Dear Parishioners and Friends,
The Sacred Scriptures chosen for the Mass this Sunday call us to reverence the dignity of marriage, especially the Sacrament of Marriage. Clearly, marriage has existed from the beginning with the creation of the first man, Adam, and the first woman, Eve. This is beautifully described in the Book of Genesis, which is the first reading this Sunday. In Genesis 2:24 we read: “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one flesh.” Even after The Fall into the Original Sin by Adam and Eve, God did not take away this holy union between a man and a woman. Nevertheless, it would be more difficult to live out because of the fall from God’s grace. On the other hand, from the moment that Adam and Eve were banned from the Garden of Paradise God gave them hope in the promised coming of the Savior.
Jesus knew well the book of Genesis from His education in the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament. He heard it read in the Synagogue from the ancient scrolls. It was quoted in the home and familiar among the people of God. That is why he quotes from Genesis in His teaching on marriage. What would Jesus add? Himself. Jesus offers to the baptized the presence of Himself in the intimate union of man and woman in Christian marriage properly performed and received. He is present in a covenant of love to assist the Christian couple live out their vows and raise God-loving, God-fearing children. The vocation of Christian marriage is to make the love of Christ present in the love of man and woman and in the Christian home. This type of love is real. It can be felt. It reflects God incarnate, Jesus Christ in our midst.
Tomorrow, Monday, October 7th is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. On this day in 1571 Pope St. Pius V called upon the Christian world to pray the rosary to defeat the invasion of Europe. This came to a head at the battle of Lepanto, movingly described by G. K. Chesterton. Even the sailors aboard ship entrusted themselves and the cause to Our Lady of the Rosary, later known as Our Lady of Victory. During October let us renew our rosary prayers for a moral and spiritual revival in our times. At Fatima Mary said that “in the end her Immaculate Heart will triumph.”
Yours in the Lord Jesus Christ,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza, Pastor