A Christian has many special relationships with God the Incarnate Son. He is Jesus Christ’s brother by his very nature; and by baptism, a member of his mystical body. “Now you are the body of Christ”, says St Paul, “and member of member” (1 Cor 12:27).
But this is not all. In Holy Communion we become incorporated with him, in his own words: “He that eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, abides in me, and I in him.” (Jn 6:57) Living with his life, we are, says St Peter, “made partakers of the divine nature” (2 Pet 1:4). What can be more blessed and glorious!
What must we do in return for these great privileges? St John tells us in very memorable words: “He that said he abides in him, ought himself also to walk even as he walked.” (Jn 6:57) Thus, we shall live St Cyprian’s meaningful words: ‘The Christian is another Christ.’
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp311-2
‘The Father revealed by the Son’
Many religions invoke God as ‘Father’. The deity is often considered the ‘father of gods and of men’. In Israel, God is called Father since he is Creator of the world.
Even more, God is Father because of the covenant and the gift of the law to Israel, ‘his first-born son’. God is also called the Father of the king of Israel. Most especially he is ‘the Father of the poor’, of the orphaned and the widowed, who are under his loving protection.
Jesus revealed that God is Father in a novel sense: he is Father not only in being Creator; he is eternally Father by his relationship to his only Son who, reciprocally, is Son only in relation to his Father: “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” (Mt 11:27)
Thus the apostles confess Jesus to be the ‘Word’: In the beginning was the ‘Word’, and the ‘Word’ was with God, and the ‘Word’ was God; as the image of the invisible God; as the radiance of the glory of God, the very stamp of his nature (Jn 1:1; Col 1:15; Heb 1:3).
Following this apostolic tradition, the Church confessed at the first ecumenical council at Nicaea (325) that the Son is ‘consubstantial’ with the Father, that is, only one God with him. The second ecumenical council, held at Constantinople in 381, kept this expression in its formulation of the Nicene Creed and confessed ‘the only-begotten Son of God, eternally begotten not made, consubstantial with the Father’.
‘The Incarnation of God’s Son reveals that God is the eternal Father and that the Son is consubstantial with the Father, which means that, in the Father and with the Father, the Son is one and the same God.’
Henceforth, Christ is “seated at the right hand of the Father: By ‘the Father’s right hand’ we understand the glory and honor of divinity, where he who exists as Son of God before all ages, indeed as God, of one being with the Father, is seated bodily after he became incarnate and his flesh was glorified.”
Being seated at the Father’s right hand signifies inauguration of the Messiah’s kingdom, fulfillment of prophet Daniel’s vision concerning the Son of Man: “To him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is everlasting, which will not pass away, and his kingdom one that will not be destroyed. After this event the apostles became witnesses of the kingdom [that] will have no end.”
Ref: “Catechism of the Catholic Church”, Nos. 238, 240, 241, 242, 262, 663, 664
Knowing the Identity of Jesus Christ
In the seventh chapter of the Fourth Gospel, the evangelist John accurately notes the perplexity of many persons in Jerusalem about Jesus’ identity. It was the Feast of Tabernacles which recorded the Hebrews’ life in the desert. There was great movement of people in the Holy City, and Jesus was teaching in the Temple.
Some said: “Is this not the one they want to kill? Here he is, speaking openly, but they say nothing to him. Perhaps the authorities really know this is the Messiah. Yet we know where this man is from; when the Messiah comes, no one will know his origin.” (Jn 7:25-7)
Such statements indicate the perplexity of the Jews in that Temple; they awaited the Messiah; they knew that the Messiah would have something arcane and mysterious about him. They even thought that Jesus might be he, given the prodigies that he performed and the doctrines He taught. But they were not sure of it, because the official religious authority was against Him and would even eliminate Him.
Jesus explained the reason for their lack of knowledge of His real identity. They based themselves solely on external, civil and family data and ‘did not go beyond his human nature’; they did not penetrate the outside layer of his appearance. “You know me, and you know my origins. I have not come on my own. But the One who sent me is true; you do not know him. I know him, because I am from him; he sent me.” (Jn 7:28-9)
Ref: cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, p102
Reading the Gospel fruitfully
Jesus Christ is "the way, the truth and the life” (cf Jn 14:6) for each person. In knowing him we know the purpose of life and of all things. Our life is an ongoing journey towards him. It is in the Gospel that we must learn “the supreme knowledge of Jesus Christ” (Phil 3:8), how to imitate him and follow in his footsteps.
"To learn from him you must try to know his life. Read the Gospel and meditate on the scenes of the New Testament in order to understand the divine meaning of his life on earth. We must reproduce Christ’s life in our own. We need to come to know him by reading and meditating on Scripture." (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 14)
Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:453
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; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of the Star. Aquiles / Aquileia, Italy. 15th Century. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (MaryLinks Calendar.htm)
‘Notre Dame de Grace’ / Our Lady of Grace. Montreal, Canada. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); [(maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (MaryLinks Calendar.htm)]
Our Lady, Health of the Sick (Kevelær, Germany).(http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (MaryLinks Calendar.htm); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Monday, May 31, 2010
31 May 2010: Feast-- The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Celebrated between the solemnity of Anunciation of the Lord and birth of John the Baptist. Mary’s visit to her cousin, St John the Baptist’s mother, records her ‘Magnificat’, another testimony of her humility and greatness before God. Mary’s readiness to serve Elizabeth is a good lesson on fraternal charity. (Fr James Socias, et al [Eds], “Daily Roman Missal”, p1534)
Serving cheerfully
Soon after the Anunciation, “Mary went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country” (Lk 1:39). Having learned from the angel about Elizabeth’s pregnancy and moved by charity, she hurries to help with her household chores. Nobody obliges Mary to go. God, through the angel, hadn’t asked her; nor did Elizabeth seek help. Mary could have stayed to prepare for her Son’s arrival.
After a hard 4-5 days journey, on entering Zachary’s house Mary greeted Elizabeth. Filled with the Holy Spirit, she replied, “Why must I be honored with the visit of the mother of my Lord? ... when your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy”. (Lk 1:42-3)
Elizabeth calls her blessed and explains why. In the ‘Hail, Mary’ do these words excite us with the same joy? As an aspiration they can unite us to her while working or walking on the street; whenever we see her image.
Today we learn once more that each encounter with Mary implies a new discovery of Jesus. “If you seek Mary, you will find Jesus. And you will learn a bit more about what is in the heart of a God who humbles himself” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 144), makes himself accessible amidst the routines of ordinary life.
The mystery of the Visitation is one of joy. John the Baptist stirs exultantly in his mother’s womb. We perceive the true significance of the secret Mary treasured in her heart. This great mystery finds its purest expression in the ‘Magnificat: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour’ ... simple words but full of nobility and of intimate union with the Creator, a perfect mirror of Our Lady’s soul.
“From earliest times the Blessed Virgin is honored under the title, ‘Mother of God’, under whose protection the faithful take refuge ... in prayer in all their perils and necessities. Accordingly, following the Council of Ephesus, there was a remarkable growth in the cult of the People of God towards Mary, in veneration and love, in invocation and imitation, according to her prophetic words: ‘All generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me.’” (cf Second Vatican Council, “Lumen Gentium”, 66)
We have invoked her in a special way ... "but the month of May cannot end. It has to continue in our life, because of our veneration and our love for her, the devotion cannot disappear from our hearts; but has to grow and express itself in a witness of Christian living, ..." (John Paul II, “Homily”, 25 May 1979)
The way Jesus looked at people “must have been the same look as shone from the eyes of his Mother, who could not contain her joy: ‘Magnificat anima mea Dominum!’ -- and her soul glorified the Lord while she carried him within her and walked with him by her side.
“Oh, Mother! May we, like you, rejoice to be with him and to hold him.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 95)
Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 6:235-41
` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` `
The Visitation: Mary sings of the Love of God
“God is interested even in the smallest events in the lives of his creatures, in your affairs and mine; and he calls each of us by our name. This certainty that faith gives enables us to look at everything in a new light; and while remaining exactly the same, becomes different because it is an expression of God’s love.
"Our life is turned into a continuous prayer, we find ourselves with good humor and a peace which never ends, and everything we do is an act of thanksgiving running through all our day. My soul magnifies the Lord, Mary sang, and my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 189)
Let us offer our Mother: ‘The Rosary today and everyday, said with concentration and affection.’
Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p306
· “We are persuaded that families will receive from the recitation of the Rosary a guarantee of heavenly blessings ... When parents and children gather at the end of the day in the recitation of the Rosary, together they meditate on the example of work, obedience and charity which shone in the house of Nazareth; together they learn from the Mother of God to suffer serenely; to accept with dignity and courage the difficulties of life and so acquire the proper attitude toward the daily events of life.” (cf Letter of Pope John XXIII, ‘We have been informed’, to Rev Patrick Peyton, CSC, 1 May 1959.)
· “Mary taught Bernadette to say the Rosary. She gently led her from one ‘Ave’ to the next; she joined her in silence up to the ‘Glory Be ...’ which she recited with her ... The Rosary has something unique, sweet, and dear about it for each one of us. Does it not enable us to draw near to Mary, Our Lady, in a wonderful way and, through her to draw near to Jesus and to His heart in an atmosphere that is unique for its purity, fervor and power?” -- Cardinal G M Garrone
· “Ah! Mary, Queen of love, the most amiable, the most loved and the most loving of all creatures ... deign to grant me a single drop of your love.” -- St Alphonsus Liguori
Ref: In Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP,Two Months with Mary, pp53, 33
The Christian’s relations with the Holy Trinity -- ‘Our relations with God the Father’
What is a Christian? A person who enjoys a special relationship to God the Father, whose child he or she became in holy Baptism. What Jesus Christ is by ‘nature’, the Christian is by ‘adoption’. He receives by spiritual regeneration, according to his capacity, what the Word received in his eternal generation. “You have received”, says St Paul, “the spirit of adoption of sons, whereby we cry Abba, Father” (Rom 8:15).
The son of a poor man adopted by a powerful monarch and invested with all the privileges of a legitimate son, would be conferred a great honor! Yet this is but a faint image of our adoption by God in Baptism.
What are our obligations towards so generous and loving a Father? Surely, to love him with all our hearts, and to prove our love-- first, by avoiding all that could displease him, even the most trivial faults or failure in our norms;
second, by trying to please him more and more by the practice of virtue; and third, by striving diligently in the perfection of our state, in the words of Jesus Christ: “Be perfect therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Mt 5:48)
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, p311
Believing in God Is the First Truth
‘I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth.’ This is ‘the first truth of the faith’, the first article of our Creed. Creatures give testimony of God the Creator. The more man lets himself be carried away by the eloquence of creatures, their richness and beauty, the more need to adore the Creator grows in him and ought to grow in him. On our knees before the Lord, let us prostrate ourselves and adore.
These are not extravagant words. They confirm the perennial ways of the fundamental logic of the Faith and of the thought about the cosmos as well; about the macrocosmos and microcosmos. The Faith confirms itself in a particular way as ‘reasonable worship’.
I ask you to think about this disproportion which really exists in gigantic areas of contemporary civilization; the better man knows the cosmos, the less he seems to feel obliged to ‘bend the knee’ and ‘prostrate himself’ before the Creator.
Need we ask why?
Do people think that knowledge of the world and enjoyment of effects deriving from it make man master of creation? But should men not think, rather, that what man knows -- the astonishing richnesses of the microscosmos and dimensions of the macrocosmos -- he finds, as it were, ‘ready-made’; and that what he produces on that basis he owes to the wealth of raw materials in the created world? ...
Could contemporary man not think there may be a fundamental ‘injustice’ toward the Creator in the entire direction of development of his civilization and mentality?
“Come let us go down on bended knees before Him who has created this.”
Ref: cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, pp112-3
Our faith rests on the Trinity
Christians are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: not in their ‘names’, for there is only one God, the almighty Father, his only Son and the Holy Spirit: the Most Holy Trinity.
The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is central to the Christian faith and life; the mystery of God in himself. Thus, the source of all other mysteries of faith, the light that enlightens them. The most fundamental teaching in the ‘hierarchy of the truths of faith’. The whole mystery of salvation is identical with the history of the way and means by which the one true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, reveals himself to men ‘and reconciles and unites with himself those who turn away from sin’.
The Trinity is a mystery of faith in the strict sense, one of the ‘mysteries that are hidden in God, which can never be known unless they are revealed by God’.
Ref: “Catechism of the Catholic Church”, Nos. 233, 234, 237
Going (and returning) to the Trinity through Mary
St Alphonsus of Liguori says that the main role Christ entrusted to Mary is the dispensing of mercy, in which service Mary employs all her prerogatives. St Josemaria Escrivá adds: “When I was young I wrote (with the conviction that coalesced around my daily visits to Our Lady of the Pillar): ‘To Jesus one goes and to him we return through Mary.’" (‘Libro de Aragon’)
If our welcome to divine intimacy is possible because of the Son, it is only right that in reaching the Son we return to his Mother, Mary. Neither are we surprised that Christians, who go with Mary to Jesus, also “return to him, if unfortunately they had wandered away.” ('Libro de Aragon')
In this maternal task, Mary’s mission is not to mitigate divine justice. Isn’t God always good and merciful? Our Mother’s mission, rather, is to ready our hearts to receive the graces her Son has in store for us. That is why it is always helpful to return to her when we prepare ourselves to receive the sacrament of penance.
The Virgin always provides the shortest and most secure path to God; a most pleasant path that does not demand special conditions. She welcomes us in any shape, even if we can barely take a step. That is when she proves to be closest to us, ‘awakening in Christians a supernatural desire to act “as members of the household of God” (Eph 2:19).’
She bestows on us the gift of being ushered into the divine family. “Turn to our Lady -- daughter, Mother, and Spouse of God and our mother as well -- and ask her to obtain more graces for you from the blessed Trinity: graces of faith, hope, love, and contrition. ..." (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Forge”, 227)
Ref: F Fernandez-Carvajal, et al, “Children of God”, 1997, pp60-62
‘Ad Caeli Reginam’ (Queen of Heaven)
This Encyclical Letter of Pope Pius XII (given on 11 October 1954) develops the theological argument for the ancient belief in the Queenship of Mary; and proclaims the new feast, ‘Mary, Queen’, to be observed on 31 May; (“The 1955 National Catholic Almanac”, pp66-73) but was moved to 22 August after the reform of the Second Vatican Council. (“Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Encyclopedia”, 1991, p804)
Our Lady of Dolours, in the Church of St Gervase at Paris. This image which was at the corner of des Rosiers Street, was mutilated by a ~, in the year 1528; Francis I had it solemnly carried to St Gervase, and he ordered a statue to be made of silver gilt, which he himself set up in the place of the first. This statue was stolen in the year 1545, and another of stone was substituted for it, which always retained the name of Our Lady of Silver. — Du Breuil, Theatre des Antiquites, lib. iii. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of Suffering (in St Gervase Church, Paris). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Our Lady of Suffering (‘Notre-Dame-des-Douleurs’). Church of St Gervase, Paris.(www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); Chapel in Ultrera, Seville.(www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Our Lady of Suffering. (http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.htm)l; (MaryLinks Calendar.htm)
Our Lady of All Nations. (http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Our Lady Mediatrix of All Graces. (http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (MaryLinks Calendar.htm); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Mother of Fair Love. (Title comes from “Ecclesiasticus” 24:23-31: "... I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope. ..." (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Mother of Fair Love. (http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (MaryLinks Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Annual pilgrimage to chapel of Mary, Help of Christians, in Tra Kieu, Vietnam. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Feast of the Visitation. Based on Mary's visit to Elizabeth, in Luke 1:39-56, where Mary spoke ‘The Magnificat’. (See July 2). (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
In Litany of the Saints, "Invocation ‘Queen of All Saints’ was added by Pope Pius VII when he returned to Rome after his long imprisonment by order of Napoleon." (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Our Lady, Queen of All Saints. (http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html; MaryLinks Calendar.htm); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Serving cheerfully
Soon after the Anunciation, “Mary went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country” (Lk 1:39). Having learned from the angel about Elizabeth’s pregnancy and moved by charity, she hurries to help with her household chores. Nobody obliges Mary to go. God, through the angel, hadn’t asked her; nor did Elizabeth seek help. Mary could have stayed to prepare for her Son’s arrival.
After a hard 4-5 days journey, on entering Zachary’s house Mary greeted Elizabeth. Filled with the Holy Spirit, she replied, “Why must I be honored with the visit of the mother of my Lord? ... when your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy”. (Lk 1:42-3)
Elizabeth calls her blessed and explains why. In the ‘Hail, Mary’ do these words excite us with the same joy? As an aspiration they can unite us to her while working or walking on the street; whenever we see her image.
Today we learn once more that each encounter with Mary implies a new discovery of Jesus. “If you seek Mary, you will find Jesus. And you will learn a bit more about what is in the heart of a God who humbles himself” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 144), makes himself accessible amidst the routines of ordinary life.
The mystery of the Visitation is one of joy. John the Baptist stirs exultantly in his mother’s womb. We perceive the true significance of the secret Mary treasured in her heart. This great mystery finds its purest expression in the ‘Magnificat: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour’ ... simple words but full of nobility and of intimate union with the Creator, a perfect mirror of Our Lady’s soul.
“From earliest times the Blessed Virgin is honored under the title, ‘Mother of God’, under whose protection the faithful take refuge ... in prayer in all their perils and necessities. Accordingly, following the Council of Ephesus, there was a remarkable growth in the cult of the People of God towards Mary, in veneration and love, in invocation and imitation, according to her prophetic words: ‘All generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me.’” (cf Second Vatican Council, “Lumen Gentium”, 66)
We have invoked her in a special way ... "but the month of May cannot end. It has to continue in our life, because of our veneration and our love for her, the devotion cannot disappear from our hearts; but has to grow and express itself in a witness of Christian living, ..." (John Paul II, “Homily”, 25 May 1979)
The way Jesus looked at people “must have been the same look as shone from the eyes of his Mother, who could not contain her joy: ‘Magnificat anima mea Dominum!’ -- and her soul glorified the Lord while she carried him within her and walked with him by her side.
“Oh, Mother! May we, like you, rejoice to be with him and to hold him.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 95)
Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 6:235-41
` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` `
The Visitation: Mary sings of the Love of God
“God is interested even in the smallest events in the lives of his creatures, in your affairs and mine; and he calls each of us by our name. This certainty that faith gives enables us to look at everything in a new light; and while remaining exactly the same, becomes different because it is an expression of God’s love.
"Our life is turned into a continuous prayer, we find ourselves with good humor and a peace which never ends, and everything we do is an act of thanksgiving running through all our day. My soul magnifies the Lord, Mary sang, and my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 189)
Let us offer our Mother: ‘The Rosary today and everyday, said with concentration and affection.’
Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p306
· “We are persuaded that families will receive from the recitation of the Rosary a guarantee of heavenly blessings ... When parents and children gather at the end of the day in the recitation of the Rosary, together they meditate on the example of work, obedience and charity which shone in the house of Nazareth; together they learn from the Mother of God to suffer serenely; to accept with dignity and courage the difficulties of life and so acquire the proper attitude toward the daily events of life.” (cf Letter of Pope John XXIII, ‘We have been informed’, to Rev Patrick Peyton, CSC, 1 May 1959.)
