August Pastor Column #1
My dear Kirkland Catholics,
As many of you know, I consecrated both parishes of our family to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in June of 2025, and then renewed this consecration again in June of this year. Since she is the principal patron of both south campus (HFK) and the middle name of the patron of north campus (St. John Mary Vianney) it was a no-brainer in my mind to do this. August in Catholic “devotion” is also dedicated to the Immaculate Heart. Thus, as we begin August it seemed appropriate to dedicate a bulletin column to the reasons and theology of this.
This devotion was itself commended by Our Lady at Fatima, the apparition whose legitimacy is most publicly and dramatically attested to in the miracle of the Sun witnessed and attested to by more than 70,000 persons including many atheists; and prophetically backed up by our Lady’s correct prediction during these apparitions of the Russian Revolution and spread of communism; things the little shepherd children knew nothing about and could not have made up.
Our Lady asked at Fatima that devotion to her Immaculate Heart be spread throughout the world, not because she desired attention for herself, but because she desired souls to come safely to Christ, to be saved from hell and the errors of this world. She even described her Immaculate Heart as "your refuge and the way that will lead you to God." A mother always wants to lead her children to what is best. Mary's mission has never changed. She herself, we are told in Luke’s Gospel – “pondered in her heart” the mystery that is her Son and the events surrounding his life and death and resurrection that were not always easy to understand. Her heart is a place where trust flourished and was chosen again and again. In Scripture, the "heart" is not just the physical organ and goes beyond our emotions. The heart is the deepest part of the human person. It is where we love, choose, remember, hope, and encounter God.
The most revered priest and professor during my time at seminary used to say “The Holy Spirit tends to go where He is wanted” and by extension although we would say that Mary has care for all of her children, those individuals and parishes who explicitly and faithfully invoke her intercession could be said to be more within her care and concern. It’s a mystery that’s nonetheless backed up by the experience of the faithful and saints up and down the ages.
All true Marian devotion is about focusing on the human person (Jesus is a Divine Person) who most excellently achieved by the grace of God perfection and all virtues; and leading us to her Son so that we too may grow as human persons more and more into the Divine image and likeness. This does not take away from our focus on God, but is rather an avenue the Lord Himself chose for our greater participation in His own life.
As August begins, perhaps choose one concrete way to grow closer to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Pray an extra Rosary each week. Begin praying the Angelus each day. Make or renew your consecration to Jesus through Mary. Learn about the First Saturday devotion requested at Fatima. Or simply spend a few minutes each day asking Our Lady to help you see Jesus through her eyes.
With love in Christ,
Fr. Brad