Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter

“For greater things you were born.” (Ven. Mother Luisita)

FRIDAY, May 20th   Jn 15: 12-17   Jesus said: This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.”

Today we are reminded of the approaching Solemnity of Pentecost! In order for us to love one another as Jesus commands in today’s Gospel, we need the Holy Spirit. The Father loves the Son, and the Son loves the Father. The Holy Spirit is the uncreated love between the Father and the Son.

GOD’S SEVEN GIFTS TO THE SOUL By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

One of the best analogies given in years past describing the Presence, Power and Perfection of the Holy Spirit is a SAILBOAT. This was before electricity, motor-driven vehicles, or the electronic world. The sailboat is an analogy used in the Middle Ages or earlier.

THE SAILBOAT AND OTHER MEANS OF WATER-TRANSPORTATION.  Imagine that you wanted to cross a lake and the distance was five miles. Ruminating upon the various options, these surfaced in your mind. Swimming? You would have to be in top shape, with great stamina, knowing how to swim against the current. A canoe? Maybe more likely than swimming! A rowboat with two rowing? More manpower and direction. Finally, the following occurs to you. A massive Sailboat with an excellent captain and crew, but most important: seven strong, robust sails. Bingo! Of all the options, the sailboat wins the prize. However, the key to maneuvering the massive ship to shore would be detecting and discerning where and when the wind was blowing. Then the Captain would have to raise the sails to catch the wind, of course with the strength and ability of the crew men.

SPIRITUAL INTERPRETATION OF THE ANALOGY OF THE SAILBOAT. 

The Fathers of the Church offer us a symbolic interpretation of the Sailboat and Sails related to the working of the Holy Spirit and His Seven Gifts. Here we go! The Sailboat is our soul. The shore is eternal life to which we all aspire and yearn! The uncertain and sometimes rough waters symbolize our struggles with the world, the flesh, and the devil that we must conquer with the help of God’s grace.

Now the Seven Sails are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Piety, and Fear of the Lord. Unless these sails are raised in the right time and place, then they are practically useless. The wind is the Breath of God, a term to define the Holy Spirit. The Captain of the Sailboat might be considered our will that must be directed toward the Will of the Heavenly Father. The other crew men are our spiritual friends on earth, as well as our friends in Heaven—we call them the saints. 

The analogy explained, now let us strive to the best of our ability and the help of God’s grace, and the workings of the Holy Spirit, to understand the seven sails—the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

The nature of God is goodness and generous giving to all of His creatures, especially man and woman. Among the many Gifts bestowed upon us from God are the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. These Gifts God generously gives to those who want to receive them as a powerful means to arrive at the goal and purpose of our existence—Our Heavenly Home. God gives generously of Himself, but He respects our freedom. We must willingly and with docility open our hearts to these wonderful Gifts.

WHERE AND WHEN?  Many have believed and maintain that the Gifts of the Holy Spirit enter the soul upon receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. Not so! How easy it is for us to underestimate the important and abundant Gifts God bestows upon us at our Baptism. Not only does Baptism transform us into sons/daughters of God, brothers/sisters of Jesus, intimate friends of the Holy Spirit, and temples of the Blessed Trinity, there is still more. At the moment of Baptism God gives us with utmost generosity the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Of course this does not diminish the importance and efficacy of the Sacrament of Confirmation that fortifies and enlivens the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

SPIRITUAL EXERCISES: STRENGTHEN YOUR SPIRITUAL MUSCLES.  As in the physical realm where the body and its muscles must be exercised to be strong and not become flabby; so it is in the spiritual realm. The spiritual muscles—which include the Gifts of the Holy Spirit—must be exercised to maintain spiritual fitness. How true the saying of the young generation: “If you don’t use it, you lose it!”

GETTING TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Having explained the origin and reception of these Seven Gifts, we will now proceed to explain succinctly these seven heavenly Gifts that originate from the loving goodness of God the Father, the Giver of all good gifts. Once again, let us give the list: Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Piety, and Fear of the Lord. The first three —Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding perfect the intellect; Counsel serves as a bridge between the intellect and will; the last three—Fortitude, Piety and Fear of the Lord work on elevating and purifying the will. Let us start with the most important or the greatest, according to Saint Thomas Aquinas, the Angelic Doctor—the Gift of Wisdom.

1. GIFT OF WISDOM.  A concise and pithy definition of Wisdom follows as such:  “Wisdom is the Gift of the Holy Spirit by which we interiorly relish all the things that pertain to God.” Saint Thomas Aquinas specifies this Gift as perfecting the theological virtue of Charity. The opposite vice opposing Wisdom would be that of folly or foolishness. One of the best Parables exemplifying folly is the Parable of the Rich Fool. He places a premium on gathering, collecting and hoarding possessions for his future ease, pleasure and comfort. The “live it up”… “It’s Miller time” mentality. Jesus calls this man a fool because that very night his life will be brought to a screeching halt. Where will all his possessions go? To the birds or to the Government in today’s world!

What then are manifestations of the Gift of Wisdom operative in a docile and open person? They might be seen as the following.

1) Word of God.  They relish reading and listening to the Bible, the true Word of God.

2) Mass.  They long and hunger for the Eucharist: the Bread of life.

3) Retreats.  If they have a free weekend, or even a week, they long to spend time on retreat so as to recharge their spiritual batteries.

4) Prayer.  Following the injunction of Jesus: “It is necessary to pray always without giving up hope” (Lk 18:1), they never grow weary of prayer. The more frequent the prayer, the better!

5) Spiritual Reading.  Keenly aware of their ignorance of many theological truths, they long for time in the day to apply themselves to spiritual reading so as to fill in the many gaps in their knowledge of the Faith and even go deeper.

6) These two Biblical verses can put the frosting on the cake for Wisdom. “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord” (Ps 34:8). “As the deer yearns for the running streams, so my soul yearns for you my God” (Psalm 42:1).

2. GIFT OF UNDERSTANDING.  This Gift also works on purifying and perfecting the intellect. This Gift endows the intellect with Divine Light to penetrate the Truth as revealed in Sacred Scripture. Two Biblical passages come to mind: The Disciples on the Road to Emmaus encountering Jesus; and Jesus appearing to the Apostles afterwards in the Upper Room. Both times He opened up their minds to an understanding of the Scriptures. Back-tracking to Emmaus, it was the pilgrim, the wayfarer, the friendly Companion, Jesus Himself who opened up their minds to understand many Biblical references in the Old Testament that pointed to Jesus, His suffering, death and Resurrection. Consequently, their hearts were burning within them as Jesus explained the Word to them and gave them understanding of the Word that referred to Him.

