Devotion and Prayer
FIRST SATURDAYS | RENEWED DEVOTION
In 1917, at Fatima, Portugal, Our Lady asked that the Church renew devotion to her Immaculate Heart through the First Saturdays of the month with Confession, the Rosary, and Communion in reparation for the sins and ingratitude of man that wound her heart and the heart of her Son.
In return, she promised that those who faithfully observe 5 consecutive First Saturdays will receive her assistance at the hour of death, with all the graces necessary for salvation. To that end, I’d like for us to renew this devotion together.
What’s more, First Saturday devotion was given not merely as a private Marian devotion, but as part of Our Lady’s remedy for what she called “the errors of Russia,” which she warned would spread throughout the world.
Therefore, beginning on the First Saturday of September, there will be Adoration from 8-9AM, Confessions available during that time, and prayers (including the Rosary) led by members of the Daily Mass community. Mass in honor of Our Lady will begin at 9AM.\
PARISH CATECHESIS | OUR PRAYERS
Continuing in that spirit, this year I’ll be recording seven short teaching videos about the prayers of our Catholic tradition to be posted on the parish website each month. They will be based on the Faith Formation curriculum we’ve developed for this year on “Our Catholic Prayers.”
Feel free to watch the videos, and know that this year’s The Way for both men and women will be based on them. You’ll also be hearing about a youth group in the coming months, as well as a young adult prayer group, both of which flowing from the spirit enkindled by Camp Adore. +
PRAYER | THE GREAT INHERITANCE
In prayer we find peace. Moving from that prayer into our lives with that peace takes much practice, but one thing’s for sure: in prayer we find peace.
Prayer has been described as “lifting up the heart and mind to God.” I like that. We see Jesus doing that in the Gospels all the time. “He lifted up His eyes to heaven and prayed...”
But what happens in prayer? Well many things, I suppose, without our knowing or understanding. When we give ourselves to prayer the Holy Spirit can accomplish things in our souls known only to God. The experience on our end, however, is very often peace. Jesus said to His disciples, “Peace I leave you. My peace I give to you.”
It is His prayer that He gives us. It is His prayer that is the Mass. Even the Rosary; through Mary we enter into Jesus’ prayer. It is His prayer that He leaves us as an inheritance. And in His prayer we find the peace of the Kingdom.
We won’t be able to pray every day in the way that we would like. We’re not monks. Life in the world is inconsistent. But one thing’s for sure: when we do give ourselves to God in prayer He gives us something even greater; He gives us Himself.