>> A READING FROM THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. THUS SAYS THE LORD, OBSERVE WHAT IS RIGHT, DO WHAT IS JUST FOR MY SALVATION IS ABOUT TO COME, MY JUSTICE, ABOUT TO BE REVEALED. THE FOREIGNERS WHO JOIN THEMSELVES TO THE LORD, MINISTERING TO HIM, LOVING THE NAME OF THE LORD, AND BECOMING HIS SERVANTS, ALL WHO KEEP THE SABBATH FREE FROM PROFANATION AND HOLD TO MY COVENANT, THEM I WILL BRING TO MY HOLY MOUNTAIN AND MAKE JOYFUL IN MY HOUSE OF PRAYER. THEIR BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES WILL BE ACCEPTABLE ON MY ALTAR, FOR MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL PEOPLES. THE WORD OF THE LORD. >> THANKS BE TO GOD. (ORGAN) >> ♪ O GOD, LET ALL THE NATIONS PRAISE YOU ♪ >> ♪ O GOD, LET ALL THE NATIONS PRAISE YOU ♪ >> ♪ O GOD, BE GRACIOUS AND BLESS US, AND LET YOUR FACE SHED ITS LIGHT UPON US ♪ ♪ SO WILL YOUR WAYS BE KNOWN UPON EARTH AND ALL NATIONS LEARN YOUR SALVATION ♪ >> ♪ O GOD, LET ALL THE NATIONS PRAISE YOU ♪ >> ♪ LET THE NATIONS BE GLAD AND SHOUT FOR JOY; WITH UPRIGHTNESS YOU RULE THE PEOPLES ♪ ♪ YOU GUIDE THE NATIONS ON EARTH ♪ >> ♪ O GOD, LET ALL THE NATIONS PRAISE YOU ♪ >> ♪ THE EARTH HAS YIELDED ITS FRUIT FOR GOD, OUR GOD, HAS BLESSED US ♪ ♪ MAY GOD STILL GIVE US HIS BLESSING, THAT ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH MAY REVERE HIM ♪ >> ♪ O GOD, LET ALL THE NATIONS PRAISE YOU ♪ >> A READING FROM THE LETTER OF ST. PAUL TO THE ROMANS. BROTHERS AND SISTERS, I AM SPEAKING TO YOU GENTILES. INASMUCH AS I AM THE APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES, I GLORY IN MY MINISTRY IN ORDER TO MAKE MY RACE JEALOUS AND THUS SAVE SOME OF THEM. FOR IF THEIR REJECTION IS THE RECONCILIATION OF THE WORLD, WHAT WILL THEIR ACCEPTANCE BE BUT LIFE FROM THE DEAD? FOR THE GIFTS AND THE CALL OF GOD ARE IRREVOCABLE. JUST AS YOU ONCE DISOBEYED GOD BUT HAVE NOW RECEIVED MERCY BECAUSE OF THEIR DISOBEDIENCE, SO THEY HAVE NOW DISOBEYED IN ORDER THAT, BY VIRTUE OF THE MERCY SHOWN TO YOU, THEY TOO MAY NOW RECEIVE MERCY. FOR GOD DELIVERED ALL TO DISOBEDIENCE, THAT HE MIGHT HAVE MERCY UPON ALL. THE WORD OF THE LORD. >> THANKS BE TO GOD. (ORGAN) >> ♪ ALLELUIA ♪ ♪ ALLELUIA ♪ ♪ ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ ALLELUIA ♪ ♪ ALLELUIA ♪ ♪ ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ JESUS PROCLAIMED THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM AND CURED EVERY DISEASE AMONG THE PEOPLE ♪ >> ♪ ALLELUIA ♪ ♪ ALLELUIA ♪ ♪ ALLELUIA ♪ >> FATHER: ♪ DOMINUS VOBISCUM ♪ >> ♪ ET CUM SPIRITU TUO ♪ >> FATHER: ♪ LECTIO SANCTI EVANGELII SECUNDUM MATTHEUM ♪ >> ♪ GLORIA TIBI, DOMINE ♪ >> FATHER: AT THAT TIME, JESUS WITHDREW TO THE REGION OF TYRE AND SIDON. AND BEHOLD, A CANAANITE WOMAN OF THAT DISTRICT CAME AND CALLED OUT, HAVE PITY ON ME, LORD, SON OF DAVID! MY DAUGHTER IS TORMENTED BY A DEMON. BUT JESUS DID