"Greetings from the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe
Dear Friends of St. Maximilian,
Summer comes to an end this month with Labor Day parades, barbeques, and the windup of vacation revelry. I remember the carefree summers of my youth as some of the best days of my young life. Unfortunately, for many people this year, it has been a summer of struggle, hurt and anxiety. Here and abroad, too many of our brothers and sisters have borne the weight of a difficult economy, hurricanes and other natural disasters, hunger and hardship. We enter the month of September with deep concern for those who are struggling.
In our concern, we remember that September is the month in which we honor Mary under the title Our Lady of Sorrows. We honor her, who at the foot of the cross looks up at her beloved Son. She in essence suffers a spiritual martyrdom in the passion and death of Christ. She cannot take away the cross, only share in it. He is not alone. Mary is with him at the foot of the cross. (John 19:25)
St. Maximilian wrote “ … the poor, the weary, those who are bent under the burden of their worries, of their tribulations and crosses, are reassured in their certainty of not being orphans, of having a Mother who is aware of their suffering, who sympathizes with them, consoles them and helps them. They know they will still have to suffer for a while, but that their reward will follow … [and] a comforting balsam descends upon the hearts, a ray of hope appears again in desperate souls...”
It is never easy to suffer. Yet, we can have courage and hope because we are not alone. This month, make it a point to offer your prayers from the foot of the cross in solidarity with Our Lady of Sorrows and those who are alone, suffering or afraid. In doing so, you will bear –if even just a little – the crosses of others.
Peace to you.
Fr. Stephen McKinley, OFM Conv.
Rector of Marytown – The National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe"
Dear Friends of St. Maximilian,
Summer comes to an end this month with Labor Day parades, barbeques, and the windup of vacation revelry. I remember the carefree summers of my youth as some of the best days of my young life. Unfortunately, for many people this year, it has been a summer of struggle, hurt and anxiety. Here and abroad, too many of our brothers and sisters have borne the weight of a difficult economy, hurricanes and other natural disasters, hunger and hardship. We enter the month of September with deep concern for those who are struggling.
In our concern, we remember that September is the month in which we honor Mary under the title Our Lady of Sorrows. We honor her, who at the foot of the cross looks up at her beloved Son. She in essence suffers a spiritual martyrdom in the passion and death of Christ. She cannot take away the cross, only share in it. He is not alone. Mary is with him at the foot of the cross. (John 19:25)
St. Maximilian wrote “ … the poor, the weary, those who are bent under the burden of their worries, of their tribulations and crosses, are reassured in their certainty of not being orphans, of having a Mother who is aware of their suffering, who sympathizes with them, consoles them and helps them. They know they will still have to suffer for a while, but that their reward will follow … [and] a comforting balsam descends upon the hearts, a ray of hope appears again in desperate souls...”
It is never easy to suffer. Yet, we can have courage and hope because we are not alone. This month, make it a point to offer your prayers from the foot of the cross in solidarity with Our Lady of Sorrows and those who are alone, suffering or afraid. In doing so, you will bear –if even just a little – the crosses of others.
Peace to you.
Fr. Stephen McKinley, OFM Conv.
Rector of Marytown – The National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe"
St. Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us!
And, on the feast of Her birth, Mama Mary, pray for us!
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