Cardinal Dolan

I hope you'll forgive my being all over the place, but today I'm in Lourdes! We just left Sunday Mass and there had to be at least 10,000 pilgrims. Wherever we're at, Sunday Mass is so important. The best thing we can do for our spiritual life is Sunday Mass! @thegnewsroom

I don’t want to confuse you here, but I’m still in Rome! In fact, I’m at the top of Vatican City, where there’s a magnificent grotto to Our Lady of Lourdes. I’m leaving for the real Lourdes soon! Wherever we are, we have our Blessed Mother near us, who keeps us close to Jesus. @thegnewsroom

I’ve shown you a bunch of places in Rome! This is the Cortile di San Damaso – the courtyard of St. Damasus – which is the official entrance to see the Holy Father. @thegnewsroom

One of the best places in the world to make a retreat is the Shrine of Knock. Jesus remains really and truly with us in the Lamb of the God, the Holy Eucharist sacrified in every Mass. I can never get enough of the message of Knock, and I'm grateful I had a chance to talk to you about it. @thegnewsroom

There are saints all over the place in Rome! This is where St. Catherine of Siena is venerated. We came here today because it's her feast day. We're part of a family that is not limited by space and time, and St. Catherine reminds us of that! There are saints all over the place, but the saints are with us wherever we are. @thegnewsroom

Also part of the apparition at Knock was St. John, the beloved disciple! It’s interesting that he’s here because the apparition at Knock has a heavily Eucharistic message. St. John was right next to Jesus at the first Mass, the Last Supper. He was also there under the Cross next to our Sorrowful Mother, Mary. @thegnewsroom

Today is the feast of St. Louis de Montfort, who had the beautiful act of consecration to the Blessed Mother. @thegnewsroom

We venerate St. Joseph in so many ways, but also as a man of silence! True to his nature, here at Knock, he’s in silent adoration of Jesus, the Lamb of God. @thegnewsroom

Words to live by: On the night of his first Mass, a friend of his father gave @CardinalDolan some unforgettable advice: “Don’t be a big shot.”

You’re with me in prayer as I make my annual retreat at the Shrine of Knock. Our Blessed Mother’s visit here was unique because she appeared in silence. She came as a loving mother wanting to be with her children. I find that aspect of Our Lady of Knock very powerful. @thegnewsroom

What’s interesting about the Shrine of Knock is that the central figure is the Lamb of God. This is very rural land in County Mayo, and you’ll see sheep all over the place, so the dozens of witnesses to the apparitions of Knock would have been familiar with lambs. This Lamb, of course, is the central figure of all history! @thegnewsroom

Greetings from Knock! They say about 2 million people come to the shrine here every year. The most important ones visited on August 21, 1879: the Lamb of God, the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, and St. John. Over the next couple of days, let me tell you about this magnificent shrine. @thegnewsroom

A childhood moment about not replacing the toilet paper roll became one of @CardinalDolan's first lessons in a “sense of duty.” Full interview here: bit.ly/48UJxq3

I’ve been going through these aspirations, and I’m going to conclude with the Divine Praises we used to say at the end of Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. @thegnewsroom

These short punchy little prayers called aspirations are well worth recovering, and “Saints preserve us!” is one of them. We recall that we belong to a supernatural family called the Church, and that we’re always surrounded by the arms of God, the mercy of Jesus, the mantle of our Blessed Mother, and in the company of the angels and saints.

“My Jesus, Mercy.” Three simple words, which I propose to you as an aspiration well worth recovering. We say it for ourselves and for others! @thegnewsroom

The Divine Mercy tradition gives us one of the best prayers that we can offer: Jesus, I trust in Thee! @thegnewsroom

“God help us.” It’s a basic, simple aspiration – a quick prayer that we would say in times of difficulty, a part of our Catholic tradition well worth recovering. @thegnewsroom

Here’s another aspiration well worth recovering: “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!” @thegnewsroom

I'm almost done with "Worth Recovering" and I want to talk for the next couple of days about aspirations: short prayers that we recite during the day, expressions of faith, hope, and love, especially during moments of difficulty. Here's the first one! @thegnewsroom