On August 6th of 1945, an atomic bomb named “Little Boy” was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, a military port and industrial center. The bombing brought an end to the Second World War, but also instantly killed some 80,000 soldiers and civilians, with radiation exposure later leading to the demise of approximately 130,000 residents. In this unparalleled act of destruction, the world entered a new era, the atomic age, in which the spectre of humanity’s destruction loomed in the consciousness of all people. There is, however, a message of hope in this terrible occurrence. The Society of Jesus had maintained a presence in Japan for many centuries, albeit a limited one. These brave Jesuits, motivated by a love of Our Lord, endured persecution by the Japanese government in order to minister to the small community of Japanese Catholics, and maintained a mission in Hiroshima at the time of the bombing. The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, their mission-house, was located only a mile from the epicenter of the bombing. Four priests, Fr. Lasalle (the provincial superior), Fr. Kleinsorge, Fr. Cieslik, and Fr. Schiffer, were resident in the rectory of the compound, and all four miraculously survived. Fr. Schiffer described the bombing in the following words: “Suddenly, a terrific explosion filled the air with one bursting thunderstroke. An invisible force lifted me from the chair, hurled me through the air, shook me, battered me, whirled me 'round and 'round like a leaf in a gust of autumn wind.” Fr. Kleinsorge remembered seeing a terrible flash, and then came to in the mission’s vegetable garden, bleeding from his left side. While the windows were blown out, and the furniture mostly destroyed, the building remained standing. The doctors who took care of the priests afterwards warned them that the radiation they received would produce serious lesions, as well as illness and premature death, effects seen widely in the population of Hiroshima. But these diagnoses never developed. The four religious never doubted that

they had been blessed with protection by God and the Blessed Virgin Mary. In Fr. Schiffer’s words, “I won’t call it a miracle, exactly, but I think we were under the special protection of God”; “We were living the message of Fatima and we prayed the Rosary every day.” We should reflect on this incredible event. If the rosary could save these men from almost certain destruction and death, what could it accomplish for us?

In Mary’s Immaculate Heart,

In Thee, O Lord, have I put my hope. Let me never be confounded.

- St. Francis Xavier, S.J.

October 11th, 2020

28TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME & 19TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Our Lord’s parable in today’s Gospel is again a

fairly straightforward outline of salvation history.

God is the king (see Matthew 5:35), Jesus the bride-

groom (see Matthew 9:15), the feast is the salvation

and eternal life that Isaiah prophesies in today’s First

Reading. The Israelites are those first invited to the

feast by God’s servants, the prophets (see Isaiah 7:25).

For refusing repeated invitations and even killing His

prophets, Israel has been punished, its city conquered

by foreign armies.

Now, Jesus makes clear, God is sending new servants,

His apostles, to call not only Israelites, but all people—

good and bad alike—to the feast of His kingdom. This

an image of the Church, which Jesus elsewhere com-

pares to a field sown with both wheat and weeds, and a

fishing net that catches good fish and bad

(see Matthew 13:24–43, 47–50).

We have all been called to this great feast of love in the

Church, where, as Isaiah foretold, the veil that once

separated the nations from the covenants of Israel has

been destroyed, where the dividing wall of enmity has

been torn down by the blood of Christ.

As we sing in today’s Psalm, the Lord has led us to this

feast, refreshing our souls in the waters of Baptism,

spreading the table before us in the Eucharist. As Paul

tells us in today’s Epistle, in the glorious riches of

Christ, we will find supplied whatever we need.

And in the rich food of His body, and the choice wine

of His blood, we have a foretaste of the eternal ban-

quet in the heavenly Jerusalem, when God will destroy

death forever (see Hebrews 12:22–24).

But are we dressed for the feast, clothed in the garment

of righteousness (see Revelation 19:8)? Not all who

have been called will be chosen for eternal life, Jesus

warns. Let us be sure that we’re living in a manner wor-

thy of the invitation we’ve received (see Ephesians 4:1).

-Scott Hahn, Ph.D.

The parish staff knows of the following who are ill, in retired living accommodations, etc. If you are aware of others, please let

Father or one of the deacons know: Carl Burrell, Elvira Colistro, Ray Lobdell, Rose Zinkgraf, Bella Mally, Jane Soars, Marge Ivanis,

Eleanor Finley, Virginia Warren, Susan Fisher, Gerri Allen, Peggy Cloke, Kathy McCarthy, Christopher Pitner, Ken Keyes, Theresa

Keyes, and the residents of Franklin Hills Care Center and Cherrywood Place.

