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The Church's First Novena

Today's Pentecost! Come, Holy Spirit!

Breath of the Savior

Pentecost: The Descent of the Holy Spirit

PENTECOST - Rite of Kneeling

CATECHISM CC - Pt. 1 - Chap. 3 - I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

CATECHISM CC - Pt 1, Chap 3, ARTICLE 8 "I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT"

From: Acts 2:1-11

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

[1] When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one
place. [2] And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a
mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
[3] And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and
resting on each one of them. [4] And they were all filled with the
Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave
them utterance.

[5] Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every
nation under heaven. [6] And at this sound the multitude came together,
and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his
own language. [7] And they were amazed and wondered, saying, "Are not
all these who are speaking Galileans? [8] And how is it that we hear,
each of us in his own native language? [9] Parthians and Medes and
Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus
and Asia, [10] Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya
belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
[11] Cretans and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own tongues the
mighty works of God."

Commentary:

1-13. This account of the Holy Spirit visibly coming down on the
disciples who, in keeping with Jesus' instructions, had stayed together
in Jerusalem, gives limited information as to the time and place of the
event, yet it is full of content. Pentecost was one of the three great
Jewish feasts for which many Israelites went on pilgrimage to the Holy
City to worship God in the temple. It originated as a harvest
thanksgiving, with an offering of first-fruits. Later it was given the
additional dimension of commemorating the promulgation of the Law given
by God to Moses on Sinai. The Pentecost celebration was held fifty days
after the Passover, that is, after seven weeks had passed. The material
harvest which the Jews celebrated so joyously became, through God's
providence, the symbol of the spiritual harvest which the Apostles
began to reap on this day.

2-3. Wind and fire were elements which typically accompanied
manifestations of God in the Old Testament (cf. Ex 3:2; l 3 :21-22; 2
Kings 5:24; Ps 104:3). In this instance, as Chrysostom explains, it
would seem that separate tongues of fire came down on each of them:
they were "separated, which means they came from one and the same
source, to show that the Power all comes from the Paraclete" ("Hom. on
Acts", 4). The wind and the noise must have been so intense that they
caused people to flock to the place. The fire symbolizes the action of
the Holy Spirit who, by enlightening the minds of the disciples,
enables them to understand Jesus' teachings--as Jesus promised at the
Last Supper (cf. Jn 16:4-14); by inflaming their hearts with love he
dispels their fear and moves them to preach boldly. Fire also has a
purifying effect, God's action cleansing the soul of all trace of sin.

4. Pentecost was not an isolated event in the life of the Church,
something over and done with. "We have the right, the duty and the joy
to tell you that Pentecost is still happening. We can legitimately
speak of the 'lasting value' of Pentecost. We know that fifty days
after Easter, the Apostles, gathered together in the same Cenacle as
had been used for the first Eucharist and from which they had gone out
to meet the Risen One for the first time, "discover" in themselves the
power of the Holy Spirit who descended upon them, the strength of Him
whom the Lord had promised so often as the outcome of his suffering on
the Cross; and strengthened in this way, they began to act, that is, to
perform their role. [. . .] Thus is born the "apostolic Church". But
even today--and herein the continuity lies--the Basilica of St Peter in
Rome and every Temple, every Oratory, every place where the disciples
of the Lord gather, is an extension of that original Cenacle" (John
Paul II, "Homily", 25 May 1980).

Vatican II (cf. Ad gentes, 4) quotes St Augustine's description of the
Holy Spirit as the soul, the source of life, of the Church, which was
born on the Cross on Good Friday and whose birth was announced publicly
on the day of Pentecost: "Today, as you know, the Church was fully
born, through the breath of Christ, the Holy Spirit; and in the Church
was born the Word, the witness to and promulgation of salvation in the
risen Jesus; and in him who listens to this promulgation is born faith,
and with faith a new life, an awareness of the Christian vocation and
the ability to hear that calling and to follow it by living a genuinely
human life, indeed a life which is not only human but holy. And to make
this divine intervention effective, today was born the apostolate, the
priesthood, the ministry of the Spirit, the calling to unity,
fraternity and peace" (Paul VI, "Address", 25 May 1969).

"Mary, who conceived Christ by the work of the Holy Spirit, the Love of
the living God, presides over the birth of the Church, on the day of
Pentecost, when the same Holy Spirit comes down on the disciples and
gives life to the mystical body of Christians in unity and charity"
(Paul VI, "Address", 25 October 1969).

5-11. In his account of the events of Pentecost St Luke distinguishes
"devout men" (v. 5), Jews and proselytes (v. 11). The first-mentioned
were people who were residing in Jerusalem for reasons of study or
piety, to be near the only temple the Jews had. They were Jews--not to
be confused with "God-fearing men", that is, pagans sympathetic to
Judaism, who worshipped the God of the Bible and who, if they became
converts and members of the Jewish religion by being circumcised and
by observing the Mosaic Law, were what were called "proselytes", whom
Luke distinguishes from the "Jews", that is, those of Jewish race.

People of different races and tongues understand Peter, each in his or
her own language. They can do so thanks to a special grace from the
Holy Spirit given them for the occasion; this is not the same as the
gift of "speaking with tongues" which some of the early Christians had
(cf. 1 Cor 14), which allowed them to praise God and speak to him in a
language which they themselves did not understand.

11. When the Fathers of the Church comment on this passage they
frequently point to the contrast between the confusion of languages
that came about at Babel (cf. Gen 11:1-9)--God's punishment for man's
pride and infidelity--and the reversal of this confusion on the day of
Pentecost, thanks to the grace of the Holy Spirit. The Second Vatican
Council stresses the same idea: "Without doubt, the Holy Spirit was at
work in the world before Christ was glorified. On the day of Pentecost,
however, he came down on the disciples that he might remain with them
forever (cf. Jn 14;16); on that day the Church was openly displayed to
the crowds and the spread of the Gospel among the nations, through
preaching, was begun. Finally, on that day was foreshadowed the union
of all peoples in the catholicity of the faith by means of the Church
of the New Alliance, a Church which speaks every language, understands
and embraces all tongues in charity, and thus overcomes the dispersion
of Babel" ("Ad Gentes", 4).

Christians need this gift for their apostolic activity and should ask
the Holy Spirit to give it to them to help them express themselves in
such a way that others can understand their message; to be able so to
adapt what they say to suit the outlook and capacity of their hearers,
that they pass Christ's truth on: "Every generation of Christians needs
to redeem, to sanctify, its own time. To do this, it must understand
and share the desires of other men--their equals--in order to make
known to them, with a 'gift of tongues', how they are to respond to the
action of the Holy Spirit, to that permanent outflow of rich treasures
that comes from our Lord's heart. We Christians are called upon to
announce, in our own time, to this world to which we belong and in
which we live, the message--old and at the same time new--of the
Gospel" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 132).

