Father Hathaway’s Weekly Column — July 31, 2022

WELCOME TO OUR NEW K of C OFFICERS

Congratulations to our new Knights of Columbus Fitzgerald Council #459 officers, installed on Saturday, July 30: Grand Knight Kenneth Hyatt, Deputy Grand Knight Christopher Zettler, Chancellor Ryan Moy, Lecturer Thomas Bradly, Advocate Timothy Burns, Recorder Keenan Pallone, Financial Secretary Michael Karau, Treasurer Zachary Waters, Warden Colin Delgado, Inside Guard Jason Rockett, Outside Guard Jarrett Lee, Trustee Charles Zakrzwski, Trustee Charles Coates and Trustee Steven Teslik. It is my pleasure and honor to continue to serve as Chaplain for our Council.

My thanks, also, to outgoing Grand Knight Chuck Zakrzwski and his team of officers for all they accomplished for our parish and community this past year. I look forward to more great things from our Knights in the months to come! To join the Knights of Columbus, contact Kenneth Hyatt at [email protected].

DEDICATION OF SAINT MARY MAJOR & THE MIRACLE OF THE SNOW – August 5

In celebration of a 4th-century Marian miracle, known as the “Miracle of the Snow,” it has been customary for white rose petals to be dropped from the ceiling of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, or Saint Mary Major, in Rome on August 5. That feast day marks the basilica’s dedication.

According to legend, during the night of August 4/5 in 358 AD (some sources say it was 352 AD), the wealthy Roman patrician Giovanni had a vision of the Virgin Mary. She instructed him to build a basilica dedicated to her where he would find miraculous snow the following day. In the morning, Giovanni spoke to Pope Liberius, who said he had the same vision. They discovered the snow – during the heat of the Roman summer – on the Esquiline Hill. The pope is said to have traced the perimeter of the church on the snow-whitened ground. The basilica was eventually built, financed by the wealthy Giovanni and his wife.

Here at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Alexandria, we will again honor the feast day with silk petals falling from the church ceiling at the conclusion of our 12:10 p.m. Mass on Friday, August 5. I hope you can attend – it’s a marvelously ethereal event! The Mass also will be livestreamed.

FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD – August 6

Telling His disciples that He would be put to death in Jerusalem, Christ went up Mount Tabor with Peter, James and John. “He was transfigured before them. And His face did shine as the sun and His garments became white as snow” (Matthew 17:2).

The Transfiguration foretells the glory of the Lord as God, and His Ascension into heaven. It anticipates the glory of heaven, where we shall see God face to face. Through grace, we already share in His divine promise of eternal life.

 Collect Prayer for August 6

O God, who in the glorious Transfiguration of Your Only Begotten Son confirmed the mysteries of faith by the witness of the Fathers and wonderfully prefigured our full adoption to sonship, grant, we pray, to Your servants, that, listening to the voice of Your beloved Son, we may merit to become co-heirs with Him. Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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