SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
JMJ
A special welcome today to Fr. Nduka Uzor who has come from Houston for a mission appeal for his order, the Missionary Society of St. Paul based in Nigeria.
A few weeks ago, Julie Carrick visited our parish to do a two-day mission. It had a Marian flavor, connecting with the July anniversary date of our Lady of Fatima. Julie left a few CDs behind that we could sell through our book store, and I picked up two of them and listened to them in my car while on vacation last week. I have to admit that they were very good. Julie has a very sweet voice and the musical arrangements really seem inspired to me. There was one song on the disc that I particularly enjoyed. As a matter of fact, it was the song she used to audition with us several months ago when she and her husband Kurt passed through our neighborhood. As soon as I heard it, I knew we had to invite her. It’s called From Mother to Mother and I thought I would provide the lyrics for you here. It’s a song by an earthly mother addressed to the mother of Jesus, entrusting her children to the care of her heavenly mother-until that day…when “the battle’s won”. Seeing that so many of our children are so negatively influenced by our culture, with many going astray, even losing their faith, I think this song could serve as a prayer. Here it is:
Mother Mary full of Grace,
would you help me please?
Guide my daughter to the heart of Jesus.
Evil in the world is coaxing her away.
Sins of flesh, of soul, of heart enticing.
Darkness of sin tugs at her soul
And she needs grace.
From mother to Mother
I know you know my heart is true.
From mother to Mother
I place my girls with you.
Knowing you will take them to your Son
Helping me until this work is done
Interceding for us ‘til the battle’s won.
Mama Mary filled with love please direct my son.
Take him deep into the heart of Jesus
Evil in the world is tempting him today
Sins of flesh, of soul, of heart enticing
Darkness of sin tugs at his soul
And he needs grace.
From mother to Mother
I know You know my heart is true.
From mother to Mother
I place my son with You.
Knowing You will take him to your Son
Helping me until this work is done
Interceding for us ‘til the battle’s won.
Interceding for us ‘til the battle’s won.
Addendum:
I was thinking that the previous song would be a good theme song for our new St. Monica Sodality, which is thriving—I guess we should have mixed feelings about that. This new prayer group gathers on the third Monday to pray for children who have left the faith. They invoke the good saint who shed many tears and prayed (successfully) many prayers for her wayward son, Augustine.
Monday is the anniversary of the death of Blessed Fr. Solanus Casey. He died in St. John’s Hospital on the eastside of Detroit in 1957. Tickets are available to go to his beatification Mass which will be at Ford Field on November 18th. We most certainly will get a bus for that day.
Let me offer a gentle reminder to try to get to Mass on time. It’s easy for us to develop bad habits and on some days (and at particular Masses), the late arrivals are reaching scandalous proportions.
OK, while I’m at it, I might also add that, especially during these summer months, people sometimes come to Mass dressed as if they were simply making a stop on the way to the beach. The impression this gives is that the sacrifice of the Mass is simply an afterthought – just one more thing we do on weekends.
Remember, all of this originates with a Commandment (notice, capital “C”!): “Remember to keep Holy the Lord’s Day”. Arriving on time and dressing appropriately seems pretty basic.
Last call, would anybody be interested in making an art/craft project(s) for the Wine Tasting/Auction coming up in October?
Speaking of Fr. Solanus, congratulations to the Fleury family as they welcomed baby Solanus last week. A little bit early, but mom and baby, along with dad, big brother and sisters are all doing well. God bless you. Fr. J
SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
JMJ
I’d like to give you a homework assignment in anticipation of a homily that’s coming up on the weekend of August 5/6.
