Pentecost Novena: Day 4

Oy!  I was so busy tending to my garden today that I forgot to tend to some of my spiritual gardens!  Here is Day 4 of the novena.  I'll post Day 5 this afternoon.

(Monday)  Thou in toil art comfort sweet, Pleasant coolness in the heat, solace in the midst of woe.   

By the Gift of Fortitude the soul is strengthened against natural fear, and supported to the end in the performance of duty.  Fortitude imparts to the will an impulse and energy which moves it to undertake without hesitancy the most arduous tasks, to face dangers, to trample under foot human respect, and to endure without complaint the slow martyrdom of even lifelong tribulation.  “He that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved.”   

Prayer: Come, O Blessed Spirit of Fortitude, uphold my soul in time of trouble and adversity, sustain my efforts after holiness, strengthen my weakness, give me courage against all the assaults of my enemies, that I may never be overcome and separated from Thee, my God and greatest Good.  Amen.. Our Father and  Hail Mary ONCE.  Glory be  SEVEN TIMES.  Act of consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts.

Act of Consecration

On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, my soul and body to You, Eternal Spirit of God.  I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring keenness of Your justice, and the might of Your love.  You are the Strength and Light of my soul.  In You I live and move and have my being.  I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness to grace and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against You.  Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Your light, and listen to Your voice, and follow Your gracious inspirations.  I cling to You and give myself to You and ask You, by Your compassion to watch over me in my weakness.  Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus and looking at His Five Wounds, and trusting in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart, I implore You, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, to keep me in Your grace that I may never sin against You.  Give me grace O Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father and the Son to say to You always and everywhere, “Speak Lord for Your servant is listening.”  Amen.

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

O Lord Jesus Christ Who, before ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in the souls of Your Apostles and disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in my soul, the work of Your grace and Your love.  Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal, the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine Truth, the Spirit of Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints, the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable, and the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him.  Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of Your true disciples and animate me in all things with Your Spirit.  Amen.

A Continuing Conversation

About a month a ago (21 April) I started a conversation about authority in the context of the present pandemic, in particular, the obedience due civil authority in light of I Peter 2:11-25.  Over the last couple of weeks three articles have popped up on my radar that speak to this and further that conversation.  I'm going to post the readings today and comment on them tomorrow.  I invite your learned comments.  Enjoy!

Bishops and the Secular Order 

Rendering to Caeser in an Epidemic 

Minnesota Bishops Model Solidarity and Subsidiarity 

Pentacost Novena: Day 3

As we enter into the third day of our novena, we focus on the gift of piety.  I would note that this gift of the Holy Spirit is the virtue traditionally meditated upon in praying the 5th Joyful Mystery of the Rosary.

(Sunday)  Thou, of all consolers best, Visiting the troubled breast, Dost refreshing peace bestow.  

The Gift of Piety begets in our hearts a filial affection for God as our most loving Father.  It inspires us to love and respect for His sake persons and things consecrated to Him as well as those who are vested with His authority, His Blessed Mother and the Saints, the Church and its visible Head, our parents and superiors, our country and its rulers.  He who is filled with the gift of Piety finds the practice of his religion, not a burdensome duty, but a delightful service.  Where there is love, there is no labor.   

Prayer: Come, O Blessed Spirit of Piety, possess my heart.  Enkindle therein such a love for God that I may find satisfaction only in His service, and for His sake lovingly submit to all legitimate authority.  Amen.  Our Father and Hail Mary  ONCE.  Glory be  SEVEN TIMES.  Act of consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts (Below the picture).

Act of Consecration

On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, my soul and body to You, Eternal Spirit of God.  I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring keenness of Your justice, and the might of Your love.  You are the Strength and Light of my soul.  In You I live and move and have my being.  I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness to grace and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against You.  Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Your light, and listen to Your voice, and follow Your gracious inspirations.  I cling to You and give myself to You and ask You, by Your compassion to watch over me in my weakness.  Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus and looking at His Five Wounds, and trusting in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart, I implore You, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, to keep me in Your grace that I may never sin against You.  Give me grace O Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father and the Son to say to You always and everywhere, “Speak Lord for Your servant is listening.”  Amen.

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

O Lord Jesus Christ Who, before ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in the souls of Your Apostles and disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in my soul, the work of Your grace and Your love.  Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal, the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine Truth, the Spirit of Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints, the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable, and the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him.  Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of Your true disciples and animate me in all things with Your Spirit.  Amen.

