18 May 2012: Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

“O Lord Jesus Christ, who before ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in Your apostles and disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in me the work of Your grace and Your love. “Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may not cling to the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal. “Grant me the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth. “Grant me the Spirit of Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven. “Grant me the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that hinder my salvation. “Grant me the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect like the saints. “Grant me the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable. “Grant me the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. “Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of Your true disciples and animate me in all things with Your Spirit. “Amen.” Ref: Rev James Alberione, SSP in “Pray Always”, Pauline’s Publishing House 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 Annunciation”. (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 Co-Redemptrix “It is with good reason that the popes have called Mary Co-Redemptrix. So fully, in union with her suffering and dying Son, did she suffer and nearly die; so fully, for the sake of the salvation of men, did she abdicate her mother’s rights over her Son, and immolate him, insofar as it was in her power, to satisfy the justice of God, that it can rightly be said she redeemed mankind together with Christ.” (Benedict XV, Letter “Inter sodalicia”, 22-III-1918) This gives us a deeper understanding of that moment in the passion of our Lord, we shall never tire of meditating: “... there, standing by the cross of Jesus, was his Mother.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 287) Let us offer our Mother: ‘Five small hidden sacrifices in honor of the five major wounds of Our Lord.’ Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p310 · “Your Heart, O Mary, is of spotless purity ... the fount of all benefits and blessings.” -- St John Damascene (In Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p26) • Dedication of Our Lady of “Bonport”, of the Cistercian order near the “Pont de l’Arche”, in the diocese of Evreux. This abbey was founded by Richard “Coeur de Lion” on the eleventh of March, in the year 1190. — Gallia Christiana, t. iv. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Dedication of Our Lady of “Bonport” Abbey, Diocese of Evreux (1190). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • Our Lady of “Bonport” (France). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • “Notre-Dame de Bonport”. Evreux, France. 1190. Mary saves Richard the Lionheart while he is crossing the Seine. ... (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Our Lady of Salambao. Obando, Bulacan PHL. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)

17 May 2012: Solemnity -- The Ascension of the Lord

40th day of Easter: Thursday after 6th Sunday of Easter or 7th Sunday of Easter (Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ [Eds], “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p511) Jesus awaits us in heaven The last gesture of Our Lord on earth was to give a blessing. (cf Lk 24:51) The Eleven had gone, as Jesus had told them, to the mount of Olives near Jerusalem. On seeing the risen Christ once more they fell down before him as their Master and their God and “worshipped him” (cf Mt 28:17). Now they are much more conscious of what they had for some time believed in their hearts and confessed with their lips: their Master is the Messiah. (cf Mt 16:18) They were joyful at having their Lord and God so near. After the forty days spent in his company they could be witnesses to what they had seen and heard. The Holy Spirit would confirm in them the teachings of Jesus. The Master spoke to them as only God can: “All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Mt 28:18). Jesus confirmed their faith and taught them that the power they were to receive was a sharing in his divine power: to forgive sins. To bring about a rebirth through Baptism is the power of Christ, given now to his Church. The mission of the Church is to continue the work of Christ, to teach men divine truths and make known the demands these truths impose, to help men follow God’s way through the grace of the sacraments. “He said to them ... ‘You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judaea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth’.” (Acts 1:7-9) The Apostles remained looking up as Jesus ascended majestically into the cloud signifying the presence of God (cf Ex 13:22; Lk 9:34 ff) “... Jesus had entered Heaven”. (St John Chrysostom, “Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles”, 2) Jesus’ life on earth ended with his Ascension, not with his death -- the last of the mysteries of his life on earth. Together with his Passion, Death and Resurrection it makes up the Paschal Mystery. It was fitting that those who saw Christ die amid insults, scoffing and mockery on the Cross should now see him exalted. “Today’s feast reminds us that our concern for souls is a response to our Lord’s command of love. As he goes up to Heaven, Jesus sends us out as his witnesses throughout the whole world. Our responsibility is great, because to be Christ’s witness implies first of all that we should try to behave according to his doctrine, that we should struggle to make our actions remind others of Jesus and his most lovable personality.