Pentecost Sunday

Jubilee Holy Year 2025: Pilgrims of Hope

June is the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

How manifold are your works, O Lord!

MARY, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

HEART OF JESUS, FORMED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT 

IN THE WOMB OF THE VIRGIN MARY,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life.

(The Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed)

Welcome to Pentecost Sunday, dear faithful readers, in the month of June dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and entrance into the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time, but not without first celebrating The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. And we can't forget to pray for the Holy Father Pope Leo XIV, and ask his predecessor in name, Pope Leo XIII, to intercede for him, especially since the latter approved the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus for public use in 1899. What is your favorite invocation in the Litany? One of mine is, Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love, have mercy on us. And it occurs to me that Pope Leo XIV has a heart full of goodness and love too. On the other hand, how could he not. He is North American by birth, born and raised east of the Mississippi River, in Chicago, Illinois, "The Prairie State." Who would have thought? Not I. 

Why is it that the Holy Spirit is often the neglected Person of the Holy Trinity? Maybe we just can't wrap our minds around the Holy Spirit. We pray to the Father ... ok. We pray to the Son ... ok. Holy Spirit ... uhhh. On the other hand, we are talking about a mystery of our faith here. And we are talking about love as the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us:  The Holy Spirit is "the Third divine Person of the Blessed Trinity, the personal love of Father and Son for each other. Also called the Paraclete (Advocate) and Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit is at work with the Father and the Son from the beginning to the completion of the divine plan for salvation" (Glossary). Does that whet your appetite to learn more, or perhaps renew yourself in mind and heart? Pray to the Holy Spirit to help you, then turn to the Catechism, our pearl of great price, and check out Paragraphs 683-747. ☺ And we can always look to Mary to help us understand and grow in faith of the mystery, as Pope Benedict XVI said during his Angelus Address on Trinity Sunday, June 7, 2009:

The Virgin Mary, in her docile humility, became the handmaid of divine love; she accepted the Father's will and conceived the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit. In her the Almighty built a temple worthy of Him and made her the model and image of the Church, mystery and house of communion for all human beings. May Mary, mirror of the Blessed Trinity help us to grow in faith of the Trinitarian mystery.

And now a voice or two, from here and there. If you would be so kind, the next time you pray the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary, like on Pentecost Sunday and every Sunday and Wednesday, and commence the third mystery, Descent of the Holy Spirit, the fruit of the Mystery being Spiritual Gifts, please join me and ask Our Lord to breathe on us and send forth His spirit to renew the face of the earth. Veni Sancti Spiritus ... Come, Holy Spirit, come! And from your celestial home, Shed a ray of light divine!

O Spirit of truth, make me know your Word; teach me to remember all He has said; enlighten me, guide me, make me conformable to Jesus as an alter Christus, another Christ, by giving me His virtues, especially His patience, humility, and obedience; let me take part in His redemptive work by making me understand the love the cross.

(Sister Carmela of the Holy Spirit, OCD, 1910-1949)

O Holy Spirit, descend plentifully into my heart. Enlighten the dark corners of this neglected dwelling and scatter there Thy cheerful beams.

(Saint Augustine of Hippo, 354-430)

When the Spirit has been sent, the face of the earth is created and renewed: this means that our earthly will becomes heavenly, ready at a nod to obey more quickly than a nod. Blessed are the people like this, for not only do they perceive no evil, but they abide in a certain marvelous expansion of heart.

(Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, 1090-1153)

The first gift of love is love itself, and all the other gifts emanate from this supreme gift, as from their source. Therefore, the Gift of the love of God is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not give himself to us without pouring charity into our hearts.

(Servant of God Luis Maria Martinez, 1881-1956)

Come, Holy Spirit, come, O God, love;

fill my heart, which, alas, is empty of all that is good.

Set me on fire to love you.

Enlighten me to recognize you.

Draw me [to you] to delight in you.

Affect me [to receive] thorough fruition of you.

(Saint Gertrude the Great of Helfta, 1256-1301/2)

Let us love our neighbors, my friends, let us love the one who is near us, so that we may be able to reach the love of the one who is above us. Then we shall reach the happiness of the heavenly multitude, the happiness of which we have received an assurance of the Holy Spirit. Let us move forward toward that goal where we shall be happy without end with all our love.

(Pope Saint Gregory the Great, 540-604)

The first task of Christians is to keep alive the flame that Jesus brought to the earth, which is the love of God: the Holy Spirit. Without the fire of the Spirit, prophesies are extinguished, sorrow supplants joy, and routine substitutes love.

(Pope Francis, 1936-2025)

Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit and raises man to Heaven.

(Saint Ephrem the Syrian, 306-373)

O Lord,

give us a mind that is humble, quiet, peaceable,

Patient and charitable, And a taste of your Holy Spirit

In all our thoughts, words, and deeds.

