Visitation

This is a fairly late feast, going back only to the 13th or 14th century. It was established widely throughout the Church to pray for unity. The present date of celebration was set in 1969 in order to follow the Annunciation of the Lord (March 25) and precede the Birthday of John the Baptist (June 24).

Like most feasts of Mary, it is closely connected with Jesus and his saving work. The more visible actors in the visitation drama (see Luke 1:39-45) are Mary and Elizabeth. However, Jesus and John the Baptist steal the scene in a hidden way. Jesus makes John leap with joy—the joy of messianic salvation. Elizabeth, in turn, is filled with the Holy Spirit and addresses words of praise to Mary—words that echo down through the ages.

It is helpful to recall that we do not have a journalist’s account of this meeting. Rather, Luke, speaking for the Church, gives a prayerful poet’s rendition of the scene. Elizabeth’s praise of Mary as “the mother of my Lord” can be viewed as the earliest Church’s devotion to Mary. As with all authentic devotion to Mary, Elizabeth’s (the Church’s) words first praise God for what God has done to Mary. Only secondly does she praise Mary for trusting God’s words.

Then comes the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). Here Mary herself (like the Church) traces all her greatness to God.

Comment:

One of the invocations in Mary’s litany is “Ark of the Covenant.” Like the Ark of the Covenant of old, Mary brings God’s presence into the lives of other people. As David danced before the Ark, John the Baptist leaps for joy. As the Ark helped to unite the 12 tribes of Israel by being placed in David’s capital, so Mary has the power to unite all Christians in her Son. At times, devotion to Mary may have occasioned some divisiveness, but we can hope that authentic devotion will lead all to Christ and therefore to one another.

Quote:

“Moved by charity, therefore, Mary goes to the house of her kinswoman.... While every word of Elizabeth’s is filled with meaning, her final words would seem to have a fundamental importance: ‘And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her from the Lord’ (Luke 1:45). These words can be linked with the title ‘full of grace’ of the angel’s greeting. Both of these texts reveal an essential Mariological content, namely the truth about Mary, who has become really present in the mystery of Christ precisely because she ‘has believed.’ The fullness of grace announced by the angel means the gift of God himself. Mary’s faith, proclaimed by Elizabeth at the visitation, indicates how the Virgin of Nazareth responded to this gift” (Pope John Paul II, The Mother of the Redeemer, 12).

Daily Spirituality:

The challenge is to live our daily lives so that the simple, mundane activities of our existence become a significant part of our journey to the Father, even on days when it is hard to see that connection.

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Whenever the tempter wants you to be puffed up with pride, say to yourself: All that is good in me I have received from God on loan and I should be a fool to boast of what is not mine.

- St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina (1887-1968)

Seeing With New Eyes:

If we had the vision of Christ and could see the present moment and its significance for all eternity, what a difference it would make! There would be no need for war; there would be no enemies. There would be no selfishness. Truly we would be ready to serve those around us. We would in fact be ready for Judgment Day.

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I place trust in God, my creator, in all things; I love Him with all my heart.

- St. Joan of Arc (1412-1431)

In Our Midst:

Jesus is as close to us as our everyday experiences. That is where we find him or miss him. Ah! To be a Christian! To look at the world around us with the eyes of Christ! What a wonderful world it would be!

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One does not make the world more human by refusing to act humanely here and now. We contribute to a better world only by personally doing good works, with full commitment and whenever we have the opportunity, independently of partisan strategies and programs.

- Pope Benedict XVI (Deus Caritas Est - God is Love, #31)

Union With Jesus:

Mysticism, our union with Christ, is God’s desire. Jesus wants us to grow so close to him that it goes beyond all human bonds. So close that when our moment of death arrives we can simply put ourselves into the hands of our savior and stop worrying. So close that when others look at us, they see more than us; they see Jesus himself.

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The building of a better world requires Christians to speak with a united voice in working to inculcate respect for the rights and needs of everyone, especially the poor, the lowly and the defenseless.

