St. Anthony of Padua Church - Rosary for Peace & Life Candlelight Procession, 10/7/2014

[Click on each photo on this blog to view larger images]

This past Tuesday, October 7th, was the annual Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, which celebrates not only a very rich title of the Blessed Virgin Mary, but the date also commemorates a stupendous event attributed to the power of the Holy Rosary - the historically significant Battle of Lepanto on October 7th, 1571, in which Christian Europe was victorious over the advancing naval forces of the Ottoman Turkish Empire.

So my parish of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Kailua chose to observe the feast by holding another rosary candlelight procession... and because October is also Respect Life Month, we prayed and marched not just for World Peace, but also for the protection of all pre-born babies throughout the world.

       

The procession began in our church with

our parish's Knights of Columbus carrying

the statue.  Note the unusual bluish ball of light

over the statue (left photo) - look for it in the

other photos on this page, as it can be seen

either leading the procession or hovering

over the statue platform.

... and back by popular demand were our "Living Mystery" Stations, which were strategically located along our procession route around the church and parochial school campus.  We enlisted our 5th Grade students to be the performing "cast" for the different scenes of the Joyful Rosary Mysteries and the kids did not disappoint!  Their innate innocence and enthusiasm for their Biblical roles again touched many participants; some even to tears.

+  The First Joyful Mystery:  The Annunciation

 Reflection:  Let us reflect on the humility

of the Blessed Virgin and imitate her complete

trust and surrender to the Holy Will of God.

+  The Second Joyful Mystery:  The Visitation

Reflection:  Let us reflect on the charity of

the Blessed Virgin and imitate her generosity

and concern for those in need of help

and loving support.

+  The Third Joyful Mystery:  The Nativity

Reflection:  Let us reflect on the immensity

of God's love for us; He who gave us Jesus,

His only begotten Son, so that we may be

saved and have everlasting life.

+  The Fourth Joyful Mystery:  The Presentation

Reflection:  Let us reflect on the joy of

Simeon and imitate his unwavering hope

and faith in the Word of God... and its

promise of salvation through Jesus Christ.

+  The Fifth Joyful Mystery:  The Finding of Jesus

        

Reflection:  Let us reflect on the Blessed

Virgin's attentiveness to her Divine Son, Jesus...

and imitate the manner in which she

took His words to heart.

The procession ended back in the main church, after which we all proceeded into our gathering hall for a potluck dinner and fellowship amongst our parishioners and guests from other parishes.  What started off as a gloomy, rainy day... was wondrously transformed by the Lord into a clear evening that was perfect for our procession and celebratory meal.  But that's the awesome power of prayer - it dispels the gloom in our lives and brings the Lord's clarity and joy.  GOD IS GOOD!

Above: Footage filmed during the Candlelight Procession

Above: A group photo with friends

and the Knights of Columbus

Below: Parishioners & guests enjoying

a potluck dinner + me with our Pastor,

Fr. Exsequel

     

First Saturday Parish Rosary at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 10/4/2014

Beautiful leis, shared by our parishioners,

adorn and surround my pilgrim statue... and

the Sacred Relics of Our Lady's veil and Bl.

Francis Xavier Seelos, the featured Saint.

Yesterday's First Saturday Rosary for Peace at St. Anthony of Padua Church was surprisingly well-attended despite bad, rainy weather. Perhaps it's because October is the special month of the Holy Rosary that people made a special effort to attend... and I was very pleased to see many new faces among our regular participants.

In particular, there was a large family that impressed me - a husband and wife with their six children, ranging from kindergarten-age to early teens.  All of them had just come from the confessional and they stayed to pray the Rosary with us; the kids even knew how to follow along and pray the Rosary.  Awesome and inspirational!  I couldn't help but recall to mind the popular Christian adage:

"A family that prays together,

stays together."

