Holy Viaticum...

 While some are preparing for 

their First Holy Communion...

others are preparing for their last...

Call a priest!

 

 

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) ...

1526 "Is any among you sick? Let him call for the presbyters of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven" (James 5:14-15).

1527 The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick has as its purpose the conferral of a special grace on the Christian experiencing the difficulties inherent in the condition of grave illness or old age.

1528 The proper time for receiving this holy anointing has certainly arrived when the believer begins to be in danger of death because of illness or old age.

1529 Each time a Christian falls seriously ill, he may receive the Anointing of the Sick, and also when, after he has received it, the illness worsens.

1530 Only priests (presbyters and bishops) can give the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, using oil blessed by the bishop, or if necessary by the celebrating presbyter himself.

1531 The celebration of the Anointing of the Sick consists essentially in the anointing of the forehead and hands of the sick person (in the Roman Rite) or of other parts of the body (in the Eastern rite), the anointing being accompanied by the liturgical prayer of the celebrant asking for the special grace of this sacrament.

1532 The special grace of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has as its effects:
- the uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own good and that of the whole Church;
- the strengthening, peace, and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of illness or old age;
- the forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of Penance;
- the restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul;
- the preparation for passing over to eternal life.

Be prepared for those special times... 

Consider a Crucifix Sick Call Set which hangs 

on the wall ... readily available for this sacred use ... 

Carry this/similar card in your wallet, purse, backpack... 

Mary, we have recourse to thee...

  The Blessed Virgin Mary, 

Mother of the Church

Memorial

Instituted in 2018 for celebration on Pentecost Monday

_____________________

 

"The veneration of the Virgin Mary has accompanied 

the path of the Church from the beginning; 

Marian feast days began to appear already 

in the fourth century: in some the role of the Virgin

in the history of salvation is exalted; in others the 

principal moments of her earthly life are celebrated." 

Pope Benedict XVI

Prayer After Communion (Today's Liturgy)

 

Having received the pledge of redemption and of life, 

we humbly pray, O Lord, 

that, with the  Blessed Virgin's motherly help,

your Church may teach all nations

by proclaiming the Gospel and, 

through the grace of the outpouring of the Spirit, 

fill the whole earth.

Through Christ our Lord. 

___________________________________________

 

"May the mother of Jesus and our mother, 

always smile on your spirit, 

obtaining for it, 

from her most holy son, 

every heavenly blessing."

St Padre Pio

_______________________________

“In an instant the Holy Spirit overshadows her, 

making her a living ciborium privileged 

to bear within herself for nine months 

the Guest who is the Host of the world.” 

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

Mary, Mother of the Church, and two popes – Catholic World Report

How can Mary be “Mother of the Church”?

Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us!

Solemnity of Pentecost - Wear RED today to Mass...

    Solemnity of Pentecost

Fifty days after Easter

In honor of the Holy Spirit - wear RED to holy Mass today!

Today is Pentecost. It is not merely a reminder of a past event, but a continuation of the Spirit renewing the face of the earth (Psalm 104:30). Today's Pentecost will not be a shadow of the first Pentecost, rather the first Pentecost is a shadow of today's Pentecost. God's grace is abounding all the more (Romans 5:20). The Spirit is not diminishing His work in our world, but increasing it. It will not be only thousands who come to Jesus today (Acts 2:41), but millions. The waters of the Spirit become deeper as they flow further around the world and into history (Ezekiel 47:5). 

Come, Holy Spirit, Come!

The Spirit of the Lord has filled the whole world and that 

which contains all things understands what is said, alleluia

-Entrance antiphon, today's liturgy

"The Church draws her life from the Eucharist. 

This truth does not simply express a daily experience of faith, 

but recapitulates the heart of the mystery of the Church. 

In a variety of ways she joyfully experiences 

the constant fulfillment of the promise: 

“Lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Mt 28:20),

 but in the Holy Eucharist, through the changing of bread and wine into the 

body and blood of the Lord, she rejoices in this presence with unique intensity. 

Ever since Pentecost,  when the Church, the People of the New Covenant, 

began her pilgrim journey towards her heavenly homeland, 

the Divine Sacrament has continued to mark the passing of her days,

filling them with confident hope." (Introduction, 1)

Pope St John Paul II

Encyclical Letter, Ecclesia de Eucharistia

On the Eucharist in its relationship to the Church

  Pentecost image above:  artist, Jan Joest van Kalker (c 1450-1519)

Click here: The Feast of Weeks and the Significance of Pentecost - Crisis Magazine

 Click here: Pentecost In Two Minutes - Busted Halo

Christ the Giver of the Spirit - The Catholic Thing

_______________________

In the Pantheon in Rome, thousands of rose petals are dropped
from the oculus after the celebration of Pentecost Mass!

  

The Pentecost Sequence, Veni Sancte Spiritus

Come, Holy Spirit

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.

O most blessed Light divine,
Shine within these hearts of yours,
And our inmost being fill!

Where you are not, we have naught,
Nothing good in deed or thought,
Nothing free from taint of ill.

Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
On our dryness pour your dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away:

Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray.

On the faithful, who adore
And confess you, evermore
In your seven-fold gift descend:

Give them virtue’s sure reward;
Give them your salvation, Lord;
Give them joys that never end.

---

With the Holy Spirit within us, "it is quite natural for people
who had been absorbed by the things of this world to become 
entirely otherworldly in outlook, and for cowards to become
people of great courage." - St Cyril of Alexandria

Come, Holy Spirit, Come!

Sweetest prayer...

  Deep calls to deep... - Psalm 42: 7a

 

"Talk to Me.

For Me there is no sweeter prayer."

Gabrielle Bossis

Excerpt from book, He and I

The Truth will set us free...

St Pascal Baylon

Spain - 16 May 1540- 17 May 1592

"Seraph of the Eucharist"

Franciscan lay Brother
Defender of the Eucharist

Patron of Eucharistic Congresses
Feast Day - May 17
_____________________________

“Go to Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament with folded hands 

and say ‘Take my hands, use them as Your hands Lord.’ 

Go to Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament with a closed mouth 

and listen to Him, whispering to our soul 

and responding with ‘Yes Lord.’ 

Go to Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament with a fiat 

and say, ‘Not my will but Your will be done Lord!’” 

 St Paschal Baylon

St Paschal, pray for us!