· “Mary taught Bernadette to say the Rosary. She gently led her from one ‘Ave’ to the next; she joined her in silence up to the ‘Glory Be ...’ which she recited with her ... The Rosary has something unique, sweet, and dear about it for each one of us. Does it not enable us to draw near to Mary, Our Lady, in a wonderful way and, through her to draw near to Jesus and to His heart in an atmosphere that is unique for its purity, fervor and power?” -- Cardinal G M Garrone
· “Ah! Mary, Queen of love, the most amiable, the most loved and the most loving of all creatures ... deign to grant me a single drop of your love.” -- St Alphonsus Liguori
Ref: In Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP,Two Months with Mary, pp53, 33
The Christian’s relations with the Holy Trinity -- ‘Our relations with God the Father’
What is a Christian? A person who enjoys a special relationship to God the Father, whose child he or she became in holy Baptism. What Jesus Christ is by ‘nature’, the Christian is by ‘adoption’. He receives by spiritual regeneration, according to his capacity, what the Word received in his eternal generation. “You have received”, says St Paul, “the spirit of adoption of sons, whereby we cry Abba, Father” (Rom 8:15).
The son of a poor man adopted by a powerful monarch and invested with all the privileges of a legitimate son, would be conferred a great honor! Yet this is but a faint image of our adoption by God in Baptism.
What are our obligations towards so generous and loving a Father? Surely, to love him with all our hearts, and to prove our love-- first, by avoiding all that could displease him, even the most trivial faults or failure in our norms;
second, by trying to please him more and more by the practice of virtue; and third, by striving diligently in the perfection of our state, in the words of Jesus Christ: “Be perfect therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Mt 5:48)
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, p311
Believing in God Is the First Truth
‘I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth.’ This is ‘the first truth of the faith’, the first article of our Creed. Creatures give testimony of God the Creator. The more man lets himself be carried away by the eloquence of creatures, their richness and beauty, the more need to adore the Creator grows in him and ought to grow in him. On our knees before the Lord, let us prostrate ourselves and adore.
These are not extravagant words. They confirm the perennial ways of the fundamental logic of the Faith and of the thought about the cosmos as well; about the macrocosmos and microcosmos. The Faith confirms itself in a particular way as ‘reasonable worship’.
I ask you to think about this disproportion which really exists in gigantic areas of contemporary civilization; the better man knows the cosmos, the less he seems to feel obliged to ‘bend the knee’ and ‘prostrate himself’ before the Creator.
Need we ask why?
Do people think that knowledge of the world and enjoyment of effects deriving from it make man master of creation? But should men not think, rather, that what man knows -- the astonishing richnesses of the microscosmos and dimensions of the macrocosmos -- he finds, as it were, ‘ready-made’; and that what he produces on that basis he owes to the wealth of raw materials in the created world? ...
Could contemporary man not think there may be a fundamental ‘injustice’ toward the Creator in the entire direction of development of his civilization and mentality?
“Come let us go down on bended knees before Him who has created this.”
Ref: cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, pp112-3
Our faith rests on the Trinity
Christians are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: not in their ‘names’, for there is only one God, the almighty Father, his only Son and the Holy Spirit: the Most Holy Trinity.
The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is central to the Christian faith and life; the mystery of God in himself. Thus, the source of all other mysteries of faith, the light that enlightens them. The most fundamental teaching in the ‘hierarchy of the truths of faith’. The whole mystery of salvation is identical with the history of the way and means by which the one true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, reveals himself to men ‘and reconciles and unites with himself those who turn away from sin’.
The Trinity is a mystery of faith in the strict sense, one of the ‘mysteries that are hidden in God, which can never be known unless they are revealed by God’.
Ref: “Catechism of the Catholic Church”, Nos. 233, 234, 237
Going (and returning) to the Trinity through Mary
St Alphonsus of Liguori says that the main role Christ entrusted to Mary is the dispensing of mercy, in which service Mary employs all her prerogatives. St Josemaria Escrivá adds: “When I was young I wrote (with the conviction that coalesced around my daily visits to Our Lady of the Pillar): ‘To Jesus one goes and to him we return through Mary.’" (‘Libro de Aragon’)
If our welcome to divine intimacy is possible because of the Son, it is only right that in reaching the Son we return to his Mother, Mary. Neither are we surprised that Christians, who go with Mary to Jesus, also “return to him, if unfortunately they had wandered away.” ('Libro de Aragon')
In this maternal task, Mary’s mission is not to mitigate divine justice. Isn’t God always good and merciful? Our Mother’s mission, rather, is to ready our hearts to receive the graces her Son has in store for us. That is why it is always helpful to return to her when we prepare ourselves to receive the sacrament of penance.
The Virgin always provides the shortest and most secure path to God; a most pleasant path that does not demand special conditions. She welcomes us in any shape, even if we can barely take a step. That is when she proves to be closest to us, ‘awakening in Christians a supernatural desire to act “as members of the household of God” (Eph 2:19).’
She bestows on us the gift of being ushered into the divine family. “Turn to our Lady -- daughter, Mother, and Spouse of God and our mother as well -- and ask her to obtain more graces for you from the blessed Trinity: graces of faith, hope, love, and contrition. ..." (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Forge”, 227)
Ref: F Fernandez-Carvajal, et al, “Children of God”, 1997, pp60-62
‘Ad Caeli Reginam’ (Queen of Heaven)
This Encyclical Letter of Pope Pius XII (given on 11 October 1954) develops the theological argument for the ancient belief in the Queenship of Mary; and proclaims the new feast, ‘Mary, Queen’, to be observed on 31 May; (“The 1955 National Catholic Almanac”, pp66-73) but was moved to 22 August after the reform of the Second Vatican Council. (“Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Encyclopedia”, 1991, p804)
Our Lady of Dolours, in the Church of St Gervase at Paris. This image which was at the corner of des Rosiers Street, was mutilated by a ~, in the year 1528; Francis I had it solemnly carried to St Gervase, and he ordered a statue to be made of silver gilt, which he himself set up in the place of the first. This statue was stolen in the year 1545, and another of stone was substituted for it, which always retained the name of Our Lady of Silver. — Du Breuil, Theatre des Antiquites, lib. iii. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of Suffering (in St Gervase Church, Paris). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Our Lady of Suffering (‘Notre-Dame-des-Douleurs’). Church of St Gervase, Paris.(www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); Chapel in Ultrera, Seville.(www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Our Lady of Suffering. (http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.htm)l; (MaryLinks Calendar.htm)
Our Lady of All Nations. (http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Our Lady Mediatrix of All Graces. (http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (MaryLinks Calendar.htm); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Mother of Fair Love. (Title comes from “Ecclesiasticus” 24:23-31: "... I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope. ..." (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Mother of Fair Love. (http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (MaryLinks Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Annual pilgrimage to chapel of Mary, Help of Christians, in Tra Kieu, Vietnam. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Feast of the Visitation. Based on Mary's visit to Elizabeth, in Luke 1:39-56, where Mary spoke ‘The Magnificat’. (See July 2). (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
In Litany of the Saints, "Invocation ‘Queen of All Saints’ was added by Pope Pius VII when he returned to Rome after his long imprisonment by order of Napoleon." (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Our Lady, Queen of All Saints. (http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html; MaryLinks Calendar.htm); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Saturday, May 29, 2010
30 May 2010: Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
Sunday after Pentecost
The Holy Trinity is the greatest of all mysteries. The feast is the complement and gathering up into one all feasts of the ecclesiastical year. A mystery beyond our comprehension, the finite being incapable of understanding the infinite; but we must adore it with deepest humility, most tender love, and most lively gratitude. It is the source of all good to us.
Let us recall all we owe to the love of the Three Persons of the Most Holy Trinity. “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.” (‘The Apostle’s Creed’ in “Handbook of Prayers”, Belmonte and Socias [eds], 1988, p65)
Omnipotence, and the work of creation, which implies omnipotence, is the special attribute of the Father, the first principal from which the two other Persons proceed. To him, then, I owe my existence, my preservation, and all that has conduced to my preservation. Without him I should always have remained nothing.
God saw from all eternity, in the nothingness out of which we were created, millions of possible beings, who would have served him better than we have done, and glorified him more.
Why, then, has he created us instead? Out of a gratuitous love of predilection. ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love.’ This love has preserved us from so many dangers in which others have perished. We enjoy so many favors both of nature and grace.
Love begets love. What return have we made to so loving and generous a God and Father? Perhaps we have loved him so little and served him grudgingly.
The love of God the Son for us has been manifested in a still more striking manner, ie, by that of ‘redemption’, which has not only ransomed us from slavery and death; but reinstated us in all our primitive rights.
Suppose the son of a king should offer his life for a criminal? This is what the Son of God has done for each one of us. “He debased himself” (cf Phil 2:7-8), taking the form of a slave, becoming obedient unto death, even death of the cross.
St Paul concludes, ‘That they also who live may not now live to themselves, but unto him who died for them’. Have we given this proof of our love and gratitude to him?
The love of the Holy Spirit manifests itself in our sanctification and adoption. He sanctified us in our Baptism, purifying our soul from all stain, filling it with divine charity, and all prerogatives of sanctifying grace which raise us to the dignity of adopted sons and heirs of God, and co-heirs of Jesus Christ.
“The charity of God is poured forth in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who is given to us.” For the “Spirit himself gives testimony to our spirit that we are the sons of God; and if sons, heirs also, heirs indeed of God and joint-heirs with Christ” (Rom 8:16-7). He has also sanctified us in our Confirmation, and in partaking of the other Sacraments.
How many undeserved benefits have I received and even despite my great unworthiness! ‘What shall I render to the Lord’, to the Three Persons of the Blessed Trinity, ‘for all the things that he has rendered to me?’
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp308-10
The intercession of Mary
Let us close these thoughts with an old prayer: ‘Hail, Mary, daughter of God the Father; hail, Mary, Mother of God the Son; hail, Mary, Spouse of God the Holy Spirit. Hail, Mary, temple and sanctuary of the Most Holy Trinity, conceived without stain of original sin from the very first instant of your virginal being. Greater than you, only God!’
Through Mary’s intercession and personal relationship with each of the Persons of the Blessed Trinity, we can acquire a deeper knowledge of the richness of this mystery which is understandable only through a life of prayer. Through her we will find the strength to correspond to what God wants to share with us.
Ref: J P Debicki, “The Blessed Trinity”, Scepter Booklets, 18
Sign of Peace
At Mass, the priest asks Jesus not to look upon our sins, but to grant us the Peace He promised to the Apostles: ‘Peace I leave with you; My Peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.’ We join the priest and respond, ‘Amen’.
St Anthony in a Homily said: “The Resurrection of Christ is the source of lasting peace. His place must always be in the center of our hearts.” “Jesus came and stood in their midst. ‘Peace be with you’, He said. Then He showed His Hands and His Side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.” (cf Jn 20:19-21)
“The Latin for peace is ‘Pax’, a three-letter word that symbolizes the Triune and one God (the Holy Trinity). The letter ‘P’ stands for ‘Pater’, ‘Father’; the letter ‘a’, first letter of the alphabet stands for the first-born, the Son of God; ‘x’, a consonant made up of two sounds ‘k’ and ‘s’, stands for the Holy Spirit [or ‘X’ “The Great Unknown”, in St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 173-87], proceeding from both the Father and the Son.”
Ref: St Anthony’s Sermons, “Seek First His Kingdom”, in Bob and Penny Lord, “Miracles of the Eucharist”, Vol. II:305-6
The Fruit of the Redemption Is the New Creature
The Redemption is a “new creation” because by reason of sin, man fell from his “original justice”. He broke the Alliance with God. Consequently, he suffered incapacity to build communion with others in the truth of self-giving. We must deepen our consciousness of sin, the indispensable starting point for personal participation in the mystery of the Redemption.
The Redemption worked by Christ brought man back to “the dignity of his first origins”. In Christ, the second and true Adam, the new humanity takes its origin. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old order has passed away; now all is new!” (2 Cor 5:17) A change in the very essence of the human person who has been redeemed brings man back to the fulness of his being as ‘God’s image’ (cf Gen 1:27).
Ref: cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, p268
` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` `
Mary, Queen of the Apostles
“... if we take Our Lady’s hand, she will make us realize more fully that all men are our brothers; because we are all sons of the God whose daughter, spouse and mother she is. Our neighbors’ problems must be our problems. Christian fraternity should be something very deep in the soul, so that we are indifferent to no one. Mary, who brought up Jesus and accompanied him through his life and is now beside him in heaven, will help us recognize Jesus as he crosses our path and makes himself present to us in the needs of our fellowmen.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 145)
Let us offer our Mother: ‘A kind word, a friendly conversation, a helping hand to persons with whom we live or work.’
Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p31
The Rosary, a Gospel Prayer
W J Harrington, OP, in presenting his book, “The Rosary: A Gospel Prayer”, said: “The Rosary is a thoroughly biblical, Gospel prayer. The reason is by no means only because the ‘Lord’s Prayer’ and the greatest part of the ‘Hail, Mary’, come straight from the gospels. It is because almost all the ‘mysteries’ of the Rosary come straight from the gospels.
“The Joyful Mysteries are taken from the first two chapters of St Luke; the Sorrowful Mysteries are based on the passion narrative of the four gospels; and the Glorious Mysteries reflect the close of the gospel and its overflow into the new age of the Spirit and the Church.”
Pope Paul VI, in “Marialis Cultus”, 2 February 1972, said: “The Rosary is a Gospel prayer, as pastors and scholars like to define it ... As a Gospel prayer, centered on the mystery of the redemptive Incarnation, the Rosary is therefore, a prayer with a clearly Christological orientation.”
“Upon arriving, the angel Gabriel said to Mary: ‘Rejoice, O highly favored daughter! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.’” (Lk 1:28)
“Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and cried out in a loud voice: ‘Blest are you among women and blest is the fruit of your womb’.” (Lk 1:41-2)
Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p52
Dedication of the church of ‘Monte Vergine’, near Naples, built in the year 1126 by St William, founder of the order of Monte Vergine; and repaired in 1519. — John Juvenal, lib. vii., de Antiquitatibus, c. 3. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Dedication of the Church of the Virgin’s Mountain (1126). (MaryLinks Calendar.htm); (http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Dedication: Church of the Virgin's Mountain / ‘Monte Vergine’. Naples, Italy. ~1119. Monastery founded by St William. Home of a Black Madonna. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. Mexico. 1966. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
The Holy Trinity is the greatest of all mysteries. The feast is the complement and gathering up into one all feasts of the ecclesiastical year. A mystery beyond our comprehension, the finite being incapable of understanding the infinite; but we must adore it with deepest humility, most tender love, and most lively gratitude. It is the source of all good to us.
Let us recall all we owe to the love of the Three Persons of the Most Holy Trinity. “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.” (‘The Apostle’s Creed’ in “Handbook of Prayers”, Belmonte and Socias [eds], 1988, p65)
Omnipotence, and the work of creation, which implies omnipotence, is the special attribute of the Father, the first principal from which the two other Persons proceed. To him, then, I owe my existence, my preservation, and all that has conduced to my preservation. Without him I should always have remained nothing.
God saw from all eternity, in the nothingness out of which we were created, millions of possible beings, who would have served him better than we have done, and glorified him more.
Why, then, has he created us instead? Out of a gratuitous love of predilection. ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love.’ This love has preserved us from so many dangers in which others have perished. We enjoy so many favors both of nature and grace.
Love begets love. What return have we made to so loving and generous a God and Father? Perhaps we have loved him so little and served him grudgingly.
The love of God the Son for us has been manifested in a still more striking manner, ie, by that of ‘redemption’, which has not only ransomed us from slavery and death; but reinstated us in all our primitive rights.
Suppose the son of a king should offer his life for a criminal? This is what the Son of God has done for each one of us. “He debased himself” (cf Phil 2:7-8), taking the form of a slave, becoming obedient unto death, even death of the cross.
St Paul concludes, ‘That they also who live may not now live to themselves, but unto him who died for them’. Have we given this proof of our love and gratitude to him?
The love of the Holy Spirit manifests itself in our sanctification and adoption. He sanctified us in our Baptism, purifying our soul from all stain, filling it with divine charity, and all prerogatives of sanctifying grace which raise us to the dignity of adopted sons and heirs of God, and co-heirs of Jesus Christ.
“The charity of God is poured forth in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who is given to us.” For the “Spirit himself gives testimony to our spirit that we are the sons of God; and if sons, heirs also, heirs indeed of God and joint-heirs with Christ” (Rom 8:16-7). He has also sanctified us in our Confirmation, and in partaking of the other Sacraments.
How many undeserved benefits have I received and even despite my great unworthiness! ‘What shall I render to the Lord’, to the Three Persons of the Blessed Trinity, ‘for all the things that he has rendered to me?’
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp308-10
The intercession of Mary
Let us close these thoughts with an old prayer: ‘Hail, Mary, daughter of God the Father; hail, Mary, Mother of God the Son; hail, Mary, Spouse of God the Holy Spirit. Hail, Mary, temple and sanctuary of the Most Holy Trinity, conceived without stain of original sin from the very first instant of your virginal being. Greater than you, only God!’
Through Mary’s intercession and personal relationship with each of the Persons of the Blessed Trinity, we can acquire a deeper knowledge of the richness of this mystery which is understandable only through a life of prayer. Through her we will find the strength to correspond to what God wants to share with us.
Ref: J P Debicki, “The Blessed Trinity”, Scepter Booklets, 18
Sign of Peace
At Mass, the priest asks Jesus not to look upon our sins, but to grant us the Peace He promised to the Apostles: ‘Peace I leave with you; My Peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.’ We join the priest and respond, ‘Amen’.
St Anthony in a Homily said: “The Resurrection of Christ is the source of lasting peace. His place must always be in the center of our hearts.” “Jesus came and stood in their midst. ‘Peace be with you’, He said. Then He showed His Hands and His Side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.” (cf Jn 20:19-21)
“The Latin for peace is ‘Pax’, a three-letter word that symbolizes the Triune and one God (the Holy Trinity). The letter ‘P’ stands for ‘Pater’, ‘Father’; the letter ‘a’, first letter of the alphabet stands for the first-born, the Son of God; ‘x’, a consonant made up of two sounds ‘k’ and ‘s’, stands for the Holy Spirit [or ‘X’ “The Great Unknown”, in St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 173-87], proceeding from both the Father and the Son.”
Ref: St Anthony’s Sermons, “Seek First His Kingdom”, in Bob and Penny Lord, “Miracles of the Eucharist”, Vol. II:305-6
The Fruit of the Redemption Is the New Creature
The Redemption is a “new creation” because by reason of sin, man fell from his “original justice”. He broke the Alliance with God. Consequently, he suffered incapacity to build communion with others in the truth of self-giving. We must deepen our consciousness of sin, the indispensable starting point for personal participation in the mystery of the Redemption.
The Redemption worked by Christ brought man back to “the dignity of his first origins”. In Christ, the second and true Adam, the new humanity takes its origin. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old order has passed away; now all is new!” (2 Cor 5:17) A change in the very essence of the human person who has been redeemed brings man back to the fulness of his being as ‘God’s image’ (cf Gen 1:27).
Ref: cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, p268
` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` `
Mary, Queen of the Apostles
“... if we take Our Lady’s hand, she will make us realize more fully that all men are our brothers; because we are all sons of the God whose daughter, spouse and mother she is. Our neighbors’ problems must be our problems. Christian fraternity should be something very deep in the soul, so that we are indifferent to no one. Mary, who brought up Jesus and accompanied him through his life and is now beside him in heaven, will help us recognize Jesus as he crosses our path and makes himself present to us in the needs of our fellowmen.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 145)
Let us offer our Mother: ‘A kind word, a friendly conversation, a helping hand to persons with whom we live or work.’
Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p31
The Rosary, a Gospel Prayer
W J Harrington, OP, in presenting his book, “The Rosary: A Gospel Prayer”, said: “The Rosary is a thoroughly biblical, Gospel prayer. The reason is by no means only because the ‘Lord’s Prayer’ and the greatest part of the ‘Hail, Mary’, come straight from the gospels. It is because almost all the ‘mysteries’ of the Rosary come straight from the gospels.
“The Joyful Mysteries are taken from the first two chapters of St Luke; the Sorrowful Mysteries are based on the passion narrative of the four gospels; and the Glorious Mysteries reflect the close of the gospel and its overflow into the new age of the Spirit and the Church.”
Pope Paul VI, in “Marialis Cultus”, 2 February 1972, said: “The Rosary is a Gospel prayer, as pastors and scholars like to define it ... As a Gospel prayer, centered on the mystery of the redemptive Incarnation, the Rosary is therefore, a prayer with a clearly Christological orientation.”
“Upon arriving, the angel Gabriel said to Mary: ‘Rejoice, O highly favored daughter! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.’” (Lk 1:28)
“Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and cried out in a loud voice: ‘Blest are you among women and blest is the fruit of your womb’.” (Lk 1:41-2)
Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p52
Dedication of the church of ‘Monte Vergine’, near Naples, built in the year 1126 by St William, founder of the order of Monte Vergine; and repaired in 1519. — John Juvenal, lib. vii., de Antiquitatibus, c. 3. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Dedication of the Church of the Virgin’s Mountain (1126). (MaryLinks Calendar.htm); (http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Dedication: Church of the Virgin's Mountain / ‘Monte Vergine’. Naples, Italy. ~1119. Monastery founded by St William. Home of a Black Madonna. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. Mexico. 1966. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Friday, May 28, 2010
29 May 2010: The Holy Spirit and human society
What was the state of society before the coming of the Holy Spirit? Idolatry and superstition, tyranny and oppression reigned everywhere. The most revolting vices were even worshipped! The breath of the Holy Spirit swept these away, and substituted the reign of truth, justice, and virtue.
The poor and the unfortunate were treated with neglect and contempt. Even the most civilized pagans did not attempt at providing any refuge for the desititute and suffering. They lacked the spirit of charity: “The charity of God is poured forth in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who is given to us.” (Rom 5:5-6)
This divine charity immediately began to ‘renew the face of the earth’, covering it with hospitals and charitable institutions of all kinds for the sick and destitute, for old age, for children. Benevolent societies and religious communities of men and women devoted their services even at sacrifice of their lives.
How blessed are those who, following the lead of the Apostles and for love of God, served the poor and ignorant. They are almost canonized already by the sentence of Jesus Christ: “Come, ye blessed by my Father; for I was hungry, and you gave me to eat ... Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me.” (Mt 25:34-5, 40)
Before the coming of the Holy Spirit and preaching of the Gospel, more than half the human race was under the yoke of the most cruel slavery. In pagan Rome, center of civilization, an individual often possessed many thousands of slaves.
Their masters looked upon them as mere beasts of burden. They were put to death for whim or caprice, compelled to kill each other in the amphitheatres for people’s amusement, sacrificed on the altars of their false gods, or rather, of devils. Philosophers by their reason had in vain protested against these horrors.
It was reserved for the Holy Spirit to abolish them through the Apostles who proclaimed: 'With God, there is neither slave nor freeman; but Christ is all and in all.' These intrinsic precepts, always reiterated by the holy Pontiffs, successors of the Apostles, prevailed and succeeded in civilizing the world.
How great is the blindness and ignorance of whoever attribute the blessings of civilization to merely natural causes! They refuse to see that this progress of the mere human spirit, has not produced such results in lands where the Gospel is still unknown.
Let us pray to the Divine Author of all good for those who remain in the darkness and misery of error, and oppressed by cruel tyranny. Let us break off from ourselves the yoke of human respect and unruly passions.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp306-8
` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` `
Mary is the Queen of Heaven
“She lives now and is protecting us. She is there, body and soul, with the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. She is the same person who was born in Palestine, who gave herself to God while still a child, who received the message from St Gabriel the Archangel, who gave birth to our Saviour, and who stood beside him at the foot of the cross. In her, all ideals become a reality; but this should not make us think that her sublime greatness makes her inaccessible to us. She is the one who is full of grace and the sum of all perfections; and she is also our Mother.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, "Friends of God", 292
Let us offer our Mother: “The ‘Hail, Holy Queen’ at each hour.”
Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p31
Hail, Holy Queen
Hail, Holy Queen, mother of mercy, hail, our life, our sweetness, and our hope! To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve! To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears! Turn then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus! O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! (Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias, op cit, p300)
The Rosary and the Popes
Pope Leo XIII who wrote more than any other Pope on the Rosary, declared to the Cardinal Vicar of Rome: We believe “... We never have done enough to promote this pious practice among the faithful. We wish to see it ever more widely diffused so that it may become the truly popular devotion in all places at all times ...”
Clearly, this form of prayer is particularly pleasing to the Blessed Virgin, and that it is especially suitable as a means of defense for the Church and all Christians. Thus, Urban VI testified that ‘every day the Rosary obtained fresh blessings for Christianity’.
Sixtus V decreed: this method of prayer ‘redounded to the honor of God and the Blessed Virgin, and was well suited to ward off impending danger’. Leo X stated: ‘It was instituted to oppose pernicious heresiarchs and heresies’; while Julius called it ‘the glory of the Church’.
St Pius V said that ‘with the spread of this devotion the meditations of the faithful have become more ardent and their prayers more fervent, and they have quickly become different people; the darkness of heresy has been dissipated, and the light of Catholic faith has broken forth in renewed glory’.
Gregory XIII declared: ‘the Rosary has been instituted by St Dominic to appease the anger of God and to implore the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary’.
The Rosary and all that it implies in love of Christ and His Mother, becomes an intimate part of life.
Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p51
Feast of Our Lady ‘des Ardents’, at Arras; a wax candle is kept in the cathedral of Arras, which is held to have been brought there by Our Lady in the year 1095. — Jacobus Meyer in Annals of Flanders, ann. 1095. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of Ardents / ‘Notre-Dame d'Ardents’ (Arras, France). 1095. (http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm; http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html; MaryLinks Calendar.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); [(www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Queen of the Apostles. (http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html; MaryLinks Calendar.htm)
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. (http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (Moveable feast: Last Saturday of May [29, 2010]) -- (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
The poor and the unfortunate were treated with neglect and contempt. Even the most civilized pagans did not attempt at providing any refuge for the desititute and suffering. They lacked the spirit of charity: “The charity of God is poured forth in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who is given to us.” (Rom 5:5-6)
This divine charity immediately began to ‘renew the face of the earth’, covering it with hospitals and charitable institutions of all kinds for the sick and destitute, for old age, for children. Benevolent societies and religious communities of men and women devoted their services even at sacrifice of their lives.
How blessed are those who, following the lead of the Apostles and for love of God, served the poor and ignorant. They are almost canonized already by the sentence of Jesus Christ: “Come, ye blessed by my Father; for I was hungry, and you gave me to eat ... Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me.” (Mt 25:34-5, 40)
Before the coming of the Holy Spirit and preaching of the Gospel, more than half the human race was under the yoke of the most cruel slavery. In pagan Rome, center of civilization, an individual often possessed many thousands of slaves.
Their masters looked upon them as mere beasts of burden. They were put to death for whim or caprice, compelled to kill each other in the amphitheatres for people’s amusement, sacrificed on the altars of their false gods, or rather, of devils. Philosophers by their reason had in vain protested against these horrors.
It was reserved for the Holy Spirit to abolish them through the Apostles who proclaimed: 'With God, there is neither slave nor freeman; but Christ is all and in all.' These intrinsic precepts, always reiterated by the holy Pontiffs, successors of the Apostles, prevailed and succeeded in civilizing the world.
How great is the blindness and ignorance of whoever attribute the blessings of civilization to merely natural causes! They refuse to see that this progress of the mere human spirit, has not produced such results in lands where the Gospel is still unknown.
Let us pray to the Divine Author of all good for those who remain in the darkness and misery of error, and oppressed by cruel tyranny. Let us break off from ourselves the yoke of human respect and unruly passions.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp306-8
` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` `
Mary is the Queen of Heaven
“She lives now and is protecting us. She is there, body and soul, with the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. She is the same person who was born in Palestine, who gave herself to God while still a child, who received the message from St Gabriel the Archangel, who gave birth to our Saviour, and who stood beside him at the foot of the cross. In her, all ideals become a reality; but this should not make us think that her sublime greatness makes her inaccessible to us. She is the one who is full of grace and the sum of all perfections; and she is also our Mother.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, "Friends of God", 292
Let us offer our Mother: “The ‘Hail, Holy Queen’ at each hour.”
Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p31
Hail, Holy Queen
Hail, Holy Queen, mother of mercy, hail, our life, our sweetness, and our hope! To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve! To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears! Turn then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus! O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! (Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias, op cit, p300)
The Rosary and the Popes
Pope Leo XIII who wrote more than any other Pope on the Rosary, declared to the Cardinal Vicar of Rome: We believe “... We never have done enough to promote this pious practice among the faithful. We wish to see it ever more widely diffused so that it may become the truly popular devotion in all places at all times ...”
Clearly, this form of prayer is particularly pleasing to the Blessed Virgin, and that it is especially suitable as a means of defense for the Church and all Christians. Thus, Urban VI testified that ‘every day the Rosary obtained fresh blessings for Christianity’.
Sixtus V decreed: this method of prayer ‘redounded to the honor of God and the Blessed Virgin, and was well suited to ward off impending danger’. Leo X stated: ‘It was instituted to oppose pernicious heresiarchs and heresies’; while Julius called it ‘the glory of the Church’.
St Pius V said that ‘with the spread of this devotion the meditations of the faithful have become more ardent and their prayers more fervent, and they have quickly become different people; the darkness of heresy has been dissipated, and the light of Catholic faith has broken forth in renewed glory’.
Gregory XIII declared: ‘the Rosary has been instituted by St Dominic to appease the anger of God and to implore the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary’.
The Rosary and all that it implies in love of Christ and His Mother, becomes an intimate part of life.
Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p51
Feast of Our Lady ‘des Ardents’, at Arras; a wax candle is kept in the cathedral of Arras, which is held to have been brought there by Our Lady in the year 1095. — Jacobus Meyer in Annals of Flanders, ann. 1095. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of Ardents / ‘Notre-Dame d'Ardents’ (Arras, France). 1095. (http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm; http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html; MaryLinks Calendar.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); [(www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Queen of the Apostles. (http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html; MaryLinks Calendar.htm)
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. (http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (Moveable feast: Last Saturday of May [29, 2010]) -- (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Thursday, May 27, 2010
28 May 2010: The Holy Spirit and the early Christians
The gifts of wisdom and understanding, so generously bestowed upon the early Christians, completely weaned their affections from earthly goods and honors. These things became henceforth, only obstacles and hindrances in their acquiring heavenly treasures.
Therefore, “their possessions and goods they sold, and divided them to all, according as every one had need; ... and all things were common unto them”. (Acts 2:45) Thus, freed from all worldly cares, they thought only of heavenly things. They enjoyed great peace and joy, serving God without distraction or hindrance.
The Holy Spirit has also taught us that Christian perfection consists in detachment from earthly goods. Happy poverty! It gives us all the advantages enjoyed by the early Christians, and prepares us for eternal life, as our Lord promised: “Every one who had left house or brethren ... for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting.” (Mt 19:29)
Not less wonderful than the spirit of poverty was the spirit of love and union which reigned among the early Christians. Although differing in nation, manners, habits, all were so united in heart and mind, as St Luke says, “they had but one heart and one soul” (Acts 4:32).
They spoke the same language, prayed and ate together, shared the same joys and sorrows; made the same sacrifices. Men were encouraged to believe in the divine origin of a religion which produced such fruits. The number of converts increased daily.
The works of God remain in every age. The love and paternal union the Holy Spirit inspired in the early Christians, amidst a self-seeking world, still flourish. Let us show our gratitude by carefully avoiding all that could mar this perfection.
Singularity, contention, particular friendships, or special privileges hinder our desiring nothing more than to be in all things like our brethren. We must love them with a supernatural charity, in all sincerity and simplicity; ever ready to serve them even at the cost of our comfort.
“And they were persevering in the doctrine of the Apostles, and in the communication of the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:42) Before their conversion these very disciples had been worldly-minded men, whose whole religion consisted in certain external observances, without interior devotion. Our Lord had once complained: “This people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” (Mt 15:8)
These same men have become interior, spiritual, contemplative -- full of the most tender piety. This was the third miraculous operation of the Holy Spirit in their hearts. How did they preserve and increase this gift? By persevering in the doctrine of the Apostles, in prayer and communion.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp303-5
` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` `
Mary is taken up to Heaven
“Mary has gone to heaven in both body and soul, ... the angels rejoice. I can imagine, too, the delight of St Joseph, her most chaste spouse, who awaited her in paradise. Yet what of us who remain on earth? Our faith tells us ... here below, in our present life, we are pilgrims, wayfarers. Our lot is one of sacrifices, suffering, privations. Nonetheless, joy must mark the rhythm of our steps. ‘Serve the Lord with joy’: there is no other way to serve him.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 177)
Let us offer our Mother: ‘A smile when someone corrects us or misjudges us.’
Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p31
Papal documents on the Rosary
Encyclical Letters, Apostolic Letters, Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Exhortations, Letters to special people, 'Motu Proprios', Allocutions and Radio Messages. These documents represent the thoughts, teaching and interests of the Church as declared by eleven Supreme Pontiffs, regarding Devotion to the Holy Rosary.
Three major topics are treated in depth in these Documents: 1) The nature and the history of the Rosary; 2) Efficacy of the Rosary in the life of souls, in serious cases of dangers for the Church and the Christian Doctrine, in ending wars, and in the needs of our times; and 3) Devotion to the Holy Rosary.
If so many Popes, through so many Documents, are persuading us to recite the Rosary, there must be something really special, something good in this Devotion. Cardinal Gabriel-Marie Garrone, in the Preface of a book on the Rosary, wrote these beautiful words:
“The Rosary belongs to the Church. When we point out the official testimonies of the Supreme Pontiffs, their appeals, the word ‘encouragement’ would not convey their forcefulness -- which are almost disconcerting by reason of their number, seriousness, and continuity; when we reflect on the long experience of people, or on the supernatural efficacy of the Rosary in reviving and stimulating faith and zeal, then we must truly say that the Rosary belongs to the Church.
“If the Church recommends devotion to the Rosary with such insistence, she does so in undeniable obedience to the trustworthy instinct of her maternity, its educative and nutritive value for faith and charity. In all this the Church clearly has the assurance of guiding her children toward the Truth of which she is the guardian. ... the Church has the assurance of placing in the hands of her children the good tools of their conversion and sanctification.”
Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p50
· “The Rosary is an excellent means of professing our faith.” -- Pope Leo XIII (In Ibid, loc cit)
Feast of relics of Our Lady, at Venice, where are exposed to the veneration of the faithful, portions of the robe of the Blessed Virgin, of her mantle, veil, and girdle. — History of the Relics published at Venice. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Feast of the Relics of Our Lady (Venice, Italy) (http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm; http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (MaryLinks Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html);(www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Mary armed with a spear saves Rhodes. In 1480 40,000 Turks besieged the fortress of Rhodes, which was defended by Knights of St John; the then Grand Master Pierre d'Aubusson then dared to start with his knights a counter-attack. Reported that during this fight Mary appeared in heaven. Her right hand held a spear, and her left, a shield. In any case, Knights of St John were victorious over the attack of Mohammed II against Rhodes on May 23-28, 1480. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Therefore, “their possessions and goods they sold, and divided them to all, according as every one had need; ... and all things were common unto them”. (Acts 2:45) Thus, freed from all worldly cares, they thought only of heavenly things. They enjoyed great peace and joy, serving God without distraction or hindrance.
The Holy Spirit has also taught us that Christian perfection consists in detachment from earthly goods. Happy poverty! It gives us all the advantages enjoyed by the early Christians, and prepares us for eternal life, as our Lord promised: “Every one who had left house or brethren ... for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting.” (Mt 19:29)
Not less wonderful than the spirit of poverty was the spirit of love and union which reigned among the early Christians. Although differing in nation, manners, habits, all were so united in heart and mind, as St Luke says, “they had but one heart and one soul” (Acts 4:32).
They spoke the same language, prayed and ate together, shared the same joys and sorrows; made the same sacrifices. Men were encouraged to believe in the divine origin of a religion which produced such fruits. The number of converts increased daily.
The works of God remain in every age. The love and paternal union the Holy Spirit inspired in the early Christians, amidst a self-seeking world, still flourish. Let us show our gratitude by carefully avoiding all that could mar this perfection.
Singularity, contention, particular friendships, or special privileges hinder our desiring nothing more than to be in all things like our brethren. We must love them with a supernatural charity, in all sincerity and simplicity; ever ready to serve them even at the cost of our comfort.
“And they were persevering in the doctrine of the Apostles, and in the communication of the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:42) Before their conversion these very disciples had been worldly-minded men, whose whole religion consisted in certain external observances, without interior devotion. Our Lord had once complained: “This people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” (Mt 15:8)
These same men have become interior, spiritual, contemplative -- full of the most tender piety. This was the third miraculous operation of the Holy Spirit in their hearts. How did they preserve and increase this gift? By persevering in the doctrine of the Apostles, in prayer and communion.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp303-5
` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` `
Mary is taken up to Heaven
“Mary has gone to heaven in both body and soul, ... the angels rejoice. I can imagine, too, the delight of St Joseph, her most chaste spouse, who awaited her in paradise. Yet what of us who remain on earth? Our faith tells us ... here below, in our present life, we are pilgrims, wayfarers. Our lot is one of sacrifices, suffering, privations. Nonetheless, joy must mark the rhythm of our steps. ‘Serve the Lord with joy’: there is no other way to serve him.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 177)
Let us offer our Mother: ‘A smile when someone corrects us or misjudges us.’
Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p31
Papal documents on the Rosary
Encyclical Letters, Apostolic Letters, Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Exhortations, Letters to special people, 'Motu Proprios', Allocutions and Radio Messages. These documents represent the thoughts, teaching and interests of the Church as declared by eleven Supreme Pontiffs, regarding Devotion to the Holy Rosary.
Three major topics are treated in depth in these Documents: 1) The nature and the history of the Rosary; 2) Efficacy of the Rosary in the life of souls, in serious cases of dangers for the Church and the Christian Doctrine, in ending wars, and in the needs of our times; and 3) Devotion to the Holy Rosary.
If so many Popes, through so many Documents, are persuading us to recite the Rosary, there must be something really special, something good in this Devotion. Cardinal Gabriel-Marie Garrone, in the Preface of a book on the Rosary, wrote these beautiful words:
“The Rosary belongs to the Church. When we point out the official testimonies of the Supreme Pontiffs, their appeals, the word ‘encouragement’ would not convey their forcefulness -- which are almost disconcerting by reason of their number, seriousness, and continuity; when we reflect on the long experience of people, or on the supernatural efficacy of the Rosary in reviving and stimulating faith and zeal, then we must truly say that the Rosary belongs to the Church.
“If the Church recommends devotion to the Rosary with such insistence, she does so in undeniable obedience to the trustworthy instinct of her maternity, its educative and nutritive value for faith and charity. In all this the Church clearly has the assurance of guiding her children toward the Truth of which she is the guardian. ... the Church has the assurance of placing in the hands of her children the good tools of their conversion and sanctification.”
Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p50
· “The Rosary is an excellent means of professing our faith.” -- Pope Leo XIII (In Ibid, loc cit)
Feast of relics of Our Lady, at Venice, where are exposed to the veneration of the faithful, portions of the robe of the Blessed Virgin, of her mantle, veil, and girdle. — History of the Relics published at Venice. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Feast of the Relics of Our Lady (Venice, Italy) (http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm; http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (MaryLinks Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html);(www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Mary armed with a spear saves Rhodes. In 1480 40,000 Turks besieged the fortress of Rhodes, which was defended by Knights of St John; the then Grand Master Pierre d'Aubusson then dared to start with his knights a counter-attack. Reported that during this fight Mary appeared in heaven. Her right hand held a spear, and her left, a shield. In any case, Knights of St John were victorious over the attack of Mohammed II against Rhodes on May 23-28, 1480. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
27 May 2010: First Sermon of St Peter
The strange report of the ‘mighty wind’ had attracted a great crowd to where the Apostles lived. At Jerusalem were devout men out of every nation in the world: Jews who faithfully observed the obligation of visiting the Temple once every year.
St Peter’s audience, therefore, consisted of persons from all parts of the world, speaking different languages. We may justly say he spoke to the whole world. They would surely, on returning to their homes, spread the words of the Apostles, and the striking miracle which accompanied them -- “that every man heard them speak in his own tongue” (Acts 2:8).
Thus the seed of the Gospel was sown throughout the world, even before the Apostles dispersed. They afterwards had only to water and make it fruitful, bringing forth numerous Christian communities.
How admirably Divine Providence adapts the means to ends; or to work assigned to men. The mission of the Apostles was to proclaim the Gospel throughout the whole world, and to found the Catholic Church.
The preceding wonderful circumstances explain how the Apostles triumphed. Let us then trust God implicitly, and rest assured of his assistance in all our labors, the difficulties and sacrifices which the obligation of aiming at perfection imposes upon us. He will supply everything, even by miraculous intervention if need be.
What were the matter and form of God’s help? A collection of texts from Holy Scripture about the coming of the Holy Spirit and its marvelous effects. To it they united the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, the promised Messiah, that Just One whom they had crucified and slain as St Peter told them.
We see a wonderful freedom and energy of expression, joined with rare prudence and wisdom. St Peter did not begin with harsh rebukes; but reminded them of the various prophecies with masterly eloquence. How their rulers had deceived them into demanding the death of their Redeemer, the Author of life! This was the surest way to lead them to repent and condemn themselves. This actually happened.
If we have to correct others, let us imitate the conduct of the Apostle which was inspired by the Holy Spirit. We must first endeavor to convince the guilty of their error, and to lead them to acknowledge it.
Let us avoid all harsh and bitter words, and presume that their conduct has arisen from ignorance, or the persuasion of others. Thus, we shall gain their hearts and obtain what we desire from them. If we must be corrected, let us regard whoever does it as a tender father performing a painful duty only for our good.
This was most marvellous: three-thousand persons were converted to the true Faith, placed themselves under the direction of the Apostles, were baptized, and received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Five-thousand more soon followed them. The Church was founded and organized; even during the lifetime of the Apostles, was spread through every portion of the habitable globe.
We must never despair of the success of any work undertaken with a good intention. However, we must look for it not to our efforts, but to the assistance of the Holy Spirit. Do we sometimes forget this?
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp301-303
` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` `
Mary is the ‘Mother of Fair Love’
“This is what explains Mary’s life -- her love. A complete love, so complete that she forgets herself and is happy just to be there where God wants her, fulfilling with care what God wants her to do. That is why even her slightest action is never routine or vain but, rather, full of meaning. Mary, our mother, is for us both an example and a way. We have to try to be like her, in the ordinary circumstances in which God wants us to live.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 148)
Let us offer our Mother: “The ‘Hail, Mary’ said three times before going to sleep every night and each time with more attention and affection.”
Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p31
Mary’s most beautiful prayers
After the ‘Our Father’, the most known and recited prayers in the Church are the ones dedicated to Mary:
HAIL, MARY -- The most beautiful of all prayers directed to the Mother of God. It has two parts. The first can be called praise, the words of the Archangel Gabriel, and Elizabeth’s words during Mary’s visit. The other contains a petition, composed by the Church.
... filled with great mysteries; brief but powerful. More precious than gold; sweeter than honey: worthy of being always murmured on one’s heart, frequently repeated with the lips. (Thomas à Kempis, ‘Imitation’)
HAIL, HOLY QUEEN -- A prayer attributed to St Bernard. The pervading thought of the entire prayer is that Mary was made Queen so she might place all her power at our service. ‘Mary’, says St Alphonsus Liguori, ‘is all eyes to discover our infirmities and help us’.
MEMORARE -- A popular, brief and very sweet prayer; full of hope in the powerful intercession of Mary. Attributed to St Bernard of Clairvaux (author) and popularized by a French priest, Claude Bernard [“Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Encyclopedia”, 1991, pp636-7].
THE MAGNIFICAT -- Mary’s thanksgiving and praise for the mighty act that God had wrought in her.
Other well-known prayers in honor of Mary are THE ANGELUS and THE LITANIES OF LORETO.
Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p38
· “The ‘Hail, Mary’ is the hammer which crushes the devil and is the joy of the angels, the melody of the predestined, the canticle of the new Testament.” -- St Louis Mary Grignon de Montfort (In Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, loc cit)
Dedication of Our Lady of Naples, called St Mary Major by Pope John II in the year 533. A picture of the Blessed Virgin, painted by St Luke, was carefully preserved in this church. — Scliraderus, lib. ii. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of Naples (Italy, 533). (http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (MaryLinks Calendar.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
'Madonna della Naples'. Italy. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Our Lady of Naples (France). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
St Peter’s audience, therefore, consisted of persons from all parts of the world, speaking different languages. We may justly say he spoke to the whole world. They would surely, on returning to their homes, spread the words of the Apostles, and the striking miracle which accompanied them -- “that every man heard them speak in his own tongue” (Acts 2:8).
Thus the seed of the Gospel was sown throughout the world, even before the Apostles dispersed. They afterwards had only to water and make it fruitful, bringing forth numerous Christian communities.
How admirably Divine Providence adapts the means to ends; or to work assigned to men. The mission of the Apostles was to proclaim the Gospel throughout the whole world, and to found the Catholic Church.
The preceding wonderful circumstances explain how the Apostles triumphed. Let us then trust God implicitly, and rest assured of his assistance in all our labors, the difficulties and sacrifices which the obligation of aiming at perfection imposes upon us. He will supply everything, even by miraculous intervention if need be.
What were the matter and form of God’s help? A collection of texts from Holy Scripture about the coming of the Holy Spirit and its marvelous effects. To it they united the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, the promised Messiah, that Just One whom they had crucified and slain as St Peter told them.
We see a wonderful freedom and energy of expression, joined with rare prudence and wisdom. St Peter did not begin with harsh rebukes; but reminded them of the various prophecies with masterly eloquence. How their rulers had deceived them into demanding the death of their Redeemer, the Author of life! This was the surest way to lead them to repent and condemn themselves. This actually happened.
If we have to correct others, let us imitate the conduct of the Apostle which was inspired by the Holy Spirit. We must first endeavor to convince the guilty of their error, and to lead them to acknowledge it.
Let us avoid all harsh and bitter words, and presume that their conduct has arisen from ignorance, or the persuasion of others. Thus, we shall gain their hearts and obtain what we desire from them. If we must be corrected, let us regard whoever does it as a tender father performing a painful duty only for our good.
This was most marvellous: three-thousand persons were converted to the true Faith, placed themselves under the direction of the Apostles, were baptized, and received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Five-thousand more soon followed them. The Church was founded and organized; even during the lifetime of the Apostles, was spread through every portion of the habitable globe.
We must never despair of the success of any work undertaken with a good intention. However, we must look for it not to our efforts, but to the assistance of the Holy Spirit. Do we sometimes forget this?
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp301-303
` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` `
Mary is the ‘Mother of Fair Love’
“This is what explains Mary’s life -- her love. A complete love, so complete that she forgets herself and is happy just to be there where God wants her, fulfilling with care what God wants her to do. That is why even her slightest action is never routine or vain but, rather, full of meaning. Mary, our mother, is for us both an example and a way. We have to try to be like her, in the ordinary circumstances in which God wants us to live.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 148)
Let us offer our Mother: “The ‘Hail, Mary’ said three times before going to sleep every night and each time with more attention and affection.”
Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p31
Mary’s most beautiful prayers
After the ‘Our Father’, the most known and recited prayers in the Church are the ones dedicated to Mary:
HAIL, MARY -- The most beautiful of all prayers directed to the Mother of God. It has two parts. The first can be called praise, the words of the Archangel Gabriel, and Elizabeth’s words during Mary’s visit. The other contains a petition, composed by the Church.
... filled with great mysteries; brief but powerful. More precious than gold; sweeter than honey: worthy of being always murmured on one’s heart, frequently repeated with the lips. (Thomas à Kempis, ‘Imitation’)
HAIL, HOLY QUEEN -- A prayer attributed to St Bernard. The pervading thought of the entire prayer is that Mary was made Queen so she might place all her power at our service. ‘Mary’, says St Alphonsus Liguori, ‘is all eyes to discover our infirmities and help us’.
MEMORARE -- A popular, brief and very sweet prayer; full of hope in the powerful intercession of Mary. Attributed to St Bernard of Clairvaux (author) and popularized by a French priest, Claude Bernard [“Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Encyclopedia”, 1991, pp636-7].
THE MAGNIFICAT -- Mary’s thanksgiving and praise for the mighty act that God had wrought in her.
Other well-known prayers in honor of Mary are THE ANGELUS and THE LITANIES OF LORETO.
Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p38
· “The ‘Hail, Mary’ is the hammer which crushes the devil and is the joy of the angels, the melody of the predestined, the canticle of the new Testament.” -- St Louis Mary Grignon de Montfort (In Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, loc cit)
Dedication of Our Lady of Naples, called St Mary Major by Pope John II in the year 533. A picture of the Blessed Virgin, painted by St Luke, was carefully preserved in this church. — Scliraderus, lib. ii. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of Naples (Italy, 533). (http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (MaryLinks Calendar.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
'Madonna della Naples'. Italy. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Our Lady of Naples (France). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
26 May 2010: Memorial-- St Philip Neri, priest
In his parish was a daily communicant who usually left the church soon after receiving Holy Communion. One day Fr Philip had an altar server accompany this person with a lighted candle until she reached home. Surprised, she returned and asked the priest the reason for this ‘courtesy’. The priest explained that until the Sacred Host was completely dissolved in her stomach (~10 minutes), she was in reality a tabernacle. In deference to the Holy Eucharist, the lighted candle was to inform everybody of this truth of faith. (cf Fr Bel R San Luis, SVD, “Word Alive”, “Manila Daily Bulletin”)
Miraculous operations of the Holy Spirit
Simultaneously with the appearance of tongues, the Apostles were all filled with the Holy Spirit and transformed into very different men. From being timid, proud, vacillating, and slaves of their passions, they suddenly became marvels of knowledge, strength, humility, constancy, and holiness; purified from all stain of sin, confirmed in sanctifying grace.
What their Divine Master had not chosen to do himself in the course of three years was accomplished by the Holy Spirit in one moment, and without any effort on their part. These miracles continue, though less sensibly, in the hearts of whoever are docile to his inspirations, especially when the Sacraments are received worthily.
We receive them frequently, and yet we complain of being so little illuminated in divine things -- so weak, ready to fall under temptation, constantly relapsing into the same faults and imperfections; almost always in a state of tepidity. Is the fault entirely in ourselves -- negligent or want of fervor in receiving the Sacraments?
The Apostles first used the gifts of understanding and of tongues to proclaim the glory and greatness of God. To make Jesus, his Divine Son, known, loved, glorified, and obeyed by their zeal and eloquent words.
This language of the Holy Spirit is opposed to the language of the world which is generally employed to speak of ourselves and praise our works, seeking thereby to obtain esteem and admiration for ourselves.
Are we influenced by the Spirit of God, or by the spirit of the world and of vainglory? If we take pleasure in speaking of God; if we seek to bring the lost sheep into the true Church, and to make known the religion of Jesus Christ, we speak the language of the Holy Spirit.
If, however, we speak only of ourselves, we may conclude that he does not dwell in our hearts, since it is ‘out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks’.
The zeal of the Apostles quickly brought enemies. The wicked turned them into ridicule, the Scribes calumniated them. The rulers of the people had them cast into prison and beaten; even threatened with death if they dared to preach again in the name of Jesus.
Not alarmed nor discouraged, the Apostles persisted with greater zeal to preach Jesus and the Resurrection. Their only answer: “We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)
If we act in like manner, we shall meet the same treatment: unjustly accused, calumniated, persecuted. But we must not be discouraged nor conform to the world’s praise or blame; but according to God’s law and the directions of our spiritual guides. Thus, we shall be secure from error. Our zeal will be discreet, faithful, and blessed with success.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp299-30
` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` `
Mary is the Way to Jesus
“Mary does the immense favor of bringing to the cross, of placing face to face with the example of the Son of God, those who come close to her and contemplate her life. It is in this confrontation that Christian life is decided. And here Mary intercedes for us so that our behavior may lead us to a reconciliation of the younger brother (you and me) with the first-born Son of the Father.
“Many conversions, many decisions to give oneself to the service of God have been preceded by an encounter with Mary. Our Lady has encouraged us to look for God, to desire to change, to lead a new life.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 149)
Let us offer our Mother: ‘If we have a friend or if there is a child who does not yet know how to say the Rosary, let us teach the way.’
Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, pp312-3
Young saints who greatly loved Mary
We really love Mary if we do something ‘constantly’ to please her. We are not required to do great things to show our devotion. Simple acts of devotion suffice, like saluting an image of Mary, bringing flowers to her altar, wearing Mary’s scapular, naming one of our girls ‘Mary’, doing little acts of mortification in her honor.
When St John Berchmans, a young Jesuit novice, was lying on his deathbed, his superior came to his room and said: “My dear brother, you are at the point of appearing before God; before leaving us, I beg of you to tell us what special devotion we ought to practice in honor of Our Blessed Lady, that we may obtain her protection every day of our life, and in particular at the hour of our death.”
The dying saint answered: “Any devotion you choose; but let it be constant!”
St Aloysius Gonzaga made a vow of virginity at the age of nine and kept it throughout his life, because he was so devoted to Mary Most Holy. St Therese of Lisieux said: “We do well to speak of Mary’s prerogatives, but we must not stop at that. We must make her loved.”
Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “To Months with Mary”, 1984, p35
· “Mary, Mother of God and my tender Mother, pray to Jesus for me.” -- St Philip Neri (In ibid, op cit, p23)
Dedication of Our Lady of Vaucelles, in the diocese of Cambray by Samson, Archbishop of Rheims. This abbey, of the order of Citeaux, was founded in the year 1132. — Cistercian Chronicle. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of Vaucelles (France). (MaryLinks Calendar.htm; http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
'Notre-Dame de Vaucelles'. Cambrai, France. Built in 1140. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Our Lady of Caravaggio (Italy, 1432). (http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm; MaryLinks Calendar.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
'Madonna della Caravaggio'. Italy. 1432. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Miraculous operations of the Holy Spirit
Simultaneously with the appearance of tongues, the Apostles were all filled with the Holy Spirit and transformed into very different men. From being timid, proud, vacillating, and slaves of their passions, they suddenly became marvels of knowledge, strength, humility, constancy, and holiness; purified from all stain of sin, confirmed in sanctifying grace.
What their Divine Master had not chosen to do himself in the course of three years was accomplished by the Holy Spirit in one moment, and without any effort on their part. These miracles continue, though less sensibly, in the hearts of whoever are docile to his inspirations, especially when the Sacraments are received worthily.
We receive them frequently, and yet we complain of being so little illuminated in divine things -- so weak, ready to fall under temptation, constantly relapsing into the same faults and imperfections; almost always in a state of tepidity. Is the fault entirely in ourselves -- negligent or want of fervor in receiving the Sacraments?
The Apostles first used the gifts of understanding and of tongues to proclaim the glory and greatness of God. To make Jesus, his Divine Son, known, loved, glorified, and obeyed by their zeal and eloquent words.
This language of the Holy Spirit is opposed to the language of the world which is generally employed to speak of ourselves and praise our works, seeking thereby to obtain esteem and admiration for ourselves.
Are we influenced by the Spirit of God, or by the spirit of the world and of vainglory? If we take pleasure in speaking of God; if we seek to bring the lost sheep into the true Church, and to make known the religion of Jesus Christ, we speak the language of the Holy Spirit.
If, however, we speak only of ourselves, we may conclude that he does not dwell in our hearts, since it is ‘out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks’.
The zeal of the Apostles quickly brought enemies. The wicked turned them into ridicule, the Scribes calumniated them. The rulers of the people had them cast into prison and beaten; even threatened with death if they dared to preach again in the name of Jesus.
Not alarmed nor discouraged, the Apostles persisted with greater zeal to preach Jesus and the Resurrection. Their only answer: “We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)
If we act in like manner, we shall meet the same treatment: unjustly accused, calumniated, persecuted. But we must not be discouraged nor conform to the world’s praise or blame; but according to God’s law and the directions of our spiritual guides. Thus, we shall be secure from error. Our zeal will be discreet, faithful, and blessed with success.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp299-30
` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` `
Mary is the Way to Jesus
“Mary does the immense favor of bringing to the cross, of placing face to face with the example of the Son of God, those who come close to her and contemplate her life. It is in this confrontation that Christian life is decided. And here Mary intercedes for us so that our behavior may lead us to a reconciliation of the younger brother (you and me) with the first-born Son of the Father.
“Many conversions, many decisions to give oneself to the service of God have been preceded by an encounter with Mary. Our Lady has encouraged us to look for God, to desire to change, to lead a new life.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 149)
Let us offer our Mother: ‘If we have a friend or if there is a child who does not yet know how to say the Rosary, let us teach the way.’
Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, pp312-3
Young saints who greatly loved Mary
We really love Mary if we do something ‘constantly’ to please her. We are not required to do great things to show our devotion. Simple acts of devotion suffice, like saluting an image of Mary, bringing flowers to her altar, wearing Mary’s scapular, naming one of our girls ‘Mary’, doing little acts of mortification in her honor.
When St John Berchmans, a young Jesuit novice, was lying on his deathbed, his superior came to his room and said: “My dear brother, you are at the point of appearing before God; before leaving us, I beg of you to tell us what special devotion we ought to practice in honor of Our Blessed Lady, that we may obtain her protection every day of our life, and in particular at the hour of our death.”
The dying saint answered: “Any devotion you choose; but let it be constant!”
St Aloysius Gonzaga made a vow of virginity at the age of nine and kept it throughout his life, because he was so devoted to Mary Most Holy. St Therese of Lisieux said: “We do well to speak of Mary’s prerogatives, but we must not stop at that. We must make her loved.”
Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “To Months with Mary”, 1984, p35
· “Mary, Mother of God and my tender Mother, pray to Jesus for me.” -- St Philip Neri (In ibid, op cit, p23)
Dedication of Our Lady of Vaucelles, in the diocese of Cambray by Samson, Archbishop of Rheims. This abbey, of the order of Citeaux, was founded in the year 1132. — Cistercian Chronicle. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of Vaucelles (France). (MaryLinks Calendar.htm; http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
'Notre-Dame de Vaucelles'. Cambrai, France. Built in 1140. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Our Lady of Caravaggio (Italy, 1432). (http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm; MaryLinks Calendar.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
'Madonna della Caravaggio'. Italy. 1432. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Monday, May 24, 2010
25 May 2010: The outward signs employed by the Holy Spirit
“Suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming.” (Acts 2:2) The Holy Spirit desired to alert the Apostles of his coming and also to attract a large crowd of people. Thus, an opportunity for preaching the Gospel.
