I recently received a letter dated May 27, 2024, from Archbishop Emeritus Robert J. Carlson of Saint Louis. In that letter, he highlights the fact that Missouri is one of the states of our nation that has strong pro-life laws protecting the infant in the womb by outlawing abortion. He goes on to say that he supports a strong media response to stop any efforts to overturn those laws but then suggested that along with this campaign, there must be a strong prayer campaign, invoking the help of the intercession of our Blessed Mother.He then recommended offering the Votive Mass of Our Lady on the first five Saturdays of July, August, September, October, and November, before Election Day, Nov. 5. He suggested the people in the diocese begin a “rosary campaign” for life, daily if possible. Of course, all our priests and deacons are encouraged to preach on the gift of life. I have certainly tried to raise awareness of the efforts of outside money and influence to make Missouri an abortion state and will continue to do so. But I do think that now is the time to initiate a spiritual campaign, invoking our Blessed Mother.
I ask all pastors, if possible, to offer up a First Saturday Mass on July 6, Aug. 3, Sept. 7, Oct. 5, and Nov. 2. Since Nov. 2 is All Souls Day, the specific intention can still be for the pro-life cause while the prayers for All Souls must be celebrated. Many of our parishes already offer the Rosary before or after Mass, but I would ask that on these specific dates, the rosary be included. If your parish does not offer a First Saturday Mass, please find a parish nearby and attend.
I have asked Sr. Janine Tran, CMR, Director of our Respect Life Office to coordinate this effort. At press time, she has probably already reached out to gather the list of parishes that already have a Saturday morning Mass. This information will then be disseminated so that those who desire to participate in this Prayer Campaign can do so.
I have to say that with all of the business of the “decline to sign” and billboards and our lobbying through the Missouri Catholic Conference, maybe the simple response of prayer was sort of forgotten. I am grateful for Archbishop Carlson’s letter calling us to this prayer campaign through the intercession of Our Lady. The devotion of the five First Saturdays is part of the message of Fatima. The five Saturdays correspond to the offenses and blasphemies committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary, blasphemies against her Immaculate Conception, her virginity, her divine motherhood, hatred toward the Immaculate Mother, and insults against her sacred images.
With the threat of abortion in our state, along with the many protests on our nation’s campuses, drug abuse, pornography, the rise of atheism and religious indifference, we need this devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary more than ever. The devotion includes confession, but it does not have to be on that First Saturday; the worthy reception of Holy Communion, and praying the rosary, with the purpose of making reparation to her Immaculate Heart. In a letter to Cardinal Caffarra, who had been commissioned by Pope St. John Paul II to establish the Pontifical Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, Sr. Lucia of Fatima wrote, “The final battle between the Lord and the kingdom of Satan will be about marriage and the family. Don’t be afraid, because whoever works for the sanctity of marriage and the family will always be fought against and opposed in every way, because this is the decisive issue. Nevertheless, Our Lady has already crushed his head.”
I hope that as many parishes as possible will be able to implement these five First Saturday Masses along with the rosary. And I will look at my own calendar to see where I can participate as well.
“O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.”
Published in the June 07, 2024 issue of The Mirror.
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