Divine Mercy Sunday
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
The devotion to Divine Mercy had a rocky start. But that's actually a good sign. Most of the modern devotions in the Church also had a rocky start. The pattern for a devotion like the Miraculous Medal in France or Our Lady in Guadalupe was that Jesus or Mary would visit a humble person. The humble person would receive the devotion humbly (imagine that) and would have to be encouraged specifically to approach the bishop or the religious superior about making it public. The superior would push back. They would repeat this step a few times. Then there would be some miracle or at least a bizarre coincidence, and then the superior comes around. Then, like a lightning bolt, the devotion spreads.
With the Divine Mercy, Sr. Faustina was given a lengthy series of visions and locutions from Our Lady about her vocation to the convent and His plans for the world. Of special importance is the timing of this, just a few years after the Fatima miracle, and the political experience of Poland in and around the two World Wars. Once the image of Divine Mercy was specifically given to Faustina there were two crazy coincidences that followed. First, Faustina couldn't paint, but her spiritual director found himself on a faculty with someone who could and who was willing to help. Second, and more important, Faustina made a heck of an impression upon a young priest who would go on to become the Bishop of the Diocese in which she lived and then went on to become the Pope. John Paul II was deeply devoted to our Lady of Fatima and to the Divine Mercy. He made both essential parts of his Papal ministry. And with that kind of support, the devotion to Divine Mercy was ready to enter its last stage: publication and spreading out to the world.
The only caveat that I always want to make very clear when I mention Divine Mercy is more about an error that gets made by people preaching it than it is an error or problem in Sr. Faustina's writing… Divine Mercy is NOT about excusing sin! Too often preachers will claim that it's merciful to accept people wherever they are… They'll say that it's opposed to mercy to preach about sin and hell. Those people are wrong. Nowhere does Sr. Faustina write that Jesus said that the moral law doesn't matter or that sin doesn't matter. Quite the opposite! Jesus says that we should weep for the sins that are committed without repentance and that those sins wound the hearts of Jesus and Mary. There's nothing merciful about pretending that sin won't condemn a soul to Hell. There's nothing merciful about looking the other way. In fact, that's callous, cowardly, and it's a sin every time we do it.
Rather, Divine Mercy is about calling back to God's love those who sin. It's about the fact that God will forgive any sin - no matter how horrific - if the sinner humbles himself and asks God for forgiveness. But if the sinner doesn't repent, no amount of niceness, acceptance, or whatever is going to get them into Heaven. The freeing truth of Divine Mercy is that Jesus wants us back! He can and will forgive any sin of which we repent. The only sin He will not and cannot forgive is the pride of thinking that I don't need to repent.
Pope Francis, Requiescant in Pace
Pope Francis leaves behind a challenging legacy. He was, without a doubt, the public face of Christian charity and generosity. And that wasn’t just for show. He really believed in the Church’s responsibilities to the poor, the outcast, and those on the periphery. At the same time, he was an autocratic leader who trusted his own judgement in all matters great and small and whose words and actions - especially toward the Catholic faithful - were inconsistent, contradictory, and often just harsh. In many ways, he was Pope Donald Trump.
It’s hard to think of two men who disagree about more important issues than Pope Francis and President Trump, but the way in which they go about their work and do things is exactly the same. And that’s not an accident. In 2013, when Pope Benedict XVI resigned the office of the Papacy, the Cardinals were in strong agreement that his successor would need to do some painful house-cleaning. Bishops and priests needed to be held accountable for sins and crimes against the people of God. The Roman Curia - the top leadership of the Church - needed to be overhauled and pressure washed. The Italian Cardinals, in particular, needed reigning in.
So the Cardinal Electors sought a man whose personality was suited to that work. In many ways, the 2024 US Presidential election turned on the same issues. Would Pope Francis or Donald Trump be confused with Mother Theresa? Nope! But neither of them were tasked with being sweet and gentle, they were both tasked with cleaning up broken bureaucracies. The intellectual and pastoral brilliance of Pope St John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, two of the greatest men in modern history lifted the burden of teaching. We didn’t need Pope Francis to answer many questions, they had already been answered by his great predecessors. Alas, Pope Francis did like to opine and to ¡Hagan Lío! (“Make some noise”) which the press was happy to spin into confusion...
