THE SOLEMNITY OF PENTECOST, THE BIRTHDAY OF THE CHURCH.

THE SOLEMNITY OF PENTECOST, THE BIRTHDAY OF THE CHURCH. 

"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.

Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (John 20: 19 - 23).

Sunday June 8th, 2025 is the Solemnity of Pentecost.

Brethren, this is Pentecost! This is the Birthday of our Mother, the Church. She is Mother and Teacher. Very old and ever young and beautiful. Virgin and Mother of many children. Queen of Peace and Seat of Wisdom. Happy Birthday Mother Church!

The Holy Spirit descended on the disciples in the Cenacle "like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were." (Acts 2: 2). 

The Novena, the waiting and praying are over. The Father has delivered the Big Gift He promised. "I promised. I will do it." Thank You Abba Father. You have done as You promised. 

"Come, Holy Spirit, come!

And from your celestial home

Shed a ray of light divine!

Come, Father of the poor!

Come, source of all our store!

Come, within our bosoms shine.

You, of comforters the best;

You, the soul’s most welcome guest;

Sweet refreshment here below;

In our labor, rest most sweet;

Grateful coolness in the heat;

Solace in the midst of woe.... " (The Pentecost Sequence). 

"The Spirit prepares men and goes out to them with his grace, in order to draw them to Christ. The Spirit manifests the risen Lord to them, recalls his word to them and opens their minds to the understanding of his Death and Resurrection." (CCC 737).

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love.

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. 

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2020/08/12-promises-of-sacred-heart-of-jesus.html?m=1

THE SOLEMN EVE OF PENTECOST.

THE EVE OF PENTECOST.  

"Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved, the one who had also reclined upon his chest during the supper and had said, “Master, who is the one who will betray you?”

"When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?”

"Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours?" 

“You follow me.” 

"So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die. But Jesus had not told him that he would not die, just “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours?”

"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: 20 - 25).

June 7th in the 7th Week in the Easter Season is the Eve of Pentecost, the Birthday of Holy Mother Church. 

Jesus predicted the persecutions of the disciples in the Last Supper Discourse: "Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy." 

The antagonism to Jesus and His Gospel is more pronounced today than ever. If you are not prepared today to bear witness to Jesus, what is the likelihood that you will be ready tomorrow? 

"YOU FOLLOW ME!" 

The Scripture says: "O that today you will listen to His voice, harden not your hearts." 

Many of us have probably heard the maxim: "He who laughs last, laughs best." Jesus promises us the last laugh. This laugh will be filled with joy and will last forever. 

In the short time, our Savior and Redeemer is asking us to endure all the trials, illnesses, deprivations and persecutions with the strength that comes from the Holy Spirit.

"I will not leave you orphans, says the Lord; I go, but I will come back to you, and your hearts will be full of joy." (Cf John 14: 18).

"If, in spite of everything, Jesus’ Ascension into heaven leaves a certain taste of sadness in our souls, let us go to his Mother as the apostles did. They returned to Jerusalem…and they prayed with one mind…together with Mary, the Mother of Jesus."  (Acts 1:12-14).Faith (Saint Josemaría Escrivá).

Mary, Cause of our Joy, pray for us. 

The Holy Catholic Church honors the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus every June. 

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. 

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2020/08/12-promises-of-sacred-heart-of-jesus.html?m=1

HONOR THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS ON THE FIRST FRIDAY OF JUNE.

JUNE 6, FIRST FRIDAY IN JUNE 2025

Jesus promised through a revelation to St Margaret Mary Alacoque 12 special favors to all those who will honor His Sacred Heart especially on the First Friday of every month by attending Holy Mass and receiving Holy Communion.  These Promises becameThe 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

In the 6th month of the year, June 2025, we look at Promise #6. 

#6.  "Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy."

"I am a sinner." Pope Francis said without embarrassment. You are a sinner. We are all sinners. We all need the mercy of Jesus.

Ask Jesus for mercy. 

