"Holy Rosary"

October 6, 2009

The Year for Priests

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

When I joined the Knights of Columbus I was very happy about a great number of things for which they stand. Chief among them, and I keep this promise faithfully, is the carrying of the rosary in my pocket at all times.  I think that having the rosary in my pocket makes me stay a bit more “in contact” with the Blessed Mother.  Many is the time when I am involved in some meeting or speaking engagement when I simply put my hand in my pocket and hold the rosary asking for Mary’s assistance when I know that I could sure use it!  So, as we begin this month dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary, it might be a good thing for us to remember.  Keep your rosary close.  Even better, pray the mysteries of the rosary (http://www.vatican.va/special/rosary/documents/misteri_en.html) everyday.  For priests, the great Luminous Mysteries that we pray on Thursday are clearly such a great meditation for us on the gifts of Christ’s life celebrated in the ministries of priests.  For all of us, meditating on the mysteries of the rosary certainly help us to focus on the life of Jesus -- His  Mother and ours, Mary.

We all should remember, too, that the rosary has always been viewed as force to overcome the hostilities of evil that are directed toward the Lord, His Mother, and the Church.  The rosary is a tremendous prayer that can be used by all of us to pray for peace in the world and in our homes, to invoke social justice, and to convert hardened and unbelieving hearts (http://www.newadvent.org/images/rosary.pdf). 

The feast of Our Lady of the Rosary tomorrow, October 7, was first established by Pope Saint Pius V in 1573 to give thanks for a critical victory at sea won by Christians in the famous Battle of Lepanto.  The Dominicans, who in particular battled heresies in the Middle Ages, promoted the rosary as the means by which the true faith was taught and prayed.  Of course we all know of the significance of the rosary in the various apparitions of Our Lady around the world, especially at Fatima and Lourdes.

On a personal note, as you read this, I am in Rome.  No, I’m not lobbying for a new Archbishop—although I will keep my ears open for any “hot news.”  I am in Rome for the diaconate ordination of 25 men from the North American College.  Among them is our own John Burns, from Lumen Christi. Fr. Don Hying, the Rector of our seminary and many other priests from our Archdiocese will also be present.  I will also have the opportunity to visit with our other seminarians studying in Rome and Leuven, Belgium.  Please remember to keep our seminarians, at home and in foreign lands, in your prayers.  What a grand group of men they are.  They will be wonderful priests and a blessing to our Archdiocese.

While I will be leaving Rome on Friday, the Holy Father will celebrate the canonization of ten new saints next Sunday, October.  Some of local interest include St. Damien de Veuster—Fr. Damien of Molaki, the Leper Priest. St. Damien is entombed in a beautiful church located about two blocks from the American Seminary—the Louvain—in Leuven, Belgium.  We have two seminarians studying there and the Rector is our own Msgr. Ross Shecterle. 

The other new saint of interest is St. Marie de la Croix—Jeanne Jugan—the foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor.  This community of sisters ran St. Anne’s nursing home on the northwest side of Milwaukee, now wonderfully served by the Salvatorians.  A large number of the Little Sisters who died in Milwaukee are buried at our own Mount Olivet Cemetery on the south side.  The Little Sisters were the caregivers and death bed companions of my own Mother.  I am so happy to join them in welcoming their Foundress to the ranks of the saints!

St. Damien, pray for us.
St. Jeanne Jugan, pray for us.

Faithfully in Christ,

Most Reverend William Patrick Callahan

Archdiocesan Administrator
Archdiocese of Milwaukee

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