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Page 14 - Senior Beacon - June 2020
FREMONT COUNTY/SALIDA MENUS
Penrose (719) 372-3872 Florence (719) 784-6493
Canon City (719) 345-4112 Salida (719) 539-3351
DUE TO THE COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS), THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING MENU OPTIONS ARE CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE RELIGION
There Is Something About Mary IN THE CATHOLIC Church, the month of May is the month we honor Mary as the Mother of Jesus and our Spiritual Mother. Those of us who had the opportunity to attend Catholic school would remember taking part in the “May crownREV. EDMUNDO VALERA ing” in the St. Paul the Apostle beginning Catholic Church of May. As prayers are said in unison and Marian Hymns are sung, a beautiful wreath of flowers festooned with white and blue ribbons was placed upon the head of the statue of Mary. It was a great honor to be chosen to crown Mary’s statue. However, many people do not quite understand the Catholic’s devotion to Mary. Some would go as far as to say that the ubiquitous presence of Mary’s statues in our churches smack of idolatry. In our defense, we do not worship any of the statuaries in our churches. They are merely reminders or
representations of Jesus as well as the holy women and men who led exemplary holy lives and are worthy of our devotion and emulation. We pray directly to Jesus, the Son of God. But sometimes we ask for the “intercessions” or “help” of Mary, keeping in mind that Jesus acquiesced to her request of turning water into wine when they both attended a family wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11). This is proof to us that Mary can petition on behalf of others and Jesus would grant the favor. For truly, what son would refuse a mother’s plea? May is the height of the Spring Season, a time of year when nature comes alive after a winter hibernation - signaling a new beginning and a new birth. This reminds us of the new birth and new life that happened to humanity when Mary gave birth to the one who rescued us from our death to sin. You see, we don’t necessarily focus on Mary alone. Any reference to Mary would ultimately point to her Son. As we honor Mary during the month of May - a month that is always within the Easter Season - we are also celebrating Jesus’ springing back into life after three days in the tomb. In his resurrection from the
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providing grab and goShuttle/Fremont meals, Monday-Friday for seniors age The Golden County 60+. Please call 345-3064 each day by 9:30am to let us know Transit you will need a meal. If you Program have not eatenhas with us before, you will need to fill out an intake form. We ask for a $3.00 donation. If
expanded service to Florence and Penrose which requires more drivers. Also, Fremont County Transit is still open and running. We can get you to Call 275-5177 youstore. areOur drivers are taking every your appointments or to theifgrocery precaution and sanitizing our vehicles between riders. interested. ** We can also pick up your pre-ordered groceries and deliver them to you. special Let us know what you need help with and we will do our best to help No license needed. or get someone who can. Just call 276-5200. **
you are unable to pick up your meal, we can arrange for Fremont County Transit to bring you to get your meal or you can designate someone to pick it up for you. There is no shortage on meals so we encourage anyone wanting or needing a meal to please call.
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dead, he demonstrated what is entirely possible for all of us if we remain steadfast in our faith in him. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is at the very foundation of Christianity. As St. Paul states in 1 Corinthians 15:14, “…if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.” But based on the testimony of his disciples and his post-resurrection appearances to them and to so many: “…Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20). Aside from dedicating the month of May to Mary, our yearlong liturgical calendar is also dotted with feasts and memorials celebrating important events in her life. We cannot honor Mary enough because of her indispensable contribution to our salvation history. Her fiat (yes), giving birth to Jesus, raising him, and accompanying him on his way of suffering and death paved the way for our salvation. So, when nature comes to new life after a cold and dark winter, May is seen as the ideal month to honor the holy woman who gave life to our Savior, who in turn is giving us new life in his own resurrection.
There really is something about Mary. Over the centuries, Mary had apparitions in certain places around the world such as Fatima, Portugal; Lourdes, France; Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina, etc. Skeptics are quick to say that these apparitions are nothing but hocus-pocus visions of Mary fanatics. It is our belief, however, that Mary goes where her children calls upon her for help. When plagues and pandemics ravaged most of Europe, quite a few of her images were invoked by the faithful and miraculous healings happened. Countless conversions also took place under her watch, which was the case when she appeared in the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego on the hills of Tepeyac, Mexico. In 1965, Pope Paul VI wrote that the Catholic tradition of crowning Mary in May is a “moving tribute of faith and love which Catholics in every part of the world pay to the Queen of Heaven.” The crown symbol is attributed to Mary because she is the Mother of the Son of God, who is our Heavenly King. St. Pope John Paul II is also well-
▶ SEE MARY, PAGE 15
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