Fr Kevin Kilgore

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Gospel: Luke 1:39-47

Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”

And Mary said:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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A few years ago, on the cover page of National Geographic there was a picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the title, “The Most Powerful Woman in the World.”

More than one billion Catholics refer to her as their spiritual mother, a command first given by Jesus to John at the Cross: “Behold, your mother.” 

In honor of this gift, millions – if not hundreds of millions – of rosaries are prayed around the world in nearly every language, seeking Mary’s intercession, trusting she will place our needs, fears, and desires in the hands of Christ, her Son.

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Part of what fuels Marian devotion and intrigue is the fact that she’s appeared to believers throughout the centuries, bringing messages of hope, conversion, and peace. 

The first reported Marian apparition took place in the year 40 AD. There have been an estimated 2,000 other apparitions since. 

But, because of the thorough process of verification required by the Vatican, only 17 apparitions have been approved, including her apparition to Juan Diego as Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose feast we celebrate today.

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Two things stand out regarding approved Marian apparitions.

First, she appears to the poor, the persecuted, the peacemakers, or the pure of heart, those whom Jesus calls “blessed” in his first public sermon. Such was the case of Juan Diego, a native peasant of Mexico.

Secondly, when she appears, Mary often appears in the style of the local population, using either their traditional dress or native language to express her closeness and affinity for them. 

For example, Mary not only spoke to Juan Diego in his native dialect, she also appeared with mestiza – or native – features, draped in a turquoise-colored mantle, a sign of royalty in Aztec tradition.

Her message to him was simple: Build a church where I’ve appeared so that my Son, Jesus, may be praised. And when you come here, remember, “I am your Mother. Here I will hear your weeping, your complaints, and heal all your sorrows, hardships, and sufferings.”

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May Mary, the most powerful woman in the world, come to our aid, bringing whatever petitions we hold dear to Jesus, the one who has loved us and given himself for us.

Together we pray, Hail Mary…

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Image credits: (1) Forbes (2) Our Lady of Guadalupe, Wikipedia (3) TAN Direction

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Isaiah 40: 25-31

To whom can you liken me as an equal?
says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high
and see who has created these things:
He leads out their army and numbers them,
calling them all by name.
By his great might and the strength of his power
not one of them is missing!
Why, O Jacob, do you say,
and declare, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the LORD,
and my right is disregarded by my God”?

Do you not know
or have you not heard?
The LORD is the eternal God,
creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint nor grow weary,
and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny.
He gives strength to the fainting;
for the weak he makes vigor abound.
Though young men faint and grow weary,
and youths stagger and fall,
They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength,
they will soar as with eagles’ wings;
They will run and not grow weary,
walk and not grow faint.

The Word of the Lord.

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When we consider the lives of the Saints – people like Mother Teresa who freely chose to live in abject poverty, serving the poorest of the poor – it’s easy to wonder how they did it.

She not only lived in some of the worst places on earth, she also forsook marriage, children, grandchildren, a career, vacations, or any lasting material comfort, all for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.

How did she do it? How have other Saints done it? 

How might we do something beautiful for God, each in our own way?

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Consider the words of the prophet Isaiah from our first reading: 

“Do you not know or have you not heard? … Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall, they that hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.”

For all believers, God is the ultimate source of strength. He makes our feet as swift as hinds; he restores our heart; he strengthens our soul; he gives us the humility, passion, energy and love we need to do his will.

Whether that means serving in a slum, volunteering in parish ministry, raising a family, or toting the kids across town. We all need God’s strength in order to run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.

So, how do you tap into God’s Spirit of strength?

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Some may do so by receiving Eucharist daily. Others might ponder a page in scripture. Others might pray over a morning cup of coffee or kneel at their bedside at night.

Personally, I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to pray at least an hour a day for the last fifteen years.

Each in our own way, we’re called to discover the power behind Isaiah’s words: “They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength.”

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May the Communion of Saints, including Teresa of Calcutta, intercede on our behalf, so that we can all do something beautiful for God today.

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Image credits: (1) ChurchPOP (2) A-Z Quotes (3) MercyMusings, Our Lady of Mercy

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Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Today we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Loreto.

Unlike most other Marian feast days, today’s feast is not because of a Marian apparition or title. Rather, it refers to a building, the humble home where Mary and Joseph welcomed the Christ-child into the world.

Tradition states that their home measured only 31 feet wide by 13 feet long and was transported – either by angels or by ship – from Nazareth to Loreto, Italy. 

Interestingly, the stone walls have been confirmed by archeologists to be from Palestine, as are minute bits of pollen found inside the rocky crevices. The size of this home also matches the foundation where it was originally constructed.

Over the centuries, more than two hundred Saints have made a pilgrimage to Loreto – from Thérèse of Lisieux to John Paul II. 

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So, why is this home so important?

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It’s not only the site where the Annunciation might’ve happened. It’s also the place where the ordinary life of the Holy Family unfolded.

It’s where Mary nursed. Where Joseph played with the Christ-child on the floor. Where they laughed, prayed, and pondered as parents the reality of the Word made Flesh, living beneath their roof.

Above all, Our Lady of Loreto reminds us that every home is a “domestic church.”

It’s where our first bonds are made, where hearts are formed, where we rest, eat, pray, argue, and forgive. 

It’s holy ground. 

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May Our Lady of Loreto intercede for us, that our homes would be filled with what hers was – every heavenly grace and blessing.

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Image credits: (1) Pinterest (2) Knights of Columbus (3) Teaching Catholic Kids