October 7 2019 - Our Lady of the Rosary and the Battle of Lepanto

Over the last 2000 years, there have been a number of authenticated apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. And during these appearances, Our Lady has often exhorted the seers to pray the rosary. Why the Rosary? The Rosary, Our Lady, explained to St. Dominic is the spiritual weapon by which The Holy Trinity wishes to reform the world.” The rosary is a powerful means of intercession, a weapon against error and vice, as well as an avenue to sanctification that can be employed by the novice and the mystic alike.

Today’s Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, was established to honor the power of Our Lady’s intercession through the rosary at a decisive moment in history.

By the middle of the 15th century, the Turkish Ottoman Empire conquered the Byzantine Empire, plunging a large portion of eastern Christendom under Turkish rule. Over the next hundred years, the Turks expanded their empire further and further west, both on land and by sea. They terrorized the coasts of Italy and Spain, taking captive over 10,000 Christians, whom they used as slaves. By 1570, the Turks had captured the Island of Cyprus and amassed a naval fleet there, giving them virtual control of the Mediterranean.

Pope Saint Pius V now had grave and immediate concerns that within the year, the Turkish forces could invade any part of Christian Europe and bring it to its knees. So he financed a naval fleet and formed a coalition known as the Holy League to counter this threat and protect Christian civilization. This proved easier said than done, as many of the major powers in Europe were reluctant to enter into a war that could result in their financial ruin.

The Venetians were interested in finding a diplomatic solution, but when their diplomats, who had been promised safety, were attacked and murdered by the Turks, the immanence of this threat became more apparent, and they joined the Holy League.

On October 7th 1571,  the Holy League, outnumbered by the Turks, sailed to confronted the Battle of Lepanto. At the Pope’s insistence, all of Europe was asked to pray the rosary for the victory of the Christian fleet. When the smoke cleared that day, the majority of the Turkish fleet was decimated, while the Holy League lost very few ships. Over 10,000 Christian slaves who were serving as oarsmen on the Turkish galleys were freed.

The Western Mediterranean and Western Europe were liberated from the Turkish threat and the victory was attributed to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A feast was instituted (the Feast of Our Lady of Victory) which was later renamed the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

Today, it is clear that the powers of the world are reorganizing to confront Holy Church. There is external persecution in many places: Christians who are courageous enough to live their faith in the open do so at the threat of loss of employment, mockery from their families, disqualification from political office. Christians in some countries are enslaved and killed. And In many places, Holy Church is attacked from within, doctrine is criticized, Sacred Tradition and Scripture are disregarded, right faith is undermined.

May we entrust ourselves again to Our Lady and her Rosary. It is the weapon the Holy Trinity wishes to reform the world, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That, during this month dedicated to the Holy Rosary, many Christians will discover new and deep devotion to Our Lady’s powerful intercession and maternal care for the Church.

For Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of October, “that the breath of the Holy Spirit may engender a new missionary ‘spring’ in the Church.

For the health and sanctification of the members of our parish Altar and Rosary Society and Legion of Mary and for increased membership for these groups.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests and religious and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.

October 22 2018 - St. John Paul II - Totus Tuus

In 1929, just 17 days short of his 9th birthday, the young Karol Wojtyla — the future Blessed Pope John Paul II — entered his house during the afternoon. His parents were very pious, and young Karol was accustomed to see his father — a strong soldier in the Polish army — praying on his knees on their parlor’s hardwood floor. That day, when the young Karol saw his father praying, he saw his dad’s knees bathing in a pool of tears.

“What’s wrong, Papa” the young future Pope asked his father. “Karol, your mother has died!” was his father’s answer. His mother had Emilia died in childbirth.

The eight year old ran out of his home to the local parish Church, which was actually right across the street from the Wojtyla apartment home. He entered the Church and ran up the aisle of the Church to a kneeler in front of a statue of Mary.  Tearfully, he said to her: “Blessed Lady, I don’t know why God took my mother home at the time he did. But I do know one thing: YOU are my mother now!”

Blessed Pope John Paul’s devotion to the Blessed Mother deeply impacted his life, his priesthood, and his papacy.  When he was made bishop of Krakow, he took as his episcopal motto the words: Totus Tuus ego sum, which is latin for “I am completely yours.”  The motto “Totus tuus” was taken from a prayer by Saint Louis Marie de Montfordt: "Totus tuus ego sum, et omnia mea tua sunt. Accipio te in mea omnia. Praebe mihi cor tuum, Maria." "I am completely yours, and all that I have is yours. I take you for my all. O Mary, give me your heart"

Jesus, from the cross, told us to Behold his mother. We seek to “do whatever he tells us” and so this is why we turn to Mary’s guidance and holy example, that our hearts may become more like hers in her love of Jesus and faithfulness to God’s Divine Will.

[Maggie’s Place Mass:] In this place dedicated to motherhood, all mothers and all those who assist them in the care of their children do well to place themselves under the guidance and protection of the Mother of Jesus. Mary is the mother who has endured the greatest of sufferings, and she will always help mothers who turn to Her to endure their own sufferings in union with Jesus. She will always help mothers who turn to her to raise their children to know Jesus and to follow his teachings.

[Nursing Home Mass:] Mary stood at the cross as her son suffered and died for our salvation. She was the instrument through which God brought Christ Our Salvation into the world. So any grace, any healing we need, we do well to turn to Mary. She will always help us to experience the healing of God in our illnesses, and the peace of God in our suffering.

During this month of October especially, we do well to take up her Holy Rosary, as Saint John Paul II did so many times in his life, to pray the rosary for peace, for healing, for the conversion so many souls are desperately in need of.

Through the intercession of Saint John Paul who entrusted himself, his priesthood, his papacy and the Church to Mary, may we place that same trust in her, who bore the Christ child, who nurtured Him through childhood, who at the Wedding at Cana told the servants to “do whatever he tells you.” Mary, Mother of the Church, Mother of all Christians, pray for us, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That through the teaching, preaching, and pastoral care of the Church all Christians will grow in their devotion to and imitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  We pray to the Lord.

That through Immaculate Mary, Queen of Peace, hatred, violence, and cruelty will cease in the world.  We pray to the Lord.

For those trapped in the downward spiral of sin, that the hope offered through the Incarnation of Christ in the womb of the Blessed Virgin will bring them new life in the Spirit.  We pray to the Lord.

That Mary’s maternal care and heavenly intercession will raise us to the moral greatness befitting true children of God.  We pray to the Lord.

For blessings on all expectant mothers, newborn infants, and young families.  We pray to the Lord.

That from the moment of conception all children will be preserved from bodily harm; for the overturning of unjust laws that permit the destruction of innocent life; and that the minds of all may be enlightened to know the dignity of every human life.  We pray to the Lord.

For all those who have died, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for all who have fought and died for our country’s freedom, and for [intention below], for whom this Mass is offered.  We pray to the Lord.

We pray, O Lord our God, that the Virgin Mary, who merited to bear God and man in her chaste womb, may commend the prayers of your faithful in your sight. Through Christ our Lord.