OCTOBER 3, 2026 FATHER JOHN BERTAO
Let me start my homily or short words of reflection in thanking you. Yes, thanking you for your prayers of support as we continue in this ministry for you, who want to grow in your relationship with Mary and her Son, Jesus Christ. So thank you.
See, in my preparation for each Mass that I celebrate, whether it be for you, here on TV, or, I suppose, in the parish, I first of all pray and ask God what he wants me to share with you at that particular time. Like right now. Then, I search for as many sources as I can get my hands onto, and hopefully, hopeful, help you to grow in the faith of Jesus and his Mother Mary.
On this first Saturday of October, the month of the Rosary, I would like to introduce you to a simple man that you may or may not have heard about before. His name is Blessed Bartolo Longo.
Saint Barolo was born on February 11th, 1841, in southern Italy. He received a good education from the Piarist Fathers. Later he studied law, but at the university that he attended, but he had little respect for the Gospel values, or even the Church. Bartolo’s faith began to weaken, and in time he became interested in demonic rituals. But don’t give up. Don’t leave me yet.
Because fortunately, Bartolo remained friends with a professor who was a devout Catholic and a deeply spiritual man. Together with a Dominican priest this professor was able to bring Bartolo back to the practice of the Catholic faith, thanks be to God. Bartolo earned his law degree and became an attorney in his own hometown. He began living a holy life of prayer, and good deeds. He was especially devout to praying the Rosary every day.
Bartolo went to Naples to help the poor in the cities, especially in the city slums. He became a tutor to children of a wealthy widow. He travelled with her when she visited her properties, and he saw firsthand the poverty and ignorance that she was doing, and how she was treating the poor labourers in the field. He knew then that God was calling him to bring faith and hope to these people, and he had to discern how to do it.
He decided then that the best way to present the faith to the people who couldn’t read was to teach them on how to pray the Rosary. By meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary, they would learn the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord, and Mary’s important role in leading Christians to her Son.
Soon, people were crowding the little church in Pompei to pray the Rosary for the picture of Mary, which he had found in the flea market, just tossed to the side. Amazing. Sometimes just thrown to the side can become a great thing. The Church had to be enlarged, and Bartolo began raising funds for a magnificent basilica in honour of Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary. See how God makes things grow. Turns negative things into good things. Especially the most unlikely people.
But wait, there’s a little more. Bartolo is not finished yet. He also began a magazine called “Rosary and the New Pompei,” featuring articles explaining the faith. In order to live out the Gospel message, and not just write about it, Bartolo built an orphanage and a home for children whose parents were in prison. Very unique.
Bartolo was often misunderstood, and ridiculed be people who did not agree with him. There’s a suffering that helps us to grow. As he grew older he suffered various illnesses, but he never ever gave up, trusting in the power of the Rosary to accomplish all that God had asked of him. He spent the last years of his life in continual prayer.
On October the 5th, 1926, this holy layman lay dying at the age of 55, the rosary in his hand. The rosary in his hand. He was beatified by Saint John Paul II on 1980.
As I have often mentioned, the Rosary is a simple but powerful prayer. It brings us in contact with the deepest mysteries of our faith. We should make an effort to pray the Rosary, at least part of it, each and every day, and call to mind the life, the teachings, the death, and the resurrection, of Jesus. Also, the Rosary is a special homage to Mary. Who is our Mother, and in turn surrenders all of our petitions and thanksgivings to her Son, Jesus.
Just think. As I have mentioned many times, every time we pray the Rosary it’s like placing a rose, a beautiful rose, at the feet of Mary, and one day, when we get to heaven, and we see Mary, you’ll probably, if you do that, you’ll see your name inscribed at Mary’s feet, with a rose next to it. How nice that would be. The rosette is simple but very powerful.
So let me conclude with a little prayer. Most loving Jesus, who sent out the 12 on a mission, give each one of us the courage and faith to proclaim you as our Lord and saviour every time we pray the Rosary. Be it home alone, travelling somewhere, be it with family, or maybe teaching someone how to pray the Rosary, or, again, asking for someone to be healed, especially in the faith that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life into heaven.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and the hour of our death. Amen.
