Day Eight: Thursday, September 17, 2015

Theme: Faith in her Son can save us

Thursday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Lectionary: 446

Reading 1: 1 Timothy 4:12-16

Beloved:Let no one have contempt for your youth,but set an example for those who believe,in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.Until I arrive, attend to the reading, exhortation, and teaching.Do not neglect the gift you have,which was conferred on you through the prophetic wordwith the imposition of hands by the presbyterate.Be diligent in these matters, be absorbed in them,so that your progress may be evident to everyone.Attend to yourself and to your teaching;persevere in both tasks,for by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.

Alleluia: Matthew 11:28 R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord. R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Luke 7:36-50

A certain Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him,and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.

Now there was a sinful woman in the citywho learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee.Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment,she stood behind him at his feet weepingand began to bathe his feet with her tears.Then she wiped them with her hair,kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself,“If this man were a prophet,he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him,that she is a sinner.”Jesus said to him in reply,“Simon, I have something to say to you.”“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

“Two people were in debt to a certain creditor;one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty.Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both.Which of them will love him more?”Simon said in reply,“The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.”He said to him, “You have judged rightly.”Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon,“Do you see this woman?When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet,but she has bathed them with her tearsand wiped them with her hair.You did not give me a kiss,but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered.You did not anoint my head with oil,but she anointed my feet with ointment.So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven;hence, she has shown great love.But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

The others at table said to themselves,“Who is this who even forgives sins?”But he said to the woman,“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

La Salette Scripture Reflection: Thursday of the Twenty-Fourth Week of the Year  

Luke 7:36-50: The Lord said, "You have judged rightly."

Jesus's message here seems blunt and unmistakable. We have no right to criticize since we ourselves are certainly not free of faults.

Whenever we go shopping, we can pick and choose. Those of us who are asked to give presentations tend to pick out favorite topics for elaboration. The Lectionary – the book of readings for Mass – does not permit us to do selective shopping with God's word. Some days we are faced with concerns that we might first wish to avoid.

Msgr. Andy Cusack of Seton Hall University gave the La Salette Missionaries a retreat a number of years ago.

He left us with the suggestion, “We are invited not to judge others and not to belittle ourselves.” Msgr. Cusack's test is this: for thirty days do not say anything negative about your neighbors. If you can do that, you will most likely not say anything negative about yourself either.

Mary's message at La Salette was a positive one. It was about returning to penance, prayer and zeal. Mary gently asked the children, “Do you say your prayers well?” There is no privilege offered to pick and choose. We are all called to be good evangelizers – a people of penance, prayer and zeal. If we are to remain such people, we must be people of right judgment.

A Reflection Question: Do I tend sometimes to judge other people unfairly? Perhaps I should try the 30 Day Test mentioned above.

Day Seven: Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Theme: Mary shows us ways of strengthening our faith in her Son

Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs: Lectionary: 445

Reading 1: 1 Timothy 3:14-16

Beloved:I am writing you,although I hope to visit you soon.But if I should be delayed,you should know how to behave in the household of God,which is the Church of the living God,the pillar and foundation of truth.Undeniably great is the mystery of devotion,Who was manifested in the flesh,vindicated in the spirit,seen by angels,proclaimed to the Gentiles,believed in throughout the world,taken up in glory.

Alleluia: See John 6:63c, 68C R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life, you have the words of everlasting life. R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Luke 7:31-35

Jesus said to the crowds:“To what shall I compare the people of this generation?What are they like?They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another,‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance.We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.’

For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine,and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said,‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard,a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

La Salette Scripture Reflection: Wednesday of the Twenty-Fourth Week of the Year    

Luke 7:31-35: “To what then shall I compare this generation, and what are they like?”

We are constantly being evaluated. We evaluate people every day. God in the Scriptures gave us the blueprint to evaluate ourselves with his most basic call to love one another.

Bill Russell, the legendary center for the Boston Celtics basketball team, used to keep his own personal scorecard. He graded himself after every game on a scale of one to one hundred. In his career he felt that he had never achieved more than a score of sixty-five.

