MARY, OUR MOTHER

I was reading about some of the reports of the many pilgrimages around the world to Our Blessed Mother's Shrines. How wonderful that so many people love Our Lord & Our Lady so much that they would travel many miles in this hottest of seasons (Late Summer) to honor Mary's Assumption.

The one sad note was when I read about what happened in Ohio! Here's the News Clip:

CareyFight Breaks Out At Catholic Festival
Fights broke out during the annual Feast of the Assumption pilgrimage in Carey Sunday afternoon at the Our Lady of Consolation Shrine.
The religious event is supposed to bring thousands of people together to honor the Virgin Mary, which falls on every Aug. 15.
The annual event was interuppted after a group, known as the "Minister of Annoyance," told the numerous Catholics in attendance to not believe in God and disown their faith.
It sparked a fight between the group and a few teenagers. Carey police were called and arrested three teens and one adult.
One person was sent to an area hospital but refused treatment.
Police tell ONN affiliate WNWO that over the past two years street preachers have shown up to The Feast challenging those in attendance. Sunday, instead of staying in one place, the street preachers dispersed into the crowd and aruguments took place between 300-400 people.
The faithful chased the street preachers out of town says Rev. John Raphael, pastor of The Shrine.
"They show up with video cameras, send threatening faxes, and are there to cause problems," Rev. Raphael tells WNWO. "I instruct my staff and those faithful who show up to ignore them.
"They go to other places and do the same thing. I tell my staff to pray for them."
The Feast of the Assumption vigil still carried on after the brief dispute. This is the 130th year for the pilgrimage to the Our Lady of Consolation Shrine.


I thought we got along with the Evangelicals? These sad people, who are blind to the truth, are certainly mixed up in their Gospel values. I don't remember Our Lord ever telling His Apostles to cause havoc at any religious gathering. He certainly didn't condone violence against anyone, but preached "Love your enemies!"

I'm thinking about how I would react to these fanatics, who love to attack Our Blessed Lady and the Holy Roman Catholic Church. I certainly would try to answer their criticisms of our Faith, but in humility and mortification, would NOT resort to name calling or violence. "Turn the other cheek," Jesus said. Can we do this? It's hard, but necessary, cause through the blood of martyrs, the Faith will grow and be pure.

Blessings to all!
Deacon John G.