Asteroid Will Pass Close to the Earth on the Vigil of the 100th Anniversary of Fatima

Chelyabinsk meteor was brighter than the sun
when it expoded over the city in 2013.

According to NASA, on October 12th a large asteroid named 2012 TR4 will pass as close to the earth as 4200 miles although they expect the distance to be greater. Scientists are excited at the opportunity to study the asteroid and test some of their meteor detection systems. 

In 2013 a smaller asteroid exploded about 18 miles over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk. It's shock wave damaged more than 7000 buildings and injured over 1000 people mostly from flying debris.


2012 TC4 isn't expected to cause damage, but I can't help wondering whether it's a "sign in the heavens." Sin is a magnet for destruction and we certainly have more than enough sin to attract the devastation poured out on Sodom and Gomorrah. We can only thank God and praise the holy Mother of God for the patience that allows us to continue living even as we experience the chastisements from natural and human disasters. God doesn't want our destruction but our love and obedience to His perfect will. But, like Jonah, who was the subject of the first reading at Mass today, we spend a lot of time running in the opposite direction. We think anything is preferable to accepting God's will. How little we understand true happiness! I'm thankful that God runs faster than we do -- "with unhurrying chase and unperturbed pace." He will not leave us alone until our final rejection of His love at the moment of death. I pray daily for the grace of final repentance.

So let's take this as an opportunity to repent for our personal sins and the societal sins in which we are all caught up -- like abortion, pornography, and contraception which we support with our tax dollars, our votes, and our indifference. A priest once told me that Israel's punishment was largely due to societal sins participated in or tolerated by the people. I think of that when we're traveling and pass billboards advertising XXX adult book stores and "gentlemen's clubs" or see ads for abortion mills and Planned Parenthood. We have a lot to answer for!

I think I'll do an "instant novena" to St. Michael today by praying his prayer nine times for protection against the power of evil. And I'll mark my calendar for confession this Saturday. And on the 100th anniversary of Fatima this Friday, I'll pray all twenty decades of the rosary.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Mary, Mother of the Savior, pray for us.

St. Joseph, patron of the universal Church, pray for us.

St. Michael the archangel, defend us in battle....