St Aloysius Gonzaga SJ, Priest

St. Aloysius was born in Castiglione, Italy. The first words St. Aloysius spoke were the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. He was destined for the military by his father (who was in service to Philip II), but by the age of 9 Aloysius had decided on a religious life, and made a vow of perpetual virginity. To safeguard himself from possible temptation, he would keep his eyes persistentlydowncast in the presence of women. St. Charles Borromeo gave him his first Holy Communion. A kidney disease prevented St. Aloysius from a full social life for a while, so he spent his time in prayer and reading the lives of the saints. Although he was appointed a page in Spain, St. Aloysius kept up his many devotions and austerities, and was quite resolved to become a Jesuit. His family eventually moved back to Italy, where he taught catechism to the poor. When he was 18, he joined the Jesuits, after finally breaking down his father, who had refused his entrance into the order. He served in a hospital during the plague of 1587 in Milan, and died from it at the age of 23, after receiving the last rites from St. Robert Bellarmine. The last word he spoke was the Holy Name of Jesus. St. Robert wrote the Life of St. Aloysius. His relics are under the main altar in St. Ignatius Church in Rome. He is considered the patron of young people.

Text excerpts after Catholic Online website

The picture depicts "St Aloysius Gonzaga in Glory" by Giovanni Battiste Tiepolo

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"One of the soldiers with a spear opened his side, and immediately there came out blood and water" (John 19:34)

The Holy Catholic Church propagates devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus as the simplest and easiest way to attain holiness of life. The devotion present to us Heart of Jesus saddened for our iniquities, the main obstacle to sanctity. To repay for those sins, out of charity, the Heart offered itself up for us, giving us example for sacrifices necessary to achieve sanctification. The Heart beats for each one of us and asks in return for similar commitment through sanctity of life. How real therefore is the invocation: "Heart of Jesus, fountain of life and holiness". Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the beacon of Christian sanctity, for the Heart lived in hypostatic union with God, and for God's Glory, in love for us, deep in humility and meakness. St Mary Margaret Alacoque usually said that nothing could be more sanctifying than Sacred Heart devotion. And indeed, in the last several hundred years, all Saints venerated in the Catholic Church without exception were Sacred Heart devotees. Therefore, if we think seriously about attaining any level of personal holiness we should have or be ready to develop this devotion. We should recommend ourselves to the Mother of God and Mother of the Heart of Jesus that was formed from her very blood. She was first to love It the most and she was the first and perfect follower of Sacred Heart. We need to ask her for devotion most genuine and practical to our state of life: "You shall draw waters with joy out of the saviour's fountains" (Isaias 12:3)

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"One of the soldiers with a spear opened his side, and immediately there came out blood and water."(John 19:34)

As we are still in the octave of the Most Sacred Heart Feast then it is edifying to meditate on the origin of this devotion. It could be found in the Scriptures, when Our Lord says: "Learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart" (Matt 11:29), and warns us in the same Gospel: "from the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies." (Matt 15:19). He teaches us that all good things, all His great acts of charity and mercy have their source in His Heart.When His side was opened on the Cross, the Divine Providence has shown us this way His Heart burned out of love. Devotion to the Sacred Heart began well before 16th century, however, Lutheran Reformation suppressed it for a while. Afterwards, the Lord choose St Mary Margaret Alacoque as the instrument in His plan to make this devotion known and loved. However, great obstacles appeared on the way and devotion together with the Mass in honout of the Most Sacred Heart have been approved by the Church not earlier than one hundred years later. But in the end it was to be fulfilled what Our Lord said to St Mary Margaret, that His Heart will conquer the world. All that is great in the Kingdom of Mercy is marked with the Cross and must be fought for. Therefore, we can remain in peace in every persecution and trouble. In devotion to the Sacred Heart we need to follow Our Lord example and become meek through patience and love in our own families, and humble through conquering pride and delusions in matters of religion and faith in particular. Let us pray with love and understanding the arrow prayer: "Jesus meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto yours!"

