THE SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD.
"Jesus said to his disciples:
“Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things.
And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you;
but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.
"Then he led them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them.
As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven.
They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God." (Luke 24: 46 - 53).
Sunday 1st June 2025, in the 7th Week in Easter is the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. The Feast of the Ascension is celebrated on the Thursday of the 6th Week of Easter or on the 7th Sunday of Easter depending on the Diocese in the United States.
Jesus is taken up into heaven in full view of His disciples.
During the forty days after His Resurrection, Jesus continued teaching, encouraging and comforting His disciples. Now the time of Departure has come. He instructed them to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Gift of the Father. He then turned the work of building the Kingdom of God on earth to them with the Great Commission:
“Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature." ( Mark 16: 15).
Pope St Leo the Great, in his catechesis on the Ascension, teaches that it is the will of God that after the Ascension, the disciples of Jesus will now recognize and encounter Him through the Holy Sacraments. In the Sacraments, Jesus remains for us in a visible sacramental form.
Every epoch and people respond to the Great Commission with the peculiar gifts and infrastructure provided by God. But the universal and perennial Gift of God is the Holy Spirit. Without the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit we cannot evangelize. Nobody can undertake the onerous missionary work of evangelization without the Holy Spirit.
Two powerful and different examples of evangelization are:
#1. St Therese of the Chlld Jesus (1873 - 1897). She became the Patroness of Missionaries without stepping out of her Carmelite Convent. She offered her prayers and sufferings to support the missionary endeavors of the Church. She gave the world a spirituality of "little ways." One can be very effective in the spiritual life by doing "little things." She is a Doctor of the Church.
#2. St Teresa of Kolkata (1910 - 1997). Her missionary endeavors all over the world earned her a Noble Peace price and more importantly sainthood.
"TO THE EXTENT THAT EACH CHRISTIAN GROWS IN HOLINESS, HE OR SHE WILL BEAR GREATER FRUIT FOR OUR WORLD." (POPE FRANCIS, EXSULTATE ET GAUDATE - REJOICE AND BE GLAD).
Every saint in the Church, that includes you and me are missionaries. Our Baptism gives us the mandate of Mission and Witness.
Do what you are inspired to do. The Holy Spirit will do the rest.
The Holy Catholic Church honors the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus every June.
"O SACRED Heart of Jesus, Thy Kingdom come. EUCHARISTIC Heart of Jesus, increase in us faith, hope and charity. HEART of Jesus, burning with love of us, inflame our hearts with love of Thee. O DIVINE Heart of Jesus, convert sinners, save the dying, free the holy souls in Purgatory." (Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus).
Read of the abundant promises made to people who honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus especially in June.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link below.
MARY IS THE BLESSED ONE BECAUSE OF HER FAITH.
"Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
"And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”
And Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.
"He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.”
Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home." (Luke 1: 39 - 56).
Saturday May 31st 2025 in the 6th Week in the Season of Easter.
The Church celebrates today the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth.
Please note the following salient points from today's Gospel.
1. Elizabeth did not text Mary to inform her of her condition. How did Mary know? By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
2. Mary set out at once to visit Elizabeth. Most of the friends of God react at once to the inspiration of God.
3. Again under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth uttered words of prophecy. "And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"
4. St John the Baptist, chosen and called to make the way of the Lord jumped with joy in her mother's womb.
5. Last but not the least, Mary proclaimed the beautiful prophetic Magnificat.
Brethren, this is what caught my attention:
"Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”
The Virgin Mary is great and blessed because of her extraordinary faith.
The Church honors the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Month of May. Today is the last day of May. Every June, the Church honors the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Be ready for an exciting month of June.
Honor Mary through the Holy Rosary, Litany, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Consecration to The Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pilgrimages, etc.
For the Litany, 15 Promises of Mary, Consecration Prayer, etc and Prayer intentions click the link below:
JOY AFTER SORROWS.
THE GOODNEWS:
"
"When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world.
"So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.
"On that day you will not question me about anything.
"Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.” (John 16: 20 - 23).
Friday 30th May 2025 in the 6th Week in the Easter Season.
In the Gospel of today, we encounter Jesus and His disciples still huddled together in the Upper Room celebrating His last Supper.
Jesus is departing from His disciples who would no longer be able to encounter Him in the familiar manner they had been accustomed. St Pope Leo the Great, in his catechesis on the Ascension, teaches that it is the will of God that after the Ascension, the disciples of Jesus will now recognize and encounter Him through the Holy Sacraments. In the Sacraments, Jesus remains for us and with us in a visible sacramental form.
In the Last Supper, Jesus used all types of promises to encourage and reasure His disciples.
They must wait patiently for the fruition of their work as a pregnant woman understands that she must wait patiently for the baby to be ready or the farmer wait for the crops to mature for harvest.
The last promise of Jesus on this occasion is breathtaking.
"Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.”
The promises and teachings of Jesus on Prayer, on Asking is substantial.
