Mary, Mother of the Church - KC Austin Chapter - A Report of the Spiritual Director (5/25/2026)

Worthy Chapter President and Brother Knights,

I bring you greetings one final time from our State Chaplain, Bishop Emeritus Mulvey (Diocese of Corpus Christi), and our Associate State Chaplain, Fr. Chen, whom I am in contact. As our Worthy Diocesan Deputy said, the Change of Power Meeting occurred recently so my time as the Assistant to the State Chaplain for the Texas State Council has concluded. It has been a blessing to serve my brother Knights in the State of Texas in this capacity these past two years.

Additionally, as our Worthy Chapter President mentioned in his report, there is the link to information on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ and Consecration of the New Cathedral Altar, which will happen on June 4, 2026.

Finally, our Worthy Chapter Chaplain, Fr. Charlie Garza, cannot join us for this meeting because of obligations at Holy Trinity Seminary. However, he encouraged me to talk about Mother Mary in the Spiritual Director Report, after all,  yesterday was Pentecost so today is the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. Therefore, I will reflect on this article in the "Columbia" by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori, titled "Mary's Interior Freedom."

In the article, the Supreme Chaplain asks this question: “[How] was Mary so free that she could say “yes” to the Lord’s singular plan for her life. . .?” Well, according to the Archbishop Lor, the answer is: “Mary’s complete freedom from sin. . . she was preserved from original sin by a singular grace of God, and throughout her life she committed no actual sin. . . Freedom from sin enabled Mary to assent to God’s will, but it did not preserve her from suffering. . . She endured hardship and misunderstanding. . . Because she was free from sin, Mary could assent to and bear the suffering her vocation entailed, thus fully participating in Christ’s self-offering.”

Houston, we have a problem! The Archbishop recognized that, “[unlike] the Blessed Virgin Mary, none of us is spared original sin and its effects.” However, there is hope for us, because “[we] are redeemed from sin by Christ’s death and resurrection, and we are given the grace we need to overcome sin — especially through the sacraments, including reconciliation.”

Yet, we put major obstacles in our path because “[we] may feel as though “the narrow way” to eternal life compromises our freedom. . . the Ten Commandments, the precepts of the Church and the Beatitudes can seem like a moral straitjacket rather than the path to freedom.” How many people do we know have left the Catholic Church because of the Truth that she proclaims in the world? Therefore, our challenge is this, “[conversion] of life hinges on rejecting that lie and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us.” I recently minister to a couple preparing for marriage who feels the attacks of the Evil One. They are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Matrimony in the Catholic Church and are growing closer in their relationship with God. The Evil One hates this so they now have a target on their backs.

We, too, have targets on our backs when our relationship with God deepens through prayer and spiritual growth. We walk by faith, and we turn our Mother Mary in our times of need and ask for her intercession. As the Supreme Chaplain reflects: “God’s grace works in our humanity (as it did in Mary’s) — our minds, hearts, wills and appetites. Gaining freedom from the power of sin can feel difficult, but once liberated by God’s grace, we discover that, like Mary, we are able to say “yes” to God, to our families and to those in need.”

As we heard in the Gospel, on the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, or Lord Jesus Christ, as he hung on the Cross, gave us to his Mother, saying: “Woman, behold, your son.” Let us, therefore, turn to Mary with confidence!

Here is a link to my previous report from the Chapter meeting in April: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2026/04/reflecting-on-fr-charlie-garzas.html

Deacon Phúc’s challenges for all Knights for the month of June

• PERSONAL & FAMILY: 
• Pray the Rosary regularly. October is dedicated to the Rosary. (Brother Knights, there is a reason we receive the Holy Rosary when we become a Knight. We need our Mother to guide us on the right path in service of God and his people.)
• Do a Marian Consecration, a consecration is a “formal entrusting of your life into Mary’s hands, trusting in her to guide and protect you on your journey with her Son.” Here is a link the the "33 Days to Morning Glory" Consecration to Jesus Through Mary that I mentioned at the meeting.
• Celebrate Marian feast days. May is dedicated to Mary. 
• Read Marian books and Scriptures (Pray the Rosary, because the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary tells the story of our Lord Jesus Christ through the eyes of his Mother Mary.). 
• Visit Marian shrines and statutes (or have Marian statutes and images in your home).
• COUNCIL: See above.