Wednesday after Pentecost - Ember Day

From "Devout Instructions" by Fr Goffine

EPISTLE (Acts v.12-16) In those days: By the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. But of the rest no man durst join himself unto them; but the people magnified them. And the multitude of men and women who believed in the Lord, was more increased: Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that when Peter came, his shadow at the least, might overshadow any of them, and they might be delivered from their infirmities. And there came also together to Jerusalem a multitude out of the neighboring cities, bringing sick persons, and such as were troubled with unclean spirits; who were all healed

GOSPEL (John vi.44-52) At that time Jesus said to the multitude of the Jews: No man can come to me, except the Father, who hath sent me, draw him; and I will raise him up in the last day. It is written in the prophets: And they shall all be taught of God. Every one that hath heard of the Father, and hath learned, cometh to me. "Draw him"... Not by compulsion, nor by laying the free will under any necessity, but by the strong and sweet motions of his heavenly grace.
Not that any man hath seen the Father; but he who is of God, he hath seen the Father. Amen, amen I say unto you: He that believeth in me, hath everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the desert, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven; that if any man eat of it, he may not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread that I will give, is my flesh, for the life of the world.

"Our Cooperation" fragments from "Divine Intimacy" by Fr Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen OCD

...Our Teacher of sanctity is none other than the Holy Spirit;...He teaches us what we must do in order to love God with all our strength; He teaches us all that we do not know, whether about God, or about the spiritual life; and to perfect His teaching, he guides us in the accomplishment of it. Actually, by directly influencing our wills, he strengthens them, attracts them, impels them forcefully to God, orientating them perfectly toward Him. In this way the Holy Spirit "helpeth our infirmity" (Rom 8,26), which being constitutional - inherent in our human nature - causes us to be continually in need of Him...