When I first came here ten years ago, I was approached by a very devout man who wanted to inform me about a devotion that he thought was very important. It was about God the Father, who allegedly appeared to a nun, Sister Eugenia Ravasio, and told her of His desire to have a special feast day in His honor, to be known as “The Father of all Mankind”. He asked that this be on the first Sunday of August. The sister’s claims were examined by theologians assigned to the case by Bishop Calliot of Grenoble, France. The investigation lasted 10 years and was eventually approved by him in the 1930s. In 1988 it was apparently given an imprimatur in Rome and since then, a growing number of priests around the world have indeed chosen to recognize this feastday and speak about the First Person of the Blessed Trinity, God, the Father; and I am one of them, having preached on it on the first Sunday of August for the 10 years that I have been here at Holy Spirit.
Now when I preach, I have always given you the background for this devotion as part of the homily but this time I’m just going to put it right here for you to read beforehand. It will simply save some time and you will be given the appropriate information.
There are many feast days throughout the year for various aspects of life of Jesus. The Annunciation, which commemorates His Incarnation in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Nine months later, of course, is Christmas, His birthday. We also remember His Transfiguration, the triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the celebration of His last supper, His death, and resurrection. Finally, 40 days later, His Ascension to heaven. The Mass is a sacrifice, offered to the Father; but if we should accept this private revelation to Sister Eugenia, then we would have to presume that the Father would be justified in asking for this special day. OK, needless to say, this is not for Him-He’s not the least bit jealous of His Son, or the Holy Spirit—but rather it’s for us. We would certainly benefit from focusing in a particular way on the Godhead, the Father of Jesus, and Our Father. It’s an opportunity to reflect upon His character, His personality, His goodness, and the great mystery of His being. It is certainly a big topic.
So there you have it. Remember, the Church teaches that we are not required to accept or believe “private revelations”. Nevertheless we can assume that they are for our benefit at particular times in Church history, to instruct, admonish, warn, or to encourage us.
I’ve been working on my homily for quite some time now, so I look forward to that first weekend in August when we celebrate our “Abba”.
PS: you can find dissenting opinions about this particular devotion, but then we would be second-guessing the Bishop of Grenoble and the expertise of his theologians and the authority of the Vatican. Even though this particular feast day has not caught on yet, we have to remember that all approved apparitions started out as very unapproved apparitions—Fatima being perhaps the most famous example.
Addenda:
A while back our electric golf cart gave up the ghost. But, thanks to the generosity of some parishioners, we now have two new utility vehicles to haul stuff around. If any of you who are not as mobile as you used to be, these can be used to haul you around, too. If you would like a tour of our new ‘Trinity Trail’, please let us know. We will take you for a ride.
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
JMJ
This past Friday was the feast day of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American saint. A Mohawk/Algonquin Indian. I have a particular interest in her because I know the priest who was the vice-postulator of her cause for sainthood. Monsignor Paul Lenz went to school with my father in Pennsylvania. Many years ago he gave me a relic of Kateri and then, in 2012, I accompanied him, along with many Native Americans from all across the Western Hemisphere, on a pilgrimage to Rome for her canonization. It was a great experience. St. Kateri’s statue was chosen to be on our Trinity Trail because she lived in a natural setting, near Fonda NY, on the banks of the Mohawk River. This was quite early in our country’s history. She is the patron saint of ecology and the environment. The statue in the picture is from her shrine in Fonda, and is very similar to the one we have ordered from Italy. The statue was purchased by Kathy, one of our parishioners, in honor of her husband Ron, who died last year. It will be hand painted by Keith, another parishioner who has a talent for painting and repairing statues. Another Kathi, who volunteers in our front office, has donated several of her bird houses. She’s a collector. I also purchased a beautiful piece of Jade marble that will be used to make an altar, also for the trail.
I continue to think about a retreat house/hermitage for our trail project. There are lots of interesting ideas for small structures that can be seen on YouTube, and I’m currently leaning toward a refurbished cargo container.
But, again my big question: Would you use it? A lot of people from our parish have taken retreats at the St. Francis Retreat Center in Dewitt but when I made the suggestion a few months ago, nobody took me up on it.