How then does the Gift of Understanding operate in our lives? Let’s see!

1) DESIRE TO READ THE BIBLE. Understanding linked with Wisdom motivates us to find time to read and meditate with hunger on the Word of God.

2) LIGHT TO PENETRATE ITS MEANING. Not only is there a real longing to break open the bread of God’s Word, but also the Word will jump out of the page to grab us, to help us grasp its real meaning and significance in our lives.

3) THE WORD MOVES US TO ACTION. The young Saint Anthony of the Desert heard the Word of God read two times. As a result, different than the rich young man in the Bible who was motivated by folly, Anthony gave all his money and possessions to the poor and went on to become one of the greatest saints in the Church. He is actually considered the Father of Eastern monasticism.

4) THE WORD IS A LANTERN FOR OUR STEPS AND A LIGHT FOR OUR PATH.  (Ps 34:8) The Psalmist accentuates the fact that the Word of God, through the Gift of Understanding, becomes a Light to guide us in all our steps and decisions.

5) IN OPPOSITION TO THE WORLD AND ITS VALUES. The person imbued and guided by the Gift of Understanding opposes the spirit of worldliness and all the lies that spew forth from wordily values. Jesus stated it clearly: “Seek first the Kingdom God and His righteousness and everything else will be given to you as well.” (Mt 6:33)

3. GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE. This Gift penetrates the intellect with the ability to perceive God’s handiwork both in Creation, as well as in the ordinary circumstances of life.

1) The quotation of Saint Paul in Athens, taken from the poet, expresses the truth best: “In Him we live and move and have our being.” In other words, through the Gift of Knowledge, we are given the spiritual insight to live constantly in the Presence of God. (Read the book of Brother Lawrence: Living in the Presence of God.)

2) The beauty of nature points to the Author of all beauty—God, the greatest of all artists. Saint Frances of Assisi penned an Italian poem in which he perceived the beauty of God in all natural creation. His inspired writing is known as “Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon.” Look it up and relish it!

3) In addition, the Gift of Knowledge enlightens us to a keen awareness of God’s Hand present in what is called DIVINE PROVIDENCE—nothing happens by chance! Rather, all circumstances in life are both allowed, permitted and directed by the loving and wise hand of God’s Providence. Even sufferings, apparent failures, contradictions, persecutions are allowed by God so that good may be derived from them. As Augustine and the saints emphasize: “God allows apparent evil so that He can bring greater good from it.” The persons imbued with and motivated by Knowledge live in trust and peace because they allow God to take the steering wheel and direct the circumstances of their lives. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31)

4. GIFT OF COUNSEL. This Gift serves as bridge between the Intellect and the Will. This Gift actually perfects the Moral/Cardinal Virtue of Prudence which is the art of decision-making. If you like, Counsel is right decision-making in action. How important this Gift is for parents, teachers, educators, politicians, priests, Superiors, Bishops and all those who must make weighty decisions. Saint Thomas Aquinas points out the three steps of making a prudential decision that must lead to action. It is precisely the Gift of Counsel that enlightens the intellect and perfects the Virtue of Prudence to make good and right decisions. These are the three steps explained by Saint Thomas Aquinas, the brilliant “Angelic Doctor”:

1) DELIBERATION. By this is meant the intellect must apply itself to serious reflection, pondering, ruminating—that is to say, a very serious thought process. Of course, and this is logical, the more important the decision and action to be taken, the more time should be given to deliberation.

2) DECISION. After allowing sufficient time for deliberation, the decision must be made. At times, in serious matters, it is highly prudent and advisable to seek advice from a qualified spiritual director. This is both humble and wise. We all have blind spots and should have recourse to experts in spiritual direction to shed light upon our darkness.

3) EXECUTION. This is the technical terminology of Aquinas; in layman’s terms it means to carry out the decision, to put it into action. One of the major dangers or obstacles with respect to execution is the individual who is prone to procrastination—putting off carrying out the decision without sufficient reason. In a word, once the decision has been made, the execution of the decision should be swift and decisive without turning back.

All of the above comes into the realm of the Cardinal or Moral virtue of Prudence perfected and motivated by the Gift of the Holy Spirit of Counsel. Examples of greatest importance in decision-making would be the following: 1) Choice and place of Higher Education—college or University, 2) Choice of one’s profession, 3) Choice of one’s vocation, be it marriage, the priesthood, or Religious life. These are momentous decisions that should be considered under the guidance of Prudence perfected by the Gift of the Holy Spirit—that of Counsel.

Again, it is highly prudent and advisable to seek advice from a qualified spiritual director on these important matters. May Our Lady of Good Counsel pray for us!

5. GIFT OF PIETY. The virtue of piety must be distinguished from the Gift of the Holy Spirit—Piety. The virtue of piety might be defined as a reverential attitude before the Sacred. Whereas the GIFT OF PIETY is much deeper and richer and might be defined as such: “The filial and confident love we have for Our Heavenly Father who truly loves and cares for each one of us as His son/daughter. Which leads us to a universal love for humanity, as well as all persons individually, because we are all brothers and sisters brought into existence and loved by the same loving Father.” Somewhat of a long definition but quite substantial and necessary! What then does this entail? How does this Gift of Piety influence our way of living, our view of God the Father, other people and life in general? Enormously! But especially in two realms or dimensions: our view of who God the Father is and how He acts; followed by the way or manner in which we see and treat other people with their own stories and sufferings. Let us delve into these two specific areas and PIETY.

1) PIETY AND OUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD THE FATHER—THE OUR FATHER PRAYER. Being permeated and influenced by the Gift of Piety in our relationship to God, we arrive at a deep and penetrating understanding of God the Father, most specifically in the prayer, The Our Father. In concrete, we come to recognize God the Father not as an abstract, abstruse, ethereal myth of the past, quite the contrary: He is alive and present in our life! As Father, He gave us life; He sustains us in existence; He loves us tenderly; He cares for us and always desires what is best for us in all times and places. If you like, magnify the love of the best of fathers on a human level, then know that God the Father loves us a million times more and always. His love and care for us is as permanent and solid as a rock. Even when suffering comes knocking at our door—and this is inevitable—still we have TRUST in God the Father as our Father! We know and firmly believe that, “God the Father knows best.” We live in the present moment; God lives in the eternal-now. He takes into account what is best for us in all times—past, present and future.