By baptizing a great number of Jews they laid on that very day the foundation of the Church, substituting it for the synagogue. This appropriate symbol represented the zeal with which the Apostles would preach the Gospel worldwide despite all obstacles.
Let us ask the Holy Spirit to breathe his divine inspiration into our souls, detaching them from all earthly objects, and raising them to heaven; and to fill all the powers of our soul as he filled all the house where the Apostles were gathered.
We can reasonably hope for such a favor; but we must not be discouraged should it not immediately come, for “the Spirit breathes where he will” (Jn 3:8). And will come ‘suddenly’, when least expected.
No sooner were the Apostles warned of its coming than “there appeared to them parted tongues, as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them” (Acts 2:3).
Why did God choose this outward sign of the presence of His Holy Spirit? Because it was the Holy Spirit alone who could so inspire the tongues of the Apostles to enable them to preach the Gospel in all the world.
For this purpose the ‘gift of tongues’ was bestowed upon them: “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak with diverse tongues.” (Acts 2:4)
Our tongues may not be intended as the Apostles or apostolic missionaries did. Still, we are certainly bound to use them for the glory of God and the benefit of our neighbor; especially we who remain in the world.
The ‘gift of speech’, of which the ‘gift of tongues’ is only an extension, is among the most precious gifts of God to man. He will demand a strict account of our use or abuse thereof. How frequently is this gift abused?
“If any one offend not in word, the same is a perfect man.” (James 3:2) Here is cause for self-examination.
‘... tongues, as it were of fire.’ The nature of fire is to enlighten, warm, dilate, purify, consume. Thus, it rightly represents the operations of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of the Apostles. They were illuminated with the light of faith; enkindled in the love of God and neighbor; their hearts enlarged. Henceforth, God alone could fill them.
The Holy Spirit still performs these miracles in the hearts of those who receive him. Why should he not do so in our favor? The novena we just completed, and his own desire to impart his gifts, ought to give us fullest confidence. Let us ask and we shall receive.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp296-8
` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` `
Mary, Our Mother
“... find out for yourself by personal experience the meaning of Mary’s maternal love. It is not enough just to know she is our Mother; and to think and to talk about her as such. She is your Mother and you are her son. She loves you as if you were her only child in this world. Treat her accordingly; tell her about everything that happens to you, honor her and love her. No one will do it for you or as well as you ...” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 293)
Let us offer our Mother: “Affectionate thoughts and prayers eg, ‘Mary, my Mother’ when we pause at work.”
Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p312
Mary, the most perfumed lily of purity
Purity is gone in our immoral and depraved world. Pornography, X-rated films; radio and television programs, [Internet] present the daily ‘poisoned food’ of our minds. The devil’s time, trying to convince souls that nudity is art and not sin; that nothing is immoral.
Since the fall of Adam, the senses have been rebellious to reason. Of all the virtues, chastity has been the most difficult to practise. St Augustine rightly says: ‘Of all the combats in which we are engaged, the most severe are those of chastity; its battles are of daily occurrence, but victory is rare.’
Who will save the world from this pernicious evil? Mary, the most pure! St Albert the Great wrote ... ‘Mary’ (is) ‘called the Virgin of virgins; for she, without the counsel or example of others, was the first who offered her virginity to God.’
‘Mary is a most pure lily, and’, as St Ambrose writes, ‘a heavenly vessel’. Mary is purity itself: her heart was so pure and bright that it attracted the gaze of the Lord and made Him decide to choose her as His Mother.
St Ephrem: ‘O inviolate, all pure and chaste Virgin Mary, Mother of God, Queen of the universe, hope of the desperate ... more sublime than the Angels.’
The word ‘purity’ means purity of mind, heart, word, deed; purity of body and soul. This virtue is essential; impurity is among the prime causes of damnation. Purity, a rare and heroic virtue, is very difficult to practise. The devil and the world fiercely oppose it.
But purity will make us happy; it gives us peace, joy, honor, a good reputation, sanctity, beauty, grace, a long life, and a serene death. Being a delicate virtue, we must be continuously vigilant over the mind, the heart, the eyes, the hearing, and the whole person. We should incessantly pray to Mary and put ourselves under her protective mantle; and pray for God’s protection.
Ref: cf Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p34
Our Lady of the New Jerusalem, at Jerusalem; church built by the Emperor Justinian, in the year 530. — Procopius, de Edific. imperatoris Justiniani. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (http://www.starharbor.comsantiagomfeasts.html); (MaryLinks Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Feast: Our Lady of the Blesed Sacrament. (Carmel of St Therese of The Child Jesus, Diamond Jubilee Calendar, 2002)
‘Notre Dame de la Blanche’ (The White Lady). In the church named after her, in Faverney, France was the site of a Eucharistic Miracle on this day in 1608. Approved by the Archbishop on 10 July 1608. (Bob and Penny Lord, “Miracles of the Eucharist”, II:160-3, 168)
By baptizing a great number of Jews they laid on that very day the foundation of the Church, substituting it for the synagogue. This appropriate symbol represented the zeal with which the Apostles would preach the Gospel worldwide despite all obstacles.
Let us ask the Holy Spirit to breathe his divine inspiration into our souls, detaching them from all earthly objects, and raising them to heaven; and to fill all the powers of our soul as he filled all the house where the Apostles were gathered.
We can reasonably hope for such a favor; but we must not be discouraged should it not immediately come, for “the Spirit breathes where he will” (Jn 3:8). And will come ‘suddenly’, when least expected.
No sooner were the Apostles warned of its coming than “there appeared to them parted tongues, as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them” (Acts 2:3).
Why did God choose this outward sign of the presence of His Holy Spirit? Because it was the Holy Spirit alone who could so inspire the tongues of the Apostles to enable them to preach the Gospel in all the world.
For this purpose the ‘gift of tongues’ was bestowed upon them: “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak with diverse tongues.” (Acts 2:4)
Our tongues may not be intended as the Apostles or apostolic missionaries did. Still, we are certainly bound to use them for the glory of God and the benefit of our neighbor; especially we who remain in the world.
The ‘gift of speech’, of which the ‘gift of tongues’ is only an extension, is among the most precious gifts of God to man. He will demand a strict account of our use or abuse thereof. How frequently is this gift abused?
“If any one offend not in word, the same is a perfect man.” (James 3:2) Here is cause for self-examination.
‘... tongues, as it were of fire.’ The nature of fire is to enlighten, warm, dilate, purify, consume. Thus, it rightly represents the operations of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of the Apostles. They were illuminated with the light of faith; enkindled in the love of God and neighbor; their hearts enlarged. Henceforth, God alone could fill them.
The Holy Spirit still performs these miracles in the hearts of those who receive him. Why should he not do so in our favor? The novena we just completed, and his own desire to impart his gifts, ought to give us fullest confidence. Let us ask and we shall receive.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp296-8
` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` `
Mary, Our Mother
“... find out for yourself by personal experience the meaning of Mary’s maternal love. It is not enough just to know she is our Mother; and to think and to talk about her as such. She is your Mother and you are her son. She loves you as if you were her only child in this world. Treat her accordingly; tell her about everything that happens to you, honor her and love her. No one will do it for you or as well as you ...” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 293)
Let us offer our Mother: “Affectionate thoughts and prayers eg, ‘Mary, my Mother’ when we pause at work.”
Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p312
Mary, the most perfumed lily of purity
Purity is gone in our immoral and depraved world. Pornography, X-rated films; radio and television programs, [Internet] present the daily ‘poisoned food’ of our minds. The devil’s time, trying to convince souls that nudity is art and not sin; that nothing is immoral.
Since the fall of Adam, the senses have been rebellious to reason. Of all the virtues, chastity has been the most difficult to practise. St Augustine rightly says: ‘Of all the combats in which we are engaged, the most severe are those of chastity; its battles are of daily occurrence, but victory is rare.’
Who will save the world from this pernicious evil? Mary, the most pure! St Albert the Great wrote ... ‘Mary’ (is) ‘called the Virgin of virgins; for she, without the counsel or example of others, was the first who offered her virginity to God.’
‘Mary is a most pure lily, and’, as St Ambrose writes, ‘a heavenly vessel’. Mary is purity itself: her heart was so pure and bright that it attracted the gaze of the Lord and made Him decide to choose her as His Mother.
St Ephrem: ‘O inviolate, all pure and chaste Virgin Mary, Mother of God, Queen of the universe, hope of the desperate ... more sublime than the Angels.’
The word ‘purity’ means purity of mind, heart, word, deed; purity of body and soul. This virtue is essential; impurity is among the prime causes of damnation. Purity, a rare and heroic virtue, is very difficult to practise. The devil and the world fiercely oppose it.
But purity will make us happy; it gives us peace, joy, honor, a good reputation, sanctity, beauty, grace, a long life, and a serene death. Being a delicate virtue, we must be continuously vigilant over the mind, the heart, the eyes, the hearing, and the whole person. We should incessantly pray to Mary and put ourselves under her protective mantle; and pray for God’s protection.
Ref: cf Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p34
Our Lady of the New Jerusalem, at Jerusalem; church built by the Emperor Justinian, in the year 530. — Procopius, de Edific. imperatoris Justiniani. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (http://www.starharbor.comsantiagomfeasts.html); (MaryLinks Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Feast: Our Lady of the Blesed Sacrament. (Carmel of St Therese of The Child Jesus, Diamond Jubilee Calendar, 2002)
‘Notre Dame de la Blanche’ (The White Lady). In the church named after her, in Faverney, France was the site of a Eucharistic Miracle on this day in 1608. Approved by the Archbishop on 10 July 1608. (Bob and Penny Lord, “Miracles of the Eucharist”, II:160-3, 168)
Sunday, May 23, 2010
24 May 2010: Memorial-- Mary, Help of Christians
Devotion to Mary under this title dates back to 1624 in Southern Germany. In 1683, Emperor Leopold of Austria was said to have fled to her shrine in Pasau when the Turks invaded his country. There, he beseeched her put an end to the 30 Years War with the aspiration, “Mary, help!” Another story is the Blessed Virgin appeared to St John Bosco in Turin, Italy, where she asked to have a church built to her under this title. (“A Marian Pilgrimage”, p31, Sinag-Tala Publishers, Inc, Manila)
Our Lady of the Way (‘Madonna della Strada’, ‘Santa Maria ng Landas’)
The first patroness of the Society of Jesus. Her first shrine was a tiny chapel erected in Rome in the 15th century. This was to become the first oratory and, later, the first church of the Jesuit order. (Ibid, Op cit, p17)
Mary, Help of Christians, cares for us
As Mary cared for her first-born, Jesus, so she cares for each one of us, as her other children, too.
As Mary listened to the teachings of Christ, so she cares for the purity of His doctrine against the attacks of the enemies of truth.
As Mary cared for the infant Church, so she cared and defended the Church throughout the centuries. She protects it now and will continue to protect it until the end of the world.
It is impossible to enumerate the numerous times Mary has come to the aid of her children. Her graces and favors are infinite. The history of the Church gives faithful testimony to Mary’s continual protection and assistance against many heresies through the centuries. She revived faith, reinforced hope, increased prayer, and inspired scholars to wield the pen in defense of the truth.
Naturalism, rationalism, modernism, materialism, and Communism, almost suffocated every religious sentiment, but through Mary’s work all passed and will pass: ‘You have overcome heresy in the whole world!’
Mary protected nations from destruction and saved their Christian faith. Who saved Europe in 1683 from the Turks? The victory of Lepanto was obtained through the recitation of Mary’s Rosary.
‘Mary is the help of individuals’ -- She constantly watches over each one of us; obtains for us graces to avoid falls, to gain strength in tribulations, to overcome the difficulties of life. She aids us in all our necessities.
1) ‘In temporal needs’ -- The Gospel shows Mary’s intervention in these needs. A splendid example is at the marriage feast of Cana. Saints and Founders could tell us how many times Mary provided the material and financial needs of their congregations.
2) ‘Spiritual needs’ -- Mary is even more solicitous about what concerns our eternal salvation. She welcomes sinners and obtains for them the grace of conversion. She protects us in temptations; sustains us in good will. Mary desires our spiritual progress and is anxious for us to receive a greater share of the fruits of the Redemption. Thus she sustains us in our efforts to attain sanctity. She obtains for us perseverance and will assist us at the hour of our death.
Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p32
The love of Mary
St Anselm states: ‘Mary’s love towards God surpassed the love and sweetness of all other creatures.’ Mary’s love was always constant. Her heart was like the altar upon which a fire burns night and day. Mary did not love God like other Saints with frequent acts of charity: she loved Him with a sole continual act.
Whoever really loves God cannot help but love his neighbor. Mary loved God more than all the Saints, thus immensely more than all the Saints does she love men, and helps them in every need.
St Gregory Nazianzen says that ‘there is no more effective way for us to obtain Mary’s love than by showing charity to our neighbor’.
Ref: Ibid, Op cit, p33
` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` `
Mary, Help of Christians
“Yes, we are still pilgrims, but our Mother has gone on ahead, where she points to the reward of our efforts. She tells us that we can make it. And, if we are faithful, we will reach home. The Blessed Virgin is not only our model, she is the help of Christians. And as we besiege her with our petitions -- ‘Show that you are our Mother’ -- she cannot help but watch over her children with motherly care.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 177)
Let us offer our Mother: ‘In addition to the mysteries of the day, one more part of the Holy Rosary.’
Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p312
Gregory XV, in the year 1622, issued a decree forbidding anybody to uphold opinions adverse to the Immaculate Conception. The same decree forbids the use, in the mass or office, of any other term than that of 'Conception'. — Balingham on the Caledar. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady Help of Christians (Europe, 16th Century).(http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Mary, Help of Christians. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Our Lady of 'Bon Secours' (Montreal, Canada). (MaryLinks Calendar.htm); (http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Our Lady of the Way. Rome. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Our Lady of the Way (‘Madonna della Strada’, ‘Santa Maria ng Landas’)
The first patroness of the Society of Jesus. Her first shrine was a tiny chapel erected in Rome in the 15th century. This was to become the first oratory and, later, the first church of the Jesuit order. (Ibid, Op cit, p17)
Mary, Help of Christians, cares for us
As Mary cared for her first-born, Jesus, so she cares for each one of us, as her other children, too.
As Mary listened to the teachings of Christ, so she cares for the purity of His doctrine against the attacks of the enemies of truth.
As Mary cared for the infant Church, so she cared and defended the Church throughout the centuries. She protects it now and will continue to protect it until the end of the world.
It is impossible to enumerate the numerous times Mary has come to the aid of her children. Her graces and favors are infinite. The history of the Church gives faithful testimony to Mary’s continual protection and assistance against many heresies through the centuries. She revived faith, reinforced hope, increased prayer, and inspired scholars to wield the pen in defense of the truth.
Naturalism, rationalism, modernism, materialism, and Communism, almost suffocated every religious sentiment, but through Mary’s work all passed and will pass: ‘You have overcome heresy in the whole world!’
Mary protected nations from destruction and saved their Christian faith. Who saved Europe in 1683 from the Turks? The victory of Lepanto was obtained through the recitation of Mary’s Rosary.
‘Mary is the help of individuals’ -- She constantly watches over each one of us; obtains for us graces to avoid falls, to gain strength in tribulations, to overcome the difficulties of life. She aids us in all our necessities.
1) ‘In temporal needs’ -- The Gospel shows Mary’s intervention in these needs. A splendid example is at the marriage feast of Cana. Saints and Founders could tell us how many times Mary provided the material and financial needs of their congregations.
2) ‘Spiritual needs’ -- Mary is even more solicitous about what concerns our eternal salvation. She welcomes sinners and obtains for them the grace of conversion. She protects us in temptations; sustains us in good will. Mary desires our spiritual progress and is anxious for us to receive a greater share of the fruits of the Redemption. Thus she sustains us in our efforts to attain sanctity. She obtains for us perseverance and will assist us at the hour of our death.
Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p32
The love of Mary
St Anselm states: ‘Mary’s love towards God surpassed the love and sweetness of all other creatures.’ Mary’s love was always constant. Her heart was like the altar upon which a fire burns night and day. Mary did not love God like other Saints with frequent acts of charity: she loved Him with a sole continual act.
Whoever really loves God cannot help but love his neighbor. Mary loved God more than all the Saints, thus immensely more than all the Saints does she love men, and helps them in every need.
St Gregory Nazianzen says that ‘there is no more effective way for us to obtain Mary’s love than by showing charity to our neighbor’.
Ref: Ibid, Op cit, p33
` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` `
Mary, Help of Christians
“Yes, we are still pilgrims, but our Mother has gone on ahead, where she points to the reward of our efforts. She tells us that we can make it. And, if we are faithful, we will reach home. The Blessed Virgin is not only our model, she is the help of Christians. And as we besiege her with our petitions -- ‘Show that you are our Mother’ -- she cannot help but watch over her children with motherly care.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 177)
Let us offer our Mother: ‘In addition to the mysteries of the day, one more part of the Holy Rosary.’
Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p312
Gregory XV, in the year 1622, issued a decree forbidding anybody to uphold opinions adverse to the Immaculate Conception. The same decree forbids the use, in the mass or office, of any other term than that of 'Conception'. — Balingham on the Caledar. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady Help of Christians (Europe, 16th Century).(http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Mary, Help of Christians. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Our Lady of 'Bon Secours' (Montreal, Canada). (MaryLinks Calendar.htm); (http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Our Lady of the Way. Rome. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Saturday, May 22, 2010
23 May 2010: Solemnity-- Pentecost Sunday
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 -- Pentecost Sunday
Ten days after his Ascension, the fiftieth day after Easter (‘Pentecostes’), Jesus fulfilled the promise he had so often made of sending to his Apostles his Holy Spirit.
“... they were altogether in one place: and suddenly there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the whole house ... And appeared to them parted tongues as of fire, rested on each one of them. ... they were filled with the Holy Spirit, ... began to speak in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them ability.” (cf Acts 2:1-4)
These few simple words record the great and mysterious event which substituted this Christian feast for the Jewish one. The Apostles were instantly changed from carnal and ignorant men into spiritual and eloquent, eminent in wisdom and holiness; gifted with an invincible zeal and courage fully prepared for their great commission to evangelize and change the whole face of the earth.
By commemorating this great event, we seek to renew it within ourselves. Thus the feast of Pentecost is unique. Other feasts are in gratitude for past mercies. This mystery will be renewed in the souls of the faithful 'til the world ends. We may ask, as Jesus Christ promised, and confidently expect as the Apostles did, the descent of the Holy Spirit upon ourselves and his gifts.
Another event in today’s celebration is proclamation of the Gospel. From Jerusalem when three-thousand Jews were converted and baptised, it spread rapidly over all the known world through inspired preaching of the Apostles. Even during their lifetime was fulfilled the prophecy: “Thou shalt renew the face of the earth”; and “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.” (cf Ps 104:30)
By continuous succession of Sovereign Pontiffs, Bishops and priests; successors of St Peter, of the Apostles and of the seventy-two disciples, the Gospel has reached us. Let us give thanks to Almighty God for this great blessing; renew our apostolic zeal and examine how by our words, example, prayers, works of penance ie, by all means within our power, we help extend the kingdom of God among souls.
The nations who were converted by the preaching of the Apostles, so diverse in disposition and character, formed a family with the same faith, laws, Sacraments; and the same Head. This great worldwide family is the Church of Jesus Christ: one, holy, apostolic, catholic.