And by the way-and I hope this isn’t a little too premature-I have already got a name for it: Elisha House. Remember a few weeks ago, the first reading from Samuel told about the prophet Elisha visiting the elderly woman who not only fed the holy man, but also provided him with a room, a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp. It was essentially a retreat house. A place to get away from the noise of the world, to get spiritually rejuvenated, to rest in the Lord, to read, to pray, to sleep, to meditate, to be silent. You would be in the cathedral of nature! And God often speaks in a “still small voice”.
My thinking at this time is that it would be for single people, possibly married couples, to be in silent isolation for a period of time from a few hours to a few days with no media. (No media!? Ah, but could you handle it?) My hope would be that spouses and families would facilitate their family member’s time away.
Let me leave you with the message from my favorite devotional book, God Calling. For August 6 “Dwell Apart”:
“Rest more with Me. If I, the Son of God, needed those times of quiet communion with My Father, away, alone, from noise, from activity — then surely you need them too. Refilling with the Spirit is a need. That dwelling apart, that shutting yourself away in the very secret place of your being — away alone with Me. From these times you come forth in Power to bless and heal.”
PS: Another beautiful statue has been ordered and that is St. Francis of Assisi who, like St. Kateri, is associated with nature and the environment. Thank you, Theresa, for your generosity.
Addenda:
If anybody hears of a cargotainer for sale, please let me know. And, we do have a wish list for the trail. If anybody would like to contribute to the effort, your assistance would be greatly appreciated.
A few weeks ago our staff said our farewells to Anna our principal, who retired, and Krisztina, our business manager, who resigned to be home with her children. Again, thank you ladies for your great service to the Holy Spirit parish community and all the hard work and dedication you exhibited during your time with us.
As for Krisztina, she is anticipating the birth of her fourth child, a little boy, and I hear his name is going to be Solanus. Blessed Father Solanus Casey’s “feast day” is coming up on the 31st. (Wouldn’t it be neat if…?) His beatification ceremony will be at Ford Field in Detroit this November. I think it would be nice if we made plans to go down for the celebration. Fr. J
“Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger people. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for powers equal to your tasks.” Fr. Solanus
THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
JMJ
The inspiration for these bulletin articles can come from a number of different sources and as a result of some personal encounters as well.
As you might imagine, many people come to me throughout the week with their concerns about life, and my challenge is to offer them some consolation, encouragement, advice, or direction. Sometimes I get my inspiration from other sources that assist me in assisting you. Take for instance just this past week, in my Tuesday Office of Readings, St. Gregory of Nyssa provided a teaching from many years ago that I feel is applicable for us today. It opened with these words: “The life of the Christian has three distinguishing aspects: deeds, words, and thought.” He said that our thoughts come first, can potentially become words, and then can lead to action. OK, pretty basic stuff. But, let me expand a little bit based on some of my weekly experiences.
Our thoughts are either acceptable or not. I once heard a wise old priest say that our thoughts are not our own. Think of the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other, with the conversation going on right between our ears, influencing us in some very subtle ways. We try to discern the nature of the thought as being either good or bad, positive or negative, helpful or hurtful. From there, those thoughts can become words. Our words are typically directed at others, and again, they will have either a positive or a negative effect, depending on our intent (perhaps influenced by pride and/or ego), and even how they are perceived by those who have received our words.
Where I’m going with this is that we have to be on guard with our thoughts so as to control our tongues. The basic advice would be to be gentle with all. As disciples of Jesus, we should follow his modeling in our treatment of others. Therefore, we would want to be gracious and avoid hurting people who are already “the walking wounded”. This requires discipline and a lot of practice. But our conscience will tell us how well we have done in any particular encounter, and so we will try to do better next time. Right?
On the other hand, sometimes we are the recipient of a hurtful word or action. What kind of advice might we give ourselves when this happens? Well the Bible gives us some direction here. The disciple should be “slow to anger and quick to forgive”, being patient with them, remembering that the person who delivered the hurtful words is also a work in progress and may themselves be enduring some particular stress in their lives.