Be merciful to others. 

Completely and confidently trust Jesus for mercy. 

This is the ABC of Mercy. 

June is the Month the Church honors the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

"O Sacred Heart of Jesus, living and life-giving fountain of eternal life, infinite treasure of the Divinity, and glowing furnace of love, You are my sanctuary.  O adorable and glorious Savior, consume my heart with that burning fire that ever inflames Your Heart. 

Pour down on my soul those graces which flow from Your Love.  Let my heart be one with, and in all things conformed to, Yours. May Your Will be the rule of both my desires and my actions. Amen."  (St Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church). 

Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus this Friday by attending Holy Mass and receiving Holy Communion. 

For the 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Sacred Heart devotional prayers and prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2020/08/12-promises-of-sacred-heart-of-jesus.html?m=1

THE MEMORIAL OF ST BONIFACE, BISHOP AND MARTYR.

THE MEMORIAL OF ST BONIFACE, BISHOP & MARTYR. 

THE GOODNEWS:

"Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.

"And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.

"Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.” (John 17: 20 - 26).

Thursday June 5th in the 7th Week in the Easter Season is the feast of St Boniface, Bishop and Martyr.

The well educated English Benedictine priest was sent by Pope Gregory II to evangelize the German tribes. Boniface was consecrated the first Bishop of Germany. He organized the Church in Germany and was martyred in Friesland (present day Netherlands) when he went to preach there. St Boniface is the patron saint of Germany.

On the eve of His Passion, having celebrated the first Mass and ordained His Apostles as priests, Jesus poured out His heart to His Father and our Father.

"And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me."

Every Pope for a couple of centuries agonished about Church Unity.

Why are there over 40,000 Christian churches in the world. What are the obstacles to Church Unity? You may be surprised to hear the answer.

The two great obstacles to Church Unity are:

1. The Blessed Virgin Mary.

2. The position and authority of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope.

The Catholic Church cannot compromise on any of the perceived obstacles to Church Unity because the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Pope are the most precious gifts of Jesus Christ to His Church. Both are bulwark of Church unity. The Nicene Creed is the pillar of truth for all Christian churches. 

Fellow Christians, All things are possible for God. Let us storm Heaven with our prayers. Our God is the God of impossibilities. 

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. 

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2020/08/12-promises-of-sacred-heart-of-jesus.html?m=1

FATHER, CONSECRATE US TO THE TRUTH.

CONSECRATE US IN THE TRUTH. 

"Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth." (John 17: 17).

THE GOODNEWS:

"Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: 

“Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one.

When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy ­completely. I gave them your word, and the world hated them, ­because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the Evil One. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.

Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. 

As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.” (John 17: 11 - 19).

Wednesday 4th June 2025, in the 7th Week in the Season of Easter. 

In the high priestly prayer on the night before His Passion, Jesus prayed to His Father that His disciples should be consecrated in the truth. God's word is truth. Jesus, the Word of God is truth.

To consecrate means to set apart, to sanctify, to purify for holy purposes.

Have you ever seen a new Altar or Chalice consecrated by the Bishop? 

It is a worthwhile experience. It will help you appreciate the prayer of Jesus in our key Scripture.

What will you do if you walk into your church and find gansters partying around the Altar and drinking beer with the Chalice? 

Calling the police will not make the Altar and Chalice pure, holy and consecrated again. The sacred objects have been desecrated. They have been made unholy through sacrilegious action.

The Bishop may  order both objects to be destroyed or he may decide to reconsecrate the expensive Altar and have the Chalice destroyed and buried. 

We are consecrated by our Baptism for Mission and Witness. When one fails through a serious sin, the person has become desecrated. Our Supreme High Priest, Jesus the Christ who delights in mercy has made provision for our re-consecration through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. 

When you live as one consecrated to the truth, you will avoid conforming yourself to the ways and habits of this world. Rather, through daily renewal of your mind by the word of God the Holy Spirit will transform your mind. When being fed by the Scriptures becomes your habitual manner of living, discerning what is the will of God for you becomes a habit. The will of God is our peace and prosperity. 

