SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST

CORPUS CHRISTI THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST

BACKGROUND

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ is also known as the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, which translates from Latin to “Body of Christ.” This feast originated in France in the mid-thirteenth century. and was extended to the whole Church by Pope Urban IV in 1264 as a universal feast of the Church, to be celebrated on the Thursday following Trinity Sunday. Today in the United States the feast is celebrated on following Sunday.

The Eucharist is foretold in many ways in Scripture. In the Old Testament it is the chosen people fed in the desert with manna from heaven. “Remember how for these forty years the LORD, your God, has directed all your journeying in the wilderness, so as to test you by affliction, to know what was in your heart…: He therefore let you be afflicted with hunger, and then fed you with manna a food unknown to you and your ancestors, so you might know that it is not by bread alone that people live, but by all that comes forth from the mouth of the LORD” Deuteronomy 8:2-3

In the New Testament we have two miracles of multiplication of loaves and fishes to physically feed the people and the announcement of Jesus to the Samaritan woman at the well that He is the living water that gives life. In John’s Gospel, chapter 6, we have the Bread of Life discourse.

BREAD OF LIFE DISCOURSE

It was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.

For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world…..

I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him” JOHN 6:31-34, 48

The Eucharist is one of seven Sacraments. “The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions.

At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again…to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection…a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, and a bond of charity.

COMMENTARY

A new Pew Research survey finds that most self-described Catholics don’t believe in the Real Presence in the Eucharist. In fact, seven-in-ten Catholics (70%) say they personally believe that during Catholic Mass, the bread and wine used in Communion “are symbols of the body and blood of Jesus Christ.” Just one-third of U.S. Catholics (30%) say they believe that “during Catholic Mass, the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Jesus.” What a shame, so many missing Jesus’ own words. In Jesus we trust!

The Priest, acting in the Person of Christ, and speaking Christ’s words at the consecration, transmits Christ’s words to make His presence real in the Eucharist. We call this transubstantiation. Transubstantiation does no violence to the appearances of the bread and wine, but on the deepest level of their reality, they have been changed, becoming the Body and Blood of Christ.

The incarnate Logos (Word of God), Christ, is the fullest revelation of God that we can possess on earth. The Eucharist is the sacramental extension of the Incarnation. “Abide in me, and I in you” John 15:4. . . . I am the vine, you are the branches.” John 15:5 “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” John 6:54

Inasmuch as we participate in the Eucharist, we participate in Christ’s sacrifice. This communion with Christ in His sacrifice enables us to share communion with one another. This communion is the foundation and condition for the unity of the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ.

CONCLUSION

Just as we need to nourish our physical bodies in order to have strength to work and to live well, so too we need to nourish our souls to have spiritual strength, the ability to learn and understand the ways of the Lord, and work for the building up of the Kingdom, to live well spiritually now and for eternity. Nourished by this heavenly food we carry on the work of Christ and His Church.

“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. John 6:56 Jesus gave himself for you on Calvary and gives himself for you again in Holy Communion. It is the one sacrifice on Calvary extended through time to us at Mass. Some misunderstand and think Catholics say Jesus is sacrificed again during every Mass. No, it is the one sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary which is extended through time to us in every Mass

Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the new covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:26-28

JESUS INSTITUTES THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST AT THE LAST SUPPER

When we receive the Eucharist in Holy Communion, the Priest says, “the Body of Christ” and we say “Amen.”

Our “Amen” means we recognize and acknowledge the real presence, body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ, and by mystery we are part of that Mystical Body of Christ.

When we consume the Eucharist it is not us changing Jesus but Jesus changing us by sharing His divinity with us!

Though ascending into heaven after His resurrection, Jesus wanted us to have the memorial of the love with which he loved us “to the end,” even to the giving of his life. In his Eucharistic presence he remains mysteriously in our midst as the one who loved us and gave himself up for us

The Church and the world have a great need for Eucharistic worship. Jesus awaits us in this sacrament of love. Let us not refuse the time to go to meet him in adoration, in contemplation full of faith, and open to making amends for the serious offenses and crimes of the world. Let our adoration never cease!

