A Pentecost Meditation: Veni Sancte Spiritus

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit... Acts 2:4

Meditation: Let us enter the Upper Room with Mary. The disciples are filled with fear. Mary is in their midst, comforting them. As you sit near Mary, a noise suddenly comes from the sky, like a strong driving wind. Tongues of fire appear resting on the disciples and on you. All are filled with the Holy Spirit and speak in different tongues. All fear was gone. As you ponder this scene, stay near to Mary and invite her into your heart. Thank the Holy Spirit for coming to you and ask Him to dwell in you always and to pour out His gifts upon you so that you may proclaim the love of Jesus to everyone you encounter!  

Come Holy Spirit. Come through Mary.

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." John 20:19-22

The Sequence for Pentecost Sunday, Veni Sancte Spiritus, a prayer to the Holy Spirit, is a melody of Gregorian chant. The words and melody blend together so beautifully that it has become the customary prayer to the Holy Spirit.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Father, send now Your Spirit over us and all those we pray for. May the Blessed Virgin Mary be our Advocate. O Holy Spirit, as you did with the Apostles and Mary in the Upper Room, make Your consoling Presence known to us that we may share Your love with others.

Reflection: Our Lady of Fatima ~ Pray the Rosary Daily for Peace in our Country

Our Lady appeared in Fatima between May 13th and October 13th, 1917 to the shepherd children. Mary, the Mother of God, told them that God had sent her with a message for every man, woman and child. At the time, there was war and violence in many parts of the world, much as it is today. She told the children to pray the Rosary daily.

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of thy mercy. Words requested by the Blessed Virgin Mary in Fatima to be prayed after each decade of the Rosary

Mary appealed to all to pray hard so that the war would cease. On many occasions, the children were asked to tell the people to pray the rosary daily for personal conversion and world peace. Mary warned that people would suffer the consequences of war, hunger and persecution of the Church if they disobeyed God's Will.

Do you pray the Rosary every day? 
If not, begin today. Pray the Rosary daily for peace, healing and conversion in our country.

Our Lady wants us to consecrate ourselves to her Immaculate Heart, a consecration in which we make a complete surrender of self to our Mother, promising her that we will: Pray the Rosary every day. Offer the little daily sacrifices for the conversion of sinners. Make the five Communions of Reparation on the first Saturdays of five consecutive months. In the last apparition at Fatima, Our Lady appeared as Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, holding the Scapular in her outstretched hand. The Scapular is the sign of our consecration to Mary's Immaculate Heart. It can be worn as a reminder of the promise we have made to Mary.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, identified herself to the shepherd children of Fatima as the Lady of the Rosary. Repeatedly during Our Lady's series of apparitions to the children, she emphasized praying the Rosary daily and "to pray the Rosary well," with meditation on the mysteries.

The Queen of Heaven held out the Rosary to mankind as a means of obtaining the salvation of souls, the conversion of sinners, true world peace, and the conversion of Russia. Let us use this spiritual treasure and pray the Rosary every day for peace in our country.

Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of the Rosary, we entrust all the names we receive through this ministry to your loving care.

Reflection: We remember our fallen heroes. "In the world, you will trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world." John 16:33

No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. John 15:13 

On this Memorial Day, we remember that freedom is not free and we honor all those who have given their lives for our freedom. May they rest in eternal peace.

As we look at this image of the American flag and the resting place of our military, we remember, with great gratitude, all our brave military men and women who gave their lives for our freedom and we remember their families, especially the children. May the Lord bring them comfort that they know He is near and with them always.

I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.  John 14:18

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. In green pastures He makes me lie down; to still waters He leads me; He restores my soul. He guides me along right paths for the sake of His Name. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff comfort me. You set a table before me in front of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely, goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the Lord for endless days.  Psalm 23

Jesus is our strength and our comfort. We have nothing to fear. He is with us always and He gives us courage in times of distress.

