The final battle will be over marriage and the family

 

“The final battle will be over Marriage and the Family”

 

One of the 3 children who were graced with visions at Fatima in 1917 was Lucia dos Santos.  Our Blessed Mother asked the 3 children in 1917 to let everyone know that there would be a great miracle, and when that day and time arrived, the Sun darted all over the sky for several minutes, and was witnessed by over 70,000 people, some were atheist and non-Catholic newspaper reporters and photographers who witnessed the Sun moving all over the sky.  Lucy has since died, and Pope Francis several years ago made her a venerable, putting her on the path to Sainthood.

 

Lucy said, before she died, “The final battle between the Lord and the kingdom of Satan will be about Marriage and the Family. Don't be afraid because whoever works for the sanctity of Marriage and the Family will always be fought against and opposed in every way, because this is the decisive issue.”

 

We have seen marriage and the family in the United States under assault for at least the last 100 years, and more recently marriage and the family have been under attack even from WITHIN some corners of the Catholic Church.

And so I just want to say tonight that those who are in a marriage recognized by the Catholic Church, and who are open to life…THANK YOU! 

As a priest, just know that I am SO inspired by all of you that are living out your marriage as the calendars prepares to turn to 2024…I know it is not easy but marriages and families that are pursuing holiness INSPIRE me and every other priest.

We have some great readings this weekend about marriage…about wives being submissive to their husbands and about husbands loving their wives as Christ loves the Church…I think it is important to recognize that Jesus says in another Gospel passage, “The rulers of the gentiles LORD it over them, but among you it shall not be so.  Whoever among you wishes to be great will become the SERVANT of all…”  True authority comes not from exerting power over another, but from serving everyone.”

 

Again, thank you to all the families in this parish trying to make it work…may the Holy Family intercede for all of us today and every day!