2) PIETY AND OUR RELATIONSHIP TO OTHERS.  As a logical consequence of the Gift of Piety and our relationship to God as loving Father, there necessarily follows our relationship to our brothers and sisters. If God indeed is our loving Father, then all of us belong to the same human family and we should have love for each other. Saint Thomas Aquinas defines love/charity as that of willing the good of the other. Therefore, what is inimical and diametrically opposed to the Gift of Piety is any form of prejudice. If we look down on, despise, marginalize or reject any person due to race, culture, economic or educational status, age, sickness this frustrates and blocks the flow of grace in our souls that operates with the Gift of Piety. In sum, let us trust and love our Heavenly Father, and as a consequence, let us strive to live out the last and greatest of Jesus’ commandments: “Love one another as I have loved you.” (Jn 13:34)

6. THE GIFT OF FORTITUDE.  This Gift of the Holy Spirit perfects the moral virtue of Fortitude. Of utmost importance in our life, the Gift of Fortitude gives us interior strength to follow Christ, especially in the realm of the cross. Jesus says, “Whoever wishes to follow me must renounce Himself, take up his cross and follow me.” (Mt 16:24)

1) FORTITUDE AND THE REALITY OF SUFFERING.  To be human is to enter into a world with many moments of joy, but also many circumstances of suffering. The Gift of the Holy Spirit of Fortitude imbues and invigorates our entire being with the courage not simply to suffer, but to sanctify our sufferings. The adage is true: “Suffering can make us either better or bitter.” Bitter? Yes, when we suffer with no meaning or purpose to our suffering. Angry, bitter, caustic and sarcastic people, and often gossipers, are very frequently those who suffer but with no apparent meaning or purpose. 

2) THE GIFT OF FORTITUDE unites us in mind and heart to the sufferings of Jesus. Keenly aware of the immensity and all-embracing power of the Passion, suffering, cross and death of Jesus, Fortitude lifts us up to Jesus on the cross. We actually become one with Jesus on the cross. We learn how to live out those short three words we learned at our mother’s knee: OFFER IT UP! For the salvation of a multitude of souls!!! (See Number 3.)

3) THE ALTAR AND MASS.  Once these sufferings are deposited on the altar in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass then these sufferings have Infinite Value.

4) PATIENCE AND FORTITUDE.  Closely connected with the Gift of Fortitude is the practice of the virtue of patience. We are coming to the awareness that the Gifts of the Holy Spirit work on perfecting many virtues. We all need patience and a lot of this virtue. The Gift of the Holy Spirit of Fortitude imbues our spirit with patience in dealing with others; it invigorates us to be patient with ourselves and our many limitations; finally, it helps us to be patient with God and learn to wait on God’s timing and not our timing.

5) APEX OF FORTITUDE: MARTYRDOM!  The very apex, summit, zenith of Fortitude is the call to Martyrdom and the acceptance of this extraordinary Gift from God. Saint Ignatius states that we do not have the grace for martyrdom except in the time, manner and moment that God in His Divine Providence call us to it. This being said, if God offers this supreme and sublime manner to honor Him, by the suffering and sacrifice of one’s life, God will give us the sufficient and abundant graces to suffer it. It is a supreme and sublime gift most especially because it is the imitation of Christ who suffered and sacrificed His life for us on the cross.

6) FORTITUDE IN DAILY LIFE.  However, the Gift of the Holy Spirit of Fortitude is necessary in our daily walk with the Lord, the daily small but trying crosses. Fortitude enlightens our mind to understand our sufferings—even though they be small—as a means to be united with the cross of Christ. When accepted and carried out, we sanctify ourselves, the Church, our family, as well as the whole world.

7. THE GIFT OF FEAR OF THE LORD.  The Bible teaches us, “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Prov 9:10) Saint Thomas Aquinas points out that Wisdom is the greatest of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. However, Piety should be the first in operation. The Gift of the Holy Spirit of Fear of the Lord is closely linked to the virtue of humility.

1) The Gift of Fear of the Lord enlightens us to a keen awareness of the fact that we are all very weak. We are all prone to fall and moral failure. We realize that without God’s prevenient grace, His all-abiding grace, His preventive and all-sustaining grace—we are capable of not only sinning, but sinning quickly, as well as seriously! In a word, following the teaching of Saint Augustine, the “Doctor of Grace”, we recognize that all the good we have done is due to God’s grace; and all the evil we have done is due to our failure to correspond to God’s grace.

2) Jesus warned the Apostles in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Stay awake and pray; for the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” (Mt 26:41) Saint Paul understood this clearly when he asserted that the good he wanted to do, he did the exact opposite due to weakness of the flesh.

3) Saint Philip Neri saw a man in the gutter in the streets of Rome and exclaimed: “There go I save the grace of God.”

4) Saint Therese reaffirmed Saint Neri’s statement by saying that she would be capable of all of the most heinous crimes and sins of humanity, save the grace of God. She went on to say that the primary reason why she did not fall into many sins was simply because “God cleared the way.” In a word, God intervened and cleared the moral pitfalls that all of us can be plunged into at any time, in any place. The worst of sinners can become the greatest of saints; but also the greatest of saints can be transformed into the greatest of sinners!

5) SAFEGUARD FROM ETERNAL CONDEMNATION.  The Gift of Fear of the Lord can serve as a most efficacious remedy to avoid losing our soul in Hell. “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.” And: “If the love of God does not move us, then at least Fear of the Lord and God’s just punishment can move us to change and give up sin.”

6) MEDITATION ON THE REALITY AND POSSIBILITY OF HELL.  We all want an ever-growing love for God—that must be our aim! However, if we have not yet arrived at a true and sincere love for God, than Fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom can help us avoid falling into mortal sin, or at least help us get out of it as quickly as possible by a good Confession. Many saints have been motivated by Fear of the Lord sparked by the contemplation of Hell! In fact, Our Lady of Fatima portrayed the reality of Hell to the three little children—Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco, and it motivated them to do great things for God by sacrificing themselves for sinners, with Francisco and Jacinta becoming two of the youngest saints in the Catholic Church. All related to Fear of the Lord.