In the world, you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.  John 16:33

Three Hail Marys Devotion

Heaven opened by the practice of The Three Hail Marys for the Father, Son and Holy Spirit

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son." John 3:16

"The love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." Romans 5:5

Devotion of the Three Hail Marys was revealed by our Blessed Mother herself to the Benedictine mystic, St. Mechtilde (13th Century) with the promise of a good death, if she was faithful to it, every day. In the Book of Revelations of St. Mechtilde we read:

While Mechtilde was beseeching the glorious Virgin to assist her in her hour of death, Our Lady appeared to her and said: I will certainly. But I also want you to say three special Hail Mary's to me every day.

The first will be in honor of God the Father, Whose omnipotence raised my soul so high above every other creature that, after God, I have the greatest power in Heaven and on earth. In the hour of your death, I will use that power of God the Father to keep any hostile power far from you.

The second Hail Mary will be said in honor of the Son of God, Who communicated His inscrutable wisdom to me. In the hour of your death, I will fill your soul with the light of that wisdom, so that all the darkness of ignorance and error will be dispelled.

The third Hail Mary will be in honor of God the Holy Ghost, Who filled my soul with the sweetness of His love and tenderness and mercy. In your last hour, I will then change the bitterness of death into divine sweetness and delight."

It is written in St. Gertrude’s revelations: "While this Saint sang the Hail Mary, at the matins of the Annunciation, she suddenly saw spring out from the Heart of the Father and the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, three bright flames which penetrated the Heart of the Holy Virgin." Then she heard the following words: "After the Power of the Father, the Wisdom of the Son and the merciful Tenderness of the Holy Spirit, nothing approaches the Power, the Wisdom and the merciful Tenderness of Mary."

During prayer she saw our Blessed Mother in the form of a white lily with three branches before the Most Blessed Trinity. This revelation confirmed the title of "the Immaculate Lily of the Most Holy Trinity", which saints had given to Her. The saint learned on that occasion that the blinding whiteness of the lily signified the immaculate purity of the Holy Mother of God which was never stained with even the slightest venial sin. The three branches signified Our Lady's participation in the omnipotence of the Father, the wisdom of the Son, and the charity of the Holy Ghost. Then Our Blessed Mother spoke to St. Gertrude and said:

"To any soul who faithfully prays the Three Hail Marys, I will appear at the hour of death in a splendor so extraordinary that it will fill the soul with heavenly consolation."

Immaculate Lily of the Holy Trinity, we pray Three Hail Marys to you in honor of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Pray for us and for all those for whom we pray through this ministry.

The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

Jesus ascended to the Father into heaven, not to abandon us, but to prepare a place for us. He promised to send us a Helper, an Advocate, a Consoler, a Sanctifier. His message for us is hope, guidance and consolation. Through the grace of the Ascension, may we keep our eyes, minds and hearts fixed on heaven.

Acts of the Apostles 1:8-11
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." When He had said this, as they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen Him going into heaven."

Pope Benedict XI:  "The Lord draws the gaze of the Apostles our gaze toward Heaven to show how to travel the road of good during earthly life. Nevertheless, He remains within the framework of human history; He is near to each of us and guides our Christian journey: He is the companion of the those persecuted for the faith, He is in the heart of those who are marginalized, He is present in those whom the right to life is denied. We can hear, see and touch our Lord Jesus in the Church, especially through the Word and the Sacraments."

Jesus promised He would never leave us. He is with is in the Sacraments of the Holy Catholic Church. He is with us in the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, the Consoler, the Sanctifier, who will descend upon us and the whole Church on Pentecost.

Come Holy Spirit! Come through Mary!

"And behold, I am with you always until the end of the age." Matthew 28:20

Reflection: I have called you friends

Jesus is your friend. He chose you to go and bear fruit that will last.

You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another." John 15:14-17

To be a friend of Jesus, He tells us: "Keep My commandments and love one another." When we keep the Ten Commandments, we establish a friendship with Jesus and grow in His Love.

"Sin is hurting the one you love." Venerable Fulton Sheen

Serious sin breaks the Heart of God, a God who loves us even when we sin. He died for us on the Cross to show us how much He loves us. Say NO to sin and say YES to a deep friendship with Jesus. When we stay close to Jesus, in friendship, He helps us grow in virtue and love one another.