- Pope Benedict XVI (Deus Caritas Est - God is Love, #30)

Seventh Sunday of Easter (B)

Acts 1:15-17, 20a, 20c-26
Ps 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20
1 Jn 4:11-16
Jn 17:11b-19

What’s in a name? As Christians, we are. Hello, I’m Father Greg Friedman with the “Sunday Soundbite” for the Seventh Sunday of Easter.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus prays at the Last Supper for his disciples: “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me.” In Chapter 8 of John’s Gospel, Jesus referred to himself with the divine name, I AM, the name revealed to Moses at the burning bush. In appropriating this name to himself, Jesus is claiming divinity.

In the context of the rest of John’s Gospel, and especially today’s Last Supper discourse, this claim defines the intimate relationship between Jesus and the Father. What he shares with the Father, Jesus in turn now shares with his disciples. Entrusted with his word, guarded by his name, they will witness to his truth.

How casually do we name ourselves as Christian? Do we realize the implications of bearing the name of Christ in our world today? Do we believe in the power we were given at Baptism, when we were named and signed with the cross of Christ? His name brings us the consecration, protection, responsibility, and even joy promised by Jesus in today’s Last Supper prayer.

May we take our name seriously, and live fully in the relationship we share with God.

Scripture:

•But in a few days you will be baptized by the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:5)

•for the LORD, the Most High, the awesome, is the great king over all the earth. (Psalm 47:3)

•One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:6)

•Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15)

Reflection:

•Where do you find the one “who is over all and through all and in all”?

•How do you live the gospel?

•How do you share the gospel?

Yet there are familiar ways by which evangelization happens: by the way we live God’s love in our daily life; by the love, example, and support people give each other; by the ways parents pass faith on to their children; in our life as Church, through the proclamation of the Word and the wholehearted celebration of the saving deeds of Jesus; in the care we show to those most in need; and in the ways we go about our work, share with our neighbors, and treat the stranger. In daily life, family members evangelize each other; men and women, their future spouses; and workers, their fellow employees, by the simple lives of faith they lead.

Walking in Faith:

Even when we are sinking, failing at something, the Lord is there for us. We just have to call out his name and keep our eyes on him. Once we learn how to walk on water by walking in faith, we will never walk alone.

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It was he who died for our sins to give us eternal life. This same man, Christ, is God and abides for ever and ever. Whoever believes in Him will have eternal life; whoever denies Him will have eternal punishment.

- St. Julius the Veteran (255-302)

New Awareness:

When we truly begin to experience the Lord in our lives, it humbles us. It makes us aware of who we are and who the Lord is. We recognize that we do not deserve what he is offering us. When we finally recognize how blessed we are, it often leads us to our knees.

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Cheerfulness strengthens the heart and makes us persevere in a good life. Therefore the servant of God ought always to be in good spirits.

- Saint Philip Neri (1515-1595)

Caught by Jesus:

Jesus is fishing for all of us. He wants to catch our hearts. He uses the circumstances in our very lives to catch our attention.

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'Jesus' final gesture, has a dual significance. By rising 'up' He unequivocally revealed His divinity. He returned from whence He came, in God, after having completed His mission on earth. Moreover, Christ ascended to heaven with the humanity He had assumed and caused to arise from the dead: that humanity is ours, transfigured, made divine, rendered eternal. Thus the Ascension reveals the 'ultimate vocation' of all human beings, each called to the eternal life of the Kingdom of God.

- Pope Benedict XVI (On the Ascention of the Lord; May 22, 2006)

Lifeline:

It is a real turning point in all our lives when we are finally ready to turn to the Lord and say, "Jesus, I don't know what to do here—please help me." We only get to Jesus when we get to the end of our rope. It is only when we honestly turn to the Lord that we can truly turn our lives around and follow him.

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Souls which have lost the anchorage of the Catholic faith, are tossed and shattered with inward storms of clashing thoughts, that by this restless posture of mind they may be made sensible of their danger; and taking down the sails of pride and vanity which they have unhappily spread before every gust of heresy, they may make all the sail they can into the safe and peaceful harbor of their holy mother the Catholic Church .... There they may unlearn well what they have learned ill; may get a right notion of all those doctrines of the Church they are capable of understanding, and believe those that surpass all understanding.

