This weekend we begin the month of October — the month dedicated to the Holy Rosary. Our Lady’s constant request is to pray the Rosary every day. This month, animated by our ADMA group, we will have the Rosary in the various languages every evening Monday thru Friday at 6:45PM, in front of the main church. Please come join us! I share this little reflection to help encourage you in this practice.

    The late Marian priest, Fr. Seraphim Michalenko, MIC often told this story about a priest ministering in Japan. While attending an international gathering of Christians from around the world the ambassador from Japan approached the Catholic priest. He said, “War is your fault.”

    The priest was very surprised and asked, “Why do you blame Catholics?” The ambassador replied, “I’ve read about this. The lady came to you at Fatima, right? That’s what you believe? She told you what to do to secure peace in the world. Well, there is no peace in the world, so obviously you Catholics haven’t done it”.

    The priest had to acknowledge that the ambassador was correct, but still tried to protest, saying, “Isn’t peace everyone’s responsibility?”

    The ambassador was vehement. “No, she came to you Catholics. Not to Buddhists. Not to Hindus. She came to you and it is your responsibility.” That ambassador had more faith than a lot of Catholics! But he is right. Our Lady asked for specific things at Fatima.

As a Catholic, have you done them yet?

- Pray the Rosary every day for peace in the world
- The consecration of Russia and each of us to the 
- Immaculate Heart of Mary
- Do all things out of love, dedicating everything to God; and
- Make reparation for sins against the Immaculate Heart of Mary by observing the “Five First Saturdays of Reparation.”

What are the First Five Saturdays? On December 10, 1925, Our Lady appeared to Sr. Lucia (one of the Fatima Children) and asked for four things:

- Go to Confession (may be eight days before or after)
- Receive Holy Communion
- Pray five decades of the Rosary
- Keep Our Lady company for 15 minutes while meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary.

Perform each of these “with the intention of making reparation to her for all the offences and blasphemies committed against her Immaculate Heart.

Our Lady promised to assist all those who practice this devotion on the First Saturday for five consecutive months with the graces necessary for salvation at the hour of their death.

Our Lady warned that if we do not repent and better ourselves, and if we do not answer her request, there would be punishment and the annihilation of several nations. Please do what you can to honor Our Lady’s request!

    Come to join us to pray for peace: peace in our heart, peace in our homes, peace in our nation, peace in our world!
    God bless you!

Fr Pat