NOT SAY A WORD IN ANSWER TO HER. JESUS' DISCIPLES CAME AND ASKED HIM, SEND HER AWAY, FOR SHE KEEPS CALLING OUT AFTER US. HE SAID IN REPLY, I WAS SENT ONLY TO THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. BUT THE WOMAN CAME AND DID JESUS HOMAGE, SAYING, LORD, HELP ME. HE SAID IN REPLY, "IT IS NOT RIGHT TO TAKE THE FOOD OF THE CHILDREN AND THROW IT TO THE DOGS." SHE SAID, PLEASE, LORD, FOR EVEN THE DOGS EAT THE SCRAPS THAT FALL FROM THE TABLE OF THEIR MASTERS. THEN JESUS SAID TO HER IN REPLY, O WOMAN, GREAT IS YOUR FAITH! LET IT BE DONE FOR YOU AS YOU WISH. AND THE WOMAN'S DAUGHTER WAS HEALED FROM THAT HOUR. ♪ VERBUM DOMINI ♪ >> ♪ LAUS TIBI, CHRISTE ♪ >> Father: WE'RE ALWAYS HAPPY TO WELCOME AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, THE PILGRIMAGE OF THE SILVER ROSE INITIATED BY THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS TO SHOW THE UNITY OF ALL OF THE KNIGHTS IN CANADA AND MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES. SO, THE PILGRIMAGE OF THE SILVER ROSE HAS MADE ITS WAY THROUGH CANADA, UNITED STATES, AND EVENTUALLY GOING TO WIND UP AT THE SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE IN MEXICO CITY. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL INITIATIVE WHICH CALLS TO MIND A NEED TO PRAY FOR LIFE. ONE ROSE, ONE LIFE. YOU KNOW, WE THINK OF THE ALMOST 10,000 ROSES THAT WE RECEIVED IN MAY. THE ROSE IS A SYMBOL OF EVERY HAIL MARY THAT WE WOULD PRAY AND WE ASK FOR AT LEAST ONE HAIL MARY FOR LIFE. ONE ROSE, ONE LIFE. SO, THIS CEREMONY BEGAN AND IT MADE ITS WAY THROUGH ALABAMA. THERE WAS A TRANSFER THAT TOOK PLACE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESSION WHERE ALABAMA STATE DEPUTY, JOE FLAHERTY HANDED OVER THE ROSE TO THE TENNESSEE STATE DEPUTY, MICHAEL - IT WILL MAKE ITS WAY THROUGH TENNESSEE AND AND EVENTUALLY TO THE SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE. AND WE APPLAUD THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS FOR THIS INITIATIVE AND PRAYING FOR LIFE. AND YESTERDAY, FATHER MARK AND I HAD A BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE WITH SOME FRIENDS THAT WE KNOW, THE NELSONS WHO WERE CELEBRATING, ON AUGUST 15 THEIR 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY. WE HAD A CEREMONY OF THE RENEWAL OF VOWS AND BLESSING OF THEIR RINGS. THEIR DAUGHTER AND HER THREE CHILDREN, THEIR GRANDCHILDREN, WERE THERE AS WELL. THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE MARRIED, WE WERE NOT CATHOLIC AND WE DIDN'T KNOW THE SIGNIFICANCE OF AUGUST 15TH. WE COULD NEVER HAVE GOTTEN MARRIED ON THAT SOLEMNITY, BUT THEY CAME INTO THE FAITH AND THEY WERE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE ANNIVERSARY NOW TAKING PLACE ON AUGUST 15. AFTERWARDS, I WAS SPEAKING WITH THE FAMILY OUTSIDE, AND THEIR YOUNGEST GRANDSON, THEY TOLD ME THE STORY OF THEIR YOUNGEST