MONDAY OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME SEPTEMBER 27, 2021

LU MONFERRATO

THE MAJORITY OF PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS MET FOR REUNION 1946

MASS READINGS

A reading of the holy Gospel according to Lk 9:46-50

An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest. Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.” Then John said in reply, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow in our company.” Jesus said to him, “Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”

REFLECTION

“Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me."

In 1881 some of the mothers of a little village of Lu in northern Italy, entrusted their children to God and prayed on a regular basis that one of their sons would become a priest or a daughter place her life completely in God's service.

From the tiny village of Lu came 323 vocations: 152 priests, 171 nuns. Some families had 3-4 vocations. One priest, Blessed Philip Rinaldi, was one of five sons who became Salesian priests. Blessed Rinaldi recalled the faith of the families of Lu: "A faith that made our father and mothers say, 'The Lord gave us our children, and so if he calls them, we can't say no.' "

Every ten years, the priests and sisters born in Lu would gather for a reunion. It was a celebration and thanksgiving to God who has done such great things for Lu.

In these turbulent days, when wrong is forced on us and when our religious beliefs are trampled by the majority, when evil is called good, when porn is promulgated in movies, plays, music and even in the NYC subway and when abortion is considered a human right, one should not forget, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me."

As PAPA we pray for priests to be on fire for God, we pray for vocations and we pray for the unborn, the least among us. We help the hungry, especially the starving children in Venezuela.

What happened in the tiny village of Lu can happen now. We can adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and pray the above prayers.

Yes, there are many who pray, but we, as a PAPA family, have the united voices of 133 mothers and fathers praying the same prayers daily. Go out and introduce PAPA to others- share the simplicity of prayer and the spirituality of PAPA.

God Bless You.