- St. Vincent of Lerins (D. 450)

Following the Leader:

The Lord has many fans—perhaps a whole Church full of them. But how many followers does he have? To truly be a follower of Jesus we have to leave behind our own plans, preferences and priorities. We must be ready and willing to go into those unknown deep waters.

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Ignorance is the leprosy of the soul. How many such lepers exist in the church, where many people don't even know what's necessary for their salvation? It must be our business to try to cure this disease.

- St. John Baptist De Rossi (1698-1764)

“Christ is still being sold, no longer to the heads of the Sanhedrin for thirty pieces of silver, but to publishers and booksellers for millions of dollars.”

- Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa (Papal Preacher)

with the on going buzz on the Catholic / Christian faith..what say you on the statement made by Father Ranireo?? happy reflecting and pondering.. =)

Burning Question:

Jesus is waiting to be allowed into our lives, our hearts, our minds. Every day he asks, "Will you let me in?"—it all starts or ends with that one question.

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As you face the rapid changes affecting modern society, be ready to meet the current challenges of economics and globalization, without ever losing sight of the fundamental values of human dignity, solidarity with the weakest, the humanization of labour and the social nature of work.

- Pope John Paul II (on the 100th Anniversary of the Canonization of St. Rita of Cascia)

Prime Time:

We are most ready to listen to the Lord—to follow him, to obey him—when we have the most need. This is also when Jesus wants to come to us the most.

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Learn who you are in the eyes of God.

- St. Eugene de Mazenod (1782-1861)

Mirrors of God:

It is a great responsibility to be the mirror of God for others—to reflect the truth that they are made in God’s image. But what a sacred trust—that we have the power to offer a visage of hate or one of love to family and friends, colleagues and acquaintances, even enemies.

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The merciful God pardoned our first parents and did not annihilate them because, in so doing, the Virgin would not have arisen and, consequently, neither would Christ have been clothed with human flesh.

- St. Bernadine of Siena (1380-1444)

Becoming Who We Are:

Over time, we become the image we see in God’s loving face. Just as children find themselves to be lovable and loved in their parents’ faces, we, too, can become who we are meant to be by knowing who God is, both in prayer and in each other.

Love – Selflessness:

Genuine love is shown in deeds that are beyond our selfish needs i.e. to focus on the needs, care and compassion of others. Our daily and constant challenge is to love God in all peoples, especially those whom we find most difficult to love.

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Let us love God who deserves it!

- St. Crispin of Viterbo (1668-1750)

Message From the Cross:

The cross reveals a God who is madly in love with us, and our gazing into this face is intended to reveal something about ourselves in as much as we are made in this God’s image and likeness.

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Is there perhaps some law more important than God's?

- St. Felix of Cantalice (1515-1587)

Standing Taller:

Being God’s friend has definite, positive effects in us. We stand a little taller because we notice the grace and glory that are ours because of God’s love.

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The consolation which the Holy Spirit frequently infuses into pious souls is greater than all the pleasures of the world together, could they be enjoyed by one person. It makes the heart dissolve and melt through excess of joy, under which it is unable to contain itself.

- St. Paschal Baylon (1540-1592)

Centering:

Our human dignity is achieved when we center on the crucified Christ rather than on ourselves. When we become one with Christ, we fulfill the basic dignity we received at creation.

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How can there be too many children? That is like saying there are too many flowers.

- Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Could I Reserve the Eucharist in My Home?

Q: There has been much talk about the merits and virtues of eucharistic adoration. Is it allowed to retain a eucharistic host for home worship? If not, why?

I’m fully aware of the Church’s general prohibition of such a practice and the good intended of preventing desecration and irreverence.

But on a pastoral and individualistic level, if the purpose is to worship and give glory to God and there is certainty that the host would be honored and cherished, wouldn’t that be acceptable even without a bishop’s permission?

A: By canon law the Blessed Sacrament must be reserved in cathedral and parish churches, and in churches or oratories attached to the houses of religious institutes.