1. Prayer is a vital necessity.
2. Pray with expectant faith.
When you understand the truth of the above principles, you will come to experience the truth that Prayer is the Activator of Power. Welcome the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the God in us Who prompts us to pray for something at the very time God is ready to make that gift to us.
I will share here two experiences about Prayer.
I can only experience the joy of childbirth by analogy since I am not a woman. I can say that the joy of answered prayer is the most intense joy I have been blessed with. I have experienced the joy of answered prayers a couple of times in my life.
The second thing I want to state about prayer is that most of the important things and cherished experiences I have enjoyed in life have come through Prayer.
The Holy Spirit Novena starts tomorrow, Friday May 30th. Make the most of it and you will laugh for joy!
The Church honors the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Month of May.
Honor Mary through the Holy Rosary, Litany, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Consecration to The Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pilgrimages, etc.
For the Litany, 15 Promises of Mary, Consecration Prayer, etc and Prayer intentions click the link below:
PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT.
THE GOSPEL:
"Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.
He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming.
He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16: 12 - 15).
Wednesday 28th May 2025, 6th Week in the Easter Season.
Have you noticed that the theme of the Holy Spirit has dominated the Last Supper Discourse these past few days? No accident! The Church is telling us that the Great Feast of Pentecost, the Birthday of Holy Mother Church is very near.
Today Jesus reveals that "When he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth."
Now what does the Spirit of truth do? The opposite of truth is falsehood, lies, deception, lack of integrity. Is there a spirit of falsehood? Absolutely. His name is Satan, Devil, Liar, Father of Lies, the Accuser of the brethren. Master of fake news. Murderer.
The greatest threat of the world today is not nuclear bomb or Any Virus. The greatest threat to civilization is falsehood, lies and deception. Falsehood and lies are so pervasive in the world today. God gave us the Internet for work, leisure, evangelization and source of information. The Internet barely 30 years in existence has been perverted by the spirit of greed for money and immorality. Satan and his cohorts want to dominate the Internet 100 %. This is why the mission of the Holy Spirit is so important today.
The contrepoint to this demonic threat is the Holy Spirit. We have this consolation of the Scriptures:
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." (John 1: 5 NLT).
PREPARE TO RECEIVE ALL YOU CAN RECEIVE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE BIG GIFT THAT THE FATHER DOES NOT RATION. YOU RECEIVE IN DIRECT PROPORTION TO THE CONTAINER YOU BRING. BIG CONTAINER = BIG GIFT. SMALL CONTAINER = SMALL GIFT.
HOW MUCH YOU RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT IS UPTO YOU.
Pentecost Novena 2025 starts Friday May 30th all over the world. Do not miss the opportunity to be filled with the Holy Spirit on PENTECOST Sunday, June 8th. Remember: The Holy Spirit is the biggest Gift of the Father. This is a Gift you ask for and you receive immediately. No delay. No rationing.
How do we receive more of the Holy Spirit?
We receive in direct proportion to our desires and preparedness.
A student receives knowledge from a lecture in direct proportion to his desire to learn and acquire knowledge and his preparation for the lecture.
Our desire is for the Holy Spirit is enhanced by focus on the object of the desire and focused prayer and repetition. Eg: The Novena of the Holy spirit.
"Always the Blessed Virgin asks me for the prayer of the Rosary, the prayer that binds all her children to her immaculate and maternal Heart. The Blessed Virgin asks all her priest sons to take up again the Rosary, to pray it often, with attention and love. It is by the humble prayer of the Rosary that priests will be delivered from the temptations that harry them." (IN SINU JESU).
“The Magnificat is Our Lady’s Prayer of thanks. She can help us to love Jesus best; she is the one who can show us the shortest way to Jesus. Mary was the one whose intercession led Jesus to work the first miracle. ‘They have no wine,’ she said to Jesus. ‘Do whatever he tells you,’ she said to the servants." (Mother St Teresa of Kolkata).
The Church honors the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Month of May.
Honor Mary through the Holy Rosary, Litany, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Consecration to The Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pilgrimages, etc.
For the Litany, 15 Promises of Mary, Consecration Prayer, etc and Prayer intentions click the link below:
FEAST OF ST AUGUSTINE OF CANTERBURY, BISHOP AND MISSIONARY.
THE GOODNEWS:
"Jesus said to his disciples:
“Now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts.
But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: sin, because they do not believe in me; righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.” (John 16: 5 - 11).
Tuesday 27th May 2025, in the 6th Week in Easter is the feast of St Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop and Missionary. (+ 604).
St Augustine of Canterbury was an Italian Benedictine monk sent by Pope St Gregory the Great to evangelize the Anglo-Saxon people who conquered England and dominated the original Celtic population, who embraced Christianity centuries earlier.
St Augustine baptized Ethelbert, the Anglo-Saxon king and the people followed their king into the Church. St Augustine made Canterbury his Episcopal See and became the first Primate of all England.
