For the first time ever, all of the major Wisconsin apostolates for men’s faith formation are uniting to be trained and to lead the entire state to the burning love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the fire of love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
This includes the Wisconsin Council of the Knights of Columbus, Relevant Radio, and men’s apostolates from all five dioceses: Men of Christ, Knights of Divine Mercy, Esto Vir, and the King’s Men.
Becoming better ‘medics of mercy’ for the field hospital
In a recent interview, Pope Francis compared the Church to a “field hospital after the battle.” The pope said that the greatest need in the Church today “is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful.”
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, commenting on the pope’s interview, stated, “The modern heart can only be won back by a radical witness of Christian discipleship — a renewed kind of shared community life obedient to God’s Commandments, but also on fire with the Beatitudes lived more personally and joyfully by all of us.”
If the Church is a field hospital, we need medics, medics are heroes, and heroes are saints! The Church needs more saints!
We are heeding this call, by seeking the best possible training for becoming better “Medics of Mercy” for the Field Hospital that is our Church.
Quickest, easiest way to become a saint
Fr. Michael Gaitley has recently caught the attention of the entire nation by his extremely popular book, 33 Days to Morning Glory. Father Gaitley has taken St. Louis de Montfort’s classic book on Marian consecration — True Devotion to Mary — and made it more accessible for the busy lifestyles of today’s Catholics. “Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary,” says Father Gaitley, “truly is the surest, easiest, shortest, and the most perfect means to becoming a saint.”
If this is the quickest, easiest way to become a saint, then it’s also the quickest, easiest way to conquer the whole world for Christ, if only we teach others about it. St. Maximilian Kolbe exclaims, “Teach others this way! Conquer more souls for the Immaculata!”
In his very inspiring book, Fr. Michael Gaitley summarizes the teachings of the four spiritual giants — St. Louis de Montfort, St. Maximilian Kolbe, Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and Blessed John Paul II — making them easy to grasp and put into practice. They will teach us how to draw closer to the Heart of Jesus through the Heart of Mary.
Leadership seeks consecration first
Some 30+ men from the leadership of the men’s apostolates (mentioned above) began their 33-day preparation for consecration on September 9. This leadership group meets once a week in an internet webinar, using Father Gaitley’s book with its companion parish-based retreat program that includes some excellent teachings by Father Gaitley on DVD.
This leadership group gathered together at the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in Champion on October 13 to make their consecration together. This is the same day Pope Francis consecrated the whole world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Statewide retreat from All Saints Day to Immaculate Conception
It starts by first living out the consecration in my life, but then I personally feel called to share it and bring it to others. After our preparation (training) and consecration, we then plan to bring this to as many souls as possible.
The hope is to get souls ready to begin a 33-Day Preparation for Consecration on the week following All Saints Day on November 1, so they will be prepared to be consecrated after Mass on Sunday, Dec. 8 — the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Fr. Michael Gaitley to speak in diocese on All Saints Day
Finally, we are thrilled to announce that Fr. Michael Gaitley has agreed to come and get us going on this training to become “medics of mercy” (saints) on the Feast of All Saints, Friday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m. at the Bishop O’Connor Center. All are welcomed (men and women alike). For more information contact Marie Lins at 608-469-3982 or [email protected]
Fr. Richard Heilman is founder of the Knights of Divine Mercy and pastor of parishes in Pine Bluff, Mt. Horeb, and Perry.