The Eucharist may be reserved in a bishop’s chapel and, with permission of the local ordinary (usually a bishop), in other churches, oratories and chapels.

The law in all cases requires that the sacrament be kept in a church, chapel or oratory. And there are other requirements about a fixed and solid tabernacle.

The law also requires that someone be responsible for the custody and care of the Blessed Sacrament, and that a priest celebrate Mass at the place of reservation with some frequency. That is to make sure the hosts do not age and become stale or moldy.

Notice, the law does not permit reservation of the sacrament in private homes. The purpose of reserving the Eucharist is to have the Blessed Sacrament available as viaticum for those near death, Communion outside of Mass and adoration of the Lord present in the Eucharist.

Reservation in private homes does not very well fit those purposes, and it is difficult to guarantee the Sacrament will be treated with proper respect.

John M. Huels in More Disputed Questions in the Liturgy notes that it would be within the law for a bishop to permit reservation of the Blessed Sacrament by a private person for an urgent pastoral need.

When would there be such a need? Perhaps a deacon lives miles from the church and must bring Communion to sick Catholics in outlying districts. In such cases the bishop could permit private reservation with a statement of particular requirements.

To Put on Christ:

O great and loving God,
Let your grace flow into every fiber of my being,
Open my eyes, in all humility and simplicity,
To see my gifts, my talents,
The radiance in me that is a reflection of you.
Permit me to notice the inner and outer beauty
you have given me,
Allow me—To rest in your image,
To become your image,
To soothe my weary mind,
And to put on Christ.

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If no poor could be found in the world, men ought to go in search of them, and dig them up from underground to do them good and to be merciful to them.

- Saint Camillus de Lellis (1550-1614)

Staying in Tune:

Our egos seem programmed to put the best face on everything we do, even to the point of defending hurtful, sinful behaviors. Without concrete ways to keep tabs on these dispositions and actions, we risk living a life that is not in tune with the truth of ourselves, our reality and God.

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For the Church, charity is not a kind of welfare activity which could equally well be left to others, but is a part of her nature, an indispensable expression of her very being.

- Pope Benedict XVI (Deus Caritas Est - God is Love, #25)

Fifth Sunday of Easter (B)

Acts 9:26-31
Ps 22:26-27, 28, 30, 31-32
1 Jn 3:18-24
Jn 15:1-8

Imagine yourself in the early Jerusalem Christian community, gathered for Sunday Eucharist—and in walks Saul, well-known for his persecution of the Church. What would your reaction be? Hello, I’m Father Greg Friedman, and this with the “Sunday Soundbite” for the Fifth Sunday of Easter.

Saul’s friends must have had a time convincing the community that Saul was on their side. Barnabas was his “guardian angel,” nicknamed the “son of encouragement,” according to an earlier story in Acts. Not a bad friend to have if you’re Saul and badly in need of credibility.

Barnabas must have been convincing, since the story says Saul was soon “moving freely” about Jerusalem and preaching boldly. In fact, enemies of the Christian community were soon plotting to kill Saul. His zeal made him controversial, no matter whose side he was on!

In today’s Gospel, Jesus uses the comparison of vine and branches to describe our unity with him. In a community, the unity we share with Christ must also mean we are united with each other. The story about Saul and the Jerusalem community reminds us how important it is to affirm one another within our contemporary parish settings. We must welcome and integrate those who are new to the community. We may need to support our more zealous and outspoken members when they witness boldly. In all things, we strive to keep Jesus’ command: to love one another, as he has loved us.

Scripture:

•…he reported to them how he had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken to him (Acts 9:27)

•And I will live for the Lord, (Psalm 22:31)

•… the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit he gave us. (1 John 3:24b)

•Remain in me, as I remain in you. (John 15:4a)

•If you remain in me and my words remain in you… (John 15:7a)

Reflection:

•Can you describe closeness in a way more intimate than “Remain in me as I remain in you”?

•Why does Jesus invite you to “remain in me”?