GRANDSON. PROBABLY FOUR-YEARS-OLD AND MAYBE NOT QUITE FOUR YET. HOW, WHEN HE WAS BORN, THEY DISCOVERED AT SAINT VINCENT'S HOSPITAL HERE, THE UMBILICAL CORD WAS WRAPPED AROUND HIS NECK TWICE. AND THE NURSES SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT. OF COURSE, THAT'S VERY DANGEROUS. CHILDREN ARE STILLBORN SADLY, WHEN THAT HAPPENS. BUT THIS BOY IS A HEALTHY LITTLE BOY. AND LATER, HE SURPRISED THEM BY SAYING, THAT HE SAW, IN HEAVEN, WHERE THE BABIES ARE BROUGHT. HE SAW THAT PLACE. HE SAW ANGELS. AND SO, I ASKED HIM, WERE THOSE BABIES HAPPY? AND HIS FACE LIT UP, HE SAID, YES, NODDING, ENTHUSIASTICALLY. AND YES, THEY WERE HAPPY AND YES, SAW ANGELS. AS A LITTLE CHILD AND YET, WHEN HE SAYS IS BELIEVABLE BECAUSE OF WHAT OUR OPENING PRAYER, OUR COLLECT AT THE MASS TODAY, AND THE COLLECT IS THE PRAYER THAT THE PRIEST SAYS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MASS, IT'S A COLLECTION OF ALL OF OUR PRAYERS. SO, THERE'S JUST A BRIEF TIME OF SILENCE AFTER THE KYRIE AND THE GLORIA THAT IS SUNG, AND THERE'S A SILENCE THERE THAT WE BRING ALL OUR INTENTIONS TO THE LORD. AND THE PRIEST, AS IT WERE COLLECTS ALL OF THOSE PRAYERS. AND ON BEHALF OF THE CONGREGATION, HE OFFERS THOSE PRAYERS TO GOD. SO, LET'S LISTEN ONCE AGAIN TO THE COLLECT AT THE BEGINNING OF MASS. O GOD, WHO HAVE PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE YOU GOOD THINGS WHICH NO EYE CAN SEE. FILL OUR HEARTS, WE PRAY WITH THE WARMTH OF YOUR LOVE SO THAT LOVING YOU IN ALL THINGS AND ABOVE ALL THINGS, WE MAY ATTAIN YOUR PROMISES WHICH SURPASS EVERY HUMAN DESIRE. SO OFTEN, THE PRAYERS THAT THE PRIEST PRAYS AT MASS SPEAK OF OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. AND THIS EARTHLY LIFE IS A TRUE PREPARATION FOR OUR TRUE HOME IN HEAVEN. WE NEVER EVER FEEL REALLY TRULY AT HOME UNTIL WE ARE IN OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING FOR US TO REALIZE. WE CAN'T BUILD A UTOPIA, A HEAVEN ON THIS EARTH. YES, WE ARE TO DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO BUILD A CULTURE OF RESPECT AND JUSTICE AND LOVE. AND YET, ALL HUMAN EFFORTS ARE ULTIMATELY GOING TO NOT REALIZE THAT. NOW, THE LORD BRINGS A LIFE, A LIFE OF ABUNDANCE AND UNITY OF PEACE AND IT'S IN THE LORD. I'LL BE SPEAKING ABOUT THAT AT THE END OF THIS HOMILY, WONDERFUL NEW INITIATIVES THAT ARE TAKING PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE FINDING THIS CALL FROM GOD, WHAT GOD SEEMS TO BE DOING IN THIS TIME, WHAT HE SEEMS TO BE DOING IN THIS TIME OF ANXIETY AND CRISIS FOR ALL OF US. BUT FIRST OF ALL, TO REALIZE, OUR TRUE HOME, WE'RE NOT GOING TO REALLY FEEL AT HOME UNTIL WE ARE IN OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. BUT WE CAN ALREADY BEGIN THAT HEAVENLY LIFE BY LIVING A GODLY LIFE, BY BEING PEOPLE WHO PRAY AND ARE UNITED WITH THE LORD, WHO COME WHEN YOU ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE SACRAMENTS OR PARTICIPATE IN WHATEVER WAY THAT YOU CAN, THROUGH THE TELEVISION AND RADIO IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THE LITURGY. SO IT'S THAT LIFE OF PRAYER ALREADY THAT WE HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE. FILL OUR HEARTS WE PRAY WITH THE WARMTH OF YOUR LOVE, LORD. THAT WAS THE COLLECT TODAY. SO, WE CAN ALREADY EXPERIENCE SOME OF THAT LOVE OF HEAVEN THAT POINTS US TO THAT REALIZATION AND FULFILLMENT THAT ALREADY THIS LITTLE CHILD EXPERIENCED WHEN HE WAS IN DANGER OF DEATH IT SEEMS. YES, WHERE THE BABIES GO, THAT GO TO HEAVEN, THEY ARE SUPREMELY HAPPY WITH THE ANGELS. ONE OF THE CONSOLATIONS WE HAVE IS FROM TODAY'S FIRST READING WHICH POINTS TOWARD THE GOSPEL. THERE'S ALWAYS A CONNECTION ON SUNDAYS BETWEEN THE FIRST READING AND THE GOSPEL. SO, THE FIRST READING FROM THE PROPHET ISAIAH 56, ISAIAH IS SAYING SOMETHING QUITE SURPRISING. BECAUSE THE GENTILES, THE NON ISRAELITES WERE NOT ALLOWED IN THE TEMPLE. THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO GO THERE AND PARTICIPATE IN THE TEMPLE, IN THE LITURGY. BUT ISAIAH FORETELLS THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A TIME WHEN, QUOTE, THE FOREIGNERS, WHO JOIN THEMSELVES TO THE LORD, MINISTERING TO HIM -- AND THAT'S A WORD, MINISTERING, PRIESTS -- LOVING THE LORD, BECOMING HIS SERVANTS, HOLD TO MY COVENANT, I WILL MAKE THEM JOYFUL IN MY HOUSE OF PRAYER. FOR MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL PEOPLES, ALL NATIONS. AND THAT'S WHAT OUR PSALM TODAY, PSALM 67. AND I LOVE TO PRAY THAT PSALM FOR OUR WORK AT EWTN. O GOD, LET ALL THE NATIONS PRAISE YOU! O GOD, LET ALL THE NATIONS PRAISE YOU! SO MAY YOUR WAY BE KNOWN ALL UPON THE EARTH, FOR SALVATION, AND LET ALL OF THE PEOPLES PRAISE YOU. LET ALL THE PEOPLES PRAISE YOU. MAY THE PEOPLE PRAISE YOU, MAY ALL THE PEOPLE PRAISE YOU. MAY GOD BLESS US AND MAY ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH FEAR HIM. SO, THIS PSALM TOO SPEAKS ABOUT ALL THE NATIONS, ALL THE PEOPLES. AND WE PRAY THAT THIS NETWORK WILL BE THAT INSTRUMENT THAT HELPS US TO ALL PRAISE THE LORD AND TO COME TO KNOW HIM. TO PRAY TOGETHER, TO WORSHIP HIM TOGETHER. SO, THE GENTILES, TOO, ARE GOING TO BE BROUGHT INTO THIS WORSHIP OF GOD. YES, THE CHOSEN PEOPLE WERE THE CHOSEN PEOPLE. BUT THEY WERE GOING TO BE THIS INSTRUMENT THROUGH WHICH THE WHOLE NATIONS, ALL THE NATIONS WERE GOING TO BE BROUGHT INTO THE COVENANT WITH GOD, THE NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT THAT WE RENEW AT EVERY MASS. THIS NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT TO WHICH ALL THE NATIONS ARE INVITED, AND IN TODAY'S GOSPEL, WE HAVE THIS CANAANITE WOMAN; THE CANAANITES HISTORICALLY WERE THE ENEMIES OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE. THEY GAVE INTO IDOLATRY, HORRIBLE IMMORALITY, EVEN