For two-thousand years the ‘gates of hell’ have fought it; but have not prevailed, and never shall prevail. We celebrate today the memory of its establishment, the third object of the great solemnity of Pentecost.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp292-4
The coming of the Holy Spirit
Pentecost was one of three great Jewish feasts for which many Israelites go to Jerusalem to adore God in the Temple. This very ancient feast is to thank God for the coming harvest. Another motive, to recall God’s promulgation of the law on Mount Sinai, was later added and celebrated fifty days after the Pasch.
So the material harvest the Jews joyfully celebrated became a feast of immense rejoicing in the New Dispensation: the coming of the Holy Spirit with all his gifts and fruits.
The Holy Spirit shows himself in those elements which usually accompanied the presence of God in the Old Testament: wind and fire. (cf Ex 3:2) Fire appears in Sacred Scripture as love which penetrates all things and as a purifying element. (cf MD Philippe, “The Mystery of Mary”, Madrid) These are images which help us to better understand the action of the Holy Spirit in souls. Lord, with the fire of the Holy Spirit, purify our inmost being and our heart.
Fire also produces light and signifies the new brightness the Holy Spirit sheds on the doctrine of Jesus: “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth ... He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” (cf Jn 16:13-4) Jesus had forewarned his disciples: “The Counsellor, the Holy Spirit will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all I have said to you.” (cf Jn 14:26)
It is the Holy Spirit who leads us to a full understanding of the truth taught by Christ, who “completed and perfected Revelation and confirmed it by divine guarantees ... finally by sending the Spirit of truth”. (Second Vatican Council, “Dei Verbum”, 4)
In the Old Testament the action of the Holy Spirit is often intimated by the word ‘breath’. This expresses both the gentleness and strength of divine love. Nothing is subtler than the wind which manages to penetrate everywhere. The rushing wind on the day of Pentecost expresses the new force with which divine love invades the Church and souls.
Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:591-2
Purity is Life According to the Spirit
St Paul indicates the mystery of the redemption of the body accomplished by Christ as the source of a particular moral duty, the need to guard the body “in sanctity and honor” (1 Thes 4:4). Maintaining one’s own body in “sanctity and honor” means ‘forming it through abstention from immodesty’, the indispensable way.
However, it always bears fruit in the deepest experience of that love which was written “in the beginning” according to the image and likeness of God himself, in every human being, hence also in our bodies. St Paul therefore exhorts us, “Glorify in your body” (1 Cor 6:20).
Purity is the virtue, a capacity to “keep one’s body in sanctity and honor”. It is allied with the gift of piety, as fruit of the dwelling of the Holy Spirit in the “temple” of the body. It actuates such a fulness of dignity in the body in interpersonal relations, that God himself is glorified.
Ref: cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, pp264-5
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 Holy Spirit and Mary
“All with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with Mary, the Mother of Jesus” (Acts 1:14) while they awaited the coming of the promised Holy Spirit. They are in the Cenacle, inspired by the same love and hope. Tradition sees Mary’s presence the anticipation of her motherhood for the whole Church.
“The era of the Church began with the ‘coming’, with the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles gathered in the upper Room in Jerusalem, with Mary, ...” (John Paul II, “Dominum et vivificantem”, 18 May 1986, 25)
Our Lady lives what is like a second Advent, an expectation for the Holy Spirit’s full communication of his gifts to the newborn Church. This Advent is very like and very different from the first, the birth of Jesus. In both we find prayer, recollection, faith in the promise and a burning desire that the promise be fulfilled.
Mary, bearing Jesus in her womb, remained in silent contemplation. Now our Lady lives deeply united to her glorified Son. (cf M D Philippe, “The Mystery of Mary”, Madrid) In the first Advent, the Virgin alone lived for the promise fulfilled in her womb. Here she waits accompanied by the Apostles and the holy women.
“Mary, who conceived through the workings of the Holy Spirit, the love of the living God, presides over the birth of the Church on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit Himself descends upon the disciples and pours out life in unity and in charity upon the Mystical Body of Christians.” (Paul VI, “Address”, 25 October 1969)
The resolution of our prayer is to await the coming of the Paraclete, closely united to our Mother “by her prayers imploring the gift of the Spirit, who had already overshadowed her in the Anunciation”. (Second Vatican Council, “Lumen Gentium”, 59)
She gave us her Son at the start of the Redemption and “now by her most powerful intercession obtained for the newborn Church the prodigious Pentecostal outpouring of that Spirit of the Divine Redeemer who had already been given on the Cross”. (Pius XII, “Mystici Corporis”, 29 June 1943)
Mary is our path to a better disposition for greater friendship with the Paraclete and greater docility to his inspirations. The Apostles understood; thus we see them beside her in the Cenacle. Let us, therefore, examine the quality of our habitual relationship with Mary.
We must take greater care in reciting the Holy Rosary, contemplating its mysteries. Let us offer her some small sacrifice, different from what we customarily make during the week. Let us show greater affection in greeting her, through her images in the street or in our room.
Mary, “God’s masterpiece”, (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 292) had been prepared by the Holy Spirit to be the living tabernacle of the Son of God. During her life she grew continually in love for God the Father, God the Son (her son Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit. She corresponded to all the inspirations and motions of the Paraclete.
The Holy Spirit, who had lived in Mary since the mystery of her Immaculate Conception, came on Pentecost to dwell in her in a new way. All the promises Jesus had made about the Paraclete are fulfilled in her soul. The Blessed Virgin is the creature God loves most.
As for us, despite our many offences He receives us as the father receives the prodigal son. Though we are sinners He loves us with an infinite love and fills us with gifts as often as we correspond with his graces.
After Pentecost our Lady is “as it were, the heart of the infant Church!” (R Garrigou-Lagrange, “The Mother of the Saviour”) The Holy Spirit, who had prepared her to be the Mother of God, now at Pentecost disposes her to be Mother of the Church and of each one of us. Our Lady, cooperating actively with the Holy Spirit in souls, exercises her maternity over all her children.
Thus, she is proclaimed “Mother of the Church”, “... Mother of the whole People of God, as much of the faithful as of the Pastors, who call her loving Mother. And we wish that from now on she be honoured and invoked by the whole Christian people with this most pleasing title.” (Paul VI, “Address to the Council”, 2 September 1964) Holy Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us. Help us prepare for the Paraclete’s coming into our souls.
Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:585-90
` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` `
Mary is the Channel of Grace
“Her power before God is such that she can obtain anything we ask for, and, like any mother, she wants to answer our prayers. Like any mother also, she knows and understands our weaknesses. She encourages us and makes excuses for us. She makes the way easy for us and, even when we think there is no possible solution for our worry, she always has one ready to offer us.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 292)
Let us offer our Mother: ‘A visit or conversation with someone we want to encourage to go to Confession.’
Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p314
Decreed in perpetuity: The Feast of the Holy Rosary
Pope Clement XI (1700-1721), after another victory of the Christians over the Turks in Hungary (5 August 1716) under Emperor Charles VI, and following the liberation of Cercyra Island (Corfu), renamed the feast of Our Lady of Victory into the Feast of the Holy Rosary. Pope Leo XIII (Pope of the Rosary) established for this Feast a proper office and Mass; and added to the Litany of the Most Blessed Virgin the invocation: ‘Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us!’
Finally, Pope Paul VI, on 5 March 1971, decreed that this solemnity be celebrated, in perpetuity, every year on 7 October throughout the Universal Church.
All this was done to perpetuate the memory of the Virgin’s protection through the Rosary devotion.
Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p49
Our Lady -- Devotion to Our Lady in Christian souls awakens the supernatural stimulus we need in order to act like ‘domestici Dei’, as members of God’s family.(cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Forge”, 587)
Our Lady of Miracles, at St Onier’s, where a glove and some portion of the hair of the Blessed Virgin are preserved. — Chronicon Bertinense. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of Miracles of Brescia (Italy, 1478) (http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (MaryLinks Calendar.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Our Lady of Miracles. St Onier, Belgium; Brescia, Italy. 1478. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Our Lady of Miracles (St Onier, Belgium). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
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 -- Pentecost Sunday
Ten days after his Ascension, the fiftieth day after Easter (‘Pentecostes’), Jesus fulfilled the promise he had so often made of sending to his Apostles his Holy Spirit.
“... they were altogether in one place: and suddenly there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the whole house ... And appeared to them parted tongues as of fire, rested on each one of them. ... they were filled with the Holy Spirit, ... began to speak in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them ability.” (cf Acts 2:1-4)
These few simple words record the great and mysterious event which substituted this Christian feast for the Jewish one. The Apostles were instantly changed from carnal and ignorant men into spiritual and eloquent, eminent in wisdom and holiness; gifted with an invincible zeal and courage fully prepared for their great commission to evangelize and change the whole face of the earth.
By commemorating this great event, we seek to renew it within ourselves. Thus the feast of Pentecost is unique. Other feasts are in gratitude for past mercies. This mystery will be renewed in the souls of the faithful 'til the world ends. We may ask, as Jesus Christ promised, and confidently expect as the Apostles did, the descent of the Holy Spirit upon ourselves and his gifts.
Another event in today’s celebration is proclamation of the Gospel. From Jerusalem when three-thousand Jews were converted and baptised, it spread rapidly over all the known world through inspired preaching of the Apostles. Even during their lifetime was fulfilled the prophecy: “Thou shalt renew the face of the earth”; and “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.” (cf Ps 104:30)
By continuous succession of Sovereign Pontiffs, Bishops and priests; successors of St Peter, of the Apostles and of the seventy-two disciples, the Gospel has reached us. Let us give thanks to Almighty God for this great blessing; renew our apostolic zeal and examine how by our words, example, prayers, works of penance ie, by all means within our power, we help extend the kingdom of God among souls.
The nations who were converted by the preaching of the Apostles, so diverse in disposition and character, formed a family with the same faith, laws, Sacraments; and the same Head. This great worldwide family is the Church of Jesus Christ: one, holy, apostolic, catholic.
For two-thousand years the ‘gates of hell’ have fought it; but have not prevailed, and never shall prevail. We celebrate today the memory of its establishment, the third object of the great solemnity of Pentecost.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp292-4
The coming of the Holy Spirit
Pentecost was one of three great Jewish feasts for which many Israelites go to Jerusalem to adore God in the Temple. This very ancient feast is to thank God for the coming harvest. Another motive, to recall God’s promulgation of the law on Mount Sinai, was later added and celebrated fifty days after the Pasch.
So the material harvest the Jews joyfully celebrated became a feast of immense rejoicing in the New Dispensation: the coming of the Holy Spirit with all his gifts and fruits.
The Holy Spirit shows himself in those elements which usually accompanied the presence of God in the Old Testament: wind and fire. (cf Ex 3:2) Fire appears in Sacred Scripture as love which penetrates all things and as a purifying element. (cf MD Philippe, “The Mystery of Mary”, Madrid) These are images which help us to better understand the action of the Holy Spirit in souls. Lord, with the fire of the Holy Spirit, purify our inmost being and our heart.
Fire also produces light and signifies the new brightness the Holy Spirit sheds on the doctrine of Jesus: “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth ... He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” (cf Jn 16:13-4) Jesus had forewarned his disciples: “The Counsellor, the Holy Spirit will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all I have said to you.” (cf Jn 14:26)
It is the Holy Spirit who leads us to a full understanding of the truth taught by Christ, who “completed and perfected Revelation and confirmed it by divine guarantees ... finally by sending the Spirit of truth”. (Second Vatican Council, “Dei Verbum”, 4)
In the Old Testament the action of the Holy Spirit is often intimated by the word ‘breath’. This expresses both the gentleness and strength of divine love. Nothing is subtler than the wind which manages to penetrate everywhere. The rushing wind on the day of Pentecost expresses the new force with which divine love invades the Church and souls.
Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:591-2
Purity is Life According to the Spirit
St Paul indicates the mystery of the redemption of the body accomplished by Christ as the source of a particular moral duty, the need to guard the body “in sanctity and honor” (1 Thes 4:4). Maintaining one’s own body in “sanctity and honor” means ‘forming it through abstention from immodesty’, the indispensable way.
However, it always bears fruit in the deepest experience of that love which was written “in the beginning” according to the image and likeness of God himself, in every human being, hence also in our bodies. St Paul therefore exhorts us, “Glorify in your body” (1 Cor 6:20).
Purity is the virtue, a capacity to “keep one’s body in sanctity and honor”. It is allied with the gift of piety, as fruit of the dwelling of the Holy Spirit in the “temple” of the body. It actuates such a fulness of dignity in the body in interpersonal relations, that God himself is glorified.
Ref: cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, pp264-5
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 Holy Spirit and Mary
“All with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with Mary, the Mother of Jesus” (Acts 1:14) while they awaited the coming of the promised Holy Spirit. They are in the Cenacle, inspired by the same love and hope. Tradition sees Mary’s presence the anticipation of her motherhood for the whole Church.
“The era of the Church began with the ‘coming’, with the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles gathered in the upper Room in Jerusalem, with Mary, ...” (John Paul II, “Dominum et vivificantem”, 18 May 1986, 25)
Our Lady lives what is like a second Advent, an expectation for the Holy Spirit’s full communication of his gifts to the newborn Church. This Advent is very like and very different from the first, the birth of Jesus. In both we find prayer, recollection, faith in the promise and a burning desire that the promise be fulfilled.
Mary, bearing Jesus in her womb, remained in silent contemplation. Now our Lady lives deeply united to her glorified Son. (cf M D Philippe, “The Mystery of Mary”, Madrid) In the first Advent, the Virgin alone lived for the promise fulfilled in her womb. Here she waits accompanied by the Apostles and the holy women.
“Mary, who conceived through the workings of the Holy Spirit, the love of the living God, presides over the birth of the Church on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit Himself descends upon the disciples and pours out life in unity and in charity upon the Mystical Body of Christians.” (Paul VI, “Address”, 25 October 1969)
The resolution of our prayer is to await the coming of the Paraclete, closely united to our Mother “by her prayers imploring the gift of the Spirit, who had already overshadowed her in the Anunciation”. (Second Vatican Council, “Lumen Gentium”, 59)
She gave us her Son at the start of the Redemption and “now by her most powerful intercession obtained for the newborn Church the prodigious Pentecostal outpouring of that Spirit of the Divine Redeemer who had already been given on the Cross”. (Pius XII, “Mystici Corporis”, 29 June 1943)
Mary is our path to a better disposition for greater friendship with the Paraclete and greater docility to his inspirations. The Apostles understood; thus we see them beside her in the Cenacle. Let us, therefore, examine the quality of our habitual relationship with Mary.
We must take greater care in reciting the Holy Rosary, contemplating its mysteries. Let us offer her some small sacrifice, different from what we customarily make during the week. Let us show greater affection in greeting her, through her images in the street or in our room.
Mary, “God’s masterpiece”, (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 292) had been prepared by the Holy Spirit to be the living tabernacle of the Son of God. During her life she grew continually in love for God the Father, God the Son (her son Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit. She corresponded to all the inspirations and motions of the Paraclete.
The Holy Spirit, who had lived in Mary since the mystery of her Immaculate Conception, came on Pentecost to dwell in her in a new way. All the promises Jesus had made about the Paraclete are fulfilled in her soul. The Blessed Virgin is the creature God loves most.
As for us, despite our many offences He receives us as the father receives the prodigal son. Though we are sinners He loves us with an infinite love and fills us with gifts as often as we correspond with his graces.
After Pentecost our Lady is “as it were, the heart of the infant Church!” (R Garrigou-Lagrange, “The Mother of the Saviour”) The Holy Spirit, who had prepared her to be the Mother of God, now at Pentecost disposes her to be Mother of the Church and of each one of us. Our Lady, cooperating actively with the Holy Spirit in souls, exercises her maternity over all her children.
Thus, she is proclaimed “Mother of the Church”, “... Mother of the whole People of God, as much of the faithful as of the Pastors, who call her loving Mother. And we wish that from now on she be honoured and invoked by the whole Christian people with this most pleasing title.” (Paul VI, “Address to the Council”, 2 September 1964) Holy Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us. Help us prepare for the Paraclete’s coming into our souls.
Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:585-90
` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` `
Mary is the Channel of Grace
“Her power before God is such that she can obtain anything we ask for, and, like any mother, she wants to answer our prayers. Like any mother also, she knows and understands our weaknesses. She encourages us and makes excuses for us. She makes the way easy for us and, even when we think there is no possible solution for our worry, she always has one ready to offer us.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 292)
Let us offer our Mother: ‘A visit or conversation with someone we want to encourage to go to Confession.’
Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p314
Decreed in perpetuity: The Feast of the Holy Rosary
Pope Clement XI (1700-1721), after another victory of the Christians over the Turks in Hungary (5 August 1716) under Emperor Charles VI, and following the liberation of Cercyra Island (Corfu), renamed the feast of Our Lady of Victory into the Feast of the Holy Rosary. Pope Leo XIII (Pope of the Rosary) established for this Feast a proper office and Mass; and added to the Litany of the Most Blessed Virgin the invocation: ‘Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us!’
Finally, Pope Paul VI, on 5 March 1971, decreed that this solemnity be celebrated, in perpetuity, every year on 7 October throughout the Universal Church.
All this was done to perpetuate the memory of the Virgin’s protection through the Rosary devotion.
Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p49
Our Lady -- Devotion to Our Lady in Christian souls awakens the supernatural stimulus we need in order to act like ‘domestici Dei’, as members of God’s family.(cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Forge”, 587)
Our Lady of Miracles, at St Onier’s, where a glove and some portion of the hair of the Blessed Virgin are preserved. — Chronicon Bertinense. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of Miracles of Brescia (Italy, 1478) (http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (MaryLinks Calendar.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Our Lady of Miracles. St Onier, Belgium; Brescia, Italy. 1478. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Our Lady of Miracles (St Onier, Belgium). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Friday, May 21, 2010
22 May 2010: Eve -- The Solemnity of Pentecost
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 -- The Feast of Pentecost: Mysterious circumstances
The Christian Pentecost occurred on a Sunday, the fiftieth day after the Sunday of the Resurrection. That day followed the Great Sabbath, or Jewish Pasch. Thus, the descent of the Holy Spirit did not take place on the Jewish Pentecost, but the next day. (Cornelius à Lapide. In “Act. Apost.”)
This circumstance, divinely ordained, inaugurated a great and solemn mystery-- ‘the succession of the New Law to the Old’. The Old Law, suited to the hard-heartedness of the Jews, was of ‘fear’ and ‘bondage’, given amidst thunders, engraved on ‘stone’.
The New Law is a law of ‘love’ and ‘liberty’, written by the Holy Spirit on the hearts of the faithful when he fills them with the interior spirit of love and filial piety.
Let us thank God for our having been born and baptized under the law of grace, and seek to perfect the interior law of love. This we can do in three ways:
1) we must treat God with the greatest confidence, like a tender Father, not a hard master or severe tyrant;
2) we must be actuated always by the spirit of love, and not by fear; and
3) we must serve God our Lord for himself, not for the sake of any reward.
On the Day of Pentecost the twelve Apostles, with St Peter presiding, and other disciples were assembled. Mary was in their midst in the upper room already consecrated by the mysteries of the Last Supper. The Holy Spirit chose this place to communicate himself to men, and which he filled throughout with his divine truth, but without extending himself outside of it.
This house represents the Church, “the assembly of the faithful who profess the true doctrine of Jesus Christ, under obedience to the successor of St Peter”. (“Mechlin Catechism” in Church History, p413-4) There alone is the Holy Spirit given; from thence alone flow holy Sacraments, the only true means of eternal salvation.