Now, given the way most of us are taught to think about goals, we would regard Russell as a failure. He played in over twelve-hundred basketball games and never achieved his standard! Yet it was his striving for that higher standard that made him arguably one of the best basketball players ever.

What a call we have, not to sit around like children whining. We are called to goodness, to perfection. We are called to be saints. Mary says, “Come near, my children; be not afraid.” Her call, like that of God, is extended as a universal invitation. We are invited to hear her message and then make that message known to all her people.

Some Reflection Questions: Do I see my own call to discipleship as a standard always just out of reach, but infinitely worth striving after? What causes me at times to lower my goals in life?

Day Six: Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Theme: The Sorrowful Mother of La Salette

Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows: Lectionary: 639

Reading 1: 1 Timothy 3:1-13

Beloved, this saying is trustworthy:whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task.Therefore, a bishop must be irreproachable,married only once, temperate, self-controlled,decent, hospitable, able to teach,not a drunkard, not aggressive, but gentle,not contentious, not a lover of money.He must manage his own household well,keeping his children under control with perfect dignity;for if a man does not know how to manage his own household,how can he take care of the Church of God?He should not be a recent convert,so that he may not become conceitedand thus incur the Devil’s punishment.He must also have a good reputation among outsiders,so that he may not fall into disgrace, the Devil’s trap.

Similarly, deacons must be dignified, not deceitful,not addicted to drink, not greedy for sordid gain,holding fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.Moreover, they should be tested first;then, if there is nothing against them,let them serve as deacons.Women, similarly, should be dignified, not slanderers,but temperate and faithful in everything.Deacons may be married only onceand must manage their children and their households well.Thus those who serve well as deacons gain good standingand much confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.

Alleluia:

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary; without dying you won the martyr's crown beneath the Cross of the Lord. R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Luke 2:33-35 (second option taken since the first option is same gospel as Feast of La Salette)

Jesus’ father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,“Behold, this child is destinedfor the fall and rise of many in Israel,and to be a sign that will be contradictedand you yourself a sword will pierceso that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

La Salette Scripture Reflection: Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows

Luke 2:33-36: "…you yourself a sword will pierce…”

As many mothers will readily share, giving birth to their children, they are tied to them with a natural bond that will last into eternity. Luke makes quite clear that Mary and her Son, Jesus, are destined to be linked in life as well as in his suffering and death when he quotes Simeon’s prophetic words, “and you yourself a sword will pierce…”

Humankind has marveled for centuries at the magnificent depiction of Mary’s deep yet peaceful sorrow in Michelangelo’s Renaissance sculpture of the Pietà, the only work he ever signed. With artistic license, he depicted Mary as very young and Jesus’ body as only lightly scarred from his passion and death. Yet he expressed so well the intimate bond between Mary and her Son.

From our baptism we are born into the pattern of Christ’s life, death and resurrection. That is why Mary

at La Salette rightfully calls us her children, whom she loves dearly and unceasingly prays for us. Her compassion and devotedness to us shines forth in her personal interest in Maximin’s father who anguishes over possibly not being able to feed his family that winter.

Isaiah reminds us of our own bond to Mary’s Son in his passion: “Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows! He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him” (Isaiah 53: 4-5).

With such loving people to watch over us and care for us, we remember on this Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, how much we are loved by our Weeping Mother and her Divine Son.

Some Reflection Questions: How do I express my love and concern for the members of my family? Has someone I know lost a family member or friend and might appreciate a kind word from me?

Day Five: Monday, September 14, 2015

Theme: Mary saw Jesus lifted up on the cross

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross: Lectionary: 638

Reading 1: Numbers 21:4b-9

With their patience worn out by the journey,the people complained against God and Moses,“Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert,where there is no food or water?We are disgusted with this wretched food!”

