Good morning. Today I ask that you hold the victims of that senseless crime committed at the Catholic Supply store on Manchester Road earlier this week. This incident has been on my mind all week and it disturbs me greatly. The heinous act that was done is just further proof of how Satan continues to prowl the earth looking for those vulnerable enough to do his work for him. The assault that was committed on two of the women and the murder of the third truly scares me to the core that this kind of evil can and is done.
The community has risen to show support to the family of the woman who was killed and I hope and pray they continue to show that support as the initial shock of her death wears off and the true reality of their loss is mourned. May her soul, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
My concern with all the media coverage of this incident, is that the other two women will suffer even more than just the crimes that were perpetrated upon them. Just listening to conversations about this incident, I am hearing talk of how the woman who died is a martyr for her faith. Please don’t misunderstand me. She showed great courage in giving up her life in that situation. I believe these other women should be thought of in as much respect as Mrs. Schmidt. They were forced into a situation that none of us would want to think about much less have to live through and they did nothing wrong in the split decisions they were forced to make. They need and deserve as much respect from us as we are showing the Schmidt family in their loss. In order to protect their identities, I don’t believe the media has released the names of the two other victims of this crime. We don’t need to know who they are to pray for their physical, mental and spiritual healing. We don’t need to know who they are to hold their families and friends up in our prayers too. They also must come to grips with the reality of all that has happened this week. I ask that you also pray for the man who committed these crimes. The media has informed us that he was a “man of God”. This man could not have been of right mind but was possessed by Satan in order to commit the acts he is guilty of; please pray for him, his family and friends as they too have been hurt by works of Satan.
Saint Michael Archangel,
defend us in battle,
be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil;
may God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God, cast into hell
Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.
For Mrs. Schmidt, her husband and three daughters, her family and friends…
Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
For the two women assaulted and their family and friends…
Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
For the man who committed these crimes, his family and friends…
Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Do something great for our Lord today – pray. Pray for yourself, your family, your community, your country. Pray for peace; pray for perseverance; pray for purity of heart; pray for deliverance from the hands of the wicked one.
God’s will, not mine, be done.
Be not afraid; just have faith.
Jesus, I trust in You.
St. Mary Magdalen Men of God 