Tuesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

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

TUESDAY, May 25th   Mk. 10:28-31   “Peter began to say to Jesus, ‘We have given up everything and followed you.’”

Part 1: Points and Excerpt from Universal Call to Holiness – Lumen Gentium – Chapter 5

Part 2: KEEP THE FIRE OF GOD’S LOVE BURNING WITHIN YOU! by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

PART 1:

• Jesus responds to Peter: “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.”
• This passage is for priests and men and women religious. Right? They are in the world but not of the world. They are called to poverty, chastity, and obedience. They have given up everything to follow Christ and do His work of saving souls through prayer, penance, and service in their particular apostolate. Lastly, they are called to be humble and obedient to all that God and their superiors ask of them.
• Whereas we are very much in the world. We have to hold jobs, pay bills, for many raise a family. But that is not all we are called to do. In our state in life – married or single, we are also called to poverty, chastity, and obedience. I’ll prove it.
• St. John Chrysostom says we are to keep what money we need to provide for ourselves and our family, and the rest we are to give to the poor.
• Every man and woman in the world is called to be chaste—even married couples are chaste to everyone but their spouse, and then they are to respect the God-given purpose and nature of marital relations, abiding by Church teachings in that area.
• Lastly, we are called to be humble and obedient to the teachings of the Church, to our Confessor, and to God’s permissive will expressed in the circumstances and events of our lives.   
• Priests and men and women religious are the first tier. There is no question that they are called to a higher standard. But lay men and women, married or single, are the second tier. In the setting in which we live, we are all called to holiness.

Universal Call to Holiness – Lumen Gentium – Chapter 5 – Vatican II. Perfection of that Love called Charity…

Thus it is evident to everyone, that all the faithful of Christ of whatever rank or status, are called to the fullness of the Christian life and to the perfection of charity;(4*) by this holiness as such a more human manner of living is promoted in this earthly society.

In order that the faithful may reach this perfection, they must use their strength accordingly as they have received it, as a gift from Christ. They must follow in His footsteps and conform themselves to His image seeking the will of the Father in all things. They must devote themselves with all their being to the glory of God and the service of their neighbor.

In this way, the holiness of the People of God will grow into an abundant harvest of good, as is admirably shown by the life of so many saints in Church history.

PART 2: KEEP THE FIRE OF GOD’S LOVE BURNING IN YOU! By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Jesus said: “I have come to cast fire on the earth; I am not at peace until that fire is blazing.” (Lk. 12:49) Right now, that fire should be burning in your heart. That is the fire of the Holy Spirit. A bonfire to be kept ablaze must be fed constantly. Wood, leaves, brush, old papers must be constantly cast into the fire. If not, the fire extinguishes and soon there is only a pile of ashes.

As a result of the social and spiritual milieu in which we live, how easy it is for the fire of the Holy Spirit, the Fire of Divine Love to wane, decline, diminish and extinguish. Too many Catholics today are like smoldering wicks, smoldering embers that have lost their fire, lost their zeal, lost their enthusiasm, lost their joy for living. As T.S. Elliot penned poetically: “They will go out not with a bang, but with a whimper!”

A SERIOUS WARNING. The last Book of the Bible, the Book of Revelation/Apocalypse warns us: “You have lost your first love.” (Rev. 2:4) And, “You are neither hot nor cold, I wish you were, but you are lukewarm; so I will vomit you out of my mouth.” (Rev. 3:16) Startling or even shocking as these words sound, they come from the Holy Spirit who is the Author of all of Sacred Scripture. May God save us from mediocrity! 

A FERVENT PRAYER. Let us make a heartfelt and fervent prayer from the depths of our heart that the fire of God’s love will never extinguish in our soul. However, if it has, let us beg the Holy Spirit to rekindle that fire. Then let us pray for the grace to ignite many fires—the fire of God’s love—wherever we go, with whomever we meet, in whatever circumstances God places us!

JUMP-STARTS TO SET OUR HEARTS ABLAZE. This being the case, let us use all the tools, all the means that God has placed in our path to jump-start the flame of God’s love in our heart. May we follow in the footsteps of the Master Jesus, making His words our own: “I have come to cast fire on the earth, and I am not at peace until that fire be enkindled.” (Lk. 12:49)

Here are the Big Ten Jump-starters!

1. RE-IGNITE THE FLAME. Go to Confession! If we have lost God’s grace through Mortal sin, then God’s fire has been extinguished in us. Have no discouragement on your part; rather trust in God! Like the Prodigal Son (Lk. 15:11-32) get up and return to the loving embrace of the Father through a good Sacramental Confession. The loving arms of the Father are wide-open to receive you. He patiently awaits your return!

