronts boarded up as a precaution to Election Day violence. And yet, what a thoroughly American scene it was to see citizens patiently waiting in socially-distanced long lines to cast their ballots, a right protected by the shedding of so much courageous blood over the course of our history.

 Most would consider it poor form and insensitive to refer to a “disabled person.” Rather, we have learned that we use the term, “person with disabilities.” Personhood comes before the adjective. We are members of the human family first. That is our identity: as created in the image and likeness of God. The adjective is secondary to this basic acknowledgement.  For this reason, all human life, including the unborn, must be respected and protected.

Unfortunately, we have become a Nation, a society, that accentuates the adjectives. The adjectives come first, and as a result, we trample the recognition of the basic humanity in us. We label ourselves too often by our political ideology, race, gender, orientation, or religion. Hasn’t this election campaign showed us that we have emphasized these differences to the exclusion of seeing each other as human beings, as fellow citizens?  We have become a Nation of “-ists” and “-isms,” and we are impoverished by it.

After a very caustic presidential campaign, perhaps we can resolve to declare victory for ourselves as human beings and as fellow citizens by putting aside the adjectives and mistrust that has divided us for too long.  Our Savior overcame the scourge of sin to restore us to the dignity with which the Father created us. May we recognize the gift of the Father in each other through the unity of the Holy Spirit and redeemed in the Blood of Christ and see ourselves not as individuals identified by adjectives but as children of God.

Most Reverend Alfred A. Schlert

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Who would have thought, December is upon us this historic year, 2020?  Advent begins, with that we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and the biggest celebration of all, The Birth of Jesus Christ, the third mystery in our Rosary of Joy.  Let us also not forget that on December 10, 1925, Our Lady promised Sister Lucia, the only surviving child to witness the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima in 1917, she would, ‘assist at the hour of death, with the graces necessary for salvation, all those who on the first Saturdays of five consecutive months confess, receive Holy Communion, pray a Rosary, and keep me company for a quarter of an hour meditating on the fifteen mysteries with the intention of offering me reparation.’

With Advent drawing upon us, let us prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas by adding more prayer time for Advent, and lessening behaviors that cultivate desires for the world and its passing riches.  Let us be expectant and repentant so to receive a renewed outpouring of grace at this time and this place so that this Christmas can be the most joy filled and peace filled Christmas ever.  At Our Lady’s request, join our Parish Retreat Team as we pray the Rosary of Joy, Saturday, December 5th at 3PM in our church.

If you have a special intention, remember the votive candles in our church are available to burn for your intention.  Please call the rectory if you would like a certain candle lit.  We have recently added two candles to the Divine Mercy statue in the back of the church.

Beginning in November, the candle next to our Military Prayer Book will be available to burn for your intentions.  We ask that these intentions be reserved for our military.  For example, intentions can be for veterans, current service members, POW/MIA, KIA, military branches, etc.

Throughout history, the recitation of the Rosary has obtained many miracles, especially in desperate times, whether during the Battle of Lepanto in 1571 or the Soviet invasion of Austria in 1955. 

Our modern times are desperate indeed.  Our Faith and our families are under attack.  Yet now more than ever, we pray, and we hope!  We hope in God’s mercy, we hope in Our Lord and in Our Lady.  We hope in the power of the Holy Rosary. 

Our Lady, Saints, and Popes have told us The Rosary is the most excellent form of prayer and the most efficacious means of attaining eternal life.  It is the remedy for all our evils and the root of all our blessings.  It is a ‘weapon’ for these times.  The United States Grace Force led by Father Richard Heilman, Queen of Peace Media, an organization of Catholic volunteers including priests and lay people; along with Catholic Action for faith and family led by Cardinal Raymond Burke promote praying the Rosary together as a force against the temptations of Satan. 

Our Parish Retreat team invites you to pray the Rosary with us the first of each month immediately after the daily Mass in unity with Cardinal Burke in his ‘Operation Storm Heaven’ movement.  Become a Rosary Warrior!

For more information, about how you too can become a Rosary Warrior, visit catholicaction.org.