Oct. 2, 2025
The Guardian Angels
Dear Friends,
Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, is threatening that any residents remaining behind in Gaza City will be considered “terrorists and terror supporters.” That nonsense, and it is itself a terrorist threat, since that includes innocent, unarmed noncombatants like St. Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity, the religious congregation Verbum Incarnatum (“Incarnate Word”) (some of whom I just met last week in Jordan) and of course the needy people they are helping in the Catholic and Greek Orthodox church compounds. So even if a person is UNABLE to leave, too poor or incapacitated to move, they are a “terrorist.” This fanatical mentality amounts to a genocidal threat. Let’s plead with the Immaculate Heart of Mary, to whom Jesus entrusted world peace, for peace, and a just peace at that.
First Friday is tomorrow. How much we must beseech the Sacred Heart of Jesus, as we try to keep the 9 First Friday in this devotion of reparation (like the 5 First Saturdays), for our sins and those of the whole world.
St. Francis saw military combat and may have killed people. But he became a great peacemaker, even travelling to the Middle East (Egypt) during the Fifth Crusade in 1219 to encounter the Muslim Sultan. True peace can only come from Christ—so let’s pray to the Lord Jesus and His saint, St. Francis, for peace in the land of our Lord.
The schedule for First Saturday, since it is also the Solemnity (for us Franciscans) of St. Francis of Assisi, will differ than normal. It is the following:
- (10:30 am) Doors Open with Eucharistic Exposition & Confession available (by 10:45 am we will have 3 priests)
- (11:45 am) Chaplet of Divine Mercy
- (Noon) Mass:
- (After Mass) The Rosary:
- (After the Rosary) Reception & Talk on the “Canticle of the Creatures” in Lower Level
For my talk on the Canticle you will be offered a handout with the bilingual text of the poem which we will recite together—on both languages. The universal fraternity that St. Francis stressed—all of us creatures being “brothers and sisters” together under one Father and in one Brother, Jesus Christ—is an invitation to gaze contemplatively upon creation as a type “sacramental” expression of our Creator’s overflowing love.
I have an illustrated unframed set of the Canticle of the Creatures by Italian artist Piero Casentini from Assisi itself. It is for sale, with proceeds being given away. Let me know if you are interested.
To communicate with me, please email me directly at abunaalex@yahoo.com or call/text me at (313) 727-9784. Holy Guardian Angels, pray for us and protect us!
In Jesus, Mary & Joseph,
Fr. Alex Kratz, OFM
Spiritual Director of Terra Sancta Ministries