Jesus heals us through the Sacraments and speaks to us through the Scriptures. When Jesus calls us His friends, He is inviting us into His life. Friends want to spend time with one another. To know Jesus, spend time with Him in prayer, in silence, reading the Scriptures, in Eucharistic adoration and stay attached to Him by following the commandments and attending Mass, receiving the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation often. By making a good confession, we restore our friendship with Jesus. In this way, we are healed and we get to know Jesus better and know ourselves better.

O Jesus, You are our friend. Help us to imitate You by staying close to Mary, our Blessed Mother. Heal our hearts and bring healing, peace and comfort to all those for whom we pray.

Our Lady of Fatima: "I am the Lady of the Rosary."

One hundred and three years ago today, Our Lady of Fatima appeared to the three shepherd children, Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco, between May 13th and October 13th, 1917. Mary, the Mother of God, told them that God had sent her with a message for every man, woman and child. At the time, there was war and violence in many parts of the world, much as it is today.

The Blessed Mother appealed to all to pray the rosary daily for the family and for peace. Mary warned that people would suffer the consequences of war, hunger and persecution of the Church if they disobeyed God's Will.

In 1952, Pope Pius XII consecrated Russia to the Blessed Virgin. Saint Pope John Paul II consecrated the entire world to the Virgin Mary in 1984, a year after the assassination attempt was made on his life. Saint John Paul II believed that his life was saved and he was protected by Our Lady of Fatima. After consecrating the world to her Immaculate Heart, the Pope placed the bullet that hit him on the crown of Our Lady.

Our Lady said to consecrate ourselves to her Immaculate Heart and pray the Rosary every day, to offer little daily sacrifices for the conversion of sinners, to make the five Communions of Reparation on the first Saturdays of five consecutive months.

In the last apparition at Fatima, Our Lady appeared as Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, holding the Scapular in her outstretched hand. The Scapular is the sign of our consecration to Mary's Immaculate Heart. It can be worn as a reminder of the promise we have made to Mary.

The Mother of God identified herself to the shepherd children of Fatima saying,

"I am the Lady of the Rosary."

Our Lady of Fatima, we entrust all the names we receive through this ministry to your loving care.

Reflection: Mother's Day

Today we celebrate Mother's Day. On this day, we remember all our mothers, living and deceased, and all women who have been spiritual mothers to us.

"When they entered the city, they went to the Upper Room where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James, son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas, son of James. All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and His brothers." Acts 1:13-14

A dear friend gave me a beautiful statue of Mary called Madonna Magnificat. Mary's face is captivating and her hands are folded in prayer. She looks like she is pondering. I gaze at this image often.

"Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart."  Luke 2:19 

Meditation: 
Take a moment and be still. Gaze at an image of the face of Mary or an image of Mary gazing at the Baby Jesus. Ponder this image and call upon the Holy Spirit to be with you during this intimate time of prayer. Mary is a model for all mothers. Speak to Mary and ask her to teach you how to ponder as she did. There were many things Mary did not understand but she pondered them in her heart. Ask her for the grace to ponder the things you do not understand. Ask her to be with you as you ponder. Mary was in the Upper Room with the Apostles at Pentecost. She is with you always and she will draw you to her Beloved Son Jesus.

Through this ministry, we pray for so many intentions. We remember today, in a special way, all mothers and we turn to Mary, our Blessed Mother for all our needs

"In this is love." 1 John 4:10

Holy Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, we entrust to you all mothers and their families. Bless them and wrap them under your protective mantle of love.

Reflection: Mary's Garden

The Angel Gabriel visited Mary at the Annunciation to tell her that God had chosen her to be the Mother of our Savior. In this image, the Angel Gabriel is presenting to Mary the Madonna lily which symbolizes purity.

Mary's Garden is a garden, filled with flowers, plants and trees named for Mary and Jesus. It is designed to be a place of beauty to remind us of our Lord and Our Lady, a place of prayer and contemplation.

