By Julia Rose
ShrineofDivineMercy.org
I'm venturing off Eden Hill this week to share some amazing photos from last Friday's March for Life in Washington, D.C.! Father Tyler Mentzer, MIC, led a delegation of Marian seminarians from our Marian House of Studies in Steubenville, Ohio (above) and our three postulants based in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. They were lucky to serve at the opening Mass (below) of the National Prayer Vigil for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
“As Marian Fathers we definitely honor the Lord’s gift of life that He’s given to each of us, and we seek to promote that and be witnesses of that in the world,” Fr. Tyler says. “In a beautiful way, we have our charisms of Our Lady, Mary Immaculate and Divine Mercy, and as Marian Fathers, and as people of the Church, we want to choose mercy and choose life…may we continue to be together instruments of the Lord’s mercy and promote God’s gift of life.” Amen!
Farewell, Christmas Season!
Snow continues to blanket Eden Hill (16 inches and counting), and even the Baby Jesus in our crèche is wearing a wintry coat! The snow is actually piled so high that you can’t even see the platforms that lift up the Stations of the Cross (below)!
The snowy wonderland is a timely reminder that the Christmas season traditionally ends on Monday, Feb. 2, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (Candlemas), and with it we say goodbye to our beautiful crèche until next December!
February 2 is also Groundhog Day (PLEASE don't see your shadow, Punxsutawney Phil!) and it's my birthday (please don't tell anyone!) but, more importantly, it's also the World Day of Consecrated Life. A great day to thank all men and women religious and, especially, the Marians who lead us closer to Christ through their fierce love for Mary Immaculate and the Divine Mercy devotion! Check out the new article by Fr. Jim McCormack, MIC.
Please join us an light a candle during the Our Lady of Lourdes Novena, beginning Feb. 2. Here's how.
Father Chris Alar, MIC gave an amazing "Explaining the Faith" talk this weekend on “Explaining the Apostles Creed.” Listen here!
And on Tuesday, Feb. 3, don't forget to have your throat blessed on the Feast of St. Blaise, following every Shrine Mass at 8 and 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Here's a great video by Fr. Anthony Gramlich, MIC, explaining why we bless throats!
A Holy Place
After Mass for the Feast of Blessed George Matulaitis on Jan. 27, I met a faithful pilgrim, Jack, a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Millis, Massachusetts. Raised in Pittsfield, Jack grew up knowing about the Shrine, but it wasn’t until his strong reversion to the Catholic faith that his fondness for Eden Hill grew. “I started coming back here because I always knew it was just a holy place and a great spot for daily Mass and Confession," he says.
Visiting about every two weeks, or whenever his schedule will allow, Jack was encouraged by his friend, Jacqui Morris, Major Gifts Officer in our Mission Advancement Office, to volunteer on Divine Mercy Weekend last year. He's signed up to volunteer again this year!
Jack appreciates the connection between his two favorite devotions, Divine Mercy and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. “In many ways, the Divine Mercy devotion is sort of an augmentation of the Sacred Heart devotion," he says. “It shows the power of God’s mercy in everyone’s life. Not only mercy, but a call to repentance." He always keeps the Divine Mercy Image close at hand.
"The Shrine is such a blessing," he concludes. "I’m excited to see what the new monastery will look like once it’s complete. I pray for the Marians in all vocations, so hopefully they’ll continue to see many more in the future." We agree!
Interested in volunteering at the National Shrine for Divine Mercy Weekend this year? Please join us! Here's how.
Farewell, Christmas! See you all next week!
{shopmercy-ad}