In conclusion, friends in Jesus and Mary, let us get into the Ship (our soul). The rough waters represent the tempestuous world in which we live amidst so many dangers and temptations. Let us lift on high the Seven Sails (the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit)! As Captain (our free will) let us open up those sails as wide as possible to catch the wind (the Breath of God, the Holy Spirit)! Then the ship (our immortal soul, worth more than the whole created world) will sail smoothly and on course to the shore (Our Heavenly Home). Yes, the shore is our eternal destiny—Heaven! 

All of us are called to become saints—to be authentic followers of Jesus Christ who truly is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Why not take the short-cut? Allow the gust of wind, the Holy Spirit, to inspire and invigorate those Gifts to be active and operative in our lives on a constant basis. Also, may we never forget to call upon Mary! Indeed, Mary is the Daughter of God the Father, the Mother of God the Son, and the Mystical Spouse of the Holy Spirit. Saint Louis de Montfort asserts vigorously that Mary is the shortcut to God, to holiness, and to Heaven.

Let us beg Mary for the grace of being open and docile to the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.  Mary, Seat of Wisdom, pray for us. Mary, Our Lady of Good Counsel, help us to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Our Lady of Sorrows, grant us strength and Fortitude in our trials. Our Lady of Charity, teach us to love God as our tender Father and all as our brothers and sisters. Mary, Most Holy, help us to grow in holiness and sanctity through an intimate union with the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter

“For greater things you were born.” (Ven. Mother Luisita)

THURSDAY, May 19th   Jn 15: 9-11   Jesus said: “I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete.”

We are called by Jesus to become His disciples and bear much fruit—the evangelization and salvation of souls! There is a saying: “You catch more flies with honey than vinegar!” A more poignant truism: “They don’t care what you know, until they know that you care!” Jesus said at the Last Supper: “Love one another as I have loved you!” (Jn 13:34)

ARE YOU GOOD AT WELCOMING AND GREETING? By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

One of the essential dimensions of cultivating the social virtues is the capacity to both greet and welcome individuals, as well as groups. Most would agree that the first impression we have of another leaves a profound impact for good or for bad.

On the negative side, when somebody ignores us, overlooks us, snubs us, or even glares at us ending with a sarcastic and derisive smile, it truly cuts us to the heart and can leave an indelible wound. Expecting a warm greeting and receiving quite the contrary, or even being completely ignored, can result in anger, resentment and even a desire for revenge in the depths of our heart.

Therefore, as authentic followers of Christ, should we not make a concerted effort on our part to improve and upgrade our greetings and welcoming attitudes? Especially in the realm of apostolic efficacy, a warm greeting can open a heart to follow Christ, whereas a snub and cold stare can shut the door to Christ.

This may catch many of us by surprise, or even shock us, but there are many Biblical passages dealing directly with greeting and welcoming others. Let’s contemplate a few.

1. THE ARCHANGEL GABRIEL AND MARY. (Lk 1:26-38)

Of all of the greetings in the history of the world, the Archangel Gabriel’s greeting to the Blessed Virgin Mary is the most prominent, as well as significant: “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.” This greeting would culminate in Mary’s consent to conceiving the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity in her most pure womb. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (Jn 1:14) In fact, every time we pray the Hail Mary, we renew this Angelic salutation. For that reason, the technical name for the Hail Mary is actually “The Angelic salutation.”

2. THE VISITATION. (Lk 1:39-56)

A rapid sequel to the Archangel’s greeting in the Annunciation to Mary is Our Lady’s quick response as she moves in haste to visit her elderly cousin Elizabeth who is with child.

Upon arriving, Mary greets Elizabeth, most likely with the Hebrew manner of greeting: Shalom —Peace be with you! Saint Elizabeth responds: “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Who am I that the Mother of my Lord should come to me? At the sound of your greeting the baby in my womb leapt for joy. Blessed are you for your firm belief that the word of the Lord would be accomplished in you.”

3. ZACCHAEUS, CHIEF TAX-COLLECTOR OF JERICHO. (Lk 19:1-10)

In the case of this short tax-collector who is ready and willing to climb a tree to see Jesus, we witness another greeting and welcome. Almost always Jesus was formally greeted and welcomed into homes. In this case, Jesus actually invites Himself into the home of Zacchaeus, and the little man joyfully welcomes Him. Overflowing with joy, Jesus responds: “Today salvation has arrives at this home.” How often has Jesus knocked on the door of our heart seeking entrance? How often have we failed to open the door?

4. SAINT MATTHEW. (Mt 9:9-13)

Jesus approaches the tax-collectors’ post where Matthew is seated. Peering into the eyes and penetrating the depths of the soul of this Publican (tax collector), Jesus says two words: “Follow Me!” Without a moment of hesitation, Matthew accepts the invitation and leaves all that he has to follow the Master. That very night Matthew prepares a banquet for Jesus, inviting many of his friends—tax collectors and sinners, so they too can meet the Lord. Matthew greets Jesus and welcomes Him into his home with overflowing joy!

5. BETHANY: MARY AND MARTHA AND LAZARUS. (Lk 10:38-42)

Among the most dear friends of Jesus during the three years of His Public Ministry were Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus. Living close to Jerusalem in the town of Bethany, they would invite Jesus and welcome Him as their guest. Polar opposites in temperament, Martha and Mary served Jesus each in their own unique manner. Busy and active to her very core, Martha practiced the most minute details of hospitality. Quiet and more reserved and contemplative by nature, Mary loved to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to Him, speak to Him, and simply be present to Him as a friend.

The above are five classical examples of different Biblical personalities and their attitude in both greeting and welcoming Jesus. We might even call these Biblical figures: THE SHALOM COMMITTEE! (PEACE BE WITH YOU—SHALOM!)

Let us step back and examine our own lives, the people we meet and the opportunities that God presents to us to exercise the Apostolate of Shalom, the greeting and welcoming Club!

6. FAMILY MEMBERS. 

If you are a homemaker, as well as wife and Mother, you most likely have the Golden opportunity every day to both greet and welcome family members home. Welcoming your husband with a hug, a smile, and a refreshing drink can turn his long and tiring day into an oasis of peace. Also, receiving and welcoming your children with a joyful smile, milk and cookies, and words of encouragement can make a world of difference from the tough, aggressive and cold external social milieu they encounter every day.

