40th day of Easter: Thursday after 6th Sunday of Easter or
7th Sunday of Easter (Fr James Socias et al [Eds] “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p511)
St Luke relates: “And he led them out as far as Bethania; ... lifting up his hands he blessed them: ... it came to pass while he blessed them, he departed from them and was carried up into heaven.” (24:50-51)
He was “taken up into heaven and sits at the right hand of God” (Mk 16:19). “While they watched, he was raised up, and a cloud took him out of their sight; while they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly, two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up to heaven? This Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’ Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet.” (Acts 1:9-12)
Let us try on this great feast, to gaze with the eyes of our mind upon Jesus rising slowly, making his triumphal entry into heaven, advancing to the foot of his Father’s throne attended by celestial spirits, and receiving a glorious crown and power over his enemies.
“Sit thou at my right hand, until I make Thy enemies Thy footstool.” (Ps 110:1) Let us ask him to draw our hearts to himself, and to raise our thoughts and affections to heaven, that we may dwell there in spirit.
The disciples returned to Jerusalem, with great joy; and yet they had just suffered the pain of a most bitter parting. What explains this joy? Their Divine Master has returned to his kingdom as a Conqueror. On his entrance into heaven he opened its gates the sin of our first parents had closed. By thus exalting his human nature, he ennobled ours, and made it capable of contemplating the divine nature. He had promised to intercede with his Father: “I go to prepare a place for you. ...” (Jn 14:2)
Let these be also the motives of our joy. Let us meditate devoutly on them and, as our Lord promised, “your joy no man shall take from you” (Jn 16:22). Amidst whatever difficulties, we will exclaim, “I exceedingly abound with joy in all our tribulations”. And again, “Knowing that as you are partakers of his sufferings, so shall you be also of his consolations” (cf 2 Cor 1:5-7).
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp270-72
Jesus awaits us in heaven
The last gesture of Our Lord on earth was to give a blessing. (cf Lk 24:51) The Eleven had gone, as Jesus had told them, to the mount of Olives near Jerusalem. On seeing the risen Christ once more they fell down before him as their Master and their God and “worshipped him” (cf Mt 28:17).
Now they are much more conscious of what they had for some time believed in their hearts and confessed with their lips: their Master is the Messiah. (cf Mt 16:18) They were joyful at having their Lord and God so near. After the forty days spent in his company they could be witnesses to what they had seen and heard. The Holy Spirit would confirm in them the teachings of Jesus.
The Master spoke to them as only God can: “All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Mt 28:18). Jesus confirmed their faith and taught them the power they were to receive was a sharing in his divine power: to forgive sins.
To bring about a rebirth through Baptism is the power of Christ, given now to his Church. The mission of the Church is to continue the work of Christ, to teach men divine truths and make known the demands these truths impose, to help men follow God’s way through the grace of the sacraments.
“He said to them ... ‘You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judaea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth’.” (Acts 1:7-9)
The Apostles remained looking up as Jesus ascended majestically into the cloud signifying the presence of God (cf Ex 13:22; Lk 9:34 ff) “... Jesus had entered Heaven”. (St John Chrysostom, “Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles”, 2)
Jesus’ life on earth ended with his Ascension, not with his death -- the last of the mysteries of his life on earth. Together with his Passion, Death and Resurrection it makes up the Paschal Mystery. It was fitting that those who saw Christ die amid insults, scoffing and mockery on the Cross should now see him exalted.
“Today’s feast reminds us that our concern for souls is a response to our Lord’s command of love. As he goes up to Heaven, Jesus sends us out as his witnesses throughout the whole world. Our responsibility is great, because to be Christ’s witness implies first of all that we should try to behave according to his doctrine, that we should struggle to make our actions remind others of Jesus and his most lovable personality.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 122)
Jesus departs, but he remains close to all: in the Tabernacle. Let us visit him there though often we can do so only with our heart; and ask his help in our apostolate. To make known his teaching everywhere.
The Apostles returned to Jerusalem in the company of Mary and awaited the Holy Spirit. Let us prepare for the coming of Pentecost also staying close to Our Lady.
Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:531-2
In Christ the Visible World is Created Again
Our spirit is set in one direction, for our intellect, will and heart: towards Christ the Redeemer of man. We wish to look towards him repeating what Peter said: Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
We must constantly aim at him “the head”, “through whom are all things and through whom we exist”, “the way and the truth” and “the resurrection and the life”, and who had to go away from us by his death on the Cross so that by his Ascension into heaven the Counsellor should come and keep coming to us as the Spirit of truth. In him are “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”, and the Church is his Body.
Ref: cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, pp249-50
` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` `
Mary at the foot of the Cross
“We find her on Calvary, praying. This is nothing new for Mary. She has always acted like this, as she fulfilled her duties and looked after her home. As she went about the things of this earth she kept her attention on God.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, "Friends of God", 241)
Let us offer our Mother: “The ‘act of contrition’ said many times throughout the day asking her to offer our sorrow for our sins to Jesus crucified.”
Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p30
Act of Contrition
“Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.” (“The New Missal for Every Day” by Rev FX Lasance, 1925, p3*)
Penance
“Do penance: bury your negligences, offenses and sins in the deep pit dug by your humility. Thus does the farmer bury rotten fruit, dead twigs and fallen leaves at the foot of the tree that bore them. And what was unfruitful, even harmful, makes a real contribution to a new fertility.
“Learn to draw from your falls a new impulse: from death, life.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 211)
How do you recite the Rosary?
