19 May 2013 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 ‘Nuestra Señora de Guia’ (Our Lady of Guidance) Oldest of Philippine Marian devotions. This brown-faced image, of unknown origin, was found on this day in 1571 by a soldier of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi atop a pandan bush in a fishing village outside the Intramuros. She was enshrined at the Manila Cathedral until an appropriate chapel was built on the spot where she was found. This shrine became popularly known as ‘La [h]ermita’ (The Hermitage). A Royal Decree of 9 August 1758 declared her ‘Patroness of the City of Manila’. (Cf Fr Charles Belmonte, “Aba Ginoong Maria”, 1990, p157) ‘Nuestra Señora de Salambao’ (Our Lady of ‘Salambao’) The image (retrieved from Manila Bay in a [fishing] net called ‘salambao’ [“A Marian Pilgrimage”, vii]), with San Pascual Bailon and Sta Clara, is the object of pilgrimages by childless couples (Obando, Bulacan). The name ‘Maria Clara’ is here derived. (Nicanor G Tiongson, in “Filipino Heritage”, 1977, VII:1734) The Gift of Piety Divine filiation is an effect of the gift of piety which inclines us to relate to God with the affection of a good son towards his father; and to regard everybody as members of the same family. Christ taught us how to address God. “When you pray, say: Father ...” (Lk 11:2) God wants us to go to him like little children in need. And the Holy Spirit, through the gift of piety, teaches us and facilitates this trusting relationship with Him. “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” (1 Jn 3:1) We received this gift with the grace of Baptism. Divine filiation makes us trust our Father God with great tenderness since He always wants the best for His children. This gift of piety disposes us to promptly and easily fulfil our obligations of justice and charity; to see, as children of God, those we live with and meet daily. He loves them with a limitless love and redeemed with the Blood of His Son. Individuals of infinite value. Moreover, the Holy Spirit makes us see Christ in our fellowmen whom we serve: “Truly I say to you: as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.” (Mt 25:40) Piety towards others enables us to judge them always with kindness “which walks hand in hand with a filial affection for God our common Father”. (R Garrigou-Lagrange, “The Three Ages of the Interior Life”, I ) This gift makes us have a filial love for our heavenly Mother, for whom we have a most tender affection; and moves us to be devoted to the angels and saints, particularly to those having a special charge over us, (Cf St Thomas, “Summa Theologiae”, II-II, 121) as well as for the holy souls in Purgatory. It makes us love the Pope, the common Father of all Christians. It perfects the virtue of piety, inclining us to respect our parents from whom “we have received existence; God made use of them to infuse into us a soul and reason; by them we were led to the Sacraments, instructed in our religion, schooled in right conduct and holiness, and trained in civil and human knowledge”. (“Catechism of the Council of Trent”, III, 5, 9) Moved by the Holy Spirit, Christians read Holy Scripture with love and veneration, because “in the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven meets his children with great love and speaks with them”. (Second Vatican Council, “Dei Verbum”, 21) We are moved to have great affection for sacred things. Among the fruits that the gift of piety produces in souls docile to the graces of the Paraclete are: serenity in all circumstances of life; trusting abandonment in Divine Providence because God cares for all his creatures particularly his children (Cf Mt 6:28); cheerfulness, a proper characteristic of the children of God. “May no one read sadness or sorrow in your face when you spread in the world around you the sweet smell of your sacrifice: the children of God should be always sowers of peace and joy.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 59) If we consider often daily that we are children of God, the Holy Spirit will foster more and more this filial and trusting relationship with our heavenly Father. Charity towards everyone also facilitates its growth in our souls. Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:561-6 ` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` ` Mary’s Faith “If our faith is weak, we should turn to Mary. St John tells us it was because of the miracle at the marriage feast at Cana, which Christ performed at his Mother’s request, that ‘his disciples learned to believe in him’. Our Mother is always interceding with her Son so he may attend to our needs and show himself to us in a way that we can cry out, “You are the Son of God”. (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 285) Let us offer our Mother: “‘The Memorare’ for whoever in our family most needs the help of Our Lady.” Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p310 The ‘Memorare’ “Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word incarnate, despise not my petitions; but in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.” (Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias [Eds], “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p299) · “Place your confidence in the Holy Rosary. Use this most powerful form of prayer with the utmost possible zeal, and let it become more and more esteemed.” -- Pius XII · “Mary urged us to pray the Rosary, not just say it. The lip service of mumbled prayers does not please her. Mere recitation cannot bring about the changes in our lives we so much need. Only devout meditation on the events in the lives of Christ and his Mother can do that.” -- RL Rooney, SJ Ref: In Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, pp55, 57 • Dedication of Our Lady of Flines, near Douay by Peter, Archbishop of Rheims in the year 1279. This abbey of nuns, of the order of Citeaux, was given to St Bernard by Margaret de Dampierre in the year 1234. — Chronicon Fliniense.) (“CatholicGems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Our Lady of Flines (France). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • Our Lady of Flines, Douay (1279). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • “Notre-Dame de Flines”. Douay, France. 1279. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)