Our Lady Of Fatima Church NEWSLETTER May 2024

Eucharistic Crusaders Contact Catherine Haslebacher at cathasle09@gmail.com Crusaders offered their work in March for “Those who die suddenly ” Tallies for March 2024: Treasure Sheets turned in: 17

Masses: 172

Holy Communion: 145

Visits to Our Lord: 152

Sacrifices: 1483

Spiritual Communions: 168 Good Examples: 437

Daily Offerings: 470 Decades of Rosary: 1886 15 Mins of Silence: 534 May dedication: Conversion of sinners and unbelievers through the Blessed Virgin Mary Rogation Days: A Practice Worth Reviving In addition to Ember Days, the Church in traditional times set aside four penitential days, that is, days wherein the faithful walked in public procession, praying the Litany of the Saints, singing psalms and responses in order to do penance, ask God to keep them safe from natural disasters, and for a bountiful harvest season.

The practice is long-standing in various ways, but its common form originated when St. Mamertus, bishop of Vienne (in Gaul), ordered the faithful to make three successive processions on the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before the feast of the Ascension, with the intention of doing penance and asking God to deliver them from a series of natural disasters which

plagued the city: an earthquake, a fire that burned down the town hall, and an incursion of wild deer into the town. The disasters stopped after the litanies were celebrated. Traditionally, the faithful are asked to observe days of fast (one principle meal) and partial abstinence (meat taken once a day) on April 25 (Greater Litanies), Monday-Wednesday before the Feast of the Ascension (Lesser Litanies), this year May 6-8, the Vigil of Pentecost (May 18) and Ember Days (May 22, May 24, and May 25). The practice was added to the Liturgical calendar in 813 at the Council of Mainz. Rogation days and Ember Days were set aside in the Liturgical reform of 1969. Given the current global and Church situation, this might be a practice worth pursuing.