7. GREETING FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES.

A simple question for your examination? Upon seeing a friend or acquaintance approach, do you wait for them to greet you? Or do you make an effort to take the initiative and greet them first? In taking the initiative, there is real virtue practiced in this assertive approach. Humility, courtesy, and even charity emanates from the first to greet! Who knows, maybe you can even win a new friend by taking the initiative to greet first with a winsome smile!

8. GREETING THE HOME-BOUND, THE SICK AND THE LONELY.

One of the most pleasing gestures that we can do for others, and so pleasing to God, is to go out of our way to visit those who are sick and abandoned, lonely and depressed. A greeting, a smile, a kind word, a holy card, a hug or embrace can pull those lonely persons dwelling in the valley of tears, into the light of God’s joy and happiness! Jesus will reward us: “Whatever you do to the least of these brothers/sisters of mine, you do to me.” (Mt 25:40)

9. GREETING JESUS IN THE CHURCH.

Another noteworthy greeting is towards Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the context of the Church. This can be done in two ways: Eucharistic visits and Eucharistic receptions! One of the first short poems that I learned as a child was the following: “Whenever I see a Church I stop to make a visit, so that when I die the Lord won’t say ‘Who is it?’” Upon entering a Catholic Church, we should immediately draw close to the Tabernacle, the home of Jesus in the Church, and greet Him. First, we make a genuflection towards the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings. Next, we greet Him and welcome Him by opening up our heart to Him in fervent prayer. Then of greatest importance, we participate fully, actively and consciously in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The culminating moment is to greet Jesus and warmly welcome Him into the very depths of our heart in Holy Communion. This Eucharistic welcome and greeting is by far the most important in this world. May we strive to improve and upgrade our welcome and greeting of our Eucharistic Lord!

10. HEAVENLY WELCOME COMMITTEE. 

Now, as a conclusion, if during the short course of our earthly existence, we have sincerely striven to be that kind, warm, attentive, greeting and welcoming person towards our family, our neighbors, the sick and lonely, even strangers, and most important, towards Our Eucharistic Lord in the Mass and in Adoration, then one day we will have our own welcoming committee—Jesus and His Heavenly Mother Mary, surrounded by the angels and saints, will welcome us into the halls and eternal banquet of Heaven to rejoice with them forever and ever!

Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

“For greater things you were born.” (Ven. Mother Luisita)

WEDNESDAY, May 18th   Jn 15: 1-8   Jesus said: “By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

Some among us are good, maybe even outstanding athletes! Others among us don’t have an athletic bone in our body! Yet St. Paul encourages everyone to run the good race and so merit the crown of eternal salvation! Fr. Ed shows us how to accomplish this!

HAVE PERSEVERANCE IN YOUR RACE TO HEAVEN by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

There is a fabulous scene in the movie-classic Chariots of Fire, where the hero of the film, Eric Liddell, is running the 400 against another three sprinters. Almost at the start of the race, the runner next to Liddell elbows him. Cascading to the ground, Liddle raises his gaze contemplating the runner’s kick up dust.

There are two options: either throw in the towel and call it quits, or spring to his feet, gun it, and go for the victory. Liddell chose the latter. With all the energy in every fiber of his strong athletic body, Liddell pours it on. Passing one runner, he then passes another, but the runner that knocked him to the ground stills has the lead. Not for long!

Eric Liddell gives it one last burst of tremendous effort and he breaks through the finish line, winning by a split-second before collapsing and plunging to the ground. Panting and panting like a fish out of water, his opponent vanquished, the victory is won by Eric Liddell.

One trainer commented: “It was not the prettiest victory, but it was certainly the most valiant, the most courageous.” Against all odds, through sheer determination, willpower and guts, Eric Liddell won the 400, and eventually would win the Gold Medal for the 400 in the Olympic Games in France at the beginning of the 20th Century.

Our Race for Salvation

Brought up and raised in the social milieu and cultural context of the Greek Olympic Games, Saint Paul with a certain frequency alludes to athletic feats or events related to sports competitions. The two most common sports mentioned by the Apostle to the Gentiles would first be that of boxing—we are called to fight the good fight. Next, the race and marathon. Saint Paul also challenges us to run the good race and receive the merited crown awaiting the victor.

In another passage, Paul encourages the followers of Christ to strive not for a crown that perishes, but a crown that will last for eternal life. Earthly victory and gain is like a laurel wreath placed on our head; it will soon dry up, wither and perish. Our eternal crown in heaven will never perish but will shine forever!

Theologian and Doctor of the Church, Saint Alphonsus Liguori asserts: “The grace of all graces is to die in the state of grace.” If we can appreciate grace, live in the state of grace, grow in grace, and end our race on earth in the state of grace, then we shall be gifted with our eternal salvation.

Indeed, on a daily basis we should implore, beg, and supplicate the Lord Jesus, His Heavenly Mother Mary, and the angels and saints for the grace of all graces—to die in the state of grace. No greater grace exists in the world! We must beg this for ourselves, for our loved ones, and for the whole world.

Lord, grant us this grace of all graces!

Therefore, we would like to warmly exhort each of us to undertake these five specific practices so that all can attain the grace of all graces—to die in the state of grace and attain eternal salvation!

1. Live Each Day as if It Were Our Last

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ never promised us another year, another month, another week, another day, another hour, nor even another second. The life we live and the moment we die is uncertain. We might live another 25 years, but we might live another 25 seconds. This depends on the mysterious designs of God.

2. Immediately Exit From Mortal Sin

If our house were on fire at night, obviously we would not wait until dawn to call the firefighters! In mortal sin, our spiritual house is on fire and we should extinguish the flames first by making a Perfect Act of Contrition immediately, and then by having recourse to Sacramental Confession as soon as possible. We must not play Russian-Roulette with our eternal salvation!

3. Fervent, Frequent and Fiery Communions

As often as possible attend Holy Mass, and provided we are in the state of grace, receive Jesus in Holy Communion with great fervor. Receive our Eucharistic Lord Jesus as if it were our First Holy Communion, our Last Holy Communion, and our Only Holy Communion! The Lord wants fervor and love in our receptions!