•Does “remain” describe the eternity or timelessness of becoming one in Jesus?

For the Word of God became a human being that we might become God; and he manifested himself in a body, that we might gain an idea of the invisible Father; and he endured insolence from men, that we might inherit immortality. (Athanasius)

Our Lady of Fatima

Between May 13 and October 13, 1917, three Portuguese children received apparitions of Our Lady at Cova da Iria, near Fatima, a city 110 miles north of Lisbon. (See February 20 entry for Blessed Jacinta and Francisco Marto). Mary asked the children to pray the rosary for world peace, for the end of World War I, for sinners and for the conversion of Russia. At the beginning of 2003, the third visionary, Lucia dos Santos, was still living as a Carmelite nun.

Mary gave the children three secrets. Since Francisco died in 1919 and Jacinta the following year, Lucia revealed the first secret in 1927, concerning devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The second secret was a vision of hell.

Pope John Paul II directed the Holy See's Secretary of State to reveal the third secret in 2000; it spoke of a 'bishop in white' who was shot by a group of soldiers who fired bullets and arrows into him. Many people linked this to the assassination attempt against Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square on May 13, 1981.

The feast of Our Lady of Fatima was approved by the local bishop in 1930; it was added to the Church's worldwide calendar in 2002.

Comment:

The message of Fatima is simple: Pray. Unfortunately, some people—not Sister Lucia—have distorted these revelations, making them into an apocalyptic event for which they are now the only reliable interpreters. They have, for example, claimed that Mary's request that the world be consecrated to her has been ignored. Sister Lucia has agreed that Pope John Paul II's public consecration in St. Peter's Square on March 25, 1984, fulfilled Mary's request. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith prepared a June 26, 2000, document explaining the “third secret” (available at www.vatican.va).

Mary is perfectly honored when people generously imitate her response “Let it be done to me as you say” (Luke 1:38). Mary can never be seen as a rival to Jesus or to the Church's teaching authority, as exercised by the college of bishops united with the bishop of Rome.

Quote:

“Throughout history there have been supernatural apparitions and signs which go to the heart of human events and which, to the surprise of believers and non-believers alike, play their part in the unfolding of history. These manifestations can never contradict the content of faith, and must therefore have their focus in the core of Christ's proclamation: the Father's love which leads men and women to conversion and bestows the grace required to abandon oneself to him with filial devotion. This too is the message of Fatima which, with its urgent call to conversion and penance, draws us to the heart of the Gospel” (The Message of Fatima, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, June 26, 2000).

Washing Away of Sins:

A reliance on Christ’s sin-atonement brings about a Christlike peace—one that transcends any worldly imitation of tranquility….But the moment we stop trusting him, we are left to drown in a sea of guilt. So let him wash those sins away!

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Truth sees God, and wisdom beholds God, and of these two comes the third, and that is a marvelous holy delight in God, which is love. Where truth and wisdom are, truly there is love and truly coming of them both, and all of God's making. For God is endless sovereign truth, endless sovereign wisdom, endless sovereign love unmade.

- St. Julian of Norwich (1342-1423)

Salvation:

Salvation is simply trusting God to manage our sins, just as we trust him to manage the supply of air we breathe, the movement of atoms throughout the cosmos or the rising of the sun. Of the thousands of ways of attempting to attain true freedom from guilt and authentic peace, the only workable one is totally trusting the Lord.

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Works of charity, almsgiving, are in effect a way for the rich to shirk their obligation to work for justice and a means of soothing their conscience, while preserving their own status and robbing the poor of their rights.

- Pope Benedict XVI (Deus Caritas Est - God is Love, #26)

Forgiving Sin:

Because it is a personal relationship that is ruptured by sin, the restoration must be a very direct one-to-one, personal act.…Divine revelation shows us that our God is a personal God, incredibly loving and merciful and far more eager to forgive us creatures than we are eager to be forgiven.

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Why should you avoid so tender a parent -- a Saviour who has poured out the last drop of his blood for you? Nay, rather turn and meet Him who has been running after you so long.