THIS IS THE BREAD COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN

TAKE AND RECEIVE, THIS IS MY BODY

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

My Jesus,
I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.

Amen.

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES

CATHOLIC FEAST DAYS, MARY MOTHER OF GOD

I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

PROLOGUE

Today, February 11, we celebrate another Marian Feast Day, Our Lady of Lourdes. In 1858, Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous. 14 years old, in Lourdes, France. Bernadette was doing her family chore of collecting fire wood near a cave.

Near the opening of the grotto, Bernadette glanced and noticed the cave was suddenly filled with golden light. Lifting up her eyes, she saw a lady of great beauty, dressed in a pure white robe with a blue sash, a veil over her head, a rosary clasped in her hands and yellow roses at her feet. Bernadette rubbed her eyes. What a beautiful lady! But where did she come from? And what was she doing here? The Lady looked at Bernadette and immediately smiled and signaled her to advance, in a way that a mother motions her child to come near.

Bernadette took out her rosary and knelt before the Lady, who also had a rosary on her right arm. As Bernadette prayed the rosary, the Lady passed the beads of her rosary between her fingers. When the recitation of the rosary was finished, the Lady returned to the interior of the rock and the golden cloud disappeared with her.

BERNADETTE SOUBIROUS

Our Blessed Mother appeared eighteen times to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. Her messages to Bernadette are ageless and apply to all of us today…. A call to conversion, praying for sinners, acts of reparations for our sins and the sins of others. Penance, Penance, Penance, pray, pray, pray for sinners

The third time Bernadette went to the grotto, the lady spoke to her. The beautiful lady asked Bernadette to come here every day for fifteen days. The Lady instructed Bernadette to scrape the mud of the Grotto until a stream appeared. She said that she wanted Bernadette to tell the priests to build a chapel here.

Pretty amazing that only four years after Pius IX (1854) declared the Immaculate Conception of Mary a dogma of the Church, Mary herself confirmed the dogma to Bernadette at Lourdes. The Immaculate Conception means that Mary, whose conception was brought about the normal way, was conceived without original sin.

From the first instant of her existence Mary was in the state of sanctifying grace and free from the corrupt nature original sin brings. Mary was redeemed by the grace of Christ, but in a special way—by anticipation. Mary received grace merited by her Son’s death and resurrection applied to her before she was able to become mired in original sin and its stain.

Mary is our model of faith and commitment. The Blessed Virgin Mary is also our greatest intercessor with God. At Cana, the Queen Mother asked her Son, Jesus, the King of Kings, to perform His first public miracle. Who can say no to their Mother? Go to Mary, ask her to intercede with her Son, but be patient, God is in a different time zone (eternity)

EPILOGUE

Bernadette, at the age of 22, entered the convent of the Sisters of Notre Dame in Nevers, France, serving our Lord with dignity, grace, and love, praying for the conversion of sinners and to the service of God. She passed away from tuberculosis on April 16, 1879 at 34 years of age and was canonized as a saint in 1933.

To this day her body remains incorruptible (that is to say, it shows no signs of decomposition or decay), another sign of the miracles associated with her. The sacred relic (Bernadette’s body) was placed in a coffin of gold and glass and can be viewed to this very day in the Chapel of Saint Bernadette at the motherhouse in Nevers, France.

Lourdes has become a place of pilgrimage and healing, but even more of faith. Church authorities have recognized over 60 miraculous cures, although there have probably been many more. To people of faith this is a continuation of Jesus’ healing miracles—now performed at the intercession of his mother. Lourdes water is brought home by pilgrims and shared with thousands in need. Would you believe this spring still provides 27,000 gallons of water every day!

