Lately I consider myself as being a “church transient,” as I attend mass at a lot of different parishes, I would guess it to be approximately at least within a 50 mile radius. Saturday evenings, Sundays and weekday masses, all at different locations. I even attend Polish & Spanish speaking mass, along with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, where all the prayers and the rosary are recited in Polish or Spanish. Some of my observations: I notice more women covering their heads with a veil. Many parishioners kneel to receive holy communion. Some churches even place a kneeler in front of the priest for those who wish to kneel. At many of the churches I see a large number of Spanish speaking people. It immediately brings to mind Guadeloupe, were it not for Juan Diego’s tilma, I think a lot more churches would be sparsely populated and/or shuttered. As God is “outside” of time, I can see a correlation in His work - Our Lady first guides “twists the arm” of St. James to convert Spain, then She prods St. Juan Diego to convert Mexico.
Yes, Our Lady was the key to the conversion of Mexico. God's ways are Amazing! Just as Luther's revolt begins to spread across Europe and fracture into multiple sects, millions are brought to the One, True Faith in Central America. He is faithful and will never forsake us. GOD REIGNS!
If Our Lady was the key, Christ in His Church was the keyhole for that conversion because they both worked together - Our Lady to bring Grace to the hearts of Juan Diego and to the Bishop who approved the apparition almost from the very beginning. The conversions happened after Bishop approval! To think how much more Our Lady could have done if only the Church through Her Bishops had fully cooperated right away with Her over the centuries. Perhaps that is a reason for so much faith among Spanish speakers, as fruits or rewards of what was done in Mexico. I see it many South American here too, humble and simple people with so much love for Jesus and Mary.
Lovely! I was listening to Jesse Romero talk about the strong showing of Catholics in front of Dodger Stadium. He said many many Hispanic men were there with their Rosaries. He believes Hispanic Catholics in this country are the sleeping giants in this war to take back our nation. God bless them all.
Our parish priest recently retired. They shut out chapel down. So we too have become somewhat 'transient' - though over a smaller radius. So across the parishes of my once fiercely catholic city; here's what I have noticed: The congregations at Sunday masses have decreased alarmingly. Young people / the youth are virtually non-existant. Very, very few receive Our Lord on the tongue ('holy people' seem to bow their heads and raise their clasped hands high -- as if in reverence; and I wonder why they just don't receive on the tongue!). Some priests are very holy. Their masses are filled with reverence and holiness. Other priests rush through it. There are no young priests. Evening masses are virtually non-existant. I worry for the future of our church.
Our Lady's first words to Juan Diego: “Know and understand well, you the most humble of my sons, that I am the ever virgin Holy Mary, Mother of the True God for whom we live, of the Creator of all things, Lord of heaven and the earth. I wish that a temple be erected here quickly, so I may therein exhibit and give all my love, compassion, help, and protection, because I am your merciful mother, to you, and to all the inhabitants on this land and all the rest who love me, invoke and confide in me; listen there to their lamentations, and remedy all their miseries, afflictions and sorrows.”
Yes, very few churches have evening mass during the week, but the few that do, I’ve seen a lot of people attending. And it’s not that difficult for a church to have a day once during the week with the Blessed Sacrament Exposed throughout the day followed by a mass in the evening.