2. CONSECRATION TO MARY AND THE SCAPULAR. At the crack of dawn upon awaking every morning consecrate your whole being, your day, and all your activities to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and then kiss your Scapular. Paintings depict the Immaculate Heart of Mary with fire flowing out from her heart—the fire of love, the fire of the Holy Spirit – for you and your eternal salvation!

3. SHORT ASPIRATIONS IN THE DAY. During the course of the day lift up your heart in short prayers, like arrows piercing the heavens, such as: “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I love you; save souls!” Whenever a short, fiery dart occurs to you, shoot it up to heaven as an act of love. Keep the fire aflame!

4. RECOGNIZE YOUR DIGNITY. Through Baptism our souls were radically transformed: we became Temples of the Holy Spirit! Among the many beautiful, mystical, and poetic titles for the Holy Spirit in the Sequence of the Holy Spirit is that of “Sweet Guest of the soul”. As Pope Saint Leo the Great reminds us in his Christmas homily: “Christians, recognize your dignity!” Through a constant awareness of your dignity and destiny—“I am a Temple of Holy Spirit and Heaven is my destiny”—the fire leaps up incessantly!

5. HEAVEN: RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. The virtue of Hope enflames the interior of your soul. With your feet on the earth and your spiritual eyes lifted on high towards Heaven that awaits you, God’s fiery flames ignite your soul. Life is short, like the flower of the field that rises in the morning and withers and dies as the sun hides its face. (Ps. 103: 15-16) If you carry your cross patiently and with love, Heaven awaits you!

6. EXTINGUISH THE FIRE OF GOD’S JUSTICE BY THE FIRE OF YOUR LOVE—PURGATORY! Frequent prayers, sacrifices, alms-giving, and acts of love offered for the souls in Purgatory can mitigate the Fire of God’s Justice that purifies the souls in Purgatory. That is to say, the Fire of your Charity can result in these souls arriving sooner at their final destiny—Heaven. Then their prayers from heaven will serve to ignite and enflame you constantly with God’s fiery love!

7. FIERY LOVE FOR GOD AND MY NEIGHBOR. The fire of love that burns in your heart towards a God you do not see, must rush forth impetuously towards your neighbor whom you do see and who is created in the image and likeness of God! “I was hungry, thirsty, naked, a foreigner, sick and in prison, and you tended to my needs!” (Mt. 25:31-46) Every time you serve Jesus in either the Corporal or Spiritual Works of Mercy, the fire of God’s love ignites and burns brightly in you. Read the lives of the saints as your model!

8. THE HOLY HOUR: THE HOUR OF POWER, THE HOUR OF FIRE! If you come in out of an icy winter night and sit before the hearth where a fire is blazing, you will thaw out. The flames shooting from the brick hearth will even dry your wet, soggy winter clothes. In a similar fashion, it is easy for worldliness and mundane values to permeate our inner being with a wet, soggy indifference! It is precisely the Holy Hour, the Hour of Power, the Hour of Fire that sets our minds, our hearts, and our wills aflame! In the Tabernacle lives the Lord of Lords and King of Kings in all of His Majesty, fire, and power! Pope Saint John Paul II stated that the Tabernacle is the living heartbeat of the Church. May His fiery Heart set our hearts on fire through faithfulness to our daily Holy Hour!

9. SPIRITUAL READING / LECTIO DIVINA. For us to cast fiery darts into the minds and hearts of others, it is necessary to have firm convictions in our mind that translate into actions. All too many are sluggish, lethargic, anemic, and half asleep in their spiritual life. They lack the fire of motivation that is sparked and ignited by solid spiritual reading. Consult your spiritual director or regular confessor on your choice of reading. May the choice help you to put on the mind of Christ, in the words of the fiery Apostle Saint Paul. Then you will be able to say: “I have the mind of Christ.” (1 Cor. 2:16)

10. HOLY COMMUNION AND FIRE. When possible, receive Holy Communion. In a very real sense Holy Communion results in a Spiritual Heart Transplant. You truly receive the Total Christ—Jesus’ Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. This means that you receive the Sacred Heart of Jesus! If you contemplate any image of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus you will see that blazing fire rush forth from His Heart! He suffers so much, as He said to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque: “Behold the Heart that loves so much and receives only coldness, indifference, and ingratitude.” If your reception of Holy Communion is indeed fervent, then Jesus’ Heart takes your heart and floods it with the fire of His Divine Love so that you can share it with the whole world!!!

Copyright 2021 Oblates of the Virgin Mary – St. Peter Chanel Church, Hawaiian Gardens, CA

Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church

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

MONDAY, May 24th   Jn. 19:25-34   “When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.”

