Introductory Prayer
Come, O Holy Spirit! Enlighten my understanding in order to know your commands; strengthen my heart against the snares of the enemy; enkindle my will ... I have heard your voice, and I do not want to harden my heart and resist, saying, “Later ... tomorrow.” 'Nunc coepi!' Right now! Lest there be no tomorrow for me.
O Spirit of truth and of wisdom, Spirit of understanding and of counsel, Spirit of joy and of peace! I want whatever you want; I want because you want; I want as you want; I want whenever you want ...
Ref: St Josemaria Escrivà, “Prayer to the Holy Spirit”. In Postulation for the Cause of Beatification and Canonization, “Historical Registry of the Founder of Opus Dei” 20172, p145.
Wisdom, understanding and counsel
The first gift of the Holy Spirit is ‘wisdom’, which consists in understanding how to appreciate things at their real value. ‘Sapientia a sapere’ (wisdom and understanding). Before receiving this gift, did the Apostles esteem and value the things of God and their own eternal salvation more than all the fleeting pleasures of this world?
No, they were men of earthly minds, occupied entirely with the care of their bodies, and the desire to rise in the world and in their Master’s favor. “There was a strife among them, which of them should seem to be greater” (Mk 9:34), and they cared but little, in comparison, to watch or pray with Jesus.
Behold what the Apostles were, and what we all are, without the gift of wisdom -- cold and indifferent in spiritual things, in exercises of piety, humility, mortification, penance; finding a thousand excuses for shortening or omitting them. We are full of activity about worldly matters and all that concerns our temporal welfare.
We see clearly in the Gospels what the Apostles were before they received the gift of ‘understanding’, before they were supernaturally enlightened to comprehend the divine mysteries.
They never understood those ‘mysteries of the kingdom of heaven’ which Jesus explained to them. They always interpreted his words in a material sense, and merited from him the severe rebuke, “Are you also yet without understanding?” (Mk 7:18; 8:21)
This was their condition, and is ours, too without the gift of understanding. We are incapable of comprehending the things of God or of contemplating his divine perfections. The very world in which we live clearly puts them at our very face.
We do not see, like blind persons before a picture! The most touching spiritual books are explained to us; but we understand nothing as if we had literally no power of comprehension.
What were the Apostles without the gift of ‘counsel’? Inconstant and vacillating in their thoughts, affections, conduct; drifting with the stream; feeble and inconsistent. Desiring to follow Jesus, and yet cherishing earthly hopes in their hearts. One day full of zeal and courage, the next cast down and sad.
We often behave as they did. Full of hesitation, darkness of mind, and rash judgments; the victim of our imagination, illusions of the devil, and of circumstances. Beginning and giving up, willing and unwilling, changeable as the wind, fickle, unable to make any progress. Do we often complain of these before God?
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp283-5
Mary, Bride of the Holy Spirit
St Francis of Assisi prayed to the Virgin in this way: “Holy Virgin Mary, there is no one similar to you born in the world among women, daughter and maidservant of the All High King, the heavenly Father, mother of the holiest Lord Jesus Christ, bride of the Holy Spirit”; pray for us with St Michael the Archangel and with all the powers of heaven, and with all the saints, to your most holy beloved Son, our Lord. (“Officium Passionis”).
In his encyclical “Redemptoris Mater”, Pope John Paul II refers to Mary in the Upper Room on the day of Pentecost: “In a sense her journey of faith is longer. The Holy Spirit had already come down upon her, and she became his faithful spouse at the annunciation, welcoming the Word of the true God.” (25 March 1987)
In this context, the expression ‘Mary, bride of the Holy Spirit’ signifies ... the mystical but fertile union between the person of Mary and the Spirit who ‘gives life’. ... Mary is ‘mother’, that is, fertile, not according to human necessity ... but because she has been made so by the Spirit, whose task is only to make present and visible the invisible, ‘to make the Word flesh’.
To engender Christ, Mary has no need of human intervention. She is the living transparency of the Spirit ... He who creates and gives life to the universe ... has given life to Mary’s womb, making fertile her virginity.
Thus to initiate the earthly life of Jesus, the Spirit had need of the womb and free collaboration of a virgin; ... Mary’s cooperation with the Spirit is not limited to giving a body to the humanity of Jesus but continues today in building the body of Christ, the Church.
Ref: Cf Theological-Historical Commission, “The Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life”, 1997, pp85-6
God’s providence is over all
Remember our great principles: 1. That there is nothing so small or apparently trifling, even the fall of a leaf, that is not ordained or permitted by God. 2. That God is sufficiently wise, good, powerful and merciful to turn the most seemingly disastrous events to the good and profit of those who are capable of adoring and humbly accepting all these manifestations of his divine and adorable will.
Let us be perfectly persuaded that God arranges everything for the best. Our fears, our fussiness and our tendency to worry often make us imagine trials where there are none. Let us follow the leading of divine Providence one step at a time; as soon as we see what is asked of us, we also will desire it and nothing further. God knows far better than we (poor blind creatures that we are), what is good for us.
Our pains and troubles often come from the granting of our wishes. Let us leave everything to God, and all will go well. Let us abandon everything to him ‘in toto’; that is the only way to provide surely and infallibly for our true interests. I say: our ‘true’ interests, for we have also false interests leading to our ruin.
My self-abandonment to divine Providence, as I conceive and recommend it, is not so heroic or so difficult as you think. It is the centre of the solid peace of the soul and there only is found the unchangeable repose which the most trying events cannot ruffle.
Ref: “The Fire of Divine Love: Readings from Jean-Pierre de Caussade”, Edited by Robert Llewelyn, 1995, p38
Concluding Prayer
Holy and divine Spirit! Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, your spouse, bring the fullness of your gifts into our hearts. Comforted and strengthened by you, may we live according to your Will and may we die praising your infinite mercy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Ref: Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ (Editors), “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p2080
• Dedication of Our Lady du Val, of the Order of Citeaux, seven leagues from Paris, under Louis XIII on the 18th of April, 1616 — Manuscripts of Church. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Our Lady of Marienthal (Germany, 13th Century). (www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Our Lady of the Valley or Marienthal (Germany). (http://mariedenazareth.com)
• Our Lady of the Valley of the Cistercian Order. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Our Lady, Queen of Apostles. (“Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Encyclopedia”, 1991, p630)
Monday, June 6, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
6 June 2011: Decenary to the Holy Spiri --: 5th Day
Introductory Prayer
Come, O Holy Spirit! Enlighten my understanding in order to know your commands; strengthen my heart against the snares of the enemy; enkindle my will ... I have heard your voice, and I do not want to harden my heart and resist, saying, “Later ... tomorrow.” Nunc coepi! Right now! Lest there be no tomorrow for me.
O Spirit of truth and of wisdom, Spirit of understanding and of counsel, Spirit of joy and of peace! I want whatever you want; I want because you want; I want as you want; I want whenever you want ...
Ref: St Josemaria Escrivà, “Prayer to the Holy Spirit”. In Postulation for the Cause of Beatification and Canonization, “Historical Registry of the Founder of Opus Dei” 20172, p145.
Prayer and duties are never incompatible
The Apostles prayed without neglecting their duties. The apostasy of Judas had apparently upset the plans of Jesus, who had chosen ‘twelve’ Apostles to be witnesses throughout the world of his resurrection and teaching. But the malice of men cannot hinder God’s designs.
Peter, the head of the Apostolic College, felt inspired from on high, rose and said, “Men, brethren ... the Scriptures must be fulfilled; ... for it is written in the book of Psalms ... ‘And his ministry let another take’ ... Wherefore of these men who have been in our company all the time that the Lord Jesus moved among us, ... one of these must be made a witness with us of his Resurrection” (Acts 1:16-22). The whole assembly agreed, and at once took steps to ascertain God’s choice.
When one is tempted to abandon his vocation, he cannot enjoy the folly or vanity of supposing that the cause of God, or that of his group, will suffer from his defection. On the contrary, we learn by this episode that God will provide a worthier substitute. He alone will be the loser; another will wear his crown.
The votes of the assembly being equally divided between “Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias” (Acts 1:16-23), there seemed to be some risk of contention in making a decision.
To put an end to the doubt, they had recourse to prayer, and cast lots to discover the will of God. All with one voice said, “‘Thou, Lord, who knows the hearts of all men, show who of these two you have chosen’, and they gave them lots” (Acts 1:24-6).
We, too, sometimes have doubts and perplexities. We are at a loss on how to decide. Let us follow the example of the Apostles -- pray that God would make known his will to us.
“The lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven Apostles.” (Acts 1:26) The will of God being manifested, every one submitted unanimously. All discord instantly ceased. They readily acknowledged the elect of God. Matthias did not show any hint of pride, nor Barsabas of jealousy.
Be ready to practise the golden rule of St Augustine -- ‘In things doubtful and not decided by authority, let every one be free to think or choose as he will; but in what is authoritatively laid down, let there be perfect unanimity both in thoughts and words.’
This rule is an excellent means for preserving peace and charity among colleagues. Let us be faithful to it.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp281-3
Mary, a Vessel of the Spirit
The Creed professes that Jesus was “born of the Virgin Mary by the work of the Holy Spirit”. The Holy Spirit who descends on Mary and surrounds her is “he who gives life”. It is he who from the beginning of time has progressively made known in history the Word of God. And, now, in the fullness of time, the Son of God, through the Spirit’s power, is made man in the womb of the Virgin.
The Fathers of the Church affirm: “When Mary gave her answer to God, she received the Spirit, who molded in her that flesh equal to God.”
Why does this “becoming flesh” of the Word, his becoming man, take place in the very womb of Mary, the Virgin of Nazareth? Why has such an involvement between a human creature and the Holy Spirit never happened in any other moment of human history? In Mary all this took place with the minimum resistance.
“It is no wonder then that it was customary for the Fathers to refer to the Mother of God as all holy and free from every stain of sin, as though fashioned by the Holy Spirit and formed as a new creature.” (“Lumen Gentium”, no. 56)
Thus did the Spirit, through her and in her, without resistance render the Word fully present. Through the Spirit the Word was ‘introduced into history’.
The Spirit united the visible to the invisible and fulfilled the eternal design of God to ‘recapitulate all things in Christ’. Ancient Church tradition affirms that God the Father, making Mary a ‘vessel of the Spirit’, renders Mary’s womb ‘fertile’ thus ‘the ineffable triumph of virginal conception takes place’ (Andrew of Crete).
By reason of Mary’s total ‘spiritualization’, she could offer the gift of Christ. She who was ‘full of grace’, that is, the Spirit, in her total capacity to receive the Spirit can communicate divine life in the Spirit.
Ref: Theological-Historical Commission, “The Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life”, 84-5, 1997
The hiddenness of the Holy Spirit’s Work
You have only to go on as you are doing, but explain yourself in a way that would distress those without experience of this state of prayer [of divine repose].
You say that you do nothing, and yet you are always doing something or you would be in a state of pure idleness; but your soul acts so gently that you do not perceive your interior acts of consent and adherence to the Holy Spirit.
The stronger these inspirations are, the less you should act; you should merely follow what is drawing you and allow yourself to be drawn gently on ...
Your manner of behaving in times of storm and upset enchants me: submission, total self-abandonment without reserve, being content with lack of contentment when God wills it. In those conditions one advances more in one day than in a hundred, filled with sweetness and consolations.