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Solemnity: Pentecost Sunday

From: John 20:19-23

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

[19] On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors
shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and
stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." [20] When He
had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the
disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. [21] Jesus said to them
again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I send
you." [22] And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to
them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. [23] If you forgive the sins of any,
they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

Commentary:

19-20. Jesus appears to the Apostles on the evening of the day of which
He rose. He presents Himself in their midst without any need for the
doors to be opened, by using the qualities of His glorified body; but
in order to dispel any impression that He is only a spirit He shows
them His hands and His side: there is no longer any doubt about its
being Jesus Himself, about His being truly risen from the dead. He
greets them twice using the words of greeting customary among the Jews,
with the same tenderness as He previously used put into this
salutation. These friendly words dispel the fear and shame the
Apostles must have been feeling at behaving so disloyally during His
passion: He has created the normal atmosphere of intimacy, and now He
will endow them with transcendental powers.

21. Pope Leo XIII explained how Christ transferred His own mission to
the Apostles: "What did He wish in regard to the Church founded, or
about to be founded? This: to transmit to it the same mission and the
same mandate which He had received from the Father, that they should be
perpetuated. This He clearly resolved to do: this He actually did.
`As the Father hath sent Me, even so I send you' (John 20:21). `As
Thou didst send Me into the world, so I have sent them into the world'
(John 17:18). [...] When about to ascend into Heaven, He sends His
Apostles in virtue of the same power by which He had been sent from the
Father; and He charges them to spread abroad and propagate His
teachings (cf. Matthew 28:18), so that those obeying the Apostles might
be saved, and those disobeying should perish (cf. Mark 16:16). [...]
Hence He commands that the teaching of the Apostles should be
religiously accepted and piously kept as if it were His own: `He who
hears you hears Me, and he who rejects you rejects Me' (Luke 10:16).
Wherefore the Apostles are ambassadors of Christ as He is the
ambassador of the Father" ([Pope] Leo XIII, "Satis Cognitum"). In this
mission the bishops are the successors of the Apostles: "Christ sent
the Apostles as He Himself had been sent by the Father, and then
through the Apostles made their successors, the bishops, sharers in His
consecration and mission. The function of the bishops' ministry was
handed over in a subordinate degree to priests so that they might be
appointed in the order of the priesthood and be co-workers of the
episcopal order for the proper fulfillment of the apostolic mission
that had been entrusted to it by Christ" (Vatican II, "Presbyterorum
Ordinis", 2).

22-23. The Church has always understood--and has in fact defined--that
Jesus Christ here conferred on the Apostles authority to forgive sins,
a power which is exercised in the Sacrament of Penance. "The Lord then
especially instituted the Sacrament of Penance when, after being risen
from the dead, He breathed upon His disciples and said: "Receive the
Holy Spirit...' The consensus of all the Fathers has always
acknowledged that by this action so sublime and words so clear the
power of forgiving and retaining sins was given to the Apostles and
their lawful successors for reconciling the faithful who have fallen
after Baptism" (Council of Trent, "De Paenitentia", Chapter 1).

The Sacrament of Penance is the most sublime _expression of God's love
and mercy towards men, described so vividly in Jesus' parable of the
prodigal son (cf. Luke 15:11-32). The Lord always awaits us, with His
arms wide open, waiting for us to repent--and then He will forgive us
and restore us to the dignity of being His sons.

The Popes have consistently recommended Christians to have regular
recourse to this Sacrament: "For a constant and speedy advancement in
the path of virtue we highly recommend the pious practice of frequent
Confession, introduced by the Church under the guidance of the Holy
Spirit; for by this means we grow in a true knowledge of ourselves and
in Christian humility, bad habits are uprooted, spiritual negligence
and apathy are prevented, the conscience is purified and the will
strengthened, salutary spiritual direction is obtained, and grace is
increased by the efficacy of the Sacrament itself" ([Pope] Pius XII,
"Mystici Corporis").

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Mass Readings

First reading	Acts 2:1 - 11 ©
When Pentecost day came round, they had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech. Now there were devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and at this sound they all assembled, each one bewildered to hear these men speaking his own language. They were amazed and astonished. ‘Surely’ they said ‘all these men speaking are Galileans? How does it happen that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; people from Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya round Cyrene; as well as visitors from Rome – Jews and proselytes alike – Cretans and Arabs; we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God.’

First reading

Acts 2:1 - 11 ©

When Pentecost day came round, they had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech.
Now there were devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and at this sound they all assembled, each one bewildered to hear these men speaking his own language. They were amazed and astonished. ‘Surely’ they said ‘all these men speaking are Galileans? How does it happen that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; people from Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya round Cyrene; as well as visitors from Rome – Jews and proselytes alike – Cretans and Arabs; we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God.’

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 103

Second reading	Galatians 5:16 - 25 ©
Let me put it like this: if you are guided by the Spirit you will be in no danger of yielding to self-indulgence, since self-indulgence is the opposite of the Spirit, the Spirit is totally against such a thing, and it is precisely because the two are so opposed that you do not always carry out your good intentions. If you are led by the Spirit, no law can touch you. When self-indulgence is at work the results are obvious: fornication, gross indecency and sexual irresponsibility; idolatry and sorcery; feuds and wrangling, jealousy, bad temper and quarrels; disagreements, factions, envy; drunkenness, orgies and similar things. I warn you now, as I warned you before: those who behave like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. What the Spirit brings is very different: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control. There can be no law against things like that, of course. You cannot belong to Christ Jesus unless you crucify all self-indulgent passions and desires. Since the Spirit is our life, let us be directed by the Spirit.

Second reading

Galatians 5:16 - 25 ©

Let me put it like this: if you are guided by the Spirit you will be in no danger of yielding to self-indulgence, since self-indulgence is the opposite of the Spirit, the Spirit is totally against such a thing, and it is precisely because the two are so opposed that you do not always carry out your good intentions. If you are led by the Spirit, no law can touch you. When self-indulgence is at work the results are obvious: fornication, gross indecency and sexual irresponsibility; idolatry and sorcery; feuds and wrangling, jealousy, bad temper and quarrels; disagreements, factions, envy; drunkenness, orgies and similar things. I warn you now, as I warned you before: those who behave like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. What the Spirit brings is very different: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control. There can be no law against things like that, of course. You cannot belong to Christ Jesus unless you crucify all self-indulgent passions and desires.
Since the Spirit is our life, let us be directed by the Spirit.