- St. Francis di Girolamo (1642-1716 )

Deeply in Love:

Our heavenly Father is so deeply in love with each one of us that he gives us every opportunity to be drawn to him. As Saint Augustine phrased it, “God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us.”

Faith – Judgment:

Jesus asserts that His Father wants Him to tell the world that if we reject His Truth of salvation, then we have brought judgment and condemnation upon ourselves. We should not blame anyone if we choose to misuse God’s gift of freedom.

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I pray God may open your eyes and let you see what hidden treasures he bestows on us in the trials from which the world thinks only to flee. Shame turns into honor when we seek God's glory. Present afflictions become the source of heavenly glory. To those who suffer wounds in fighting his battles, God opens his arms in loving, tender friendship.

- St. John of Avila (1499-1569)

Loving the Sinner:

God hates sin with a hatred that we can’t imagine, but he profoundly loves the person who commits the sin. The world’s worst sinner is precious to God, who lovingly desires that he be saved.

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O God, Creator of heaven and earth, cast on me an eye of pity. Deliver me from my miseries: Teach me the true way of pleasing you, and it shall be the whole employment and most earnest study of my life to serve you and to do your will.

- St. Pachomius (292-346)

In every situation, there are always two stories--the story you see and the story God sees. The storms of life won't harm you if you have deep roots in God.

- e-mail source

Why Bless Objects?

Q: My friend questions the custom of blessing objects such as cars, homes, crosses and other things. Why is that done?

A: I think that blessing such things is a fine custom as long as the person does not think that the blessing excuses him or her from using the object prudently. For example, having my car blessed does not mean that I can drive recklessly and be guaranteed not to have an accident.

Blessing objects is one way of saying that everything comes from God and should be used in harmony with God's intention, with respect for the rest of creation (human and nonhuman). We bless the food we eat, but we do not eat everything in sight! The virtue of temperance should influence all of life.

The General Introduction to Book of Blessings (U.S. Catholic Conference) says that blessings "refer first and foremost to God, whose majesty and goodness they extol, and since they indicate the communication of God's favor, they also involve human beings, whom he governs and in his providence protects.

"Further, blessings apply to other created things through which, in their abundance and variety, God blesses human beings" (#7).

God’s Merciful Love:

The reason why it’s hard for us to appreciate fully God’s merciful love is that we can’t fathom the depth of that kind of love. It’s simply beyond us—beyond our capacity as humans—to love so unconditionally and so universally.

Faith - Sincerity:

We hear of people who refuse to change their “sinful” ways in life, but hope to “repent” on their deathbed. We either love God or we don’t. We should not put God’s generosity to the test; that is insincerity. All of us are sinners; we need to strive to love God with sincerity at all times.

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Whenever some act of wondrous power must be performed, St. Michael is sent, so that his action and his name may make it clear that no one can do what God does by his superior power.

- Pope St. Gregory the Great (from a Homily on St. Michael the Archangel)

God’s Open Arms:

God’s loving mercy overrides his righteous indignation at the horrendous evil of sin….When the sinner takes the tiniest step toward his waiting open arms, God embraces him with the warmest affection. Truly God’s tenderness and love total far more than all the human love added up from the beginning of human existence on Earth.

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The true contemplative is the one who is able to work with greater force and incisiveness for the salvation of souls and the good of the Church.

- Pope John Paul II (on the Beautification of St. Agostino Roscelli)

I Believe!

Can we believe that God loves us that much, to truly become incarnate, to truly become human while remaining who he is? Let us become like little children and say, “Yes, Lord, I believe!”

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Jesus, my love, what can I do to make the whole world love you? Make use once again of this wretched instrument to renew the faith and conversion of sinners.

- Blessed Anna Rosa Gattorno (1831-1900)

Love Poured Out:

The infinite love that the Son expressed in his Person had to be poured out completely in a human way, all the way to death. Because he became one of us and because at the same time he is the eternal Son, he suffered the suffering of all, those who lived and died before him…and all those who will ever live.

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Thanks be to you, good Jesus, who, moved by the holy entreaties of your servant, broke my bonds and cast upon me the bonds of your love. If I continue to be held in them, the bonds of sin will never regain their strength.

