The most fruitful daily habit...

"If it is "daily bread," why do you take it once a year?

Take daily what is to profit you daily." - St Ambrose

Holy Card on left:  "Nothing is sweeter after having 

received Jesus than to give and spread everywhere 

the fragrance of His virtues." - St Francis de Sales

Holy Card on right: "What have I in heaven and 

what can I love upon earth, but Thee, O my God, 

the God of my heart."

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Day 7

Novena to the Holy Spirit

GENTLENESS

 

Novena to the Holy Spirit - Pentecost Novena PRAYERS

Prayer, best preparation...

 "The name of Jesus is the glory of preachers, because the shining 

splendor of that name causes His Word to be proclaimed
and heard.  And how do you think such an immense,
sudden and dazzling light of faith came into the world, 
if not because Jesus was preached?" - St Bernardine of Siena

"Prayer is the best preparation 
for Holy Communion. 
Prayer is the raising of the mind to God.
When we pray we go to meet Christ Who is coming to us.
If our Creator and Savior comes from heaven with such great love, 
it is only fitting that we should go to meet Him.
And this is what we do when we spend some time in prayer."

St Bernardine of Siena

Italy ~ 1380-1444
Orphaned young
Franciscan friar

Itinerant preacher, theological writer

Known as "Apostle of Italy"

for efforts to revive faith in 15th century 

Feast Day - May 20

Painting above: Women Praying at Kotel ~ Brocha Teichman

Especially known for his devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus, 

Bernardine devised a symbol—IHS, the first three letters

of the name of Jesus in Greek, in Gothic letters on a blazing sun.

  

"Jesus, Name full of glory, grace, love and strength! 

You are the refuge of those who repent, our banner of warfare in this life, 

the medicine of souls, the comfort of those who mourn, the delight of those 

who believe, the light of those who preach the true faith, the wages of those 

who toil, the healing of the sick.  To You our devotion aspires; by You our 

prayers are received; we delight in contemplating You. O Name of Jesus, 

You are the glory of all the saints for eternity. Amen." 

 St Bernardine of Siena

Click here: St. Bernardine of Siena - YouTube (2 mins)

Catholic Culture Library: St. Bernardino Fostered Holy Name Devotion

https://www.nahns.org/ (National Assoc of Holy Name Society)

St Bernardine, pray for us!

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Day 6

Novena to the Holy Spirit
FAITHFULNESS

 

 

Novena to the Holy Spirit - Pentecost Novena PRAYERS

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... 

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Day 5

Novena to the Holy Spirit
KINDNESS

 

 

Novena to the Holy Spirit - Pentecost Novena PRAYERS

Sweetest prayer...

Let us love God because He hath first loved us.

 

"Talk to Me.

For Me there is no sweeter prayer."

Gabrielle Bossis

Excerpt from book, He and I

Image credit: "La porte duciel" - vintage holy card (Holy Card Heaven)

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Day 4

Novena to the Holy Spirit
PATIENCE

 

 

Novena to the Holy Spirit - Pentecost Novena PRAYERS

Come in and rest...

Seventh Sunday of Easter

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord*
*for those places where the observance has been transferred to this day  

(See last Thursday's ARCHIVED Reflection)
_____________________________________

"Friend, there is a welcome in this Church for Thee. 

Come in and Rest and Think and Kneel and Pray. 

What men have builded for God’s Glory, See. 

Give Thanks, and so in Peace go on Thy way." 

Plaque - Shrewsbury Abbey, England

 

"Learn from Jesus by 

often being in His company."

St. John Baptist de la Salle

___________________________

 

Day 3

Novena to the Holy Spirit
PEACE

 

 

Novena to the Holy Spirit - Pentecost Novena PRAYERS

The voice of the bell...

"Church bells beyond the stars heard, the soul's blood.

The land of spices; something understood." 

 George Herbert

The bells they sound on Bredon

And still the steeples hum -

'Come all to Church, good people',

Oh, noisy bells, be dumb;

I hear you, I will come. -  A.E. Housman

"Ringing the bells also gave notice to those unable

to attend the Mass (the sick, slaves, outside guards, etc.)

that something divine and miraculous

was taking place inside of the church building.

The voice of the bell would allow people

to stop what they were doing

to offer an act of adoration to God. 

Additionally, the bells provided the ancillary benefit of 

focusing (or re-focusing) the attention of the faithful

inside the church to the miracle

that was taking place atop the altar of sacrifice."