Who is the Holy Spirit? The Lord Jesus calls Him here The Spirit of truth. He is "the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby)." (AMPC Version).
Why is the Holy Spirit sent after the Ascension of Jesus? He is sent to take up permanent residence in the disciple. As the Spirit of power, He will empower the disciple to fulfill the Mission of Jesus Christ and witness to the Lord. The Holy Spirit continues the ministry of Jesus today through the Body of Christ.
Jesus also promised that the Holy Spirit "will guide you [Church] to all truth." This is a very important detail that has divided the Body of Christ. St John the Evangelist writes in the conclusion of his Gospel:
"It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written." (John 21: 24 - 25).
The Holy Spirit reveals to the Church through the written and oral sources the truth that concerns Jesus and the Church. All the truth necessary for salvation. The FULLNESS of TRUTH.
An example of this is the stability of doctrine that characterized the early Church up to the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD and continues till today 2025. Only the Holy Spirit could have guaranteed this phenomenon:
One People, One Faith, One Shepherd, Worldwide. We see the evidence of this during the funeral of Pope Francis and the inauguration of the Papacy of Pope Leo XIV.
"I will send to you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord; he will guide you to all truth."
WHAT IS OUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST? WHO ARE WE IN CHRIST JESUS?
WE ARE THE BAPTIZED, THE CONFIRMED AND THE EUCHARISTIC PEOPLE. WE ARE THE SUNDAY PEOPLE, THE EASTER PEOPLE. WE ARE PRIEST, PRINCE & PROPHET.
THIS IS OUR IDENTITY. THIS IS WHO WE ARE.
“The Magnificat is Our Lady’s Prayer of thanks. She can help us to love Jesus best; she is the one who can show us the shortest way to Jesus. Mary was the one whose intercession led Jesus to work the first miracle. ‘They have no wine,’ she said to Jesus. ‘Do whatever he tells you,’ she said to the servants." (Mother St Teresa of Kolkata).
The Church honors the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Month of May.
Honor Mary through the Holy Rosary, Litany, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Consecration to The Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pilgrimages, etc.
For the Litany, 15 Promises of Mary, Consecration Prayer, etc and Prayer intentions click the link below:
THE MEMORIAL OF ST PHILIP NERI, PRIEST.
THE GOODNEWS:
"Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.
“I have told you this so that you may not fall away. They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God. They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me. I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.” (John 15: 26 - 16: 4).
Monday May 26th in the 6th Week in the Easter Season is the Memorial of St Philip Neri, Priest. (1515 - 1595), Italian Priest.
St Philip Neri was an extraordinary priest filled with the Holy Spirit and ecstatic joy.
He founded the Congregation of the Oratory, the same religious community that gave the Church St John Henry Newman. St Philip Neri converted thousands through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
He was a great catechist and spiritual director. He was noted for his joyful and cheerful disposition which attracted thousands to him.
One of my favorite quotes from Philip is:
"One of the very best means of obtaining humility is sincere and frequent confession."
"And you also will testify..." Jesus predicted about you and me in today's Gospel.
What does this mean for you and for me? Testify is another word for witness which comes from the Greek word MARTYR. Jesus is saying that in small ways and big ways, we shall be martyrs for Him every day.
“I have told you this so that you may not fall away. They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God. They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me. I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.”
Do not be frightened of being a martyr for Jesus in your work, home, church and public places. This is why Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will help us to bear witness to Him. Without the Holy Spirit, no one can be a martyr for Jesus.
WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?
HE IS THE THIRD PERSON OF THE BLESSED TRINITY. HE IS THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH. THE LORD AND GIVER OF ABUNDANT LIFE. HE IS OUR ADVOCATE. THE VOICE THAT SPEAKS IN COURT FOR US. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE GREAT FRIEND THAT IS CLOSER TO US THAN OUR GARMENT.
Example of those who witnessed to Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit after Pentecost:
Peter, Paul, John, Stephen, Barnabas, James. These saints are mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles.
In today's first Reading from Acts 16: 11 - 16, a wealthy business woman of Philippi named Lydia witnessed to Jesus after she was baptized by St Paul.
The Cross and Martyrdom are intrinsic to the very essence of Christianity. "It was ordained that the Christ should suffer and rise from the dead, and so enter into his glory." (Luke 24: 46, 26). So must we.
“The Magnificat is Our Lady’s Prayer of thanks. She can help us to love Jesus best; she is the one who can show us the shortest way to Jesus. Mary was the one whose intercession led Jesus to work the first miracle. ‘They have no wine,’ she said to Jesus. ‘Do whatever he tells you,’ she said to the servants." (Mother St Teresa of Kolkata).
The Church honors the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Month of May.
Honor Mary through the Holy Rosary, Litany, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Consecration to The Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pilgrimages, etc.
For the Litany, 15 Promises of Mary, Consecration Prayer, etc and Prayer intentions click the link below:
