Through baptism a Christian becomes the ‘living temple’ of the Holy Spirit, a truth which St Paul always refers to: “Know you not, that your members are the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you?” (1 Cor 6:19) It is worthy to note that the ceremonies used in baptism are the same as those for consecration of churches.
St Paul draws the practical conclusion from this great truth. After saying the above, he immediately adds, “Glorify and bear God in your body” (1 Cor 6:20). Make your body an instrument for the glory of God; keep it free from all stain, adorn it with virtue and good works, as an altar is dressed and tended.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp312-3
The Father and the Son revealed by the Spirit
Before his Passover, Jesus announced the sending of ‘another Paraclete’ (Advocate), the Holy Spirit. At work since creation, having previously ‘spoken through the prophets’, the Spirit will now be with and in the disciples, to teach them and guide them ‘into all the truth’. The Holy Spirit is thus revealed as another divine person with Jesus and the Father.
The eternal origin of the Holy Spirit is revealed in his mission in time. The Spirit is sent to the apostles and to the Church both by the Father in the name of the Son, and by the Son in person, once he had returned to the Father. The sending of the person of the Spirit after Jesus’ glorification reveals in its fulness the mystery of the Holy Trinity.
The apostolic faith concerning the Spirit was confessed by the second ecumenical council at Constantinople (381): ‘We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father.’ By this confession, the Church recognizes the Father as ‘the source and origin of the whole divinity’.
The eternal origin of the Spirit is connected with the Son’s origin: ‘The Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, is God, one and equal with the Father and the Son, of the same substance and also of the same nature ...
Yet he is not called the Spirit of the Father alone, ... but the Spirit of both the Father and the Son.’ The Church Creed from the Council of Constantinople confesses: ‘With the Father and the Son, he is worshipped and glorified.’
The Latin tradition of the Creed confesses that the Spirit “proceeds from the Father ‘and the Son (filioque)’”. The Council of Florence in 1438 explains: The Holy Spirit is eternally from Father and Son; he has his nature and subsistence at once (‘simul’) from the Father and the Son. He proceeds eternally from both as from one principle and through one spiration ...
And, since the Father has through generation given to the only-begotten Son everything that belongs to the Father, except being Father, the Son has also eternally from the Father, from whom he is eternally born, that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Son.
Ref: “Catechism of the Catholic Church”, Nos. 243, 244, 245, 246
Humility of the Heart of Jesus
‘Humility of heart or of will’, as distinct from ‘humility of mind’ or of ‘intellect’, is a virtue. A habitual disposition and state of the will by which a man forgets himself, and seeks only the glory of God in all things.
Dead to himself, the humble man lives only for God, the sole object of his thoughts and intentions. The only motive and end of all he does, desires, fears, or hopes, because to God alone all glory and honor are due.
Such was our Lord during the whole of his mortal life: “I seek not my own glory.” (Jn 8:50) Witness also the whole course of his life which St Paul sums up briefly in the words: “He humbled himself.” (Philippians 2:8)
Do we find a like humility in ourselves? Do we seek always the glory of God alone, or have we not in the secret depth of our hearts some self-love, or desire for the esteem of men, even in our holiest actions?
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp322-3
The weight of the Cross
When we feel the weight of the Cross, our Lord invites us to go to him. “Come, not to give an account ... don’t be afraid to hear talk of a yoke, because it is gentle; don’t be afraid if I speak of burden, because it is light. (St John Chrysostom, “Homilies on St Matthew”, 37, 2) By the side of Christ, all the struggles of life become lovable.
Sacrifice and sorrow borne with Christ is neither bitter nor crushing, but rather in accord with our will. “Everything hard is made bearable through love. What can love not do? Look how people in love work: they do not feel what they suffer, they increase their efforts as the difficulties increase.” (cf St Augustine, “Sermon 96”, 1)
Unity with God through whatever adversity, is a grace that God is always ready to grant us. However, like all grace, it demands the use of our free response. We must not reject the means that God places within our reach. We must be particularly prepared to open our hearts in spiritual guidance, if on some occasion the Cross gets unusually heavy.