Pentecost Novena: Day 2

We continue our novena to the Holy Spirit in preparation for the feast of Pentecost and begin reflecting on the first of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Day 2: (Saturday)  Come, Father of the poor.  Come, treasures which endure; Come, Light of all that live!  The Gift of Fear fills us with the sovereign respect for God, and makes us dread nothing so much as to offend Him by sin.  It is a fear that arises, not from the thought of hell, but from sentiments of reverence and filial submission to our heavenly Father.  It is this fear that is the beginning of wisdom, detaching us from worldly pleasures that could in any way separate us from God.  “They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and in His sight will sanctify their souls.”  Prayer:  Come, O blessed Spirit of Holy Fear, penetrate my inmost heart, that I may set You, my Lord and God, before my face forever; help me to shun all things that can offend You, and make me worthy to appear before the pure eyes of Your Divine Majesty in heaven, where You live and reign in the unity of the ever Blessed Trinity, God, world without end.  Amen.  Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE.  Glory be  SEVEN TIMES.  Act of consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts.

Pentecost Novena: Day 1

     I'm sorry that I am getting this out a bit late today (tonight!), but, today was the beginning of the original novena.  Beginning the day after Ascension Thursday until the Saturday before Pentecost Sunday - a period of nine days - we spend that time in between the Lord's Ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit in prayer.

     I love this image of how the Gifts of the Holy Spirit lead us to the "Fruits of the Holy Spirit". 

    The following is my favorite Pentecost Novena.  It goes through the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit, one by one and helps us to better understand those gifts which are the individual "tools" in our toolbox of faith.

     In praying this novena one begins with the daily reflection.  One can continue with "The Act of Consecration" and finish with the "Prayer for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit".
     Copies of this novena can be found in the spirituality racks in our three parish churches.

Day 1 Reflection: (Friday)  

Holy Spirit!  Lord of Light!  From Your clear celestial height, Your pure beaming radiance give!  The Holy Spirit  Only one thing is important—eternal salvation.  Only one thing, therefore, is to be feared—sin.  Sin is the result of ignorance, weakness, and indifference.  The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Light, of Strength, and of Love.  With His sevenfold gifts He enlightens the mind, strengthens the will, and inflames the heart with love of God.  To ensure our salvation we ought to invoke the Divine Spirit daily, for “The Spirit helps our infirmity.  We know not what we should pray for as we ought.  But the Spirit Himself asks for us.”   

Prayer:  Almighty and eternal God, Who hast vouchsafed to regenerate us by water and the Holy Spirit, and hast given us forgiveness of all sins, vouchsafe to send forth from heaven upon us Your sevenfold Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and Fortitude, the Spirit of Knowledge and Piety, and fill us with the Spirit of Holy Fear.  Amen.  Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE.  Glory be SEVEN TIMES.  Act of Consecration & Prayer for the Seven Gifts (found at the end).

Act of Consecration

On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, my soul and body to You, Eternal Spirit of God.  I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring keenness of Your justice, and the might of Your love.  You are the Strength and Light of my soul.  In You I live and move and have my being.  I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness to grace and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against You.  Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Your light, and listen to Your voice, and follow Your gracious inspirations.  I cling to You and give myself to You and ask You, by Your compassion to watch over me in my weakness.  Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus and looking at His Five Wounds, and trusting in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart, I implore You, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, to keep me in Your grace that I may never sin against You.  Give me grace O Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father and the Son to say to You always and everywhere, “Speak Lord for Your servant is listening.”  Amen.

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

O Lord Jesus Christ Who, before ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in the souls of Your Apostles and disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in my soul, the work of Your grace and Your love.  Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal, the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine Truth, the Spirit of Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints, the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable, and the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him.  Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of Your true disciples and animate me in all things with Your Spirit.  Amen.

Pentecost Sunday: Weekend Mass Re-Opens!

