Hello Dear Friends! Thanks for joining us for this time of prayer from the Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary at the Museum of Family Prayer and the Father Peyton Center in Easton Massachusetts. During this time of Covid 19 restrictions each day at 11:30, Monday through Friday we will be offering a brief homily for the day and we will pray the Holy Rosary. I am Father Jim Phalan, National Director of the Family Rosary. We thank you for joining us, for being prayer partners with us at this time when it is so important that we come together to pray and to support one another, TRUSTING IN THE LORD. Things may be uncertain but we are certain of God’s love and that he always leads – particularly when we carry our crosses – always into new and greater life! Our Holy Mother Mary is always with us, guiding us to Jesus.
In that spirit let me wish you all a Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! Because of the corona virus restrictions our celebrations have to be more retrained than we might like, but let that encourage us to look more at Patrick the SAINT! The Irish have always regarded him as their great Father in Faith. The faith he transmitted gave a new shape to culture and then lifted Europe out of the Dark Ages, In modern times Irish missionaries and immigrants have brought Patrick’s faith to the ends of the earth. THAT FAITH GUIDES US NOW!
Patrick remains a towering figure – rather like the mountain in County Mayo that bears his name: Croagh Patrick. Ancient tradition says that Saint Patrick fasted on the top of Croagh Patrick for 40 days. Venerable Patrick Peyton was raised in County Mayo and would have gone there many times, maybe even in his youth for the great centuries old annual pilgrimage climb, in July, when thousands climb to do penance.
Like Saint Patrick, the mountain towers over the surrounding countryside for many miles, beckoning with its beauty which is both soothing and austere. The climb to the summit is both awesome and rigorous, like Patrick’s Spirituality. It’s penitential, but PENANCE IS NOT ABOUT SOME TRYING TO BUY FORGIVENESS FOR SINS FROM SOME TERRIBLE GOD. Rather it is reconciliation, purification and PREPARATION. Patrick spent 40 days on the mountain for an encounter with God, like Moses on Mount Sinai, and Jesus in the desert.
Our 40 days of Lenten penance is to lead us to this encounter too! This Lent the corona virus has changed our lives dramatically, stopping a lot of our activities. This has led to fear and for some, real suffering, but can we let it all, all our challenges, be calls to TRUST WHERE GOD LEADS US and to ascend the mountain of the Lord? Penance is about recognizing our weakness and sin and our need for God so then to the know His Mercy and Strength.
LET GO of your anxiety by turning to the Lord. Climb the Mountain with Him! HE WILL GUIDE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY! Here is a great prayer by Saint Patrick that really summarizes what he learned on that summit and shows the source of his power!
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
Please watch Father Jim Phalan, C.S.C., deliver this message on Facebook.
Click HERE to watch a video from our Catholic Central Family about Saint Patrick
Father James Phalan, C.S.C., is a Catholic priest, member of the Congregation of Holy Cross and the National Director of Family Rosary. He served as a missionary for many years travelling the globe to help people come to Jesus through Mary as part of the Family Rosary team. Now he is happy to be serving back at home in the USA!
