First Saturday Parish Rosary at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 11/5/2016

Our Lady, Queen of All

Saints, pray for us!

We prayed for the deceased today. We had to - the Poor Souls need our prayers... and November gives us the special opportunity to practice this worthy, pious exercise in an exceptionally powerful way. Since the Church traditionally dedicates this month to remembering and praying for our dearly departed, countless Catholics around the world are spiritually focused to this end... and there's definitely a lot of power in that.

With that thought in mind, I introduced the prayer participants to Bl. Elizabeth Achler of Reute (d. 1420) - or "Good Betha", as her contemporaries affectionately called her - who was a German stigmatic and a dedicated benefactor of the Holy Souls in Purgatory.

As her story goes, Good Betha, participated in the Passion of Christ, via wounds from a mystical crown of thorns and nail marks in her hands and feet. She was also highly devoted to the Eucharist and was said to survive on just the Blessed Sacrament, alone, for the final twelve years of her life. Some biographies have made mention of Good Betha's direct contact with the Poor Souls whom she aided through voluntary penances; the suffering of the stigmata; and her frequent attendance at Mass, which entailed Holy Communion.

I emphasized with our group that, aside from the extraordinary graces and sufferings experienced by Bl. Elizabeth Achler, we too can help the Poor Souls, among other ways, by simply attending Mass on their behalf like how she did. In return, the gratitude and loyalty of these souls towards their benefactors run deep. Once completely sanctified and in Heaven, these souls intercede diligently for those who assisted them in getting there; praying that their helpers will one day join them in eternal bliss.

So let us follow the excellent faith-example of Good Betha and keep the Holy Souls in mind whenever we attend Mass and receive Holy Communion.  Our dearly departed need our prayers.

The next First Saturday Rosary for Peace at St. Anthony of Padua Church will be prayed on Saturday, December 3rd.  All are welcome.

The Relics that were present at today's

First Saturday Rosary - on the left, a relic of

Bl. Elizabeth Achler's ("Good Betha") clothing

and, on the right, Our Lady's veil relic.