Christ has risen, Alleluia!

04-04-2021The Pastor's PenFr. Matthew R. Paratore, S.T.L., J.C.L.

Dear Friends,

Margaret Cregg, my high school classmate, wrote that in the mid-1990’s her uncle, Father Walter Sangster, began to notice some uneasiness in his throat and a dragging in his leg. When he went to the doctor, he found that he had an incurable disease that caused progressive muscular atrophy. His muscles would gradually waste away, his voice would fail, and his throat would soon become unable to swallow.

Father Sangster threw himself into his work in the missions, figuring he could still write and he would have even more time for prayer. "Let me stay in the struggle Lord," he pleaded. "I don’t mind if I can no longer be a "general", but give me just a regiment to lead." He wrote articles and books, and helped organize Catholic Study Groups. "I’m only in the kindergarten of suffering," he told people who pitied him. Gradually Father Sangster’s legs became useless. His voice went completely. But he could still hold a pen, shakily.

On Easter morning, just a few weeks before he died, he wrote a letter to his niece. In it, he said, "It is terrible to wake up on Easter morning and have no voice to shout, He is risen!" but it would be still more terrible to have a voice and not want to shout."

It is Easter, lift up your heart, and your voice. Sing, Christ has risen, Alleluia!

It is worthwhile to pray always and never lose heart.

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