Many of the sick and afflicted who go to Lourdes and are not healed but leave there stronger spiritually. They know that their various ailments still have a redemptive character, much like our Lord’s did at Calvary in His Passion and, as long as they do not lose faith in Him, their sufferings will not be in vain!

MARIAN PRAYER

MEMORARE

REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary,

that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection,

implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided.

Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee,

O Virgin of virgins, my Mother;

to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.

O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions,

but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

OUR LADY OF LOURDES I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

MARY MOTHER OF GOD

INTRODUCTION

Tomorrow, February 11, we celebrate another Marian Feast Day, Our Lady of Lourdes. It is ironic that only four years after the dogma of the Immaculate Conception was proclaimed by Pope Pius IX, 1854, Mary appeared to a young woman of Lourdes and confirmed she is, “I am the Immaculate Conception”

I suppose the unique message of Lourdes is the heavenly confirmation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. Other messages are consistent with other Marian apparitions. A call to conversion, praying for sinners, and acts of reparations for our sins and the sins of others. Mary tells Bernadette the important thing is to be happy in the life to come by attaching ourselves to the crucified Jesus and His cross. Mary over and over again stresses prayer, especially the rosary. Today, Lourdes, is a favorite shrine of Christian pilgrims for its miracles of healing. Lourdes water is brought home by pilgrims and shared with thousands in need.

The Immaculate Conception means that Mary, whose conception was brought about the normal way, was conceived without original sin. From the first instant of her existence she was in the state of sanctifying grace and was free from the corrupt nature original sin brings.

She was redeemed by the grace of Christ, but in a special way—by anticipation. Mary received grace merited by her Son’s death and resurrection applied to her before she was able to become mired in original sin and its stain. Mary is totally inhabited by God. She is our model of faith and commitment. Turn to Mary and ask she help you to always say Yes to Jesus!

(SEE MY POST IN CATEGORY OF MARY FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION)

I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION LOURDES 1858

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

APPARITIONS OF MARY AT LOURDES 1858

In Lourdes, France, on January 7, 1844, a baby girl named Bernadette was born to Francois and Louise Soubirous. Bernadette’s family was very poor, and Bernadette was responsible for looking after and caring for her brothers and sisters. Bernadette suffered many illnesses including asthma which prevented her from attending school and was schooled at home.

The only education Bernadette received was the Catholic teachings which she studied faithfully in the evenings. At the age of 13, Bernadette was preparing for her First Holy Communion. One of Bernadette’s chores was to collect wood for the fire.

On a cold day in February 1858, Bernadette and 2 companions headed off to the Gave River to collect pieces of wood. Near the river outside a grotto/cave, Bernadette heard a great noise like the sound of a storm, but nothing was moving. She turned her head towards the Grotto of Massabieille and saw in the opening of the rock a rosebush, one only, moving as if it were very windy. Bernadette looked up towards the grotto and the caves on the riverbank. Near the opening of the grotto, Bernadette glanced and noticed the cave was suddenly filled with golden light.

Lifting up her eyes, she saw a lady of great beauty, dressed in a pure white robe with a blue sash, a veil over her head, a rosary clasped in her hands and yellow roses at her feet. Bernadette rubbed her eyes. What a beautiful lady! But where did she come from? And what was she doing here? She looked at Bernadette and immediately smiled and signaled her to advance, in a way that a mother motions her child to come near.

In the beginning the Lady spoke no words to Bernadette. Our Blessed Mother appeared eighteen times to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. Her messages to Bernadette are ageless and apply to all of us today.

BERNADETTE SOUBIROUS

The third time Bernadette went to the grotto, the lady spoke to her. The beautiful lady asked Bernadette to come here every day for fifteen days. In Bernadette’s day, the Grotto was a dirty, hidden, damp and cold place. The Grotto was literally called the “pig–sty” because that was where pigs feeding in the area took shelter.