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THE STORY OF AN EXTRAORDINARY AND SINGULAR GRACE

In 19th Century France, there was a Jewish concert pianist of great promise. His name was Hermann Cohen. His virtuosity not only made him a bright star in the salons of Paris, but merited for him the honor of being
widely recognized as a respected associate of the Hungarian, Franz Liszt (1811-86), one of the greatest pianists of all time. Then suddenly, in the midst of his growing fame, Hermann Cohen, unaccountably and quietly, slipped away from the concert circuit into virtual oblivion. Several years later, he caused one of the greatest sensations of the hour when he reappeared in the streets of Paris dressed in the garb of a Carmelite monk. He had undergone a wondrous spiritual conversion to the Catholic Faith. On fire with his new found Faith, he quickly applied for admission to the Order of Mount Carmel and was warmly accepted. He was vested in the Religious habit and given the name in Religion of Augustine. In due course he pronounced the solemn vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience, completed his theological studies and was ordained to the priesthood. Father Augustine's inspired zeal and tireless missionary labors soon became even more celebrated among the Parisians than his masterful keyboard performances of old. As once with unparalleled passion he strove to fill the ears of his audience with the beauty of sound, now with even greater passion, he strove to fill them with the beauty of eternal Truth. Although the holy Carmelite was unceasing in prayer for the conversion of his beloved mother, she died without being received into the Church. Father Augustine was deeply grieved that his mother should die an unconverted Jewess, but let us see how our merciful Lord, whom he loved so tenderly, consoled him. The death of Madame Cohen took place on December 13, 1855. Father Augustine was at the time preaching the Advent sermons in Lyons. He announced the sad news to a friend in Cuers in the following touching words: --"God had just inflicted a terrible blow on my heart. My poor mother is dead,... and I am in uncertainty. Nevertheless, so many prayers have been offered up for her, that we must hope that something special occurred between her soul and God, of which we know nothing. I have been ordered to Paris to console my family." The sorrow of the son was great; but his hope in the infinite goodness of God supported him. He was to preach on the evening when this crushing news reached him. Many in his place would have been totally unfit for the duty; but he, after weeping and praying much, ascended the pulpit as usual. He preached on death; and, according to the testimony of all that heard him, it was in words that sank into the lowest depths of the hearts of his audience, exciting salutary and durable emotions. And when, toward the end of his discourse, he breathed his own sorrow into the souls of his audience, his words found in every heart a sympathetic echo. Not long afterward he confided to the holy Cure of Ars his anxiety about his mother's death -- departing this life without the grace of Baptism. "Hope," said the man of God to him, "hope! You will one day, on the Festival of the Immaculate Conception, receive a letter which will be very consoling to you."
These words were nearly forgotten, when on December 8, 1861, six years after his mother's death, a letter was handed to Father Augustine by a priest of the Society of Jesus. The writer of the letter had died in the odor of sanctity. Her letter was as follows: - "On the 18th of October, after Holy Communion, I found myself in one of those moments of intimate union with our Lord wherein he so sweetly makes me feel His presence in the Sacrament of His Love, that it seems to me as if faith were no longer necessary in order to believe in it. After some moments He made His voice audible to me, and was pleased to give me some explanations relative to a conversation that I had had the previous evening. I remembered then that, in this conversation, one of my friends had expressed to me her astonishment that our Lord, who promised everything to prayer, had nevertheless remained deaf to those of Father Hermann, so often offered up for the conversion of his mother; her surprise amounted almost to discontent, and I had found some difficulty in making her understand that we must adore the justice of God, and not seek to penetrate His secrets. I have the boldness to ask our Lord how it was that He, who is Goodness itself, could have resisted the prayers of Father Hermann, and not grant the conversion of his mother. This was His answer: " 'Why will she always seek to sound the secrets of My justice, and try to penetrate into mysteries that she cannot understand? Tell her that I owe my grace to no one, that I give to whomsoever I please, and that in acting thus I do not cease to be just, and Justice itself. But let her know also that, sooner than fail in the promises that I have made to prayer, I would overthrow the heavens and the earth and that every prayer that has My glory and the salvation of souls for its object is always heard, when it has the necessary qualities. "He also said: 'And to prove this truth to you, I will let you know what took place at the moment of the death of Father Augustine's mother.' . . .I was made to understand, the moment that the mother of Father Hermann was on the point of breathing her last, when she seemed deprived of consciousness, and life was almost gone, Mary, our good Mother, presented herself before her Divine Son, and prostrating herself at His feet, said to Him: 'Grace, mercy, O my Son! For this soul that is about to perish. Another moment and it will be lost, lost for all eternity! . . . The soul of his mother is what is dearest to him; a thousand times he has consecrated it to me; he has confided it to the tenderness, to the solicitude of my heart. Can I allow it to perish? This soul is mine; I want it, I claim it as a heritage, as the price of Thy Blood, and of my sorrows at the foot of Thy Cross.' "Hardly had the most holy suppliant ceased to speak, when a grace, strong, mighty, escaped from the source of all graces, the adorable Heart of Jesus, and fell upon the soul of that poor dying Jewess, and triumphed instantly over its obstinacy. The soul immediately turned with loving confidence toward Him whose mercy pursued her even in the arms of death, and she said: 'O Jesus, God of the Christians, God whom my son adores, I believe, I hope in Thee, have mercy on me!' "In this cry which was heard by God alone, and which came from the lowest depths of the heart of the dying woman, there were included sincere regrets for her obstinacy and her sins, the desire of Baptism, the explicit wish to receive it, and to live according to the rules and precepts of our holy religion if she could return to life. This outburst of faith and hope in Jesus was the last sentiment of this soul; as she was uttering it before the throne of Divine Mercy, the feeble threads that still held her in her earthly tenement were broken, and she threw herself at the feet of Him who had been her Saviour before being her Judge. "After having shown me all these things, our Lord added: 'Make this known to Father Augustine; it is a consolation that I wish to grant to his long sufferings, in order that he may everywhere bless and cause to be blessed the goodness of My Mother's heart and her power over Mine.' "An entire stranger to the Rev. Father Hermann, the poor sick woman that has just penned these lines is happy to think that they will bring consolation and balm to the ever-bleeding wound of his heart - the heart of a son and a priest. She presumes to ask of him the alms of his fervent prayers, and she hopes that he will not refuse them to one who, although unknown to him is united to him by the sacred bonds of the same faith and the same hopes . . ." What seems to add greater authority to this letter is the fact that it had been announced to Father Hermann six years before hand by the saintly Cure of Ars, as above mentioned. (From "Glimpses of the Supernatural," Thomas B. Noonan & Co., Boston, 1884.)

Taken from the May 2005 edition of "Fatima Findings" - Reparation Society, I.H.M., 7920 Beverly Ave., Baltimore, Maryland 21234-5308 after Our Lady of the Rosary Library

The picture shows Fr Hermann Cohen as a Carmelite saying his Rosary

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"This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them" (Luke 15:2)

This is exactly what Our Lord does until now, when we receive Him in the Blessed Sacrament. What a fountain of goodness and charity! Once, God used to share Paradise with man, led him through the desert and even lived in the midst of His chosen people. To think how delicious must have been the fruit from the tree in Paradise, the manna, the mysterious bread of prophet Elias and bread miraculously multiplied for the multitude following Jesus, the teacher. But now He has simply giving Himself to us in the form of bread every time we communicate. And how humble is He in the Blessed Sacrament. Once upon the Mount of Sinai His appearances were announced by thunders and lightnings; in the Temple no one could approach the Holy of Holies, and He will certainly come at the Last Judgment Day to judge all of us, the living and the dead - The Lord of all. But now He simply lives with us hidden in the Most Holy Eucharist. In times of Old Covenant He lived only in one Temple, now He lives in thousands of Churches around the world. It does not matter to Him who the faithful are, what is our state of life, how expensive clothes we wear, how spiritually imperfect we are - as long as our hearts are free from mortal sin and in the state of grace - we are welcome. Let us think for a moment about dramatic moments of establishing the Sacrament of the Altar. Our Lord already experienced ingratitude of the chosen people. He could see faint-hearted actions of His disciples. He was aware of the future meanness and indifference that He will be given for the greatest miracle of charity. But He proceeded, He did not hesitate. When we look at the light of Perpetual Lamp glowing before Tabernaculum in the Church, let us keep in mind the living proof of greatest charity, the Holy Eucharist and let us comfort Jesus by participating often in the Holy Benediction and receiving Him in the Communion repeating in our hearts beautiful arrow prayer: " Most Sacred Heart of Jesus I implore, that I may love daily more and more"

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Feast of the Most Sacred Heart

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus has as its dogmatic foundation in the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. On account of the hypostatic union, every part of our Lord's Human Nature is worthy of adoration. Hence, therefore, we adore His bodily Heart, beating in His Bosom. We also honour the Heart of Jesus as a reminder, or symbol, of His love for us, and we are moved to make Him a return of love, because He has loved us and He is not loved by men. Love, consecration, and reparation are the characteristic acts of this devotion. In this form it is now solemnly approved by the Church.

On the feast of the Sacred Heart celebrated on the Friday after the Octave of Corpus Christi an act of reparation is prescribed for recitation in every church in the world. On the feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King, the last Sunday of October, an act of consecration of the human race is prescribed. Though this devotion was practiced by saintly souls before 1675, it is due to the apparitions of our Lord to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in the Visitation Monastery at Paray-le-Monial that the feast of the Sacred Heart is now kept on the day assigned by Our Lord. In spite of much opposition the feast was allowed in 1765, and extended to the world in 1856; in 1929 it was raised to the highest rank. Special manifestations of the devotion are the Communion of Reparation on the first Friday of the month, and the Holy Hour in union with Our Lord in His Agony.