Yet another piece of advice is that the Holy Spirit might actually be at work in any of our encounters. The words we hear from others, as hurtful as they may seem, may ultimately be for our own good. To paraphrase one of the ancient Proverbs, we should consider the rebuke of a wise person as something good for us to hear. We should say, “Thanks, I needed that!” (Oh, being a Christian disciple can be soooo hard.)
So generically speaking, we should constantly strive to be kind and patient and generous and gentle and, and, and… The point being that the Christian walk of discipleship requires our constant reflection and evaluation, with a daily examination of our conscience to see how we might do better next time.
OK, one final footnote here. I’m a-work-in-progress, too. If any of my thoughts, that have become words, or even actions, have offended you in any way, please accept my humble apologies. I’m really trying to do better, every day.
Addenda:
Happy 4th of July weekend. You are invited to conclude your festivities with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at 7pm on Tuesday as we offer thanks for all we enjoy as Americans.
For more information and writings by St. Gregory of Nyssa, see www.voskrese.info/spl/Xgreg-nyssa.html. Fr. J
Posted on:
June 27, 2017
12th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
JMJ
I had a pretty good time last weekend. It was jam-packed with activity. On Saturday I was with our parish council who had a retreat day off in the woods by Domino’s Farms. It’s called “The Tar Paper Shack” and is a rustic gathering spot for either social, spiritual, or business meetings. The designer/builder/owner is Tom Monahan, and he is very generous in sharing it. I returned from the retreat, in time for the Mass and then off to yet another graduation party. At all of the Masses we watched that beautiful video on Eucharistic Adoration. I hope you were all inspired to consider spending some time with the Lord with either a formal commitment to spend an hour in the Chapel, or to at least make more frequent visits. You can always drop by the church to spend some quality time with the Lord.
At the 9am Mass on Sunday, I proposed a spontaneous Corpus Christi procession out to our new church sign on Winans Lake Road. My Intention was to bless it so that it might bear fruit, that is, that people would see it and get curious and maybe even turn into our church to see what we’re all about. Well, as it turned out, no sooner had I spoken those words, than the clouds opened and the rains fell. So we will plan it again for another day sometime soon.
As for the Corpus Christi procession after the 11am Mass, well, as I had told you, it would be something different this year. Pretty much everyone in the congregation processed through the woods on the new “Trinity Trail Prayer Path”. I think all were impressed. It is indeed a work in progress and we will be adding signage, more statues, bird houses, benches, a screened-in gazebo, or who knows, maybe even a retreat house. Yes, I think a little place for the faithful to spend a day, or even an overnight, in quiet, isolated, solitude to pray and meditate would be a great idea. But would you use it? Maybe that is the first question we need to address. I might do a formal survey, but if anybody has any thoughts on the matter, please do not hesitate to share them with me.
Again, thanks to Gary and Joan Otten and their helpers for the very hard work in accomplishing this project. ~Fr. John
Addenda:
There has been some talk about the return of the Wine Tasting Event in the fall. Jeff Reseigh has again agreed to host it. This would be a fundraiser for the school, and would include an auction. I would like to extend an invitation to all of you crafty types to consider making something to be auctioned off. I have been doing a little woodworking lately and so hope to have a few things ready for an as-of-yet undetermined date in October.
Now, about that retreat house. I’ve got my eye on a spot out in the woods and I think it’s perfect. I am sitting there, in a lawn chair, as I write these words very early last Tuesday morning. It’s shady, cool, quiet, and peaceful. There are squirrels and chipmunks, chirping birds and gentle breezes. No bugs.
And my Morning Prayer started with these words from the daily hymn:
“The beauty of the rising sun
Begins to tint the world with light,
Awakened nature glows with life
As form and color reappear.”
CORPUS CHRISTI
JMJ
It’s Corpus Christi Sunday and today we celebrate the great gift of God’s Real Presence among us; body, blood soul and divinity, within the consecrated bread and wine.