You are an enclosed garden, my sister, my bride, an enclosed garden, a fountain sealed. Arise, north wind! Come, south wind! Blow upon my garden that its perfumes may spread abroad. Song of Solomon 4:12,16

During the Middle Ages, there were reminders of Mary, the Mother of God, in the flowers and herbs growing around them. Violets were symbols of her humility, lilies of her purity and roses of her glory, marigolds were Mary’s Gold, clematis was the Virgin’s Bower, lavender was Our Lady’s Drying Plant, petunias and purple blossoms of the blue flag iris. The Madonna lily, carried by the Angel Gabriel, bedstraw, holy hay and other herbs filled the humble manger where Mary gave birth to Jesus. The Christmas rose bloomed on that holy night.

May crownings were often tradition during Mary’s month of May and makeshift home altars bearing an image of Mary were decorated with home-grown blossoms

More than 30 flowers and herbs have legends about Mary’s life. Many of the plants can be easily grown in your own Mary Garden and can be found throughout the world.

Lily of the Valley Convalleria majalis Mary’s Tears.
It was said that when Mary wept at the foot of the Cross, her tears fell to the ground and turned into the tiny fragrant blossoms of this early spring plant. In England it had the name “Our Lady’s Tears” because when viewed from a distance the white flowerets gave the appearance of teardrops falling. The lily of the valley was a symbol of the Virgin Mary because of its pure white flowers, sweet smell and humble appearance. It symbolized Mary’s Immaculate Conception and represented the purity of body and soul by which Mary found favor with God.

O Mary, we crown thee with blossoms today, Queen of the Heavens, Queen of the May. Make our hearts a garden of prayers for all those we pray for and their families.

John 10:10 Prayer Ministry ~ Today we celebrate our 10th Anniversary!

"I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10

Today we celebrate the 10th Anniversary of this prayer ministry. We honor our Blessed Mother Mary on this first day of her month of May. The ministry is consecrated to Jesus Christ, Wisdom Incarnate, through the hands of Mary.

Saint Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower, Patroness of  the John 10:10 prayer ministry  "Prayer is, for me, an outburst from the heart; it is a simple glance darted upwards to Heaven; it is a cry of gratitude and of love in the midst of trial as in the midst of joy!"

In great gratitude, we give thanks and pray for our beloved priests who have prayed a Prayer of Entrustment to Mary for this prayer ministry at:  The Basilica of Mary Major in Rome, Italy, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary in Fatima, Portugal, Sacred Heart Parish Church at the site of St. Bernadette's Baptismal font in Lourdes, France, the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy at the Shrine of the Holy Innocents in Stockbridge, Massachusetts USA, St. Peter's Basilica at the tomb of St. John Paul II, Vatican City, Rome, Italy and the Basilica of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, Mexico

This ministry began on May 1, 2010 but the prayers actually began in May 2006, praying for an unborn baby, Lily Grace. There were medical problems with the baby and we began praying the novena to Saint Anne that "Lily Grace would have abundant life." Through the intercession of Saint Anne, mother of our Blessed Mother and grandmother of Jesus, Lily Grace was born in November 2006. We give thanks for all the prayers for this precious little baby. She is now a healthy and happy thirteen year old who loves her family and her little sister, ten year old Norah!

Over these past years, as we pray each day, we have received so many other names to include in our prayers through this ministry. We pray for families, for unborn babies and for children who are healthy, sick or disabled. We pray for priests and seminarians whose vocations are nurtured in their families. We pray for pregnant women, couples who are trying to become pregnant, couples who want to adopt, mothers who have had miscarriages. We pray for parents who have suffered the death of a baby or a child. We pray for grandparents and their grandchildren. We pray for mothers and fathers who have had an abortion or considered having one and for those who are wounded by abortion. We pray for parents who are struggling to accept their disabled child, as well as parents who embrace their disabled child and see, in that child, the beauty that was created by God.

We pray for families, for the sanctity of all life and for vocations to marriage, the priesthood and consecrated life, which are born and nurtured in families.

Prayer changes things. We give thanks for the John 10:10 prayer partners who pray the Memorare every day for all the names we have received and all the names we will receive. Our hearts are filled with gratitude to the Lord for the ways He has answered the thousands upon thousands of prayers that have been offered throughout these ten years. Jesus performs miracles, seen and unseen, through all your prayers.

A monthly Mass is offered for all the John 10:10 prayer partners and all the prayer intentions.

SWEET VIDEO
(This video was posted on the first blog posting on May 1, 2010)