Feast of Pentcost

Holy Spirit, come confirm us in the truth that Christ makes known!

On the day of Pentecost, "suddenly from up in the sky there came a noise like a strong, driving wind which was heard all through the house where they were seated. Tongues as of fire appeared, which parted and came to rest on each of them. All were filled with the Holy Spirit. They began to express themselves in foreign tongues and make bold proclamation as the Spirit prompted them" (Acts 2:2-4).

The Holy Spirit and the Church

Our Lord Himself revealed to us the wonderful truths about the Person of the Holy Spirit and his work in the Church.
“And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Advocate to dwell with you forever, the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him.   But you shall know him, because he will dwell with you, and be in you” (Jn. 14: 16,17).
“Many things yet I have to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.  But when he, the Spirit of truth, has come he will teach you all the truth” (Jn. 16: 12,13)

“Receive the Holy Spirit; whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained” (Jn. 20: 22,23)
“But when they deliver you up, do not be anxious how or what you are to speak; for what you are to speak will be given you in that hour.  For it is not you who are speaking, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks through you” (Mt. 10: 19,20)
“All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  (Mt. 28; 18,19)

Pope Leo XIII (Encyclical, Divinum Illud)

The sublime truths which so clearly show forth the infinite goodness of the Holy Spirit toward us, certainly demand that we should direct towards Him the highest homage of our love and devotion.  Christians may do this effectually if they will daily strive to know Him, to love Him, and to implore Him more earnestly…..
“Now we owe to the Holy Spirit love because He is God: ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, with thy whole soul, and with thy whole strength’ (Deut. 6: 5)…And this all the more because He has overwhelmed us with the greatest benefits, which both testify to the benevolence of the Giver and claim the gratitude of the receiver.  Yet we must strive that this love should rather run forward to action and especially to fly from sin which is in a more special manner offensive to the Holy Spirit.  For whatever we are, that we are by divine goodness: and this goodness is specially attributed to the Holy Spirit……
“Lastly we ought to pray to and invoke the Holy Spirit, for each of us greatly needs His protection and His help.  The more a man is deficient in wisdom, weak in strength, borne down with trouble, prone to sin, so ought he the more to fly to Him who is the never ceasing font of light, strength, consolation, and holiness…..”

Prayer of St. Augustine

Breath in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.

Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.

Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy.

Strengthen my, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy.

Guard my, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.

 

The Month of Mary

Mary as Mother of the Church

“Mother of the Church” is a title that Mary richly deserves.  Her fiat at the Annunciation drew down the Son of God from the Father to become our Redeemer.  She was the Mother of Christ in Nazareth and during His public ministry.  On Calvary, she stood at the foot of the cross and heard the words, “Behold your Mother,” addressed to John the apostle, who represented us.  Thus it was the dying wish of Jesus Christ that we have her for our Mother and she accept us as her children.  After Christ rose from the dead, Mary remained on earth for years before she was assumed into heaven.  Just as she was the mother of Christ’s physical body, she continued her work as mother of the Mystical Body in the nascent Church.

In recent times the title of Mary, Mother of the Church has received much recognition.  "She is invoked as Mother of the Church and the teacher and Queen of the Apostles," wrote Pope Leo XIII (d. 1903) in his September, 1895 encyclical, Adjutricem Populi. Pope Paul VI (d.1971), in his encyclical Christi Matri echoed this thought: “We want constant and devout prayers to to be offered to Her whom We declare Mother of the Church." And again Pope John Paul II in the first encyclical of his pontificate Redemptor Hominis declares: “Mary is Mother of the Church because, on account of the Eternal Father's ineffable choice and due to the Spirit of Love's special action, she gave human life to the Son of God, ‘for whom and by whom all things exist’ and from whom the whole of the People of God receives the grace and dignity of election.”