At the meeting I introduced the participants to the life and [bone] relic of Bl. Francis Xavier Seelos (d. 1867), a German-born priest who ministered and died in New Orleans, Louisiana.  This Blessed was not only a dedicated and caring priest, but he was also a gifted mystic who foresaw future events, read souls, and miraculously cured illnesses.  As I expected, most of the people were not even aware of Bl. Francis Xavier, which made them all the more eager to learn that there was another future Saint buried in American soil.  This is the reason why my Guadalupe House personal ministry exists - to make the Saints and Blesseds more known and loved, especially the little-known ones.  Incidentally, today - October 5th - is the Memorial of Bl. Francis Xavier Seelos.  May he pray and intercede for America, especially for his brother-priests.

One of the many bright silver escarchas captured in
a photo after our prayer meeting

So our prayers for peace proceeded beautifully and I knew we were all graced in a very special way last night.  Before and during the Rosary, I saw fine flakes of silver escarchas slowly appearing - twinkle by twinkle - on the chairs around where I was kneeling.  I was excited because I don't see them appearing as often as before, but I didn't draw attention to what I was witnessing so as to not disrupt the meeting.  I just continued on as I watched the escarchas appear and disappear.  I took it as a sign that we were being joined in our prayer by invisible inhabitants from Heaven, who were "taking seats" among us.

And speaking of inhabitants from Heaven, the next First Saturday Rosary for Peace will be prayed on Saturday, November 1st - the Feast of All Saints!  In keeping with my ministry's aims, I plan on having several popular Saints - St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina; St. Francis of Assisi; St. Rita of Cascia (Patron of "Impossible Cases"); St. Peregrine Laziosi (Patron of Cancer Patients); etc. - represented at the next prayer gathering by their Holy Relics.  All are welcomed to participate and pray with us, while paying special honor to Our Lady and the Saints!

"Go to Mass with deepest devotion...

Say the rosary every day."

~ Words of advice from

Bl. Francis Xavier Seelos

Saint of the Month - October 2014: Saint Ursula of Cologne

St. Ursula, Virgin & Martyr

Feast: October 21st **

This relatively obscure Saint is one of those exotic female virgin-martyrs whose biography became so embellished by legend that it eventually became a fantastic tale of improbable proportions.  According to one popular version of her life story, St. Ursula was a devout Christian of royal blood who was betrothed against her will to a pagan prince by her unsympathetic father.  Prior to her scheduled marriage, she obtained permission from her father to make a pilgrimage to Rome and embarked on a sea voyage with 11,000(!) virginal handmaids.

During the ocean crossing, Ursula and her entourage were marooned by a storm near Cologne, Germany, which at the time was being ravaged by the Huns.  One of the Hun chieftains was smitten by the lovely maiden but she refused his advances while professing her faith in our Lord, Jesus Christ.  In retaliation, Ursula and her handmaidens were murdered by their captors, via a shower of arrows, which thus earned for each of them the glorious palm of martyrdom.  According to one source, the mass-killing of St. Ursula and her companions occurred sometime in the year 451.

A historical, and more probable account, relates that circa the fourth century, a small church was erected over the tomb of a group of women martyrs in Cologne, Germany. The exact number of martyrs are not known, but apparently, the manner in which they died for our Faith impressed the local Christians and merited the building of a church over their mass grave.

An engraved stone plaque found near the tomb of the women was interpreted as identifying the leader of the group as “Ursula”, but confusion over some of the Roman texts may have led to the legend of the 11,000 virgins.  A Roman senator named Clematius was later inspired to renovate and enlarge the little church, which further popularized the cult of St. Ursula and her companions.

A Reflection
Who we associate with is a good indication of the person we most likely are, or may become.  As an old adage says, "Birds of a feather, flock together."

A Short Prayer

O St. Ursula, you surrounded yourself with godly companions, help me to choose my friends and associates wisely.  May I, too, be surrounded with good and holy people who will encourage and journey with me in my own walk towards Christ.  Amen.

** Note:  Although her Feast Day was removed from the Universal Roman Calendar in 1969 (due to the lack of historical data about her), there are still many Catholic communities throughout the world who observe St. Ursula's feast and venerate her memory.