In punishment the LORD sent among the people saraph serpents,which bit the people so that many of them died.Then the people came to Moses and said,“We have sinned in complaining against the LORD and you.Pray the LORD to take the serpents from us.”So Moses prayed for the people, and the LORD said to Moses,“Make a saraph and mount it on a pole,and if any who have been bitten look at it, they will live.”Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole,and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

Reading 2: Philippians 2:6-11

Brothers and sisters:Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God,did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.Rather, he emptied himself,taking the form of a slave,coming in human likeness;and found human in appearance,he humbled himself,becoming obedient to death,even death on a cross.Because of this, God greatly exalted himand bestowed on him the namethat is above every name,that at the name of Jesusevery knee should bend,of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,and every tongue confess thatJesus Christ is Lord,to the glory of God the Father.

Alleluia:

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your Cross you have redeemed the world. R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: John 3:13-17

Jesus said to Nicodemus:“No one has gone up to heavenexcept the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,so must the Son of Man be lifted up,so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,so that everyone who believes in him might not perishbut might have eternal life.For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,but that the world might be saved through him.

La Salette Scripture Reflection: Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross  

John 3:13-17: “God (so) loved the world… (that) he gave his only Son…”

Often while watching a baseball or football game on television, we may see some scripture passages on signs that people hold up for all to see. Many see these as acts of a religious fanatic but we may be missing something good if we do that. In fact, “John 3:16”, an often-used bible citation is certainly a central passage of the New Testament. No other verse in the scriptures summarizes God’s relationship with humanity in such a succinct way.

First, God loves us abundantly. Second, the unimaginable extent of God’s love is that God sent his only Son to live, and die, and rise – all for love of us! Thirdly, anyone who does believe in Jesus will be saved – and will be welcomed into heaven “for ever and ever.” All this comes from this one remarkably short verse and can give us a great revelation and immense hope. In other words, the cross of Jesus does save us.

Mary at La Salette wore a crucifix on her breast during the apparition. The children stated that, during the entire apparition, the crucifix gave off tremendous light which almost overpowered everything else. The light from the crucifix was so bright that it was even difficult to see Mary face. This unique La Salette crucifix was not only the central focus of the apparition. It was also the summary of the purpose of our lives.

People later commented on the possible meaning of the symbols of the hammer and pincers that “floated” under the right and left arms of the crucifix on which the living and moving body of Jesus could be seen! The hammer seems to be symbolic of our sins, which hammer the nails into Jesus’ hands. The pincers can be seen as our good and loving acts which mercifully remove the nails from the Lord’s bloody hands.

Some Reflection Questions: What words or actions of mine have driven the nails into Jesus’ hands? What good actions of mine removed the nails from his holy hands?

Day Four: Sunday, September 13, 2015

Theme: Mary emptied herself for love of her Son

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Lectionary: 131

Reading 1: Isaiah 50:5-9A

The Lord GOD opens my ear that I may hear;and I have not rebelled,have not turned back.I gave my back to those who beat me,my cheeks to those who plucked my beard;my face I did not shieldfrom buffets and spitting.The Lord GOD is my help,therefore I am not disgraced;I have set my face like flint,knowing that I shall not be put to shame.He is near who upholds my right;if anyone wishes to oppose me,let us appear together.Who disputes my right?Let that man confront me. See, the Lord GOD is my help;who will prove me wrong?

Reading 2: James 2:14-18

What good is it, my brothers and sisters,if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wearand has no food for the day,and one of you says to them,“Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well, ”but you do not give them the necessities of the body,what good is it? So also faith of itself,if it does not have works, is dead.Indeed someone might say,“You have faith and I have works.” Demonstrate your faith to me without works,and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.

Alleluia: Galatians 6:14 R. Alleluia, alleluia.

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Mark 8:27-35

Jesus and his disciples set outfor the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples,“Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply,“John the Baptist, others Elijah,still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them,“But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply,“You are the Christ.” Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.

He began to teach themthat the Son of Man must suffer greatlyand be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples,rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them,“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,but whoever loses his life for my sakeand that of the gospel will save it.”

