My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
The liturgies of the last two Saturdays were focused on the Blessed Mother. On August 15, we celebrated the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and this Saturday, August 22, we celebrated the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This memorial was established by Pope Pius XII in 1954 as part of the Marian Year, marking the centenary of the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. He instituted the feast through the encyclical Ad Caeli Reginam (“To the Queen of Heaven”).
Originally celebrated on May 31, the memorial was moved to August 22 in the post-Vatican II revision of the Roman Calendar. The date was chosen to connect Mary’s Queenship with the Solemnity of the Assumption, providing the church with a spiritual and theological progression: Mary, assumed body and soul into heaven, shares in the glory of her Son and is honored as Queen.
The title “Queen” has deep roots in Christian tradition. From the earliest centuries, Christians recognized Mary as the mother of Christ the King. Mary’s Queenship, however, is very different from worldly power. Her crown is the crown of humility, faith, and loving service. Our Blessed Mother always points us to her Son here in our earthly experience, and ultimately in the heavenly kingdom prepared for us. Never keeping our attention on herself, she always leads us to Him. As a servant Queen, she teaches us that true greatness is not found in being served, but in saying yes to God and becoming a servant of others.
Like Mary, may we trust God’s plan, serve with humility, and allow Christ to reign more fully in our hearts and in our lives.
SAINT ROSE OF LIMA – This Sunday, August 23, is also the feast day of St. Rose of Lima, the patron Saint of our parish.
St. Rose of Lima was born in Lima, Peru on April 20, 1586. Her father was a Puerto Rican who had come to Peru in 1548 with the Spanish conquistadors. She received the name Rose when a housemaid, gazing upon her when she was still an infant, remarked, “She’s as lovely as a rose.” Her mother decided that Rose would be her daughter’s name, and later she was given that name at the time of confirmation.
As a young girl growing up, Rose was given to austerities: fasting and mortification. Because her parents denied her permission to enter a convent and because she preferred not to marry, she endured much misunderstanding from her parents and friends. She continued, however, to remain at home, but she lived a secluded life. To do her share in supporting the family, she did needlework and sold the flowers she cultivated. When she was 20 years of age, she joined the Third Order of St. Dominic and converted a little hut in the backyard into a hermitage where she often went to pray. She also transformed a room in her parents’ house into a sort of infirmary where she cared for destitute children and elderly people.
She died on August 24, 1617 at the age of 31, and she was canonized by Pope Clement X in 1671. St. Rose of Lima is the first saint from the Americas. The Mass prayer on her feast day recalls her austerity of life and the fervor of her love of God.
As we prepare to begin our year-long celebration of our parish’s 75th Anniversary, let us pray for the intercession of St. Rose on our parish and its mission to serve this community.
LITANY OF SAINT ROSE OF LIMA
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ have mercy on us.
Christ graciously hear us.
Saint Rose of Lima, Pray for us.
St. Rose, dear to the Virgin Mary, Pray for us.
St. Rose, who disliked worldly vanity, Pray for us.
St. Rose, perfect example of an angelic life, Pray for us.
St. Rose, flower among the thorns, Pray for us.
St. Rose, example of patience and mortification, Pray for us.
St. Rose, victorious over temptation, Pray for us.
St. Rose, favored by appearances of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pray for us.
St. Rose, devoted to heavenly contemplation, Pray for us.
St. Rose, full of God’s love, Pray for us.
St. Rose, passionate for the salvation of souls, Pray for us.
St. Rose, whose charity was not stopped by persecution,
Pray for us.
St. Rose, full of the love of Jesus and Mary, Pray for us.
St. Rose, first flower of sanctity in America, Pray for us.
St. Rose, sweet–scented rose of piety and virtue,
Pray for us.
St. Rose, servant of God perfectly united with Him,
Pray for us.
St. Rose, lover of prayer and solitude, Pray for us.
St. Rose, merciful friend of sinners, Pray for us.
St. Rose, consoler of the sick and help of the needy,
Pray for us.
St. Rose, beloved by God, Pray for us.
Pray for us, O holy St. Rose.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
FR. JOE McCANN CONTACT INFO Vincentian Community, Sybil Hill, Raheny, Dublin (D05 AE38) josephfrancismccann@gmail.com
Peace!
