CHURCH IS OPEN
Dear Parishioners,
Thank you to all that helped getting our church ready for re-opening. This went very well, and we are hopeful that we will continue on the road to a full opening in the not too distant future. In the meantime, we will continue doing what is being asked of us, and appreciate your understanding and patience. Getting used to some new routines is not something any of us enjoy, and I think it is especially taxing for us when it involves the church, something that is intuitive within us which should be a stabilizing institution in our lives.
We will continue using the sign-up Genius App to keep a limit on the attendance within the limits we have been given. For those that may wish to take advantage of other Masses in the area, you may contact Sacred Heart or O L P later in the week to see if they have openings. I know there were openings last weekend, but as word gets out these may fill up as well, so please double check with their parish offices.
PROTESTS AND RIOTS
As I write this, many cities in our nation are affected by protests and riots. In my opinion, the protests are justified in light of events in Minneapolis. However, these have led to a series of riots, and violence for violence is never an act of justice. The reaction of the Government must be tempered as well, or this ends up being a similar reaction of violence for violence, and whether it is the first act or the response, if these are not checked they continue to devolve as the situations become more and more dreary. The innocent are impacted as much, or even more, than the guilty, and this is where we find ourselves. Most people do not desire the destruction of their homes and local businesses, but are driven to this as they join in. We ask for prayers for the Floyd family and for all whose lives have been impacted in these events.
MONTH OF THE SACRED HEART
The Month of June is traditionally devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. With the mention of above events, it is perhaps a great time to deepen or develop a devotion the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He is one who understands mob violence, and where this can lead, for that is the heart of what occurred on Good Friday. The mob was whipped into a frenzy by the High Priest, the Sanhedrin and Pharisees to demand blood. Many went along with the crowd, a similar reaction to the events of our day. So what is a proper response?
Bishop Don Hying of Madison has a very good article on devotion to the Sacred Heart. Here he writes:
Radical Act: In this radical act of redemption, the Lord serves like an aikido wrestling artist. Aikido is a form of martial arts in which the goal is to leave one’s opponent disarmed, unhurt and lying on the ground laughing! By absorbing and deflecting the aggressive negative energy of the attacker, the aikido wrestler disarms the other by turning violence into a gentle yet firm force that hurts no one, but stops the aggression. Is this not what Jesus did in His passion and death? He absorbed all the violence, evil, hatred and sin of the world into himself, letting it kill Him and seemingly destroy His vital force of love, healing and peace. But by taking in all of the darkness, Jesus conquered its power in one supreme offering of self to the Father on the altar of the cross. The death and resurrection of Christ is the gentle yet powerful absorption, deflection and transformation of violence into love, sin into grace, hatred into forgiveness and death into life. The triumph of the Sacred Heart is the ultimate victory of love.
The full article and how to practice this devotion can be found here: (https://www.simplycatholic.com/why-the-sacred-heart/)
Jesus offers us an example to follow, and devotion to His Sacred Heart is our path. He offers 12 promises to those devoted to His Sacred Heart:
1. I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.
2. I will establish peace in their homes.
3. I will comfort them in all their afflictions.
4. I will be their secure refuge during life, and above all, in death.
5. I will bestow abundant blessings upon all their undertakings.
6. Sinners will find in My Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Lukewarm souls shall become fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.
9. I will bless every place in which an image of My Heart is exposed and honored.
10. I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
11. Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart.
12. I promise you in the excessive mercy of My Heart that My all powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays in nine consecutive months the grace of final perseverance; they shall not die in My disgrace, nor without receiving their sacraments. My divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.
May God bless you and Keep you in His Love always,
Fr. Jim
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