Prayers for the infirm and homebound are a work of mercy.

DRESSING FOR THE FEAST—A COMMENTARY THE 28TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

A COMMENTARY FOR THE 19TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST BY ST. ALPHONSUS LIGUORI

ON THE PAIN OF LOSS WHICH THE DAMNED SUFFER IN HELL.

ACCORDING to all laws, divine and human, the punishment of crime should be proportioned to its grievousness. "According to the measure of the sin shall the measure also of the stripes be." (Deut. xxv. 2.) Now, the principal injury which sinners do to God by mortal sin, consists in turning their back upon their Creator and their sovereign good. Since, then, the greatest guilt of the sinner consists in delib-erately consenting to lose God, the loss of God shall constitute his greatest punishment in hell. In hell there is continual weeping; but what is the object of the bitterest tears of the unhappy damned? It is the thought of having lost God through their own fault. This shall be the subject of the present discourse.

The pain produced by loss is proportioned to the value of what has been lost. If a person lose a jewel a diamond worth a hundred crowns, he feels great pain; if the diamond were worth two hundred crowns, the pain is double; if worth four hundred, the pain is still greater. Now, I ask, what is the good which a damned soul has lost? She has lost God; she has lost an infinite good. The pain, then, arising from the loss of God is an infinite pain.

Hence, St. Bruno has truly said, that how great soever the torments which may be inflicted on the damned, they never can equal the great pain of being deprived of God. God is so lovely that he deserves infinite love. He is so amiable that the saints in heaven are so replenished with joy, and so absorbed in divine love, that they desire nothing but to love God, and think only of loving him with all their strength. At present, sinners, for the sake of their vile pleasures, shut their eyes, and neither know God nor the love which he deserves; but in hell they shall, in punishment of their sins, be made to know that God is an infinite good and infinitely amiable. The sinner, drowned in sensual pleasures scarcely knows God; he sees him only in the dark, and therefore he disregards the loss of God. But in hell he shall know God, and shall be tormented for ever by the thought of having voluntarily lost his infinite good.

It is necessary to know that men have been created for God, and that nature draws them to love him. In this life, the darkness of sin, and the earthly affections which reign in their hearts, stifle their nat-ural tendency and inclination to a union with God, their sovereign good; and therefore the thought of being separated from him does not produce much pain. But when the soul leaves the body, and is freed from the senses, which keeps her in darkness, she then clearly sees that she has been created for God, and that he is the only good which can make her happy. Hence, as soon as she is loosed from the bond-age of the body, she rushes forward to embrace her supreme good: but because she is in sin, and his ene-my, God will cast her off. Though driven back and chased away, she retains her invincible tendency and inclination to a union with God; and her hell shall consist in seeing herself always drawn to God, and al-ways banished from him.

The pain of the reprobate shall be increased by the knowledge of the glory which the saints enjoy in Paradise, and from which they see, and shall for ever see, themselves excluded. How great would be the pain which a person should feel if, after being invited by his sovereign to his own theatre, to be pre-sent at the singing, dancing, and other amusements, he should be excluded in punishment of some fault! How bitter should be his anger and disappointment when, from without, he should hear the shouts of joy and applause within! At present sinners despise heaven, and lose it for trifles, after Jesus Christ shed the last drop of his blood to make them worthy of entering into that happy kingdom. But when they shall be confined in hell, the knowledge of the glory of heaven shall be the greatest of all their torments.