Words of the Saints about Mother Mary…

+ “In trial or difficulty I have recourse to Mother Mary, whose glance alone is enough to dissipate every fear.” –St. Therese of Lisieux

+ “Let us run to Mary, and as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with perfect confidence.” -St. Francis de Sales

+ “Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did.”  -St. Maximilian Kolbe

+ “From Mary we learn to surrender to God’s Will in all things. From Mary we learn to trust even when all hope seems gone. From Mary we learn to love Christ her Son and the Son of God!”  -St. Pope John Paul II

Words of Mother Mary to us…

+ “Am I not here, I, who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not the source of your joy? Are you not in the hollow of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms? Do you need anything more? Let nothing else worry you or disturb you.”

-Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego and to us!

TEN 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 and life to become better and better mothers.

For our great consolation, Mary is the Mother of God and the Mother of the Church, but also Mary is our dearest Mother! Let us try to please Mary our Mother and as a consequence, we will please her Son and our Heavenly Father.

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 want to get in the habit of talking to Mary, our dearest Mother very often. Confide in her, speak to her from your heart, share your joys and sorrows with her. This is most pleasing to her, as well as to Jesus, Son of God and Son of Mary. She loves you so much and desires to have frequent conversations with you. Mary is your Mother, but she is also your friend and confidant.

2. Start Your Day with Mary

Upon waking 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 your day well through the Heart of Mary!

3. Love Mary

A Mother never gets tired of hearing her child say: “Mom, I love you; you’re the best!” The temptation might be to think, she knows I love her, why tell her something she already knows. True, a good Mother most likely already knows. However, it still should be expressed in words. By saying: “Mom, I really love you”, the heart of a mother leaps with joy. The same must be said about our Blessed Mother Mary. When in the simplest of words we say: “Mother Mary, I love you”, then Mary, our loving 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. How many accidents, both physical and moral, have surely been prevented by traveling with Mary—Santa Maria del Camino!

5. Imitate Mary

If we come to know and admire someone, 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) What virtue or virtues of Mary would you like to work on acquiring right now? Ask your loving Mother Mary to help you—she will rush to assist you with many special graces.

6. Trust and Entrust to Mary

If we truly have confidence in a person, we can entrust our cares to them, 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, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.” (from The Memorare by 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 about 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 is with us! When our days are 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 loving Mother! Mary is both refuge of sinners and health of the sick—two titles for Mary in her famous Litanies!

8. Call On Mary When Tempted

Our life is a constant battle; we are soldiers of both Jesus and Mother Mary. That means that we are constantly on the battle-ground, in the fray. Our enemies are three: the devil, our own weak flesh, and the world. Aware of this intense reality of spiritual combat, we must 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! But let us do our part! Try to pray the Rosary every day! Wield that weapon, and let Mary do the rest!

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!

1) 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.

2) Encourage recitation of the Holy Rosary, praying it daily. Give out Rosaries with pamphlets on how to pray the Rosary.  

3) Finally, encourage the wearing of the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. That is our armor front and back that keeps the enemy from slaying us!

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.

Finally, 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 dear Mother. She knows us, cares for us, protects us, but especially, she loves us! Indeed, in the midst of the trials, struggles, and intense battles of life let us find our refuge in the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus!

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

SUNDAY, May 23rd   Jn. 20:19-23   “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming.” (Jn. 16:12-13)

• Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to guide His Church to all truth! The Holy Spirit also guides individuals who are open and docile to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. Saint Pope John XXIII said, ‘Saints are the masterpieces of the Holy Spirit!”
• God the Father created us. God the Son saves us, if we keep His commandments. God the Holy Spirit sanctifies us, if we are humble and docile to His promptings.
• On this glorious Solemnity of Pentecost, let us beg for the grace to recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit and obey His promptings in our daily lives!

FIRE, FIRE, FIRE—COME HOLY SPIRIT, COME!!!

Pentecost arrived fifty days after Jesus rose from the dead by means of a powerful wind and fiery tongues that settled over the heads of the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary.  This was the official Birthday of the Catholic Church—a day for immense rejoicing!

As a consequence, the Apostles who received this Fire, Fire, Fire of the Holy Spirit were transformed into martyrs—valiant soldiers and witnesses of the Risen Jesus by the shedding of their blood. A motley group of fearful, cowardly, confused, and doubtful men, they underwent a transformation and became valiant, courageous, eloquent, creative men who impressed the whole world. Despite their lack of formal education, there was no one who could withstand their eloquence, conviction, and love for Jesus who died and rose from the dead!

PERSONAL PENTECOST EXPERIENCE.  As we age our health declines, as well as our physical energies, abilities and human capacities—this is part and parcel of our human condition inherited from our first parents, Adam and Eve, due to Original Sin. However, the Holy Spirit, who is truly God, the Third Person of the most Blessed Trinity, never ages nor declines in strength, nor does His Knowledge, Wisdom, Understanding and Strength decline. We can tap into the power, presence, and potency of the Holy Spirit at any time and place if we so desire. In a word, we can experience our own personal Pentecost at will, upon a time of our own choosing. Therefore, why not prepare for our own Pentecost and humbly beg through the intercession of Mary, who is the Mystical Spouse of the Holy Spirit, for this experience right now? Indeed, the Holy Spirit is patiently waiting for each and every one of us to invite Him into our mind, memory, understanding, emotions, heart, will, and body—in a word, He wants to take possession of our whole being; it all depends on our free will to accept this free invitation of the Holy Spirit, who is The Sweet Guest of our soul!