La Salette Scripture Reflection: Thursday Of The Twenty-Third Week Of The Year    

Mark 8:27-35: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,take up his cross, and follow me.”We can learn much from nature. In the butterfly’s transformation from a caterpillar, it must struggle to emerge from its chrysalis. However in so doing, it gains the strength to eventually be able to fly off into the bright sky. So too for us as human beings: we also benefit greatly not only from our experiences of joy and celebration, but also from the challenges and crosses which life gives us.

Jesus words, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,take up his cross, and follow me,” seem perhaps more challenging that we would wish. However Jesus continues, saying: “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,but whoever loses his life for my sakeand that of the gospel will save it.” Our crosses will strengthen us and help us to rise above these difficulties and live on in hope.

At La Salette, Mary spoke of her concerns about faith and family life; she wanted “her people” to nurture their own faith and protect their family from coming trials, such as lack of food or threatening illnesses. Her realistic and down-to-earth approach to living daily life with faith resonated especially with Maximin’s father who feared he would be unable to feed his family that winter. Once he turned back to God and returned to weekly Sunday Mass, he was able to place his trust in God who would help him deal with the challenges he had to face.

Some Reflection Questions: How have I helped someone with their burdens and concerns? Who has been a good example to me or helped me deal with my own challenges? Have I thanked God for them?

Day Three: Saturday, September 12, 2015

Theme: Mary built her faith on the rock that is Jesus

Saturday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Lectionary: 442

Reading 1: 1 Timothy 1:15-17

Beloved:This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance:Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.Of these I am the foremost.But for that reason I was mercifully treated,so that in me, as the foremost,Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an examplefor those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life. To the king of ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God,honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Alleluia: John 14:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Whover loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him. R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Luke 6:43-49

Jesus said to his disciples:“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit,nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.For every tree is known by its own fruit.For people do not pick figs from thornbushes,nor do they gather grapes from brambles.A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good,but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil;for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I command?I will show you what someone is like who comes to me,listens to my words, and acts on them.That one is like a man building a house,who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock;when the flood came, the river burst against that housebut could not shake it because it had been well built.But the one who listens and does not actis like a person who built a house on the groundwithout a foundation.When the river burst against it,it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed.”

La Salette Scripture Reflection: Saturday of the Twenty-Third Week of the Year

Luke 6:43-49: "A good man produces goodness from the good in his heart; an evil man produces evil out of his store of evil. Each man speaks from his heart's abundance."

We cannot be judged in any way except through our deeds. Our actions certainly speak louder than our words and leave impressions long after our words are forgotten.

On January 23, 1998, a fence which for 163 years divided graves in a city cemetery in Jasper, Texas, was taken down. The ministers in that town had often spoken of racial harmony, but when loved ones were buried, the blacks were always on one side of the fence and whites were on the other side. That fence made sure that even in death, blacks and whites would be separated.

But on that chilly January morning, as members of the town gathered in prayer, that fence was torn down. Perhaps the tearing down of an old iron fence in a small cemetery seems insignificant in this country's battle with racism and segregation but to the people of that community, it was an important symbol of good people producing goodness from their heart of hearts.

The message of La Salette was not merely for the people living in that small hamlet high in the French Alps. It was a message of God's deep love and Mary's great concern for all people in all places. Mary spoke of “a great famine coming,” in which people would pay for their sins through hunger. There seems to be such a hunger today for genuine equality in our society where all people, regardless of race or religion, should have the same opportunities and freedoms. And that hunger seems to arise from God.

Some Reflection Questions: By my actions, do I speak words of peace or of discord, of equality or of racism, of justice or of injustice? Which is “truly abundant” in my heart?