The Lady instructed Bernadette to scrape the mud until a stream appeared. She said that she wanted Bernadette to tell the priests to build a chapel there. She told her to drink water from the stream. The lady also told Bernadette to pray for the conversion of sinners,“Penance, Penance, Penance, pray, pray, pray for sinners.”.

Bernadette’s parish priest asked her to ask the Lady’s name. On March 25, 1858, the day of the sixteenth Apparition, Bernadette went to the Grotto, and asked the Lady for her name. Three times Bernadette asked the question. On the fourth request, the Lady responds in dialect of the area, ‘Que soy era Immaculada Councepciou’ (I am the Immaculate Conception). Bernadette does not understand the meaning of these words but the parish priest does. He understands that it is the Mother of God who has appeared at the Grotto of Massabielle.

On March 25, the Lady finally told Bernadette that she was Mary, the mother of Jesus, and that her purpose in appearing to Bernadette was to warn her to pray and make sacrifices for sinners. Bernadette’s daily visits to the grotto caused quite a stir in the countryside. Crowds of people began to gather. They watched Bernadette scrape away soil beside the grotto until a spring of water started to trickle out. Would you believe this spring still provides 27,000 gallons of water everyday!

At first, the priests, the town’s folk, and the families doubted Bernadette’s visions and the purpose in her activities. But Bernadette was stubborn and determined to follow Mary’s plans for her. Eventually everyone did believe Bernadette and the grotto at Lourdes became a place of worship and the Lourdes holy water was sacred for performing miracles.

CHURCH SHRINE AT LOURDES

EPILOGUE BERNADETTE POST APPARITIONS

At the age of 22, Bernadette joined the order of the Sisters of Charity, devoted her life to Mary, to praying for the conversion of sinners and to the service of God. Throughout her life she remained sickly, but attended patiently to her duties as infirmarian and sacristan. She died a holy death on April 16, 1879.at 34 years old.

Bernadette was buried on the convent grounds. Her body was exhumed thirty years later on September 22, 1909, in the presence of two doctors, several appointed officials, and nuns from the local convent. When Bernadette’s coffin was opened, there was no odor, and her body was completely untouched by the laws of nature. The sacred relic (Bernadette’s body) was placed in a coffin of gold and glass and can be viewed to this very day in the Chapel of Saint Bernadette at the motherhouse in Nevers, France.

BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, MODEL OF FAITH AND OBEDIENCE

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING, MARY MOTHER OF GOD

October is one of two months of the year particularly dedicated by the Church to honor Mary. It is the month of the Holy Rosary and also includes the last apparition at Fatima, the miracle of the Sun, October 13. It is good to ponder Mary’s role in Salvation History.

For our Protestant brethren, let me say right up front that the Catholic Church does not worship Mary or make her an idol. We honor her as the Mother of God, Jesus. It is Mary’s flesh that Jesus took on to share in our humanity. All covenants failed until the New Covenant of Jesus. Man could not save himself under the law. Constantly man was breaking the law of the Covenant. It took a human and Divine human being to atone for our sins.

Mary did not just drop from the sky. Her part in the salvation story had been predicted in the Old Testament book of Genesis, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, ,and between your offspring and hers; They will strike at your head, while you strike at their heel.^”

Genesis 3:15.

In the Prophet Isaiah, a sign of the awaited Messiah is given, “The Lord himself will give you a sign, the young woman, pregnant and about to bear a son…” Isaiah 7:14. Even the place is predicted in Micah, “But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathaha least among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel” Micah 5:2

Mary is foreshadowed in the person of Eve. Both are mothers of all the living, yet in different ways. Eve is the mother of all those living with natural life, while Mary is the mother of all those living with supernatural life,

Without Mary, no Jesus, without Jesus, no salvation. Some will say I don’t need Mary, I pray directly to Jesus. Fine, but don’t we need all the help we can get. Why not ask His mother to intercede on our behalf too. After all Jesus performed His first miracle at His Mother’s request although His time had not come yet.