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 122) Jesus departs, but he remains close to all: in the Tabernacle. Let us visit him there though often we can do so only with our heart; and ask his help in our apostolate. To make known his teaching everywhere. The Apostles returned to Jerusalem in the company of Mary and awaited the Holy Spirit. Let us prepare for the coming of Pentecost also staying close to Our Lady. Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:531-2 The First Novena Immediately after the Ascension the Apostles returned to Jerusalem, and as commanded by their Divine Master, remained in the upper room with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and one hundred-twenty disciples. They continued in prayer, expecting the coming of the Holy Spirit, during ‘nine’ days. From this was derived the practice of preparing for certain great feasts by a novena of prayers and good works. The novena of Pentecost was first made by the Apostles, so that it is not only apostolic, but may even be called of divine institution, since the Apostles made it in obedience to a formal command of Jesus Christ. How excellent must it be then, and with what devotion we ought to observe it. Why did Jesus command his Apostles to pray as such? That they might dispose and prepare themselves to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, without which they would have remained forever what they were then: nothing in themselves, useless to others, absolutely incapable of fulfilling their sublime vocation; but with these gifts all would become possible, even easy. We make this novena with extraordinary fervor for the same reasons, for certainly we are not greater than the Apostles. We are not better able than they were to dispense with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, and to fulfil the duties of our vocation; to achieve that degree of perfection required of us, and to save the souls of others both by word and work. Jesus gave a third motive to encourage a more careful preparation for receiving the Holy Spirit -- the wickedness of the world, the miseries and snares in their midst, and the expected persecutions. “In the world you shall have distress; you shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake; they shall deliver you up to councils, and in the synagogues you shall be beaten; they will lay their hands on you and persecute you.” (cf Luke, 21:12, 25; Mark, 13:9) We, too live in days of tribulation and the rage of the wicked against the religion of Jesus Christ. Where shall we seek the supernatural courage and prudence to fight these threats? Only from the Spirit of counsel, fortitude, and piety! Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp272-4 ` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` ` Mary the Sorrowing Mother “Our Lady is there listening to the words of her Son, united to him in his suffering, ‘My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ What could she do? She united herself fully with the redemptive love of her Son and offered to the Father her immense sorrow which pierced her pure heart like a sharp-edged sword.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 288) Let us offer our Mother today: ‘The mortification of keeping quiet about any pain or discomfort, any inconvenience or disappointment, uniting them with her pain as she stood by Jesus on the cross.’ Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p309 Beatification of Venerable Josemaria Escrivá, Founder of ‘Opus Dei’ In Rome on this day in 1992 attended by over 300,000 persons from all over the world. (“L’Osservatore Romano”, 20 May 1992, 1) • Our Lady of Tears, in the duchy of Spoletto, Italy. It is said that this picture, painted on a wall, shed many tears in the year 1494. — Gabriel Pennotus, lib. iii., Historia Tripartita, c. 34. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Our Lady of Tears (Duchy of Spoletto, Italy). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • Our Lady of Tears, Spoletto, Italy (1494). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (http://mariedenazareth.com)

16 May 2012: When and where to pray the Rosary

