| October 2024 Dear Companion of St. Anthony, As many of you are I’m sure aware, the month of October is highlighted as time to honor and celebrate devotion to our Blessed Mother Mary by praying the Rosary (Our Lady of the Rosary- October 7th). I was inspired recently as a whole family- mom, dad, grandma and two young daughters purchased new rosaries in our Shrine gift shop and asked me to bless them. The mom said they were getting ready for “Our Lady’s Month”! A true blessing for us all, to have Our Lady in our corner praying for us and our intentions and cheering us on in our endeavors of sharing the great love of Jesus her son with all those we encounter on life’s journey. Every year I am impressed that the Church in the month of October also provides us with a whole host of many of the most sought-after saints and their feast days to turn our minds and hearts to God. As we make our way to November 1st and All Saints day, just listen to a list of some of those that will lead us in that direction, The Little Flower St. Therese (Oct 1) the Guardian Angel’s(Oct 2) St. Francis of Assisi (Oct 4th) St. Faustina (Oct 5th), two recent Popes: St. John XXIII (Oct 11th) and St. John Paul II (Oct 22), St. Teresa of Avila (Oct 15th) St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (Oct 16th) and I’m not even mentioning two Gospel writers, an early doctor of the Church, or the North American Martyrs and many more! When celebrating a great saint, I often imagine what this celebration is like from their current vantage point. It strikes me that they must blush a little bit at the thought that we are making such fuss about them, when all they want us to do, by looking to their example, is to turn more and more as they did in trust to Jesus. Several years back I had a conversation with a Franciscan Sister. She had a very deep relationship with Jesus. She said something that has always stayed with me- that our trust must be a very great compliment to God. This month, perhaps we might ask one of our October heavenly patrons to help us grow in trusting God. I imagine then, along with their blushing from all the attention we may giving them, that they will also break out into a bright smile. Peace,  Friar Gary W. Johnson, OFM Conv. |
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