“A gentle wind is not the same as a hurricane. Anyone can resist the first: it is child’s play, a parody of struggle. Gladly you bore small contradictions, shortages and little worries. And you enjoyed the interior peace of thinking: now I am really working for God, ... here we have the Cross ... But now, my poor son, the hurricane has come, and you feel you are being shaken by a force that could uproot century-old trees. You feel this from without and within. But you must remain confident, for your Faith and your Love cannot be uprooted, nor can you be blown from your way, if you remain with the ‘head’, if you maintain unity.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 411)
Our Lord awaits us in the Tabernacle, to encourage us always, and to inform us that the heaviest part of the Cross has been carried by him on the road to Calvary. Beside him we learn how to carry peacefully and serenely what seemed most difficult and demanding.
“Everything may collapse and fail. Events may turn out contrary to what was expected and great adversity may come. But nothing is to be gained by being perturbed. Furthermore, remember the confident prayer of the prophet: ‘The Lord is our judge, the Lord gives us our laws, the Lord is our king; it is he who will save us.’ Say it devoutly every day, so that your behaviour may agree with the designs of Providence, which governs us for our own good.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 855)
From the persecution suffered by the first Christians there arose new conversions in unexpected places. From the difficulties and obstacles Our Lord permits in our lives innumerable apostolic fruits are born. Our love becomes more refined and strong, and our soul emerges purified if we manage to bear these trials peacefully and united to Christ.
Let us say to Our Lord we want to seek him in all the circumstances of our life: of profession, age, health or environment -- whether favorable or not and amidst whatever difficulties we may have come up against.
“In the hour of rejection at the Cross, the Virgin Mary is there by her Son, willing to go through the same fate. Let us lose our fear of behaving like responsible Christians when the environment in which we move is not easy. She will help us.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 977)
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:403-4
Jesus Beckons to Suffering Souls
Isaiah clearly prophesied how Jesus would bear our sufferings and carry our sorrows. It was essential that Christ should completely become like his brethren so he could be a compassionate and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of his people. Since Christ himself has suffered and has been tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted. (cf Heb 2:17-8)
Near the heart of Jesus, we understand that suffering is the presence of God in the soul. Divine action is direct in suffering. Each sorrow is like a kiss of Christ on our soul. Jesus lovingly embraced the life-giving cross. ‘Those whom I love most’, he said to St Angela de Foligno, ‘eat nearest to me at my table. ... partake of the same bread of tribulation and drink from the same cup of the chalice of my Passion.’
Our Lord sends us sufferings always for our greatest good; he never sends it without giving us at the same time the strength to bear it and draw profit from it. “My grace is enough for you”, he told St Paul (2 Cor 12:9). At the height of our sorrow, we can say with the great Apostle of the Gentiles: “... we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (cf Rom 8:37).
Ref: Cf Fr M Guzman, “Encounters With Christ”, 1990, pp106-7
Our Lady -- “So your strength is failing you? Why don’t you tell your Mother about it: Comforter of the afflicted, Help of Christians ..., our hope, Queen of Apostles!” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 515)
• Foundation of Our Lady of the Feuillants, in the diocese of Toulouse and Rieux, in the year 1145. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Foundation of Our Lady of the Feuillants, Toulouse, France (1145). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
• Our Lady of the Bernardines / Feuillants. (“Notre Dame des Feuillants”). Toulouse, France. 1145. History of the Order. ... (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of the Bernardines”/ Feuillants Diocese of Toulouse, France 1145. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html)
• Our Lady of the Taper (England, 12th Century). (www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (http://mariedenazareth.com)
• Our Lady of the Taper. Cardigan, Wales. History. Wood sculpture. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
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