Excerpt from 

Sanctus Bells by Matthew D Herrera

The Last Mass of St Benedict, Fray Juan Rizi (Spain, 17th c)

"For bells are the voice of the church;

They have tones that touch and search

The heart of young and old."

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

___________________________

Day 2

Novena to the Holy Spirit
JOY

 

Novena to the Holy Spirit - Pentecost Novena PRAYERS

Content with grace...

  The fear of the LORD leads to life: 

Then one rests content, 
untouched by trouble. - Prov 19:23 

 

"Realize above all that you are in God's presence.

Empty yourself completely and sit waiting,

content with the grace of God,

like a chick that tastes nothing and eats nothing

except what its mother gives it." 

St. Romuald

Founder Camaldolese Order

 

St Isidore the Farmer

Spain ~ 1070 - 1130

Patron of farmers

Incorrupt

Feast Day - May 15

His wife is also a canonized Saint -

St Maria (Torribia) de la Cabeza

 

Isidore attended Holy Mass every morning which caused him to come to work late. Late, though he was, his plowing was nevertheless accomplished by angels that resulted in three times more productivity. His co-workers and his boss witnessed such miraculous events and showed him great respect. He often spent holidays on pilgrimage to local shrines. He died May 15, 1130, and was declared a saint in 1622 with Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, Teresa of Avila and Philip Neri. Together, the group is known in Spain as “the five saints.”

Click here: The Farmer - YouTube (Apostleship of Prayer: 3 mins)

May 15 - Homily: St. Isidore the Laborer - YouTube

St Isidore, pray for us!

Day 1

Novena to the Holy Spirit
CHARITY

 

Novena to the Holy Spirit - Pentecost Novena PRAYERS

He ascended into heaven...

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord*

*All worldwide and ecclesiastical U.S. provinces of Boston, Hartford, 
New York, Newark, Omaha and Philadelphia have retained its
celebration on Thursday, while all other US provinces have transferred
the Solemnity to the Seventh Sunday of Easter.  This year: May 17

___________________________

...the fortieth day after Easter Sunday, 
commemorating the Ascension of Christ into heaven, 
according to Mark 16:19, Luke 24:51, and Acts 1:2.

In the liturgies the day is meant to celebrate the completion of the work

of our salvation, the pledge of our glorification with Christ,

and His entry into heaven with our human nature glorified.

"Let our hearts ascend with Christ."  

 St Augustine

 

“Ascending once again 

to the Inaccessible Light…

You remain still in the ‘valley of tears,’

hidden beneath the 

appearances of a white host.”

St. Thérèse of Lisieux

PAINTING:  The Ascension of Christ - Rembrandt - 1636

 

Fr Antoine Thomas, CSJ, celebrating Holy Mass

"...Christ's Ascension is our uplifting, and the hope 

of the Body is raised, whither the glory of the Head has 

gone before, let us exult, dearly-beloved, with worthy joy 

and delight in the loyal paying of thanks.  For today not only 

are we confirmed as possessors of paradise, but have 

also in Christ penetrated the heights of heaven, and 

have gained still greater things through Christ's unspeakable 

grace than we had lost through the devil's malice."

Pope St Gregory the Great - Sermon LXXIII

The Feast of the Ascension marks the beginning 

of the FIRST NOVENA, or nine days of prayer.  

Today, Catholics recall that first novena by praying the 

Novena to the Holy Ghost between Ascension and Pentecost,

asking for the gifts of the Holy Spirit. 

BEGIN the NOVENA FRIDAY!

Click here: Pentecost Novena PRAYERS 
(PrayMoreNovenas: prayers sent to your email daily)

OR simply pray each day ...

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful,

and enkindle in them the fire of Your love.

 Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created,

And You shall renew the face of the earth.

O God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit, 

did instruct the hearts of Your faithful, 

grant that by that same Holy Spirit,

we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in His 

consolation, through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Click here: Introit. Feast of the Ascension.Gregorian Chant.Australia (3 mins)

Click here: Scott Hahn - Ascension: Underrated Mystery - YouTube (3 mins)

_________________

Remembering also today:

St Matthias

Apostle (replaced Judas Iscariot)

Martyr (stoned and beheaded)

Feast Day - May 14

Statue at St. Matthias Abbey in Trier, Germany, where relics of the Apostle are kept

Click here: St. Matthias - YouTube (2 mins)

St Matthias, pray for us!