Our Lord promises the Apostles, the pillars of the Church, that they will be “clothed with power from on high” (Lk 24:49). The Paraclete assists the Church and each of her members until the end of time.
The supernatural virtue of fortitude, God’s direct help, is absolutely necessary for Christians to fight and overcome the obstacles in their interior battle to love God more every day and fulfil their duties.
The virtue of fortitude is perfected by the gift of fortitude, which makes the acts of the virtue fast and easy to perform. We can say with St Paul: “I can do all things in him who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:13)
Under the action of the Holy Spirit, the Christian feels capable of the most difficult actions and bearing the hardest trials for love of God. The soul, moved by this gift, does not trust its own strength; aware of its own weakness and inability to carry out the task of its sanctification and the mission which God entrusts to it.
Especially in difficult moments, it hears God’s voice: “I will be with you”; and dares reply: “If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? ... Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ...
“No, in all these we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (cf Rom 8:31-9) These words are a cry of fortitude and of optimism based on God.
If we allow the Paraclete to possess our lives, our confidence will be unlimited. We will truly understand that He chooses what is weak, low and despised in the world “... so that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (cf 1 Cor 1:27-9). He asks his children only to place all at his disposal so that he may do wonders of grace and of mercy.
In the soul that is docile to the Holy Spirit this gift produces an ever greater desire for holiness that never wavers amidst obstacles and difficulties. St Thomas says we must desire holiness such that “in this life we are never satisfied, as a miser is never satisfied”. (“Commentary on St Matthew”, 5, 2)
This virtue can bring one to willingly offer his life in witness to the faith if our Lord so desires. God has demanded martyrdom, the supreme act of fortitude, of many of the faithful throughout the Church’s history. Usually, though, what is asked of us is heroism in the daily fulfilment of our ordinary duties.
Every day we need the gift of fortitude, because daily we must practise the virtue of fortitude in order to overcome our whims, selfishness and laziness. We must not waver in an environment often hostile to Christ’s doctrine, so as to overcome human respect and give witness as the Apostles did.
The gift of fortitude sees difficulties as challenges. “Trees that grow in shady and sheltered places, while externally healthy, become soft and yielding, easily damaged by anything; whereas trees that grow on the tops of very high mountains, buffeted by strong winds and constantly exposed to all types of weather, agitated by storms and frequently covered by snow, become stronger than iron.” (St John Chrysostom, “Homily on the glory of tribulation”)
This gift is obtained through humility, having recourse to God in prayer and the sacraments. The sacrament of Confirmation gave us the strength to fight as soldiers of Christ. (cf 2 Tim 2:3) The Holy Eucharist, “food for our strength”, (cf St Augustine, “Confessions”, 7, 10) restores our energies.
The sacrament of Penance fortifies us against sin and temptation. In the sacrament of Anointing our Lord gives us his help to conquer in the final battle, in which our eternal destiny is decided.
A sweet and wise Master, the Holy Spirit is also demanding; doesn’t give his gifts unless we are ready to take up our Cross and correspond to his graces.
Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:567-72
` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` `
Mary’s Hope
“Our Lady, a full participant in the work of our salvation, follows in the footsteps of her Son -- the poverty of Bethlehem, the everyday work of a hidden life in Nazareth, the manifestation of his divinity in Cana of Galilee, the tortures of his passion, the divine sacrifice on the cross, the eternal blessedness of paradise.
“All of this affects us directly, because this supernatural itinerary is the way we are to follow. Mary shows us that we can walk this path with confidence. She has preceded us on the way of imitating Christ; her glorification is the firm hope of our own salvation. For these reasons we call her ‘our hope, cause of our joy’.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 176)
Let us offer our Mother: ‘A smile when we do not feel like smiling.’
Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, pp310-11
· “Let the Rosary, this simple beautiful method of prayer enriched with many indulgences, be habitually recited by all and in every home. These are my last words to you, the memorial I leave behind me.” -- Pope Pius IX
· “The Rosary is the Creed turned into prayer.” -- Cardinal J H Newman
· “This simple and profound prayer, the Rosary, teaches us to make Christ the principle and end, not only of Marian devotions, but of our entire life.” -- Pope Paul VI
· “The sum total of the love of all mothers for their children can never equal the love of Mary for only one soul.” -- St Alphonsus Liguori
Ref: In Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, pp57, 56, 55, 18
Dedication of the church of 'La Ferte', in the diocese of Chalons in Burgundy, in honor of Our Lady. This abbey, the eldest daughter of Citeaux, was founded in the year 1113 by Savaric and William, Counts of Chalons. — Ex Archiviis Abbatis Firmitatis. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Dedication of the Church of ‘La Ferté’ in honor of Our Lady (Burgundy, France, 1113) 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)
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: 8th Day
Crosses and humiliations will bring great delight
In order to sustain our fervor till the end of the novena, let us meditate on the great ends for which our Lord promised to send the Holy Spirit upon his Apostles and disciples. First, after his Ascension, he begins to comfort and encourage them in all the trials of life, especially in the hard labors of their apostolate.