Gospel	John 15:26 - 16:15 ©
Jesus said: ‘When the Advocate comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who issues from the Father, he will be my witness. And you too will be witnesses, because you have been with me from the outset. ‘I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you now. But when the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you to the complete truth, since he will not be speaking as from himself but will say only what he has learnt; and he will tell you of the things to come. He will glorify me, since all he tells you will be taken from what is mine. Everything the Father has is mine; that is why I said: All he tells you will be taken from what is mine.’

Gospel

John 15:26 - 16:15 ©

Jesus said:
‘When the Advocate comes,
whom I shall send to you from the Father,
the Spirit of truth who issues from the Father,
he will be my witness.
And you too will be witnesses,
because you have been with me from the outset.

‘I still have many things to say to you
but they would be too much for you now.
But when the Spirit of truth comes
he will lead you to the complete truth,
since he will not be speaking as from himself
but will say only what he has learnt;
and he will tell you of the things to come.
He will glorify me,
since all he tells you will be taken from what is mine.
Everything the Father has is mine;
that is why I said: All he tells you will be taken from what is mine.’

Sunday, June 4, 2006
Pentecost Sunday (Solemnity) (Ninth week in Ordinary Time)

First Reading:
Psalm:
Second Reading:
Gospel:

Acts 2:1-11
Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-31, 34
1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13 or Galatians 5:16-25
John 20:19-23 or 15:26-27; 16:12-15

If one yields ground on any single point of Catholic doctrine, one will later have to yield later in another, and again in another, and so on until such surrenders come to be something normal and acceptable. And when one gets used to rejecting dogma bit by bit, the final result will be the repudiation of it altogether.

-- St Vincent of Lerins

Words of wisdom in that quote! Wow!

The Consoling Counselor

by Fr. Paul Scalia

Other Articles by Fr. Paul Scalia

The Consoling Counselor

06/03/06

Like any important person, the Holy Spirit bears many titles. For example, our Lord calls Him “the Advocate” (Jn 15:26). At least that is what our current translation has. Another translation has “Counselor.” Still others “Comforter” or “Consoler.”


So which one is it? Advocate or Comforter? Counselor or Consoler? In one of those happy but rare occasions, they are all acceptable translations. In fact the ambiguity of the original Greek word helps reveal the Holy Spirit more. He is both Advocate and Comforter, Counselor and Consoler. As Advocate or Counselor, He pleads our case before the Judge. The ancient Greek word means a legal attorney or counsel. (This may very well be the only text anywhere that describes God as a lawyer.) Yet unlike an advocate or counselor in this world, the Holy Spirit does not stand beside us to defend our case. Rather, He dwells within us, as the soul of our souls. From within us He appeals to God. The Holy Spirit pleads our case in response to the devil, “the accuser” who night and day accuses us before God (cf. Rv 12:10). The evil one tries to win our condemnation on the evidence of our sins. In response, the Holy Spirit stands as our Advocate. He wins our acquittal on the power of Christ’s Sacrifice — by which we have been redeemed and made children of God. The Holy Spirit is likewise our Advocate in the world. He instructs us in the truth so that we can faithfully witness to Christ. He commands us what to say and — just as importantly — what not to. And again, He does this not from the outside as one apart from us, but interiorly as one united to our very souls. Our Lord describes Christian witness in just this way: “It will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you” (Mt 10:20). Most of all, the Holy Spirit is our Advocate in prayer. He prays from within us, bringing our prayers to our Heavenly Father in His own voice. He “bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Rom 8:16). He “comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit Itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings” (Rom 8:26). He is our Advocate in the most intimate and personal sense. Yet the Greek word here can also mean “Comforter” or “Consoler.” In striving to live as faithful Catholics, we inevitably suffer setbacks and persecution. This side of heaven, in this vale of tears, we should expect difficulties. So where will we find the comfort we need? How will we be consoled? Will we seek true or false comfort? The enduring comfort of heaven, or the passing comfort of the world? All around us we see people seeking comfort in food, sex, drugs, mindless entertainment, etc. Such comfort passes quickly and leaves a person worse off than before. The Holy Spirit — Comforter and Consoler — is also “the Spirit of truth” (Jn 16:12). His comfort is greater than anything in this world because it is rooted in the truth. He does not bring a false mercy or consolation. He brings the truth that itself consoles. Our Lord connects this consolation with being God’s children. His words “I will not leave you desolate” can also be translated “I will not leave you orphans” (cf. Jn 14:18). In the midst of the world’s trials the greatest comfort we have is that we are God’s children. So the Holy Spirit works in two directions. As Advocate He works from down here, appealing for us upwards to God. As Comforter, He works from up there, bringing God’s consoling truth down to us. He brings our prayers and defense before God’s throne. And He brings God’s grace, peace, and love to us here below. Fr. Scalia is parochial vicar of St. Rita parish in Alexandria, Virginia. (This article courtesy of the Arlington Catholic Herald.)

Come, Holy Spirit

The Work of God

Year B

- Pentecost Sunday

The Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, shall give testimony of me.

John 15:26-27 16:12-15

26 But when the Advocate comes, whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he shall give testimony of me.
27 And you shall give testimony, because you are with me from the beginning.
16:12-15
12 I have yet many things to say to you: but you cannot bear them now.
13 But when he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will teach you all truth. For he shall not speak of himself; but what things so ever he shall hear, he shall speak; and the things that are to come, he shall show you.
14 He shall glorify me; because he shall receive of mine, and shall show it to you.
15 All things whatsoever the Father has, are mine. Therefore I said, that he shall receive of mine, and show it to you.

Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Pentecost Sunday - The Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, shall give testimony of me.

I told you before, that I would have to leave you, but I would not leave you orphans, I promised to send the Advocate, the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit who is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity.

Well, I have given you my mother to be your mother also, since She has been chosen to be the Mother of all the children of God. I have given you also the Church as your mother, to be an image of your Heavenly Mother and to look after you. I have made you my disciples and apostles, and you need power from on high to fulfill your mission, therefore I have made a new creation.

My children, you have become temples of my Holy Spirit, God bearers, God’s witnesses, therefore you have the Holy Spirit to guide you and to lead you to the understanding of the whole truth. I am no longer personally with you as I was during my thirty three years on earth, but I am God, and after having given instructions to my apostles and after giving testimony of the Power of God by miracles never seen before, I have returned to the Glory which is mine from the beginning of time, I have ascended to my heavenly state where I am preparing a place for your souls.