Day Two: Friday, September 11, 2015

Theme: Mary, our Merciful Mother

Friday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Lectionary: 441

Reading 1: 1 TM 1:1-2, 12-14

Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our saviorand of Christ Jesus our hope,to Timothy, my true child in faith:grace, mercy, and peace from God the Fatherand Christ Jesus our Lord.I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord,because he considered me trustworthyin appointing me to the ministry.I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man,but I have been mercifully treatedbecause I acted out of ignorance in my unbelief.Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant,along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Alleluia: SEE JN 17:17B, 17A R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Your word, O Lord, is truth; consecrate us in the truth. R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 6:39-42

Jesus told his disciples a parable:“Can a blind person guide a blind person?Will not both fall into a pit?No disciple is superior to the teacher;but when fully trained,every disciple will be like his teacher.Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye,but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?How can you say to your brother,‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first;then you will see clearlyto remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.”

La Salette Scripture Reflection: Friday of the Twenty-Third Week of the Year

Luke 6:39-42: "Why look at the speck in your brother's eye when you miss the plank in your own?" Jesus' message here seems blunt and unmistakable. We have no right to criticize others since we ourselves are not free of faults. Sadly, how quick we are to notice the faults of those around us. They seem so obvious. A poet once said, “There is so much bad in the best of us and so much good in the worst of us that it ill becomes any of us to find fault with the rest of us.” These are surely good words to live by, for in the Our Father we ask God to forgive us our failings in the same way that we forgive the failings of others. We need to leave judgment to our heavenly Father, for he sees the complete picture while we often see only a small part of the reason behind another's actions.

At La Salette, Mary shed tears of sorrow. Melanie would later state, “She wept all the while she spoke to us.” Our Blessed Mother told Melanie and Maximin, “If my people do not obey, I shall be compelled to loose the arm of my Son. It is so hoavy that I can no longer restrain it." It is our own lives Mary asks us to look at and not the faults of others.

Some Reflection Questions: Do I constantly judge others? How often do I criticize my neighbor while failing to see my own shortcomings?

Other La Salette Feast materials (including La Salette words to ordinary familiar hymn tunes) are available on our website (www.lasalette.org) in the upper menu under: “About La Salette….Resources…..La Salette Liturgy and Music.” 

NOTE: A full version of the Mass for the Feast of La Salette (with priest’s prayers, General Intercessions, special prefaces, etc.) is also available on our Province website in PDF format (www.lasalette.org) in the upper menu under: “About La Salette….Resources…..La Salette Liturgy and Music.” 

Wishing you joyous celebration of Mary's Feast!

Peace,

Ron Gagne, M.S.

La Salette Communications Center
947 Park Street, Attleboro, MA 02703
Tel: 508-838-0313

In the presence of 40 priests, religious brothers and sisters SNDS and pilgrims present at La Salette, brother Albert celebrated the 50-th anniversary of his first vows. During solemn mass in the Basilica at the Feast of Nativity of the Virgin Mary with him some of the present La Salette Missionaires renewd their vows. The community superior Fr. Richard read the record from the register of the vows from the 1965 regarding this event. After the mass everybody deposed a flower at the feet of the statue of Mary ascending to heaven.

Below the film with an interview with him.

Suggested Format: •

We used a ten-day format, using the daily readings (except for Sept. 19th/Sept. 20th), connecting them to the message of Mary at La Salette through various themes; • Red words in the scripture indicate connections with the theme of the day. • La Salette Scripture Reflections are given at the end of each day’s materials to help the homilist in preparing for the day’s liturgy. • These notes are meant to help connect the homilist and musician to the content of the daily readings and their application to the La Salette message. Each pastoral situation is different; therefore they can use whatever portions of this format might be helpful to them.

Day One: Thursday, September 10, 2015: Day of La Salette Laity

Theme: Jesus, the center of Mary’s life and message

Thursday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time: Lectionary: 440

Reading 1: COL 3:12-17

Brothers and sisters:Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,bearing with one another and forgiving one another,if one has a grievance against another;as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.And over all these put on love,that is, the bond of perfection.And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,the peace into which you were also called in one Body.And be thankful.Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songswith gratitude in your hearts to God.And whatever you do, in word or in deed,do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Alleluia: 1 JN 4:12

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us. R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: LK 6:27-38