SACRIFICING OF THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS TO DEMONS, THE SCRIPTURES TELL US. SO, THERE'S THIS PEOPLE, AND JESUS GOES TO THE NORTH TO TYRE AND SIDON, WHICH IS A GENTILE AREA. IT'S AN AREA THAT WAS PREDOMINANTLY GENTILES. AND IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS MORE COMMON IN THESE GENTILE AREAS WHERE THEY WERE APART FROM GOD AND ALL THIS EVIL WAS TAKING PLACE AND THERE WAS DEMONIC POSSESSION. AND THIS CANAANITE WOMAN CRIES OUT TO THE LORD. IT'S QUITE INTERESTING HOW SHE BEGINS, IN GREEK, "ELEISON ME KYRIE." AND WE SAY THAT AT EVERY MASS, KYRIE ELEISON. THAT COMES FROM THIS WOMAN'S PLEA. IT'S HAVE PITY ON ME, HAVE MERCY ON ME, LORD. SO, THE LITURGY IS THE WAY OF TAKING THE SCRIPTURES, WE'RE MAKING THESE BEAUTIFUL EXPRESSIONS, LIKE THE CENTURION, WE SAY HIS PRAYER BEFORE WE RECEIVE HOLY EUCHARIST. LORD, I AM NOT WORTHY FOR YOU TO ENTER UNDER MY ROOF. AND WE TAKE THIS PLEA, KYRIE ELEISON AND THAT'S, LORD, HAVE MERCY ON ME. WE PUT THAT ON OUR LIPS. AND THESE BEAUTIFUL GREGORIAN MASS SETTINGS, THE CHANT, PLAIN CHANT THAT IS SOMETHING PRAYED IN UNISON. IT'S A WAY OF EXPRESSING OUR UNITY IN THE LORD, IN THESE BEAUTIFUL CHANTS. AND DURING ORDINARY TIME, WE TYPICALLY CAN PRAY THIS ... SETTING, ON SUNDAYS, THIS GREGORIAN SETTING. AND YOU ALMOST HEAR THIS PLEADING OF THE KYRIE. ♪ KYRIE ELEISON ♪ SO, THERE'S THIS PLEA, LORD, HAVE MERCY. AS WE PRAY AFTER WE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR OWN SINS, WE CONFESS OUR SINS. BUT THEN, THERE'S THIS PLEA FOR HIS MERCY WHICH HE IS READY TO BESTOW UPON US. AND THEN WE BREAK INTO THAT GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST SINGING HIS PRAISES. BECAUSE NOW WE'RE MADE READY BY TURNING AWAY FROM OUR SINS. IT'S REALLY SOMETHING THAT THE LORD SEEMS TO BE STIRRING UP IN SO MANY SOULS TODAY THAT I WANTED TO CONCLUDE MY HOMILY WITH TODAY. JUST ONE WORD BEFORE I BEGIN TALKING ABOUT THIS, WHAT THE LORD SEEMS TO BE STIRRING UP IN THE HEARTS OF THE FAITHFUL THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. THIS IS A QUOTE FROM SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM ABOUT OUR LORD SEEMINGLY PUTTING OFF THIS WOMAN. FIRST, HE DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING TO HER. NOT A WORD. AND THE DISCIPLES ARE ANNOYED, "SEND HER AWAY!" THE LORD DOESN'T DO THAT. BUT THEN SHE COMES AND SHE INCREASES HER PLEA AND KNEELS BEFORE HIM. "LORD, HELP ME!" IT'S NOT RIGHT TO TAKE THE FOOD OF THE CHILDREN, THE ISRAELITES, AND THROW IT TO THE DOGS, THE GENTILES. "PLEASE, LORD, EVEN THE DOGS GET THE SCRAPS." "WOMAN, YOUR FAITH IS GREAT." AND HER DAUGHTER WAS HEALED IN THAT HOUR. AND SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM SAYS, BY THIS, HE WAS TEACHING US THAT HE HAD WITHHELD THE GIFT -- THE GIFT OF THE HEALING -- WITHHELD IT, NOT TO DRIVE HER AWAY. HE DIDN'T