I am Spirit, and in the Omnipotence of My presence I remain with you in Spirit and in Truth. By becoming temples of my Spirit, you permit me to come and speak to you. By your surrender to my love you accept me and become part of me, therefore fulfilling my desire.

My Holy Spirit will give my testimony to you, by speaking to your hearts, by revealing the truth and granting you the strength to remain in the faith.

Even though my Church is made up by human beings who are subject to the weaknesses of the flesh, I embrace it with my Light and protect it until the end of times. I keep it true to my teachings by the power of the Holy Spirit and I remain faithful to it, in my word and in the sacraments, granting my blessings to all who come with a thirsty soul to drink the living waters of my Spirit.

To experience the Presence of my Spirit in your hearts, you must come to me with a humble and contrite heart, surrender your souls to my love, desire to be with me and to listen to me, and the Holy Spirit will come to you.

The Holy Spirit will teach you to live by my word, He will remind you constantly to abide in my commandments of love, He will reveal to you the secrets of holiness, He will help you to grow in faith, hope and love.

Be always small in the Presence of God, be humble of heart and desire to be holy; be kind to everyone, forgive constantly so that my Peace may remain in your hearts, pray for the fire of the Holy Spirit to keep the flame of your faith burning constantly.

Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary

Office of Readings -- Awakening Prayer

Office of Readings

If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 103 (104)
Hymn to God the Creator
Bless the Lord, my soul! Lord, my God, how great you are! You are robed in majesty and splendour; you are wrapped in light as in a cloak. You stretch out the sky like an awning, you build your palace upon the waters. You make the clouds your chariot, you walk upon the wings of the wind. You make the breezes your messengers, you make burning fire your minister. You set the earth upon its foundation: from age to age it will stand firm. Deep oceans covered it like a garment, and the waters stood high above the mountains; but you rebuked them and they fled; at the sound of your thunder they fled in terror. They rise to the mountains or sink to the valleys, to the places you have decreed for them. You have given them a boundary they must not cross; they will never come back to cover the earth. You make springs arise to feed the streams, that flow in the midst of the mountains. All the beasts of the field will drink from them and the wild asses will quench their thirst. Above them will nest the birds of the sky, from among the branches their voices will sound. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Psalm 103 (104)

Hymn to God the Creator

Bless the Lord, my soul!
Lord, my God, how great you are!
You are robed in majesty and splendour;
you are wrapped in light as in a cloak.

You stretch out the sky like an awning,
you build your palace upon the waters.
You make the clouds your chariot,
you walk upon the wings of the wind.
You make the breezes your messengers,
you make burning fire your minister.

You set the earth upon its foundation:
from age to age it will stand firm.
Deep oceans covered it like a garment,
and the waters stood high above the mountains;
but you rebuked them and they fled;
at the sound of your thunder they fled in terror.
They rise to the mountains or sink to the valleys,
to the places you have decreed for them.
You have given them a boundary they must not cross;
they will never come back to cover the earth.

You make springs arise to feed the streams,
that flow in the midst of the mountains.
All the beasts of the field will drink from them
and the wild asses will quench their thirst.
Above them will nest the birds of the sky,
from among the branches their voices will sound.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Psalm 103 (104)
From your palace you water the mountains, and thus you give plenty to the earth. You bring forth grass for the cattle, and plants for the service of man. You bring forth bread from the land, and wine to make man’s heart rejoice. Oil, to make the face shine; and bread to make man’s heart strong. The trees of the Lord have all that they need, and the cedars of Lebanon, that he planted. Small birds will nest there, and storks at the tops of the trees. For wild goats there are the high mountains; the crags are a refuge for the coneys. He made the moon so that time could be measured; the sun knows the hour of its setting. You send shadows, and night falls: then all the beasts of the woods come out, lion cubs roaring for their prey, asking God for their food. When the sun rises they come back together to lie in their lairs; man goes out to his labour, and works until evening. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Psalm 103 (104)

From your palace you water the mountains,
and thus you give plenty to the earth.
You bring forth grass for the cattle,
and plants for the service of man.
You bring forth bread from the land,
and wine to make man’s heart rejoice.
Oil, to make the face shine;
and bread to make man’s heart strong.

The trees of the Lord have all that they need,
and the cedars of Lebanon, that he planted.
Small birds will nest there,
and storks at the tops of the trees.
For wild goats there are the high mountains;
the crags are a refuge for the coneys.

He made the moon so that time could be measured;
the sun knows the hour of its setting.
You send shadows, and night falls:
then all the beasts of the woods come out,
lion cubs roaring for their prey,
asking God for their food.
When the sun rises they come back together
to lie in their lairs;
man goes out to his labour,
and works until evening.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Psalm 103 (104)
How many are your works, O Lord! You have made all things in your wisdom, and the earth is full of your creatures. The sea is broad and immense: sea-creatures swim there, both small and large, too many to count. Ships sail across it; Leviathan lives there, the monster; you made him to play with. All of them look to you to give them their food when they need it. You give it to them, and they gather; you open your hand, they are filled with good things. But turn away, and they are dismayed; take away their breath, and they die, once more they will turn into dust. You will send forth your breath, they will come to life; you will renew the face of the earth. Glory be to the Lord, for ever; let the Lord rejoice in his works. He turns his gaze to the earth, and it trembles; he touches the mountains, and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord all my life; as long as I exist, I will sing songs to God. May my praises be pleasing to him; truly I will delight in the Lord. Let sinners perish from the earth, let the wicked vanish from existence. Bless the Lord, my soul! Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Psalm 103 (104)

How many are your works, O Lord!
You have made all things in your wisdom,
and the earth is full of your creatures.
The sea is broad and immense:
sea-creatures swim there, both small and large,
too many to count.
Ships sail across it;
Leviathan lives there, the monster;
you made him to play with.

All of them look to you
to give them their food when they need it.
You give it to them, and they gather;
you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
But turn away, and they are dismayed;
take away their breath, and they die,
once more they will turn into dust.
You will send forth your breath, they will come to life;
you will renew the face of the earth.

Glory be to the Lord, for ever;
let the Lord rejoice in his works.
He turns his gaze to the earth, and it trembles;
he touches the mountains, and they smoke.
I will sing to the Lord all my life;
as long as I exist, I will sing songs to God.
May my praises be pleasing to him;
truly I will delight in the Lord.

Let sinners perish from the earth,
let the wicked vanish from existence.
Bless the Lord, my soul!

