The Massabki Brothers

Today, the Pope canonized the Massabki Brothers, martyrs. They are called martyrs of faith and unity.

The Massabki Brothers are Maronites: Blessed Emanuele Ruiz and 7 Companions, of the Order of Friars Minor, and Francesco, Abdel Mooti, and Raffaele Massabki, Lay Faithful, killed in hatred of the Faith in Damascus, Syria between July 9 and 10, 1860. The brothers and companions refused to renounce their Christian faith and convert to Islam. The 11 were brutally killed, some beheaded with sabers and axes, others stabbed or clubbed to death.

July 10 is the liturgical memorial for the Massabki Brothers on the Maronite calendar and that of the Custody of the Holy Land.

Saint Massabki Brothers and Companions, pray for us.

Our Lady of the Rosary

Today the Church commemorates the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, a celebration that has its origin not, as it would seem, in simply a prayer, but in a battle.

On October 7th, 1571 a fleet of ships assembled by the combined forces of Naples, Sardinia, Venice, the Papacy, Genoa, Savoy and the Knights Hospitallers fought an intense battle with the fleet of the Ottoman Empire. The battle took place in the Gulf of Patras located in western Greece. Though outnumbered by the Ottoman forces, the so-called “Holy League” possessed of superior firepower would win the day. This victory would severely curtail attempts by the Ottoman Empire to control the Mediterranean, causing a seismic shift in international relations from East to West. In some respects, and I do not want this claim to be overstated, the world that we know came into being with this victory. This event is known to history as the “Battle of Lepanto.”

Pope Pius V, whose treasury bankrolled part of this military endeavor, ordered the churches of Rome opened for prayer day and night, encouraging the faithful to petition the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary through the recitation of the Rosary. When word reached the Pope Pius of the victory of the Holy League, he added a new feast day to the Roman Liturgical Calendar- October 7th would henceforth be the feast of Our Lady of Victory. Pope Pius’ successor, Gregory XIII would change the name of this day to the feast of the Holy Rosary.

Our Lady of Victories, pray for us.
Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us.

Source: Fr. Steve Grunow

Blessed Bartolo Longo

Today is the liturgical memory of Blessed Bartolo Longo (1841-1926).

Blessed Bartolo is dear to the Knights and Dames of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. To date, he’s only lay member of the Order to be beatified. He’s an example for us because of his practice of constant prayer, active charity, and love for the most needy. From the Italian City of Pompeii, a city that he helped regenerate thanks to the grace of recitation of the Rosary, Blessed Bartolo continues to inspire initiatives of prayer and charity worldwide.

Let’s ask him to intercede for the Order of the Holy Sepulchre.

Blessed Bartolo Longo, pray for us.

Blessed Hermann remembered

Today, we liturgically recall the blessed memory of Blessed Hermann of Reichenau or he is known as Blessed Herman the Cripple, an 11th-century Benedictine monk and scholar who is most remembered for composing the Salve Regina.

Each time we pray the rosary and concluding it with the Salve, we ought to invoke Blessed Hermann.

More here.

Rosary Pilgrimage 2024 at the Dominican Monastery

On October 6, at 3pm, the Monastery of Our Lady of Grace (the Dominican Nuns) will host the annual Rosary Pilgrimage. The Pilgriimage will be preached by Father Gabriel Torretta, OP.

The Pilgrimage includes Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary, and the presentation of the Rosary to our Blessed Mother at our Fatima Shrine.

Father Gabriel was recently assigned to teach at Providence College following doctoral studies at the University of Chicago.

Our Lady of Grace Monastery, 11 Race Hill Road, North Guilford.
https://www.dominicannuns.org

Remembering John

Earlier today while I was at the Lourdes in a Day –a spiritual encounter for those who senior, sick or in some way in need of healing– sponsored by the Order of Malta-CT North East Area– at St Peter Claver Church (West Hartford), I learned of a friend’s sudden death. Fr. Chris Ford and I were chatting about the day and I brought up that a friend, who had been at Lourdes in a Day last year, and benefitted from the experience, missed this year because he was to start a new chapter in his life at Thomas Aquinas College. Fr. Chris interrupted me to say that John died. His funeral was last week. I was –and continue to be– in shock and dismay: how could this happen?

John Kozak’s obit is here. It is a nicely composed biography of a young man whose life came to a tragic and unexpected end at 24 as a consequence of mental illness. He did not commit suicide. The death, as I understand it, was an accident. It was a struggle that encircled him, challenging is ability to find meaning and expression. John was a genius, he eager to have a conversation, he desired to be in relationship with the Lord. He was a good kid.

Pray for John’s eternal rest in the Lord’s arms. Pray for John’s family and friends who mourn him.

I am grateful for John’s friendship.