Your total, continual and universal self-abandonment to God through a sentiment of confidence and union with Jesus Christ, always doing the will of his Father, is the most divine and surest method of success in everything; try to communicate it to everyone.
Finally, if there is some little act of reparation to be made to our neighbor, let us never fail in this duty, but take the opportunity to conquer generously our pride and human respect.
Ref: “The Fire of Divine Love: Readings from Jean-Pierre de Caussade”, Edited by Robert Llewelyn, 1995, p45
Concluding Prayer -- Holy and divine Spirit! Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, your spouse, bring the fullness of your gifts into our hearts. Comforted and strengthened by you, may we live according to your Will and may we die praising your infinite mercy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Ref: Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ (Editors), “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p2080
Our Lady -- “Be Mary’s, and you will be ours.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 494)
• Institution of the nuns of the Visitation of Our Lady, founded at Annecy in Savoy, in the year 1610 by St Francis of Sales, Bishop of Geneva, and St Jane Frances Fremiot de Chantal, who was the first nun. — Henri de Maupas du Tour, 2' partie, cn. 1. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Institution of the Nuns of the Visitation of Our Lady, by St Francis de Sales (1610). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Founding of the Nuns of the Visitation of Our Lady by St. Francis de Sales 1610. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Come, O Holy Spirit! Enlighten my understanding in order to know your commands; strengthen my heart against the snares of the enemy; enkindle my will ... I have heard your voice, and I do not want to harden my heart and resist, saying, “Later ... tomorrow.” Nunc coepi! Right now! Lest there be no tomorrow for me.
O Spirit of truth and of wisdom, Spirit of understanding and of counsel, Spirit of joy and of peace! I want whatever you want; I want because you want; I want as you want; I want whenever you want ...
Ref: St Josemaria Escrivà, “Prayer to the Holy Spirit”. In Postulation for the Cause of Beatification and Canonization, “Historical Registry of the Founder of Opus Dei” 20172, p145.
Prayer and duties are never incompatible
The Apostles prayed without neglecting their duties. The apostasy of Judas had apparently upset the plans of Jesus, who had chosen ‘twelve’ Apostles to be witnesses throughout the world of his resurrection and teaching. But the malice of men cannot hinder God’s designs.
Peter, the head of the Apostolic College, felt inspired from on high, rose and said, “Men, brethren ... the Scriptures must be fulfilled; ... for it is written in the book of Psalms ... ‘And his ministry let another take’ ... Wherefore of these men who have been in our company all the time that the Lord Jesus moved among us, ... one of these must be made a witness with us of his Resurrection” (Acts 1:16-22). The whole assembly agreed, and at once took steps to ascertain God’s choice.
When one is tempted to abandon his vocation, he cannot enjoy the folly or vanity of supposing that the cause of God, or that of his group, will suffer from his defection. On the contrary, we learn by this episode that God will provide a worthier substitute. He alone will be the loser; another will wear his crown.
The votes of the assembly being equally divided between “Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias” (Acts 1:16-23), there seemed to be some risk of contention in making a decision.
To put an end to the doubt, they had recourse to prayer, and cast lots to discover the will of God. All with one voice said, “‘Thou, Lord, who knows the hearts of all men, show who of these two you have chosen’, and they gave them lots” (Acts 1:24-6).
We, too, sometimes have doubts and perplexities. We are at a loss on how to decide. Let us follow the example of the Apostles -- pray that God would make known his will to us.
“The lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven Apostles.” (Acts 1:26) The will of God being manifested, every one submitted unanimously. All discord instantly ceased. They readily acknowledged the elect of God. Matthias did not show any hint of pride, nor Barsabas of jealousy.
Be ready to practise the golden rule of St Augustine -- ‘In things doubtful and not decided by authority, let every one be free to think or choose as he will; but in what is authoritatively laid down, let there be perfect unanimity both in thoughts and words.’
This rule is an excellent means for preserving peace and charity among colleagues. Let us be faithful to it.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp281-3
Mary, a Vessel of the Spirit
The Creed professes that Jesus was “born of the Virgin Mary by the work of the Holy Spirit”. The Holy Spirit who descends on Mary and surrounds her is “he who gives life”. It is he who from the beginning of time has progressively made known in history the Word of God. And, now, in the fullness of time, the Son of God, through the Spirit’s power, is made man in the womb of the Virgin.
The Fathers of the Church affirm: “When Mary gave her answer to God, she received the Spirit, who molded in her that flesh equal to God.”
Why does this “becoming flesh” of the Word, his becoming man, take place in the very womb of Mary, the Virgin of Nazareth? Why has such an involvement between a human creature and the Holy Spirit never happened in any other moment of human history? In Mary all this took place with the minimum resistance.
“It is no wonder then that it was customary for the Fathers to refer to the Mother of God as all holy and free from every stain of sin, as though fashioned by the Holy Spirit and formed as a new creature.” (“Lumen Gentium”, no. 56)
Thus did the Spirit, through her and in her, without resistance render the Word fully present. Through the Spirit the Word was ‘introduced into history’.
The Spirit united the visible to the invisible and fulfilled the eternal design of God to ‘recapitulate all things in Christ’. Ancient Church tradition affirms that God the Father, making Mary a ‘vessel of the Spirit’, renders Mary’s womb ‘fertile’ thus ‘the ineffable triumph of virginal conception takes place’ (Andrew of Crete).
By reason of Mary’s total ‘spiritualization’, she could offer the gift of Christ. She who was ‘full of grace’, that is, the Spirit, in her total capacity to receive the Spirit can communicate divine life in the Spirit.
Ref: Theological-Historical Commission, “The Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life”, 84-5, 1997
The hiddenness of the Holy Spirit’s Work
You have only to go on as you are doing, but explain yourself in a way that would distress those without experience of this state of prayer [of divine repose].
You say that you do nothing, and yet you are always doing something or you would be in a state of pure idleness; but your soul acts so gently that you do not perceive your interior acts of consent and adherence to the Holy Spirit.
The stronger these inspirations are, the less you should act; you should merely follow what is drawing you and allow yourself to be drawn gently on ...
Your manner of behaving in times of storm and upset enchants me: submission, total self-abandonment without reserve, being content with lack of contentment when God wills it. In those conditions one advances more in one day than in a hundred, filled with sweetness and consolations.
Your total, continual and universal self-abandonment to God through a sentiment of confidence and union with Jesus Christ, always doing the will of his Father, is the most divine and surest method of success in everything; try to communicate it to everyone.
Finally, if there is some little act of reparation to be made to our neighbor, let us never fail in this duty, but take the opportunity to conquer generously our pride and human respect.
Ref: “The Fire of Divine Love: Readings from Jean-Pierre de Caussade”, Edited by Robert Llewelyn, 1995, p45
Concluding Prayer -- Holy and divine Spirit! Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, your spouse, bring the fullness of your gifts into our hearts. Comforted and strengthened by you, may we live according to your Will and may we die praising your infinite mercy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Ref: Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ (Editors), “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p2080
Our Lady -- “Be Mary’s, and you will be ours.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 494)
• Institution of the nuns of the Visitation of Our Lady, founded at Annecy in Savoy, in the year 1610 by St Francis of Sales, Bishop of Geneva, and St Jane Frances Fremiot de Chantal, who was the first nun. — Henri de Maupas du Tour, 2' partie, cn. 1. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Institution of the Nuns of the Visitation of Our Lady, by St Francis de Sales (1610). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Founding of the Nuns of the Visitation of Our Lady by St. Francis de Sales 1610. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Saturday, June 4, 2011
5 June 2011: Decenary to the Holy Spirit -- 4th Day
Introductory Prayer -- Come, O Holy Spirit! Enlighten my understanding in order to know your commands; strengthen my heart against the snares of the enemy; enkindle my will ... I have heard your voice, and I do not want to harden my heart and resist, saying, “Later ... tomorrow.” Nunc coepi! Right now! Lest there be no tomorrow for me.
O Spirit of truth and of wisdom, Spirit of understanding and of counsel, Spirit of joy and of peace! I want whatever you want; I want because you want; I want as you want; I want whenever you want ...
Ref: St Josemaria Escrivà, “Prayer to the Holy Spirit”. In Postulation for the Cause of Beatification and Canonization, “Historical Registry of the Founder of Opus Dei” 20172, p145.
The Apostles persevered in prayer
Prayer was the chief occupation of the Apostles and disciples during the nine days after the Ascension. (Acts 1:14) How did they pray? With great faith, a keen sense of the presence of God; consequently, with great exterior and interior recollection. Since his Ascension, Jesus was no longer visibly present with them.
As man, Jesus was parted from them; but as God, they knew he was still in their midst, seeing, hearing everything. They, therefore, observed the greatest reverence and modesty in all they said and do.
Behold here the first conditions of acceptable prayer. Attended by a lively faith and firm conviction that God sees and hears us. His eye pierces the recesses of our hearts; reads our most secret thoughts.
Do we have this faith? If so, we will always be modest and reverent; attentive to our words. It follows that, if we pray without this reverence and attention, we have little faith; our prayers can avail but little.
The prayer of the Apostles and disciples was accompanied by a deep humility and great confidence. Their humility proceeded from the remembrance of their past infidelities, and consciousness of their own weakness and inability to accomplish the work entrusted to them. On the other hand, this very weakness led them to place great confidence in the efficacy of prayer, which their Divine Lord had told them would obtain all their desires and supply all their needs.
‘The prayer of him that humbles himself shall pierce the clouds’, says the Wise Man. Have our prayers often failed for want of humility? And yet what motives we have for humility! Our past sins, frequent infidelities, and uncertainty of final perseverance. If we keep them constantly in mind, we shall always pray with a humble and contrite heart; and will increase both our confidence and fervor.
The Apostles prayed with perfect resignation regarding when it might please God to send his Holy Spirit. They knew he would be granted to their prayers; but being ignorant of the day and hour, they resolved to persevere for as long as it should please their Lord. Their perseverance was rewarded. On the tenth day they received the gifts of the Holy Spirit in full.
Have we perhaps, implied certain conditions to our prayers with regard to time? We have abandoned it because our prayer was not granted at once. Our failure in resignation and perseverance is the cause of our prayer remaining unanswered -- our own fault.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp279-80
In virtue of the Spirit, Mary becomes Mother of God
All of Mary’s greatness is in the fact that she is the ‘Mother of God’; the central point of all the Virgin is in herself and relative to believers. The Spirit is present and effective in a most precise way in this divine maternity. We are indebted to the Spirit for that event.
Let us pause and meditate on ‘how’ Mary ‘virginally’ becomes the Mother of God. The Holy Spirit, in the present economy of salvation, is always the ‘precursor of Christ’. Without the previous descent and activity of the Spirit, there can be no visible presence of the Word.
‘The Anunciation to the Virgin’ is the most evident and most important event in this process of the divine economy. This salvific fact in which ‘our salvation began’ already represents a pentecost.
The Spirit descends on Mary in an effective way to make the Son of God a human being. Mary asked, How can this be ...? How can I virginally conceive a baby? The angel replied: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you; the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” (Luke, 1:35)
The Creed professes that Jesus ‘was born of the Virgin Mary by the work of the Holy Spirit’. The Holy Spirit, ‘he who gives life’ descends on Mary; surrounds her. It is he who has made known the Word of God.
In the fullness of time, the Son of God, is made man in the womb of the Virgin. Fathers of the Church affirm: ‘When Mary gave her answer to God, she received the Spirit, who molded in her that flesh equal to God.’