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Reading	Romans 8:5 - 27 ©
The unspiritual are interested only in what is unspiritual, but the spiritual are interested in spiritual things. It is death to limit oneself to what is unspiritual; life and peace can only come with concern for the spiritual. That is because to limit oneself to what is unspiritual is to be at enmity with God: such a limitation never could and never does submit to God’s law. People who are interested only in unspiritual things can never be pleasing to God. Your interests, however, are not in the unspiritual, but in the spiritual, since the Spirit of God has made his home in you. In fact, unless you possessed the Spirit of Christ you would not belong to him. Though your body may be dead it is because of sin, but if Christ is in you then your spirit is life itself because you have been justified; and if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, then he who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to your own mortal bodies through his Spirit living in you. So then, my brothers, there is no necessity for us to obey our unspiritual selves or to live unspiritual lives. If you do live in that way, you are doomed to die; but if by the Spirit you put an end to the misdeeds of the body you will live. Everyone moved by the Spirit is a son of God. The spirit you received is not the spirit of slaves bringing fear into your lives again; it is the spirit of sons, and it makes us cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’ The Spirit himself and our spirit bear united witness that we are children of God. And if we are children we are heirs as well: heirs of God and coheirs with Christ, sharing his sufferings so as to share his glory. I think that what we suffer in this life can never be compared to the glory, as yet unrevealed, which is waiting for us. The whole creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal his sons. It was not for any fault on the part of creation that it was made unable to attain its purpose, it was made so by God; but creation still retains the hope of being freed, like us, from its slavery to decadence, to enjoy the same freedom and glory as the children of God. From the beginning till now the entire creation, as we know, has been groaning in one great act of giving birth; and not only creation, but all of us who possess the first-fruits of the Spirit, we too groan inwardly as we wait for our bodies to be set free. For we must be content to hope that we shall be saved – our salvation is not in sight, we should not have to be hoping for it if it were – but, as I say, we must hope to be saved since we are not saved yet – it is something we must wait for with patience. The Spirit too comes to help us in our weakness. For when we cannot choose words in order to pray properly, the Spirit himself expresses our plea in a way that could never be put into words, and God who knows everything in our hearts knows perfectly well what he means, and that the pleas of the saints expressed by the Spirit are according to the mind of God.

Reading

Romans 8:5 - 27 ©

The unspiritual are interested only in what is unspiritual, but the spiritual are interested in spiritual things. It is death to limit oneself to what is unspiritual; life and peace can only come with concern for the spiritual. That is because to limit oneself to what is unspiritual is to be at enmity with God: such a limitation never could and never does submit to God’s law. People who are interested only in unspiritual things can never be pleasing to God. Your interests, however, are not in the unspiritual, but in the spiritual, since the Spirit of God has made his home in you. In fact, unless you possessed the Spirit of Christ you would not belong to him. Though your body may be dead it is because of sin, but if Christ is in you then your spirit is life itself because you have been justified; and if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, then he who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to your own mortal bodies through his Spirit living in you.
So then, my brothers, there is no necessity for us to obey our unspiritual selves or to live unspiritual lives. If you do live in that way, you are doomed to die; but if by the Spirit you put an end to the misdeeds of the body you will live.
Everyone moved by the Spirit is a son of God. The spirit you received is not the spirit of slaves bringing fear into your lives again; it is the spirit of sons, and it makes us cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’ The Spirit himself and our spirit bear united witness that we are children of God. And if we are children we are heirs as well: heirs of God and coheirs with Christ, sharing his sufferings so as to share his glory.
I think that what we suffer in this life can never be compared to the glory, as yet unrevealed, which is waiting for us. The whole creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal his sons. It was not for any fault on the part of creation that it was made unable to attain its purpose, it was made so by God; but creation still retains the hope of being freed, like us, from its slavery to decadence, to enjoy the same freedom and glory as the children of God. From the beginning till now the entire creation, as we know, has been groaning in one great act of giving birth; and not only creation, but all of us who possess the first-fruits of the Spirit, we too groan inwardly as we wait for our bodies to be set free. For we must be content to hope that we shall be saved – our salvation is not in sight, we should not have to be hoping for it if it were – but, as I say, we must hope to be saved since we are not saved yet – it is something we must wait for with patience.
The Spirit too comes to help us in our weakness. For when we cannot choose words in order to pray properly, the Spirit himself expresses our plea in a way that could never be put into words, and God who knows everything in our hearts knows perfectly well what he means, and that the pleas of the saints expressed by the Spirit are according to the mind of God.

Reading	A treatise "Against the Heresies" by St Irenaeus
The sending of the Holy Spirit
When the Lord told his disciples to go and teach all nations and baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, he conferred on them the power of giving men new life in God. He had promised through the prophets that in these last days he would pour out his Spirit on his servants and handmaids, and that they would prophesy. So when the Son of God became the Son of Man, the Spirit also descended upon him, becoming accustomed in this way to dwelling with the human race, to living in men and to inhabiting God’s creation. The Spirit accomplished the Father’s will in men who had grown old in sin, and gave them new life in Christ. Luke says that the Spirit came down on the disciples at Pentecost, after the Lord’s ascension, with power to open the gates of life to all nations and to make known to them the new covenant. So it was that men of every language joined in singing one song of praise to God, and scattered tribes, restored to unity by the Spirit, were offered to the Father as the first-fruits of all the nations. This was why the Lord had promised to send the Advocate: he was to prepare us as an offering to God. Like dry flour, which cannot become one lump of dough, one loaf of broad, without moisture, we who are many could not become one in Christ Jesus without the water that comes down from heaven. And like parched ground, which yields no harvest unless it receives moisture, we who were once like a waterless tree could never have lived and borne fruit without this abundant rainfall from above. Through the baptism that liberates us from change and decay we have become one in body; through the Spirit we have become one in soul. The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of God came down upon the Lord, and the Lord in turn gave this Spirit to his Church, sending the Advocate from heaven into all the world into which, according to his own words, the devil too had been cast down like lightning. If we are not to be scorched and made unfruitful, we need the dew of God. Since we have our accuser, we need an advocate as well. And so the Lord in his pity for man, who had fallen into the hands of brigands, having himself bound up his wounds and left for his care two coins bearing the royal image, entrusted him to the Holy Spirit. Now, through the Spirit, the image and inscription of the Father and the Son have been given to us, and it is our duty to use the coin committed to our charge and make it yield a rich profit for the Lord.