NOVENA PAR EXCELLENCE!   The first novena, about 2000 years ago, that culminated on Pentecost day with the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and Mary can be renewed right now. Actually, the word NOVENA means nine. Therefore, we would like to offer to you a simple Novena to the Holy Spirit. This consists of the following: every day for nine days, we invite you, as well as your family and friends, to do something to show your love, gratitude and appreciation for the Holy Spirit. Let us give Him this Gift! Ironic as it may seem, in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, among the many titles for the Holy Spirit is precisely that, the “Gift of Gifts”. However, now we desire to generously offer Him our humble gifts – nine plus one (a tenth) in living out our Novena. Off we go!

DAY 1. PRAYER.  Every day we invite you to pray to the Holy Spirit. Prayers are numerous and many are exceedingly beautiful and poetic. But I will offer a very simple prayer to the Holy Spirit and one easy to memorize. It is the following: “Come Holy Spirit, come, through the Heart of Mary!” Saint Louis de Montfort asserts: “Those who love Mary, the Holy Spirit flings Himself into their souls.”

DAY 2. ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.  This Book of the Bible, authored by Saint Luke, is known as the Gospel of the Holy Spirit. In this action book of the Bible, we encounter in almost every chapter the powerful Presence of the Holy Spirit. This will be more demanding, but one day in your novena read the Acts of the Apostles, the full 28 chapters!!! No doubt, by a prayerful reading of The Acts of the Apostles you get to see first-hand the various powerful, creative, and fascinating ways that the Holy Spirit is building up the Primitive Church by using docile instruments!

DAY 3.  SING A SONG/HYMN TO THE HOLY SPIRIT!  There are many! One of the classics is simply Come Holy Ghost…with the several strophes. Or if you prefer the Latin, Veni Sancte Spiritus. Or if you like:  Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me…” With respect to song, Saint Augustine encourages us: “He who sings, prays twice!” Better yet, before or after your family Rosary, sing to the Holy Spirit with your whole family!

DAY 4.  READ A BOOK/ CHAPTER ON THE HOLY SPIRIT.  There are many books written on the Holy Spirit; choose the one that you like best. A book that I have found to be very helpful is “In the School of the Holy Spirit” by author Father Jacque Philippe. Short, easy to read and understand, this work can inspire you to love the Holy Spirit all the more!

DAY 5. THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  Many Catholics are oblivious to the very important fact that upon receiving the Sacrament of Baptism, not only are we transformed into living Tabernacles of the Blessed Trinity, but we also receive many Gifts and among these are the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Pray that they become operative in your life.

DAY 6. MEMORIZE THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  These Gifts are very important in our spiritual life if we truly desire to become saints, as we are called to be, in the words of Jesus: “Be Holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” (Mt. 5:48) The Church Fathers compare our spiritual life to being in a SAILBOAT with seven-sails. To glide with speed and graceful ease to the shore, which is symbolic of heaven, we must open up the sails to the wind, for it is the wind in the sails that transports the boat to the shore with graceful ease. The boat is our soul; the seven sails are the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit, the wind is the Power of the Holy Spirit, and the shore is heaven. Therefore, let us memorize and ask the Holy Spirit to activate these SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: 1) Wisdom, 2) Knowledge, 3) Understanding, 4) Counsel, 5) Fortitude, 6) Piety, and 7) Fear of the Lord. May these Seven Gifts powered by the Holy Spirit compel us to grow in holiness and arrive at the eternal shores of salvation!

DAY 7.  PRAYER AND SACRIFICE.  Our soaring high in the spiritual life can be compared to a bird in flight with two wings. A wounded bird with one wing is land-bound. But with two healthy wings, the bird can soar into the heights and perch on the highest mountain. Likewise, in our spiritual life not only must we pray, but we must also practice penance and offer up sacrifices. Our Lady of Fatima said that many souls are lost because people do not offer up prayers and SACRIFICES. Therefore, make a sacrifice, give up something, renounce something you like, to spur the divine invasion of the Holy Spirit in your soul. Our example: Mary and the Apostles prayed and fasted for nine days and nights. (Acts 2:1-13)

DAY 8.  FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  Pray that you will experience the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. According to the teaching of Saint Thomas Aquinas, the Fruits of the Holy Spirit are nothing less than the inner sweetness that we experience in our souls when we correspond openly to the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. These fruits are the following: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Gal. 5:22-23)

DAY 9.  GET TO KNOW THE HOLY SPIRIT:  TITLES/NAMES FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT. Many are the titles/names for the Holy Spirit. The more we get to know exactly Who the Holy Spirit is through the multiplicity of His Names, we can get to know Him all the more! Here are a few for your growth in knowledge and love for the Holy Spirit:  Counselor, Consoler, Interior Master, Paraclete, Advocate, Gift of God, Finger of God, Interior Architect, Sweet Guest of the Soul… (Refer to the Sequence in the Missal for the Solemnity of Pentecost.)

