By TAMI QUIGLEY Staff writer
Faithful across the Diocese of Allentown gathered in their parishes in all five counties of the Diocese Sept. 15 for a Day of Prayer and Reparation: Our Lady of Sorrows.
All 84 parishes of the Diocese of Allentown were open that Saturday – feast day of Our Lady of Sorrows – from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for silent prayer and adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
People were encouraged to make quiet visits to pray for the victims and survivors of sexual abuse and their families. Local pastors set the schedule of devotions for that day based on their parochial needs.
The Most Blessed Sacrament was reposed during the Saturday Vigil Mass and exposed for Adoration at the conclusion of Mass until 8 p.m. If a Chapel was available, the Most Blessed Sacrament could remain on the altar for the entire day.
The day was one of four liturgical initiatives Bishop Alfred Schlert has offered to be observed across the Diocese as “reparation for offenses against the Body of Christ.”
The second concerns the traditional prayer to St. Michael the Archangel; the third is fasting for priests; and the fourth is
“Ember Days” of prayer and fasting for all the faithful.
Some pastors and parishioners from the five counties offered their reflections on the day.
Lehigh County – St. Thomas More, Allentown
“I’m here to pray for a healing in the Church and healing of victims in the whole Church scandal,” said Jane as she paused to offer a comment in front of a statue of the Pieta – Our Lady of Sorrows – after praying at St. Thomas More.
“I’m here to offer reparation to Jesus for all these problems and mostly to pray for healing.”
Berks County – St. Mary, Kutztown
Father Martin Kern, pastor of St. Columbkill, Boyertown and spiritual director of the Cursillo Movement in the Diocese, prayed with members of the Cursillo community during adoration at St. Mary, Kutztown.
“The Cursillo has a quarterly School of Leaders at St. Mary’s in Kutztown. Saturday happened to be one of those days. So those gathered spent a half hour in prayer at the conclusion of Mass before our school. I am glad that the Cursillo community could be part of this day of prayer.”
Carbon County – Sacred Heart, Palmerton
“From the opening 8 a.m. Mass throughout the day, parishioners took half-hour periods of adoration until 7:30 p.m. when we had prayer and closing of benediction at 7 p.m.,” said Father William Campion, pastor. “A litany of St. Michael was available to all adorers for their personal prayer for the sins against the Body of Christ.
“Eucharistic adoration is one of the great gifts that God has given to us in this Barque of Peter. Having Eucharistic adoration this Saturday was to me a great way to seek God’s help in repairing the damage done to us and to holy mother Church,” said a parishioner.
“I, for myself, will never leave the Barque of Peter because it is only here that I can kneel before his majesty in praise and adoration, looking at him, seeking the help necessary to be faithful. It is there that we can, like the apostles, look to Jesus as they were being swamped in the boat for help.”
Northampton County – Our Lady of Good Counsel, Bangor
At Our Lady of Good Counsel, Bangor exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament took place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“Sadly, in these days, we have deeply felt the ravage of sin, evil and crime that has afflicted our Church for far too long,” said Father Stephen Maco, pastor.
Father Maco encouraged everyone “to join in prayer before our merciful God, as we seek forgiveness to replace anger and embarrassment, and peace to replace the anguish that has been brought on by the evil of abuse.”
“In turn, may we use this time in the Lord’s presence to pray for healing and a sense of spiritual hopefulness in looking to the future. Jesus Christ has assured us that he is with us at all times, even until the end of time,” Father Maco said.
“Certainly, these are difficult times which speak to the forceful presence of the devil and evil throughout the world. Before our merciful God, though, as we go forth from this day, may we seek forgiveness to replace anger and embarrassment, and peace of heart to replace the anguish brought on by the sinful evil of abuse.”
“My faith has grown year after year throughout the advancing stages of my life. Now, as the spotlight has been cast on the Church, my faith is as strong as ever,” said parishioner Nick Curcio.
“With the Day of Reparation and the observance of the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, our parish’s Martha and Mary Society gathered to pray the rosary for the victims of the recent scandals in our church,” said parishioner Joan Magnusen.
Schuylkill County – St. Clare of Assisi, St. Clair
The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows was a day of sadness, reparation and reconciliation at St. Clare of Assisi.
The day began with Mass in honor of the Sorrowful Mother at 8 a.m. It continued with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and morning prayer of the Church, private adoration and prayer, the Chaplet of the Sorrows of Mary and the Litany of the
Sorrowful Mother led by Anne Bridget McCormick and friends, recitation of the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary led by Cathy Farone and friends, confessions, Saturday evening Vigil Mass, and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and evening prayer of the Church.
It concluded with night prayer of the Church and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at 8 p.m.
Native son Father Christopher Zelonis, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel, Minersville, provided a Litany of Saints with words fitting the day’s intent.
The first Sorrow of Mary in the Chaplet of Mary’s Seven Sorrows is “The Prophecy of Simon” found in Luke 2:33-35. In this periscope Mary’s heart swells as she hears the good and elderly priest Simon’s exhortation that Jesus will truly be a Savior to God’s holy and faithful people.