When we are having upcoming surgery we don’t just ask one friend to pray for us but we ask for all the prayers we can get. Praying to Mary can’t hurt anything but can only help.

Mary is the model of faith and obedience. At the Annunciation, Mary’s fiat, “let it be done to me according to your word…,” Luke 1:38 demonstrates her complete obedience to God and to His will for her. Church Father, St. Irenaeus, says, Mary “being obedient, became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race.”

.The knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by Mary’s obedience: what the virgin Eve bound through her disbelief, Mary loosened by her faith. Our obedience of faith must be given to God as He reveals Himself, to us. It involves a complete submission of one’s self to God’s will.

We must have a humble faith, which means that we recognize it as an unmerited gift from God. Recall when Mary’s cousin Elizabeth greeted Mary as singular blessedness, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”

Mary immediately turned the attention away from herself to magnify the Lord. Mary’s hymn of praise, known as the Magnificat, is a shining example of the humble being exalted.

Mary’s perfect humility constantly leads her to point to her divine Son. “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness… Luke 1:46.

We, too, who have been baptized into eternal life must magnify the Lord through our very lives. Like Mary, our “humble faith” must lead us to bear witness to the great things God has done for us. We must proclaim Christ at every opportunity in a way that invites others to “come and see.”

In Luke 1:29 and Luke 2:19, Mary is pictured as a woman of faith who pondered all things, Jesus, in her heart. Mary’s “recollected faith” teaches us the importance of listening to God’s word, pondering the truths of our faith, and praying daily that our faith be preserved and strengthened.

Faith is a gift that is received or revived at any given moment in history. Faith is also a virtue. Like a muscle, it will go flabby if it’s not exercised but it will also grow stronger if we actively strive to grow in holiness.

Mary advanced in her pilgrimage of faith, from the Annunciation to Calvary, then to Pentecost. Mary never ceased to “wonder” in awe all that faith had revealed to her. Are we still awestruck in our faith at all that God has done for us or have we become indifferent and lukewarm? Mary, now assumed into heaven, is no longer on a pilgrimage herself, but continues to be a beacon of light for those of us still on the journey home.

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COME HOLY SPIRIT

CATHOLIC FEAST DAYS

HAPPY PENTECOST SUNDAY

INTRODUCTION
Today is a special day to pay honor to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Most Holy Trinity. But the Holy Spirit must not be forgotten the other 364 days of the year. The Holy Spirit is a constant in our call to repentance and conversion.

The Holy Spirit is that special advocate that Jesus promised us before His Ascension into Heaven.. Jesus would not leave us orphans and indeed, He didn’t. The Holy Spirit daily inspires, encourages, and enlightens us in our way “home” to the Father. If you had a good thought, thank the Holy Spirit. If you did a good deed, thank the Holy Spirit. If you made a good decision, thank the Holy Spirit.

COMMENTARY

The Trinity is one. We do not profess three Gods, JUST ONE! We profess One True God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three persons in One God. The three persons are one in nature.

Jesus is the Word made Flesh, the same substance as the Father. The Holy Spirit is the Lord and giver of Life proceeding from the Father and the Son, the same substance as the Father.
(Council of Nicea 325 and Constantinople 381)

The Father loves the Son. The Son loves the Father. The Spirit is the love between the Father and the Son. The Trinity is a model of communal love. From all eternity, without beginning there is One God in three Divine Persons. It is a mystery of our Faith that we can never fully comprehend or exhaust but we are able to speak about it.

“If a man loves me, says the Lord, he will keep my word and my Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”(John 17:21-23) “Everyone who glorifies the Father does so through the Son, in the Holy Spirit. Everyone who follows Christ does so because the Father draws him and the Spirit moves him.” (John 6:44)

OLD TESTAMENT
The term Spirit comes from the Hebrew word, ruach, meaning breath or air. In the First Creation Story in Genesis 1:2 “the Spirit of God was moving over the face of deep waters,” bringing order out of chaos. In the Second Creation Story, Genesis 2:7, “The Lord God formed man from the dust of the land and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living being.”