For those of you who were not at the 11:00 Mass, and thus did not participate in the procession, the new route that I told you about was through the woods. Last week’s bulletin told you about our new project, the prayer path that was recently cut through the woods. I thought this would be a great opportunity to both consecrate the prayer path as well as introduce it to at least one Mass, the 11 o’clock crowd. The rest of you are invited to join us or to at least be advised of its existence so that you might enjoy it from time to time as well. I’m sure it will be an ongoing work in progress. In any case, thanks to Gary and Joan and their many helpers and getting it ready for today. This is truly a remarkable accomplishment and it should be put to good use.
This Friday is the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. We will have a special Mass at 7:00 in the evening (remember, the morning mass is canceled). A major part of this event will be The Enthronement of the Sacred Heart in our parish. This is a formal process that was suggested by an apostolate that is headquartered in Warren, The Men of the Sacred Heart. They visit parishes far and wide to assist in this process, and it includes women, too. One of the things that they would like to do is to encourage individuals, and couples, in local parishes to assist them in doing Home Enthronements. Very simply, this is a formalized family activity whereby the household declares Jesus as the Lord and King of their home and of their lives. All of this has its origins in the promises Jesus made to us through St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a religious sister in France in the 1600s. And the enthronement comes from Chili in South America back in the early 20th century.
The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart is typically celebrated on the Friday, nineteen days after Pentecost, making it a movable feast. It is usually followed by the Memorial of The Immaculate Heart of Mary on the next day. This year, however, the Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist, which is always celebrated on June 24th, falls on that day and is celebrated instead because Solemnities always trump Memorials. In any case, in addition to the Enthronement, we will also consecrate our Parish to the Blessed Mother. It would seem appropriate in this year of Fatima.
I’m sure all of this will entitle us to many more graces that we can add to all those that we have already received here at Holy Spirit. We are indeed truly blessed to enjoy such a wonderful parish with so many dedicated, loving, and generous disciples. May God continue to bless us, one and all. ~Fr. John
Addenda:
And God has blessed us with a very dedicated parish council. Many of you have served over the years in this august body. The current council went on a retreat this weekend at the Tar Paper Shack, an isolated retreat center not far from Domino’s Farms.
We are looking forward to The Fatima anniversary in July when Juilie Carrick from Arizona, formerly of Michigan, will be bringing her musical presentation to us. Please circle your calendar for July 13-14 to be a part of that special event honoring our Blessed Mother.
A collective thank you to all who sent me cards and gifts on the occasion of my birthday in May and the anniversary of my ordination in June.
Parishioner Mike Paul has put together a beautiful video of our Church grounds taken with his drone. Please check it out at https://goo.gl/cqJKsd.
Don’t forget to check the bulletin board in the Activity Center for some area events and faith-filled pilgrimages, including one to the Holy Land in October 2018 with Fr. Louis Ekka.
Lastly, please excuse an editing error in last week’s cover article about Fr. Charlie. He served at Holy Spirit from 1979-1987. Fr. J
PENTECOST SUNDAY
JMJ
I attended Fr. Charlie’s anniversary party last Sunday and was very moved by all of the words that were spoken not only by him, but for him, and also for Fr. Jim Swiat and the late Fr. Larry Delaney, who were all ordained by John Cardinal Dearden 50 years ago. While I was there I saw Beth Nofs, a founding member of our parish, and was inspired for her to be the guest columnist. Fr. John
Pentecost, 2017 by Elizabeth Nofs
Today three priests were honored for 50 years of service. They were ordained on June 3, 1967 at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Detroit and began the adventure of their lives. Fr. John approached me at the ordination celebration and asked me to write about Holy Spirit Church’s founding pastor, Fr. Charles Irvin, who served from 1987-97.
I met Fr. Charlie in 1972 at St. Mary’s Student Chapel when I went to U of M. He brought me into the Church, witnessed our marriage, and gave my children First Communion. As one of the Holy Spirit “originals” this is my perspective of our history.