SEND HER AWAY LIKE THE DISCIPLES ASKED HIM TO DO - "SHE'S ANNOYING US." HE DOESN'T SEND HER AWAY. HE WITHHELD THE GIFT, NOT TO DRIVE HER AWAY, BUT TO MAKE THAT WOMAN'S PATIENCE AN EXAMPLE FOR ALL OF US. SHE WAS PATIENT. SHE KNEW INSIDE, INTERIORLY HE WAS GOOD, THAT HE WAS LOVE. SHE COULD SEE THAT IN HIS EYES, THAT SHE SHOULD CONTINUE TO INTENSIFY EVEN HER PLEADINGS TO HIM. SO, SHE CONTINUED AND SHE PERSISTED. AND FOR US, TOO, NOT TO PRAY ONCE, WELL, IT DIDN'T WORK, GIVE IT UP. NO. SHE TEACHES US TO PERSEVERE. THE LORD TESTS ALL OF US. SO THAT WE MAY GROW IN FAITH, MAY EXPRESS OUR FAITH, THAT WE MAY GROW IN LOVE. AND INTENSITY IN OUR DEVOTION. NOW IS THE TIME FOR US TO GROW IN THAT INTENSITY IN THESE CHALLENGING TIMES IN WHICH WE LIVE. SO, WHAT IS THE LORD RAISING UP? WHAT IS HE DOING IN THIS TIME? IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED, FOR EXAMPLE, ALL OF THE BISHOPS OF THE UNITED STATES, ALL OF THE BISHOPS IN CANADA SIMULTANEOUSLY CONSECRATING TO MARY, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH, OUR NATIONS. THAT TOOK PLACE ON MAY 1, EARLIER THIS YEAR. AND THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT ACT AND ONE THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE WITHOUT FRUIT. AND ALREADY, THE BISHOPS OF THE UNITED STATES, WAY BACK IN THE 18 HUNDREDS, HAD PLACED THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF MARY THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. I THINK THAT'S A PRAYER THAT WE SHOULD PRAY AS AMERICANS. WE SHOULD PRAY THAT PRAYER EVERYDAY, EVEN THROUGHOUT THE DAY, 0 MARY, CONCEIVED WITHOUT SIN, PRAY FOR US WHO HAVE RECOURSE TO THEE! PRAY FOR US IN THE UNITED STATES, UNDER YOUR PATRONAGE, WHO HAVE RECOURSE TO THEE. ST. LOUIS MARIE DE MONTFORT IN HIS BOOK, TRUE DEVOTION TO MARY, HE SPEAKS ABOUT OUR LADY, THAT SHE'S MORE TERRIBLE THAN AN ARMY IN BATTLE ARRAY. THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE EVILS IN THE WORLD. THERE'S MORE GOODNESS IN MARY'S HEART THAN THERE IS EVIL IN THE WORLD. NEVER EVER FORGET THAT. MORE GOODNESS IN THE HEART OF MARY THAN THERE IS EVIL IN THE WORLD. SO, THAT ROSARY IS ESPECIALLY OUR WEAPON IN THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE IN WHICH WE ARE ENGAGED. SO, A NUMBER OF BISHOPS HAVE INITIATED ROSARY CAMPAIGNS. SO, TO MENTION THREE OF THEM, THIS WAS MENTIONED IN THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC REGISTER ARTICLE, THIS PAST FRIDAY. ENTITLED, BISHOPS AND LAITY LAUNCH AUGUST ROSARY RALLIES. AND ONE OF THEM IS THE BISHOP OF WICHITA, KANSAS, WHICH HE BEGAN AUGUST 1 THROUGH AUGUST 31 ENCOURAGING HIS FAITHFUL TO PRAY THE ROSARY EVERYDAY. HE SAYS, TYPICALLY OCTOBER IS THE MONTH FOR THE ROSARY. BUT BECAUSE OF THE CHALLENGES OF THIS TIME, WE CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THEN. LET'S USE THIS MONTH OF AUGUST TO