Why, we may ask, does this ‘becoming flesh’ of the Word, his becoming man, take place in the very womb of Mary, the Virgin of Nazareth? Why has such involvement between a human creature and the Holy Spirit never happened at any other time in human history? In Mary all this took place with the least resistance.
Ref: Cf Theological-Historical Commission, “The Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life”, 83-4, 1997
Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit
“O Lord Jesus Christ, who before ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in Your apostles and disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in me the work of Your grace and Your love.
“Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may not cling to the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal.
“Grant me the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth.
“Grant me the Spirit of Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven.
“Grant me the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that hinder my salvation.
“Grant me the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect like the saints.
“Grant me the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable.
“Grant me the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him.
“Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of Your true disciples and animate me in all things with Your Spirit.
“Amen.”
Ref: Rev James Alberione, SSP in “Pray Always”, Pauline’s Publishing House
Concluding Prayer
Holy and divine Spirit! Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, your spouse, bring the fullness of your gifts into our hearts. Comforted and strengthened by you, may we live according to your Will and may we die praising your infinite mercy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Ref: Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ (Editors), “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p2080
• The chronicle relates that in the year 1428, Our Lady of Haut, in Hainault, restored a child to life, who had been dead several days, that he might receive baptism; that he lived five hours after receiving that sacrament, and then melted away by degrees, like snow, in the presence of seventy persons. — Justus Lipsius (History of Our Lady of Hal, ch. 21). (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Our Lady of Haut, Hainault, France (1428). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (http://mariedenazareth.com)
• Another feast of Our Lady of Haut (in Hainaut, France). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
O Spirit of truth and of wisdom, Spirit of understanding and of counsel, Spirit of joy and of peace! I want whatever you want; I want because you want; I want as you want; I want whenever you want ...
Ref: St Josemaria Escrivà, “Prayer to the Holy Spirit”. In Postulation for the Cause of Beatification and Canonization, “Historical Registry of the Founder of Opus Dei” 20172, p145.
The Apostles persevered in prayer
Prayer was the chief occupation of the Apostles and disciples during the nine days after the Ascension. (Acts 1:14) How did they pray? With great faith, a keen sense of the presence of God; consequently, with great exterior and interior recollection. Since his Ascension, Jesus was no longer visibly present with them.
As man, Jesus was parted from them; but as God, they knew he was still in their midst, seeing, hearing everything. They, therefore, observed the greatest reverence and modesty in all they said and do.
Behold here the first conditions of acceptable prayer. Attended by a lively faith and firm conviction that God sees and hears us. His eye pierces the recesses of our hearts; reads our most secret thoughts.
Do we have this faith? If so, we will always be modest and reverent; attentive to our words. It follows that, if we pray without this reverence and attention, we have little faith; our prayers can avail but little.
The prayer of the Apostles and disciples was accompanied by a deep humility and great confidence. Their humility proceeded from the remembrance of their past infidelities, and consciousness of their own weakness and inability to accomplish the work entrusted to them. On the other hand, this very weakness led them to place great confidence in the efficacy of prayer, which their Divine Lord had told them would obtain all their desires and supply all their needs.
‘The prayer of him that humbles himself shall pierce the clouds’, says the Wise Man. Have our prayers often failed for want of humility? And yet what motives we have for humility! Our past sins, frequent infidelities, and uncertainty of final perseverance. If we keep them constantly in mind, we shall always pray with a humble and contrite heart; and will increase both our confidence and fervor.
The Apostles prayed with perfect resignation regarding when it might please God to send his Holy Spirit. They knew he would be granted to their prayers; but being ignorant of the day and hour, they resolved to persevere for as long as it should please their Lord. Their perseverance was rewarded. On the tenth day they received the gifts of the Holy Spirit in full.
Have we perhaps, implied certain conditions to our prayers with regard to time? We have abandoned it because our prayer was not granted at once. Our failure in resignation and perseverance is the cause of our prayer remaining unanswered -- our own fault.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp279-80
In virtue of the Spirit, Mary becomes Mother of God
All of Mary’s greatness is in the fact that she is the ‘Mother of God’; the central point of all the Virgin is in herself and relative to believers. The Spirit is present and effective in a most precise way in this divine maternity. We are indebted to the Spirit for that event.
Let us pause and meditate on ‘how’ Mary ‘virginally’ becomes the Mother of God. The Holy Spirit, in the present economy of salvation, is always the ‘precursor of Christ’. Without the previous descent and activity of the Spirit, there can be no visible presence of the Word.
‘The Anunciation to the Virgin’ is the most evident and most important event in this process of the divine economy. This salvific fact in which ‘our salvation began’ already represents a pentecost.
The Spirit descends on Mary in an effective way to make the Son of God a human being. Mary asked, How can this be ...? How can I virginally conceive a baby? The angel replied: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you; the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” (Luke, 1:35)
The Creed professes that Jesus ‘was born of the Virgin Mary by the work of the Holy Spirit’. The Holy Spirit, ‘he who gives life’ descends on Mary; surrounds her. It is he who has made known the Word of God.
In the fullness of time, the Son of God, is made man in the womb of the Virgin. Fathers of the Church affirm: ‘When Mary gave her answer to God, she received the Spirit, who molded in her that flesh equal to God.’
Why, we may ask, does this ‘becoming flesh’ of the Word, his becoming man, take place in the very womb of Mary, the Virgin of Nazareth? Why has such involvement between a human creature and the Holy Spirit never happened at any other time in human history? In Mary all this took place with the least resistance.
Ref: Cf Theological-Historical Commission, “The Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life”, 83-4, 1997
Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit
“O Lord Jesus Christ, who before ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in Your apostles and disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in me the work of Your grace and Your love.
“Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may not cling to the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal.
“Grant me the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth.
“Grant me the Spirit of Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven.
“Grant me the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that hinder my salvation.
“Grant me the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect like the saints.
“Grant me the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable.
“Grant me the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him.
“Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of Your true disciples and animate me in all things with Your Spirit.
“Amen.”
Ref: Rev James Alberione, SSP in “Pray Always”, Pauline’s Publishing House
Concluding Prayer
Holy and divine Spirit! Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, your spouse, bring the fullness of your gifts into our hearts. Comforted and strengthened by you, may we live according to your Will and may we die praising your infinite mercy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Ref: Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ (Editors), “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p2080
• The chronicle relates that in the year 1428, Our Lady of Haut, in Hainault, restored a child to life, who had been dead several days, that he might receive baptism; that he lived five hours after receiving that sacrament, and then melted away by degrees, like snow, in the presence of seventy persons. — Justus Lipsius (History of Our Lady of Hal, ch. 21). (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Our Lady of Haut, Hainault, France (1428). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (http://mariedenazareth.com)
• Another feast of Our Lady of Haut (in Hainaut, France). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Friday, June 3, 2011
4 June 2011: Decenary to the Holy Spirit -- 3rd Day
Introductory Prayer
Come, O Holy Spirit! Enlighten my understanding in order to know your commands; strengthen my heart against the snares of the enemy; enkindle my will ... I have heard your voice, and I do not want to harden my heart and resist, saying, “Later ... tomorrow.” Nunc coepi! Right now! Lest there be no tomorrow for me.
O Spirit of truth and of wisdom, Spirit of understanding and of counsel, Spirit of joy and of peace! I want whatever you want; I want because you want; I want as you want; I want whenever you want ...
Ref: St Josemaria Escrivà, “Prayer to the Holy Spirit”. In Postulation for the Cause of Beatification and Canonization, “Historical Registry of the Founder of Opus Dei” 20172, p145.
Invoking the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit bore witness to Jesus in the most striking manner by proving to the world that Jesus is the Son of God, Saviour of men, Judge of the living and the dead. He led men to worship a crucified God, and to crucify all the concupiscences of their own flesh.
He made the cause of Jesus to triumph over all the malice of whoever opposed the preaching of his Gospel. He gave courage to women and children, making them despise a cruel death and suffer the most fearful torture for the love of Jesus.
Jesus had foretold these marvellous effects of the operation of the Holy Spirit, who was to guide the Church after his Ascension. He had solemnly promised to send him to the Apostles, telling them that without his help they could do nothing; with it they would work miracles of conversion and sanctification.
He desired, nevertheless, that they should ask for him and be disposed to receive him by constant and fervent prayer. The same conditions apply to us if we hope to produce any fruit in our labor for souls.
Experience must have taught us that, without the help of the Holy Spirit, all our efforts are in vain and fruitless. Hence comes the practice introduced in the Church since she began, and in prayer groups, of invoking the Holy Spirit before every important undertaking; even before all ordinary actions of the day.
After saying, “He will give testimony of me”, Jesus promptly added, “and you will give testimony in Jerusalem, in all Judaea, Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). We know how faithfully the Apostles fulfilled this great and glorious mission.
They made known their Master’s name in all the world, and caused him to be adored despite all the opposition of men and devils. They destroyed the idols, and overthrew the temples of the heathens’ false gods. They changed the world from pagan to Christian, and founded the Church of Jesus Christ, which twenty centuries have neither changed nor shaken.
Those who worked all these miracles were twelve poor, weak and ignorant fishermen. Why did Jesus choose such instruments to lay the foundations of his Church? 1) To prove that it is a divine, not a human, institution, claiming therefore our obedience and submission; 2) that our weakness and unworthiness should not deter us from undertaking great things for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp276-8
Mary and the Spirit at the foot of the Cross
The Spirit was not only present at the birth of Christ; but also accompanied Mary during the growth of Jesus, even in the most difficult and mysterious moments when she had need to ‘meditate’ and interiorize these events so that she could become more deeply aware of their importance and significance (see Lk 2:19, 49-51).
“I am convinced that no man can exist capable of suffering as much as the Virgin suffered.” (Nicholas Cabasilas, “Homily on the Assumption”, 11) Even at the foot of the Cross Mary had need of special assistance from the Spirit. She did not leave when faced with the harshness of the death of the Son, but pronounced her 'yes' in the Spirit and became the mother of those for whom Christ offered his life.
In the “Upper Room”, afterwards, Mary invokes the Father with her supplications until he sends his Spirit: “But since it had pleased God not to manifest solemnly the mystery of the salvation of the human race before he would pour forth the Spirit promised by Christ, we see the apostles before the day of the Pentecost ‘preserving with one mind in prayer with the women and Mary the Mother of Jesus, and with his brethren’” (Acts 1:14); “and we also see Mary by her prayers imploring the gift of the Spirit, who had already overshadowed her in the Annunciation.” (“Lumen Gentium”, 59)
The Virgin, completely penetrated and transformed by the Spirit, is ‘vivified’ by him and ‘redeemed’ even from corporal decay and ‘assumed’ into heaven. By her sublime holiness and radical transformation through the Spirit, Mary had already, during her life, a “spiritualized body, that is, one transformed by the Spirit” (“Lumen Gentium”, 59).
She was so completely penetrated by him who is the Lord and gives life that she possessed the source of immortal life. The Virgin had that life in the Spirit while she lived on earth, although hidden. However, when her earthly life ended, she radiated immortality in the same way as Christ did after his death. (Nicholas Cabasilas, Op cit, 10-11)
Ref: Cf Theological-Historical Commission, “The Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life”, 82-3, 1997
The Spirit, Mankind and the Cosmos
The Apostolic Constitution “Gaudium et Spes” of Vatican II pictures the presence of the Holy Spirit in the world as a mysterious agent of evangelization that leads all and everybody to the achievement and fulfilment of the mystery of Christ.