Reading

A treatise "Against the Heresies" by St Irenaeus

The sending of the Holy Spirit

When the Lord told his disciples to go and teach all nations and baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, he conferred on them the power of giving men new life in God.
He had promised through the prophets that in these last days he would pour out his Spirit on his servants and handmaids, and that they would prophesy. So when the Son of God became the Son of Man, the Spirit also descended upon him, becoming accustomed in this way to dwelling with the human race, to living in men and to inhabiting God’s creation. The Spirit accomplished the Father’s will in men who had grown old in sin, and gave them new life in Christ.
Luke says that the Spirit came down on the disciples at Pentecost, after the Lord’s ascension, with power to open the gates of life to all nations and to make known to them the new covenant. So it was that men of every language joined in singing one song of praise to God, and scattered tribes, restored to unity by the Spirit, were offered to the Father as the first-fruits of all the nations.
This was why the Lord had promised to send the Advocate: he was to prepare us as an offering to God. Like dry flour, which cannot become one lump of dough, one loaf of broad, without moisture, we who are many could not become one in Christ Jesus without the water that comes down from heaven. And like parched ground, which yields no harvest unless it receives moisture, we who were once like a waterless tree could never have lived and borne fruit without this abundant rainfall from above. Through the baptism that liberates us from change and decay we have become one in body; through the Spirit we have become one in soul.
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of God came down upon the Lord, and the Lord in turn gave this Spirit to his Church, sending the Advocate from heaven into all the world into which, according to his own words, the devil too had been cast down like lightning.
If we are not to be scorched and made unfruitful, we need the dew of God. Since we have our accuser, we need an advocate as well. And so the Lord in his pity for man, who had fallen into the hands of brigands, having himself bound up his wounds and left for his care two coins bearing the royal image, entrusted him to the Holy Spirit. Now, through the Spirit, the image and inscription of the Father and the Son have been given to us, and it is our duty to use the coin committed to our charge and make it yield a rich profit for the Lord.

Canticle	Te Deum
God, we praise you; Lord, we proclaim you! You, the Father, the eternal – all the earth venerates you. All the angels, all the heavens, every power – The cherubim, the seraphim – unceasingly, they cry: “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts: heaven and earth are full of the majesty of your glory!” The glorious choir of Apostles – The noble ranks of prophets – The shining army of martyrs – all praise you. Throughout the world your holy Church proclaims you. – Father of immeasurable majesty, – True Son, only-begotten, worthy of worship, – Holy Spirit, our Advocate. You, Christ: – You are the king of glory. – You are the Father’s eternal Son. – You, to free mankind, did not disdain a Virgin’s womb. – You defeated the sharp spear of Death, and opened the kingdom of heaven to those who believe in you. – You sit at God’s right hand, in the glory of the Father. – You will come, so we believe, as our Judge. And so we ask of you: give help to your servants, whom you set free at the price of your precious blood. Number them among your chosen ones in eternal glory. Bring your people to safety, Lord, and bless those who are your inheritance. Rule them and lift them high for ever. Day by day we bless you, Lord: we praise you for ever and for ever. Of your goodness, Lord, keep us without sin for today. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us. Let your pity, Lord, be upon us, as much as we trust in you. In you, Lord, I trust: let me never be put to shame. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Canticle

Te Deum

God, we praise you; Lord, we proclaim you!
You, the Father, the eternal –
all the earth venerates you.
All the angels, all the heavens, every power –
The cherubim, the seraphim –
unceasingly, they cry:
“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts:
heaven and earth are full of the majesty of your glory!”

The glorious choir of Apostles –
The noble ranks of prophets –
The shining army of martyrs –
all praise you.
Throughout the world your holy Church proclaims you.
– Father of immeasurable majesty,
– True Son, only-begotten, worthy of worship,
– Holy Spirit, our Advocate.

You, Christ:
– You are the king of glory.
– You are the Father’s eternal Son.
– You, to free mankind, did not disdain a Virgin’s womb.
– You defeated the sharp spear of Death, and opened the kingdom of heaven to those who believe in you.
– You sit at God’s right hand, in the glory of the Father.
– You will come, so we believe, as our Judge.

And so we ask of you: give help to your servants, whom you set free at the price of your precious blood.
Number them among your chosen ones in eternal glory.
Bring your people to safety, Lord, and bless those who are your inheritance.
Rule them and lift them high for ever.

Day by day we bless you, Lord: we praise you for ever and for ever.
Of your goodness, Lord, keep us without sin for today.
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us.
Let your pity, Lord, be upon us, as much as we trust in you.
In you, Lord, I trust: let me never be put to shame.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

A concluding prayer may follow here.

Catholic Culture

Collect:
Almighty and ever-living God, you fulfilled the Easter promise by sending us your Holy Spirit. May that Spirit unite the races and nations on earth to proclaim your glory. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Recipes:

Activities:

Prayers:

June 04, 2006

Pentecost Sunday

"And when the days of Pentecost were drawing to a close, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a violent wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues as of fire, which settled upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in foreign tongues, even as the Holy Spirit prompted them to speak" (Acts 2, 1-4).

Pentecost Sunday marks the end of the first novena. See The Novena to the Holy Spirit to prepare for this great feast.

Pentecost (Whitsunday), with Christmas and Easter, ranks among the great feasts of Christianity. It commemorates not only the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and Disciples, but also the fruits and effects of that event: the completion of the work of redemption, the fullness of grace for the Church and its children, and the gift of faith for all nations.

Pentecost
After Jesus had ascended to heaven from Mt. Olivet, the apostles and disciples returned to the Holy City. They remained together in the Upper Room or Cenacle, the place where Jesus had appeared to them and which may well be called the first Christian church. About a hundred and twenty persons were assembled there. They chose Matthias as an apostle in place of the unhappy Judas; they prayed and waited for the Paraclete.

Ten days had passed, it was Sunday, the seventh Sunday after the resurrection. At about nine o'clock in the morning, as they were together praying fervently, the Holy Spirit descended upon them. Note how all the great theophanies in Christ's life occurred during the course of prayer. After His baptism, for instance, when Jesus was praying the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove; likewise, it was during prayer at night that the transfiguration took place on Tabor. Surely too it was while Mary was praying that Gabriel delivered his message, and the Holy Spirit overshadowed her. Pentecost followed precedent. The small community of Christians had prepared themselves through prayer for the coming of the Paraclete. The same is true at Mass today, every day; through prayer we ready our souls for the advent of the Spirit.

The descent upon the apostles was internal and invisible in nature although accompanied by certain visible phenomena. There came a mighty roar, like the onrush of a violent wind. It came suddenly, from heaven; but unlike storms that strike a structure from without, this one penetrated and filled the room where the disciples were gathered. Therefore it was not a natural wind, it was a miracle peculiar to the occasion. A second visible sign consisted in tongues of fire that descended upon each one present. These fiery tongues gave visible evidence that the Holy Spirit had descended upon them.

