For the students, going to Mass or adoration would be the perfect way to wrap up a school-year-long devotion of nine First Fridays honoring Jesus' Sacred Heart.
Every first Friday of the month for the nine months of the school year, students attended special all-school Masses, with Father Vogel teaching about the devotion. Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction followed.
For those unfamiliar with the Sacred Heart devotion, or for those who need a reminder, here's a Wikipedia summary: First Friday Devotion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An EWTN article explains why the Church endorses this practice:
"In honoring the Heart of Christ, our homage lingers on the Person of Jesus in the fullness of His love. This love of Christ for us was the moving force of all he did and suffered for us -- in Nazareth, on the Cross, in giving Himself in the Blessed Sacrament, in His teaching and healing, in His praying and working. When we speak of the Sacred Heart, we mean Jesus showing us His Heart, Jesus all love for us and all lovable."
Father Vogel's teaching on the Sacred Heart will be one of his lasting legacies at St. Columbkille. Worshiping with him on the solemnity would be a nice way to spend our remaining time with him, before he leaves to become pastor of St. Boniface Parish in Elgin and St. Bonaventure Parish in Raeville.
And perhaps not so coincidentally, the solemnity also marks a World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests. So let's remember Father Vogel, and all our priests, in prayer Friday.
Because as we all know, prayer -- especially before the Blessed Sacrament -- makes a wonderful going-away gift.
Inspired by the Year of Faith, Susan Szalewski began writing weekly columns for us. Although that year is over, we liked them so well that we asked her to keep writing. Thankfully, she said yes. So watch for these on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.
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