He acts in the heart of all to enable them to adhere to the Paschal mystery (GS 22);
He accompanies the life of the Church and guides the evolution of all the evangelical ferments towards the good: “The Spirit of evolution of God, who, with providence, directs the course of time and renews the face of the earth, assists this development” (GS 26);
He urges interiorly and incessantly the heart of the human person (GS 11); leads history to its fulfilment.
It is the Holy Spirit that touches man’s heart to renew and lift, opening human feelings to a filial relationship of prayer. Thus, the cultic and cultural wealth can be assumed and clarified in a liturgy of the Spirit within the Catholic Church. Cosmos and history are introduced into the dynamics of the whole liturgical symbolism, anticipating the new creation and the new humanity.
Well-known is the expression of St Ambrose, quoted also by St Thomas Aquinas: “Every truth, and whoever says it, comes from the Spirit.” ...
Ref: Cf “The Spirit is Lord and Gives Life”, Pauline’s Publishing House, 1997, p22
Concluding Prayer -- Holy and divine Spirit! Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, your spouse, bring the fullness of your gifts into our hearts. Comforted and strengthened by you, may we live according to your Will and may we die praising your infinite mercy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Ref: Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ (Editors), “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p2080
• Our Lady of the Hill, at Fribourg, where many miracles are wrought. — Triple Couronne, n. 85. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Our Lady of the Hill, Lombardy, Italy (4th Century). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (http://mariedenazareth.com)
• Our Lady of the Hill. Fribourg, Switzerland; Lombardy, Italy. 4th Century. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of the Hill. At Fribourg, Switzerland 4th century. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Our Lady of the Holy Letter. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Our Lady, Queen of Apostles. Moveable feast -- Saturday after Ascension Thursday. (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Queen of the Apostles (“Regina Apostolorum”). Moveable feast -- Saturday within the Octave of Ascension Thursday. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html)
• Queen of the Apostles. Harrison Blvd, Pasay City MM PHL. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
Come, O Holy Spirit! Enlighten my understanding in order to know your commands; strengthen my heart against the snares of the enemy; enkindle my will ... I have heard your voice, and I do not want to harden my heart and resist, saying, “Later ... tomorrow.” Nunc coepi! Right now! Lest there be no tomorrow for me.
O Spirit of truth and of wisdom, Spirit of understanding and of counsel, Spirit of joy and of peace! I want whatever you want; I want because you want; I want as you want; I want whenever you want ...
Ref: St Josemaria Escrivà, “Prayer to the Holy Spirit”. In Postulation for the Cause of Beatification and Canonization, “Historical Registry of the Founder of Opus Dei” 20172, p145.
Invoking the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit bore witness to Jesus in the most striking manner by proving to the world that Jesus is the Son of God, Saviour of men, Judge of the living and the dead. He led men to worship a crucified God, and to crucify all the concupiscences of their own flesh.
He made the cause of Jesus to triumph over all the malice of whoever opposed the preaching of his Gospel. He gave courage to women and children, making them despise a cruel death and suffer the most fearful torture for the love of Jesus.
Jesus had foretold these marvellous effects of the operation of the Holy Spirit, who was to guide the Church after his Ascension. He had solemnly promised to send him to the Apostles, telling them that without his help they could do nothing; with it they would work miracles of conversion and sanctification.
He desired, nevertheless, that they should ask for him and be disposed to receive him by constant and fervent prayer. The same conditions apply to us if we hope to produce any fruit in our labor for souls.
Experience must have taught us that, without the help of the Holy Spirit, all our efforts are in vain and fruitless. Hence comes the practice introduced in the Church since she began, and in prayer groups, of invoking the Holy Spirit before every important undertaking; even before all ordinary actions of the day.
After saying, “He will give testimony of me”, Jesus promptly added, “and you will give testimony in Jerusalem, in all Judaea, Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). We know how faithfully the Apostles fulfilled this great and glorious mission.
They made known their Master’s name in all the world, and caused him to be adored despite all the opposition of men and devils. They destroyed the idols, and overthrew the temples of the heathens’ false gods. They changed the world from pagan to Christian, and founded the Church of Jesus Christ, which twenty centuries have neither changed nor shaken.
Those who worked all these miracles were twelve poor, weak and ignorant fishermen. Why did Jesus choose such instruments to lay the foundations of his Church? 1) To prove that it is a divine, not a human, institution, claiming therefore our obedience and submission; 2) that our weakness and unworthiness should not deter us from undertaking great things for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp276-8
Mary and the Spirit at the foot of the Cross
The Spirit was not only present at the birth of Christ; but also accompanied Mary during the growth of Jesus, even in the most difficult and mysterious moments when she had need to ‘meditate’ and interiorize these events so that she could become more deeply aware of their importance and significance (see Lk 2:19, 49-51).
“I am convinced that no man can exist capable of suffering as much as the Virgin suffered.” (Nicholas Cabasilas, “Homily on the Assumption”, 11) Even at the foot of the Cross Mary had need of special assistance from the Spirit. She did not leave when faced with the harshness of the death of the Son, but pronounced her 'yes' in the Spirit and became the mother of those for whom Christ offered his life.
In the “Upper Room”, afterwards, Mary invokes the Father with her supplications until he sends his Spirit: “But since it had pleased God not to manifest solemnly the mystery of the salvation of the human race before he would pour forth the Spirit promised by Christ, we see the apostles before the day of the Pentecost ‘preserving with one mind in prayer with the women and Mary the Mother of Jesus, and with his brethren’” (Acts 1:14); “and we also see Mary by her prayers imploring the gift of the Spirit, who had already overshadowed her in the Annunciation.” (“Lumen Gentium”, 59)
The Virgin, completely penetrated and transformed by the Spirit, is ‘vivified’ by him and ‘redeemed’ even from corporal decay and ‘assumed’ into heaven. By her sublime holiness and radical transformation through the Spirit, Mary had already, during her life, a “spiritualized body, that is, one transformed by the Spirit” (“Lumen Gentium”, 59).
She was so completely penetrated by him who is the Lord and gives life that she possessed the source of immortal life. The Virgin had that life in the Spirit while she lived on earth, although hidden. However, when her earthly life ended, she radiated immortality in the same way as Christ did after his death. (Nicholas Cabasilas, Op cit, 10-11)
Ref: Cf Theological-Historical Commission, “The Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life”, 82-3, 1997
The Spirit, Mankind and the Cosmos
The Apostolic Constitution “Gaudium et Spes” of Vatican II pictures the presence of the Holy Spirit in the world as a mysterious agent of evangelization that leads all and everybody to the achievement and fulfilment of the mystery of Christ.
He acts in the heart of all to enable them to adhere to the Paschal mystery (GS 22);
He accompanies the life of the Church and guides the evolution of all the evangelical ferments towards the good: “The Spirit of evolution of God, who, with providence, directs the course of time and renews the face of the earth, assists this development” (GS 26);
He urges interiorly and incessantly the heart of the human person (GS 11); leads history to its fulfilment.
It is the Holy Spirit that touches man’s heart to renew and lift, opening human feelings to a filial relationship of prayer. Thus, the cultic and cultural wealth can be assumed and clarified in a liturgy of the Spirit within the Catholic Church. Cosmos and history are introduced into the dynamics of the whole liturgical symbolism, anticipating the new creation and the new humanity.
Well-known is the expression of St Ambrose, quoted also by St Thomas Aquinas: “Every truth, and whoever says it, comes from the Spirit.” ...
Ref: Cf “The Spirit is Lord and Gives Life”, Pauline’s Publishing House, 1997, p22
Concluding Prayer -- Holy and divine Spirit! Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, your spouse, bring the fullness of your gifts into our hearts. Comforted and strengthened by you, may we live according to your Will and may we die praising your infinite mercy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Ref: Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ (Editors), “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p2080
• Our Lady of the Hill, at Fribourg, where many miracles are wrought. — Triple Couronne, n. 85. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Our Lady of the Hill, Lombardy, Italy (4th Century). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (http://mariedenazareth.com)
• Our Lady of the Hill. Fribourg, Switzerland; Lombardy, Italy. 4th Century. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of the Hill. At Fribourg, Switzerland 4th century. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Our Lady of the Holy Letter. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Our Lady, Queen of Apostles. Moveable feast -- Saturday after Ascension Thursday. (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Queen of the Apostles (“Regina Apostolorum”). Moveable feast -- Saturday within the Octave of Ascension Thursday. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html)
• Queen of the Apostles. Harrison Blvd, Pasay City MM PHL. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
Thursday, June 2, 2011
3 June 2011: Decenary to the Holy Spirit -- 2nd Day
Proper dispositions to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit
God, says St Augustine, desires to bestow the gifts of the Holy Spirit abundantly upon us; but he wills that we should rightly dispose ourselves to receive them. How then shall we do this?
The example of the Apostles will teach us best. They retired into an upper chamber, where they passed their time in recollection and silence. They meditated on all that Jesus had taught them, especially on the attributes and operations of the Holy Spirit.
If I desire to receive an abundant outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, I must, during this novena, keep myself recollected. I ought to be more fervent in my norms, to guard my senses, and to avoid every irregular affection which tend to the least sin, the chief obstacle to interior peace and reception of God’s gifts.
The Apostles joined their recollection to continual and earnest prayer, mindful of their Divine Master’s words, “How much more will your Father from heaven give the good Spirit to them that ask Him?” (Lk 11:13) Their prayer was efficacious and pleasing to God because they were united in the same words, asking the same favor.
This, too, Jesus had taught them -- “If two of you shall consent upon earth concerning anything whatsoever they shall ask, it shall be done to them by my Father who is in heaven.” (Mt 18:19)
During this novena we, too, must add to our ordinary devotions some especially addressed to the Holy Spirit. God will surely hear and answer these prayers. We recall St Luke’s words-- “All these were persevering with one mind in prayer” (Acts 1:14).
Convinced of the power of Mary over the Heart of Jesus, the Apostles strove to increase their fervor by her example and begged her to make up for their imperfections, and to present their humble petitions to her Son. They persevered in prayer “with Mary the Mother of Jesus” (cf Acts 1:14).
Many of the Church Fathers also expressed the opinion that the powerful intercession of Mary helped hasten the coming of the Holy Spirit. Let us all seek her intercession-- to beg of her to aid our efforts, to be in our midst, and to present our desires to her Divine Son. That she may obtain for each of us the grace not to forfeit any of the special graces which God may intend to bestow on the Feast of Pentecost.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp274-6
Mary, docile resting place of the Holy Spirit
The Spirit guided Mary her entire life, especially in the most salient moments, just as he leads the children of God (see Rom 8:14) and as he guided Jesus in the desert (see Lk 4:1). At the time of the ‘Annunciation’, sustained and inspired by the Spirit, she freely consented to become the mother of the Word.
She “responded with all her human and feminine ‘I’, and this response of faith included both perfect cooperation with ‘the grace of God that precedes and assists’, and perfect openness to the action of the Holy Spirit, who constantly brings faith to completion by his gifts” (John Paul II, “Redemptoris Mater”, encyclical letter on the Blessed Virgin Mary, 25 March 1987).