“There is no salvation out of the Church.” (“Catechism of the Catholic Church”, Nos. 846-8) What a blessed privilege to have the Church for our Mother! Through her we inherit eternal life. She showers down fresh graces upon us every day. What return can we make to her?
We can love her, honor her by the purity of our lives, pray earnestly that God would render her victorious over her enemies, and give her the whole world for her inheritance, according to the promise of our Lord. To offer to God for these ends our health, our talents, our learning, and even our lives.
Can we do more? Yes. We can use all our influence with others to induce them to love and honor the holy Church; to pursue the defence against her enemies.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp294-6
Crossing the threshold of hope
St Hilary holds, the Holy Spirit is the gift that bestows perfect hope (“On the Trinity”, II, 1). Hope has become one of John Paul II’s favorite themes: “Be not afraid!” he insists in his teaching, explaining in a speech the significance of hope and its role for Christians.
“St Paul tells the Corinthians, among the greatest gifts, is ‘hope’" (1 Cor 12:31). Hope has a fundamental role in Christian life, as has faith and love, although ‘the greatest of these is love’ (1 Cor 13:13). Clearly, hope is not understood in a restrictive sense of a special and extraordinary gift, given to some for the benefit of the community.
It is ‘a gift of the Holy Spirit offered to every person’ who in faith opens to Christ. Pay special attention to this gift, especially in our time, during which many humans -- even many Christians -- debate among themselves about the illusions and myths of an infinite capacity for self-redemption and self-fulfillment and the temptation to pessimism in the expectation of frequent disillusions and defeats.” (“The Holy Spirit, Guarantee of Eschatological Hope and Source of Final Perseverance”, general audience speech of 3 July 1991, of Pope John Paul II, 14, no. 2)
With hope the Christian is able to enter “the inner shrine behind the curtain” (Heb 6:19). “For the Spirit is given to the Church in order that through his power the whole community of the people of God, however widely scattered and diverse, may persevere in hope: that hope in which ‘we have been saved’ (Rom 8:24).
It is the hope of definitive fulfillment in God, the hope of the eternal kingdom, brought about by participation in the life of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit, given to the apostles as the Counselor, “is the guardian and animator of this hope in the heart of the Church”. (John Paul II, encyclical letter “Dominum et Vivificantem”, 18 May 1986) The Spirit is the dynamic force that inspires the lifestyle of Christians. ...
It seems ever clearer that the spirituality of the Third Millennium cannot be a spirituality enclosed in itself or one which denies the world to come. It must be one of full transfiguration because it is filled with the Spirit of life and hope. It will be a spirituality of resurrection. ...
Ref: cf Theological-Historical Commission, “The Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life”, 153-4, 1997
Pentecost Goes On
“The day of Pentecost” ... a day of particular solemnity which stands side by side with Easter Day itself, by reason of the dignity of the celebration and the spiritual riches contained in it.
Is it possible to establish a comparison between the Pentecost of which the “Acts of the Apostles” speaks, that occurred fifty days after the Lord’s resurrection, and the Pentecost of today? Yes. It is not only possible, it is also certain, undoubted and corroborating to recognize that link ‘in the life’ and ‘for the life’ of the Church, both at the level of her two-thousand years of history and of that of the events of the time in which we are living ...
We have the right, duty and joy to say that Pentecost goes on. We rightfully speak of the “perpetuity” of Pentecost. Gathered in that same Cenacle, which had been the place of the first Eucharist, then of the first meeting with the Risen One, the Apostles ‘discovered the power of the Holy Spirit’.
Made strong by that power, they began to act, that is, to carry through their service. The apostolic Church was born. And we are gathered here to ‘renew the mystery of that great day’.
That mystery ought to be manifested in a particular way through the Sacrament of Confirmation....
Ref: cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, p217
The Gift of Knowledge
“Creatures are a trace of the passing of God, whereby are revealed His greatness, power, wisdom and other Divine virtues.” (cf St John of the Cross, “The Spiritual Canticle”, 5, 3) Things reflect the splendor, beauty, goodness and power of God. In the words of the psalmist: “The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.” (Ps 19:1)
And yet, because of original sin and ensuing personal sins, men cannot perceive the signs of God in the world, fail to know him as the source of all good.
This gift enables us to understand creatures as signs which lead to God. “Like the gifts of understanding and of wisdom, the gift of knowledge is a contemplative gift enabling us to see into the very mystery of God.” (MM Philipon, “The Gifts of the Holy Spirit”, Madrid)
Through this gift a Christian perceives and understands that “all creation, the movement of earth and other heavenly bodies, the good actions of creatures and all the good that has been achieved in history, in short, everything, comes from God and is directed toward him.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 130)
This gift is a supernatural disposition whereby the soul participates in God’s knowledge, grasps the relationship between creatures and their Creator, and perceives how creation serves man’s last end.
The hymn which many Catholics use for thanksgiving after Holy Communion, clearly expresses this gift. “... all works of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and bless him forever. Angels of the Lord ... heavens ... sun and moon ... stars of heaven ... rain and dew ... nights and days ... light and darkness ... mountains and hills ... plants ... springs ... seas and rivers ... whales and fish ... birds of the air ... wild beasts and cattle ... priests of the Lord ... spirits and souls of the just ... the holy and humble in heart: praise and thank him because his mercy is everlasting.” (cf Daniel, 3:52-90)
The gift of knowledge enables the Christian who is docile to the Holy Spirit to perfectly discern between what leads to God and what separates from him. Perhaps a disordered desire for material goods; so the heart is not free to serve God.
Christians who must sanctify themselves in the middle of the world especially need this gift so as to direct all temporal activities to God, making them a means of holiness and apostolate. “There is something holy, something hidden in the most ordinary situations, and it is up to each one of you to discover it.” (“Conversations with Monsignor Escrivá”, 114)
In order to receive this gift we must ask the Holy Spirit to help us exercise freedom and detachment from material goods; to be more humble, so we can learn the value of things. Along with these dispositions we need to foster and increase our sense of God’s presence which helps us to see him in our work.
To make us capable of possessing this gift in full, we have recourse to the Blessed Virgin, “Mother of fair love, of fear, of knowledge, and of holy hope” (Sir 24:24).
“Mary is also the Mother of knowledge, for it is with her that we learn the most important lesson of all, that nothing is worthwhile if we are not close to Our Lord.
"All the wonders of this earth, the fulfilment of our every ambition, is worthless unless the living flame of love burns within us, unless there is the light of holy hope giving us a foretaste of never-ending love in our true homeland in heaven.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 278)
Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:543-8
` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` `
Mary Ever Virgin
“The purity, humility and generosity of Mary are in sharp contrast to our wretchedness and selfishness. To the extent we realize this, we should feel moved to imitate her. We, too, are creatures of God; and if we strive to imitate her fidelity, God will surely do great things in us. Our little worth is no obstacle, because God chooses what is of little value so the power of his love be more manifest.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 172)
Let us offer our Mother: ‘The prayer’, “Blessed be your purity” (In Belmonte and Socias [Eds], op cit, p15)
Blessed be your purity, / May it be blessed for ever. For not less than God takes delight, / In such exalted beauty. To you, heavenly Princess, Holy Virgin Mary, /I offer on this day My whole heart, life and soul. Look upon me with compassion, /Do not leave me, my Mother.
Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p311
· “I love Mary, I cannot live without her: she is my real mother; the other mother is only my nurse!” -- St Joseph da Copertino (In Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, p28)
Fruitfulness -- Rectitude of intention consists in seeking “only and in all things” the glory of God. (St Josemaria Escrivá, "The Forge", 921)
Our Lady of ‘Monte Vergine’, near Naples. This image preserved from flames the monastery and church consecrated in her honor. — P. Spinelli, Tractatus de exemplis et miraculis, last chapter. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of the Virgin’s Mount / ‘Monte Vergine’ / ‘Madonna della Monte Vergine’ (Virgin's Mount), Naples, Italy. 1119. (http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (MaryLinks Calendar.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Queen of the Apostles (‘Regina Apostolorum’). (Moveable feast-- Saturday within Octave of the Ascension (16 May)2010]. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
St Rita of Cascia: -- Patroness of impossible cases. (Rev Hugo Hoever, SOCist, PhD, “Lives of the Saints”, p204)
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 -- The Feast of Pentecost: Mysterious circumstances
The Christian Pentecost occurred on a Sunday, the fiftieth day after the Sunday of the Resurrection. That day followed the Great Sabbath, or Jewish Pasch. Thus, the descent of the Holy Spirit did not take place on the Jewish Pentecost, but the next day. (Cornelius à Lapide. In “Act. Apost.”)
This circumstance, divinely ordained, inaugurated a great and solemn mystery-- ‘the succession of the New Law to the Old’. The Old Law, suited to the hard-heartedness of the Jews, was of ‘fear’ and ‘bondage’, given amidst thunders, engraved on ‘stone’.
The New Law is a law of ‘love’ and ‘liberty’, written by the Holy Spirit on the hearts of the faithful when he fills them with the interior spirit of love and filial piety.
Let us thank God for our having been born and baptized under the law of grace, and seek to perfect the interior law of love. This we can do in three ways:
1) we must treat God with the greatest confidence, like a tender Father, not a hard master or severe tyrant;
2) we must be actuated always by the spirit of love, and not by fear; and
3) we must serve God our Lord for himself, not for the sake of any reward.
On the Day of Pentecost the twelve Apostles, with St Peter presiding, and other disciples were assembled. Mary was in their midst in the upper room already consecrated by the mysteries of the Last Supper. The Holy Spirit chose this place to communicate himself to men, and which he filled throughout with his divine truth, but without extending himself outside of it.
This house represents the Church, “the assembly of the faithful who profess the true doctrine of Jesus Christ, under obedience to the successor of St Peter”. (“Mechlin Catechism” in Church History, p413-4) There alone is the Holy Spirit given; from thence alone flow holy Sacraments, the only true means of eternal salvation.
“There is no salvation out of the Church.” (“Catechism of the Catholic Church”, Nos. 846-8) What a blessed privilege to have the Church for our Mother! Through her we inherit eternal life. She showers down fresh graces upon us every day. What return can we make to her?
We can love her, honor her by the purity of our lives, pray earnestly that God would render her victorious over her enemies, and give her the whole world for her inheritance, according to the promise of our Lord. To offer to God for these ends our health, our talents, our learning, and even our lives.
Can we do more? Yes. We can use all our influence with others to induce them to love and honor the holy Church; to pursue the defence against her enemies.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp294-6
Crossing the threshold of hope
St Hilary holds, the Holy Spirit is the gift that bestows perfect hope (“On the Trinity”, II, 1). Hope has become one of John Paul II’s favorite themes: “Be not afraid!” he insists in his teaching, explaining in a speech the significance of hope and its role for Christians.
“St Paul tells the Corinthians, among the greatest gifts, is ‘hope’" (1 Cor 12:31). Hope has a fundamental role in Christian life, as has faith and love, although ‘the greatest of these is love’ (1 Cor 13:13). Clearly, hope is not understood in a restrictive sense of a special and extraordinary gift, given to some for the benefit of the community.
It is ‘a gift of the Holy Spirit offered to every person’ who in faith opens to Christ. Pay special attention to this gift, especially in our time, during which many humans -- even many Christians -- debate among themselves about the illusions and myths of an infinite capacity for self-redemption and self-fulfillment and the temptation to pessimism in the expectation of frequent disillusions and defeats.” (“The Holy Spirit, Guarantee of Eschatological Hope and Source of Final Perseverance”, general audience speech of 3 July 1991, of Pope John Paul II, 14, no. 2)
With hope the Christian is able to enter “the inner shrine behind the curtain” (Heb 6:19). “For the Spirit is given to the Church in order that through his power the whole community of the people of God, however widely scattered and diverse, may persevere in hope: that hope in which ‘we have been saved’ (Rom 8:24).
It is the hope of definitive fulfillment in God, the hope of the eternal kingdom, brought about by participation in the life of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit, given to the apostles as the Counselor, “is the guardian and animator of this hope in the heart of the Church”. (John Paul II, encyclical letter “Dominum et Vivificantem”, 18 May 1986) The Spirit is the dynamic force that inspires the lifestyle of Christians. ...
It seems ever clearer that the spirituality of the Third Millennium cannot be a spirituality enclosed in itself or one which denies the world to come. It must be one of full transfiguration because it is filled with the Spirit of life and hope. It will be a spirituality of resurrection. ...
Ref: cf Theological-Historical Commission, “The Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life”, 153-4, 1997
Pentecost Goes On
“The day of Pentecost” ... a day of particular solemnity which stands side by side with Easter Day itself, by reason of the dignity of the celebration and the spiritual riches contained in it.
Is it possible to establish a comparison between the Pentecost of which the “Acts of the Apostles” speaks, that occurred fifty days after the Lord’s resurrection, and the Pentecost of today? Yes. It is not only possible, it is also certain, undoubted and corroborating to recognize that link ‘in the life’ and ‘for the life’ of the Church, both at the level of her two-thousand years of history and of that of the events of the time in which we are living ...
We have the right, duty and joy to say that Pentecost goes on. We rightfully speak of the “perpetuity” of Pentecost. Gathered in that same Cenacle, which had been the place of the first Eucharist, then of the first meeting with the Risen One, the Apostles ‘discovered the power of the Holy Spirit’.
Made strong by that power, they began to act, that is, to carry through their service. The apostolic Church was born. And we are gathered here to ‘renew the mystery of that great day’.
That mystery ought to be manifested in a particular way through the Sacrament of Confirmation....
Ref: cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, p217
The Gift of Knowledge
“Creatures are a trace of the passing of God, whereby are revealed His greatness, power, wisdom and other Divine virtues.” (cf St John of the Cross, “The Spiritual Canticle”, 5, 3) Things reflect the splendor, beauty, goodness and power of God. In the words of the psalmist: “The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.” (Ps 19:1)
And yet, because of original sin and ensuing personal sins, men cannot perceive the signs of God in the world, fail to know him as the source of all good.
This gift enables us to understand creatures as signs which lead to God. “Like the gifts of understanding and of wisdom, the gift of knowledge is a contemplative gift enabling us to see into the very mystery of God.” (MM Philipon, “The Gifts of the Holy Spirit”, Madrid)
Through this gift a Christian perceives and understands that “all creation, the movement of earth and other heavenly bodies, the good actions of creatures and all the good that has been achieved in history, in short, everything, comes from God and is directed toward him.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 130)
This gift is a supernatural disposition whereby the soul participates in God’s knowledge, grasps the relationship between creatures and their Creator, and perceives how creation serves man’s last end.
The hymn which many Catholics use for thanksgiving after Holy Communion, clearly expresses this gift. “... all works of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and bless him forever. Angels of the Lord ... heavens ... sun and moon ... stars of heaven ... rain and dew ... nights and days ... light and darkness ... mountains and hills ... plants ... springs ... seas and rivers ... whales and fish ... birds of the air ... wild beasts and cattle ... priests of the Lord ... spirits and souls of the just ... the holy and humble in heart: praise and thank him because his mercy is everlasting.” (cf Daniel, 3:52-90)
The gift of knowledge enables the Christian who is docile to the Holy Spirit to perfectly discern between what leads to God and what separates from him. Perhaps a disordered desire for material goods; so the heart is not free to serve God.
Christians who must sanctify themselves in the middle of the world especially need this gift so as to direct all temporal activities to God, making them a means of holiness and apostolate. “There is something holy, something hidden in the most ordinary situations, and it is up to each one of you to discover it.” (“Conversations with Monsignor Escrivá”, 114)
In order to receive this gift we must ask the Holy Spirit to help us exercise freedom and detachment from material goods; to be more humble, so we can learn the value of things. Along with these dispositions we need to foster and increase our sense of God’s presence which helps us to see him in our work.
To make us capable of possessing this gift in full, we have recourse to the Blessed Virgin, “Mother of fair love, of fear, of knowledge, and of holy hope” (Sir 24:24).
“Mary is also the Mother of knowledge, for it is with her that we learn the most important lesson of all, that nothing is worthwhile if we are not close to Our Lord.
"All the wonders of this earth, the fulfilment of our every ambition, is worthless unless the living flame of love burns within us, unless there is the light of holy hope giving us a foretaste of never-ending love in our true homeland in heaven.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 278)
Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:543-8
` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` `
Mary Ever Virgin
“The purity, humility and generosity of Mary are in sharp contrast to our wretchedness and selfishness. To the extent we realize this, we should feel moved to imitate her. We, too, are creatures of God; and if we strive to imitate her fidelity, God will surely do great things in us. Our little worth is no obstacle, because God chooses what is of little value so the power of his love be more manifest.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 172)
Let us offer our Mother: ‘The prayer’, “Blessed be your purity” (In Belmonte and Socias [Eds], op cit, p15)
Blessed be your purity, / May it be blessed for ever. For not less than God takes delight, / In such exalted beauty. To you, heavenly Princess, Holy Virgin Mary, /I offer on this day My whole heart, life and soul. Look upon me with compassion, /Do not leave me, my Mother.
Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p311
· “I love Mary, I cannot live without her: she is my real mother; the other mother is only my nurse!” -- St Joseph da Copertino (In Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, p28)
Fruitfulness -- Rectitude of intention consists in seeking “only and in all things” the glory of God. (St Josemaria Escrivá, "The Forge", 921)
Our Lady of ‘Monte Vergine’, near Naples. This image preserved from flames the monastery and church consecrated in her honor. — P. Spinelli, Tractatus de exemplis et miraculis, last chapter. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of the Virgin’s Mount / ‘Monte Vergine’ / ‘Madonna della Monte Vergine’ (Virgin's Mount), Naples, Italy. 1119. (http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (MaryLinks Calendar.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Queen of the Apostles (‘Regina Apostolorum’). (Moveable feast-- Saturday within Octave of the Ascension (16 May)2010]. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
St Rita of Cascia: -- Patroness of impossible cases. (Rev Hugo Hoever, SOCist, PhD, “Lives of the Saints”, p204)
Thursday, May 20, 2010
21 May 2010: The Gift of Fear
God grants two remedies for all our temptations and trials: “Love and fear ... Love will make us quicken our steps, while fear will make us look where we are setting our feet so that we shall not fall.” (St Theresa, “The Way of Perfection”, 40, 1)
Worldly fear (cf MM Philipon, “The Gifts of the Holy Spirit”, Madrid) refers to physical evil or social disadvantages in life. We tend to flee from all earthly inconveniences; or abandon Christ and his Church on fearing fidelity to a Christian way of life can cause any hardship. Then comes ‘human respect’ which spawns countless surrenders and betrayal.
Servile fear is good. For many who are far from God, fear of the punishment of hell can be the first step toward conversion, the beginning of love. (cf Sir 25:12) Although fear should not be the main motive of the Christian, oftentimes, it will be a great defence against temptation and attractions of evil.
“He who fears is not perfected in love” (Jn 4:18) because the true Christian acts through love and is created to love. The holy fear of God, a gift of the Holy Spirit, is what dwelt, with the other gifts, in the most holy Soul of Christ and which also filled the Most Blessed Virgin. It is a consequence of the gift of wisdom and is its outward sign. (St Thomas, “Summa Theologiae”, II-II; 45, 1 and 3)
This filial fear is proper to children who feel protected by their Father whom they do not wish to offend. Its results are twofold: an immense respect for God’s majesty and a great horror of sin. This gift enables holy souls to admit their nothingness before God.
We may repeat as an aspiration St Josemaria Escriva’s words: “I am worth nothing, I have nothing, I can do nothing, I know nothing, I am nothing, nothing at all!” (Quoted by A Vazquez de Prada, “The Founder of Opus Dei”, Madrid) Concurrently, he realized the infinite greatness of knowing oneself and of being a child of God.
