From Father Steven - January 31st

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
It seems crazy, but it’s almost February!!!! This week, on Wednesday, we celebrate the memory of Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr. There is always the tradition to do the blessing of throats with the candles blessed the day before. This year we will still do the blessings, however, we will do it from the altar at the end of the masses this weekend and on February 3rd. By way of heads up, please note the mass schedule for Ash Wednesday.
God Bless, Fr Steven

Mystical Rose

Roses have long been connected with Mary. The red rose symbolic of love, the white rose, of purity. In the fifth century, Coelius Sedulius referred to Mary as a "rose among thorns". Known as the “queen of flowers”, the rose represents Mary as Queen of Heaven. Medieval writers also referenced a passage from Sirach 24:14 "like a palm tree in Engedi, like a rosebush in Jericho". Bernard of Clairvaux said, "Eve was a thorn, wounding, bringing death to all; in Mary we see a rose, soothing everybody's hurts, giving the destiny of salvation back to all." Mary is celebrated under the title "Our Lady of the Rose in Lucca, Italy on January 30. Roses feature prominently in the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
“Mary is the most beautiful flower ever seen in the spiritual world. It is by the power of God’s grace that from this barren and desolate earth there ever sprung up at all flowers of holiness and glory; and Mary is the Queen of them all. She is the Queen of spiritual flowers; and therefore, is called the Rose, for the rose is called of all flowers the most beautiful. But, moreover, she is the Mystical or Hidden Rose, for mystical means hidden.” Newman, John Henry.
"Rosa Mystica", Meditations and Devotions, 1893, Internet Sourcebook