Fifth Sunday of Easter
Dear friends in Christ
In a meditation for the month of May, Saint John Henry Newman writes: Why is May chosen as the month in which we exercise a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin? The first reason is because it is the time when the earth bursts forth into its fresh foliage...the blossoms are upon the trees and the flowers are in the gardens. It is because the days have got long, and the sun rises early and sets late. For such gladness and joyousness of external nature is a fit attendant on our devotion to her who is the Mystical Rose and the House of Gold. She is the first of creatures, the most acceptable child of God, the dearest and nearest to Him. It is fitting then that this month should be hers, in which we especially glory and rejoice in His great Providence to us, in our redemption and sanctification in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. (From Meditations and Devotions, part 1)
We have a particular impetus for Marian Devotion in our Parish, we being dedicated to her memory at Lourdes. There are various ways that we can live this during May: remembering to visit the Grotto in our church, especially after Holy Mass; making a shrine in our homes around which we can gather and venerate her; praying part or all of the Rosary as a family or group; making a pilgrimage to one of her shrines or churches dedicated to her name; keeping on our person a reminder of her motherly presence in our lives, such as Rosary beads or a Miraculous Medal. Each Sunday throughout May we continue the custom of singing the Litany of Loretto as we process to her altar in the church. By these small gestures, we keep alive the memory of her whom God chose from all eternity to be His Mother, the Mother of the Saviour and Mother of the Church.
Friday will be the first anniversary of the election of our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. This is a day for us to thank God for his gift to the Church. Many of us will have seen the recent images of his Apostolic Journey to Africa and the joy with which he was received, and the optimism he brought to those countries. May he continue, as he has begun, giving us confidence in our Catholic Faith, and making the face of the Catholic Church appear credible and attractive.
May God and His Blessed Mother protect us, especially in this month of May!
Msgr Kevin Hale