4. Do What We Are Doing For God Alone

The secret of the saints is living out what we sometimes call the Sacrament of the Present Moment. Meaning this, live each day—each hour and minute of our day—intending to please and praise God while we work to save and sanctify souls, our own and others. How do we do this? First, by fulfilling our duties and responsibilities according to our state in life: single, married, religious or priest. Second, purity of intention in all that we say and do is very important to God and for growing in holiness of life. Saint Paul asserts: “Whether you eat or drink, do all for the honor and glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31) Saint Ignatius’ theme is the four letters: A.M.D.G.—All for the greater glory of God! St. Therese expresses this well: “Holiness does not depend on doing big things, but on doing the ordinary things of daily life with extraordinary love.”

5. The Hail Mary and The Holy Rosary

Finally, as a sure anchor for our eternal salvation, we turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary. As we pray in the Memorare: “Never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection was left unaided.” The Hail Mary can be a prayer of untold value to attain the grace of all graces, to die in the state of grace and attain our eternal salvation. Better yet, pray the Hail Mary fifty times; we call it the most Holy Rosary. Even better, more than one Rosary!

If we can pray with this powerful weapon daily, praying fervently: “pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death”, no doubt the Blessed Virgin Mary will be present in our last and dying moments praying fervently for our soul—to help us repent of our sins, trust in God’s mercy, and end by loving God! Then Heaven will be ours—the grace of all graces will be ours forever and ever and ever!

Tuesday of Fifth Week of Easter

“For greater things you were born.” (Ven. Mother Luisita)

TUESDAY, May 17th   Jn 14: 27-31a   Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.”

When we walk through life with our Blessed Mother Mary at our side, we find peace of heart, mind, body, and soul! And where Mary is, there is Jesus!  

10 Ways You Can Love Mother Mary by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

We often discuss who might be the best athletes, the best artists, the best writers, the best musicians; also, it must be said, there are the best of mothers. By far—and in a class by herself—the Blessed Virgin Mary was, is and always will be the best of all mothers.

This being said, mothers should recognize the fact that Mary is the best of all mothers and contemplate Mary’s words, actions, gestures, looks, intentions and life to become better and better mothers.

For our great consolation Mary is the Mother of God and she is the Mother of the Church, but also Mary is our dearest Mother too! Let us try to please Mary our Mother and as a consequence, the many mothers in the world will make huge strides in becoming better mothers all the days of their lives!

Below we will present ten different ways that we can show Mary, our Mother, our great love for her and without a doubt, through her most powerful intercession, she will attain for us the most choice graces to help us become the saints that we are called to be, and many of us as mothers.

1. Talk to Mary

We have to get in the habit of talking to Mary, our dearest Mother, very often. To confide in her, speak to her from our heart, love her and entrust all of our life to her is most pleasing to Mary, as well as to her Son Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary is our Model, our Guide, our Friend and our dearest of Mothers. She loves us so much and desires to have frequent conversations with us.

Let us start today! Good friends think about each other and talk to each other frequently! Mary is our Mother, but she is also our friend and confidant.

2. Start Your Day With Mary

Upon waking up every morning, our first action should be that of prayer, and what prayer? Why not start your day by giving yourself totally to Jesus, in all you say, do and think, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary? Give to Jesus through Mary your eyes, your ears, your mind, your heart, your body and even your intentions—in a word, give everything to Jesus through Mother Mary. How important it is to start our day well through the Heart of Mary!

3. Love Mary

A Mother never gets tired of hearing her child say: “Mom, I really love you; you are the greatest!” The temptation might be to say the following: “Well, she already knows it, why tell her something that she already knows.” True, a good Mother most likely already knows it. However, it should be expressed in words. By saying: “Mom, I really love you”, the heart of your mother will leap with joy. The same must be said about Mary. In the simplest of words when we say: “Mother Mary, I love you”, then Mary, the Mother of God and our Mother, experiences great joy in her most pure and Immaculate Heart. Therefore, during the course of the day we should simply say: “Mother Mary, I love you!”

4. Walk With Mary

There is a well-known song in both Spanish and Italian dedicated to Mary related to this topic with the title: Santa Maria del Camino—meaning, “Our Lady of the Way”. Therefore, when we travel, and it can be a short trip or a very long one, we should invite Mother Mary to come along with us. She is a good traveling companion and can protect us from many dangers in our travels, perils both physical and moral. How many accidents, physical and moral, have surely been prevented by traveling with Mary—Santa Maria del Camino!

5. Imitate Mary

If we know somebody in a very deep way, that often leads to imitation, and imitation to following, and following to a deep love for that person. Saint Louis de Montfort highlights the ten principal virtues of Mary that we should strive to imitate: her deep humility, lively faith, blind obedience, unceasing prayer, constant self-denial, surpassing purity, ardent love, heroic patience, angelic kindness, and heavenly wisdom. (True Devotion to Mary, St. Louis de Montfort #108)

6. Trust and Entrust to Mary

If we truly have confidence in a person then we can entrust our cares to that person, knowing that this special person will care for us and protect us. God the Father entrusted His only begotten Son to the care of Mary. Therefore, we can entrust our lives totally to the care of Mary, our dearest and most loving Mother. “Never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection was left unaided.” (The Memorare, St. Bernard)

7. Tell Mary of Your Sorrows and Failures 

We could be tempted by the enemy, the devil, who truly hates Mary, to feel inhibited in telling Mother Mary our sorrows and deep sufferings. The contrary should be the case! The best of mothers, Mary knows very clearly that when a child is most hurt and wounded, that is when the child needs the most tender love and care. So it should be with us! When the days seem to be the most cloudy, bleak, gloomy, and downright depressing in the depths of our soul, it is then that we really need to open up and talk to Mary our Mother! Mary is both refuge of sinners and health of the sick—two titles for Mary in her famous Litanies!

8. Call Upon Mary When Tempted

Our life is a constant battle; we are soldiers of both Jesus and Mother Mary. That means that we are on a constant battle-ground. Our enemies are three: the devil, the flesh, and the world. Aware of this intense reality of spiritual combat, we should call upon the Holy Name of Mary in the midst of the battle and the victory will be ours! The famous Battle of Lepanto proved a striking victory through invoking Mary and the recitation of the most Holy Rosary at the insistence of Saint Pope Pius V. May we entrust our battles to Mary, who is more powerful than a whole army in battle array! The mere name of Mary causes terror and fear in all of hell!

