A MESSAGE FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
There seem to be more new beginnings than usual as we start out this new year of 2017. On Friday, our nation’s capital witnessed the swearing-in of its 45th president, the pomp and ceremonial providing a suitable accompaniment for the hopes and dreams of so many God-fearing Americans. We must remember to pray hard for our new president and his administration, that he can somehow manage to unite the people of this country without compromising our God-given values and beliefs.
Meanwhile, in our own little
world, the chapel of St. Margaret Mary has resumed its schedule of weekly
Masses, for what we hope will be a long, fruitful, and harmonious apostolate in
this part of Ohio. I am very grateful
for the warm welcome you have given me, and for the opportunity to serve your
spiritual needs. I am looking forward to
getting to know you all in the weeks and months to come, and encourage you to
contact me if you would like to discuss any aspect of your faith or spiritual
life.
It is appropriate that this
Sunday falls within the Chair of Unity Octave. Each of the eight days of this
octave is dedicated to the return of one or other non-Catholic group to the
bosom of the Catholic Church. This is
not some silly ecumenical nonsense dreamed up since Vatican II, but was
approved by the great and holy Pope St. Pius X to foster the true union of
Christians which can only be realized within the Church that Christ
founded. It is our solemn duty to pray
for those outside her walls, in the darkness where there is no salvation, that
their souls may be saved through the graces that can be found in the Catholic
Church alone.
Today’s intention is for the
Protestants of America, and it is particularly appropriate that we should be
offering up our prayers for spiritual unity with them at a time when we stand
in such political solidarity. Please
join in the special prayers after Mass today with true apostolic zeal for these
souls who love God so very much, but are deprived of the fullness of the faith
and the grace of the sacraments.
Finally, your prayers are
also asked for the newest member of our chapel, Lucia Catherine Ream, who was
delivered into this world last Tuesday, and who will have her own new beginning
in the waters of baptism after Mass today.
May God grant her a long and holy life.
Father Hall
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