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Pastor Weekly Message for May 2, 2021
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May 2, 2021Jesus is Lord!
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The month of May is the month dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God when all Catholics are encouraged to turn their attention to the Blessed Mother with a renewed intensity. This annual turn was highlighted in an encyclical published in 1965 entitled Mense Maio (The Month of May). In it Pope Paul VI said, “We are delighted and consoled by this pious custom associated with the month of May, which pays honor to the Blessed Virgin and brings such rich benefits to the Christian people. Since Mary is rightly to be regarded as the way by which we are led to Christ, the person who encounters Mary cannot help but encounter Christ likewise.” As we begin this month, I want to strongly encourage you to encounter the Blessed Mother who will surely help you encounter her Son, Jesus Christ.
An important part of this Marian tradition has been an encouragement to make specific prayer intentions during the month.
As Pope Paul VI noted in his encyclical, it is especially important during the month of May for Catholics to “offer up public prayers whenever the needs of the Church demanded it or some grave crisis threatened the human race.” Among the greatest need in the Church today is a revival of Faith throughout the world, most especially among lost and disconnected Catholics. This is the work of the New Evangelization. However, it would be insufficient if we only pray for those who do not
worship with us on a regular basis, as we all need to have our Faith rejuvenated regularly.
Once rejuvenated, we will hopefully be strengthened in sharing that Faith with others. To this end, Pope Francis has asked that during May, the faithful pray “that Mary, Star of the New Evangelization, may guide the Church in proclaiming Christ to all nations.” In effect, the Holy Father is asking all of us to pray that the Good News continue to be a vibrant part of our Church, nation, and world. This is ever more i mportant in the highly secularized environment we find ourselves in today. Because of this
marginalization of Faith in our world, we all share the responsibility of proclaiming Christ within this environment that has clearly become hostile to the Faith.
So, as we begin this month of May, let us turn to our Blessed Mother to honor her and ask for her. intercession as we pray the Memorare: “Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, we fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother; to you we come, before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer them. Amen.”
In Jesus and Mary,
Father Jeff Kegley
Pastor