Today at Mass, particularly at holy Communion, the power of the Holy Spirit will come down upon us; fiery tongues will not be seen, but invisible tongues of fire will not be absent. There was still another external manifestation of the Holy Spirit; the apostles and disciples were enabled to speak various languages.

After the roar of the wind many of Jerusalem's pilgrims hurried to the Cenacle. Pentecost was one of the three festivals which obliged all Jews to be present in Jerusalem. Jews from distant lands, and Jewish converts from paganism too, attended these feasts. As a result, a colorful crowd speaking a variety of languages surrounded the house. Now the apostles, who so shortly before had hid in fear behind locked doors, came forth and courageously walked among the multitude speaking to each in his native tongue. It was indeed amazing! Galileans, and multilingual?

But the malicious too were present; they had the answer. Nothing marvelous at all! Those Galileans were simply drunk, and their drunken babble sounded like a foreign language! Peter showed no hesitation in answering the charge. None of their number, he said, were intoxicated; it was but nine o'clock in the morning, and at that hour men usually are sober. What the multitude saw was, in fact, the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy: In those days (of the Messiah), God will pour forth His Spirit upon men and they will prophesy. . . . Then the apostle pointed his words more directly against the accusers: they had killed Jesus, had nailed Him to the Cross; but God had awakened Him and after His departure to heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit.

The pilgrims who had heard Peter give this first pentecostal sermon "were pierced to the heart and said: Brethren, what shall we do? But Peter said to them: Repent and be baptized; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Three thousand responded.

One final question: why the miracle of tongues? In answer, recall the story regarding the tower of Babel. Puffed up by pride, men attempted to build a tower that would touch the heavens. To punish their sin, God confused their speech. Sin causes confusion and division. Now Christ came to gather all men into His Church and thereby to unite them to Himself. This should result in creating but one family of nations again. To this blessed state the miracle of tongues points.

Yes, even we as individuals have a gift of tongues which all men can understand. It is the gift of love infused into us by the Holy Spirit. Love unites, love is a common language, by means of love we can speak to all nations.

Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch.

Things to Do:

Meditate on Fr. Roger Landry's homily for Pentecost Sunday.

Lauds -- Morning Prayer

Morning Prayer (Lauds)

If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 62 (63)
Thirsting for God
O God, you are my God, I wait for you from the dawn. My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you. I came to your sanctuary, as one in a parched and waterless land, so that I could see your might and your glory. My lips will praise you, for your mercy is better than life itself. Thus I will bless you throughout my life, and raise my hands in prayer to your name; my soul will be filled as if by rich food, and my mouth will sing your praises and rejoice. I will remember you as I lie in bed, I will think of you in the morning, for you have been my helper, and I will take joy in the protection of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand raises me up. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Psalm 62 (63)

Thirsting for God

O God, you are my God, I wait for you from the dawn.
My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you.
I came to your sanctuary,
as one in a parched and waterless land,
so that I could see your might and your glory.
My lips will praise you, for your mercy is better than life itself.

Thus I will bless you throughout my life,
and raise my hands in prayer to your name;
my soul will be filled as if by rich food,
and my mouth will sing your praises and rejoice.
I will remember you as I lie in bed,
I will think of you in the morning,
for you have been my helper,
and I will take joy in the protection of your wings.

My soul clings to you; your right hand raises me up.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Canticle	Daniel 3
All creatures, bless the Lord
Bless the Lord, all his works, praise and exalt him for ever. Bless the Lord, you heavens; all his angels, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, you waters above the heavens; all his powers, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, sun and moon; all stars of the sky, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, rain and dew; all you winds, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, fire and heat; cold and warmth, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, dew and frost; ice and cold, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, ice and snow; day and night, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, light and darkness; lightning and storm-clouds, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, all the earth, praise and exalt him for ever. Bless the Lord, mountains and hills; all growing things, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, seas and rivers; springs and fountains, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, whales and fish; birds of the air, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, wild beasts and tame; sons of men, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, O Israel, praise and exalt him for ever. Bless the Lord, his priests; all his servants, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, spirits of the just; all who are holy and humble, bless the Lord. Ananias, Azarias, Mishael, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him for ever. Let us bless Father, Son and Holy Spirit, praise and exalt them for ever. Bless the Lord in the firmament of heaven, praise and glorify him for ever.

Canticle

Daniel 3

All creatures, bless the Lord

Bless the Lord, all his works, praise and exalt him for ever.

Bless the Lord, you heavens; all his angels, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, you waters above the heavens; all his powers, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, sun and moon; all stars of the sky, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, rain and dew; all you winds, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, fire and heat; cold and warmth, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, dew and frost; ice and cold, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, ice and snow; day and night, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, light and darkness; lightning and storm-clouds, bless the Lord.

Bless the Lord, all the earth, praise and exalt him for ever.

Bless the Lord, mountains and hills; all growing things, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, seas and rivers; springs and fountains, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, whales and fish; birds of the air, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, wild beasts and tame; sons of men, bless the Lord.

Bless the Lord, O Israel, praise and exalt him for ever.

Bless the Lord, his priests; all his servants, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, spirits of the just; all who are holy and humble, bless the Lord.

Ananias, Azarias, Mishael, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him for ever.

Let us bless Father, Son and Holy Spirit, praise and exalt them for ever.
Bless the Lord in the firmament of heaven, praise and glorify him for ever.

Psalm 149
The saints rejoice
Sing a new song to the Lord, his praise in the assembly of the faithful. Let Israel rejoice in its maker, and the sons of Sion delight in their king. Let them praise his name with dancing, sing to him with timbrel and lyre, for the Lord’s favour is upon his people, and he will honour the humble with victory. Let the faithful celebrate his glory, rejoice even in their beds, the praise of God in their throats; and swords ready in their hands, to exact vengeance upon the nations, impose punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings in fetters and their nobles in manacles of iron, to carry out the sentence that has been passed: this is the glory prepared for all his faithful. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Psalm 149

The saints rejoice

Sing a new song to the Lord, his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its maker, and the sons of Sion delight in their king.
Let them praise his name with dancing, sing to him with timbrel and lyre,
for the Lord’s favour is upon his people, and he will honour the humble with victory.

Let the faithful celebrate his glory, rejoice even in their beds,
the praise of God in their throats; and swords ready in their hands,
to exact vengeance upon the nations, impose punishment on the peoples,
to bind their kings in fetters and their nobles in manacles of iron,
to carry out the sentence that has been passed: this is the glory prepared for all his faithful.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

A short Bible reading and responsory may follow here.

