Our Lord Jesus-Christ reigns through His Church. In saying this, as St Pius X said in his first encyclical, it is the priest, the religious, the various vocations that are the most common channels to bring this kingdom all over the world...
The Immaculate Heart of Mary is the Antidote!
100 Years since Fatima
Fr. Daniel Couture, Prior
I find nothing better to say on this issue of the bulletin than to recall the actual events of October 13, 1917 and to urge our readers to meditate on Our Lady’s words.
“Silence, silence, Our Lady is coming,” Lucia cried out as she saw the flash. Our Lady came. Her snow- white feet rested upon the beautiful flowers and ribbons with which Senhora da Capelinha had adorned the tree. The faces of the three children assumed an unworldly expression, their features becoming more delicate, their color mellow, their eyes intent upon the Lady. Lucia inquired of the Queen of Heaven:
̶ “What does Your Grace want of me?”
“I want a chapel to be built here in My honor. I am Our Lady of the Rosary. Continue to say the Rosary every day. The war will end soon and the soldiers will return to their homes.”
̶ “I have many things to ask of You: to heal some sick people and to convert some sinners, etc.” “Some, yes; others, no. People must amend their lives and ask pardon for their sins.”
Then growing sadder: “They must not offend Our Lord any more for He is already too much offended.”
̶ “Do you want anything more?”
“Nothing more.”
̶ “Then neither will I ask anything more of You.”
As Our Lady took leave of the children, She opened Her hands
which emitted a flood of light. While She was rising, She pointed
towards the sun and the light gleaming from Her hands brightened
the sun itself.
“There She goes; there She goes!” shouted Lucia, without for a
moment taking her eyes from the beautiful Queen of Heaven.
It was at this precise moment that the clouds were quickly dispersed
and the sky was clear. The sun was now pale as the moon. To the
left of the sun, Saint Joseph appeared holding in his left arm the
Child Jesus. Saint Joseph emerged from the bright clouds only to his
chest, sufficient to allow him to raise his right hand and make, together with the Child Jesus, the Sign of the Cross three times over the world. As Saint Joseph did this, Our Lady stood in all Her brilliancy to the right of the sun, dressed in the blue and white robes of Our Lady of the Rosary.
Meanwhile, Francisco and Jacinta were bathed in the marvelous colors and signs of the sun, and Lucia was privileged to gaze upon Our Lord dressed in red as the Divine Redeemer, blessing the world, as Our Lady had foretold. Like Saint Joseph, He was seen only from His chest up. Beside Him stood Our Lady, dressed now in the purple robes of Our Lady of Sorrows, but without the sword. Finally, the Blessed Virgin appeared again to Lucia in all Her ethereal brightness, clothed in the simple brown robes of Mount Carmel.
October 13, 1917 – October 13, 2017: 100 Years!
October, Month of the Holy Rosary
“What a marvel!, Mary untied this little crown from her brow to give it to us and to turn it into an instrument of contemplation and of efficacy between our fingers. What we call the Rosary, that little grain we squeeze between our thumb and and our index, it is Mary, this Mother of God who has put herself completely between our fingers so that we may make use of her...” (Paul Claudel)
To Restore All Things in Christ
Partake of the Glory of the Assumption
First Communions
We should all rejoice that some of our children are making their First Holy Communion. They are receiving Jesus, truly present with His body, blood, soul and divinity under the appearance of bread. Our Lord wishes to be united to them, and to us, in order to share the riches of His love.
The power which created all things is so small that it fits inside of us. The fountain of life concentrates all of its vital force in a single bit of nourishment. The treasures of Heaven are distributed freely to all who come forward with good dispositions. Rejoice and be thankful!
Our children are a good example and encouragement to adult
Christians on this day. For months they have studied their
catechism. They have memorized the most common prayers.
They understand, at least in a child’s way, the basic truths of the faith. They have purified their souls by a good Confession. They have even cleaned their bodies so that they appear in church, neatly dressed in white, ready to meet our Lord.
Little children, at the time of your Holy Communion, ask Jesus for all the graces you need to lead a good life, worthy of Heaven. Pray for your family, your friends, and your priests. Pray for the Church in the modern world, for the conversion of sinners, and for the salvation of the dying. There are a million special intentions you could have for your prayers.
Every Catholic in the parish should fervently receive Holy Communion on this day, in union with our children. We should pray for each other and be a good example to each other. I ask you to pray that these children will persevere in virtue, so that one day, with them, we may enjoy the happiness of Heaven.
Are you doing Penance?
Are you making reparation for the sins of your past, for the sins of your family, and for the sins of the world? We will never do enough, but we all should do something extra during Lent. This is not the time for relaxation. We should accomplish good works, say extra prayers, read Catholic literature, and deny ourselves the sensual pleasures to which we may have been accustomed.
