Father's Friday, 5/22/2020 Message

Born into an Italian family, to a mother whose name was Rita, I have no doubt that it was providential that St. Rita of Cascia, whose Memorial we celebrate today, would be instrumental in my life.  St. Rita of Cascia Parish, and National Shrine in South Philly (picture below), was a Church I visited often as a child, and, even more often as an adult.  Since I know that I can not write a book here, I will briefly write about a few things, and encourage you to read about St. Rita’s life in the many sources available, and to watch if you can, the Mass from the Shrine in South Philly at 11:30 this morning on EWTN. 

As an adult, a few friends and myself would meet with Fr. Jim Galligan, an Augustinian priest stationed at St. Rita’s, who served as our Spiritual Director to guide us as we promoted Eucharistic Adoration in parishes in Philadelphia.  As a Seminarian, and, a priest, most of my time of service was at St. Rita’s in Blue Ridge Summit.  Following the example of the Shrine, at the close of our Forty Hours, I would bless roses, and have them available for all to take. I did continue this at St. Andrew’s also, on her Memorial. In Philly, the Shrine would be filled with busloads of people who would come for Mass and devotions, and be mesmerized by the 12 THOUSAND DOZEN ROSES, present there. 

Roses became prominent in devotion to St. Rita, when close to death, she asked her cousin to bring her a rose from her garden, even though it was February, and snow covered everything.  Nevertheless, her cousin went, and, there was a single rose blooming, a sign of God’s love, aware of our most simple desires in life.  Please accept this symbolic rose as my gift to you all 🌹

God bless you,
Fr. Robert