Link to: Fish Eaters

Link to: Catholic Tradition

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"And they began all at once to make excuse" (Luke 14:18)

Pope Leo XIII once rebuked the propagators of restricted reception of the Holy Communion. Those people would say: "Holiness is for saints only" - typical logic of jansenism, the heresy which once emptied Catholic Churches in France and made many a faithful almost psychologically blocked from approaching Lord's table. It is true the Council of Trent declared the Lord's table can be approached only with utmost reverence and in state of personal holiness. This is christian holiness meaning the communicant should be in the state of grace and free from mortal sin. Exactly the same rule is prescribed by ecclesiastical law concerning receiving of the Blessed Sacraments. It is the state of mortal sin that excludes someone from approaching communion rails and in equal measure to any form of non-Christian, uncharitable behaviour. Nothing more than that. Another group of people would say that everyday routine makes something less attractive and desirable. Wrong again, for the Most Holy Communion is always equally effective and powerful in increasing sanctifying grace and heavenly glory. It should be always gratefully and eagerly received and the custom of daily Holy Communion zealously propagated among the faithful. Our Lord does not desire us to become 'super-humans' to receive him in Holy Communion. He gives himself up to us because of our nothingness and weaknesses. For this reason theology says, the Sacraments are for ordinary people like us. Not the other way around. Otherwise, heretics would be right declaring the more restricted receiving of the Holy Communion produces more desirable fruits. In other words, the more the soul is hungry the more eagerly it will approach Lord's table and with greater spiritual appetite. So this logic imply the most important would be for souls to become weak and deprived. What a nonsense! The Most Holy Communion should be for us the same as for the first Christians, the first beginning of the day. All fears and doubts should be gone for Our Lord says majestically: "Be of good heart: it is I, fear ye not." (Matt 14:27)

Today's image is Brussel's tapestry of Eucharist theme by Rubens:"Triumph of the Holy Eucharist over Idolatry"

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"That my house may be full"

"Quick, go out into the streets and lanes of the city; bring in the poor, the cripples, the blind and the lame....give them no choice but to come in, that so my house may be filled." (Antiphon of the Magnificat, on Sunday).

This antiphon forms part of yesterday's Gospel - the parable of the man that gave a great supper (Luke 14:16-24). Although the parable is usually applied to the Blessed Eucharist, it is easy to find in it an allusion to our calling as members of the Church Christ came to found; a calling for which we can never be sufficiently thankful, and with which we must co-operate. We thank you, O Jesus, both for your Sacrament of the Altar and for our vocation to the true Church. Jesus tells the Pharisee the parable of the banquet. The table is sumptuously spread; the baked meats are prepared, all is in order, but no guests appear. The great man sends his servant to tell them that all is now ready, and they begin, with one accord to make excuses. Thereupon the host declares that none of those who were first invited shall taste of his supper. He says to his servant, "Quick, go out into the streets and lanes of the city; bring in the poor, the cripples, the blind and the lame" They do so, but still there is room. Then he bids his servant "Go out into the highways and the hedge-rows, and give them no choice but to come in, that so my house may be filled". The banquet signifies the means of grace that the Church offers. Did mankind ever receive a greater gift, a more pressing invitation? And yet, how many refuse it? We remember, with profound gratitude, that God has called us from the highways and hedge-rows of heathendom to the shelter of his Church. Why were we not born, like so many others, in a pagan land, where the light of the Gospel had not yet shone? Do we thank God daily for our election and the grace of our baptism? It is not so natural as it may seem to us, that we should be Christians, members of the one true Church, rather than heathen, like millions of others, who would perhaps have responded better to God's call. There is but one reason - the loving-kindness of our heavenly Father, the grace he has granted us (Phil. 1:29). May we be ever thankful, fulfilling faithfully and in a spirit of love the duties it imposes! Thankful also because we are God's guests who sit daily at his table, where Christ, our Host, is also our meat; a Host whose desire is that his house may be filled! He tells us today, and bids us, his elect, help to fill his Church, his House on earth. Our life is full of petty sacrifices which we can offer in union with that which our Head offers thousands of times in one day. Jesus demands the co-operation of his servants, his privileged souls. He complains: "If I lack apostle to carry on my work of redemption, it is because many of them do not live as my consecrated helpers should" . Let our resolution today be to lead in future a holier, a more truly religious life.
The meanest task, offered for the salvation of souls, can help priests and missionaries in their labour and obtain the grace of a true conversion for those entrusted to them. Our aim must be to bring all Christ's children to his banquet. Our special vocation gives us many occasions of doing so; there are the children we teach, the sick we nurse, all those who come our way and who are seeking truth and the peace it brings. We shall succeed, not so much by insistence as by prayer and example. If we ourselves receive Holy Communion with true piety, living from day to day on the strength it brings us, it will not escape the notice of those with whom and for whom we work.

Lord, we thank you for your infinite love and goodness, which have called us to your Church. May we say with the great Apostle, "By God's grace, I am what I am, and the grace he has shown me has not been without fruit" (1 Cor. 15:10).

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Saturday - day of Our Lady

Mirror of justice, ora pro nobis!

Mary's justice was based on her total trust and hope in God. Can we imagine someone who relies only on his/her own nothingness and by contrast how different, in God's eyes, is the attitude of total abandonment and trust in His mercy and omnipotence. This was the way of Our Lady, and for this reason we invoke her in the Litany under the title "Mirror of justice". Her hope and trust in God was particularly strong, she was following David's words: "in God I have put my trust, I will not fear what flesh can do against me" (Psalm 55:5). Can we imagine what she had to endure from others; Emperor August edict, rejection in Betlehem, wickedness of Herod. But Our Lady knew: "that to them that love God, all things work together unto good" (Rom 8:28). Her strength was based on her exemplary faith. Let us think about Cana wedding, when she says: "They have no wine", her Son gives the answer that sounds negative. But she is not discouraged, with her usual trust and calm, she gives order: "Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye". (John 2;5). Let us imagine Our Lady standing under the Cross on Calvary, all her hopes and expectations seemed to be lost and her heart was pierced by sword of sorrow for her Son was dying shameful death of crucifixion amidst unconceivable physical and spiritual sufferings. But she was standing there like a rock: "Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother" (John 19:25). The verse says it all. Let us remember well to look always at Our Lady and learn from her. Let us not be afraid, in every difficulty let us keep in heart the examples of her trust in God. Even if all seem lost, she is our helper. Let us not give in to discouragement, distrust. In the spirit of Immaculata let us keep in mind St. Paul's words: "Let no temptation take hold on you, but such as is human. And God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able: but will make also with temptation issue, that you may be able to bear it" (1Cor 10:13)

The picture I have chosen with delight for today's meditation is my favourite - "Madonna in Rose Garden" by German artist, Stephen Lochner, c 1448. Below is the picture description by secular art historian (after www.kfki.hu) I found interesting:

"Stephen Lochner (b. ca. 1400, Meersburg am Bodensee, d. 1451, Köln)

This small panel which employs several iconographic models is an especially charming remnant of Cologne Gothic. It depicts the "humble Madonna" (Madonna dell' Umilta) as Mary is sitting on the ground or on a pillow placed on the ground, gently holding an infant in her lap. Their figures are surrounded by adoring angels who offer flowers and fruits to the baby Jesus. To create a backdrop for the scene, two diligent angels stretch out a golden brocade curtain which reminds the viewer of the reigning, victorious Madonna. At the same time, this curtain insures separation from the rest of the world and the intimacy of the holy family. Above, surrounded by light-rays, we can see God the Father and the dove of the Holy Spirit. This intimates the Immaculate Conception; thus the painting includes the depiction of the Holy Trinity. This is the picture of completeness with the Divine Mother as its centre. The image of being enclosed is reinforced by another motif: the low stone wall around Mary, which recalls the "hortus conclusus" (enclosed garden), the symbol of Mary's purity and innocence. The spectacular carpet of flowers covering the ground intimates the earthly Garden of Eden, as does the bower of roses. Roses were often connected with the Madonna; such a simile appears in several medieval Latin hymns to the Virgin. The musical child angels in the foreground play an important part in the creation of an idyllic atmosphere. Their instruments - two different sized lutes, a harp and a portative organ - are realistically rendered, and their small hands reveal their musical expertise."