- St. Hilary of Arles (400-449)

God Loves Infinitely:

God loves infinitely, pouring himself out infinitely and never being in the least exhausted by this….This is how the three Persons love perfectly in their oneness. This is how God has loved and redeemed us through the Incarnation, passion and death of the Son.

Eucharist- Divine Gift:

In today’s Gospel Jesus reminds us, “I am the Living Bread which has come down from heaven.” How blessed are we to have this divine food to strengthen and nourish our faith. Are we grateful to God for this gift of Himself to us? Is receiving the Eucharist merely a routine?

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Prayers increases the strength and spiritual unity of the family, helping the family to partake of God's own strength...Prayer needs to become a regular habit in the daily life of each family.

- Pope John Paul II the Great

What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit received at Confirmation?

At Confirmation, we learn the implications of our new life in the Holy Spirit:

All powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
by water and the Holy Spirit
you freed your sons and daughters from sin
And gave them new life.
Send your Holy Spirit upon them
to be their helper and guide.
Give them the spirit of [I] wisdom and [2] understanding,
the spirit of [3] right judgment and [4] courage,
the spirit of [5] knowledge and [6] reverence.
Fill them with the spirit of [7] wonder and awe in your presence.
(Rite of Confirmation)

This prayer names the traditional "Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit." The biblical origin of these seven gifts is found in Isaiah (11:1-3) where he is foretelling the qualities of the Messiah.

But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord, and his delight shall be the fear of the Lord.

[The ancient Greek and Latin translations of this passage read "piety" for "fear of the Lord" in line six; this gives us our traditional seven gifts.]

These seven gifts are the signs that the Messiah will be guided by the Spirit. The relation of these gifts to the sacrament of Confirmation becomes clear when we remember that the word "Messiah" (Christos in Greek) means "anointed." Jesus was "anointed," filled with the Holy Spirit at his baptism. At Confirmation we are anointed with the Holy Spirit. Throughout the Gospels we see how these seven gifts form Jesus' personality. They are characteristic of his activity. Consider the wisdom expressed in his parables; his understanding of the poor and the sick; his right judgment when tested by the Pharisees; his courage to continue the journey to Jerusalem where he surmised what fate awaited him; his knowledge of God's will; his reverence for his heavenly Father; his awe before the wonders of creation—the lilies of the field, the birds of the air....The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are the manifestation of the Divine Power active in the life of Jesus of Nazareth.

Click here to read a full article on this topic.

Eyes of a Child:

Unless we are truly humble, passion will seem to us to be mere emotion. Unless we practice humility and live in humility, our faith will remain implicit rather than practical and vibrant. Unless we can see with the eyes of a little child, we will be blind.

Do You Know Jesus?:

Jesus reprimanded Philip, “Have I been with you all these time and you still do not know me?” Is Jesus also reprimanding us today? How personal is Jesus to you? When you reflect on your day, is Jesus part of what you do? Or is your day filled with only what you want?

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If we wish to adore the real Face of Jesus... we can find it in the divine Eucharist, where with the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, the Face of Our Lord is hidden under the white veil of the Host.

- Pope Benedict XVI (Homily for the Conclusion of the Year of the Eucharist, Oct. 23, 2005)

Like a Child:

We must learn to become little and simple; otherwise it is impossible for our passion to be in Jesus Christ and in his passion. We must take literally and realize explicitly and concretely the words of Jesus, “[W]hoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it” (Luke 18:17).

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If in the morning we imagined that we would never last till evening, and if at evening we thought that we would never see morning, we would never sin.

- St. Athanasius (297-373)

Self-Gift:

We share in Jesus’ suffering love and self-gift first by receiving him in the Eucharist, thus becoming one with him so that our lives become self-gift….Then we see how we are to share in his passion in very personal ways in our lives.

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Within the community of believers there can never be room for a poverty that denies anyone what is needed for a dignified life.

- Pope Benedict XVI (Deus Caritas Est - God is Love, #20)