“A little while now and you will not see me” (Jn 14:19) ... “I will not leave you orphans” (Jn 14:18) ... “I will ask the Father and he shall give you another Paraclete to be with you always” (Jn 14:16-7).
His promise fulfilled, the Apostles began to preach, but were beaten and cast into prison. Far from being disheartened, they rejoiced. The Holy Spirit worked the same miracle for the first Christians amidst the dreadful persecutions. St Luke writes, “the Church ... was filled with the solace of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 4:31).
We, too must expect many trials, difficulties, and contradictions on fulfilling our duties. If the Holy Spirit is with us, we shall endure them not only with resignation but also with joy. Crosses and humiliations will become our greatest delight. How diligently, then, must we seek and entertain this blessed Spirit!
God’s second end in sending the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles was to shed upon their souls the clear light of faith; and to give them a more perfect understanding of the truths Jesus had only partially revealed.
Jesus said on the eve of his death: “I still have many things to say; but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will teach you all truth ... and declare the things that are to come.” (Jn 16:12-3)
What the Holy Spirit did for the Apostles and early Christians he will do also for all who strive to attract him into their hearts. For this reason, on all important occasions the Church begins by imploring the Holy Spirit’s light and assistance; reciting frequently either the ‘Veni Creator’ or the ‘Veni Sancte Spiritus’. Do we invoke the Holy Spirit with our lips and heart?
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp287-9
Trusting God in all things
I do not understand your anxieties ...; why do you insist in tormenting yourself over the future, when your faith teaches you that the future is in the hands of a Father who is infinitely good, who loves you more than you love yourself and who understands your interests far better than you?
Have you forgotten that everything that happens is directed by the orders of divine Providence? But if we know this how can we hesitate to remain in a state of humble submission to all that God wishes or permits?
How blind are we when we desire anything other than what God wishes. He alone knows the dangers which threaten us in the future and the help which we shall need.
I am firmly convinced that we should all be lost if God gave us our desires, and that is why, as Augustine says, God, in his mercy and compassion for our blindness, does not always grant our prayers, and sometimes gives us the contrary of what we ask as being in reality better for us.
Rightly understood, how many troubles and useless anxieties injurious to our peace of heart and spiritual advancement would not this one principle, dispel! Shall I never succeed with the help of grace in instilling into your mind, still more into your heart this principle of faith, so sweet, so consoling, so loving, so pacifying?
When one is illuminated by heavenly light, one thinks very differently from most men, but what a source of peace, what power one finds in this way of thinking and looking at things! Let us study to give all our care and intention to the task of conforming ourselves in all things to the holy will of God in spite of interior revolt.
That revolt in itself must be accepted in obedience to the will of God, which permits it in order to accustom us to remain at all times and in all circumstances before him in a state of sacrifice and with a self-abandonment full of confidence.
Ref: “The Fire of Divine Love: Readings from Jean-Pierre de Caussade”, Edited by Robert Llewelyn, 1995, p37
Mary, Docile Resting Place of the Spirit
Everything that Mary became, with her free acceptance and collaboration, she owes to her son, Jesus, and the action of the Holy Spirit. The Virgin is the ‘all holy’ because from the first moment of her existence she was the “temple of the Holy Spirit” (“Lumen Gentium”, 53). “Full of grace” means nothing other than “full of the Holy Spirit”, because it is always the Spirit who brings about communion with the entire Trinity.
‘The Father predestined her, purified her, made her holy and, so to say, immaculate’, (“Homily on the Dormition”, I, 3) wrote St John Damascene. Mary’s transformation by the Spirit was so profound from the beginning as to touch her very essence.
Theophanes of Nicea, a Byzantine author of the fourteenth century writes: “Mary from the beginning was united with the Spirit, author of life; everything that she experienced she shared with the Spirit so that her participation in the Spirit became a participation in being” (“Discourse on the Mother of God”, 30). This is the real reason why Mary was ‘all holy’ from the first moment of her existence.
Mary was molded and made into a new creature by the Spirit. This “original holiness” of Mary was not something passive, however, because from the moment she became conscious of this she collaborated in a unique way with the Spirit to nurture that intense and profound union with God.
The Spirit guided Mary her entire life, especially in the most salient moments of her existence, just as he leads the children of God (cf Rom 8:14); and as he guided Jesus in the desert (cf Lk 4:1).
Ref: cf Theological-Historical Commission, “The Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life”, 1997, pp80-81
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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