Mass Calendar & Mass Intentions

Sat Oct 10 28th Sunday, Ordinary Ken Keyes

Sun Oct 11 28th Sunday, Ordinary Pro Populo Oct 18 29th Sunday, Ordinary Pro Populo

Sun Oct 11 19th Sunday after Pentecost Poor Souls Oct 18 20th Sunday after Pentecost Poor Souls

Sun Oct 11 19th Sunday after Pentecost Unborn Children Oct 18 20th Sunday after Pentecost The United States

Mon Oct 12 Weekday Jonas Hiner + Oct 19 Weekday Jonas Hiner +

Tue Oct 13 Weekday Evelyne Miller+ Oct 20 Weekday Pete Farmer+

Wed Oct 14 Weekday Evelyne Miller + Oct 21 Weekday Evelyne Miller +

Thu Oct 15 Weekday NO MASS Oct 22 Weekday NO MASS

Fri Oct 16 Weekday NO MASS Oct 23 Weekday NO MASS

Sat Oct 17 29th Sunday, Ordinary Spinler Family Oct 24 30th Sunday, Ordinary Converts to the Faith

Sun Oct 25 30th Sunday, Ordinary Pro Populo

Sun Oct 25 Kingship of Our Lord Poor Souls

Sun Oct 25 Kingship of Our Lord Ken Keyes

Masses without intentions are celebrated according to the intention of the priest celebrant. To request the offering of the

mass for your intention, please call the parish office or place your request in the Sunday collection

Confessions

Tuesdays 4-5pm

Saturdays 3:00pm

Sundays 10:30am

Holy Mass Schedule

Saturdays at 4:00pm, Sundays at 7:30am in the Ordinary

Form, Sundays at 11am & 12:30pm in the Extraordinary

Form.

Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday 8:00am

SFX Directory

Office Telephone: (509) 487-6363

Office Hours: Tuesday thru Friday 8:30am-11:30am

Father Gaines: pastor@sfxspokane.org

Office Email: office@sfxspokane.org

SFX can be found online at: sfxspokane.org

or facebook.com/sfxspokane

Mailing Address

P.O. Box 7179

Spokane, WA 99207

Baptisms, Marriages,

Conversions

Please contact the parish office at

“office@sfxspokane.org” to arrange a

baptism, schedule marriage preparation, or if

you are interested in becoming Catholic.

Adoration Schedule

Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament is held

Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.

Prayer Chain

Contact Jackie Silvey for prayer requests or

to volunteer, she can be reached at (509)

483-3109

Remember our Neighbors in Need

During the pandemic, we continue to distribute

food through the Missionaries of Charity and Caritas ser-

vices Bins are available at the church doors your for do-

nations of nonperishable food items.

Chesterton Academy at St. Patrick’s

I am sure that most of you are aware that the

Chesterton Academy of Notre Dame has moved into the

St. Patrick School building. The Chesterton Academy is

a high school with a Catholic and Classical education

program, based on the philosophy of G.K. Chesterton, a

Catholic convert and preeminent author of both popular

and theological works.

Now that the school year has begun, I ask you to

pray for the students at Chesterton. This year, with all its

difficulties, has proven to be something of a curveball.

Let us pray that Our Lord will help the students to form

their minds and souls in conformity with Christian ide-

als, and that they may learn the skills necessary to thrive

in a what is proving to be a very confusing world.

Seven Sisters Apostolate

The parish is looking for volunteers who would

be interested in participating in the “Seven Sisters Apos-

tolate.” This Apostolate seeks to strengthen the Church

by ensuring that a Holy Hour is prayed every day for the

intention of the parish priest.

The Apostolate is for women, and involves a

commitment of praying a Holy Hour in the church one

day a week. Currently, Thursdays and Fridays are the

days we do not have filled here at SFX. If you are inter-

ested, please contact Jean Giovanazzi at (509) 466-2196.

Parish Events & Notifications

Northside Catholic Youth Ministry

Northside Catholic Youth Ministries will be

meeting virtually every Tuesday evening, from 6:30-

8:30pm. Open for 6th-12th grades.

Website: https://www.ncymspokane.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NCYSpokane/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ncymspokane/

Volunteers Needed

As we approach the winter months, the parish is

looking for volunteers to help with snow removal. If you

are interested in running the snow blower and spreading

de-icer to ensure that our walkways are safe, please con-

tact Tim Lakey at 509-714-0389. Your help is greatly ap-

preciated.

Annual Catholic Appeal

The Eucharist forms us into one body in Christ

and brings us together as the Church in Eastern Wash-

ington. As one body, we are called to assist the Church

in her material needs, each according to their own abil-

ity. When we make a prayerful sacrifice and support the

Annual Catholic Appeal we are giving back to God and

affirming the belief that everything we have comes from

Him. As one body in Christ we share in the responsibil-

ity to support the ministries and programs of the Church.

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