Rather than spending time worrying about the end of the world, people should be using their time on earth to personally prepare themselves for the moment they will be standing before Jesus Christ, US Catholic evangelist, Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers told a near-capacity crowd at St Bernadette’s Parish in Glendalough last month.
Speaking in Perth as part of his “Thunder Down Under” tour, which included Sydney and Hobart, the internationally acclaimed preacher said that one of the ways people can prepare themselves is through the inspiration and example of the Virgin Mary, especially through the praying of the Rosary.
During his address, Deacon Harold, a Permanent Deacon from the Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon, held Rosary beads in his hand as he encouraged attendees to utilise the devotion in their prayer life.
“The Rosary is a weapon to help fight the spiritual battle against the current culture of death,” he said. “What we are doing is reflecting on these mysteries of our salvation, through Jesus Christ who came through Mary.”
Also known as the “Dynamic Deacon”, the passionate preacher, who is a regular guest on popular US Catholic media outlet, Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), described the Rosary as a microcosm of the Gospel and a reflection of salvation history.
He explained how the four mysteries of the Rosary: the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious, provided those who pray them with a journey through the entire earthly life of Christ, and allowed them to reflect on the powerful witness of Mary who chose to use her suffering – the piercing of her soul as prophesied by Simeon in Luke’s Gospel – to draw her closer to Christ.
“It is a reflection on the riches and beauty and truths of our faith through the lens of the Blessed Virgin Mary who is the perfect example for us and what it means to be fully human,” he announced. “To fully give ourselves totally to Jesus and to fully commit our lives to the obedience of faith.”
Deacon Harold emphasised that the Holy Spirit that overshadowed Mary in the Incarnation is the same Holy Spirit that empowers Catholics today when they receive the Eucharist.
“We become, in a sense, pregnant like Mary did, and we are called to go out and tell people about Jesus… and Mary helps us do that by her witness and example,” he said.
Information and photo supplied by Michael Soh