April 10, 2021
Click here to view this week's Mass. The video for the 4 PM vigil Mass will be available at about 7 PM on Saturday.
Father Ron Pytel was very happy overseeing his parish, Holy Rosary Church where he was pastor. One day he became short of breath. It was determined that he was in cardiac failure. He was admitted for surgery to replace a heart valve. The surgery was successful, but severe damage to his heart had already been done. The left ventricle muscle was forever weakened and could not be repaired. He was placed on restricted activities.
On Oct. 5, 1995, the feast day of St. Faustina, Father Ron planned on praying with friends at his church. He did not know how long he would be able to remain pastor there. In addition to restricting his activities, the damage to his heart was also expected to shorten his life. On this feast day of St. Faustina, he prayed for her intercession to the Divine Mercy of Jesus. He venerated a relic of hers and when he did, he collapsed to the floor. His cardiologist examined him and ran tests. The doctor concluded that his heart had been totally healed. It was now completely normal! The damage to the left ventricle was gone.
So, who was this saint who Fr. Pytel prayed to? It was St. Faustina. This miracle became one of the reasons that Pope John Paul II canonized St. Faustina. When Maria Faustina Kowalska was a young woman, she had visions of Jesus. She wrote in her diary of the things that Jesus told her. She heard Jesus say that she was to have someone paint an image of him and he specified exactly what he should look like. She did so, and a representation of that image is here. But the most important instruction St. Faustina said she received from Jesus, was to let all of us know that we should pray to the Divine Mercy of Jesus. That Jesus suffered so greatly for each of us tells us how much he loves us. She was to let us know that Jesus wants to enter a relationship with you. That a way to help make that happen, is to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
Since this past Good Friday, all around the world, people have been praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet, as part of a Nine Day Novena. Some here at St. Andrew have participated every day. We prayed for ourselves and for the whole world. The Novena concludes on this Divine Mercy Sunday at the 11am Mass. Participants will remain after Mass to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet and to venerate the image of the Divine Mercy. That is what Fr. Ron was doing when he was miraculously healed of his heart problem. You are welcome to come and pray the chaplet, even if you have not been praying it for the past 9 days.
Miracles. The visions of Jesus experienced by St. Faustina were miracles. The healing of Fr. Ron Pytel was a miracle. The resurrection of Jesus Christ was a miracle. Miracles do happen. In the coming months, we will be holding a series of presentations on miracles called "When Miracles Happen - And When They Don't." Miracles fascinate us and often bring us closer to God. These presentations on miracles will provide some true and utterly amazing events. They will take us on a journey through the mystical, and into deeper relationship with God. I will let you know when these will be scheduled.
In our Gospel this weekend, the Apostle Thomas really wants to believe that Jesus is alive, but he just cannot believe that such a miracle was possible, unless he can place his hands in the wounds of Jesus Christ. As it turned out, he was able to do just that and came to believe. Once he believed, his life was changed, and he spent all his time leading others towards Christ. Jesus said, "blessed are those who have not seen, yet believe."
Where are you in your belief in the Risen Christ? Still some doubts, like Thomas? There are a lot of us who feel like he did, rising from the dead is hard to believe! But, after they do a little research and investigation, they come to believe as Thomas did. Do not be afraid to do your own investigation and maybe come to our presentations on miracles. Come and see - and believe!! Amen.
Peace,
Deacon Dave