She cooperated with the Spirit in the visit to her cousin Elizabeth when, inspired by the Spirit, she ‘prophesied’, interpreted the history of salvation according to the ‘logic’ of God, and proved to be the ‘humble one of God’ always disposed to fulfill the Lord’s will.
The ‘Magnificat’ is the inspired expression of her sentiments. This became possible because she “had personal experience through the Holy Spirit who illuminated and instructed her... [In this way] she learned from the Holy Spirit the great knowledge that God did not want to manifest his power in any way other than elevating that which is low and lowering that which is high.” (“Martin Luther, Werke, Kritsche Gesamtausgabe, Weimar, 1883” -- in reference 4 [‘supra’])
Ref: Cf Theological-Historical Commission, “The Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life”, 81-2, 1997
Oh Holy Spirit, Fill Our Hearts
The Cenacle in Jerusalem opens before the eyes of our faith, the upper room from which the Church came and in which the Church ever remains. It was exactly there that the Church was born as the living community of the People of God, and as a community conscious of its mission in the history of man.
During these days the Church prays: “‘Come, Holy Spirit’, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love!” These words are very often repeated, but today they sound with particular ardor.
‘Fill the hearts!’ Reflect what is the measure of the human heart, if only God can fill it through the Holy Spirit! The marvelous world of human science opens up before us with its manifold branches. Your self-consciousness certainly develops side by side with this science of the world. You certainly have often put the question to yourself, “Who am I?”
I would say that this is the most interesting question. The fundamental question. With what measure is man to be measured? Shall we measure him by the physical powers at his disposal? With the senses which enable him to make contact with the outer world? Or measure him by the gauge of the intelligence, ascertained through various tests and exams?
The answer given today, the answer given by the liturgy of Pentecost indicates two gauges: ‘the need to measure man with the measure of the heart’ .... In the language of the Bible, the heart signifies man’s ‘spiritual inner part’, it particularly means the ‘conscience’ ....
So we must measure man according to the gauge of the conscience, with the measure of the spirit open to God. Only the Holy Spirit can fill up this heart, ie, lead it to self-realization through love and wisdom.
Ref: Cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, pp213-4
To fight once more -- “Our Lord, with his arms outstretched, is continually begging for your love.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Forge”, 404)
On the nine First Fridays
“I promise you, in the excessive mercy of My heart, that its all-powerful love will grant all those who communicate on nine consecutive first Fridays of the month the grace of final repentance: they will not die in my disfavor nor without receiving their sacraments. My Divine heart will be their secure refuge in their last moments.” (“Letter number 86 of St Margaret Mary to Mother Saumaise”)
Ref: A F Makalinao, “Apostle of the Sacred Heart”, p20
The First Friday Mass and Communion
The Church’s devotion to the Sacred Heart includes the First Friday Mass and Communion of reparation, the Thursday night Holy Hour in memory of Our Lord’s bitter agony in Gethsemane, the liturgical feast for the Sacred Heart, and the Consecration and Reparation.
The Visitation convent at Paray-le-Monial became the first center of this devotion which later spread to other houses of the Visitation Sisters. St Claude de la Colombiere, the Jesuit spiritual director of St Margaret Mary, was instrumental in spreading the devotion especially to young people.
In the 1840’s, Fr Gautrelet, also a Jesuit, started the Apostleship of Prayer. Fr Ramiere, another Jesuit formally organized it. Pope Pius IX approved it in 1849. The leadership and direction of the Apostleship remain under the Superior General of the Society of Jesus.
During the twentieth century, almost all popes greatly promoted and wrote decisive decrees about this meritorious devotion. In 1899, Pope Leo XIII consecrated the whole human race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and referred to it as the ‘greatest act of my pontificate’.
He also encouraged the faithful to have a personal consecration to the Sacred Heart, ‘the symbol and sensible image of the infinite love of Jesus Christ which moves us to love one another’. On the feastday of the Sacred Heart, Pope Leo XIII stated that everyone should pray the ‘Act of Consecration’ published with his encyclical, ‘Annum Sacrum’.
Popes Pius X and Benedict XV continued to enthusiastically foster and encourage the growth of this devotion. Pope Benedict XV officially proclaimed Margaret Mary a saint.
In a letter to Fr Mateo Crowley-Boevey, who initiated the movement of enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in homes of Christian families, Pius X said he was not only asking him, but was ordering him, to give his life for this valuable devotion to invigorate Christian morality in the family.
In his encyclical “Miserentissimus Redemptor”, Pius XI stressed the importance of reparation to the Sacred Heart as a duty of all Christians. For all the indifference, ingratitude and outrages of people, including consecrated ones, Jesus requested the faithful to 1) make a communion of reparation, and 2) do the Holy Hour where they should offer acts and prayers of reparation.
Ref: A F Makalinao, “Apostle of the Sacred Heart”, pp30-31
First Communion of Bernadette Soubiros -- On this day in 1858, Bernadette made her First Communion in the Hospice chapel, Lourdes. (G Menotti, “Lourdes”, p15)
• Our Lady of “Sosopoli”, in Pisidia. This image distilled a miraculous oil as is testified by Germanus, patriarch of Constantinople, in a letter read at the second council of Nice, assembled for the defence of holy images. — Art. 4, of the Council of Nice. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Our Lady of Sosopoli. Pisidia, Italy 14th century. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) ; (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (http://mariedenazareth.com)
• “Madonna della Sosopoli / Sasopoli”. Italy. 14th Century. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of the Star, at Aquileia, in Italy. This church is so-called, because it is affirmed that a star was seen in open day on the head of St Bernardine of Siena, when, preaching at Aquileia, he applied to the Blessed Virgin that passage of the Apocalypse where it is said that there were twelve stars on her head. — See his life in Surius. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Our Lady of the Star. Aquiles / Aquileia, Italy. 15th Century. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html)
• Our Lady of Grace (Montreal, Canada) (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• “Notre Dame de Grace”. Montreal, Canada. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of the Holy Letter. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady, Health of the Sick (Kevelær, Germany). (www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of the Stone. (http://mariedenazareth.com)
God, says St Augustine, desires to bestow the gifts of the Holy Spirit abundantly upon us; but he wills that we should rightly dispose ourselves to receive them. How then shall we do this?
The example of the Apostles will teach us best. They retired into an upper chamber, where they passed their time in recollection and silence. They meditated on all that Jesus had taught them, especially on the attributes and operations of the Holy Spirit.
If I desire to receive an abundant outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, I must, during this novena, keep myself recollected. I ought to be more fervent in my norms, to guard my senses, and to avoid every irregular affection which tend to the least sin, the chief obstacle to interior peace and reception of God’s gifts.
The Apostles joined their recollection to continual and earnest prayer, mindful of their Divine Master’s words, “How much more will your Father from heaven give the good Spirit to them that ask Him?” (Lk 11:13) Their prayer was efficacious and pleasing to God because they were united in the same words, asking the same favor.
This, too, Jesus had taught them -- “If two of you shall consent upon earth concerning anything whatsoever they shall ask, it shall be done to them by my Father who is in heaven.” (Mt 18:19)
During this novena we, too, must add to our ordinary devotions some especially addressed to the Holy Spirit. God will surely hear and answer these prayers. We recall St Luke’s words-- “All these were persevering with one mind in prayer” (Acts 1:14).
Convinced of the power of Mary over the Heart of Jesus, the Apostles strove to increase their fervor by her example and begged her to make up for their imperfections, and to present their humble petitions to her Son. They persevered in prayer “with Mary the Mother of Jesus” (cf Acts 1:14).
Many of the Church Fathers also expressed the opinion that the powerful intercession of Mary helped hasten the coming of the Holy Spirit. Let us all seek her intercession-- to beg of her to aid our efforts, to be in our midst, and to present our desires to her Divine Son. That she may obtain for each of us the grace not to forfeit any of the special graces which God may intend to bestow on the Feast of Pentecost.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp274-6
Mary, docile resting place of the Holy Spirit
The Spirit guided Mary her entire life, especially in the most salient moments, just as he leads the children of God (see Rom 8:14) and as he guided Jesus in the desert (see Lk 4:1). At the time of the ‘Annunciation’, sustained and inspired by the Spirit, she freely consented to become the mother of the Word.
She “responded with all her human and feminine ‘I’, and this response of faith included both perfect cooperation with ‘the grace of God that precedes and assists’, and perfect openness to the action of the Holy Spirit, who constantly brings faith to completion by his gifts” (John Paul II, “Redemptoris Mater”, encyclical letter on the Blessed Virgin Mary, 25 March 1987).
She cooperated with the Spirit in the visit to her cousin Elizabeth when, inspired by the Spirit, she ‘prophesied’, interpreted the history of salvation according to the ‘logic’ of God, and proved to be the ‘humble one of God’ always disposed to fulfill the Lord’s will.
The ‘Magnificat’ is the inspired expression of her sentiments. This became possible because she “had personal experience through the Holy Spirit who illuminated and instructed her... [In this way] she learned from the Holy Spirit the great knowledge that God did not want to manifest his power in any way other than elevating that which is low and lowering that which is high.” (“Martin Luther, Werke, Kritsche Gesamtausgabe, Weimar, 1883” -- in reference 4 [‘supra’])
Ref: Cf Theological-Historical Commission, “The Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life”, 81-2, 1997
Oh Holy Spirit, Fill Our Hearts
The Cenacle in Jerusalem opens before the eyes of our faith, the upper room from which the Church came and in which the Church ever remains. It was exactly there that the Church was born as the living community of the People of God, and as a community conscious of its mission in the history of man.
During these days the Church prays: “‘Come, Holy Spirit’, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love!” These words are very often repeated, but today they sound with particular ardor.
‘Fill the hearts!’ Reflect what is the measure of the human heart, if only God can fill it through the Holy Spirit! The marvelous world of human science opens up before us with its manifold branches. Your self-consciousness certainly develops side by side with this science of the world. You certainly have often put the question to yourself, “Who am I?”
I would say that this is the most interesting question. The fundamental question. With what measure is man to be measured? Shall we measure him by the physical powers at his disposal? With the senses which enable him to make contact with the outer world? Or measure him by the gauge of the intelligence, ascertained through various tests and exams?
The answer given today, the answer given by the liturgy of Pentecost indicates two gauges: ‘the need to measure man with the measure of the heart’ .... In the language of the Bible, the heart signifies man’s ‘spiritual inner part’, it particularly means the ‘conscience’ ....
So we must measure man according to the gauge of the conscience, with the measure of the spirit open to God. Only the Holy Spirit can fill up this heart, ie, lead it to self-realization through love and wisdom.
Ref: Cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, pp213-4
To fight once more -- “Our Lord, with his arms outstretched, is continually begging for your love.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Forge”, 404)
On the nine First Fridays
“I promise you, in the excessive mercy of My heart, that its all-powerful love will grant all those who communicate on nine consecutive first Fridays of the month the grace of final repentance: they will not die in my disfavor nor without receiving their sacraments. My Divine heart will be their secure refuge in their last moments.” (“Letter number 86 of St Margaret Mary to Mother Saumaise”)
Ref: A F Makalinao, “Apostle of the Sacred Heart”, p20
The First Friday Mass and Communion
The Church’s devotion to the Sacred Heart includes the First Friday Mass and Communion of reparation, the Thursday night Holy Hour in memory of Our Lord’s bitter agony in Gethsemane, the liturgical feast for the Sacred Heart, and the Consecration and Reparation.