There are a hundred excellent articles on the internet right now providing thorough analysis as to the legacy of Pope Francis and listing those who might be elected to succeed him. Over the next month, we’ll find out who that man is. In the mean time, we should do three things.
First, we should pray... for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis. We should pray for his successor. And we should pray for the Cardinal Electors who are gathering in Rome to enter the Conclave.
Second, we should know the basic mechanisms which are taking place. I’ll be speaking more about this in the sermon next week. Still, these ceremonies are not done in a vacuum, they’re meant to speak to us of a right understanding of the Papacy and of the universality of our Church.
Finally, we should avoid taking very seriously the media prognostications about what could be. No one has a very good record predicting the outcome of these elections. In fact, the media has never even come close. Even the Catholic media is just swatting at flies. These elections are always accompanied by overblown misunderstandings like “the Pope is chosen by the Holy Spirit!!!” and references to the “Prophecy of Malachi.” To be clear, the Pope is not chosen by the Holy Spirit, He’s chosen by the Cardinal-Electors who ask the Holy Spirit to guide them. Also, there is no prophecy of Malachi. It was invented in the 1600s. Neither is there some symbolic drama around the niches at St Paul Outside the Walls. This isn’t a moment for media hype and catastrophizing, it’s a moment for prayer and humble trust in God.
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Lee Rome (birth)/family
- Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon 9:00a In memory of Alex and Jason Jumonville/family
- Tue NO MASS
- Wed 9:00a In memory of Rosa and Gus Gremshell and May DiTomasso
- Thu 9:00a In memory of Beverly Lancaster (death)/family
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Becky Lancaster/family
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Pat & Marleigh Bullard, Patrick Thomas, & Eva & RL Reynolds/family
- Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Dead members of our Parish Family
Altar Candles this week are burning for the special intentions of Margo Corulla
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHC(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/26 5:30p | None Scheduled | M Rome | C VanderVieren |
| 4/27 9:30a | Michael, Finley, Ashlyn | K Collins | - |
| 5/3 5:30p | None Scheduled | C VanderVieren | M Rome |
| 5/4 9:30a | Kathleen, Evelyn M, Daniel M | C Guizerix | - |
Upcoming Events
- Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass and Sunday from 9a until Mass
- Sunday Morning Catechism in the Hall (with Coffee & Donuts) after the 9:00a Mass during the School Year unless otherwise indicated
- Pastoral Council meeting monthly on the third Wednesday at 6p unless otherwise indicated
- April 27 First Communion for our young children …. Reception following Mass
- May 18 End of School social …. following 9:30 am Mass…see notes elsewhere
For Your Information:
FORMED.ORG has an entire page of weekly featured videos that are worth checking out at https://watch.formed.org/this-week-on-formed. Remember to sign in using our parish’s zip code (71282) at https://signup.formed.org
ROSARY GROUP a group of parishioners is meeting on Monday at 5:30 p.m. to pray the Rosary. Everyone is invited to join the group. If you need additional information, please contact the Coordinator, Louise Magoun, at 318-341-2403.
ALTAR CANDLES Anyone wishing to provide candles for the altar in honor of their loved one or in prayer for some intention may do so simply by asking. A small donation is recommended, but not required. A list of dates is in the sacristy and a date can be reserved up to one year in advance.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION Congratulations to our young people who will make their First Holy Communion on this weekend, Sunday, April 27. A reception to honor them will follow in the Hall and all are invited to join in. Our class this year is composed of Yadier Cruz, Levi Hamilton, Charlotte Marsh, and Bernadette McFall. Thanks to our wonderful teachers, Lesley Ellerbee and Louise Magoun, who have prepared the children (and their parents) for this Sacrament!
