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)