Newsletter 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) 10th August, 2025

Newsletter 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time 10th August 2025.pdf

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In today’s Gospel Jesus says: “The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”  Our Lord is warning us to be ready.  We cannot afford to take our spiritual life lightly – to be complacent.  We are called to be ready NOW!  “We don’t know ‘the day or the hour’ of Our Lord’s return.  It may be some time away or it may be as I speak.  In the Gospel Jesus also says: “When a man has a great deal given to him, a great deal will be demanded of him.”  We have been given “a great deal.”  Our Lord offered His life for us on the Cross.  Our Lord continually gives each one of us His Infinite love.  Our Lord feeds us with Himself at every Mass.  A theologian, Peter Kreeft said: “If you are not a saint, it is simply because you do not want to be one.”  A French theologian, Leon Bloy said: “The greatest tragedy in life is not to be a saint.”  In these times God is raising up great saints: “Where sin abounds Grace abounds even more.”  St Louis de Montfort foretold a time when God will raise up saints who will surpass all other saints put together.  They will be saints of the calibre of Our Blessed Mother. The Bible calls her “full of Grace” or full of the Holy Spirit or full of God.  Therefore, this new sanctity or holiness will not be a human sanctity but a divine sanctity. The sanctity of God Himself, who said, “Be Holy as I Am Holy.”  One example of a person who had great sanctity is St Mary of the Cross MacKillop.  Her feast day is August 8^th.  It is very important that we know about St Mary MacKillop because not only is she one of us, but she is also a great saint to imitate.  Mary Helen MacKillop was born Melbourne, Australia January 15^th 1842, died Sydney August 8^th 1909.  In 1861 she met Father Julian Tenison Woods, founded the Institute of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart.  Mary took the name of Mother Mary of the Cross.  In 1865 Mary and two younger sisters began teaching in an abandoned stable at Penola, South Australia.  Her name as Mary of the Cross was apt.  Her crosses included poor health, lack of necessities, lack of food, frequent long journeys throughout Australia and New Zealand.  In 1871 the bishop of Adelaide excommunicated her and disbanded the sisterhood.  In 1874 Mother Mary travelled to Rome and submitted her rule to Pope Pius IX where it was approved.  Before her death in 1909, she established 160 Josephite convents and 117 schools (attended by more than 12,000 children).  Besides primary schools the Sisters cared for anybody in need, orphans, old people, women in domestic violence, outcasts.  No money was ever asked for their services.  Despite the excommunication and all her crosses, she never once was known to criticise or complain or be bitter.  She would often say: “My only prayer is that God’s Will be done.”  A letter to a priest, Monsignor Kirby: “I cannot tell you what a beautiful thing the will of God seems to me.  For some years past my communions, my prayers, my intentions have all been for God’s will to be done.  Thus, I feel a joy when things go well, for I see God’s will in this and an equal joy when they seem to go wrong or against our natural desire.  To me the will of God is a dear book which I am never tired of reading which has always some new charm for me.”  Her union with God, by those who knew her was said to be constant.  Her life was a prayer.  She would also spend long hours of prayer in the presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.  Miracle ‘runner up’ for her canonization:  Jack Simpson should have died.  Disaster struck in April 1999.  At aged 8, Jack was eventually diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, cancer, epilepsy and loss of neurological functions.  A friend organised novenas to Mary MacKillop.  For Mrs Simpson the turning point came one night in 2000.  “That night I thought Jack was going to die.  That’s when Mary MacKillop appeared.  She helped me lift him up and get him back into bed.  The miracle was the return of his intellectual functions because that has never been documented in human history.”  St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, pray for us in Australia that we may be able to say no to the fleeting treasures of this kingdom on earth and say yes to the treasures of God’s Kingdom.