PARISH POTLUCK SOCIAL on Sunday, May 18, a Potluck Brunch will be held as our Second quarter social following 9:30 a.m. Mass. Second Quarter (April, May, June) Social Committee who will set up tables, do decorations and clean up afterwards is composed of Libby Bullard, Angel Farlow, Margaret and Pat Gilfoil, MaryAnne Gilfoil, Terry and Andy Hall, Isabell Hernandez, Cindy and Jamie Howington, Ann Keene, Alyce and C.W. Keene, Elizabeth and Paul Naya, Bobby Reynolds, and Cathy VanderVieren
SECOND COLLECTION This week (April 26-27), we will take up the Catholic Home Missions Appeal. Today, nearly 40% of dioceses in the United States and its current and former territories are unable to fund the essential pastoral work their communities need. Your support for this appeal helps them meet these faith formation and sacramental needs. Please prayerfully consider how you can support this appeal. Find more information at ww.usccb.org/home-missions.
SAINTS ALIVE, ANGELS AT WORK Thanks to everyone who made our Holy Week and Easter activities so very successful. Thanks to Stephenie and Mary Katherine Marsh and all of their helpers with the Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday. Our decorations and arrangements for each service were lovely thanks to Cathy VanderVieren and Mike Rome. The music all week was so appropriate thanks to Michael Lancaster and some choir volunteers.
INFIRM PRIESTS COLLECTION Our special collection to offset parish expenses on Easter Sunday was wonderfully successful. We brought in $8,751 which will stay 100% here at St Edward. Thank you for your constant generosity and support of our Church!
Stewardship
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2022-23 | $ 2,111 |
| March Budget | $ 8,444 |
| March Collections | $ 11,810 |
| March Total Expenses | $ 10,362 |
| April Budget | $ 8,444 |
| April 20 Collection | $ 1,295 |
| April Collections To Date | $ 6,677 |
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Norman Ernst II (April 27), Ginny Marsh (April 28)
In Our Daily Prayers…
Please let us know of anyone who is ill or hospitalized and would like to receive a visit from Father. Also, help us keep our prayer list up to date by advising us of those who should be added or removed.
For the Repose of the Soul of Pope Francis, RIP and for his successor and the cardinal-electors Our Bishop, Robert Marshall; and our Diocesan leaders, our President, Governor, Mayor and national, state and local elected representatives
Our parishioners who are sick, shut-in, under full-time care and for those who care for them, and for those otherwise in need of our prayers: MaryKathryn & Nap Book, Connie & Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Norman and Marie Ernst, Susan & Johnny Gilfoil, Margaret & Pat Gilfoil,Terry Farlow Hall, Sidney & Mary Jane Johnson, Frances & Bill Kennedy, Ed Mills, Susie Murphy, Bobby Reynolds, Mike & Sue Rome
Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Marie Farlow Bellard, Nap and Martha Book, Kay Boolos (S Gilfoil), Dick & Sue Boyd (S Gilfoil), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), Fran Castile (Keene), Caroline and Albert Christman, Jeannie & Donald Collins, Teresa Carney Condra, Jami Cook (Wilks), Gene Cox, Marla Evans Cummings, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Wayne Edwards, Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Emily Fortenberry, Judy Fortenberry, April Franklin (Wilks), Fred and Cathy Fulton, Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), LaVonne Givens, Charlotte Green, Theresa Gunter, Rita Hargrave, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Charles Howington, Callie Halback Hyams, Will Irby (P Gilfoil), Diane Johnson, Carla Leese (S Gilfoil), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Ruth McDonald (Copes), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Boyce Miller, Randy Parker, John Neill, Bailey, Scott, and Tiffney Rome, Dianne Roper (Murphy), Janie Saxon (Lancaster), Debbie Kedrick Sims, Tommy Trichell, LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Randy Watts, Jr.
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Preston Collins, Henry Ellerbee, Lilly Falgout, Jag Gilfoil, Bruen Johnson, Matilda Johnson, Caroline Marsh, EmmyLu March, Charlize Richardson, Blake Sullivan, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Chandler Wood, Marsh Wood
