Letter from the Pastor
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October 2, 2022The first Sunday in October is always Respect Life Sunday. It is a Sunday set aside by our bishops to emphasize that we as a country are called to respect all human life, especially the unborn. Every human life is precious and sacred, for every human being is created in the image and likeness of God. It is inherent to our human nature. So every human being, just by the fact they exist, whether for one second or 100 years, must be treated with respect and indeed reverence.
Once again this year from 2:00-3:30PM on the corner of Rte. 59 and Middletown Road, Nanuet, the 30th Annual Rockland County Life Chain will take place. It is a silent witness to the sanctity of human life, most particularly the life of the unborn. I encourage you and your family to participate by simply standing there and be a living witness to Life.
Now that Roe vs. Wade has been turned over, we are seeing great dishonesty, false claims, down-right lies in the defense of abortion. We cannot forget, abortion is a multi-billion dollar industry. A lot of people have become and are very rich because of the blood of innocent children. We also see how the discussion forgets “science” very quickly, and goes right to an emotional level, claims of rape and incest being the reason to allow abortion. Did you know that less than 1% of reasons given for abortion is rape, and less than .5% for incest, while over 74% of abortions are performed because the child is not wanted? (Guttmacher Institute)
The most basic and simple question to ask a proponent of abortion—“Is it ok with you to directly kill an innocent life?”? If they say yes, there is nothing else to discuss for you are talking with someone who is holding an irrational view. The fight for life is still needed; we need to enlighten minds and more importantly convert hearts.
796 years ago during the evening of October 3-4, 1226, St. Francis of Assisi died. His health had been sharply declining, and several months earlier had asked to come home to Assisi. St. Francis asked to be carried to the little Church of St. Mary so that he might die in the same place where he received the grace of his conversion.
Tuesday is October 4th, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis is known for his love for creation, he saw God in the beauty, the diversity, and the order of His work. Therefore, all of creation is united and one can speak of Brother Sun, even Sister Death. We will bless the animals at 6:00PM on the front steps of the Church.
The following day is the feast of the mystic St. Faustina, the “Apostle of Divine Mercy.” St. Faustina was born in Poland in 1905; she entered the convent of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. Beginning in 1924 and throughout her life, she had mystical visions even conversation with our Lord; she wrote it all down in her diary. On February 22, 1934, she had the vision of our Lord as King of Mercy, wearing a white garment with red and pale rays coming from His Sacred Heart. We are all familiar with the picture. Many are also familiar with the Chaplet of Divine Mercy Prayer. St. Faustina died on October 5, 1938. Pope St. John Paul II canonized her in the year 2000.
Friday is the Feast of the Holy Rosary. October is the month dedicated to the Rosary. It is the feast day when we remember the Christian defeat of the Muslim Ottoman Turks at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. That battle saved Christian Europe from the invasion of the Muslims. Pope St. Pius V asked all Christians to pray the rosary for victory and in thanksgiving for our Blessed Lady instituted this feast day. Our Lady was also given the title of Our Lady of Victory.
This will be the last weekend we have Masses in Toner Hall. Our Upper Church is finished. This upcoming week, the final touch-ups and famous “punch list” will be completed. Once again, I would like to thank you for your patience during this adventure. The inconvenience we experienced is worth it for all that we do is for the honor and glory of God alone. We do our best; and we use the best things of this world for God’s honor.
True beauty leads to God.