The Rosary could be said any time during the day or at night; alone or with another person; as a communal prayer in a group or as a devotional prayer in church. The Rosary could be recited anywhere: kneeling, standing up or sitting down; while walking or traveling, resting or walking; even in a hospital bed. Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p57 How do you recite the Rosary? The official way, when the Rosary is used as a devotional practice by a group of people or in Church, is to start with the Sign of the Cross, followed by the ‘Apostles’ Creed’, ‘Our Father’, three ‘Hail, Mary’s’, and ‘Glory be’ for an increase of faith, hope and charity; then the enunciation of the mystery, ‘Our Father’, ten ‘Hail, Mary’s’, and ‘Glory be’. Let us remember that the Rosary is very pleasing to Mary, is highly efficacious to obtain graces; and is the easiest way to honor God and the Blessed Virgin. The Rosary should be recited with faith, with a determined resolution to reform our lives and with devotion. Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, p57 · “The Rosary is an excellent prayer, but the faithful should feel serenely free in its regard. They should be drawn to its calm recitation by its intrinsic appeal.” -- Pope Paul VI, “Marialis Cultus” (In Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, p51) ` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` ` Mary at the foot of the Cross “We find her on Calvary, praying. This is nothing new for Mary. She has always acted like this, as she fulfilled her duties and looked after her home. As she went about the things of this earth she kept her attention on God.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 241) Let us offer our Mother: “The ‘Act of contrition’ said many times throughout the day asking her to offer our sorrow for our sins to Jesus crucified.” Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p309 Act of Contrition “Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.” (“The New Missal for Every Day” by Rev FX Lasance, 1925, p3*) Penance “Do penance: bury your negligences, offenses and sins in the deep pit dug by your humility. Thus does the farmer bury rotten fruit, dead twigs and fallen leaves at the foot of the tree that bore them. And what was unfruitful, even harmful, makes a real contribution to a new fertility. “Learn to draw from your falls a new impulse: from death, life.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 211) Atonement: “The path that leads to life.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 210) Invoking the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit bore witness to Jesus in the most striking manner by proving to the world that Jesus is the Son of God, Saviour of men, Judge of the living and the dead. He led men to worship a crucified God, and to crucify all the concupiscences of their own flesh. He made the cause of Jesus to triumph over all the malice of whoever opposed the preaching of his Gospel. He gave courage to women and children, making them despise a cruel death and suffer the most fearful torture for the love of Jesus. Jesus had foretold these marvellous effects of the operation of the Holy Spirit, who was to guide the Church after his Ascension. He had solemnly promised to send him to the Apostles, telling them that without his help they could do nothing; with it they would work miracles of conversion and sanctification. He desired, nevertheless, that they should ask for him and be disposed to receive him by constant and fervent prayer. The same conditions apply to us if we hope to produce any fruit in our labor for souls. Experience must have taught us that, without the help of the Holy Spirit, all our efforts are in vain and fruitless. Hence comes the practice introduced in the Church since she began, and in prayer groups, of invoking the Holy Spirit before every important undertaking; even before all ordinary actions of the day. After saying, “He will give testimony of me”, Jesus promptly added, “and you will give testimony in Jerusalem, in all Judaea, Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). We know how faithfully the Apostles fulfilled this great and glorious mission. They made known their Master’s name in all the world, and caused him to be adored despite all the opposition of men and devils. They destroyed the idols, and overthrew the temples of the heathens’ false gods. They changed the world from pagan to Christian, and founded the Church of Jesus Christ, which twenty centuries have neither changed nor shaken. Those who worked all these miracles were twelve poor, weak and ignorant fishermen. Why did Jesus choose such instruments to lay the foundations of his Church? 1) To prove that it is a divine, not a human, institution, claiming therefore our obedience and submission; 2) that our weakness and unworthiness should not deter us from undertaking great things for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp276-8 • Apparition of Our Lady to St Catherine of Alexandria, whose body was discovered on the 13th of this month, on Mount Sinai, in consequence of a revelation which the Queen of heaven gave. — See her Life. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Mary appears to St. Catherine of Alexandria. 4th Century. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Apparition of Our Lady to St. Catherine of Alexandria. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • Apparition of Our Lady to St. Catherine of Alexandria (4th Century). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)

15 May 2012: In Christ the Visible World is Created Again