(From a prayer by Saint Thomas More, 1478-1535)

It is the Holy Spirit that gives us the audacity to believe that God loves us,

and the power to love Him back.

(Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, 1090-1153) 

The Holy Spirit must teach us to carry out in action the good that is inspired, 

or grace in us shall remain void.

(Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, 1090-1153) 

And lastly, prayer for all times ...

Pray for the gifts of the Holy Spirit:

Wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.

(See Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1831)

So as to bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit:

Charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity.

(See Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1832)

SAINT JAMES BERTHIEU,

SAINT WILLIAM OF YORK,

SAINT EPHRAEM THE DEACON, "HARP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT,"

SAINT COLUMBA,

BLESSED EDWARD POPPE,

SAINT JOSE DE ANCHIETA,

SAINT BARNABAS THE APOSTLE,

SAINT ONUPHRIUS,

BLESSED ALPHONSUS MAZUREK AND COMPANIONS,

BLESSED HILARY JANUSZEWSKI,

SAINT ANTONY OF PADUA,

SAINT DAVNET,

SAINT ELISHA,

BLESSED MARIA CANDIDA OF THE EUCHARIST,

SAINT LIDWINA,

SAINT METHODIUS,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: I call these beauties "tongues of fire." Tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest upon us, united as we are in faith and prayer. I will be glad in the Lord.

© Gertrude Feick 2025

Fifth Sunday of Easter

April is the month dedicated to the Holy Eucharist and the Holy Spirit

May is the month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary

Readings for the Rule of Saint Benedict for the Week:  Ch 70 Mutual Obedience - Prologue 20

They who seek the Lord shall praise Him.

JESUS, DWELLING IN THE TABERNACLES OF THE WORLD,

SPIRIT OF BENIGNITY AND GOODNESS,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

MARY, QUEEN OF ALL THINGS,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.

(1 John 3:20)

Welcome, dear faithful readers, to the Fifth Sunday of Easter, still in the month of April dedicated to the Holy Eucharist and the Holy Spirit. I am sorry that today's offering is late. However, it is still Sunday and time to start thinking about the great Doctor of the Church who we commemorate tomorrow; she is Saint Catherine of Siena, another one of my favorites. For now, though, let's be about bearing much fruit this week. Attached to Jesus the vine, we are the branches. Without the vine, we are nothing. As Jesus tells us, "Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit." So we might think about one fruit of the Holy Spirit that we especially want to cultivate this week. What will it be ... charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity. Those who keep His commandments remain in Him, and He in them, and the way we know that He remains in us is from the Spirit He gave us (1 John 3:24). 

And once again, the moment we've been waiting for, that is, to hear from a voice here, there, and everywhere. Blessed as we are to enter the holy month of May this week, the glorious month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, we hear first from now Venerable Servant of God Fulton J. Sheen, whose cause for canonization as a saint was officially opened under the leadership of the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, in 2002 (see The Catholic University of America, "Cause for Canonization"). Not surprisingly, there have been a few bumps along the path for the Archbishop of happy memory. God is in charge, however. So, we will see. Secondly, we hear from Saint Louis Mary Grignion de Montfort, who was especially devoted to Mary, Virgin and Mother. You may be familiar with his True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

God, who made the sun, also made the moon. The moon does not take away from the brilliance of the sun. The moon would be only a burnt-out cinder floating in the immensity of space were it not for the sun. All its light is reflected from the sun. The Blessed Mother reflects her Divine Son; without Him, she is nothing. With Him, she is the Mother of Men.

(Fulton Sheen, 1895-1979, The World's First Love)

All the gifts, virtues and graces of the Holy Ghost are distributed by Mary, to whom she wishes, when she wishes, the way she wishes and as much as she wishes. It is by her that He applies His merits to His members, and that He communicates His virtues, and distributes His graces. She is His Mysterious canal; she is His aqueduct, through which He makes His mercies flow gently and abundantly ...

If then we are establishing sound devotion to Our Blessed Lady, it is only in order to establish devotion to Our Lord more perfectly, by providing a smooth but certain way of reaching Jesus Christ.

(Saint Louis Mary Grignion de Montfort, 1673-1716)

Following Jesus means nothing other than reproducing His virtues in ourselves, in order to do all things well. It is trying to assume His imprint on our bodies and our souls that we might be entirely transformed into Him.

(Blessed Concepcion Cabrera de Armida, 1862-1937)

If we have lost confidence, God reopens us to faith; if we are discouraged, God awakens hope in us; if our heart is hardened, God softens it with His love.

(Pope Francis, Wednesday General Audience, April 24, 2024)

What is it that today makes true followers of Christ cast luxuries aside, leave pleasures behind, and endure difficulties and pain? It is living faith that expresses itself through love. It is this that makes us put aside the goods of the present in the hope of future goods. It is because of faith that we exchange the present for the future.