Starting from Scratch: Fr. Charlie came to Green Oak Township to create a “People’s Parish.” It did not have a name or even a place. He held services at the VFW Hall, the American Legion Hall, the Fitzgerald’s farm down Musch Rd, and the Lutheran churches. He stressed that the community center should be built first, even before the church. In those early Masses, celebrated in Hamburg, we built our community.
You Be The Church! Bishop Kenneth Povish and Fr. Charlie broke ground on 37 acres. Holy Spirit had three offices, two bathrooms, a big Parish Hall, and four hundred yellow chairs. The chairs were arranged for Mass, then stacked and set up for liturgy worship. Saturday night, they were set up for Mass again. We had an active youth ministry, choir, liturgy worship and parish council. I think we were thinner back then because we had to move the chairs.
Fr. Charlie insisted that the Church was us, the body of Christ. He commissioned and empowered us to go and serve the Lord. If you asked to use the phone in the kitchen or move the chairs he said, “Go Ahead. It’s your church!”
The First Festival: The Festival had one tent for the men: Cars, Silent Auction. One tent for the Women: Hello, Women’s Guild! and the Beer Tent. The Festival was how we raised 30% of our annual budget.
It rained and rained and rained during the first Festival. Fr. Charlie said it was, “Biblical!” The tractor that pulled the hay wagon hauled quite a few cars out of the mud Friday, Saturday and even Sunday morning as parishioners arrived for sunrise Mass in the beer tent. More rain. The tents leaked. Just at the time that Fr. Charlie raised the Host, the sun came out. Everyone cheered. We took that as a sign.
The Holy Ghost: Fr. Charlie taught us how to live together as a family. He would pull the white robe over his head, swoop down on kids in the hall, saying “It’s the Holy Ghost!”
In Times of Trouble: In 1986 a teenager in our parish, Sean Moore, was abducted. The press descended upon Holy Spirit, but father did not allow the TV cameras and the crowds to control the story. Instead, he led everyone in prayer. When the boy was found murdered, he helped us to live through the tragedy. The healing continues. Fr. John said Mass in memory of Sean Moore last year.
Unconditional Love: It was in the Sacrament of Confession that Fr. Charlie taught us about ourselves and our relationship with God. The burden of sin was lifted and we became whole, wholesome and Holy again: Free of the pain, filled with love.
Glory to God in Cyberspace: In the early days of the Internet, 1995, Fr. Charlie sent out weekly emails, “Monday Morning Alka-Seltzer,” to help us keep on track. The little missives were signed: Gloria in Excelsis Deo et in Cyberspace! In 1999, he became the founding editor of FAITH Magazine, a new way of evangelizing that focused on real people living their lives in Christ. Today, FAITH Magazine, and the companion website, is the largest Catholic diocesan publisher. The total annual combined circulation of all FAITH client titles now tops 1.7 million. One in five Americans receiving a diocesan publication receives a magazine from FAITH Catholic.
Praying the Lord’s Prayer in our Day: Fr. Charlie published a book in 2005, “Entering the Heart of God”, which is a series of mediations on the Lord’s Prayer. It is not an easy book to read because it challenges us to reflect on each word. An example from his book: “Behind each of the words and phrases in the Lord’s Prayer lies a rich array of concepts. Take the first word, for instance. Have we spent much time meditating on the word Our? Most of us probably have not. But we should. Jesus selected every word deliberately. Perhaps we should spend some equally deliberate time meditating on His choice and why He placed it as the first word of the prayer He taught His disciples.”
A Personal Note: My Own My Sheep Know My Voice (John 10:27): My life was changed forever after I attended my first Mass, Palm Sunday, and shouted, “Crucify Him!” I had to know more. The St. Mary Student Chapel was the closest Catholic Church so I walked across campus from Martha Cook dorm to study with Fr. Charlie Irvin.