Nevertheless, we also hear how her heart will be pierced with sorrows over her son who must suffer to save and redeem us.
Monsignor William Glosser, pastor, said the focal point of the Diocesan Day of Sadness, Prayer and Reparation Against Offenses to the Body of Christ at St. Clare of Assisi centered on a painting by German artist Hermann Kaulbach titled “Weinende Madonna.”
This late 19th century painting depicts Mother Mary with her little son shedding tears over Simon’s words. It reflects a mother’s sadness over the sufferings her child would endure.
This is the same pain Holy Mother Church is experiencing at this time and the reason for this special day of prayer called for by our Bishop,” Monsignor Glosser said.
The Kaulbach artwork belongs to St. Clare parishioner Anne McCormick, who offered its use to Monsignor Glosser. She purchased it at the National Shrine’s gift shop on the last Diocesan pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.
McCormick related how on that October afternoon the painting spoke to her. “My children were embarking on living their lives as adults; I had the Mother’s fear for their well being. Every mother has this fear for their children growing up while they are still infants.
“Our Blessed Mother spoke to me; this painting leads me to pray for my kids. What has occurred in our Church is the apex of that fear, and so we must pray for those children and adults whose lives have been traumatized.”
Parishioner Patti Hale agreed, wiping tears from her eyes after praying the Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of Mary as part of the day of prayer.
“While many people are falling away from and trashing the Church, it is my faith that is keeping me strong.” Hale said.
“We just meditated on the seven sorrows of the Blessed Mother. As a mom, I can relate to Mary’s anguish. Some people are angry with God, but it is God who is going to get us through this.”
Monsignor Glosser related how Anne McCormick’s finding of this Madonna and Child led to her discovery of the Chaplet.
“Anne says it every day,” said Monsignor Glosser, “and for Christmas her gifts to her friends were this Servite Rosary. Her promoting this devotion touched many hearts today as we prayed it together.”
After the chaplet was prayed mid-morning, parishioners prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries of the rosary in the early afternoon. The rosary was led by Cathy Farone, who is vital in organizing and leading devotion to the rosary in the parish.
Parishioner Kathleen Holden’s favorite piece of sacred art in the Church of St. Clare is a mural of Sts. Francis and Clare of Assisi rebuilding the Church of San Damiano. She related how Francis was confused with Jesus’ command “Rebuild my Church!” Holden said it was not brick-by-brick but rebuilding the faith lives of the downtrodden and those taken advantage of.
“Today as we gathered to pray, we knew we were rebuilding the Body of Christ,” Holden said. Parishioners Millie Dimmerling and Mary Ann Stencovage agreed with Holden and also stated the second mural of St. Clare is equally important.
Dimmerling stated: “We need to defend our faith too. Faith did not lead to this scandal – sin did.”
Stencovage quickly chimed in to her friend Millie’s comment: “Remember when the apostles could not drive out the evil spirit? Jesus told them that it can only be accomplished through prayer.”
Both women agreed how special it was to gather as a parish to pray for healing and yearn for a deeper faith.
In addition to the Chaplet and Sorrowful Mysteries, the parish prayed together Morning, Evening and Night Prayer, as well as Father Zelonis’ special Litany of Saints and Litany of the Sorrowful Mother.
Monsignor Glosser said how edified he was with his parishioners. “Many never really left the church since Mass at 8 a.m. until night prayer and benediction at 8 p.m. Our parishioners took Bishop Schlert’s request for prayer and fasting to heart. They witnessed it today. I pray that the efforts of so many throughout our Diocese bring healing to all those who are hurting.”
Monsignor Glosser also expressed his gratitude to Father Keith Mathur, director of the Diocesan Office for Divine Worship. “Father Mathur’s suggestion to establish this day of prayer on the Memorial of the Sorrowful Mother set the tone for this day. It really made it easy to structure a day of prayer around it.”
Remaining Liturgical Initiatives as Explained by Bishop Schlert
Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel
To be prayed at all Sunday Masses beginning the weekend of Sept. 15-16. I enjoin all parishes to participate in this practice, minimally at Sunday Masses.
The prayer may be recited following the Dismissal at Mass (before the Hymn at the Recessional) or in place of the concluding prayer of the Universal Prayer.
Thursday Fasting for Priests
To be started Thursday, Sept. 13 (all Thursdays).
I suggest as a private, spiritual practice for our Clergy and Seminarians that we unite in fraternity in reparation for the sins of our brothers by dedicating Thursdays, the day on which Our Lord instituted the Priesthood, as a day of personal Penance (e.g. fasting) for the offenses against the Body of Christ.
Ember Days
Days of Fasting after the Triumph of the Cross – Wednesday, Sept. 19; Friday, Sept. 21; and Saturday, Sept. 22.
I suggest encouraging the faithful of our parishes to offer fasting on the traditional Ember Days that follow the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross.
These can be days of partial abstinence from meat (only at the principal meal) and fasting (one principal meal and two smaller meals).
Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel
St. 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 Hosts,
by the power of God,
cast into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl around the world
seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.