The Visitation convent at Paray-le-Monial became the first center of this devotion which later spread to other houses of the Visitation Sisters. St Claude de la Colombiere, the Jesuit spiritual director of St Margaret Mary, was instrumental in spreading the devotion especially to young people.
In the 1840’s, Fr Gautrelet, also a Jesuit, started the Apostleship of Prayer. Fr Ramiere, another Jesuit formally organized it. Pope Pius IX approved it in 1849. The leadership and direction of the Apostleship remain under the Superior General of the Society of Jesus.
During the twentieth century, almost all popes greatly promoted and wrote decisive decrees about this meritorious devotion. In 1899, Pope Leo XIII consecrated the whole human race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and referred to it as the ‘greatest act of my pontificate’.
He also encouraged the faithful to have a personal consecration to the Sacred Heart, ‘the symbol and sensible image of the infinite love of Jesus Christ which moves us to love one another’. On the feastday of the Sacred Heart, Pope Leo XIII stated that everyone should pray the ‘Act of Consecration’ published with his encyclical, ‘Annum Sacrum’.
Popes Pius X and Benedict XV continued to enthusiastically foster and encourage the growth of this devotion. Pope Benedict XV officially proclaimed Margaret Mary a saint.
In a letter to Fr Mateo Crowley-Boevey, who initiated the movement of enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in homes of Christian families, Pius X said he was not only asking him, but was ordering him, to give his life for this valuable devotion to invigorate Christian morality in the family.
In his encyclical “Miserentissimus Redemptor”, Pius XI stressed the importance of reparation to the Sacred Heart as a duty of all Christians. For all the indifference, ingratitude and outrages of people, including consecrated ones, Jesus requested the faithful to 1) make a communion of reparation, and 2) do the Holy Hour where they should offer acts and prayers of reparation.
Ref: A F Makalinao, “Apostle of the Sacred Heart”, pp30-31
First Communion of Bernadette Soubiros -- On this day in 1858, Bernadette made her First Communion in the Hospice chapel, Lourdes. (G Menotti, “Lourdes”, p15)
• Our Lady of “Sosopoli”, in Pisidia. This image distilled a miraculous oil as is testified by Germanus, patriarch of Constantinople, in a letter read at the second council of Nice, assembled for the defence of holy images. — Art. 4, of the Council of Nice. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Our Lady of Sosopoli. Pisidia, Italy 14th century. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) ; (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (http://mariedenazareth.com)
• “Madonna della Sosopoli / Sasopoli”. Italy. 14th Century. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of the Star, at Aquileia, in Italy. This church is so-called, because it is affirmed that a star was seen in open day on the head of St Bernardine of Siena, when, preaching at Aquileia, he applied to the Blessed Virgin that passage of the Apocalypse where it is said that there were twelve stars on her head. — See his life in Surius. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Our Lady of the Star. Aquiles / Aquileia, Italy. 15th Century. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html)
• Our Lady of Grace (Montreal, Canada) (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• “Notre Dame de Grace”. Montreal, Canada. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of the Holy Letter. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady, Health of the Sick (Kevelær, Germany). (www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of the Stone. (http://mariedenazareth.com)
2 June 2011: The Ascension of the Lord
40th day of Easter: Thursday after the 6th Sunday of Easter or the 7th Sunday of Easter
St Luke relates: “And he led them out as far as Bethania; ... lifting up his hands he blessed them: ... it came to pass while he blessed them, he departed from them and was carried up into heaven.” (24:50-51)
He was “taken up into heaven and sits at the right hand of God” (Mk 16:19). “While they watched, he was raised up, and a cloud took him out of their sight; while they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly, two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up to heaven? This Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’ Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet.” (Acts 1:9-12)
Let us try on this great feast, to gaze with the eyes of our mind upon Jesus rising slowly, making his triumphal entry into heaven, advancing to the foot of his Father’s throne attended by celestial spirits, and receiving a glorious crown and power over his enemies.
“Sit thou at my right hand, until I make Thy enemies Thy footstool.” (Ps 110:1) Let us ask him to draw our hearts to himself, and to raise our thoughts and affections to heaven, that we may dwell there in spirit.
The disciples returned to Jerusalem, with great joy; and yet they had just suffered the pain of a most bitter parting. What explains this joy? Their Divine Master has returned to his kingdom as a Conqueror.
On his entrance into heaven he opened its gates which the sin of our first parents had closed. By thus exalting his human nature, he ennobled ours, and made it capable of contemplating the divine nature. He had promised to intercede with his Father: “I go to prepare a place for you. ...” (Jn 14:2)
Let these be also the motives of our joy. Let us meditate devoutly on them and, as our Lord promised, “your joy no man shall take from you” (Jn 16:22).
Amidst whatever difficulties, we will exclaim, “I exceedingly abound with joy in all our tribulations”. And again, “Knowing that as you are partakers of his sufferings, so shall you be also of his consolations” (cf 2 Cor 1:5-7).
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp270-72
Jesus awaits us in heaven
The last gesture of Our Lord on earth was to give a blessing. (cf Lk 24:51) The Eleven had gone, as Jesus had told them, to the mount of Olives near Jerusalem. On seeing the risen Christ once more they fell down before him as their Master and their God and “worshipped him” (cf Mt 28:17).
Now they are much more conscious of what they had for some time believed in their hearts and confessed with their lips: their Master is the Messiah. (cf Mt 16:18) They were joyful at having their Lord and God so near. After the forty days spent in his company they could be witnesses to what they had seen and heard. The Holy Spirit would confirm in them the teachings of Jesus.
The Master spoke to them as only God can: “All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Mt 28:18). Jesus confirmed their faith and taught them the power they were to receive was a sharing in his divine power: to forgive sins.
To bring about a rebirth through Baptism is the power of Christ, given now to his Church. The mission of the Church is to continue the work of Christ, to teach men divine truths and make known the demands these truths impose, to help men follow God’s way through the grace of the sacraments.
“He said to them ... ‘You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judaea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth’.” (Acts 1:7-9)
The Apostles remained looking up as Jesus ascended majestically into the cloud signifying the presence of God (cf Ex 13:22; Lk 9:34 ff) “... Jesus had entered Heaven”. (St John Chrysostom, “Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles”, 2)
Jesus’ life on earth ended with his Ascension, not with his death -- the last of the mysteries of his life on earth. Together with his Passion, Death and Resurrection it makes up the Paschal Mystery. It was fitting that those who saw Christ die amid insults, scoffing and mockery on the Cross should now see him exalted.
“Today’s feast reminds us that our concern for souls is a response to our Lord’s command of love. As he goes up to Heaven, Jesus sends us out as his witnesses throughout the whole world. Our responsibility is great, because to be Christ’s witness implies first of all that we should try to behave according to his doctrine, that we should struggle to make our actions remind others of Jesus and his most lovable personality.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 122)
Jesus departs, but he remains close to all: in the Tabernacle. Let us visit him there though often we can do so only with our heart; and ask his help in our apostolate. To make known his teaching everywhere.
The Apostles returned to Jerusalem in the company of Mary and awaited the Holy Spirit. Let us prepare for the coming of Pentecost also staying close to Our Lady.
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:531-2
In Christ the Visible World is Created Again
Our spirit is set in one direction, for our intellect, will and heart: towards Christ the Redeemer of man. We wish to look towards him repeating what Peter said: ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’
We must constantly aim at him “the head”, “through whom are all things and through whom we exist”, “the way and the truth” and “the resurrection and the life”, and who had to go away from us by his death on the Cross so that by his Ascension into heaven the Counsellor should come and keep coming to us as the Spirit of truth. In him are “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”, and the Church is his Body.
Ref: Cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, pp249-50
Ten Day Devotion to the Holy Spirit
Introductory Prayer -- Come, O Holy Spirit! Enlighten my understanding in order to know your commands; strengthen my heart against the snares of the enemy; enkindle my will ... I have heard your voice, and I do not want to harden my heart and resist, saying, “Later ... tomorrow.” Nunc coepi! Right now! Lest there be no tomorrow for me.
O Spirit of truth and of wisdom, Spirit of understanding and of counsel, Spirit of joy and of peace! I want whatever you want; I want because you want; I want as you want; I want whenever you want ...
Ref: St Josemaria Escrivà, “Prayer to the Holy Spirit”. In Postulation for the Cause of Beatification and Canonization, “Historical Registry of the Founder of Opus Dei” 20172, p145.
Consideration: 1st Day
The First Novena -- Immediately after the Ascension the Apostles returned to Jerusalem, and as commanded by their Divine Master, remained in the upper room with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and one hundred-twenty disciples.
They continued in prayer, expecting the coming of the Holy Spirit, during ‘nine’ days. From this was derived the practice of preparing for certain great feasts by a novena of prayers and good works.
The novena of Pentecost was first made by the Apostles, so that it is not only apostolic, but may even be called of divine institution, since the Apostles made it in obedience to a formal command of Jesus Christ. How excellent must it be then, and with what devotion we ought to observe it.
Why did Jesus command his Apostles to pray as such? That they might dispose and prepare themselves to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, without which they would have remained forever what they were then: nothing in themselves, useless to others, absolutely incapable of fulfilling their sublime vocation; but with these gifts all would become possible, even easy.
We make this novena with extraordinary fervor for the same reasons, for certainly we are not greater than the Apostles. We are not better able than they were to dispense with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, and to fulfil the duties of our vocation; to achieve that degree of perfection required of us, and to save the souls of others both by word and work.
Jesus gave a third motive to encourage a more careful preparation for receiving the Holy Spirit -- the wickedness of the world, the miseries and snares in their midst, and the expected persecutions. “In the world you shall have distress; you shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake; they shall deliver you up to councils, and in the synagogues you shall be beaten; they will lay their hands on you and persecute you.” (cf Luke, 21:12, 25; Mark, 13:9)
We, too live in days of tribulation and the rage of the wicked against the religion of Jesus Christ. Where shall we seek the supernatural courage and prudence to fight these threats? Only from the Spirit of counsel, fortitude, and piety!
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp272-4
Concluding Prayer
Holy and divine Spirit! Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, your spouse, bring the fullness of your gifts into our hearts. Comforted and strengthened by you, may we live according to your Will and may we die praising your infinite mercy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Ref: Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ (Editors), “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p2080
• Our Lady of Edessa, in Asia Minor. It is asserted that this image, placed beneath the gateway of a church, spoke to St Alexis, and made known to the people the merit of that saint. Thence it was removed to Rome, where it is highly honored. — Thomas Blosius, lib. ix. c. 9. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Our Lady of Edessa. Turkey. 400. Statue that spoke to St Alexis. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of Edessa, Asia Minor in honor of the statue that spoke to St. Alexis (400). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Our Lady of Edessa (Asia Minor, 400). (http://mariedenazareth.com)
• Our Lady of Edessa (Asia Minor). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Installation of the Robe of the Mother of God (Orthodox). (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
St Luke relates: “And he led them out as far as Bethania; ... lifting up his hands he blessed them: ... it came to pass while he blessed them, he departed from them and was carried up into heaven.” (24:50-51)
He was “taken up into heaven and sits at the right hand of God” (Mk 16:19). “While they watched, he was raised up, and a cloud took him out of their sight; while they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly, two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up to heaven? This Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’ Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet.” (Acts 1:9-12)
Let us try on this great feast, to gaze with the eyes of our mind upon Jesus rising slowly, making his triumphal entry into heaven, advancing to the foot of his Father’s throne attended by celestial spirits, and receiving a glorious crown and power over his enemies.