 

The Holy Catholic Church honors the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus every June. 

St Aloysius Gonzaga, SJ learned the truth about the Sacred Heart of Jesus at the age of 12! He loved, adored and was intimate with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Sacred Heart of Jesus returned Aloysius' affection as only a God can do. 

St Aloysius Gonzaga pray for. 

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. 

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2020/08/12-promises-of-sacred-heart-of-jesus.html?m=1

THE MEMORIAL OF SAINT CHARLES LWANGA AND COMPASSION MARTYRS.

THE MEMORIAL OF SAINTS CHARLES LWANGA & COMPANION MARTYRS. 

THE GOODNEWS:

"Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that your son may give eternal life to all you gave him.

Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.

I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began.

“I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 

Now they know that everything you gave me is from you, because the words you gave to me I have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you.” (John 17: 1 - 11).

Tuesday 3rd June 2025 in 7th Week in Easter Time is the Memorial of St Charles Lwanga and Companions.  (Martyred +1886 - 1887). 

On the feast of Ascension 1886, the powerful but corrupt King Mwanga of Uganda mercilessly killed Charles Lwanga and 14 teenage companions who resisted resolutely his homosexual advances. Eight of the companions were killed later.

The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christianity, wrote the African erudite theologian, Tertulian. Martyrdom is the greatest testimony/witness to the faith.  The Greek word martyr actually means witness. The testimony of the absolute love of Jesus for us is that He gave His life to prove it.

What is most impressive about the martyrs of Uganda is that all of them were teenagers and Catechumens. Technically, they are not yet Christians since they had not received Baptism. Yet they chose to die for the faith they had come to love.

What is Eternal Life? 

"Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ." Jesus teaches. 

The Prophet Daniel says:

"The people who know their God will be strong and take action." (Daniel 11: 32).

How much time do you spend in the Word of God? 

You know the Heart of God from the Mouth of God. St Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church teaches. 

Invest in the Word of God and you will begin to believe that eternal life starts here and now and continues in Heaven after our death. 

The Holy Catholic Church honors the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus every June.  

"Morning Offering Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus:

"O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I offer you through the Immaculate Heart of Mary all my prayers and desires, all my sufferings, delays, disappointments and obstacles; all my time, talent and treasure, all my fears, worries and doubts as well as all my weaknesses.  I offer all these on all the altars in the world where the Eucharist is celebrated today and on every Altar where Your Eucharistic Face is present.  I offer them for the remission of my sins, for my family and [Mention the specific intention] and for the Holy Father Pope Leo.  Amen."

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. 

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2020/08/12-promises-of-sacred-heart-of-jesus.html?m=1

FEAST OF SAINTS MARCELLINUS AND PETER, MARTYRS.

IN THIS WORLD YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE. 

THE GOSPEL:

The disciples said to Jesus, “Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech. Now we realize that you know everything and that you do not need to have anyone question you. Because of this we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now? Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” (John 16: 29 - 33).

Monday 2nd June 2025 in the 7th Week in Easter is the feast of two early martyrs of the Church:  St. Marcellinus, Priest and Peter, Exorcist (+ 304). In prison, they converted many of their fellow prisoners including the jailer. Both were martyred under Emperor Diocletian.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16: 33), says the Lord. 

There will be no shortage of troubles for Christians in the world. The persecution of Christians started with the murderous intentions of King Herod. Herod intending to eliminate Jesus murdered the Innocents. 

Christians have been discriminated against, robbed and deprived of property, citizenship and murdered for no other reason but because they are followers of Jesus Christ. 

If you want to be a genuine Christian, prepare yourself for suffering. Jesus prophetic and encouraging words are true:

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16: 33). 

"Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God! Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life; you have the message of eternal life. (Cf. John 6 :63,68).

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. 

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2020/08/12-promises-of-sacred-heart-of-jesus.html?m=1