Hooray!  Bishop Callahan is giving permission for the public celebration of the Mass beginning Pentecost Weekend.  
 I will begin by holding all Masses except the 6:00 pm Mass at St. Mary's Ridge: it is by far our largest church and should accommodate nearly everyone who would normally attend.  The 6:00 pm Mass will be held at St. Augustine's - Norwalk:  The attendance at the 6:00 Mass is typically well under the 25% capacity of that church and so I feel comfortable holding that Mass at its usual location.  I will watch the numbers over the next couple of weeks.  If the desire to attend Mass at 4:00 pm is less than 25% the capacity of Sacred Heart Church then we will move that Mass back to that church.  I might also note that Sacred Heart is currently undergoing the renovation of the old entry and bell-tower stairwell, so this is actually a pretty good time for not being at Sacred Heart: it's a mess! but a good mess.  :)
 To reserve your spot, or that of your family, contact me or Kari (her office hours will be 8:00am - 12 noon, Monday - Thursday, beginning this coming Monday) by phone or e-mail: We will confirm your registration by the same. 
 Please note that social distancing will be important here.  Also, masks are highly encouraged as will be gelling in and out of the church: hand gel will be available.
 Bishop Callahan noted in our meeting this afternoon that how well we do in these first couple of weeks will determine how quickly he authorizes the public celebration of weekday Mass as well as the wider opening of weekend Mass.
 It is important here that everyone remember a few things:  The obigation to  attend weekend Mass is still set aside by the bishop; it is also important to remember if you are over 65 or have compromised health you are encouraged to continue self-isolation.  If you are desiring to attend Mass but are still uncomfortable with receiving holy Communion, remember what I have been teaching you over these weeks and months: reception of holy Communion at every Mass is not a requirement.  It is good, but it is not required.  That is why we have been taught again the ancient and venerable practice of Spiritual Communion.  
 As we begin gathering again for Sunday Mass it is so important that we do better than so many who have been out in public these past couple of weeks.  Charity is the first law of the Church.  If you are uncomfortable with the circumstances under which Mass is being held, you must remember that you are not obligated to attend at this time, though I will be overjoyed to see you.  While we are asking that people wear masks, if they choose not to, that is their right.  We should be sensitive to the legitimate needs and feelings of others; however, holy Mass is not the place for political statements or political correctness. 
 To accommodate social distancing and better ensure good sanitation there will be no servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Communion, or choir for the time being.  If someone would like to read, I (and my voice) would appreciate the help: give me a call or drop an e-mail.
 Finally, note that the church will be sanitized after each Mass in preparation for the next.  I need four people to volunteer, who are not otherwise over 65 or immuno-compromised.  Also, I will need two ushers for each Mass.  Give me a call or drop me an e-mail if you can help.

Anger: and what to do with it

     To say it’s been a challenging week is most definitely the understatement of the year.  The events of this past week have brought about confusion, frustration, even anger in so many within our community.  I’ve even heard from several outside the Catholic community expressing considerable dismay.  Such is life from time to time.  Now: how do we deal with times such as these?

     Because we are bound to have many such moments in the weeks to come, let us reflect on St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (4:26-27): “If you are angry, let it be without sin.  The sun must not go down on your wrath; do not give the devil a chance to work on you.”

     We must first recognize that the initial flush of anger is an emotional response that works out of the unconscious.  We don’t have any moral responsibility for that emotion; it just is.  But, what do we do in the wake of that emotional response?  For that we bear great responsibility, and so we have to get it right!

     What we don’t want to do is wallow in or nurse that anger.  This is precisely what St. Paul is talking about in his letter to the Ephesians.  When we wallow in or nurse anger (this is often called entertaining an occasion for sin) we focus on our justification for anger and build it up into a great, ego-centered temple to our own assumed greatness, rightness, or wisdom.  There is no question that this is from the evil-one and only leads to him.

     So, what IS the proper response?  What emotion can I have, should I have?  What will lead me to the place I want to be – to Jesus and the eternal life that is found in Him?  Now we’re making headway.  What is the response that our Lord, Himself typically has for those who reject Him or can’t leave behind the very thing that keeps us from following Him fully.

     We see time after time that our Lord’s emotional response is “sadness”.  He is sad for the person who won’t come to Him.  He is sad that they won’t leave even the thing that they themselves recognize as keeping them from Him.  He doesn’t condemn; He doesn’t endlessly rant and rave; He doesn’t slam the door.  What He does is LOVE them, love US.

     This doesn’t come automatically.  This response comes with much prayer and practice.  It also comes with recognizing that more often than not the person who has made us angry is, on some level, doing what they honestly think is best.  We might not agree with the result, but it isn’t coming from a place of evil.  Of course, there are times when a decision IS coming from a place of selfishness, pride, whatever.  Is it ok to be angry then?  NO!  It is proper to recognize their weakness even as we recognize and admit our own weakness and do penance for it.  Indeed, we might seriously consider doing penance for the weakness of the other.

     There’s a lot to reflect on, to consider here.  Do reflect.  Do bring this to prayer.  And begin to see the difference this makes in your life – and your life of faith – as you walk in Christ’s way of love.

     “Who will separate us from the love of Christ?  Trial, or distress, or persecutions, or hunger, or nakedness, or danger, or the sword?  Yet in all this we are more than conquerors because of Him Who has loved us.”  (Romans 8:35, 37)