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The witness of my wrongdoing

King David, the man after God's heart, is nevertheless forced to admit: "Thou was the witness of my wrongdoing." (First response in today's Matins). God had overwhelmed his servant with benefits and graces, had even spoken to him and allowed him to see His face. One imprudent glance made of the friend of God a sinner, and even a murderer. To rid himself of Uriah, he sent him to the forefront
battle, where death was a certainty. We must all admit, to our shame, that we are sinners, and that God is the witness of our wrong-doing. "Sin is with us; if we deny that, we are cheating ourselves; it means that truth does not dwell in us." (1 John 1:8). Even St Paul, possessed as he was by the love of God, complains, "What I do is not what I wish to do, but something which I hate" (Rom. 7:15). "There is no place so holy that sin cannot enter there; we carry its germ in ourselves," says the author of the Imitation. It is by the grace of Christ only that man can overcome evil by good. Lord, grant us grace to walk with a pure heart in your presence! Mortal sin is a triple crime against the divine majesty. In the first place, it is disobedience, which neither respects his laws nor keeps his commandments. By deed, if not by word, the sinner says, "No serviam".
Secondly, it shows a contempt for God. Man puts his own satisfaction, often shameful, before God.
Thirdly, it is inconceivable ingratitide; the soul turns God's gifts against Him. Man can have no greater misfortune than that of commiting a mortal sin. He losses by it sanctifying grace, the life of the soul. He becomes z paralysed member of the mystical Body, a dead branch on the true Vine, fit only to be cut off and cast into the fire. He has no longer any communion with God; the Father in heaven leaves him to himself and his weakness. To use our human language, we might say: What a disappointment for Him who made that soul so noble, enriched it with such graces, to see it in an instant thus hideoulsy deformed! Lord, I tremble at the thought of my own weakness! save me, I beseech you, from mortal sin, the greater of all evils! When Nathan, sent by God, reproached David with his crime, the King made no attempt to excuse it. Weeping, imploring mercy, he confesses it: "Thou hast been the witness of my wrong-doing." He did not refuse the expiation imposed on him, and uttered the most sublime of all acts of contrition - the Miserere.
We too have dishonoured God, We have had the courage to brave Him and break His laws; we must also have the courage to expiate our sins, and to repeat with David, "Have mercy on me, O God, as thou art ever rich in mercy; in the misdeeds. Wash me clean, cleaner yet, from my guilt, purge me of my sin, the guilt of which I freely acknowledge, the sin which is never lost to my sight." (Ps. 50:3-5).
Lord, I will gratefully receive every trial it pleases you to send me. I have but one life in which to expiate my faults; let me not waste an hour of it! there have been saints who have asked you to give them many hearts with which to love you, in order to expiate by their acts of love, their own sins and those of others.
God punishes, and punishes justly. Adam's one sin lost sanctifying grace for his posterity; Moses, for one sin, was refused the entry to the promised Land. Yet such punishment are but a shadow of those which await the unrepentant sinner in eternity! Therefore we can and should offer in a spirit of penence whatever seems to us painful or merely disagreeable. Above all, we must never forget that we have at our disposition the Sacrifice of the Mass with which to make reparation for our own sins and those of others.

Lord, I humble myself to the ground before you, the most High, whom I have dared to resist, imploring you to grant me your grace, without which I cannot hope to conquer the smallest temptations. The most bitter of my gifts is to think that I have offended you. May I die rather than offer you again!
O God, be merciful to me, a sinner!
Refuge of sinners, pray for me!

After "With the Church" meditations on topics from Missal and Breviary - edited by Fr M. Goosens OFM

Today's image is "King David in prayer" by Pieter de Grebber

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Spiritual Vessel, pray for us!

This invocation is in the group of three: "Mirror of justice", "Seat of Wisdom" and "Cause of our joy" - they all refer beautifully to each other . We invoke Our Lady as "Mirror of justice" - for she is the spiritual vessel of justice based on faith. Faith makes us spiritual by elevating thoughts and actions into heavenly places, enabling to look at all and refer to all in spiritual manner. The life of Our Lady was most spiritual and filled with faith. Tertulian says Eve brought death on earth for she put her trust - breaking God's commandment - in deceitful words of perfidious serpent; but Mary, Our Queen brought salvation, for she put her trust in the words spoken by Angel". How faithful she was to Our Lord and His Divinity! He appeared to her as a little, helpless baby born in the most humble surroundings. She put all trust and faith in her newborn baby although she needed take care of and provide Him in all necessities. Keeping little Jesus in her arms, she had no doubts in His Almightiness, Wisdom and Holiness. For more than thirty years she did not need any miracle to believe in Him. How true are St Elisabeth's words: "Blessed art thou that hast believed because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord" (Luke 1:45). Our Lady was granted the most severe trial of faith during Jesus' Passion. Jerusalem rejected Him, people verbally and physically abused Him, Pharisees calumniated Him as deceiver and traitor. Even His disciples had second thoughts about their Master. Only His mother was the rock of unshaken faith. She is our example, and because of this we need to have recourse to her in all trials send by God. Let us stay strong in faith when we find some traces of human weakness in religion, errors in careless Christians and religious. See always remains magnificent even if we find quite repugnant things left on the shore after tide. Our Holy Church and Catholic religion is the most magnificent child of God, and some human weaknesses and misery cannot defile it. Let us be like Our Lady, spiritual vessels full of humble and unshaken faith: " Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, do manfully, and be strengthened". (1 Cor 16:13).

Picture today is "The Virgin and the Child" Cuzco School, 19th century

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OUR LADY OF GUADELUPE - ORA PRO NOBIS!

Cardinal Keith O'Brien in his sermon delivered in St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh on the anniversary of infamous'1967 Abortion bill', condemned abortion as the worst atrocity of modern times. 'Therapeutic' abortions increased in Scotland to over thirteen thousands in the last year. Cardinal said abortion kills daily a 'large school class' of Scottish children. Catholics who support abortion should be denied Holy Communion in Cardinal's opinion (in pre-Vatican II times woman who aborted her baby was automatically excommunicated). In response to the sermon, pro-abortion lunatics - accused the Cardinal of using "a hectoring and bullying tone".

More details in link below:

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After: The Hermeneutic of Continuity - blog

Cathedral in the 'Private Eye'

Westminster Cathedral has attracted the notice of Private Eye. In the current edition, there is a piece on page 12 "Music and Musicians" reporting on a new work by John Tavener, commissioned by the Prince of Wales that is to be performed in the Cathedral. According to the article:

It is based on the Koran and sets the 99 names of Allah to music, to be intoned over an hour and a half with choir, full orchestra and Tibetan gongs.

Lunchtime O'Boulez comments

To a liberal minded Christian this may all seem unexceptionable, even worthy. But it's treading dangerous ground, not least because no one seems to have done much research into what Muslims will think about giving the names of Allah full choral treatment in a Catholic cathedral. "It will be a respectful, reverent event and we're not anticipating problems," said a spokesman. So that's alright then.

