In both the reading from Genesis and the Gospel in today’s Mass, we see Satan, or the Devil, mentioned. The reality of Satan is a challenge for Modern Man. With the arrival of the Age of Enlightenment (so called) in the 18th century, it became fashionable to believe that everything could be understood through reason and science alone. The Modernism of the mid 19th century intensified this belief, such that the Church in response began to speak explicitly about the errors of Modernism, especially its rejection of religious belief. Just one example of this is the rejection of spiritual beings, since the only reality the modernists accept must be physically observable. So, angels – good or fallen – don’t really exist, they are merely mythical beings created from our imaginations in order to explain things we don’t understand. But NOW, “science” provides all the answers, and we can do away with these mythical beings. Of course, the Church has always held fast to the Biblical accounts of the existence of spiritual creatures. Angels – the good ones, like Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael; and the fallen ones, like Satan – really do exist. In the Book of Revelation (Ch. 12), we read how Jesus brings about the defeat of “that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan.” Pope Francis, even more so than his predecessors, often speaks of the nefarious works of the Devil. Indeed, the Catholic has always been deeply aware that the disciple of Jesus Christ will have to contend with “the World, the Flesh, and the Devil.” Certainly, even in our everyday pursuits, we are aware of particular obstacles which may impede, or make difficult, the goal we seek. Every runner surveys the course where he runs; every golfer looks out for the sand traps. In this sense, the things of this world, our own human weaknesses, and the temptations of the Devil, are all obstacles which we contend with in our journey to Christ. But in and through Christ, we triumph! We are most fortunate to host the Eucharistic Pilgrim- age through our city. I hope you’ll join me and many others for the Eucharistic Procession today (Sunday) at 4:30pm at the Jackson Street Bridge; the procession to SSPP church for a Holy Hour of Adoration, Mass at 6pm, and good food and drink at the reception which follows on the church grounds. May God bless you! Fr. Schaller NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC PROCESSION ARRIVING IN WISCONSIN RAPIDS Sunday June 9, 2024 4:30 pm there will be a Eucharistic Procession: Beginning at the Clock Tower by Jackson Street Bridge and continuing on the bike trail along the river to Saints Peter and Paul Church, Wisconsin Rapids, concluding with Adoration and Prayer Deanery Mass 6:00 pm / Social to follow All are welcome to attend the 16th Annual Wisconsin Rapids Deanery Eucharistic Procession on the “Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ” on Corpus Christi Sunday, June 2nd at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church 750 10th Avenue South, Wisconsin Rapids, following the 10:00 AM Mass. This event will in- clude Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Eucharistic Procession around the parish grounds, and Benediction. Newly Confirmed and First Communicants are especially encouraged to participate (children, please wear your First Holy Communion dresses and suits). In case of rain, the procession will take place inside the church The Solemnity of Pentecost marks the end of the Church’s observance of the Easter Season. This celebration commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, the Blessed Mother, and the whole Church. The coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost also fulfills God’s revelation of Himself in three divine persons: The Father is made known through His creation, the Son in the Incarnation, and now the Holy Spirit is revealed as “the Lord, the giver of life, Who proceeds from the Father and the Son” (Nicene Creed). Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, promised to send to His Church the Comforter, the Advocate, Who would strengthen and confirm us in our faith. “Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love!” The period of time between the Lord’s Ascension into heaven and the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday has always been observed as a special time of prayer. Scripture tells us that Jesus ascended to heaven 40 days after Easter and Pentecost occurred 50 days after Easter. The Lord instructed His disciples to spend the nine days between those events praying. This is the origin of the Catholic practice of the “novena” (from the Latin word for “nine”.) A novena consists of praying for some particular intention for nine consecutive days. Sometimes this is expressed in prayers or practices which are observed over nine weeks or nine months (such as the custom of attending Mass for nine consecutive First Fridays). It’s just another example of one of the those “Catholic things” that we didn’t just make up but comes from the scriptures and the practice of the early Church. Tomorrow (Monday) Deacons Ruesch and Biolo, and Fr. Williams