DAY 10.  DOCILITY TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.  Saint Pope John XXIII stated: “The saints are the Masterpieces of the Holy Spirit.” Father Jacques Philippe states unequivocally that our sanctification and growth in holiness depends on one factor: DOCILITY TO THE HOLY SPIRIT! We must make a constant and concerted effort to be more docile to the Heavenly inspirations of the Holy Spirit. For that reason, let us turn to the one who was always most docile to the Holy Spirit, Mary, the Mystical Spouse of the Holy Spirit, and pray often: “Come Holy Spirit, come through the Heart of Mary.”

A final challenge for every day of the Nine Days plus One Novena: pray the following prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Among the many writings that I have done over the years, this prayer for the activation of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, I believe to be one of the most simple, but also most sublime. Below is my prayer to be open to the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit …   By Father Edward 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 and 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.        

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

SATURDAY, May 22nd   Jn. 21:20-25   “There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world could contain the books that would be written.”

• Saturday is the day we honor Mary: the Mother of God, the Mother of the Church, and our own dear Mother. Today let us pray over Mary and the Person of the Holy Spirit in honor of Pentecost Sunday tomorrow!

MARY AND THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Counselor and Consoler, Paraclete, Interior Master of the soul, Finger of God, Divine Architect, Sweet Guest of the soul, Faithful Friend, Gift of Gifts—all of these titles mentioned describe in different ways some aspect of the Third Person of the Most Blessed Trinity—the Holy Spirit.

MARY AND THE HOLY TRINITY.  The Blessed Virgin Mary has a profound union with the Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In what way you might ask? The response is this. Mary is the Daughter of God the Father; Mary is the Mother of God the Son; Mary is the Mystical Spouse of the Holy Spirit. Mary’s union with the Three Divine Persons is very personal, intimate, and profound.

MARY AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.  On one occasion, Cardinal Suenens was asked to celebrate a special outdoor Mass at Duquesne University for the Charismatics —a group known for their love and devotion to the Holy Spirit and His gifts, particularly His Charismatic Gifts. The outdoor stadium was packed to the gills. All were enthusiastic to participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. However, there was a serious problem. Hovering over those present, including Cardinal Suenens, a cloudy, darkened sky threatened rain which would not only dampen the celebration, but ruin it totally! In the event of a downpour, Mass in the open stadium would have to be cancelled. The Mass began and evolved into the Liturgy of the Word with a homily given by the Cardinal. One of the most salient points of his homily was related to Mary and the Holy Spirit. The Cardinal posed a rhetorical question: “Would you like to know the secret of deep union with the Holy Spirit?” All were listening attentively for the answer. The Cardinal proceeded: “The secret of deep union with the Holy Spirit is love and devotion to Mary!” As soon as he spoke these words, there was the flash of a white hot lightning bolt followed by a clap of thunder!!! Then, to the utter amazement of all present, the clouds disappeared and a brilliant sun shone down upon the stadium!

MARY AND THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  The message is as clear as the sun that beamed down on the stadium that day. If we truly desire a deep union with our Triune God, and particularly with the Third Person—the Holy Spirit, we must have true devotion to Mary, we must have a deep and loving relationship with Mary who indeed is the Daughter of God the Father, the Mother of God the Son, and the Mystical Spouse of the Holy Spirit.

THE THREE KEY MOMENTS OF MARY’S CONTACT WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Due to God’s loving Divine Providence, from the very moment Mary entered into the world in the womb of her mother Saint Anne, during the whole of her life while on earth, until her last moment before being assumed into Heaven, Mary was endowed, permeated, and imbued with the Person of the Holy Spirit. However, there were three primary moments of intimate union that Mary experienced with this Sweet Guest of the Soul—the Holy Spirit of God.

FIRST, THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.  From the first moment of her existence on earth, the Holy Spirit took full and total possession of Mary. In what way? We call it the Immaculate Conception. At the very moment that Mary was conceived in the womb of Saint Anne, her earthly Mother, the Holy Spirit was powerfully at work in her little body and soul. Indeed, it was the glorious working of the Holy Spirit that preserved Mary from all stain of Original Sin, and therefore, all the effects of original sin! As the English poet Wordsworth so accurately penned: Mary is our tainted nature’s solitary boast. By honoring Mary’s Immaculate Conception, due to the Holy Spirit’s Presence in Mary from the moment of her conception, we receive signal graces to fight the good fight and run the good race in our battles against the pernicious presence and reality of sin in our lives. May Our Lady and her Mystical Spouse, the Holy Spirit, help us to triumph over all forms of sin in our mortal bodies in preparation for our eternal life!