He has a point. It is not so long ago that the Cathedral piazza (a public highway) saw another form of Islamic expression:

Photo: Joee Blogs
It may be that singing the names of Allah in the Cathedral is intended as a conciliatory gesture but I do hope that Lunchtime O'Boulez is wrong and that somebody has checked how this will go down with the Muslims. Webislam seem happy enough at any rate.

Of course, from a Catholic point of view, there are questions to be raised about the appropriateness of the initiative. I wonder what the Bishop of Cordoba would say. He has resisted requests from the Junta Islámica de España to use the Cathedral (a former mosque) for prayer, saying that it would generate confusion and lead to religious indifference. (Article in Typically Spanish)

For horrible blasphemies like the one cited above, I provide some prayers of reparation:

PRAYERS OF REPARATION FOR BLASPHEMIES

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that shall take the name of the Lord his God in vain. -Exodus 20:7

It seems like blasphemy has become a standard of entertainment lately. It's hard to watch a TV show, movie, play or comedian without being subjected to blasphemous humor or ideas. Here are some prayers we can say when confronted by such blasphemy.

"Golden Arrow" prayer

This prayer is said to have been revealed by Jesus Himself to a Carmelite Nun of Tours in 1843 as a reparation for blasphemy. "This Golden Arrow will wound My Heart delightfully," He said, "and heal the wounds inflicted by blasphemy."

May the most holy, most sacred, most adorable, most mysterious and unutterable Name of God be always praised, blessed, loved, adored and glorified in heaven on earth and under the earth, by all the creatures of God, and by the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ in the most Holy Sacrament of the altar. ¹

Praise to the Holy Name of Jesus

The Holy Name of our Saviour is taken in vain so often. When we hear someone use the Name above all names as a common swear word, we can cross ourselves and reverence the precious Name being defamed. Another commendable practice involves the devout, fervent recitation of the following prayer:

May the Holy Name of Jesus be infinitely blessed!
May the Holy Name of Jesus be infinitely blessed!
May the Holy Name of Jesus be infinitely blessed!
May the Holy Name of Jesus be infinitely blessed!
May the Holy Name of Jesus be infinitely blessed!

Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, animated with a desire to repair the outrages unceasingly offered to Thee, we prostrate before Thy throne of mercy, and in the name of all mankind, pledge our love and fidelity to Thee.

The more Thy mysteries are blasphemed, the more firmly we shall believe them, O Sacred Heart of Jesus!

The more impiety endeavors to extinguish our hope of immortality, the more we shall trust in Thy Heart, sole Hope of mankind!

The more hearts resist Thy Divine attractions, the more we shall love Thee, O infinitely amiable Heart of Jesus!

The more unbelief attacks Thy Divinity, the more humbly and profoundly we shall adore It, O Divine Heart of Jesus!

The more Thy holy laws are transgressed and ignored, the more we shall delight to observe them, O most holy Heart of Jesus!

The more Thy Sacraments are despised and abandoned, the more frequently we shall receive them with love and reverence, O most generous Heart of Jesus!

The more the imitation of Thy virtues is neglected and forgotten, the more we shall endeavor to practice them, O Heart, model of every virtue!

The more the devil labors to destroy souls, the more we shall be inflamed with desire to save them, O Heart of Jesus, zealous Lover of souls!

The more sin and impurity destroy the image of God in man, the more we shall try by purity of life to be a living temple of the Holy Spirit, O Heart of Jesus!

The more Thy Holy Church is despised, the more we shall endeavor to be her faithful children, O Sweet Heart of Jesus!

The more Thy Vicar on earth is persecuted, the more will we honor him as the infallible head of Thy Holy Church, show our fidelity and pray for him, O kingly Heart of Jesus!

O Sacred Heart, through Thy powerful grace, may we become Thy apostles in the midst of a corrupted world, and be Thy crown in the kingdom of Heaven. Amen. ²

Nihil Obstat - John J. Clifford, S.J. Censor Liborum
Imprimatur - + Samuel A. Stritch, December 17, 1943 Archbishop of Chicago.

Praise to the Blessed Virgin Mary in Reparation for Blasphemy

Though the Virgin Mary is not God, she too is often insulted by unbelievers, and even by some who claim to love God! We Catholics cannot understand how someone could claim to love Jesus and not love the Mother He Himself loved so much. Yet since some people do just that, we, her children, might like to express our love for her to "make up" (so to speak) for the abuse and slander she endures. Since Jesus loves her so, He could only be pleased with the love we have for her. We love Mary for Jesus' sake, because He first loved her and gave her to us as our Mother.

Mary, my Immaculate Mother, I desire to offer you reparation for the offenses which your Immaculate Heart receives from the horrible blasphemies which are uttered against you. I offer you these praises to console you for so many ungrateful children who so not love you, and to console the Heart of your Divine Son Who is so deeply offended by the insults offered to you.

Receive, my Purest mother, this little act of homage. Make me love you more each day and look with pity on those blasphemers that they may not delay to cast themselves into your maternal arms. Amen.

V. Grant that I may praise you, O Holy Virgin.
R. Give me strength against your enemies.

Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary Most Holy.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be her Immaculate Heart.
Blessed be her Virginal Purity.
Blessed be her Divine Maternity.
Blessed be her Universal Mediation.
Blessed be her sorrows and her tears.
Blessed be the graces with which the Lord crowned her Queen of Heaven and Earth.

Glory be to Mary, Daughter of the Father,
Glory be to Mary, Mother of the Son,
Glory be to Mary, Spouse of the Holy Spirit.

My Mother, I love you for those who do not love you; I praise you for those who blaspheme you; I surrender myself to you for those who will not recognize you as their Mother.

(Repeat the portion in bold type five times)

---

WORKS CITED

¹"The Golden Arrow", Pieta Prayer Book, (Hickory Corners, MI: MLOR Corporation, 1995) 61. © MLOR Corporation 1995. ("Pictures or prayers may be reproduced for personal use, not for commercial purposes")

²"Act of Reparation", Holy Hour of Reparation booklet, pages 12-13; copyright © 1945 Soul Assurance Plan(TM), Chicago, IL.

after : Prayers for reparation
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The Month of the Most Sacred Heart

"Then calling together the twelve apostles....And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick."(Luke 9:1-2)

What kind of spirit is to animate the Kingdom of God? The same Holy Ghost that lead the Church from the first moment of its existence. We read about this in the history of first Christian communities in Jerusalem in this short but descriptive sentence: "And they were persevering in the doctrine of the apostles, and in the communication of the breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42). -They were persevering in the doctrine of the apostles - which means that the greatest concern of first Christians was to listen most carefully to Apostles' teaching. This explains their fortitude and strength proved soon in bloody persecutions: "Faith then cometh by hearing; and hearing by the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17). Do we always listen carefully and with reverence to sermons? Maybe we rather seek in them brilliant style rhetoric's rather than spiritual essence? Nothing more wrong: "my speech and my preaching was not in the persuasive words of human wisdom" (1 Cor 2:4). We should follow the example of first zealous Christians and learn from them. They persevered in communities according to principles laid by Apostles: "Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if any have a complaint against another: even as the Lord hath forgiven you, so do you also" (Col 3:13). Be always beacon of charity and peace, do not get involved in quarrels, being quick in forgiving insults and we will be the wisest and most charitable people. "They were persevering in the...communication of the breaking bread" - how pleasing it was to God and His Angels. The community stayed closely together and met at Lord's table daily (Acts 2:46), not once a year during Easter, nor several times per year. They persevered in prayers - how strong influence of the Holy Ghost was in these first Christian communities, the best example for us to follow. But also how receptive those faithful were to this influence! We should be considering day without prayer - a lost day. Let us pray for true Christian. Let us banish from our hearts every single, even slightest anti-Catholic opinion, or point of view, praying: " Thou shalt send forth thy spirit, and they shall be created: and thou shalt renew the face of the earth"(Psalm 103:30).

