This is the time of year when we remember the lives of our loved ones that have passed. We keep their memories alive in our hearts knowing they are in heaven praying for us as we pray for them. It is a time when the four last things are front and center as a reflection on our personal lives. The church readings focus on Death, judgement, heaven and hell. The focus on the end of the world seems to prevail in many of the readings at mass as a testimonial of our own mortality and the fate of souls. An apocalyptic reminder that all things have an end. A time when one liturgical year is coming to a close with the anticipation of a new liturgical year beginning. It is a time of giving national thanks with family gatherings. It is a time of bracing the fate of winter and all that it brings with it. It is a time to draw attention to the soul, not just our own but those of others. In fact ALL SOULS should be a concern much like it was for Our Lady’s when she appeared to the shepherd children in Fatima. Her main concern was the salvation of all souls as it is with us who bear witness to the calling of God’s children. It is the very purpose and mission of our baptismal commission. The Queen of Peace appeared asking for prayers for those souls who have no one to pray for them. She said that many souls go to hell because they have no one to offer sacrifices for them. She suggests that we offer suffrages for them, and pray the rosary everyday to combat the condemnation of many. Her request was urgent and can still be heard echoing through the sanctuaries of the world. She said to the children; “you see hell, where the souls of poor sinners go”To save them God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If they do what I tell you, many souls will be saved.” pray the rosary everyday for them and for peace. It occurred to me that Our Lady’s efforts are a determination to prevent war or to mitigate the results which is the destruction of the souls of poor sinners. The millions of souls who have been swept away unrepented caught in the crossfire of the great travesty known as war. We begin the month with All Saints Day which bleeds into All Souls Day. This is because all the saints take on the task of the suffrages of all souls. It is you and I that have been called by virtue of our baptism to pray for the poor souls, for all souls, that no one is left behind. We place all the talk about WAR these days in the context of the message of Fatima uniting with The Lady of the Rosary as we sit on a precipice of “the annihilation of nations.” The enemies of mankind seem hell bent on the destruction of all that is good including the human person, and creation itself. We must be strong, and stand up, speak out and most of all pray, pray, and don’t worry, because in the end “My Immaculate Heart will triumph”, as Our Lady has professed over one hundred years ago. The remedy is the devotion of the five first Saturdays as requested by Our Lady, Queen of Peace.
November 1st: First Saturday Devotion at the shrine, starting at 9:00a.m with Holy Mass, Rosary, Confessions. Followed by coffee/doughnuts, come and enjoy. Rev. Ron Tacelli S.J. will preside.
November 7th: First Friday Mass at 7:00 pm. Followed by all night Eucharistic Adoration. The sorrowful mysteries, chaplet of divine mercy, confession and more. Rev. Joseph Akilo will say the Mass.
November 22nd: The Pro-life Mass at 10:30 am. Following Mass there will be a pro-life rosary
