“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)
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