ARTICLES

Spirit of Reparation

OUR LADY OF PEACE SHRINE, POWERHOUSE OF PRAYER

By Donna Maria Jerusalem

Graces overflow at Our Lady of Peace church and shrine in Santa Clara since the pastor, Father John Sweeny, began offering vigils of reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary 30 years ago. It began on October 7, 1969 at a first Friday Mass through the following first Saturday Mass in honor of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Since that date 30 years ago, Father Sweeny has continued these vigils and others that call down heaven's graces. Perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament has been observed since 1976, when Sister May Jeanne volunteered to drum up the people to attend. Father Sweeny was inspired to add a large statue of the immaculate heart of Mary, which he dedicated in 1983. After returning from a trip to Portugal, Father Sweeny wanted the spirit of Fatima perpetuated at the shrine at Our Lady of Peace. As a result, Fatima rosary processions take place on the 13th of every month between the months of May through October. Thousands have attended these devotions. Today, Our Lady of Peace is the largest shrine to Mary between Our Lady of Sorrows in Portland, Oregon and Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. When visiting California in the late 1980s Mother Teresa made a special effort to visit the shrine.

The Feast of the Divine Mercy is observed each year at Our Lady of Peace, and thousands come to Holy Mass and go to confession because of the promise of a plenary indulgence on that day, the first Sunday after Easter. The graces of Our Lady of Peace go on and on, and it serves a place for thousands from all around the Bay Area to come visit Our Lord and reflect on Our Lady. When Mass is not being offered, there are continuous holy hours with the recitation of the rosary, followed by the chaplet of the Divine Mercy. Confessions are available before all Masses and the altar rail is still in place for a more profound adoration of Jesus while receiving communion. The indult Latin Mass is also offered on the first Saturday of each month.

Because Father Sweeny first started with the vigils of reparation on first Friday's thirty years ago, they hold a special significance for him and the parish. When asked why this is an important aspect of Catholic devotion, Father Sweeny replied, "Someone has to pay the price. Reparation is an activity of faith, we must follow the example of Our Lord to pray and make sacrifice. By sharing in Our Lord's life we make up to God for the offenses that have been committed, so souls can be repaired."

The inspiration of the saints helped Father Sweeny along the way. Among these, Father Sweeny cites St. Francis of Assisi in particular. Father Sweeny said, "St. Francis of Assisi, he knew that God would provide, simply by his imitating Our Lord. Jesus said, 'Follow me', I have been in a position to do that." Father Sweeny also finds great inspiration in Our Lady of Fatima and her message that many souls are lost because there is no one to pray and make sacrifice for them. When asked about the best ways of making reparation, Father Sweeny said, "The key is the morning offering, it sums it all up." The morning offering is a simple prayer that goes, "I offer all of my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day." Father Sweeny continued, "Prayer, keeping vigil -- once a month, we come together to pray together with Our Lord, to answer his request to his apostles, to 'watch one hour' -- one hour, five hours, or all night, whatever is within our capacity. We must pray for true contrition for our sins, and for the conversion of sinners, we must offer our prayers and our sufferings."

There are three great devotions of reparation: the devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, as revealed to St. Margaret Mary in the 17th century, the devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus, as revealed to Sister Mary of St. Peter in the 19th century, and the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary as revealed to Sister Lucia of Fatima in the 20th century. In St. Louis de Montfort's time, the Sacred Heart revelations to St. Margaret Mary were well known. Consequently, his collection of her devotions is frequently mentioned as a means of reparation. Holy hours of reparation are a wonderful way to make up for the many sins of our day. Holy hours may be made privately or publicly, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, or even in one's home. Other priests who offer devotions for reparation are Father John Rizzo, who offers a weekly Friday holy hour of reparation at St. Rose Church in Sacramento, and Father William Stout of Our Lady of Peace church, who has been offering a first Tuesday evening Mass of reparation to the holy face for profanations and blasphemies, for almost a year.

It has been noted by many religious the special need for reparation now due to the horrible crimes of the 20th century. Sin brings chastisement, reparation for sin brings God's mercy and love. After our Lord said to St. Francis of Assisi, "Francis, rebuild my Church," St. Francis renewed the Church with great charity given to him by the Holy Spirit. The Franciscans went on to found 21 missions in California. Perhaps this is one reason why California is a special place of reparation. For more information regarding establishing a holy face devotion of reparation in your parish, contact me at the Holy Face Confraternity, 7441 C Auburn Oaks Ct., Citrus Heights, California 95621. Or Annabel Sutton, c/o Holy Face Apostolate, 2803 Glauser Drive, San Jose, California 95133.

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