Tears, Mary, and the Mission (Father Simon Says)

🕊️ Starting with Prayer (Because, Obviously)   Fr. Simon immediately launches into prayer as soon as the mic’s hot. He’s moved. He leads us through:   -A powerful invocation of the Holy Spirit   -A Hail Mary    -The classic St. Michael Prayer, originally composed after a vision by Pope Leo XIII    There’s a reverent hush to it all, as if the whole world just took a sacred breath.     👤 On the Election of Pope Leo XIV: It’s Like a Funeral AND a Birth   Fr. Simon has lived through seven or eight conclaves, and he reflects on the bittersweet symbolism of a new pope:   -The Cardinal goes into the Room of Tears... literally a place of weeping and weight.   -Taking a new name is like a death to the old self and birth into a heavy mission.   “They’ve even taken away my shoes,” Fr. Simon recalls Pope John XXIII joking: a reminder that the papacy isn’t glam. It’s sacrificial.   He puts it bluntly: this is not about power. It’s about responsibility, and it's eternal-impact kind of responsibility.     Smart AND Holy? Yes, please.   Fr. Simon is genuinely excited about Pope Leo XIV.    -Former Cardinal Robert Prevost   -From the South Side of Chicago (yes, relatable roots!)   -A mathematician and canon lawyer with flawless Latin      🌹 Devotion to Mary: The Litmus Test of Catholic Love   Now THIS is where Fr. Simon gets beautifully poetic.   "A person who loves the Blessed Mother loves the Church. A person who disregards her, disregards the Church."     He reflects on rich theology about Mary:   -She’s the first member of the Church, literally accepting Jesus into her body.   -She was there at the Cross, Resurrection, and Pentecost.   -She is the icon... the living image of the Church.   -Her Immaculate Conception was to ensure that the Church began in holiness.   Fr. Simon reminds us that Mary’s role is essential, not optional. Not background. Central.     ❤️‍🔥 Why This Matters Now   Fr. Simon is genuinely hopeful. Pope Leo XIV leading a global Hail Mary in St. Peter’s Square truly matters.    Let's pray for our new Pope and stay ever close to our Blessed Mama.     The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.