Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter
A year ago, today, we were glued to TV sets, computers, phones, anything that was electronic to see the news from Rome! The Holy Spirit, through the college of cardinals, chose the first American Pope, Pope Leo XIV. I remember he said, looking out from the balcony onto St. Peter’s square, “Today, the day in which we pray to the Madonna of Pompeii, our mother Mary always wants to stay close to us and help us with her love and her intercession. Let us pray together, this new mission, for the whole Church, and for peace throughout the world. And let’s ask for this special grace for Mary, our Mother.” Our Lady of Pompeii is another title of Our Lady of the Rosary, and it was founded by St. Bartolo Longo, who Pope Leo canonized back on October 19th. It was a way for St. Bartolo to say thank you to Our Lady and St. Dominic for saving his life. St. Bartolo was a Satanic high priest, and with the help of his family, by praying the rosary daily, he came back to the Catholic Church and had this image made to say thank you to Our Lady. Always remember, if you give God and Our Lady just enough through you, they can move mountains.
Reflection by Br. Maximilian Burkhart, OSB
Posted in Article for Easter, Daily Reflections