9. Promote Love for Mary as Our Mother

If indeed we have truly experienced the love, care, and tenderness of Mary in our daily lives, then undoubtedly we will want to make Mother Mary known far and wide.  Mary is not loved and honored due to one principal reason: she is not known! How can she be made known? In many ways! Encourage the reading of good books on Mary like The Glories of Mary by St. Alphonsus Liguori, True Devotion to Mary by St. Louis de Montfort, and Mater Redemptoris and The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Rosary both by Saint Pope John Paul II.

Encourage recitation of the Holy Rosary and praying it daily, give out Rosaries with pamphlets on how to pray the Rosary, and finally, encourage the wearing of the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

10. Die in the Arms of Mary

The most important moment in our life is the very moment that we die. This moment will determine for all eternity our eternal destiny—either heaven or hell.  Why not prepare to die in grace, to die a holy death, at least 50 times a day? How, you might ask? Simply by praying the most Holy Rosary. Every time we pray the Hail Mary, we are preparing ourselves for a holy and happy death with these words: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Therefore, let us rejoice with the keen awareness that we all have a heavenly Mother, Mary the Mother of God, the Mother of the Church, and our own dear Mother. She knows us, cares for us, protects us, but especially, she loves us! Indeed, in the midst of the trials, struggles, intense battles of life let us find our refuge in the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus!

Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter

“For greater things you were born.” (Ven. Mother Luisita)

MONDAY, May 16th   Jn 14: 21-26   Jesus told them: “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.”

BRIEF CATECHESIS ON THE HOLY SPIRIT: TWENTY-FIVE FACTS THAT WE SHOULD ALL LEARN! By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

For many followers of Christ, there is an understanding, love and prayer that we offer to Jesus. He points us to the Father and consequently we pray the Our Father, as sons and daughters of the Father should pray.

However, for more than a few of us the Holy Spirit, who indeed is the third Person of the Blessed Trinity, remains nebulous, mysterious, and in a real sense unknown. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to strive for a more clear and penetrating understanding of the “Sweet Guest of the soul”.  (Sequence prayer for Pentecost)

Following logic and reason, unless we capture a more profound comprehension of the Holy Spirit, His presence, power and action in our lives will be inhibited, if not paralyzed. Friends long to get acquainted with each other, yearn to spend quality time with each other, so as to appreciate this mutual bond of friendship and rejoice in the successes and weep at the failures in the reality of friendship. So in a parallel sense is our bond of relationship with the Holy Spirit.

In fact, with respect to our relationship with the Trinity, we have a different relationship with each Person. Once baptized we become sons/daughters of God the Father and brothers/sisters to Jesus Christ our Elder Brother. However, with respect to the Holy Spirit, He becomes our Intimate Friend. This bond and depth of Friendship depends on one element: our docility and openness to the Holy Spirit or our lack of it.

With great joy and enthusiasm, let us delve into the infinite riches in getting to know the Holy Spirit better. This deep union with Him will result in the opening of a new vista or horizon in our spiritual life. Indeed He will shine light in our minds and ignite a fire in our hearts transforming us into, in the words of Saint Paul, new creatures in Christ.

This succinct but substantial treatment will serve as a short, mini-catechesis on the Person, the Power, the Presence and the Interior Peace that are all communicated to the soul enamored with the Holy Spirit, the Sweet Guest of the Soul.

TWENTY-FIVE FACTS THAT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT

1. IN THE TRINITY.  In the Sublime Mystery of the Most Blessed Trinity, the Holy Spirit is actually the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. In order, the Father is the first Person; the Son, the second Person; and finally, the Holy Spirit, the third Person in the Blessed Trinity.

2. HIS ROLE AND PLACE.  The Father loves the Son; the Son in turn loves the Father. The Holy Spirit is the mutual bond of love between the Father and the Son. St. Bernard calls the Holy Spirit the mutual embrace between Father and Son.

3. APPROPRIATION.  Thus, the Father is the Creator and Power; the Son is Wisdom or Logos; the Holy Spirit is the Sanctifier and Uncreated Love in the Mystery of the Blessed Trinity.

4. IN THE CHURCH.  Among the many titles of the Church, one of the most prominent is that of “The Mystical Body of Christ”. The Church is called to glorify God the Father. Jesus is the Head of the Mystical Body. And the Holy Spirit? He is the Soul of the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ. By means of definition: the soul is the life-giving principle.

5. BAPTISM.  This Sacrament is the door, gateway, or threshold of the life of grace. At the moment of Baptism, the person receives a radical transformation of life. One of the effects is that Baptism transforms us into living Tabernacles of the Blessed Trinity and Living Tabernacles of the Holy Spirit. We become the House or Abode of God Himself.

6. GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  Also, upon receiving Baptism, the Holy Spirit pours His Seven-fold Gifts into our soul. These are the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. They follow in our catechesis with a brief but clear definition.

7. WISDOM.  According to Aquinas, the greatest of all, “Wisdom is the Gift in which we relish the things of God.”

8. UNDERSTANDING.  This Gift that perfects the intellect, allows the mind to penetrate the inner Truths presented in the Word of God and Catholic Doctrines and Teachings.

9. KNOWLEDGE.  This Gift opens the mind to a deeper awareness of God’s over-riding Presence. In a word, we live in the Presence of God. In the words of the Greek poet in our relationship to God: “In Him we live, and move, and have our being.” We become aware of God’s Presence in the beauty of nature, in circumstances, and even in the daily crosses that visit us.

10. COUNSEL.  This Gift perfects the moral virtue of Prudence and it helps us in the art of decision-making. If you like, right or correct decisions in action. The Gift of Counsel serves as a bridge between the Intellect and the Will.

11. FORTITUDE.  This Gift communicates to a person real courage, valor, interior strength in the midst of trials and sufferings. It also communicates patience in the midst of the many sufferings in life.

12. PIETY.  This is the Gift of the Holy Spirit in which we relish our relationship to God our loving Father. And if God is our loving Father, then it necessarily follows that we love all God’s children as our brothers and sisters. In this, there is no room for any traces of racism.

13. FEAR OF THE LORD.  Keenly aware of our fragility and human weakness, Fear of the Lord moves us to rely not on our own resources and strength, but on the strength that comes from God. Very much related to humility, Fear of the Lord inspires us to avoid sin, knowing the consequences of living and dying in sin could result in the loss of God’s Love and Friendship for all eternity.

14. FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  Saint Thomas Aquinas points out that the Fruits of the Holy Spirit are related to an inner sweetness that is experienced in the depths of the soul of a person who is collaborating generously with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Fruits of the Holy Spirit are: “charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity.” (CCC 1832)

15. LOSS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  Even though painful, we must come to terms with the fact that due to the free will with which we were endowed as human persons, we can reject the Presence and Person of the Holy Spirit. Quite simply this happens when we choose to commit a mortal sin. By this act, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are expelled from our soul and the enemy enters.

16. RECOVERY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  Good News! The Holy Spirit returns to our soul upon making a perfect Act of Contrition and then having recourse to the Sacrament of Confession as soon as possible.

17. SOLEMNITY HONORING THE HOLY SPIRIT.  At the conclusion and culmination of the Easter Season—fifty days after Easter—the Church celebrates the  Solemnity of Pentecost (a word meaning fifty). This commemorates the conclusion of the first Novena in the Church wherein Mary and the Apostles, praying and fasting in silence in the Upper Room or Cenacle, experienced an event that radically transformed the lives of the Apostles. Following the nine days of prayer and fasting came a powerful wind, almost like an earthquake, with tongues of fire resting over the heads of the Apostles and Mary, and the transformation was effected. These fearful, doubting, insecure, cowardly men became valiant soldiers for Christ, ready to give testimony to their love for Christ by shedding their blood, in imitation of the Master Jesus Himself. Thus, Pentecost is considered the Birthday of the Church.

18. LITURGICAL COLOR FOR PENTECOST?  RED!!! This is the color pointing to the FIRE that descended upon the Apostles on Pentecost. Red is also for the BLOOD they were willing shed to bring the good news of Salvation to the whole world!

19. READINGS ON THE HOLY SPIRIT?  A short, concise, spiritual gem on the topic of the Holy Spirit written by a French Author, Jacques Philippe, is available in both English and Spanish. The title of the book is: “In the School of the Holy Spirit.” The heart or essence of this short gem is that our growth in holiness depends principally upon one disposition of soul: docility and openness to the action, Presence, and Power of the Holy Spirit. This short but good read can change your life!

20. NAMES: TITLES FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT.  If we sincerely desire to get to know the Person of the Holy Spirit, we might study and pray over some of the names that are given to explain the Person of the Holy Spirit. There are many indeed. I will offer you a mere five: Paraclete, Sanctifier, Sweet Guest of the Soul, Interior Master, Gift of Gifts (from the CCC).

21. SYMBOLS FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT.  Still another tool we can use to get to know, love, and pray more frequently to the Holy Spirit is to become familiar with some of the symbols for the Holy Spirit. A symbol is not the reality but points by means of an image to the reality. Once again, let us take five symbols for the Holy Spirit: Ardent Fire, Powerful Wind, Gentle Breeze, the Dove, and Finger of God. Read the Catechism of the Catholic Church for greater details. (CCC Part One, Section Two, Chapter Three: I Believe in the Holy Spirit)

22. SACRAMENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  Although it is true that the Presence and the Power of the Holy Spirit is in every Sacrament, still there is a Sacrament that communicates a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit. That Sacrament is Confirmation. True, in Baptism the Holy Spirit is given, as well as the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. However, through the conferring of the Sacrament of Confirmation, usually administered by the Bishop, the Presence and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are fortified in the recipient. This enables the confirmed person to both spread the faith, as well as defend the faith.

23. CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT.  In a very real sense, we should be thankful for the Charismatic Movement that really took off in the USA in the 70’s for their insistence upon studying the Holy Spirit, praying to the Holy Spirit, and being open to the Holy Spirit, as well as His Gifts and charismatic graces.

24. A PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT?  We suggest that you learn three songs: Veni Creator; Come, Holy Ghost; and Spirit of the Living God. However, the following is a short prayer that I myself composed a few years back that all of us can easily memorize: “Come Holy Spirit, come through the Heart of Mary.” Learn it! Memorize it! Pray it every day!

25. MARY AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.  The transformation of the Apostles took place on Pentecost after they had been praying and fasting with the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Cenacle for nine days. Love and devotion to Mary is essential for union with the Holy Spirit. Mary is the Daughter of God the Father, Mother of God the Son, and the Mystical Spouse of the Holy Spirit. Saint Louis de Montfort states: “Those who love Mary, the Holy Spirit flings Himself into that soul.” May your love for Mary allow for a profound invasion of the Holy Spirit in your life so that you can become the great saint that God has called you to be from all eternity!

Pray this prayer daily, and the Holy Spirit will become your Intimate Friend!

COME HOLY SPIRIT by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Come Holy Spirit, come fill my heart with your heavenly love. Enlighten my mind so that I may know the Truth, live the Truth, and be willing to die for the Truth.

Come Holy Spirit, come in the dark and lonely moments of my life, come to console me and comfort me. You who are the Sweet Guest of the soul, make me aware of your constant and living presence, so that I recognize that I am never alone because you are with me as a Faithful Friend.

Come Holy Spirit, come, you who are the Interior Master, teach me how to pray. I do not know how to pray well. I implore you to intercede for me with ineffable groans so that I can cry out: “Abba, Father!”

Come Holy Spirit, come in moments of doubt and confusion, be my light and counselor. Help me to make decisions, not according to my will but according to your holy will.

Come Holy Spirit, come in moments of weakness, give me strength. You who are the courage and strength of the martyrs, obtain for me interior strength to fight against sin, my fallen human nature, and anything that is not pleasing to you.

Come Holy Spirit, come, grant me a filial love for you and a sincere love for my neighbor, especially for those I live with and meet every day. Set my heart on fire with love.

Come Holy Spirit, come sanctify me with your presence. You who are the Sanctifier, attain for me an ardent yearning for holiness of life. “Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” May I attain holiness of life so as to attain the promise of eternal life.

Come Holy Spirit, come, produce in me a reverential fear that motivates me to avoid all that is displeasing to you, and to avoid any persons, places, things, or circumstances that could damage my friendship with you.

Come Mary, Mystical Spouse of the Holy Spirit, Temple of the Holy Spirit, you who had the most intimate and constant union with the Holy Spirit, pray for me so that my knowledge and love of the Holy Spirit will grow daily until I am with you forever in heaven, worshiping forever the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.    

Copyright 2022 Oblates of the Virgin Mary / St. Peter Chanel Church, Hawaiian Gardens, CA