Our spirit is set in one direction, for our intellect, will and heart: towards Christ the Redeemer of man. We wish to look towards him repeating what Peter said: ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’ We must constantly aim at him “the head”, “through whom are all things and through whom we exist”, “the way and the truth” and “the resurrection and the life”, and who had to go away from us by his death on the Cross so that by his Ascension into heaven the Counsellor should come and keep coming to us as the Spirit of truth. In him are “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”, and the Church is his Body. Ref: Cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, pp249-50 Proper dispositions to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit God, says St Augustine, desires to bestow the gifts of the Holy Spirit abundantly upon us; but he wills that we should rightly dispose ourselves to receive them. How then shall we do this? The example of the Apostles will teach us best. They retired into an upper chamber, where they passed their time in recollection and silence. They meditated on all that Jesus had taught them, especially on the attributes and operations of the Holy Spirit. If I desire to receive an abundant outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, I must, during this novena, keep myself recollected. I ought to be more fervent in my norms, to guard my senses, and to avoid every irregular affection which tend to the least sin, the chief obstacle to interior peace and reception of God’s gifts. The Apostles joined their recollection to continual and earnest prayer, mindful of their Divine Master’s words, “How much more will your Father from heaven give the good Spirit to them that ask Him?” (Lk 11:13) Their prayer was efficacious and pleasing to God because they were united in the same words, asking the same favor. This, too, Jesus had taught them -- “If two of you shall consent upon earth concerning anything whatsoever they shall ask, it shall be done to them by my Father who is in heaven.” (Mt 18:19) During this novena we, too, must add to our ordinary devotions some especially addressed to the Holy Spirit. God will surely hear and answer these prayers. We recall St Luke’s words-- “All these were persevering with one mind in prayer” (Acts 1:14). Convinced of the power of Mary over the Heart of Jesus, the Apostles strove to increase their fervor by her example and begged her to make up for their imperfections, and to present their humble petitions to her Son. They persevered in prayer “with Mary the Mother of Jesus” (cf Acts 1:14). Many of the Church Fathers also expressed the opinion that the powerful intercession of Mary helped hasten the coming of the Holy Spirit. Let us all seek her intercession-- to beg of her to aid our efforts, to be in our midst, and to present our desires to her Divine Son. That she may obtain for each of us the grace not to forfeit any of the special graces which God may intend to bestow on the Feast of Pentecost. Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp274-6 Humility “For all your learning, all your fame, all your eloquence and power, if you’re not humble, you’re worth nothing. Cut out that ego that dominates you so completely -- root it out. God will help you. And then you’ll be able to begin to work for Christ in the lowest place in his army of apostles.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 602) “You’re not humble when you humble yourself, but when you are humbled by others and you bear it for Christ.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 594) ` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` ` Mary in Cana “In the Gospel St John has recorded how our Lady at the wedding of Cana turned to the waiters and said: ‘Do whatever he tells you’. That’s it! Getting people to face Jesus and ask him: ‘Lord, what do you want me to do?’” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 149) Let us offer our Mother: ‘Prompt obedience when we are asked to do some errand or act of service.’ Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p309 The Rosary, a family prayer Each day, every member of the family should get together for recitation of the Rosary. The best time is early in the evening, preferably soonest after supper. The parents or one of the children (alternating daily) should lead the recitation. It can be recited kneeling or seated before a statue or picture of Our Lady. The Rosary could be a means of spiritually tying together all family members. Fr Patrick Peyton, CSC, founder of the 'Family Rosary Crusade' said: “When Mary is invited into the home and beseeched repeatedly with the words, ‘Pray for us now and at the hour of our death’, she will defend its members and protect them against the overwhelming evils of today at the two most important moments in their lives. ... The family that prays together, stays together.” · “We wish to invite you to live a Marian life ... May the family Rosary be a balm of peace for your homes ... May the Rosary be ever in your hands; may the Marian prayer continue to sanctify your family reunion every night, and may it give the spiritual tone to your whole life.” -- Pope John XXIII · “The Rosary ... is a form of union with God and has a most uplifting effect on the soul.” -- Pope John XXIII Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, pp53, 54 • Descent of the Holy Ghost upon Our Lady and the apostles, in the year thirty-four of our Lord and the forty-eighth of the age of the Virgin. — Christopher a Castro, Historia Virginis. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Descent `of the Holy Ghost on the Apostles and Our Lady. Our Lady was forty-eight years old. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • Descent of the Holy Ghost on the Apostles and O Lady. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • Our Lady of France (1860). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • “Notre-Dame de France”. 1860. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)

14 May 2012: St Matthias, Apostle

After the Ascension, he was selected to replace Judas. Our Christian vocation is God’s gratuitous gift; we must correspond with fidelity and gratitude. (Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ [Eds], “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p1525) General reflections on Our Lord’s appearances The Evangelists recorded only nine appearances; but the context of their words imply many more. In St Luke’s words: “... he showed himself alive, after his Passion, by many proofs, for forty days appearing to them, and speaking of the kingdom of God.” (Acts 1:3) These frequent manifestations were to confirm the faith of his apostles and disciples in his resurrection, to slowly accustom them to his impending separation from them, and to prove, by so many sudden appearances, that he was always invisibly present with them. Jesus deals similarly even now with holy souls to whom he sometimes gives sensible tokens of his presence; either by some special illumination or by making them feel a vivid delight of joy and love. This happens frequently in Holy Communion, when he makes them to clearly realize the bread they eat is the ‘living Bread’ which came down from heaven. It is impossible to define the exact circumstances of our Lord’s numerous apparitions. Not regularly but frequently, depending on the dispositions of those to whom he appeared. Neither were they at any fixed time or place. At night, sometimes in the day; sometimes in the house or open air. We learn from these considerations that no occupation, however distracting, will be an obstacle to the dialogue between our soul and God. They are never totally lost even if we have been lengthily deprived of them. To be disposed always to receive them by great purity of heart and fervor must be our main concern. The apostles and disciples vouched that the appearances were ‘sudden’, ‘unexpected’, and of ‘short duration’. Jesus appeared to them when they least expected him; and almost always, disappeared from their eyes when they were most enjoying his presence and words. Jesus acted thus, 1) to show us that he reserves these favors for those who are most truly devoted to him; 2) to make us desire his presence and consolations, yet without too great an attachment to them, since they can be neither lasting nor perfect, except in heaven; and 3) that we may keep a constant watch over ourselves, always prepared for his visit. Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp268-70 ` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` ` Mary loses and finds the Child Jesus “The Mother of God, who looked for her son so anxiously when he was lost through no fault of her own, and experienced such great joy in finding him, will help us retrace our steps and put right whatever may be necessary when, because of our carelessness or our sins, we have been unable to recognize Christ. With her help we will know the happiness of holding him in our arms once more, and telling him we will never lose him again.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 278) Let us offer our Mother: ‘A good, sincere and sorrowful confession of our sins and failures in the sacrament of Penance.’ Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, pp308-9 To Jesus through Mary’s Rosary To go to God through Mary is the safest and surest way. God made it so when he invited men to that first adoration in the Grotto of Bethlehem, when Mary presented the God-child to all mankind. He emphasized it at Cana, and confirmed it on Calvary. St Louis Mary Grignon de Montfort declared that there is only one way to go to Jesus: through Mary, His Mother. And why? The answer is very simple. God, the Almighty Father, did not find a better way to send His Beloved Son into the world than to pass through Mary. For liturgical Marian feast days, the Church interprets ‘Sir 24:11-31’ as referring to Mary, in the so-called ‘accommodated sense’ of scripture. We must be able to find some expressions that serve to emphasize the spiritual value of the Rosary as a way to go to Jesus. “I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope. In me is all grace of the way, and of the truth, in me is all hope of life and of virtue. Come over to me, all you that desire me, and be filled with my fruits. For my spirit is sweeter than honey, and my inheritance above honey and the honeycomb.” We find the three characteristics that Christ accommodates to himself when He said: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me.” (Jn 14:6) Inasmuch as Christ came to us by way of Mary, and wants us to go to Him by way of Mary, the Blessed Virgin also can, with all good reason, say: ‘In me is all grace of the way and of the truth, in me is all hope of life and of virtue. Come over to me!’ In saying the Rosary we find the surest way to go to Jesus by the safest way, that is, through Mary. · “Feeling very keenly the needs of the prayers of Christians, we are aware that of all the forms of prayer, that of the Rosary is more than ever necessary, for it not only addresses itself to her through whom it pleased God to send every grace to us, but more than any other prayer it bears the universal stamp of collective and familial prayer.” -- Benedict XV to Rev C Becchi, OP, 18 September 1915. · “... the Rosary is perfect because of the praise it offers, because of the lessons it imparts, because of the graces it obtains and because of the triumphs it achieves.” -- Pope Benedict XV · “The Rosary provides the Christian with sustenance with which to nourish and strengthen his faith.” (Encyclical, “Fidentem piumque”, by Pope Leo XIII, 20 September 1896) Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, pp46, 47 • Dedication of Our Lady of Noyon, by Hardouin, thirty-seventh bishop of the same city, in the year 998. — Chronicon Annoniae, t. iii. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Our Lady, Patroness of Bavaria (Munich, Germany). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • Our Lady, Patroness of Bavaria. Munich 1330. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • Our Lady of Bavaria. Germany. www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm • Our Lady of Bavaria (1330). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (http://mariedenazareth.com)

13 May 2012: Our Lady of Fatima -- The first apparition

On 13 May 1917, around midday, Our Lady appeared to Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco, who were pasturing their sheep in a hollow, known locally as the “Cova da Iria”. (C Barthas, “The Virgin of Fatima”, Madrid, 1963) The Blessed Virgin asked the children to return there on the thirteenth of each month for the next six months. Her message to them speaks of penance for sins, about saying the Rosary, and consecration of the world to her Immaculate Heart. Each time the beautiful Lady appeared to the children she asked them to say the Rosary every day. She also taught them a prayer to say often in which they would offer God the events of their lives, especially many small mortifications: ‘O Jesus, this is for love of you, for the conversion of sinners and in reparation for the offences made to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.’ “Mary came to awaken men’s consciences, illuminate the authentic meaning of life, call men to conversion from sin and to spiritual fervor. To inflame souls with the love for God and with charity towards their neighbor. Mary came to help us because many, unfortunately, do not wish to accept the invitation of the Son of God to return to their Father’s house. “From her sanctuary at Fatima Mary renews even today her maternal and urgent petition: conversion to Truth and Grace; return to the life of the sacraments, especially Penance and the Eucharist; devotion to her Immaculate Heart, accompanied by a spirit of penance.” (John Paul II, “Angelus”, 26 July 1987) “The message of Fatima is, in its basic meaning, a call to conversion and repentance, as in the Gospel ... The Lady seems to have read with special insight the ‘signs of the times’, the signs of our age. The call to repentance is a motherly one; at the same time strong and decisive.” (cf John Paul II, “Homily at Fatima”, 13 May 1982) In the Gospel the words ‘repent’ and ‘penance’ (cf Mk 1:15) appear repeatedly. Jesus begins his mission asking for penance: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt 4:17) ‘Penance’ signifies conversion of the sinner, and stands for internal and external actions aimed at making reparation for sins committed. (cf L Bouyer, “Penitence” in “Dictionary of Theology”, Barcelona, 1983) Mary reminds us that without penance man does not receive the Kingdom of her Son; without penance man is in the kingdom of sin. In Our Lord’s own words, without penance “all likewise perish” (Lk 13:3). Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 6:221-4 Last appearance of Jesus before His Ascension Jesus appeared to the eleven as they were at table and clearly demonstrates it was for the ‘Apostles alone’, whose number was reduced by the apostasy of Judas. Jesus desired to share the last moments of his glorious life on earth, as he had done before his death. By sitting at table, the greatest sign of intimacy among friends, he gave on both events a proof of his love. Why did he love them so? Because first, they were to aid him in the work of our salvation, his Father “... gave them” (Jn 17:6); second, they had “... left all things, and followed” (Mt 9:27) him; third, they were destined to labor and suffer more for him than the others. The apostles and disciples will soon be forever deprived of their Divine Master’s sensible presence. This thought naturally made them sorrowful. To reassure and console them, Jesus declared, “Behold, I am with you all days, even to the end of the world” (Mt 28:20). Jesus Christ is with us nowadays as God and Man: by his bodily presence in the Blessed Sacrament and more intimately than before his Ascension. He was only in one place at a time. Now he is everywhere, wherever there is a tabernacle. Then he could only communicate by entering men’s houses, sitting with them at table. Now he communicates by entering our hearts, becoming our food, and incorporating himself with us. The apostles, fully aware of their ignorance and weakness were discouraged at the prospect of the difficulties ahead of them. To revive their fainting hearts, Jesus promised them a speedy outpouring of his Holy Spirit: “Stay in the city till you be endowed with power from on high.” (Lk 24:49) They then became changed men. It is good to be deeply conscious of our insufficiency; but we must never let this thought deject us. If we are tempted to discouragement we must instantly turn to Jesus, and confidently invoke the aid of the Holy Spirit. He will hasten to enlighten and strengthen us. Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp266-8 ` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` ` Mary’s hidden life with Jesus “I like to go back in my imagination to the years Jesus spent close to his Mother, almost the whole of his life on earth. ... as a little child, cared for by Mary who kisses him and plays with him. ... growing up before the loving eyes of his Mother and of Joseph ... What tenderness and care Mary and the Holy Patriarch must have shown towards Jesus, during his childhood, silently learning so much from him. Their souls would become more and more like the soul of that Son, who was both man and God. This is why his Mother, and after her, St Joseph, understand better than anyone the feelings of the heart of Christ, and the two of them are thus the best way, ... the only way, to reach the Saviour.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 281) Let us offer our Mother: ‘The effort of doing our ordinary work well, on time, with competence and finesse.’ Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p308 Assasination attempt on Pope John Paul II: On this day in 1981. (John Paul II, “Witness to Hope”, 440) • Dedication of Our Lady of Martyrs, called the Rotunda, at Rome by Boniface IV in the year 608. This temple was called the Pantheon, because it was dedicated to all the gods of paganism. — Beda, lib. ii„ History of England.) (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Dedication of Our Lady of Martyrs, Rome (608). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html) • Our Lady of Martyrs. Rome 608. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • Our Lady of Martyrs. Rome; Lisbon. 608. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Our Lady of Martyrs (Lisbon, Portugal). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • Mary appears to Théresè of Lisieux. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • “Nossa Senhora” / Our Lady of Fatima. Portugal. 1917. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Our Lady of Fatima. Lisbon, Portugal 1917. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • Our Lady of Fatima. (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html) • Our Lady of the Defenseless (Madrid). Moveable feast -- Second Sunday in May. (www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • Our Lady of Grace. Celebrated by Hieronymites. Moveable feast -- Second Sunday in May. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)

12 May 2012: Feast -- Our Lady of the Abandoned (‘Desamparados’)

Image was brought by priests of the Franciscan Order after being touched to the original in Valencia, Spain. (Nicanor G Tiongson, “Filipino Heritage”, 1977, VII:1733) Parish Church at Sta. Ana, Manila. (Established: 1578. “The 2002 Catholic Directory of the Philippines”, p161) Motives of confidence in prayer Lack of confidence is among the chief causes why our prayers are ineffective despite strong motives: God, ourselves and our neighbor (when we pray for them). On the part of God -- being almighty, he can grant all we ask. Omnipresent, he can hear us anywhere; and knows even our most secret desires. Our tender Father, he loves us more than we love ourselves. Any doubt will surely be dispelled by these gracious words of Jesus -- “If you ask the Father anything in my name, he will give it to you.” (Jn 16:23) We believe these truths but we pray with so little confidence. Are we anxious that our prayers will not be granted? Or imagine a great distance between God and ourselves, that they will be lost before reaching him? Or we regard God only as a severe Judge alienated from us by our sins and infidelities? Often signs of distrust are so subtle that they influence us without our perceiving