Dear friends in Christ,

The Archdiocese of Boston has recently noted that the “Satancon” convention will be held in Boston from April 28-30 at the Boston Marriott Copley Place. The organizers of this convention are billing it as “the largest satanic gathering in history.”

It is sad to witness that there are people who find satisfaction in celebrating the power of evil in the world. Perhaps they have never experienced the sense of joy and the power of redemption that we find in this Easter Season. We are a people of hope, thanks to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, who offers all believers the path to life eternal in the loving embrace of God.

By baptism we are called to be witnesses to the Good News, in particular in light of this Satancon event. Let us remember that our power to combat evil lies in the power of prayer. To that end, I join my voice to that of Cardinal O’Malley in asking that we not organize or encourage any parishioners to go to the event to protest. It will only fuel the hate of those who support it and feed the media with images.

We should not, however, stand by idly and feel powerless. Let us storm the heavens with prayer, in anticipation of and during the event. Pause at any time during the days ahead and petition God to enlighten those who are calling on the prince of darkness to turn toward the light of his saving power. Use formal prayers, such as the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel or pray the rosary, or simply use your own words. God will hear you if you simply call on him.
I ask pastors to be especially vigilant during the month of April during the distribution of holy Communion. If necessary, remind people that they should be consuming the sacred species immediately, to assure that the Blessed Sacrament is not being carried off for nefarious use.

A petition for use during the Prayers of the Faithful for the weekend before and during the event will follow in a subsequent communication.

Join me in reciting The Prayer of Saint Michael, in particular during this month:

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

With every prayerful best wish, I remain

Sincerely yours in Christ.

Most Reverend Robert J. McManus, Bishop of Worcester

If we have never sought, we seek Thee now;
Thine eyes burn through the dark, our only stars;
We must have sight of thorn-pricks on Thy brow,
We must have Thee, O Jesus of the Scars.
The heavens frighten us; they are too calm;
In all the universe we have no place.
Our wounds are hurting us; where is the balm?
Lord Jesus, by Thy Scars, we claim Thy grace.
If, when the doors are shut, Thou drawest near,
Only reveal those hands, that side of Thine;
We know to-day what wounds are, have no fear,
Show us Thy Scars, we know the countersign.
The other gods were strong; but Thou wast weak;
They rode, but Thou didst stumble to a throne;
But to our wounds only God’s wounds can speak,
And not a god has wounds, but Thou alone.

Edward Shillito, “Jesus of the Scars”

As the Season of Advent is coming upon us, I ask that you join me in a pious devotion that is prayed daily, from the feast of St. Andrew, November 30 until Christmas Eve, December 24 – the St. Andrew Christmas Novena, that is sometimes called the Christmas Anticipation Prayer. Others refer to it as the “Christmas Miracle Novena.” It is piously believed that whoever recites the short prayer fifteen times a day, from the feast of St. Andrew on November 30th until Christmas, will obtain what is asked!

Thomas McKenna, Catholic Action For Faith And Family

A highlight form WQPH’s recent pilgrimage to Italy. The pilgrims visit a shrine devoted to Saint Gianna Beretta Molla in Mesero, Italy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the Eighty-eighth.

Abraham Lincoln, Thanksgiving Day Proclamation (excerpt), October 3rd 1863

Ora è ben noto quel che lo Stato totalitario e antireligioso esige ed attende da lei come prezzo della sua tolleranza o del suo problematico riconoscimento. Esso, cioè, vorrebbe

una Chiesa che tace, quando dovrebbe parlare;

una Chiesa che indebolisce la legge di Dio, adattandola al gusto dei voleri umani, quando dovrebbe altamente proclamarla e difenderla;

una Chiesa che si distacca dal fondamento inconcusso sul quale Cristo l’ha edificata, per adagiarsi comodamente sulla mobile sabbia delle opinioni del giorno o per abbandonarsi alla corrente che passa;

una Chiesa che non resiste alla oppressione delle coscienze e non tutela i legittimi diritti e le giuste libertà del popolo;

una Chiesa che con indecorosa servilità rimane chiusa fra le quattro mura del tempio, dimentica del divino mandato ricevuto da Cristo: Andate sui crocicchi delle strade (Matth. 22, 9); istruite tutte le genti (Matth. 28, 19).Diletti figli e figlie! Eredi spirituali di una innumerevole legione di confessori e di martiri!

È questa la Chiesa che voi venerate ed amate? Riconoscereste voi in una tale Chiesa i lineamenti del volto della vostra Madre? Potete voi immaginarvi un Successore del primo Pietro, che si pieghi a simili esigenze?

Address of His Holiness Pius XII to the Faithful, February 20, 1949