prayer requests

Instead of a Quick Takes, I need to ask for prayers for some loved ones.



We were gone last week helping some very close and dear friends of ours with the loss of the wife's mother. Remember the baptism we had for our new godson, Thomas? This was his grandmother. She had been suffering from cancer for two years and Our Lord called her home. She died a peaceful death, just two weeks after her newest grandbaby was born. So our dear friends were trying to figure out how to make life work with three little ones, a taxing job, and the loss of a loved one. We stayed with them for a few days to help out and I wish I could do so much more. Tuesday was the funeral and the girls and I, along with their wonderful neighbors, did all we could to make things easier. All those Lubbock BBQ's came in handy, as I pulled a Pat (and Rachel, because I've seen her do this, too) and streamlined the buffet.

Please pray for the repose of Rosie. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and sister. She and her husband were neighbors and met when they were only eight years old. They were best friends who fell in love and married. They celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary not long before Rosie passed away. Her daughter said that the funeral was packed and included people who had only met her once.

***

Wednesday night, a tragedy happened in Phoenix that hit so close to home, as we are close with one of the people involved. Two priests were attacked in their home and one was killed. Fr. Ken Walker, a young priest of just two years, a young 29 years, was shot and killed. Fr. Joseph Terra, our dear friend from his days at Mater Dei in Dallas, was brutally beaten, and I'm sure left for dead.

Joseph and I discussed the tragedy all day. Even if Fr. Walker was the victim of a botched burglary and no motive against the Faith was held, this story holds so much grace in it. Joseph recently quoted that "the blood of martyrs is the seed of the Faith." How true this is.

Y'all. Fr. Terra was found, in his own critical condition, giving Last Rites and praying over his dying friend. He was able to give absolution and parting sacraments to this young man. Reporters and police described the scene as emotional. I get choked up even writing this out.

To hold one's friend, who has just been brutally murdered. To know he's not going to live. To know that the most important thing to do is help usher his soul into Eternal Life. And all this, despite one's own terrible suffering.

Surely this story will convert some souls. Even if Father's murder isn't a targeted attack (and hence his death being a martyrdom), his death will surely be used to bring greater glory to God and His Holy Church.


This story shocked the world of Catholics, but particularly those in the traditional rite. I try to explain to folks who aren't involved in traditional circles the tightness of our parishes. All the priests know each other or of each other, and most laity are separated by only a few degrees - from other laity and most of the priests. Catholic circles are close-knit as it is, but (and this is probably because I'm in them) but the traditional circles are very, very close-knit. This attack truly left us all in shock. It's hard hearing about the loss of a priest, but when it's one of the priests in one of the few orders devoted to the Latin Mass, it hits particularly hard. It feels like losing a family member.

Both these wonderful priests belong to the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP), a religious order devoted to preserving and restoring the sacred traditions of the Faith. Joseph and I fell in love with this order through our introduction to it through Fr. Terra. We picked a parish to try out in the DFW area when we moved there, and it was his. The Motu Proprio had just been released and Fr. Terra gave a flooring sermon about it and the impact that this would have on the lives of all Catholics. After his sermon, Joseph looked at me and said, "We found our home."

And home it was. Fr. Terra was a wonderful spiritual father. He came weekly to bring me Holy Communion while I was on bed rest with my first pregnancy. He had no problems telling us if there were books on our bookshelf we shouldn't have (albeit, we figured them innocent and he never made us feel guilty). He shepherded our souls from the faith of two children into the faith of two adults. He baptized our Molly.

We were so sad when Fr. Terra was transferred to Phoenix.

Joseph and I wonder if this public notice of the FSSP will bring others into a deeper understanding and love of the Faith, through the Latin Mass, particularly through the love this order has for Holy Mother Church and the Mass of the Ages.


I didn't know Fr. Walker, but I haven't met a Fraternity priest that I didn't respect and admire, so I'm sure I would have liked him. Here is a wonderful sermon given by him about a year ago on the topic of Mercy and Justice. My heart aches watching it.

You can read more about Fr. Walker here.

We were talking with our priest, Fr. Moses, a couple of weeks ago, lamenting the loss of so many children lately (again, in the Traddie community - three families lost their full-term children in recent months and we all know them or know of them and have been praying for them. Fr. Moses asked us how they were doing...even though we don't personally know them.). I said that I know God has a plan in everything, but I just don't see it. He grimaced and said that Satan also tries to force his way into things. He said that Old Scratch will stop at nothing to stop the Faith from growing. And these precious babes were being born into faithful, devout, loving Catholic families. I think that's what's at work in Phoenix, too. These priests were saving souls, and a lot of them.



Please pray for the repose of Rosie, Fr. Walker, and for the complete healing of Fr. Terra.