“Sit thou at my right hand, until I make Thy enemies Thy footstool.” (Ps 110:1) Let us ask him to draw our hearts to himself, and to raise our thoughts and affections to heaven, that we may dwell there in spirit.
The disciples returned to Jerusalem, with great joy; and yet they had just suffered the pain of a most bitter parting. What explains this joy? Their Divine Master has returned to his kingdom as a Conqueror.
On his entrance into heaven he opened its gates which the sin of our first parents had closed. By thus exalting his human nature, he ennobled ours, and made it capable of contemplating the divine nature. He had promised to intercede with his Father: “I go to prepare a place for you. ...” (Jn 14:2)
Let these be also the motives of our joy. Let us meditate devoutly on them and, as our Lord promised, “your joy no man shall take from you” (Jn 16:22).
Amidst whatever difficulties, we will exclaim, “I exceedingly abound with joy in all our tribulations”. And again, “Knowing that as you are partakers of his sufferings, so shall you be also of his consolations” (cf 2 Cor 1:5-7).
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp270-72
Jesus awaits us in heaven
The last gesture of Our Lord on earth was to give a blessing. (cf Lk 24:51) The Eleven had gone, as Jesus had told them, to the mount of Olives near Jerusalem. On seeing the risen Christ once more they fell down before him as their Master and their God and “worshipped him” (cf Mt 28:17).
Now they are much more conscious of what they had for some time believed in their hearts and confessed with their lips: their Master is the Messiah. (cf Mt 16:18) They were joyful at having their Lord and God so near. After the forty days spent in his company they could be witnesses to what they had seen and heard. The Holy Spirit would confirm in them the teachings of Jesus.
The Master spoke to them as only God can: “All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Mt 28:18). Jesus confirmed their faith and taught them the power they were to receive was a sharing in his divine power: to forgive sins.
To bring about a rebirth through Baptism is the power of Christ, given now to his Church. The mission of the Church is to continue the work of Christ, to teach men divine truths and make known the demands these truths impose, to help men follow God’s way through the grace of the sacraments.
“He said to them ... ‘You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judaea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth’.” (Acts 1:7-9)
The Apostles remained looking up as Jesus ascended majestically into the cloud signifying the presence of God (cf Ex 13:22; Lk 9:34 ff) “... Jesus had entered Heaven”. (St John Chrysostom, “Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles”, 2)
Jesus’ life on earth ended with his Ascension, not with his death -- the last of the mysteries of his life on earth. Together with his Passion, Death and Resurrection it makes up the Paschal Mystery. It was fitting that those who saw Christ die amid insults, scoffing and mockery on the Cross should now see him exalted.
“Today’s feast reminds us that our concern for souls is a response to our Lord’s command of love. As he goes up to Heaven, Jesus sends us out as his witnesses throughout the whole world. Our responsibility is great, because to be Christ’s witness implies first of all that we should try to behave according to his doctrine, that we should struggle to make our actions remind others of Jesus and his most lovable personality.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 122)
Jesus departs, but he remains close to all: in the Tabernacle. Let us visit him there though often we can do so only with our heart; and ask his help in our apostolate. To make known his teaching everywhere.
The Apostles returned to Jerusalem in the company of Mary and awaited the Holy Spirit. Let us prepare for the coming of Pentecost also staying close to Our Lady.
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:531-2
In Christ the Visible World is Created Again
Our spirit is set in one direction, for our intellect, will and heart: towards Christ the Redeemer of man. We wish to look towards him repeating what Peter said: ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’
We must constantly aim at him “the head”, “through whom are all things and through whom we exist”, “the way and the truth” and “the resurrection and the life”, and who had to go away from us by his death on the Cross so that by his Ascension into heaven the Counsellor should come and keep coming to us as the Spirit of truth. In him are “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”, and the Church is his Body.
Ref: Cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, pp249-50
Ten Day Devotion to the Holy Spirit
Introductory Prayer -- Come, O Holy Spirit! Enlighten my understanding in order to know your commands; strengthen my heart against the snares of the enemy; enkindle my will ... I have heard your voice, and I do not want to harden my heart and resist, saying, “Later ... tomorrow.” Nunc coepi! Right now! Lest there be no tomorrow for me.
O Spirit of truth and of wisdom, Spirit of understanding and of counsel, Spirit of joy and of peace! I want whatever you want; I want because you want; I want as you want; I want whenever you want ...
Ref: St Josemaria Escrivà, “Prayer to the Holy Spirit”. In Postulation for the Cause of Beatification and Canonization, “Historical Registry of the Founder of Opus Dei” 20172, p145.
Consideration: 1st Day
The First Novena -- Immediately after the Ascension the Apostles returned to Jerusalem, and as commanded by their Divine Master, remained in the upper room with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and one hundred-twenty disciples.
They continued in prayer, expecting the coming of the Holy Spirit, during ‘nine’ days. From this was derived the practice of preparing for certain great feasts by a novena of prayers and good works.
The novena of Pentecost was first made by the Apostles, so that it is not only apostolic, but may even be called of divine institution, since the Apostles made it in obedience to a formal command of Jesus Christ. How excellent must it be then, and with what devotion we ought to observe it.
Why did Jesus command his Apostles to pray as such? That they might dispose and prepare themselves to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, without which they would have remained forever what they were then: nothing in themselves, useless to others, absolutely incapable of fulfilling their sublime vocation; but with these gifts all would become possible, even easy.
We make this novena with extraordinary fervor for the same reasons, for certainly we are not greater than the Apostles. We are not better able than they were to dispense with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, and to fulfil the duties of our vocation; to achieve that degree of perfection required of us, and to save the souls of others both by word and work.
Jesus gave a third motive to encourage a more careful preparation for receiving the Holy Spirit -- the wickedness of the world, the miseries and snares in their midst, and the expected persecutions. “In the world you shall have distress; you shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake; they shall deliver you up to councils, and in the synagogues you shall be beaten; they will lay their hands on you and persecute you.” (cf Luke, 21:12, 25; Mark, 13:9)
We, too live in days of tribulation and the rage of the wicked against the religion of Jesus Christ. Where shall we seek the supernatural courage and prudence to fight these threats? Only from the Spirit of counsel, fortitude, and piety!
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp272-4
Concluding Prayer
Holy and divine Spirit! Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, your spouse, bring the fullness of your gifts into our hearts. Comforted and strengthened by you, may we live according to your Will and may we die praising your infinite mercy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Ref: Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ (Editors), “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p2080
• Our Lady of Edessa, in Asia Minor. It is asserted that this image, placed beneath the gateway of a church, spoke to St Alexis, and made known to the people the merit of that saint. Thence it was removed to Rome, where it is highly honored. — Thomas Blosius, lib. ix. c. 9. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Our Lady of Edessa. Turkey. 400. Statue that spoke to St Alexis. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of Edessa, Asia Minor in honor of the statue that spoke to St. Alexis (400). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Our Lady of Edessa (Asia Minor, 400). (http://mariedenazareth.com)
• Our Lady of Edessa (Asia Minor). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Installation of the Robe of the Mother of God (Orthodox). (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
2 June 2011: The Ascension of the Lord
40th day of Easter: Thursday after the 6th Sunday of Easter
or the 7th Sunday of Easter
St Luke relates: “And he led them out as far as Bethania; ... lifting up his hands he blessed them: ... it came to pass while he blessed them, he departed from them and was carried up into heaven.” (24:50-51)
He was “taken up into heaven and sits at the right hand of God” (Mk 16:19). “While they watched, he was raised up, and a cloud took him out of their sight; while they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly, two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up to heaven? This Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’ Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet.” (Acts 1:9-12)
Let us try on this great feast, to gaze with the eyes of our mind upon Jesus rising slowly, making his triumphal entry into heaven, advancing to the foot of his Father’s throne attended by celestial spirits, and receiving a glorious crown and power over his enemies.
“Sit thou at my right hand, until I make Thy enemies Thy footstool.” (Ps 110:1) Let us ask him to draw our hearts to himself, and to raise our thoughts and affections to heaven, that we may dwell there in spirit.
The disciples returned to Jerusalem, with great joy; and yet they had just suffered the pain of a most bitter parting. What explains this joy? Their Divine Master has returned to his kingdom as a Conqueror. On his entrance into heaven he opened its gates which the sin of our first parents had closed. By thus exalting his human nature, he ennobled ours, and made it capable of contemplating the divine nature. He had promised to intercede with his Father: “I go to prepare a place for you. ...” (Jn 14:2)
Let these be also the motives of our joy. Let us meditate devoutly on them and, as our Lord promised, “your joy no man shall take from you” (Jn 16:22). Amidst whatever difficulties, we will exclaim, “I exceedingly abound with joy in all our tribulations”. And again, “Knowing that as you are partakers of his sufferings, so shall you be also of his consolations” (cf 2 Cor 1:5-7).
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp270-72
Jesus awaits us in heaven
The last gesture of Our Lord on earth was to give a blessing. (cf Lk 24:51) The Eleven had gone, as Jesus had told them, to the mount of Olives near Jerusalem. On seeing the risen Christ once more they fell down before him as their Master and their God and “worshipped him” (cf Mt 28:17).
Now they are much more conscious of what they had for some time believed in their hearts and confessed with their lips: their Master is the Messiah. (cf Mt 16:18) They were joyful at having their Lord and God so near. After the forty days spent in his company they could be witnesses to what they had seen and heard. The Holy Spirit would confirm in them the teachings of Jesus.
The Master spoke to them as only God can: “All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Mt 28:18). Jesus confirmed their faith and taught that them the power they were to receive was a sharing in his divine power: to forgive sins.
To bring about a rebirth through Baptism is the power of Christ, given now to his Church. The mission of the Church is to continue the work of Christ, to teach men divine truths and make known the demands these truths impose, to help men follow God’s way through the grace of the sacraments.
“He said to them ... ‘You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judaea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth’.” (Acts 1:7-9)
The Apostles remained looking up as Jesus ascended majestically into the cloud signifying the presence of God (cf Ex 13:22; Lk 9:34 ff) “... Jesus had entered Heaven”. (St John Chrysostom, “Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles”, 2)
Jesus’ life on earth ended with his Ascension, not with his death -- the last of the mysteries of his life on earth. Together with his Passion, Death and Resurrection it makes up the Paschal Mystery. It was fitting that those who saw Christ die amid insults, scoffing and mockery on the Cross should now see him exalted.
“Today’s feast reminds us that our concern for souls is a response to our Lord’s command of love. As he goes up to Heaven, Jesus sends us out as his witnesses throughout the whole world. Our responsibility is great, because to be Christ’s witness implies first of all that we should try to behave according to his doctrine, that we should struggle to make our actions remind others of Jesus and his most lovable personality.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 122)
Jesus departs, but he remains close to all: in the Tabernacle. Let us visit him there though often we can do so only with our heart; and ask his help in our apostolate. To make known his teaching everywhere.
The Apostles returned to Jerusalem in the company of Mary and awaited the Holy Spirit. Let us prepare for the coming of Pentecost also staying close to Our Lady.
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:531-2
In Christ the Visible World is Created Again
Our spirit is set in one direction, for our intellect, will and heart: towards Christ the Redeemer of man. We wish to look towards him repeating what Peter said: ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’
We must constantly aim at him “the head”, “through whom are all things and through whom we exist”, “the way and the truth” and “the resurrection and the life”, and who had to go away from us by his death on the Cross so that by his Ascension into heaven the Counsellor should come and keep coming to us as the Spirit of truth. In him are “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”, and the Church is his Body.