(From a eulogy for Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen, priest and martyr, in Office of Readings, April 24)

The essence of prayer is that I raise my mind to God. I turn my attention from every other thing. I empty my mind of every other thought. I give my whole mind wholly to God to be filled only by God, so that nothing, literally nothing, stands for the moment between my soul and Him.

(Monsignor Philip Hughes, 1895-1967)

Receive Holy Communion; put fire in your heart, which alone will do the work of conversion and your sanctification; warm up your cold hearts, and light them with love, and change the worldly man into a saint.

(Blessed Honoratus Kozminski, 1829-1916)

O Light of Truth, dispel these shadows from me today and drive away the fog! Feed me with the bread of life and understanding and give me the water of wisdom to drink.

(William of St. Thierry, 1075/80/85-1148)

SAINT PETER CHANEL,

SAINT LOUIS MARY GRIGNION DE MONTFORT,

BLESSED MARIA GUGGIARI ECHEVERRIA,

SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENA, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH,

POPE SAINT PIUS V,

SAINT MARIE OF THE INCARNATION,

OUR LADY, MOTHER OF AFRICA,

SAINT ATHANASIUS,

SAINTS PHILIP AND JAMES,

SAINT JOSEPH THE WORKER,

THE ENGLISH MARTYRS,

BLESSED MARIE-LEONIE PARADIS,

SAINT CONLETH,

THE BEATIFIED MARTYRS OF ENGLAND AND WALES,

SAINT JOSE MARIE RUBIO,

BLESSED ANGEL PRAT HOSTENCH AND COMPANIONS,

BLESSED EMILY BICCHIERI, OP,

SAINT FLORIAN,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: May your hearts live forever!

© Gertrude Feick 2024

Wednesday of the Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Respect Life Month

Saints: Saint Wilfrid (634-709); Blessed Jan Beyzym (1850-1912); Our Lady of Aparecida (Brazil)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 9 The Number of Psalms at the Night Office

Mass: Gal 5:18-25; Resp Ps 1; Lk 11:42-46

He is like a tree planted near running water.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, QUEEN OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY,

SAINT JOSEPH DEFENDER OF LIFE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.

(Gal 5:25)

In the spirit of commemorating the 60th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, it occurred to me this morning to include passages from some of the documents promulgated at the Second Vatican Council. In this spirit then, and as we live in the Spirit, and desire to follow the Spirit, we pray for the fruit of the Spirit, that is, "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Gal 5:22-23). The Spirit will help us bear fruit as we respond to the universal call of holiness. 

In the Church, everyone whether belonging to the hierarchy, or being cared for by it, is called to holiness, according to the saying of the Apostle: "For this is the will of God, your sanctification." However, this holiness of the Church is unceasingly manifested, and must be manifested, in the fruits of grace which the Spirit produces in the faithful; it is expressed in many ways in individuals, who in their walk of life, tend toward the perfection of charity, thus causing the edification of others ...

Every person must walk unhesitatingly according to his own personal gifts and duties in the path of living faith, which arouses hope and works through charity.

(Lumen Gentium Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Ch 5:39, 41)

United in faith and prayer, we belong to Christ Jesus and have crucified our flesh with its passions and desires (see Gal 5: 24). At the same time, we know there will be ongoing suffering, setbacks, obstacles, and failures. No matter, we keep going. Heart of Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life, have mercy on us.

A sincere desire knows how to touch deeply the chords of our being, which is why it is not extinguished in the face of difficulties or setbacks ... obstacles and failures do not stifle desire; on the contrary, they make it even more alive in us.

(Pope Francis, Wednesday General Audience Catechesis, October 12, 2022)

SAINT WILFRID,

BLESSED JAN BEYZYM,

OUR LADY OF APARECIDA,

POPE SAINT JOHN XXIII,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: The Metolius River, Central Oregon. Whose leaves never fade.

© Gertrude Feick 202

Pentecost Sunday

Readings of the day: RB 4:22-43

Sunday Mass: Ac 2:1-11; Resp Ps 104; 1 Co 12:3b-7, 12-13 or Ga 5:16-25; Sequence (Veni, Sancti Spiritus); Jn 20:19-23

 

Icon by Isaac Fanous, St Peter and St Pauls Coptic Orthodox Church

RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT.

If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.

Feel the energy in the room: They were all in one place together. Suddenly, there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

We have received the same Holy Spirit. Each one of us has received different kinds of spiritual gifts, one of one kind and one of another (1 Co 7:7). We are meant to bear fruits of

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Which fruit will you share with your brothers and sisters today?

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.

ALLELUIA.

Holy Spirit, you sustain the Church, come down upon us again, teach us unity, renew our hearts, and help us to love as Jesus taught us.

(Pope Francis, Twitter, May 20, 2018)