SECOND, THE VIRGINAL CONCEPTION. (Lk. 1:26-38) In the history of the world and in the economy of salvation, the moment in which the Virginal Conception took place transformed humanity and its destiny. The Virginal Conception is a result of the message of the Archangel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin Mary in which God invited Mary to become the Mother of God. Giving her full and total consent, Mary said: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” (Lk.1:38)At that moment, Mary was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and conceived Jesus in her most pure womb. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (Jn. 1:13) Therefore, both Mary’s Virginal Conception and the Incarnation of the Son of God were accomplished by the power and working of the Holy Spirit. Our Lady and her deep union with the Holy Spirit can attain for all of us great purity of mind, memory, understanding, and affections of body and soul. Remember, O Gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided!” (From the Memorare)

THIRD, PENTECOST. (Acts 2)  The word Pentecost means fifty—fifty days after the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That first Pentecost effected a powerful transformation in the Apostles. However, transformation was preceded by a powerful Novena—nine days and nine nights in which the Apostles, united with Mary, the Mother of God, were praying and fasting in silence. It was only after the Novena that the Holy Spirit came down upon Mary and the Apostles with a powerful wind, a shaking of the room where they were praying, and tongues of fire that settled over their heads. As a result, these twelve Apostles who were fearful, confused, and lacking in faith just a few days before, were transformed into valiant soldiers of Jesus and Mary! All of the Apostles, with the exception of Saint John the Evangelist, received the glorious crown of martyrdom—that is to say, they shed their blood in imitation of their Master, Jesus who shed His Precious Blood for them and for us on the cross. Indeed, it was the Holy Spirit who descended in power, wind, and fire; however, it must be noted that it was the Blessed Virgin Mary whose prayers and presence facilitated the coming of the Holy Spirit! If we desire in our lives to experience a powerful infusion and outpouring of the Holy Spirit, then we should turn to Mary and beg for her prayers and intercession!

Therefore, in our devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, let us never neglect to turn to Mary so that she might attain for us this special Gift, known as THE GIFT OF ALL GIFTS, and that is the HOLY SPIRIT. Let us pray frequently this short but efficacious prayer: “Come Holy Spirit, come to us through the Heart of Mary.”

For future study and reading to develop the understanding of the relationship between the Holy Spirit and Mary, His Mystical Spouse, we invite you to read the writings of Saint Maximillian Kolbe on the topic of Mary and the Holy Spirit!

Optional Memorial of Saint Christopher Magallanes, priest, and Companions, martyrs

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

FRIDAY, May 21st   Jn. 21: 15-19   “After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them, he said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

• Let us recall the conversation Jesus had with Simon prior to the Transfiguration.  “Jesus asked the Apostles, ‘Who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter,and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’” (Mt. 16:15-20)
• These two exchanges between Jesus and Simon, now called Peter, should fill us with hope and encouragement. The one Jesus chose to be head of His Church as the first Pope denied Christ three times! Saint Matthew tell us that after his triple denial, “Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly.” (Mt. 26:75)
• Now Jesus asks Simon Peter, “Do you love me?” Not once, but three times to allow Peter to repair for denying Jesus three times. Each time Jesus says, “Feed my lambs” or “Feed my sheep”, confirming Peter as the one to head His Church.
• What is the lesson for us? There is no sinner who cannot be forgiven if they repent. “Though your sins are like scarlet,they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient.” (Is. 1:18-19)
• And the sinner who repents can still do great things for God! This is a message for ourselves if past or present sins are weighing heavy upon us or anyone else who may have drifted from the practice of their faith because of the weight of their sins!

TEN WAYS CONFESSION SETS US FREE! By Father Ed Broom, OMV

Sadness, confusion, disorientation, darkness, anger, and often bitterness—all of these words describe the soul living in the state of mortal sin. In fact, Jesus says that sin is slavery. (cf Jn. 8:34)

Film: The Mission and an Image of Sin  

In the film The Mission one character, portrayed by Robert De Niro, for murdering his brother is given the penance by a Jesuit priest of carrying with him a cumbersome ball of his possessions. Wherever this man who committed fratricide goes, he has to drag with him on a rope this truly burdensome baggage. After having carried out this penance for days, even climbing a mountain with it, falling down and rising again, the priest agrees that he has done sufficient penance. The priest draws close to the sinner and with a sharp knife cuts and severs the rope tied to the baggage and it cascades all the way down to the bottom of the mountain—freedom!

