November 3, 2024 - "Saint Giuseppe Allamano"

When Father Allamano came to Rome in 1912, he had an audience with Pope Saint Pius X when he urged the pope to establish an annual missionary day to awaken missionary vocations.  During World War One he worked to assist refugees and seminarians who were drafted.  He also worked for the cause of his uncle (Father Cafasso), who was beatified in 1925 (and canonized in 1947). Father Allamano’s idea for an annual day for missionaries came to fruition in 1927, a year after his death, and is now observed on World Mission Sunday. Father Allamano was beatified in 1990.

 

On February 7, 1996, in the Amazon rainforest, Sorino Yanomami, an indigenous man from Cape Verde, was attacked by a jaguar. Sorino suffered a brain injury from which he was not expected to survive.  His congregation began a novena for the intercession of Blessed Allamano, and Sorino survived.  That was approved as the miracle for the canonization.

 

Since Tuesday is Election Day, I want to close with this prayer for the election suggested by the Maryland States Conference:

 

Gracious and loving God, let your Spirit be with us today. Hear our prayers and increase in us the will to follow your Son, Jesus. Help us to draw on the resources of our faith as we use the opportunities of our democracy to shape a society more respectful of the life, dignity, and rights of the human person, especially the poor and vulnerable. We ask this through Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

 

Let’s pray this today, tomorrow, and Tuesday!

 

Until next week,

Fr. John