Jesus said to his disciples:“To you who hear I say, love your enemies,do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you,pray for those who mistreat you.To the person who strikes you on one cheek,offer the other one as well,and from the person who takes your cloak,do not withhold even your tunic.Give to everyone who asks of you,and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.Do to others as you would have them do to you.For if you love those who love you,what credit is that to you?Even sinners love those who love them.And if you do good to those who do good to you,what credit is that to you?Even sinners do the same.If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment,what credit is that to you?Even sinners lend to sinners,and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them,and lend expecting nothing back;then your reward will be greatand you will be children of the Most High,for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.“Stop judging and you will not be judged.Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.Forgive and you will be forgiven.Give and gifts will be given to you;a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,will be poured into your lap.For the measure with which you measurewill in return be measured out to you.”

La Salette Scripture Reflection: Thursday Of The Twenty-Third Week Of The Year    

Luke 6:27-28: "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you and pray for those who maltreat you."

In the early morning hours of June 7, 1998, in the small community of Jasper, Texas, three white men dragged a black man behind a truck for three miles down a dirt road to his death. The gruesome murder shocked the country and the world. The community of Jasper, white and black alike, was appalled that so horrible a crime could occur in their midst. The victim's family immediately called for forgiveness and peace. They wanted healing to begin.

As active members in their church, they had often heard their minister preach the words of scripture that are quoted above. Were these words merely a fantasy of some beautiful world to come, or words that held promise for the present situation? This family showed the community, not by mere words but by their actions just what it means to “love your enemies.”

At La Salette, Mary spoke of children dying in the arms of their parents. Today there seems to be so much hatred and violence in our society. Mary's entire conversation with the two children was one of great compassion and love. Her very presence at La Salette told of her deep love for her children. She told them she was compelled to pray without ceasing on their behalf. How reassuring that is for us!

Some Reflection Questions: Do I love my enemies? Do I do good to those who hate me? When was the last time I prayed for anyone who maltreated me?

 Other La Salette Feast materials (including La Salette words to ordinary familiar hymn tunes) are available on our website (www.lasalette.org) in the upper menu under: “About La Salette….Resources…..La Salette Liturgy and Music.”

NOTE: A full version of the Mass for the Feast of La Salette (with priest’s prayers, General Intercessions, special prefaces, etc.) is also available on our Province website in PDF format (www.lasalette.org) in the upper menu under: “About La Salette….Resources…..La Salette Liturgy and Music.”

Wishing you joyous celebration of Mary's Feast!

Peace,
Ron Gagne, M.S.

La Salette Communications Center
947 Park Street, Attleboro, MA 02703
Tel: 508-838-0313

Pilgrimage of the Horses

On 22 and 23 August we had the 5th year of the Pilgrimage of the horses. There were around 27 horses came to the shrine this year. There was a conference for the horse men on Saturday evening. Sunday during the offertory of the Holy Mass, the Horsemen and women offered their work materials before the altar. After the mass the horses and people were blessed outside the basilica.

The Feast of the Assumption

The Feast of assumption was celebrated with great joy in the presence of Cardinal André Vingt Trois, the Arch-Bishop of Paris. In spite of the rain more than 1500 pilgrims came to La Salette to celebrate and pray through the intercession of the heavenly Mother. Cardinal André Vingt Trois, presided also the Vespers of Friday 14th and the Mass of the feast day. All the pilgrims appreciated the beautiful homily of Cardinal Vingt Trois on the theme of assumption and La Salette. Therefore the homily is published in the website of the shrine. There was also Archbishop Hervé Giraud from the diocese of Sens-Auxerre with us for the celebration of the feast of Assumption.

Indian Pilgrims from Switzerland

On the same occasion of August 15, there were about 50 pilgrims of Kerala origin came from Switzerland. They came with their Syro-Malabar chaplain Fr. Vincent MST. On 14th evening we had a Solemn Syro-Malabar Qurbana. It was a wonderful experience for many pilgrims who were present to witness the Syro-Malabar Mass. As in the previous months of this season in the month of August too we had good number of Pilgrims on the Holy Mountain.