The gift of fear inclines us to understand that sin is the root cause of moral evils which divide and ravage society. (John Paul II, “Letter” presenting the “Instrumentum laboris” of the VI Synod of Bishops, 25 January 1983) It leads us also to hate deliberate venial sin; and to vigorously react against the first symptoms of lukewarmness, carelessness or mediocrity.
Love and fear must be our constant companions. “When love banishes fear, fear itself is changed into love.” (St Gregory of Nyssa, “Homily 15”) Then the soul understands better its infinite separation from God and its condition as a child of God. A loss of this holy fear of God weakens or removes the sense of sin. Tepidity sets in; the soul neglects God.
In the Gospel, Christ repeatedly said: “‘Do not fear ... do not be afraid’. ... rather fear him who can destroy both body and soul in hell” (Mt 10:28). “We are called to fortitude at the same time to fear of God, that comes of love, a filial fear. ... only when this fear sinks into our hearts can we be really strong with the strength of the apostles, the martyrs and the confessors.” (John Paul II, “Address to the new Cardinals”, 30 April 1979)
The gift of fear is rooted in humility and like it, has an affinity with the virtue of temperance. We use human goods moderately, secondary to our supernatural end. Sin is often traced to the disordered search for sense pleasures or for material things. Here, this gift is active, purifying and keeping the heart solely for God.
The gift of fear is primarily a struggle against sin. All the other gifts help in this specific mission: the insight bestowed by the gifts of understanding and wisdom about the greatness of God and the true meaning of sin; the gift of counsel maintains one in a relentless battle against evil. (cf MM Philipon, Op cit)
“Love and fear of God! These are two strong castles whence we can wage war on the world and on the devils.” (St Theresa, Op cit, 40, 2) Let us ask the Holy Spirit to help us recognize our faults sincerely and feel true sorrow for them. May God make us react: “My eyes shed streams of tears, because men do not keep thy law.” (Ps 118:136)
Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:573-8
` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` `
Mary’s Prayer
“Let us ask the Blessed Virgin to make us contemplatives, to teach us to recognize the constant calls from God at the door of our heart. Let us ask her now: 'Our Mother, you brought to earth Jesus, who reveals the love of our Father God. Help us to recognize him in the midst of the cares of each day. Stir up our mind and will so that we may listen to the voice of God, to the calls of grace.'” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 174)
Let us offer our Mother: ‘A visit to Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament.’
Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p311
The Rosary points the way to perfection
What is Christian life? It is the life of man, enlightened by the knowledge of God, based upon the holy fear of God, upheld by the hope of a reward, and completely vivified by the love of God. Our Blessed Mother, through the Rosary, teaches us to travel and to advance along the path of Christian perfection by unfolding before our eyes pictures of joy, sorrow, and glory.
It is impossible to live without pure and real joy. This reality of internal joy is shown by the Blessed Mother in the joyful mysteries. By meditating on these mysteries, we come to realize that our faith is a source of joy.
We realize moreover that this joy is not subject to events of the external world, but vital and perennial.
Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p54
The Rosary: Weapon for Peace
The Rosary is the wonder weapon. At Lepanto in 1571, it sank ships. In 1955, it removed the Russians from Catholic Austria. In 1962, it prevented the Communist takeover of Brazil. In the 1980’s, it has been documented that the bloodless revolution which removed Ferdinand Marcos from power in the Philippines was largely attributed to the praying of the Rosary.
THE ROSARY IS THE WEAPON THAT CAN BRING PEACE TO THE WORLD. (Our Lady explicitly said this at Fatima.)
Ref: Rev Albert J Shannon, “The POWER of the ROSARY”, 1990, pp39-40
Our Lady of Sweat, at Salerno, in Italy. It is said that this Madonna sweated blood and water in the year 1611, as a presage of a great conflagration which happened on the following day. — P. Spinelli, Tractatus de exemplis et miraculis, last chapter.(“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of Vladimir (Russia, 1115) and Our Lady of Sweat, Salerno, Italy (1611).
(http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (MaryLinks Calendar.htm)
Our Lady of Vladimir. Russia. 1115. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html);
(maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Our Lady of Sweat. Salerno, Italy. 1611. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
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 -- Decenary to the Holy Spirit: 9th Day
Obtaining the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
On the eve of this great feast, let us renew our fervor that we may not lose its fruits. Recall and put in practice with redoubled ardor, all the means that may tend to that end. The first of these is recollection which produces peace in the soul and union with God. The Apostles, though in the midst of people, were not of the world. They taught silence and solitude.
If we cannot be silent this day, away from worldly distractions -- let us try to avoid all causes of dissipation eg, over-eagerness at work, trivial conversations.
Let us carefully guard our senses and strictly observe the rules of modesty and silence, that we may be “interior men, closely united to God, lending, but not giving, ourselves to exterior things” (“Imitation of Christ”).
Prayer is the second indispensable means to obtain the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Apostles may feel excused from it since Jesus Christ ‘assured’ them that the Holy Spirit would come with all his gifts. Still, they prayed earnestly. They knew that though God bestows his gifts liberally and by his free grace, they must be also the fruits of persevering prayer.
Let us recall the past days, and examine if there has been any relaxation in our prayers. Our inconstancy makes it very probable. If we find it to be so, let us try today to compensate by redoubled fervor. Avoid saying that our numerous occupations today will hinder us from praying much.
Holy Scripture says, ‘Let nothing hinder you from praying always’. We do not pray with our hands, but with our hearts. Let your external occupations be accompanied by frequent raisings of your heart towards God, and they will be changed into prayers. We may thus pray all day long without interruption.
There is a third means which adds greatly to the efficacy of the two preceding. We must take special notice of it on this last day of the novena. This means is the intercession of our Lady, of whom the world’s Redeemer was born, and ‘through whose intercession’, says St Bernard, ‘God grants all our petitions’.
Let us, then, today fix our eyes upon our glorious and powerful Mother. Let us ask her with great confidence to unite her prayers to ours, as she did on this day to those of the Apostles and disciples.
To obtain for us, as she did for them, a copious outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we should do well to insert her name in all our aspirations; and we shall do this more readily as Saturday is always consecrated to her honor.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp289-91
Mary, God-bearer
The Spirit, who made Mary an incomparable masterpiece, at the same time continually teaches and educates the Church to venerate the Virgin (cf Second Vatican Council, “Lumen Gentium”, 53). This must give rise to a Marian religious instruction and piety free from defect or excess.
Mary has an indispensable place in the economy of salvation. She was the one ‘to render Christ our brother’ (St Francis). Her free and loving collaboration with the Spirit makes her a model of every relationship with the Sanctifying Holy Spirit. ...
And if Mary collaborates with the Spirit so ... must the Church docilely make itself available to him to become the ‘mother of saints and martyrs’. This is true for the Church as a whole and also for every individual Christian. For Jesus to be born in every soul and continue the mystery of the ‘Theotokos’ (God-bearer), the Creator must be in the very hearts of his creatures and the divine Spirit must overshadow them. ...
Let us reread the beautiful prayer by St Ildephonsus of Toledo: “I pray, I pray, O Holy Virgin, that I should have Jesus by that same Spirit by which you engendered Jesus. May my soul receive Jesus, by the work of that Spirit through whom your flesh conceived Jesus himself. ... May I love Jesus in that same Spirit in whom you worship him as Lord and contemplate him as Son.” (“On the Perpetual Virginity of Blessed Mary”, Theological-Historical Commission, “The Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life”, p12, 1997.)
Ref: Theological-Historical Commission, op cit, pp88-90
Prayer of the heart
Your soul’s inclination is very simple and what is simple is best. It turns straight to God, and so you must follow it unfailingly and gently, without effort or eagerness either to keep it or recapture it when your perception of it is gone, otherwise you would be claiming God’s gifts as your own.
Distractions and dryness are fairly frequent in this type of prayer. Yet, endured with patience and self-abandonment, these are themselves excellent prayers. Moreover, though these distractions and aridity be painful, they do not hinder that sustained desire to pray that is found in the depths of the heart. Heartfelt prayer is no other than this.
If you have been using this excellent form of prayer for a whole year, possibly two, a book will not help you. If, however, these periods of helplessness and aridity last for (say) seven or eight consecutive days, by all means take a book, but read it with frequent pauses.
Again, if you find that such reading further distracts or troubles you interiorly, break it off and seek to remain in God’s presence in silent peace, so far as you are able.
You must not be surprised -- still less must you be perturbed -- if what has moved you in the past moves you no longer: such vicissitudes must be endured interiorly as changes of weather and season are endured exteriorly. Not to expect them is to show a singular lack of experience.
Resolutions are rarely used in this kind of prayer. Yet much more good comes of it than of resolutions made during meditation.
Ref: “The Fire of Divine Love: Readings from Jean-Pierre de Caussade”, Edited by Robert Llewelyn, 1995, p84
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
Fruitfulness -- Rectitude of intention consists in seeking “only and in all things” the glory of God. (St Josemaria Escrivá, "The Forge", 921)
Struggle -- Humility and obedience are the indispensable conditions for acquiring good doctrine. (St Josemaria Escrivá, op cit, 132)
Worldly fear (cf MM Philipon, “The Gifts of the Holy Spirit”, Madrid) refers to physical evil or social disadvantages in life. We tend to flee from all earthly inconveniences; or abandon Christ and his Church on fearing fidelity to a Christian way of life can cause any hardship. Then comes ‘human respect’ which spawns countless surrenders and betrayal.
Servile fear is good. For many who are far from God, fear of the punishment of hell can be the first step toward conversion, the beginning of love. (cf Sir 25:12) Although fear should not be the main motive of the Christian, oftentimes, it will be a great defence against temptation and attractions of evil.
“He who fears is not perfected in love” (Jn 4:18) because the true Christian acts through love and is created to love. The holy fear of God, a gift of the Holy Spirit, is what dwelt, with the other gifts, in the most holy Soul of Christ and which also filled the Most Blessed Virgin. It is a consequence of the gift of wisdom and is its outward sign. (St Thomas, “Summa Theologiae”, II-II; 45, 1 and 3)
This filial fear is proper to children who feel protected by their Father whom they do not wish to offend. Its results are twofold: an immense respect for God’s majesty and a great horror of sin. This gift enables holy souls to admit their nothingness before God.
We may repeat as an aspiration St Josemaria Escriva’s words: “I am worth nothing, I have nothing, I can do nothing, I know nothing, I am nothing, nothing at all!” (Quoted by A Vazquez de Prada, “The Founder of Opus Dei”, Madrid) Concurrently, he realized the infinite greatness of knowing oneself and of being a child of God.
The gift of fear inclines us to understand that sin is the root cause of moral evils which divide and ravage society. (John Paul II, “Letter” presenting the “Instrumentum laboris” of the VI Synod of Bishops, 25 January 1983) It leads us also to hate deliberate venial sin; and to vigorously react against the first symptoms of lukewarmness, carelessness or mediocrity.
Love and fear must be our constant companions. “When love banishes fear, fear itself is changed into love.” (St Gregory of Nyssa, “Homily 15”) Then the soul understands better its infinite separation from God and its condition as a child of God. A loss of this holy fear of God weakens or removes the sense of sin. Tepidity sets in; the soul neglects God.
In the Gospel, Christ repeatedly said: “‘Do not fear ... do not be afraid’. ... rather fear him who can destroy both body and soul in hell” (Mt 10:28). “We are called to fortitude at the same time to fear of God, that comes of love, a filial fear. ... only when this fear sinks into our hearts can we be really strong with the strength of the apostles, the martyrs and the confessors.” (John Paul II, “Address to the new Cardinals”, 30 April 1979)
The gift of fear is rooted in humility and like it, has an affinity with the virtue of temperance. We use human goods moderately, secondary to our supernatural end. Sin is often traced to the disordered search for sense pleasures or for material things. Here, this gift is active, purifying and keeping the heart solely for God.
The gift of fear is primarily a struggle against sin. All the other gifts help in this specific mission: the insight bestowed by the gifts of understanding and wisdom about the greatness of God and the true meaning of sin; the gift of counsel maintains one in a relentless battle against evil. (cf MM Philipon, Op cit)
“Love and fear of God! These are two strong castles whence we can wage war on the world and on the devils.” (St Theresa, Op cit, 40, 2) Let us ask the Holy Spirit to help us recognize our faults sincerely and feel true sorrow for them. May God make us react: “My eyes shed streams of tears, because men do not keep thy law.” (Ps 118:136)
Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:573-8
` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` `
Mary’s Prayer
“Let us ask the Blessed Virgin to make us contemplatives, to teach us to recognize the constant calls from God at the door of our heart. Let us ask her now: 'Our Mother, you brought to earth Jesus, who reveals the love of our Father God. Help us to recognize him in the midst of the cares of each day. Stir up our mind and will so that we may listen to the voice of God, to the calls of grace.'” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 174)
Let us offer our Mother: ‘A visit to Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament.’
Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p311
The Rosary points the way to perfection
What is Christian life? It is the life of man, enlightened by the knowledge of God, based upon the holy fear of God, upheld by the hope of a reward, and completely vivified by the love of God. Our Blessed Mother, through the Rosary, teaches us to travel and to advance along the path of Christian perfection by unfolding before our eyes pictures of joy, sorrow, and glory.
It is impossible to live without pure and real joy. This reality of internal joy is shown by the Blessed Mother in the joyful mysteries. By meditating on these mysteries, we come to realize that our faith is a source of joy.
We realize moreover that this joy is not subject to events of the external world, but vital and perennial.
Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p54
The Rosary: Weapon for Peace
The Rosary is the wonder weapon. At Lepanto in 1571, it sank ships. In 1955, it removed the Russians from Catholic Austria. In 1962, it prevented the Communist takeover of Brazil. In the 1980’s, it has been documented that the bloodless revolution which removed Ferdinand Marcos from power in the Philippines was largely attributed to the praying of the Rosary.
THE ROSARY IS THE WEAPON THAT CAN BRING PEACE TO THE WORLD. (Our Lady explicitly said this at Fatima.)
Ref: Rev Albert J Shannon, “The POWER of the ROSARY”, 1990, pp39-40
Our Lady of Sweat, at Salerno, in Italy. It is said that this Madonna sweated blood and water in the year 1611, as a presage of a great conflagration which happened on the following day. — P. Spinelli, Tractatus de exemplis et miraculis, last chapter.(“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of Vladimir (Russia, 1115) and Our Lady of Sweat, Salerno, Italy (1611).
(http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (MaryLinks Calendar.htm)
Our Lady of Vladimir. Russia. 1115. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html);
(maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Our Lady of Sweat. Salerno, Italy. 1611. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
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 -- Decenary to the Holy Spirit: 9th Day
Obtaining the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
On the eve of this great feast, let us renew our fervor that we may not lose its fruits. Recall and put in practice with redoubled ardor, all the means that may tend to that end. The first of these is recollection which produces peace in the soul and union with God. The Apostles, though in the midst of people, were not of the world. They taught silence and solitude.
If we cannot be silent this day, away from worldly distractions -- let us try to avoid all causes of dissipation eg, over-eagerness at work, trivial conversations.
Let us carefully guard our senses and strictly observe the rules of modesty and silence, that we may be “interior men, closely united to God, lending, but not giving, ourselves to exterior things” (“Imitation of Christ”).
Prayer is the second indispensable means to obtain the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Apostles may feel excused from it since Jesus Christ ‘assured’ them that the Holy Spirit would come with all his gifts. Still, they prayed earnestly. They knew that though God bestows his gifts liberally and by his free grace, they must be also the fruits of persevering prayer.
Let us recall the past days, and examine if there has been any relaxation in our prayers. Our inconstancy makes it very probable. If we find it to be so, let us try today to compensate by redoubled fervor. Avoid saying that our numerous occupations today will hinder us from praying much.
Holy Scripture says, ‘Let nothing hinder you from praying always’. We do not pray with our hands, but with our hearts. Let your external occupations be accompanied by frequent raisings of your heart towards God, and they will be changed into prayers. We may thus pray all day long without interruption.
There is a third means which adds greatly to the efficacy of the two preceding. We must take special notice of it on this last day of the novena. This means is the intercession of our Lady, of whom the world’s Redeemer was born, and ‘through whose intercession’, says St Bernard, ‘God grants all our petitions’.
Let us, then, today fix our eyes upon our glorious and powerful Mother. Let us ask her with great confidence to unite her prayers to ours, as she did on this day to those of the Apostles and disciples.
To obtain for us, as she did for them, a copious outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we should do well to insert her name in all our aspirations; and we shall do this more readily as Saturday is always consecrated to her honor.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp289-91
Mary, God-bearer
The Spirit, who made Mary an incomparable masterpiece, at the same time continually teaches and educates the Church to venerate the Virgin (cf Second Vatican Council, “Lumen Gentium”, 53). This must give rise to a Marian religious instruction and piety free from defect or excess.
Mary has an indispensable place in the economy of salvation. She was the one ‘to render Christ our brother’ (St Francis). Her free and loving collaboration with the Spirit makes her a model of every relationship with the Sanctifying Holy Spirit. ...
And if Mary collaborates with the Spirit so ... must the Church docilely make itself available to him to become the ‘mother of saints and martyrs’. This is true for the Church as a whole and also for every individual Christian. For Jesus to be born in every soul and continue the mystery of the ‘Theotokos’ (God-bearer), the Creator must be in the very hearts of his creatures and the divine Spirit must overshadow them. ...
Let us reread the beautiful prayer by St Ildephonsus of Toledo: “I pray, I pray, O Holy Virgin, that I should have Jesus by that same Spirit by which you engendered Jesus. May my soul receive Jesus, by the work of that Spirit through whom your flesh conceived Jesus himself. ... May I love Jesus in that same Spirit in whom you worship him as Lord and contemplate him as Son.” (“On the Perpetual Virginity of Blessed Mary”, Theological-Historical Commission, “The Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life”, p12, 1997.)
Ref: Theological-Historical Commission, op cit, pp88-90
Prayer of the heart
Your soul’s inclination is very simple and what is simple is best. It turns straight to God, and so you must follow it unfailingly and gently, without effort or eagerness either to keep it or recapture it when your perception of it is gone, otherwise you would be claiming God’s gifts as your own.
Distractions and dryness are fairly frequent in this type of prayer. Yet, endured with patience and self-abandonment, these are themselves excellent prayers. Moreover, though these distractions and aridity be painful, they do not hinder that sustained desire to pray that is found in the depths of the heart. Heartfelt prayer is no other than this.
If you have been using this excellent form of prayer for a whole year, possibly two, a book will not help you. If, however, these periods of helplessness and aridity last for (say) seven or eight consecutive days, by all means take a book, but read it with frequent pauses.
Again, if you find that such reading further distracts or troubles you interiorly, break it off and seek to remain in God’s presence in silent peace, so far as you are able.
You must not be surprised -- still less must you be perturbed -- if what has moved you in the past moves you no longer: such vicissitudes must be endured interiorly as changes of weather and season are endured exteriorly. Not to expect them is to show a singular lack of experience.
Resolutions are rarely used in this kind of prayer. Yet much more good comes of it than of resolutions made during meditation.
Ref: “The Fire of Divine Love: Readings from Jean-Pierre de Caussade”, Edited by Robert Llewelyn, 1995, p84
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
Fruitfulness -- Rectitude of intention consists in seeking “only and in all things” the glory of God. (St Josemaria Escrivá, "The Forge", 921)
Struggle -- Humility and obedience are the indispensable conditions for acquiring good doctrine. (St Josemaria Escrivá, op cit, 132)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
