Julia’s Weekly Shrine Round-up: Jan. 16

By Julia Rose
ShrineofDivineMercy.org

Up, up, and away!
NEWS FLASH! An asteroid has just been named for St. Faustina! Eagle-eyed Tim Ryan, pilgrim coordinator at the National Shrine, sent me the official announcement in the Journal of International Astronomical Union, dated Jan. 9:

(798737) Faustina = 2012 VZ114
Discovery: 2012-11-13 / K. Černis, R. P. Boyle / Mount Graham / 290
Faustina Kowalska (1905–1938) was a Polish nun and mystic known for her visions of Jesus and the message of Divine Mercy. Her diary, Divine Mercy in My Soul, inspired the Divine Mercy devotion practiced worldwide. She was canonized in 2000 and is honored as the “Apostle of Divine Mercy.”

Thanks, Tim! But please don't ask us where to look in the nighttime sky for Faustina's asteroid! What an amazing honor for the "Apostle of Divine Mercy"! Brush off those telescopes, everyone! 

Also up in the sky this week, but much, much closer to earth: I spotted work on the top of the bell tower of the Marian Fathers' new Chapel, next to the new Monastery! The massive construction project is funded by donations from so many of you to our Together for Christ and His Church capital campaign. Stay tuned for more updates!

Blessed George, the “Renovator”
Standing watch over the construction project (under a coating of fresh snow) is the statue of Blessed George Matulaitis (1871-1927), known as the "Renovator" of the Marian Congregation, who literally saved the Marians from extinction. His feast day is on Jan. 27, which means the Novena to Blessed George inviting his intercession begins this Sunday, Jan. 18.

"The Marian Fathers were almost extinct, down to one member due to persecution," relays Fr. Gabriel Cillo, MIC. "God in His Mercy sent us Blessed George to save us, renew us, and launch us back out into the world in great collaboration with the laity. Because of Blessed George, we see how God has used the Marians to bring the message of Divine Mercy to the world through the powerful intercession of Mary, our great Patroness, the Immaculate Conception, who we can call the Masterpiece of Mercy!"

Father Gabe urges everyone to join in praying the Novena to Blessed George, to ask for his intercession, be inspired by his devotion to the Marians, and aim to teach everyone about Jesus, especially those who are hurting.

Join in praying the Novena to Blessed George here.

A Lifeline to Jesus
Next to the Our Lady of Mercy Oratory and Candle Shrine in the Marian Helpers Center is one of the most important offices on Eden Hill, called by many “a lifeline to Jesus”: The Divine Mercy Intercessory Prayerline.

This amazing ministry is staffed by three remarkable ladies: Bonita, Miriam, and Barbara. Between live calls and voicemails to 1-800-804-3823 (available 24/7), they receive about 9,000 calls a month, in addition to prayer intentions received online or via e-mail to Prayerline@Marian.org.

Miriam, a member of St. Mary, Mother of the Church Parish in nearby Lee, has been with the prayerline the longest: more than15 years! “This is not my job. It’s a calling,” she says. “It’s taught me a lot of patience, hope, compassion, and mercy. I always ask God to speak through me, to let the caller see that God is with them. That’s why we are here.” 

Bonita joined nearly three years ago. “Intentions are lifted up daily at the four Masses on Eden Hill as well as during the praying of the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet," she notes. "So it’s all connected to Divine Mercy.”

Oftentimes, people request prayers relating to physical and mental health, the conversion of family members, and peace in the midst of current events. It is hearing from callers that their prayers have been answered that make the staff’s day. For Miriam, one powerful example of this is when she learned that a mother, who had rejected a doctor’s suggestion of having an abortion, had given birth. After undergoing heart surgery at just 2 days old, the baby was healthy and thriving!

With a beautiful 6-foot Divine Mercy Image between their desks, the prayer requests go straight to Jesus!

"Please spread the word about the Prayerline and the power of prayer," Bonita adds, "God is working!”

Learn more about the Divine Mercy Intercessory Prayerline and submit your intentions here.

Defending the Unborn
Next week, we focus our attention more keenly on the unborn and the right to life. January 22, the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, is officially the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. The following day, Jan. 23, is the annual March for Life in Washington, DC.

“It is our moral responsibility to defend those who cannot defend themselves, to be the voice for those most vulnerable or who cannot speak for themselves,” says Joetta Dawson, who is instrumental in coordinating the Rachel’s Vineyard Healing Retreats at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy with Fr. Anthony Gramlich, MIC, through the Diocese of Springfield. “In recognizing and affirming the inherently unique worth, sacredness, and dignity of each person, we have opportunities to change the culture of the world and put into action Jesus’ command to ‘love one another; even as I have loved you’ (Jn 13:34).”

Joetta has some great ideas on how to stand up for life: Daily prayer, especially Ven. Fulton Sheen’s "Prayer to Spiritually Adopt an Unborn Child"; assisting pregnant women and families; volunteering at pro-life events, organizations, and pregnancy centers; and voicing opposition to proposed bills advocating abortion and assisted suicide.

"Pro-life ministry helps to save lives!" adds Fr. Anthony, who oversaw the creation of the Shrine of the Holy Innocents. "The first life is the life of the baby. The second life is the life of the mother and father. Pro-life ministry is a healing ministry. It helps those who are in crisis pregnancy situations, but also helps those heal from the aftermath of post-abortion trauma. Divine Mercy is present both in those facing pregnancy crisis situations and those who need healing from abortion."

Remarkable reversion
A frequent visitor to the National Shrine is Matt Burkle from St. Peter’s Parish in nearby Great Barrington. And he has quite a story to tell!

Three years ago, Matt had an incredible reversion back to the Catholic faith on New Year's Day, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. While he had grown up visiting the Shrine to play basketball and go to birthday parties, it wasn’t until his return to the faith that he became a regular visitor for another reason: to grow closer to God.

"This is truly where I received more learning about the Catholic faith," he recalls. "In my healing and my conversion and coming back to the Church, I really experienced God’s limitless love and Divine Mercy.”

Over time, Matt has deepened his devotion to Divine Mercy, praying the Chaplet daily and asking St. Faustina for her intercession. This past summer, he even traveled to Poland to visit the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Kraków! In the photo above, he stands with Maryana, another Divine Mercy devotee, who lives next door to the house of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Kraków, where St. Faustina’s tomb is located.

“It’s wild to think that if you told me three years ago that I would be back in the Catholic Church, have friends that are priests and brothers, and visiting Catholic heritage sites and tombs of saints, I would have laughed at you,” Matt says. “Truly this has been an amazing journey.”

Matt is currently co-chair of the Berkshire County Young & Catholic Group (I'm going to join!) which hosts a monthly Bible Study at the Shrine. He also helps organize a Holy Hour with Fr. Tyler Mentzer, MIC, on the first Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m at St. Joseph’s Parish in Stockbridge.

To learn more about Young & Catholic events, click here.

Don't miss the "Explaining the Faith" talk by Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, tomorrow (Saturday) at 11 a.m. ET. This week's topic is a timely one: “What Actually Happened at Cana?”  Join us in person or online (YouTube and Facebook).

Have a great weekend, everyone and see you next Friday!
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