Slow Learner (Proverbs 3:12): But I was a slow learner and may be the only one who ever flunked RCIA. I went back and studied for another year. I listened to him teach for hours. He was a lawyer who became a priest.There was much to learn! 1975 was my grand slam year: confirmation, graduation, and wedding.
What Return Can I make to the Lord? (Psalm 116): I cannot imagine living without Christ-it wouldn’t make sense. I am glad that I went back for RCIA a second time and learned with Fr. Charlie Irvin. The sacraments have been present every day in forty years of raising a family. Thank you is a small word in exchange for the gifts that I received from becoming Catholic. The best I can say is: I love you, Fr. Charlie.
Addenda:
We have begun the process of planning for a new parish directory. Ellen Skolnik is our coordinator. She has several helpers. Phil of Universal Church Directories is the company rep. Anticipate signing up soon for photos beginning in early August(2-5). We’ve decided on a dual-edition format meaning we will have a parish family portrait album and a ministry/activity album. Fr. J
PENTECOST
JMJ
Happy Birthday Universal Catholic Church and happy patronal feast day to us, at the church named after the Holy Spirit.
I’m going to do something a little bit different today for this space…I thought I would defer to a much wiser and holier person than myself to share some thoughts on the third person of the Trinity. It is from Saint Basil, Bishop, and is his treatise on the Holy Spirit. It was a part of last Tuesday’s Office of Readings. OK, maybe a little bit technical, but please read it to the very end.
“The titles given to the Holy Spirit must surely stir the soul of anyone who hears them, and make him realize that they speak of nothing less than the Supreme Being. Is He not called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father, the Steadfast Spirit, the Guiding Spirit? But his principal and most personal title is The Holy Spirit.
To the Spirit all creatures turn in their need for sanctification; all living things seek him according to their ability. His breath empowers each to achieve its own natural end.
The Spirit is the source of holiness, a spiritual light, and he offers his own light to every mind to help it in its search for truth. By nature the Spirit is beyond the reach of our mind, but we can know him by his goodness. The power of the Spirit fills the whole universe, but he gives himself only to those who are worthy, acting in each according to the measure of his faith.
Simple in himself, the Spirit is manifold in his mighty works. The whole of his being is present to each individual; the whole of his being is present everywhere. Though shared in by many, he remains unchanged; his self-giving is no loss to himself. Like the sunshine, which permeates all the atmosphere, spreading over land and sea, and yet is enjoyed by each person as though it were for him alone, so the Spirit pours forth his grace in full measure, sufficient for all, and yet is present as though exclusively to everyone who can receive him. To all creatures that share in him he gives a delight limited only by their own nature, not by his ability to give.
The Spirit raises our hearts to heaven, guides the steps of the weak, and brings to perfection those who are making progress. He enlightens those who have been cleansed from every stain of sin and makes them spiritual by communion with himself. As clear, transparent substances become very bright when sunlight falls on them and shine with a new radiance, so also souls in whom the Spirit dwells, and who are enlightened by the Spirit, become spiritual themselves and a source of grace for others.
From the Spirit comes foreknowledge of the future, understanding of the mysteries of faith, insight into the hidden meaning of Scripture, and other special gifts. Through the Spirit we become citizens of heaven, we enter into eternal happiness, and abide in God. Through the Spirit we acquire a likeness to God; indeed, we attain what is beyond our most sublime aspirations—we become God.”
Addenda:
Part of our celebration today should be remembering our founding pastor, Fr. Charlie, as he celebrates the 50th Anniversary of his ordination into the priesthood. I hope to be able to join him at the Open House this Sunday afternoon in DeWitt. All are invited.
I also had a chance to talk with Cesar Helou of The Men of the Sacred Heart. Got some information on how to do an Enthronement of our parish and of individual homes. More to come in this month of the Sacred Heart.
We had a great Memorial Day celebration at the Serenity Court this past Monday. Blessed with great weather and a good crowd.
Fr. J
Posted on:
June 2, 2017