This slice from the film The Mission displays in one graphic scene a powerful image of what sin is like in our lives, but also the powerful effect in the soul of the sinner who repents and turns back to God through a good sacramental Confession. One of the effects of sin is a binding slavery that is like carrying a heavy weight wherever we go. The weight becomes heavier and heavier, almost to the point of being unsupportable. But then comes the transforming moment—a good sacramental Confession.

By making this well-prepared, honest, and sincere Confession the bonds of sin are broken, split asunder, and freedom is experienced—the freedom of the sons and daughters of God!

MERCY & CONFESSION 

Saint Pope John Paul II, Saint Faustina Kowalska, as well as the Angelic Doctor, Saint Thomas Aquinas, unanimously agree that mercy is the greatest attribute in the Heart of Jesus the Savior. Mercy is God’s infinite love forgiving the sinner.

There has been abundant catechesis on how to prepare for Confession, booklets on the Ten Commandments, as well as books written on the Sacrament of Confession. However, possibly not enough has been said on the many wonderful effects that are produced in the person who makes a good Confession.

This short article will focus on ten wonderful and uplifting effects that are produced in the soul of a good penitent.

1. HEALING   

The specific sacramental grace of the Sacrament of Confession is healing. Jesus is the Divine Physician. Sin wounds the soul! What cancer, leprosy, and disease is to the body, sin is to the soul. Every time we make a good Confession, Jesus, the Divine Physician, with His gentle, tender, and loving Hand touches our soul, pours out His Precious Blood, and there is a healing. During His public life Jesus healed the blind, deaf, mutes, paralytics, lepers, and even raised the dead. Still now, through His Mystical Body the Church, Jesus continues to heal His sick members through the priests in the confessional. It is true that Jesus saves us and heals us! Right now Jesus wants to heal your moral wounds!

2. FREEDOM FROM SLAVERY

As mentioned above in the scene from the movie The Mission, sin is interior slavery. Confession reverses the slavery and communicates true freedom—the freedom of the sons and daughters of God. To break the bonds of our past bad habits, our powerful addictions, our bad impulses and actions we need a powerful remedy. That remedy is direct contact with the Blood of Jesus, poured forth on Calvary that first Good Friday, but applied to every soul that makes a good Confession. Instinctively we appall physical slavery and all that this entails. Should we not have an even greater abhorrence and repugnance for the interior slavery of sin and seek freedom as soon as possible? Why not try Confession!

3. FROM CONFUSION TO PEACE

Another negative effect of living in sin is a real lack of peace and living in a state of constant confusion. Saint Augustine defines peace as “the tranquility of order.” Sin is total disorder—the tower of Babel within. A good Confession results in putting into practice the words of Saint Ignatius of Loyola as one of the purposes of the Spiritual Exercises, “To order the disordered.” Therefore, if you really want to experience a profound peace in the depths of your soul, why not try to make the best Confession in your life? Your disorder will give way to order, and peace will follow!

4. FREEDOM FROM A CONSCIENCE FILLED WITH GUILT

Living with guilt is truly hell on earth! People can go crazy or be driven to suicide due to a guilty conscience. Lady Macbeth was seen constantly washing her hands. This was an unconscious desire to be freed from the guilt of bloodshed and murder. She could not live with a guilty conscience that turned out to be a moral executioner. For that reason Shakespeare truly asserted: “Conscience does make cowards of us all.” Could it be that many people have recourse to medicine, taking pills to try to assuage and suppress the guilt that they are bearing in their conscience? Why not try Confession and experience the purity of an innocent conscience? With respect to Confession, never forget: it is free of charge. Also, there are no negative side-effects that often come about by taking medicine.

5. JOY: REJOICE IN THE LORD

Saint Thomas Aquinas states that all people are called to experience happiness or joy. If we look around us—at work, at school, on the road or freeway, we find all too often a lusterless, bland, and sad environment. Why is this the case if all are called to live in joy? The reason is this: many are looking for joy in the wrong places. Still more, many confuse pleasure with joy. Pleasure can be bought. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit! Sin produces sadness in the soul. Only God can give us true joy. For this reason, Saint Paul reminds us: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again, rejoice in the Lord.” (Phil. 4:4) Our Lady in her powerful hymn of praise, the Magnificat, echoes the same sentiments: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; and my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” (Lk. 1:46-47)

Catechists have told me over the years that when a child is waiting to make their first Confession, they experience fear and anxiety, but after confessing, they leave the confessional radiating joy. Do you want to experience constant joy? Why not make it a habit to go to Confession frequently!

6. THE PASCHAL MYSTERY: FROM DEATH TO LIFE

If we have the misfortune of committing a mortal sin, we lose the grace of God and His Friendship. However, we should never give in to despair—that is the worst of sins! Like the Prodigal Son, we should return to the home of our loving Father and launch ourselves into His loving arms, and He will forgive us. Saint Therese of Lisieux stated boldly that even if she committed all the worst sins in the world, she would run and launch herself into the Father’s arms with boundless trust! The Father’s arms are like an elevator to heaven!

