An invitation was put forth last week, during the funeral of Fr. Jacques Hamel, toward the end of Rouen Archbishop Dominique Lebrun’s homily. He said, beautifully,
In tribute to Father Hamel,
we invite you to visit a church in the coming days,
to make it plain that you refuse to allow desecration in the holy places,
to be a witness that violence will not win in your own heart,
to ask for God’s graces for it,
to please light a candle in the church, a sign of resurrection;
to collect yourself there, and to open your heart to what is most profound;
to pray, if you can, to beg for mercy.
Lebrun cited August 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption, as “a most appropriate day” for those who have been away from the Church to come to Mass, saying,”The Virgin Mary will welcome you with all her tenderness.”
Of course, in the United States, with the 2016 Feast of the Assumption falling as it does on a Monday, the obligation is abrogated, in which case — if you will only be going to Mass on Sunday — this weekend is a good time to take up the Archbishop’s idea and invite a friend who has been away from Mass for a while to go with you.
More to read: For the “Spiritual but not Religious”
Naturally you still may prefer to attend Mass on Monday, the 15th, and then of course, you should invite someone along, for their sake, for the sake of the world, and for all of us. As LeBrun said, “Let us remember our own mother and pray; God, do not turn away from the pleas of your children, who look to you! God, bring to fulfillment in our hearts what your Son Jesus has begun!”
Be bold, like a disciple! Call up a friend and ask him or her to come and light a candle with you — even if it is an electric one — in tribute to a priest slain during Mass, and in supplication for an end to the madness all around.
And today we celebrate...