The official way, when the Rosary is used as a devotional practice by a group of people or in Church, is to start with the Sign of the Cross, followed by the ‘Apostles’ Creed’, ‘Our Father’, three ‘Hail, Mary’s’, and ‘Glory be’ for an increase of faith, hope and charity; then the enunciation of the mystery, ‘Our Father’, ten ‘Hail, Marys’, and ‘Glory be’.
Let us remember that the Rosary is very pleasing to Mary, is highly efficacious to obtain graces; and is the easiest way to honor God and the Blessed Virgin. The Rosary should be recited with faith, with a determined resolution to reform our lives and with devotion.
Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, p57
· “The Rosary is an excellent prayer, but the faithful should feel serenely free in its regard. They should be drawn to its calm recitation by its intrinsic appeal.” -- Pope Paul VI, “Marialis Cultus” (In Ibid, Op cit, p51)
Apparition of Our Lady to St Catherine of Alexandria, whose body was discovered on the 13th of this month, on Mount Sinai, in consequence of a revelation which the Queen of heaven gave. — See her Life. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady’s Apparition to St Catherine of Alexandria (4th Century) (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)
Madonna della Guardia, Bologna, Italy (http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html; MaryLinks Calendar.htm)
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: 4th Day
The Apostles persevered in prayer
Prayer was the chief occupation of the Apostles and disciples during the nine days after the Ascension. (Acts 1:14) How did they pray? With great faith, a keen sense of the presence of God; consequently, with great exterior and interior recollection. Since his Ascension, Jesus was no longer visibly present with them.
As man, Jesus was parted from them; but as God, they knew he was still in their midst, seeing, hearing everything. They, therefore, observed the greatest reverence and modesty in all they said and do.
Behold here the first conditions of acceptable prayer. Attended by a lively faith and firm conviction that God sees and hears us. His eye pierces the recesses of our hearts; reads our most secret thoughts.
Do we have this faith? If so, we will always be modest and reverent; attentive to our words. It follows that, if we pray without this reverence and attention, we have little faith; our prayers can avail but little.
The prayer of the Apostles and disciples was accompanied by a deep humility and great confidence. Their humility proceeded from the remembrance of their past infidelities, and consciousness of their own weakness and inability to accomplish the work entrusted to them. On the other hand, this very weakness led them to place great confidence in the efficacy of prayer, which their Divine Lord had told them would obtain all their desires and supply all their needs.
‘The prayer of him that humbles himself shall pierce the clouds’, says the Wise Man. Have our prayers often failed for want of humility? And yet what motives we have for humility! Our past sins, frequent infidelities, and uncertainty of final perseverance. If we keep them constantly in mind, we shall always pray with a humble and contrite heart; and will increase both our confidence and fervor.
The Apostles prayed with perfect resignation regarding when it might please God to send his Holy Spirit. They knew he would be granted to their prayers; but being ignorant of the day and hour, they resolved to persevere for as long as it should please their Lord. Their perseverance was rewarded. On the tenth day they received the gifts of the Holy Spirit in full.
Have we perhaps, implied certain conditions to our prayers with regard to time? We have abandoned it because our prayer was not granted at once. Our failure in resignation and perseverance is the cause of our prayer remaining unanswered -- our own fault.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp279-80
In virtue of the Spirit, Mary becomes Mother of God
All of Mary’s greatness is in the fact she is the ‘Mother of God’; the central point of all the Virgin is in herself and relative to believers. The Spirit is present and effective in a most precise way in this divine maternity. We are indebted to the Spirit for that event.
Let us pause and meditate on ‘how’ Mary ‘virginally’ becomes the Mother of God. The Holy Spirit, in the present economy of salvation, is always the ‘precursor of Christ’. Without the previous descent and activity of the Spirit, there can be no visible presence of the Word.
‘The Anunciation to the Virgin’ is the most evident and most important event in this process of the divine economy. This salvific fact in which ‘our salvation began’ already represents a pentecost.
The Spirit descends on Mary in an effective way to make the Son of God a human being. Mary asked, “How can this be ...?” How can I virginally conceive a baby? The angel replied: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you; the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” (Luke, 1:35)
The Creed professes that Jesus ‘was born of the Virgin Mary by the work of the Holy Spirit’. The Holy Spirit, ‘he who gives life’ descends on Mary; surrounds her. It is he who has made known the Word of God.
In the fullness of time, the Son of God, is made man in the womb of the Virgin. Fathers of the Church affirm: ‘When Mary gave her answer to God, she received the Spirit, who molded in her that flesh equal to God.’
Why, we may ask, does this ‘becoming flesh’ of the Word, his becoming man, take place in the very womb of Mary, the Virgin of Nazareth? Why has such involvement between a human creature and the Holy Spirit never happened at any other time in human history? In Mary all this took place with the least resistance.
Ref: cf Theological-Historical Commission, “The Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life”, 83-4, 1997
Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit
“O Lord Jesus Christ, who before ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in Your apostles and disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in me the work of Your grace and Your love.
“Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may not cling to the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal.
“Grant me the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth.
“Grant me the Spirit of Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven.
“Grant me the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that hinder my salvation.
“Grant me the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect like the saints.
“Grant me the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable.
“Grant me the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him.
“Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of Your true disciples and animate me in all things with Your Spirit.
“Amen.”
Ref: Rev James Alberione, SSP in “Pray Always”, Pauline’s Publishing House
Concluding Prayer
Holy and divine Spirit! Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, your spouse, bring the fullness of your gifts into our hearts. Comforted and strengthened by you, may we live according to your Will and may we die praising your infinite mercy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Ref: Fr James Socias, et al (Editors), “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p2080
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