Canticle	Benedictus
The Messiah and his forerunner
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption. He has raised up the sign of salvation in the house of his servant David, as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones, his prophets through the ages: to rescue us from our enemies and all who hate us, to take pity on our fathers, to remember his holy covenant and the oath he swore to Abraham our father, that he would give himself to us, that we could serve him without fear – freed from the hands of our enemies – in uprightness and holiness before him, for all of our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High: for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path, to let his people know their salvation, so that their sins may be forgiven. Through the bottomless mercy of our God, one born on high will visit us to give light to those who walk in darkness, who live in the shadow of death; to lead our feet in the path of peace. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Canticle

Benedictus

The Messiah and his forerunner

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption.
He has raised up the sign of salvation in the house of his servant David,
as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones, his prophets through the ages:
to rescue us from our enemies and all who hate us, to take pity on our fathers,
to remember his holy covenant and the oath he swore to Abraham our father,
that he would give himself to us, that we could serve him without fear – freed from the hands of our enemies –
in uprightness and holiness before him, for all of our days.

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High: for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path,
to let his people know their salvation, so that their sins may be forgiven.
Through the bottomless mercy of our God, one born on high will visit us
to give light to those who walk in darkness, who live in the shadow of death;
to lead our feet in the path of peace.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Some short prayers may follow here, to offer up the day's work to God.

Our Father, who art in Heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

A concluding prayer may follow here.

May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.

A M E N

The Golden Sequence

After the Gradual of the Mass the ancient sequence Veni Sancte Spiritus (Come, Holy Spirit) is recited or sung on each day of Pentecost week. This hymn appeared first in liturgical books around the year 1200. It has been variously ascribed to Pope Innocent III (1216), to King Robert of France (1031), and even to Saint Gregory the Great (604). Most probably, however, its author was Cardinal Stephen Langton (1128), Archbishop of Canterbury. The poem has been known from medieval times as the "Golden Sequence" because of its richness in thought and expression. Each one of the short stanzas is a sentence in itself, thus facilitating meditation.

Come, holy Ghost, and bring from above
The splendor of thy light.

Come, father of the poor, come, giver of graces,
Come, light of our hearts.

Best of consolers, sweet guest of the soul,
And comfort of the weary.

Thou rest in labor, relief in burning toil,
Consoling us in sorrow.

O blessed light, fill the innermost hearts
Of those who trust in thee.

Without thy indwelling there is nothing in man,²⁴
And nothing free of sin.

Cleanse what is sordid, give water in dryness,
And heal the bleeding wounds.

Bend what is proud, make warm what is cold,
Bring back the wayward soul.

Give to the faithful who trustingly beg thee
Thy seven holy gifts.

Grant virtue's reward, salvation in death,
And everlasting joy. Amen. Alleluia.

Endnote

24. The original poem had Sine tuo numine nihil est in lumine. The last word was later changed into homine, thus spoiling the rhyme and weakening the powerful meaning of the original.

Regnum Christi

Soft Knocks
June 4, 2006

We open ourselves to the Holy Spirit in order to be guided by him.

Pentecost Sunday
Father Edward McIlmail, LC

John 20:19-23
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."

Introductory Prayer: Help me realize, Holy Spirit, that you are anxious to communicate with me. You are anxious to break through the noise and distractions that keep me from sensing your inspirations. Help me give all my attention to this meditation.

Petition: Holy Spirit, grant me the courage to open my heart to your every inspiration.

1. Bar None. Jesus wants to enter our lives. And despite the sometimes locked doors of our hearts, he doesn´t give up on us. He is anxious to bring a message: "Peace be with you." What´s so hard about that? So often we try to keep him out. "We think that evil is basically good, we think that we need it, at least a little, in order to experience the fullness of being," Pope Benedict XVI said in a homily Dec. 8, 2005. "If we look, however, at the world that surrounds us we can see that this is not so; in other words, that evil is always poisonous, does not uplift human beings but degrades and humiliates them." Is there something we don´t want to give up, in order to open our doors to Christ?

2. Signs of Suffering. Jesus isn´t a distant God who doesn´t know our sufferings. When he rose from the dead, he didn´t show great power to prove himself to the disciples. Rather, he showed his wounds. That was proof of his identity. In effect he told them: "See, I know what suffering is all about ― and I´ve overcome it." Has it sunk in that Jesus knows about our suffering too? He knows what we are talking about when we take our complaints to him. Does that give me comfort?

3. "Receive the Holy Spirit." This is both a gift and a command. We open ourselves to the Holy Spirit in order to be guided by him. He is the Great Nudger -- always nudging us to do better, to do more and to help others carry their cross. "Gentle guest and consoler of my soul" is how Legionary of Christ founder Fr. Marcial Maciel refers to the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. Have I been stifling this Guest´s voice in my heart?

Dialogue with Christ: Lord Jesus, help me see that your desire to enter my life is an act of pure love. You never try to take away my freedom. Rather, you constantly nudge me to use that freedom in a way that brings glory to God the Father ― and raises my own dignity.

Resolution: Today I will do an act of charity for a difficult person in my life.

Homily of the Day

Homily of the Day

Title:	Come Holy Spirit - NOW!
Author:	Monsignor Dennis Clark, PhD.
Date:	Sunday, June 4, 2006

Jn 20:19-23

The story of Pentecost is a real stunner! Jesus' disciples, who'd been such wimps - fearful, aimless, hanging out in the upper room since Jesus' Ascension - are suddenly transformed into fearless leaders, for whom nothing seems impossible.

In the past, as we've talked about this stunning event, we've described it in terms of the arrival, the coming, or the descent of the Spirit, upon the apostles. That language is really quite unhelpful and deceptive, for it suggests that the Holy Spirit somehow arrived at some place the Spirit hadn't been before. And that isn't true.

Our faith says the Holy Spirit of God is everywhere at all times. So what did happen? The Spirit of God didn't change. The apostles did. These men whose hearts were frozen shut for a variety of reasons, finally were able to trust God enough to open their hearts to receive within, the Spirit who had always been there - held somewhat at bay outside. It was that accepting and receiving and taking in of the Spirit that made all the difference. And how hard that is to do, in part because we're not so sure we want that transformation to happen just yet.

Remember how St. Augustine prayed for the grace of conversion during his wild and sinful youth? "Give me your grace, Lord. But not yet!"

We celebrate Pentecost because we need to do what the apostles did - and do it now: accept and receive within us the Spirit who has been present to us from the moment of birth.

May God help us to pray "Come Holy Spirit" with hearts that are truly open! Amen.

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(Pentecost Sunday Homilies)