DEEPEN OUR DEVOTION TO GOD. HERE'S WHAT HE SAID. PRAYER IN ALL ITS MANY FORMS IS AN ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT CALLING UPON THE POWERS OF HEAVEN TO COME TO OUR ASSISTANCE. JESUS SHOWED US THIS EXAMPLE IN THE GOSPEL, ALL THE SAINTS DEMONSTRATED THIS SPIRITUAL TRUTH AND MYSTERY. MIGHT GOD BE CALLING EACH OF US TO A DEEPER PRAYER AND A MORE GOD-CENTERED LIFE BY MEANS OF THE TRIALS AND STRUGGLES OF OUR TIMES? I BELIEVE GOD IS DOING JUST THAT, BISHOP KEMI SAID. AND WE ARE THE ONES WHO GOD HAS CHOSEN AND DESTINED TO LIVE AT THIS TIME IN HISTORY. BRINGING OUR FAITH TO BEAR AS DID OUR PREDECESSORS. SO, THROUGH THE SACRAMENTS, THROUGH THE ROSARY, HE SAID, THIS EQUIPS US FOR THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE IN WHICH WE ARE PRESENTLY ENGAGED. MAKE NO MISTAKE, HE SAID, OURS IS A SPIRITUAL BATTLE. IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL BE. AND THE ROSARY IS A WEAPON AGAINST EVIL, AND A SOURCE OF DIVINE STRENGTH AND CONSOLATION. IT BINDS US TO THE VICTORY THAT WE SEE ALREADY IN GENESIS, AT THE FALL OF OUR FIRST PARENTS. GOD HAS THIS ENMITY BETWEEN YOU AND THE WOMAN, BETWEEN YOUR SEED AND HERS. AND LOUIS DE MONTFORT SAYS, HE SET UP BUT ONE ENMITY, BETWEEN THE EVIL ONE AND HIS MINIONS, AND OUR LADY AND HER CHILDREN. BECAUSE SHE HAS NEVER HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH HIM. HE FEARS HER. IN THE HAIL MARY, SAID IN A VERY PARTICULAR WAY, IS LIKE A HAMMER TO THE DEVIL. THE HAIL MARY IS LIKE A HAMMER TO THE DEVIL. SO, KEEP HAMMERING HIM! LET OUR LADY BE THE ONE THAT WINS THE VICTORY FOR US. ALSO, BISHOP AQUILLA, RECENTLY, THERE WAS A DESECRATION OF A STATUE -- MANY CATHOLIC CHURCHES HAVE EXPERIENCED DESECRATION BY THE MOBS TODAY -- AND HE PRAYED FOR, PRAYING FOR THEIR CONVERSION, THEIR FAITH AND THEIR COMING TO KNOW THE LORD. HE LAUNCHED THIS ROSARY RALLY BEGINNING YESTERDAY, AUGUST 15TH WHICH WAS TO GO UNTIL OUR LADY OF SORROWS, SEPTEMBER 15TH. HE REMINDED HIS FLOCK THAT OUR LADY TOLD SAINT JUAN DIEGO, DO NOT FEAR ANY ILLNESS, VEXATION OR PAIN, AM I NOT HERE, WHO AM YOUR MOTHER? AND HE QUOTED PADRE PIO: IN TIMES OF DARKNESS, HOLDING THE ROSARY IS LIKE HOLDING OUR BLESSED MOTHER'S HAND. THINK OF THAT WHEN YOU ARE FEELING ANXIETY OR FEAR ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON, HOLDING THAT ROSARY IS LIKE HOLDING THE HAND OF OUR LADY. AND YESTERDAY BISHOP DONALD OF THE DIOCESE OF MADISON HAD A PATRIOTIC ROSARY RALLY, WITH THE ARCHBISHOP OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF MILWAUKEE ON THE MADISON CAPITOL STEPS YESTERDAY. PRAYING FOR OUR NATION. SO, LET US BE UNITED WITH THEM. AND THE FINAL THING THAT I WANTED TO MENTION IS ANOTHER WONDERFUL INITIATIVE CALLED THE MILLION ROSARY MARCH. SCOTT HAHN HAS A VIDEO WHERE HE CAN INTRODUCE THIS. YOU CAN FIND IT ON THE INTERNET. HE EXPLAINS WHAT THE