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Whit Thursday - Ad Coeli Reginam

excerpts from Pope Pius XII Encyclical 'Ad Coeli Reginam'

From the earliest ages of the Catholic Church a Christian people, whether in time of triumph or more especially in time of crisis, has addressed prayers of petition and hymns of praise and veneration to the Queen of Heaven. And never has that hope wavered which they placed in the Mother of the Divine King, Jesus Christ; nor has that faith ever failed by which we are taught that Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, reigns with a mother's solicitude over the entire world, just as she is crowned in heavenly blessedness with the glory of a Queen.

2. Following upon the frightful calamities which before Our very eyes have reduced flourishing cities, towns, and villages to ruins, We see to Our sorrow that many great moral evils are being spread abroad in what may be described as a violent flood. Occasionally We behold justice giving way; and, on the one hand and the other, the victory of the powers of corruption. The threat of this fearful crisis fills Us with a great anguish, and so with confidence We have recourse to Mary Our Queen, making known to her those sentiments of filial reverence which are not Ours alone, but which belong to all those who glory in the name of Christian.

8. From early times Christians have believed, and not without reason, that she of whom was born the Son of the Most High received privileges of grace above all other beings created by God. He "will reign in the house of Jacob forever,"[5] "the Prince of Peace,"[6] the "King of Kings and Lord of Lords."[7] And when Christians reflected upon the intimate connection that obtains between a mother and a son, they readily acknowledged the supreme royal dignity of the Mother of God.

9. Hence it is not surprising that the early writers of the Church called Mary "the Mother of the King" and "the Mother of the Lord," basing their stand on the words of St. Gabriel the archangel, who foretold that the Son of Mary would reign forever,[8] and on the words of Elizabeth who greeted her with reverence and called her "the Mother of my Lord."[9] Thereby they clearly signified that she derived a certain eminence and exalted station from the royal dignity of her Son.

11. St. Gregory Nazianzen calls Mary "the Mother of the King of the universe," and the "Virgin Mother who brought forth the King of the whole world,"[12] while Prudentius asserts that the Mother marvels "that she has brought forth God as man, and even as Supreme King."[13]

16. The Blessed Virgin, sitting at the right hand of God to pray for us is hailed by another writer of that same era in these words, "the Queen of mortal man, the most holy Mother of God."[18]

19. Likewise St. Germanus speaks to the humble Virgin in these words: "Be enthroned, Lady, for it is fitting that you should sit in an exalted place since you are a Queen and glorious above all kings."[21] He likewise calls her the "Queen of all of those who dwell on earth."[22]

20. She is called by St. John Damascene: "Queen, ruler, and lady,"[23] and also "the Queen of every creature."[24] Another ancient writer of the Eastern Church calls her "favored Queen," "the perpetual Queen beside the King, her son," whose "snow-white brow is crowned with a golden diadem."[25]

22. The theologians of the Church, deriving their teaching from these and almost innumerable other testimonies handed down long ago, have called the most Blessed Virgin the Queen of all creatures, the Queen of the world, and the Ruler of all.

23. The Supreme Shepherds of the Church have considered it their duty to promote by eulogy and exhortation the devotion of the Christian people to the heavenly Mother and Queen. Simply passing over the documents of more recent Pontiffs, it is helpful to recall that as early as the seventh century Our predecessor St. Martin I called Mary "our glorious Lady, ever Virgin."[27] St. Agatho, in the synodal letter sent to the fathers of the Sixth Ecumenical Council called her "Our Lady, truly and in a proper sense the Mother of God."[28] And in the eighth century Gregory II in the letter sent to St. Germanus, the patriarch, and read in the Seventh Ecumenical Council with all the Fathers concurring, called the Mother of God: "The Queen of all, the true Mother of God," and also "the Queen of all Christians."[29]

24. We wish also to recall that Our predecessor of immortal memory, Sixtus IV, touched favorably upon the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin, beginning the Apostolic Letter Cum praeexcelsa[30] with words in which Mary is called "Queen," "Who is always vigilant to intercede with the king whom she bore." Benedict XIV declared the same thing in his Apostolic Letter Gloriosae Dominae, in which Mary is called "Queen of heaven and earth," and it is stated that the sovereign King has in some way communicated to her his ruling power.[31]

25. For all these reasons St. Alphonsus Ligouri, in collecting the testimony of past ages, writes these words with evident devotion: "Because the virgin Mary was raised to such a lofty dignity as to be the mother of the King of kings, it is deservedly and by every right that the Church has honored her with the title of 'Queen'."[32]

32. Finally, art which is based upon Christian principles and is animated by their spirit as something faithfully interpreting the sincere and freely expressed devotion of the faithful, has since the Council of Ephesus portrayed Mary as Queen and Empress seated upon a royal throne adorned with royal insignia, crowned with the royal diadem and surrounded by the host of angels and saints in heaven, and ruling not only over nature and its powers but also over the machinations of Satan. Iconography, in representing the royal dignity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, has ever been enriched with works of highest artistic value and greatest beauty; it has even taken the form of representing colorfully the divine Redeemer crowning His mother with a resplendent diadem.

35. But the Blessed Virgin Mary should be called Queen, not only because of her Divine Motherhood, but also because God has willed her to have an exceptional role in the work of our eternal salvation. "What more joyful, what sweeter thought can we have"--as Our Predecessor of happy memory, Pius XI wrote --"than that Christ is our King not only by natural right, but also by an acquired right: that which He won by the redemption? Would that all men, now forgetful of how much we cost Our Savior, might recall to mind the words, 'You were redeemed, not with gold or silver which perishes, . . . but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb spotless and undefiled.[43] We belong not to ourselves now, since Christ has bought us 'at a great price'."[44]/[45]

39. Certainly, in the full and strict meaning of the term, only Jesus Christ, the God-Man, is King; but Mary, too, as Mother of the divine Christ, as His associate in the redemption, in his struggle with His enemies and His final victory over them, has a share, though in a limited and analogous way, in His royal dignity. For from her union with Christ she attains a radiant eminence transcending that of any other creature; from her union with Christ she receives the royal right to dispose of the treasures of the Divine Redeemer's Kingdom; from her union with Christ finally is derived the inexhaustible efficacy of her maternal intercession before the Son and His Father.

