This year, the Solemnity of the Assumption occurs on a Saturday and so it is not a Holy Day of Obligation for which we must attend Mass. However, this does not lessen the importance of the Assumption or the appropriateness of celebrating it at Mass. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary points to the fulfillment of her role as the first among those who believe in Christ and who shares in the fullness of redemption with the Lord has gained for us.
God speaks to us in many unexpected ways. Through the daily encounters of our lives, the people we meet, the joys we experience, and sometimes in the annoying events before us, God is present and speaking to us.
We very much need time for silence. The world in which we live is filled with so many distractions due to instant media and communications. Through our cellphones, laptops and iPads, we are in constant contact with others as well as with all that is going on within the world.
Truly, the Heart of Jesus speaks to that of Mary, and the heart of Mary speaks to that of Jesus. It was from Mary’s human heart that the human heart of the Lord literally came into existence.
It is quite fitting that this consecration, as well as the celebration of our nation’s 250th anniversary, takes place almost immediately following the encyclical, Magnificent Humanity, which our Holy Father, Pope Leo, just gave to us.
Pope Leo XIV has presented his first encyclical to the Church, signed on May 15 and delivered on May 25. It is an extraordinary encyclical, entitled Magnifica Humanitas, emphasizing the grandeur of the human nature which God has given to us, and reflecting upon many contemporary matters which can detract from that nature, most especially that of artificial intelligence.
The celebration of Pentecost this year brings with it the eve of an important event in the life of the Church and in the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV. On May 25, the day following Pentecost, the first encyclical of our Holy Father will be published at an elaborate press conference in Rome.
As I reflected in last week’s column, the month of May is dedicated to Mary. For us in the Diocese of Palm Beach, this is especially significant since our patroness is Mary under her title as Queen of the Apostles.
As we enter the month of May, we look to Mary to whom this month is devoted as we are reminded of her role as the Mother of God, the Mother of the Church and our Mother as well.
April 21 marked the first anniversary of the passing of Pope Francis. This anniversary has reminded us of the many ways in which Pope Francis blessed the Church and reminded us all of what really matters in life, which is our call to holiness.
What we commit ourselves to at Easter and profess each week in the Creed is lived on a daily basis. Our love for God and His Church is lived in our commitment to the celebration of the Eucharist, our daily prayer, our reception of the sacraments, our giving of ourselves to build up our parish communities, and our love and concern for each other, especially the poor and the vulnerable.
Like Dante and Frost, we find ourselves at a midway point, that of our journey through Lent. Sunday, March 15, marks that midway point on what is traditionally called “Laetare” (Rejoice) Sunday.
We live in a world that is filled with words spoken to us through instant communication. These words are aimed to communicate a particular message and are, many times, confusing and conflicting. Of all the words that are presented to us, none are more important than those of the Lord spoken to our hearts in the Scriptures. Lent offers us good time to spend in silence with the word of God and to listen to His voice.
During this month of February, as we celebrate Valentine’s Day and begin the season of Lent, may we know more fully the love of God in our hearts. May that love help us to give ourselves more completely to God and to each other so that we may experience the promise of our Lord, “I have told you this so that my joy might be yours and your joy might be complete” (Jn 15:11).
Ordained to be a Minister of Joy
It is good to remind ourselves, as priests, that making small promises regarding gestures of understanding and kindness, especially to those who offend us, intentionally or not, support, in a concrete fashion, the promise we make to imitate the Lord in all things.