MILLION ROSARY MARCH IS. LISTEN TO HIS TALK THERE REGARDING THIS. AND I LOOKED THIS MORNING, ALREADY, THIS MORNING, PEOPLE HAVE PLEDGED 134,000 ROSARIES EVERY DAY, FOR 100 DAYS, FROM YESTERDAY, AUGUST 15TH THROUGH DECEMBER 8, THE SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION UNDER WHICH PATRONAGE THE UNITED STATES IS. JOIN THIS INITIATIVE. OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE ROSARY RIGHT AFTER THE MASS. AND WE'LL CONTINUE THAT THROUGH THE REST OF THE YEAR. BE PART OF THAT MILLION ROSARY MARCH, IF YOU WILL. I LIKE WHAT THEY ARE SAYING, WHAT THEY ARE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO DO, TO FIRST OF ALL, MAKE REPARATION FOR OFFENSES OVER THE CENTURIES OF MANY KINDS AGAINST HIS CHILDREN, BORN AND UNBORN. ALL MADE IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD. FOR SACRILEGES AND DESECRATIONS AGAINST THE BLESSED SACRAMENT, STATUES ALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. AND MAKING REPARATION FOR THE WORSHIP OF FALSE GODS, FALSE IDOLS, WITCHCRAFT WHICH GRAVELY OFFEND GOD. AND THE WEBSITE SAYS, WE WILL NOT ABANDON OUR LORD. WE WILL NOT ABANDON OUR COUNTRY TO THE EVIL ONE. WE CALL ALL CATHOLIC MEN AND WOMEN TO UNITE IN THE LOVE OF GOD AND TO TAKE A STAND FOR ALL OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN OUR NATION. WE AFFIRM THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY ANSWER! WE AFFIRM THAT NOW IS THE TIME FOR CATHOLIC MEN AND WOMEN TO RISE AND REPLACE THE CULTURE OF DEATH AND THE SECULARIZATION OF AMERICA WITH THE CULTURE OF LIFE AND LOVE. SO WHAT IS IT THEY ARE ASKING FOR? DAILY PRAYING OF THE ROSARY, 5 DECADES OF THE ROSARY, WITH A SPECIAL INTENTION FOR GREATER LOVE FOR THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. SECOND, FASTING ON FRIDAY AND SOME FORM OF REPARATION IN ATONEMENT TO OUR EUCHARISTIC LORD. AND THIRD, DEVOTING ONE HOUR A MONTH IN EUCHARISTIC ADORATION FOR THE SOULS OF THE DEPARTED OF ALL AMERICANS IN HISTORY, EITHER IN PERSON IF POSSIBLE OR ONLINE AS WE HAVE STREAMING ADORATION HERE. I THINK THAT'S A WONDERFUL COMMITMENT. LET'S PRAY FOR THE SOULS OF ALL DECEASED AMERICANS BECAUSE THOSE SOULS WILL HELP US. OUR PRAYER FOR THEM MAKES THEIR PRAYER FOR US EFFECTIVE. PRAYING FOR THE DECEASED AMERICANS. GOD IS RAISING UP. AND WE CAN HAVE COURAGE IF WE HAVE A LEADER WHO CAN TRULY LEAD US. MARY IS THAT LEADER AS LOUIS DE MONTFORT SAID, MORE TERRIBLE THAN AN ARMY IN BATTLE ARRAY. FOLLOWING HER, WE SHALL NOT FALTER. WE WILL REACH THAT TRUE HOMELAND OF HEAVEN TO WHICH OUR COLLECT AT THE BEGINNING OF MASS SAID. GOD WHO HAVE PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE YOU GOOD THINGS WHICH NO EYE CAN SEE, FILL OUR HEARTS, WE PRAY WITH THE WARMTH OF YOUR LOVE SO THAT LOVING YOU IN ALL THINGS AND ABOVE ALL THINGS, WE MAY ATTAIN YOUR PROMISES WHICH SURPASS EVERY HUMAN DESIRE.