40. Hence it cannot be doubted that Mary most Holy is far above all other creatures in dignity, and after her Son possesses primacy over all. "You have surpassed every creature," sings St. Sophronius. "What can be more sublime than your joy, O Virgin Mother? What more noble than this grace, which you alone have received from God"?[52] To this St. Germanus adds: "Your honor and dignity surpass the whole of creation; your greatness places you above the angels."[53] And St. John Damascene goes so far as to say: "Limitless is the difference between God's servants and His Mother."[54]

41. In order to understand better this sublime dignity of the Mother of God over all creatures let us recall that the holy Mother of God was, at the very moment of her Immaculate Conception, so filled with grace as to surpass the grace of all the Saints. Wherefore, as Our Predecessor of happy memory, Pius IX wrote, God "showered her with heavenly gifts and graces from the treasury of His divinity so far beyond what He gave to all the angels and saints that she was ever free from the least stain of sin; she is so beautiful and perfect, and possesses such fullness of innocence and holiness, that under God a greater could not be dreamed, and only God can comprehend the marvel."[55]

42. Besides, the Blessed Virgin possessed, after Christ, not only the highest degree of excellence and perfection, but also a share in that influence by which He, her Son and our Redeemer, is rightly said to reign over the minds and wills of men. For if through His Humanity the divine Word performs miracles and gives graces, if He uses His Sacraments and Saints as instruments for the salvation of men, why should He not make use of the role and work of His most holy Mother in imparting to us the fruits of redemption? "With a heart that is truly a mother's," to quote again Our Predecessor of immortal memory, Pius IX, "does she approach the problem of our salvation, and is solicitous for the whole human race; made Queen of heaven and earth by the Lord, exalted above all choirs of angels and saints, and standing at the right hand of her only a Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, she intercedes powerfully for us with a mother's prayers, obtains what she seeks, and cannot be refused."[56] On this point another of Our Predecessors of happy memory, Leo XIII, has said that an "almost immeasurable" power has been given Mary in the distribution of graces;[57] St. Pius X adds that she fills this office "as by the right of a mother."[58]

43. Let all Christians, therefore, glory in being subjects of the Virgin Mother of God, who, while wielding royal power, is on fire with a mother's love.

49. All, according to their state, should strive to bring alive the wondrous virtues of our heavenly Queen and most loving Mother through constant effort of mind and manner. Thus will it come about that all Christians, in honoring and imitating their sublime Queen and Mother, will realize they are truly brothers, and with all envy and avarice thrust aside, will promote love among classes, respect the rights of the weak, cherish peace. No one should think himself a son of Mary, worthy of being received under her powerful protection, unless, like her, he is just, gentle and pure, and shows a sincere desire for true brotherhood, not harming or injuring but rather helping and comforting others.

50. In some countries of the world there are people who are unjustly persecuted for professing their Christian faith and who are deprived of their divine and human rights to freedom; up till now reasonable demands and repeated protests have availed nothing to remove these evils. May the powerful Queen of creation, whose radiant glance banishes storms and tempests and brings back cloudless skies, look upon these her innocent and tormented children with eyes of mercy; may the Virgin, who is able to subdue violence beneath her foot, grant to them that they may soon enjoy the rightful freedom to practice their religion openly, so that, while serving the cause of the Gospel, they may also contribute to the strength and progress of nations by their harmonious cooperation, by the practice of extraordinary virtues which are a glowing example in the midst of bitter trials.

51. By this Encyclical Letter We are instituting a feast so that all may recognize more clearly and venerate more devoutly the merciful and maternal sway of the Mother of God. We are convinced that this feast will help to preserve, strengthen and prolong that peace among nations which daily is almost destroyed by recurring crises. Is she not a rainbow in the clouds reaching towards God, the pledge of a covenant of peace?[62] "Look upon the rainbow, and bless Him that made it; surely it is beautiful in its brightness. It encompasses the heaven about with the circle of its glory, the hands of the Most High have displayed it."[63] Whoever, therefore, reverences the Queen of heaven and earth--and let no one consider himself exempt from this tribute of a grateful and loving soul--let him invoke the most effective of Queens, the Mediatrix of peace; let him respect and preserve peace, which is not wickedness unpunished nor freedom without restraint, but a well-ordered harmony under the rule of the will of God; to its safeguarding and growth the gentle urgings and commands of the Virgin Mary impel us.

52. Earnestly desiring that the Queen and Mother of Christendom may hear these Our prayers, and by her peace make happy a world shaken by hate, and may, after this exile show unto us all Jesus, Who will be our eternal peace and joy, to you, Venerable Brothers, and to your flocks, as a promise of God's divine help and a pledge of Our love, from Our heart We impart the Apostolic Benediction.

Text after
Ad Coeli Reginam

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"But he that doth truth, cometh to the light" (John 3:21)

The question Pilate asked: "What is truth?" (John 18:38) has been answered in the Gospel by the One who says: "I am the truth" (John 14:6). But good news need to be shared with the whole world with the help of the Holy Ghost. During Pentecost we celebrate these two important events - descend of the Holy Ghost and evangelisation of the world. St Peter, the Prince of the Apostles has promptly promulgated on this day the good news about Lord Jesus Crucified and His Resurrection. The other Apostles soon followed his example. The Holy Ghost brought the Light into deep darkness of pagan world. The Light became clearly visible giving answers to old questions; who is man and who is God; what is time and what is eternity, what is suffering and what is death; questions that could not be answered properly before. The Gospel was like a lighthouse in the dark night showing the way to wandering ships - the sense of life; the purpose and way of life; the soul's eternity; the love towards poor, stricken by poverty and needs; decency of women and slaves; the value of virtue and evil of sin; the eternal reward and punishment. The result of the first teaching where astonishing, more than three thousand people were converted to Christianity and asking zealously: "What shall we do, men and brethren?" (Acts 2:37). We owe to the Holy Ghost's grace the reality that Holy Scriptures have been preserved through all the ages. Meditation on the Word of God should be a preferable choice to other reading. Moreover, indulgences are granted for spending a mere half an hour per day reading the Holy Scriptures, not studying, but reading and meditating on the Word of God. For the same Holy Ghost who inspired this book and preserved it for us is communicating with us this way. Let us remember: "that when you had received of us the word of the hearing of God, you received it not as the word of men, but (as it is indeed) the word of God, who worketh in you that have believed" (1 Thess 2:13).

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PENTECOST SUNDAY

Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine's "The Church's Year"

INSTRUCTION ON THE FESTIVAL OF PENTECOST

What festival is this?
It is the day on which the Holy Ghost descended in the form of fiery tongues, upon the apostles and disciples, who with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, were assembled in prayer in a house at Jerusalem. (Acts 2)


Why is this day called Pentecost?
The word "Pentecost" is taken from the Greek, and signifies fifty. As St. Jerome explains it, this was the last of the fifty days, commencing with Easter, which the early Christians celebrated as days of rejoicing at the resurrection of the Lord.

Why is this day observed so solemnly?
Because on this day the Holy Ghost, having descended upon the apostles, the law of grace, of purification from sin, and the sanctification of mankind, was for the first time announced to the world; because on this day the apostles, being filled with the Holy Ghost, commenced the work of purifying and sanctifying mankind, by baptizing three thousand persons who were converted by the sermon of St. Peter; and because on this day the Church of Jesus became visible as a community to the world, and publicly professed her faith in her crucified Saviour.