The great Saint Augustine, who lived a sinful life into his early thirties, stated that a good Confession is a Lazarus experience. If you remember, Lazarus died and Jesus raised him from the dead, summoning him from the tomb after he was buried for four long days. (Jn. 11:1-44) By making a good Confession we are summoned to leave the tomb of our sins and come back to a life of grace and joy!

7. CURATIVE AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE

Confession is like a medicine that heals the wounds of our soul. However, Confession can also serve as a means to prevent future falls! I remember once when I was coming down with a cold and a friend suggested that I take a couple tablets of Airborne, which I did. What a blessing! The cold that was about to overtake me for probably ten days to two weeks was halted in its tracks! The same can be said of frequent Confession! If we commit a mortal sin, then we should run to the confessional as soon as possible. Nonetheless, frequent Confession, even of venial sins, can serve as a remedy to prevent us from falling into the spiritual sickness that we call sin! We all know from experience, better to prevent a fall and a break, than to heal from one!

8. AN ACT OF HUMILITY TO CRUSH OUR PRIDE  

As a result of Original Sin we are all infected with the Capital Sin of Pride and we often are motivated by pride and self-love. Making a good Confession can help us grow in the opposite virtue that is essential for holiness and so pleasing to God: humility. In the Diary Divine Mercy in My Soul, Jesus revealed to Saint Faustina the three essential qualities of a good Confession: transparency (total sincerity and openness), humility, and obedience to the Confessor who represents Christ. It is important when we confess, that we do not confess the sins of our husband (or wife), neighbor, or others! Nor should we rationalize, justify, or gloss over our sins. Rather, humility means we tell it exactly like it is!

9. GROWTH IN SELF-KNOWLEDGE

Another huge blessing that flows from a well-prepared and well-confessed Confession is an increase in self-knowledge. The Greek philosopher Socrates stated: “The unexamined life is not worth living.” A noteworthy historian interjects: “He who does not know history is condemned to repeat the same errors.” Ignatian spirituality insists constantly on the importance of self-knowledge, knowing oneself and the movement of the spirits in one’s life.

Saint Ignatius asserted that one should never, ever leave off the daily Examen Prayer which is directed at self-knowledge and the awareness of God’s constant presence in our life. The desert Fathers had a short but extremely important axiom: “Know thyself.” For that reason, the person who examines their conscience well, confesses well, and consults the priest-confessor sincerely, will definitely grow in self-knowledge. By knowing themselves—their virtues as well as their sins—they can avoid falling into many future sins and avoid future tragedies!

10. FERVENT AND EFFICACIOUS HOLY COMMUNIONS

Another exceedingly important effect of a good Confession is more efficacious and fervent Holy Communions. These two Sacraments that we should receive frequently are intimately interconnected. A simple analogy could be useful: try to imagine your front room glass window pane. You have failed to clean it for more than a year. Consequently, the window has become smeared and sullied by dust, dirt, and smog, put simply, the polluted environment. So the day comes when you decide to do house cleaning and on the list is to clean that front window. You go to the store to buy Windex—a powerful and efficacious window spray. There you are, generously spraying the window, then with a dry newspaper you rub and rub. What do you notice? The window is now clear and sunlight is pouring through the window! Before, the window was half opaque; now it is completely transparent and the light of the sun can penetrate and inundate the house!

The same can be said with our soul which is like a window pane. Sin sullies, besmirches, and dirties our soul. With Confession, our dirty soul is cleansed with the Precious Blood of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Our soul becomes pure, clean and transparent. Then when we receive Holy Communion, Jesus, who is truly the Light of the world, explodes and radiates light so that the light of Jesus’ Presence inundates the entire room of our soul. For that reason Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world” (Jn. 8:12); then He said, “You are the light of the world.” (Mt. 5:14) Thus the end result of frequent and worthy reception of these two sacraments, Confession and Holy Communion, is holiness! We are able to obey and put into practice Jesus’ command: “Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” (Mt. 5:48) And, with Jesus, we become a light to others!

CONCLUSION

Saint Pope John Paul II made this comment with respect to Our Lady and the Sacrament of Confession. He said that the Marian Sanctuaries—Lourdes, Fatima, Guadalupe, etc.—are spiritual clinics. In other words, we go to Marian Sanctuaries to meet Jesus, the Bread of Life in Mass and Holy Communion, but also we meet Jesus who is the Healer of our heart, mind, and soul in Confession!

Let us turn to Our Lady whom we invoke as “Mother of Mercy” and “Health of the Sick” to help us live out life to the max by having frequent recourse to the Sacrament of Confession, the true expression of the loving and merciful Heart of Jesus!