Archbishop offers Mass of reparation after graffiti strike at shrine

Published: 2006-06-26

HUBERTUS, Wis. (CNS) -- More than 800 people joined Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan in celebrating a Mass of reparation June 10 at the National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians, four days after vandals sprayed graffiti on signs and the Stations of the Cross at the historic shrine. In the opening prayer, the archbishop invited the standing-room-only group of worshippers to pray "that the invisible power of Christ will reclaim this sanctuary from the forces of evil, darkness, hatred and sin." During his eight-minute homily, Archbishop Dolan said, "Satan was thrilled Tuesday as he had his hour; but Satan is crushed now because this entire community has expressed its outrage, has condemned this sacrilege, has renewed its faith, and has whispered a prayer: Be gone, Satan!" The archbishop said that good would come out of the vandalism. "We are reminded that evil exists, that hell exists, that Satan exists, and that he, while not invincible, is mighty strong," Archbishop Dolan said, adding, "The greatest weapon Satan has is to coax us to believe he does not exist."

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