The Blessed Trinity is not complete without the Holy Spirit whom we adore and glorify with the Father and the Son. “Glory be to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be forever.”

When we speak of the Father as Creator, we do not mean to say the Son and the Spirit had nothing to do with creation. The same can be said about the Father and the Spirit in regard redemption. The same can be said about the Father and the Son in regards sanctification. No person of the Blessed Trinity is ever absent in a divine action. The source of all divine actions in the world is one Divine Nature.

In addition to the Creation stories we find other references in the Old Testament to the Holy Spirit. In Exodus 13:15, God dried up the waters by sending a dry wind, once the waters were parted the Israelites escaped the Egyptians on dry land.

The Spirit inspired Joseph’s dreams in Egypt (Genesis 37). The Spirit inspired the great prophets, Ezekiel, (Chapter 20) Jeremiah (Chapter 31), and Isaiah (Chapter 61) that the Spirit would renew and restore the chosen people if only they would repent and turn back to God.

NEW TESTAMENT

In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary and the Word became flesh. “The Holy Spirit shall come upon you and therefore the Holy Being, Who shall be born of you, shall be called the Son of God.” (Lk. 1:35)

The Holy Spirit is poured out in fullness in Baptism – virtues given freely to all believers to sustain moral life of the Christian – that means you get them all ! The gifts of the Holy Spirit are freely given so we will fulfill the God-given purpose of our lives. In the sacrament of Confirmation we individually confirm our acceptance of these gifts, but often they are not “stirred up” into activity until we are “baptized in the Holy Spirit”.

GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Wisdom – an understanding in our inner being that helps us develop the ability to make judgments about everything in our lives on the basis of a deep, personal union with the Lord and his abiding love.

Understanding – enlightenment of our minds and hearts with divine truth so that we can grasp the mysteries of the Lord. Signs of this gift are new insight into the Scriptures, increased depth in prayer, and renewed appreciation of the sacraments.

Counsel (Right Judgment) – the ability to receive and/or give good advice. It empowers us to make decisions in the Spirit in practical life situations. The Holy Spirit helps us discern good from evil, right from wrong.

Fortitude (Courage / Strength / Zeal) – enables us to face with strength the trials and dangers we encounter in our Christian life. It empowers us to choose consistently the right way to live in spite of disappointments and difficulties. It helps us resist the temptations of the world: money, power, and self-centeredness.

Knowledge – is having a deep trust and sureness about the Lord and knowing the truths of Christian revelation. This gift of tthe Holy Spirit produces in us a deep trust and sureness about the Lord. We grow in the gift of knowledge through daily study of the scriptures and the teachings of the Church.

Piety (Love) – Piety leads us to a true image of our Father as merciful, faithful, abounding in steadfast love, slow to anger – but also firm and just. We grow in piety through the practice of justice, attitudes of cooperation with authority, truthfulness, friendliness, and humility.

Fear of the Lord – an attitude of reverence and awe in the presence of God. It is not to be confused with the emotion of fear. This gift enables us to reverence all life as a reflection of God’s life. We grow in reverence by praying to God often, by being thankful for God’s gifts, and by respecting God’s name.

REFLECTION

1. How much time do I give to attending to my inner life?
2. Do I ever ask the Holy Spirit for assistance? What prayers do I use to stay in touch with the Holy Spirit?
3. How can my relationship to the Spirit assist me to overcome tendencies in pride, anger, lust, greed, envy,
excess, and laziness?
4, How am I using the traditional gifts of the spirit ?

PRAYER
Come Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life. Spirit of Wisdom inspire us to be courageous witnesses to the Truth. Come Holy Spirit dwell in us that we may dwell in Thee. Come Holy Spirit,, we adore you the same way we adore God the Father and God the Son. Praise and glory be yours, now and forever. In Jesus’ name, we pray.

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