and I will join all the priests and deacons of the Diocese, along with many other guests, in attending the installation Mass for Bishop Gerard Battersby, the 11th Bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse. As we pray for our retiring bishop William Callahan, also join me in praying that Bishop Battersby will be strengthened by the Holy Spirit to be a true, faithful, prudent, and courageous shepherd! May God bless you! Fr. Schaller SAINTS PETER & PAUL PARISH TOWN HALL Wednesday May 1st 6:30 Discussion regarding funding for new boiler SSPP Rummage Sale Thursday April 25- Saturday April 27 Proceeds will benefit youth ministry at the parish . Many years ago St. Pope John Paul II designated this Sunday as the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Here at SSPP & SVdP we pray after every Mass for vocations: for priests and deacons, for religious men and women, and for married and single people, too. We do that because all Christians have a vocation. We have a common vocation - that is, a call from God - to holiness. But the common vocation to holiness that God calls us to must be lived out in a definite way. For priests it means a certain way of living, for consecrated men and women (the religious life) it means another, and for single people and married people it means living faithfully according to those states of life. For all, the common goal is holiness - that is, a life in communion with God. There always remains a temptation to mediocrity - the easy way: “What’s the least I have to do to get into Heaven?” or “What’s the most I can get away with, and still avoid Hell?” The example of St. Pope John Paul II has shaken us from this sort of spiritual lethargy. His life was a visible reminder of the sacrifice that is required from each authentic follower of Christ – and validation that the sacrifice is worth it. While affirming the truth that ALL of us are called to a life of holiness, the Church still demands a unique witness from her priests. Some people suggest that if we would ‘soften the sacrifice’ of the priesthood – by relaxing the rule of celibacy and ordaining married men – we would have many more priests. But that argument fails even on natural grounds. For example, why does the most difficult and disciplined branch of the military services – the Marine Corps – regularly fill its quota of enlistees when the other branches sometimes struggle to do so? Answer: because it is in the very heart of a young man to seek, and embrace, a challenge. Well, John Paul II understood that principle very well. He challenged young people to reject the selfishness of materialism, and to follow Christ. And the young people loved him. Most of the millions who flooded Rome after his death in 2005 were young people. To these same young people the Pope has entrusted the mission of the New Evangelization. What is that mission? To help each person follow Christ. To help each person be holy. May God bless you! Fr. Schaller The Blue Army/ World Apostolate of Fatima 3pm, 2nd & 4th Mondays @ SSPP School All SSPP parishioners are invited to join this prayer cell of the World Apostolate of Fatima to pray & learn about Our Lady’s apparitions at Fatima. SAVE THE DATE! The Totus Tuus Summer Program will be coming to SSPP July 7th-12th. Registration forms will be available soon! From time to time one reads in one of the national news magazines, or sees on one of the cable TV channels, some (reputed) scripture scholar who questions the traditional understanding of the nature of Jesus, and the truth of His resurrection. These articles (or programs) are especially common at this time of year. Each year at Easter we proclaim who Jesus is: the son of God and the son of Mary, who suffered, died, and truly - bodily - rose from the dead. The Gospel from today’s Mass records for us another instance where Jesus appears to His disciples. He invites them to touch Him to see that He is not a ghost. And then He ate with them to give them further proof. I can’t imagine what kind of faith those “doubting scholars” would expect us to have if we accepted what they propose. I propose we stick with the testimony of the Apostles and the creed that we recite each Sunday at Mass. Our Faith is not made up of fanciful notions, myths, or legends. It is real, true, and historical. We typically celebrate many sacraments in the Easter season, especially the three Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion. At the Easter Vigil we received the Daniel & Laura Flood family into the Church at SSPP; and we look forward to the baptism of several children in the upcoming weeks. The young children of both parishes will be receiving their First Holy Communion on Sunday, May 5. And last Saturday Bishop Callahan confirmed 54 young people from the WI Rapids Deanery, including 5 from SVdP and 8 from SSPP. Please pray for our newly Confirmed, that, having been “sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit”, they may be strengthened to live a full, conscious, and active life as true sons and daughters of the Father, and fervent disciples of our Savior, Jesus Christ! May God bless you! Fr. Schaller |