it. Our spiritual misery ought to inspire us with the greatest confidence. God requires our aiming at perfection. We desire it; but we are powerless without his help and the constant succor of grace. Jesus teaches: “Without Me you can do nothing.” (Jn 15:5) But he also says, “Ask and it shall be given you” (Mt 7:7). Otherwise, God would require of us an impossibility. This would be absurd. We may draw a most consoling and encouraging conclusion from these considerations: the weaker we are, more unable to rise from our sins and conquer our bad habits, the more right we have to trust in the efficacy of our prayers. This is self-evident, but we often act otherwise. Have we fallen into despair or discouragement after our falls? When tepidity or disgust for spiritual things overwhelm us, did we stop praying or lost confidence in our prayers, as though God would not hear them? There are three powerful motives for confidence when we pray for others, especially sinners, or for anyone recommended to our prayers: 1) an act most pleasing to Almighty God; 2) we are fulfilling a duty; and 3) it is a selfless act of charity. We can pray with more boldness for another person than for ourselves, and with more confidence in proportion to his need. The impiety and immorality around us, or the apparent futility of our efforts to convert others, or save the souls confided to our care, tempt us to look upon them as hopeless. Are we then inclined to stop praying for them -- to abandon them to their fate? Banish this thought! It is contrary to charity, and an insult to God. Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp261-3 ` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` ` Mary, Joseph and the Child Jesus flee to Egypt “The mystery of Mary helps us to see that in order to approach God we must become little. As Christ said to his disciples: ‘Truly, unless you become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.’ (Mt 18:3) “To become children, we must renounce our pride and self-sufficiency, recognizing we can do nothing by ourselves. We must realize that we need grace and the help of God our Father to find our way and keep to it.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 143) Let us offer our Mother: ‘A visit to a lonely person to share the joy of trusting in God alone.’ Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, pp307-8 Invitation to pray the Rosary The many reasons why we must pray the Rosary are based on four convincing and authoritative sources: 1. ‘Papal Documents’ -- In the last 225 years of Catholic Church history, eighty-six Papal Documents were on the Rosary and the Rosary Devotion alone; enough proof of the great importance of the Rosary Devotion. 2. ‘Second Vatican Council’ -- In the ‘Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy’ we read: ‘Popular devotions of the Christian people are to be highly commended, provided they accord with the laws and norms of the Church, above all when they are ordered by the Apostolic See.’ Chapter VIII of the ‘Constitution of the Church’, reads: “Mary, exalted above all angels and men ... is justly honored by a special cult in the Church.” 3. ‘USA Bishops’ Pastoral Letters’ -- In “Human Life in Our Day”, 1968: “We give top priority to whatever may produce a sound ‘family spirituality’: family prayer, above all that which derives its content and spirit from the liturgy and other devotions, particularly the Rosary.” 4. ‘Desire of Our Lady’ -- At Lourdes, Mary invited Bernadette to say the Rosary, and recited it with her: “Pray the Rosary in reparation for the sins of the world.” At Fatima, in 1917, Mary told the three children, repeatedly: “I am the Lady of the Rosary, continue to pray the Rosary every day ... Pray the Rosary every day, in order to obtain peace in the world, and the end of the war ... Go to the Cova da Iria on the 13th of every month to continue praying the Rosary every day.” Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p44 · “The Rosary is an excellent means of professing our faith ... it provides the Christian with sustenance with which to nourish and strengthen his faith ... May the august mysteries of our faith penetrate souls more deeply by means of the Rosary, with the happy result that ‘we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise’.” -- Pope Leo XIII · “The Rosary offers an easy way to inculcate the chief mysteries of the Christian religion and to impress them upon the mind.” (Encyclical, “Magnae Dei Matris” by Pope Leo XIII, 7 September 1892) Ref: In Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p45 • Our Lady of Virtues, at Aubervillers, near Paris. This image has wrought so many miracles in this church, that it is called Our Lady of Virtues, although it is dedicated to St Christopher. — Du Brenil, lib. iv. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Humility of Our Lady. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • Our Lady of Power. Aubervillers, France. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • Our Lady of the Abandoned. Sta. Ana, Manila PHL. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (http://mariedenazareth.com)