Why did the Holy Ghost descend on the Jewish Pentecost?
Because on their Pentecost the Jews celebrated the anniversary of the giving of the law on Mount Sinai, and God would show by sending the Holy Ghost on this days that the Old Law had ceased and the New Law commenced. God also chose this time, that the Jews who on this day came together from all countries to Jerusalem to celebrate the Pentecost, might be witnesses of the miracle, and hear the New Law announced by the apostles.

Why is the baptismal font blessed on the vigil of Pentecost, as on Holy Saturday?
Because the Holy Ghost is the Author of all sanctity and the Fountain of baptismal grace, and because in the Acts (1:5) the descent of the Holy Ghost itself is called a baptism.

In the Introit of the Mass the Church rejoices at the descent of the Holy Ghost and sings:

INTROIT
The Spirit of the Lord hath filled the whole earth, alleluia; and that which containeth all things hath knowledge of the voice, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia (Wisdom 1:7). Let God arise, and his enemies be scattered: and let them that hate him, fly before his face. (Psalm 67) Glory etc.

COLLECT
God, who on this day didst instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit: grant us in the same spirit to relish what is right, and ever to rejoice in His consolation. Thro'. — in the unity of the same, etc.

LESSON (Acts 2: 1-2)
When the days of Pentecost were accomplished, they were all together in one place; and suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them:. and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak. Now there were. dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men, of every nation under heaven. And when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded in mind, because that every man heard them speak in his own tongue: and they were all amazed, and wondered, saying: Behold, are not all these that speak Galileans? And how have we heard every man our own tongue wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphilia, Egypt, and the parts of Lybia about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews also and Proselytes, Cretes and Arabians: we have heard them speak in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.

Why did the Holy Ghost come upon the apostles in the form of fiery tongues?
The appearance of fiery tongues indicated the gift of language imparted to the apostles by the Holy Ghost, and inflamed their hearts and the hearts of the faithful with the love of God and their neighbor.

Why did a mighty wind accompany the descent?
To direct the attention of the people to the descent of the Holy Ghost, and to assemble them to hear the sermon of the Apostle Peter.

What special effects did the Holy Ghost produce in the apostles?
He freed them from all doubt and fear; gave them His light for the perfect knowledge of truth; inflamed their hearts with the most ardent love, and incited in them the fiery zeal for the propagation of the kingdom of God, strengthened them to bear all sufferings and persecutions, (Acts 5:41) and gave them the gift of speaking in various languages, and of discerning spirits.

Festival of Pentecost

GOSPEL (John 14: 23-31)
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: If any one love me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and will make our abode with him. He that loveth me not, keepeth not my words: and the word which you have heard is not mine, but the Father's, who sent me. These things have I spoken to you, abiding with you: but the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, do I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. You have heard that I said to you, I go away, and I come unto you. If you loved me, you would indeed be glad, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it came to pass, that when it shall come to pass you may believe. I will not now speak many things with you; for the prince of this world cometh, and in me he hath not anything. But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father hath given me commandment, so do I.

Why is the Holy Ghost expressly called "Holy," since this attribute is due to each of the divine persons?
Because He is the Author of inward sanctity and of all supernatural gifts and graces, and therefore to Him is especially ascribed the work of man's sanctification.

What does the Holy Ghost effect in man?
He enlightens him that he may know the truths of religion and salvation, and the beauty of virtue; He moves him to desire, to aim after and to love these things; He renews his heart by cleansing it from sin, and imparts to him the supernatural gifts and graces by which he can become sanctified, and He brings forth in him wonderful fruits of holiness.

What are the gifts of the Holy Ghost?
According to the Prophet Isaias they are seven:
1.The gift of wisdom, which enables us to know God, to esteem spiritual more than temporal advantages, and to delight only in divine things.
2. The gift of understanding, by which we know and understand that which our faith proposes to our belief; children and adults should pray fervently for this gift, especially before sermons and instructions in the catechism.
3.The gift of counsel, which gives us the knowledge necessary to direct ourselves and others when in doubt, a gift particularly necessary for superiors, for those about choosing their state of life, and for married people who live unhappily, and do not know how to help themselves.
4. The gift of fortitude, which strengthens us to endure and courageously overcome all adversities and persecutions for virtue's sake.
5. The gift of knowledge, by which we know ourselves, our duties, and how to discharge them in a manner pleasing to God.
6. The gift of piety, which induces us to have God in view in all our actions, and infuses love in our hearts for His service.
7. The gift of the fear of the Lord, by which we not only fear the just punishment, but even His displeasure at every sin, more than all other things in the world.

Which are the fruits of the Holy Ghost?
As St. Paul (Galtians 5: 22-23) enumerates them, they are twelve:
1. Charity. 2. Joy. 3. Peace. 4. Patience. 5. Benignity. 6. Goodness. 7. Longanimity. 8. Mildness. 9. Faith. 10. Modesty. 11. Continency. 12. Chastity.
To obtain these fruits as well as the gifts of the Holy Ghost, we should daily say the prayer: "Come, O Holy Ghost, etc."

Why does Christ say: The Father is greater than I?
Christ as God is in all things equal to His Father, but as Christ was at the same time Man, the Father was certainly greater than the Man-Christ.

Why does Christ say: I will not now speak many things with you?
Christ spoke these words a short time before His passion, and by them He wished to say that the time was near at hand when Satan, by his instruments, the wicked Jews, would put Him to death, not because Satan had this power over Him, but because He Himself wished to die in obedience to the will of His Father.

The picture is by Albrecht Duerer "Descend of the Holy Ghost" Read whole post......

Cause of our joy, pray for us!

With this title we praise Our Lady for her unfailing help that causes us so much joy. She gave us Him who is announced by His Angel: "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people" (Luke 2:10). She is also cause of our joy because the Redeemer is particularly pleased and generous in granting us graces through her intercession. She obtains for us so many graces that she can simply say about herself: "He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord, But he that shall sin against me, shall hurt his own soul. All that hate me love death" (Proverbs 8:35). She is to us the Mother of all Graces filled with joy and giving joy to us. She joyfully sings Magnificat, confessing: "My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour" (Luke 1:47). She brought a pure joy into the house Zachary, that even child in St Elisabeth's womb leaped with joy (Luke 1:44). She takes part in Cana wedding and is the cause of multiplied joy of all guests present there at the first miracle wrought by her Son. Along with greatest sufferings she was given the greatest joys. Seven of her joys the Church celebrates with special Feast and venerates through special Chaplet. These are joys given to her with Annunciation, visitation of St Elisabeth, birth of Our Lord, homage of Three Wise Man, finding boy Jesus in the Temple, His Resurrection and her coronation as the Queen of Heaven. The same Virgin radiant with joy stands closest to the Most Holy Trinity and is the cause of joy for all the Angels and Saints in Heaven. Let us rejoice with Our Blessed Mother, who is so rich in joy. Let us follow her example and become apostles of joy, happiness for our religion in this world: "Serve ye the Lord with gladness" (Psalm 99:2). Let us follow her footsteps despising worldly pleasures: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice" (Philippians 4:4). Following her example we can be cause of joy to our neighbours, our loved ones, our subordinates and friends. According to a certain good maxim, if someone desires to be happy in this life he should contribute to happiness of those around him, for the joy we cause others comes back to us to dwell in our hearts.

The painting is "Our Lady of Mount Carmel" Cuzco School 19th century

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