Father Hathaway’s Column — November 19, 2023

WORLD DAY OF THE POOR – NOVEMBER 19

In his Apostolic Letter, Misericordia et Misera (November 20, 2016), Pope Francis designated the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time as World Day of the Poor. He wrote: “It will be a day that will help communities and each baptized person to reflect on how poverty is at the heart of the Gospel.” It is suggested that, beginning on Monday, November 20, the days leading up to Thanksgiving Day (November 23) be set aside for deeds of charity, patience and prayers for economic justice.

Here at the Basilica of Saint Mary, we are blessed with several vibrant parish ministries serving the poor, including: The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (contact: Marietta Bernot at svdp@stmaryoldtown.org); Christ House Dinners (contact: Julie Howard, juliehowardmom@aol.com) and ALIVE! Alexandrians InVolved Ecumenically (contact: TimBurns, live.saintmarys@gmail.com). I encourage you to support and get involved in their work. As we serve the poor in word and deed, may we open ourselves to the source of true love and our hope, Jesus Christ.

PRESENTATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Tuesday, November 21, is the memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The origins of this feast are found in a second-century apocryphal source, the Protoevangelium or Book of James. According to that text, Joachim and Anne, Mary’s parents, who had been childless, received a heavenly message that they would have a child. In thanksgiving, they presented her, when still a child, to the Temple in Jerusalem to consecrate her to God.

Tradition holds that she was to remain there to be educated in preparation for her role as Mother of God. The memorial also marks the dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary the New in Jerusalem on November 21, 543.

Appropriately, the oldest preserved prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Sub tuum præsidium, refers to her as Theotokos, the Mother of God. What a wonderful way to remember Our Lady on November 21 – and every day!

We fly to your patronage, O Holy Mother of God. Despise not our petitions in our necessities but deliver us always from alldangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin, Amen.

 WISHING YOU A HAPPY THANKSGIVING! – NOVEMBER 23

If you will be in the area, I invite you to begin your Thanksgiving family gathering by first joining us as a parish family to thank God at Holy Mass in the Basilica at 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, November 23. After all, the word “Eucharist” means “thanksgiving — Our Lord is the source of all blessings and the reason we give thanks! Our Thanksgiving schedule:

• Thursday, November 23 – One Mass at 9 m.
• Friday, November 24 – Masses at 8 m. and 12:10 p.m. (there will be no 6:30 a.m. Mass)
• Our parish offices will close at 1 m. on Wednesday, November 22, and remain closed on Thursday, November 23, and Friday, November 24.

On behalf of the Basilica clergy and staff, I wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving! May we reflect this week on all the good things God has always, to share His infinite love with others.