Ref: Cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, pp249-50
Ten Day Devotion to the Holy Spirit
Introductory Prayer
Come, O Holy Spirit! Enlighten my understanding in order to know your commands; strengthen my heart against the snares of the enemy; enkindle my will ... I have heard your voice, and I do not want to harden my heart and resist, saying, “Later ... tomorrow.” Nunc coepi! Right now! Lest there be no tomorrow for me.
O Spirit of truth and of wisdom, Spirit of understanding and of counsel, Spirit of joy and of peace! I want whatever you want; I want because you want; I want as you want; I want whenever you want ...
Ref: St Josemaria Escrivà, “Prayer to the Holy Spirit”. In Postulation for the Cause of Beatification and Canonization, “Historical Registry of the Founder of Opus Dei” 20172, p145.
Consideration -- Please refer to meditation for the day [1st Day, below].
Concluding Prayer
Holy and divine Spirit! Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, your spouse, bring the fullness of your gifts into our hearts. Comforted and strengthened by you, may we live according to your Will and may we die praising your infinite mercy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Ref: Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ (Editors), “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p2080
Decenary to the Holy Spirit: 1st Day
The First Novena
Immediately after the Ascension the Apostles returned to Jerusalem, and as commanded by their Divine Master, remained in the upper room with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and one hundred-twenty disciples.
They continued in prayer, expecting the coming of the Holy Spirit, during ‘nine’ days. From this was derived the practice of preparing for certain great feasts by a novena of prayers and good works.
The novena of Pentecost was first made by the Apostles, so that it is not only apostolic, but may even be called of divine institution, since the Apostles made it in obedience to a formal command of Jesus Christ. How excellent must it be then, and with what devotion we ought to observe it.
Why did Jesus command his Apostles to pray as such? That they might dispose and prepare themselves to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, without which they would have remained forever what they were then: nothing in themselves, useless to others, absolutely incapable of fulfilling their sublime vocation; but with these gifts all would become possible, even easy.
We make this novena with extraordinary fervor for the same reasons, for certainly we are not greater than the Apostles. We are not better able than they were to dispense with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, and to fulfil the duties of our vocation; to achieve that degree of perfection required of us, and to save the souls of others both by word and work.
Jesus gave a third motive to encourage a more careful preparation for receiving the Holy Spirit -- the wickedness of the world, the miseries and snares in their midst, and the expected persecutions. “In the world you shall have distress; you shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake; they shall deliver you up to councils, and in the synagogues you shall be beaten; they will lay their hands on you and persecute you.” (cf Luke, 21:12, 25; Mark, 13:9)
We, too live in days of tribulation and the rage of the wicked against the religion of Jesus Christ. Where shall we seek the supernatural courage and prudence to fight these threats? Only from the Spirit of counsel, fortitude, and piety!
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp272-4
• Our Lady of Edessa, in Asia Minor. It is asserted that this image, placed beneath the gateway of a church, spoke to St Alexis, and made known to the people the merit of that saint. Thence it was removed to Rome, where it is highly honored. — Thomas Blosius, lib. ix. c. 9. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Our Lady of Edessa. Turkey. 400. Statue that spoke to St Alexis. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of Edessa, Asia Minor in honor of the statue that spoke to St. Alexis (400). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Our Lady of Edessa (Asia Minor, 400). (http://mariedenazareth.com)
• Our Lady of Edessa (Asia Minor). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Installation of the Robe of the Mother of God (Orthodox). (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
or the 7th Sunday of Easter
St Luke relates: “And he led them out as far as Bethania; ... lifting up his hands he blessed them: ... it came to pass while he blessed them, he departed from them and was carried up into heaven.” (24:50-51)
He was “taken up into heaven and sits at the right hand of God” (Mk 16:19). “While they watched, he was raised up, and a cloud took him out of their sight; while they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly, two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up to heaven? This Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’ Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet.” (Acts 1:9-12)
Let us try on this great feast, to gaze with the eyes of our mind upon Jesus rising slowly, making his triumphal entry into heaven, advancing to the foot of his Father’s throne attended by celestial spirits, and receiving a glorious crown and power over his enemies.
“Sit thou at my right hand, until I make Thy enemies Thy footstool.” (Ps 110:1) Let us ask him to draw our hearts to himself, and to raise our thoughts and affections to heaven, that we may dwell there in spirit.
The disciples returned to Jerusalem, with great joy; and yet they had just suffered the pain of a most bitter parting. What explains this joy? Their Divine Master has returned to his kingdom as a Conqueror. On his entrance into heaven he opened its gates which the sin of our first parents had closed. By thus exalting his human nature, he ennobled ours, and made it capable of contemplating the divine nature. He had promised to intercede with his Father: “I go to prepare a place for you. ...” (Jn 14:2)
Let these be also the motives of our joy. Let us meditate devoutly on them and, as our Lord promised, “your joy no man shall take from you” (Jn 16:22). Amidst whatever difficulties, we will exclaim, “I exceedingly abound with joy in all our tribulations”. And again, “Knowing that as you are partakers of his sufferings, so shall you be also of his consolations” (cf 2 Cor 1:5-7).
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp270-72
Jesus awaits us in heaven
The last gesture of Our Lord on earth was to give a blessing. (cf Lk 24:51) The Eleven had gone, as Jesus had told them, to the mount of Olives near Jerusalem. On seeing the risen Christ once more they fell down before him as their Master and their God and “worshipped him” (cf Mt 28:17).
Now they are much more conscious of what they had for some time believed in their hearts and confessed with their lips: their Master is the Messiah. (cf Mt 16:18) They were joyful at having their Lord and God so near. After the forty days spent in his company they could be witnesses to what they had seen and heard. The Holy Spirit would confirm in them the teachings of Jesus.
The Master spoke to them as only God can: “All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Mt 28:18). Jesus confirmed their faith and taught that them the power they were to receive was a sharing in his divine power: to forgive sins.
To bring about a rebirth through Baptism is the power of Christ, given now to his Church. The mission of the Church is to continue the work of Christ, to teach men divine truths and make known the demands these truths impose, to help men follow God’s way through the grace of the sacraments.
“He said to them ... ‘You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judaea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth’.” (Acts 1:7-9)
The Apostles remained looking up as Jesus ascended majestically into the cloud signifying the presence of God (cf Ex 13:22; Lk 9:34 ff) “... Jesus had entered Heaven”. (St John Chrysostom, “Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles”, 2)
Jesus’ life on earth ended with his Ascension, not with his death -- the last of the mysteries of his life on earth. Together with his Passion, Death and Resurrection it makes up the Paschal Mystery. It was fitting that those who saw Christ die amid insults, scoffing and mockery on the Cross should now see him exalted.
“Today’s feast reminds us that our concern for souls is a response to our Lord’s command of love. As he goes up to Heaven, Jesus sends us out as his witnesses throughout the whole world. Our responsibility is great, because to be Christ’s witness implies first of all that we should try to behave according to his doctrine, that we should struggle to make our actions remind others of Jesus and his most lovable personality.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 122)
Jesus departs, but he remains close to all: in the Tabernacle. Let us visit him there though often we can do so only with our heart; and ask his help in our apostolate. To make known his teaching everywhere.
The Apostles returned to Jerusalem in the company of Mary and awaited the Holy Spirit. Let us prepare for the coming of Pentecost also staying close to Our Lady.
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:531-2
In Christ the Visible World is Created Again
Our spirit is set in one direction, for our intellect, will and heart: towards Christ the Redeemer of man. We wish to look towards him repeating what Peter said: ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’
We must constantly aim at him “the head”, “through whom are all things and through whom we exist”, “the way and the truth” and “the resurrection and the life”, and who had to go away from us by his death on the Cross so that by his Ascension into heaven the Counsellor should come and keep coming to us as the Spirit of truth. In him are “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”, and the Church is his Body.
Ref: Cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, pp249-50
Ten Day Devotion to the Holy Spirit
Introductory Prayer
Come, O Holy Spirit! Enlighten my understanding in order to know your commands; strengthen my heart against the snares of the enemy; enkindle my will ... I have heard your voice, and I do not want to harden my heart and resist, saying, “Later ... tomorrow.” Nunc coepi! Right now! Lest there be no tomorrow for me.
O Spirit of truth and of wisdom, Spirit of understanding and of counsel, Spirit of joy and of peace! I want whatever you want; I want because you want; I want as you want; I want whenever you want ...
Ref: St Josemaria Escrivà, “Prayer to the Holy Spirit”. In Postulation for the Cause of Beatification and Canonization, “Historical Registry of the Founder of Opus Dei” 20172, p145.
Consideration -- Please refer to meditation for the day [1st Day, below].
Concluding Prayer
Holy and divine Spirit! Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, your spouse, bring the fullness of your gifts into our hearts. Comforted and strengthened by you, may we live according to your Will and may we die praising your infinite mercy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Ref: Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ (Editors), “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p2080
Decenary to the Holy Spirit: 1st Day
The First Novena
Immediately after the Ascension the Apostles returned to Jerusalem, and as commanded by their Divine Master, remained in the upper room with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and one hundred-twenty disciples.
They continued in prayer, expecting the coming of the Holy Spirit, during ‘nine’ days. From this was derived the practice of preparing for certain great feasts by a novena of prayers and good works.
The novena of Pentecost was first made by the Apostles, so that it is not only apostolic, but may even be called of divine institution, since the Apostles made it in obedience to a formal command of Jesus Christ. How excellent must it be then, and with what devotion we ought to observe it.
Why did Jesus command his Apostles to pray as such? That they might dispose and prepare themselves to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, without which they would have remained forever what they were then: nothing in themselves, useless to others, absolutely incapable of fulfilling their sublime vocation; but with these gifts all would become possible, even easy.
We make this novena with extraordinary fervor for the same reasons, for certainly we are not greater than the Apostles. We are not better able than they were to dispense with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, and to fulfil the duties of our vocation; to achieve that degree of perfection required of us, and to save the souls of others both by word and work.
Jesus gave a third motive to encourage a more careful preparation for receiving the Holy Spirit -- the wickedness of the world, the miseries and snares in their midst, and the expected persecutions. “In the world you shall have distress; you shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake; they shall deliver you up to councils, and in the synagogues you shall be beaten; they will lay their hands on you and persecute you.” (cf Luke, 21:12, 25; Mark, 13:9)
We, too live in days of tribulation and the rage of the wicked against the religion of Jesus Christ. Where shall we seek the supernatural courage and prudence to fight these threats? Only from the Spirit of counsel, fortitude, and piety!
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp272-4
• Our Lady of Edessa, in Asia Minor. It is asserted that this image, placed beneath the gateway of a church, spoke to St Alexis, and made known to the people the merit of that saint. Thence it was removed to Rome, where it is highly honored. — Thomas Blosius, lib. ix. c. 9. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Our Lady of Edessa. Turkey. 400. Statue that spoke to St Alexis. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of Edessa, Asia Minor in honor of the statue that spoke to St. Alexis (400). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Our Lady of Edessa (Asia Minor, 400). (http://mariedenazareth.com)
• Our Lady of Edessa (Asia Minor). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Installation of the Robe of the Mother of God (Orthodox). (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
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