by Norbert Doulanni | May 20, 2024 | Evangelium
Saint Christopher Magallanes
and his Companions, Martyrs
Green/Red
He was born in Mexico in 1869. He took a special interest in the evangelization of the local indigenous Huichol. Falsely accused, he was arrested and executed without a trial in 1927.
Entrance Antiphon: Ps 12: 6
O Lord, I trust in your merciful love. My heart will rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord who has been bountiful with me.
Collect
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, always pondering spiritual things,
we may carry out in both word and deed that which is pleasing to you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: James 4:1-10
Where do these wars and battles between yourselves first start? Isn’t it precisely in the desires fighting inside your own selves? You want something and you haven’t got it; so you are prepared to kill. You have an ambition that you cannot satisfy; so you fight to get your way by force. Why you don’t have what you want is because you don’t pray for it; when you do pray and don’t get it, it is because you have not prayed properly, you have prayed for something to indulge your own desires. You are as unfaithful as adulterous wives; don’t you realise that making the world your friend is making God your enemy? Anyone who chooses the world for his friend turns himself into God’s enemy. Surely you don’t think scripture is wrong when it says: the spirit which he sent to live in us wants us for himself alone? But he has been even more generous to us, as scripture says: God opposes the proud but he gives generously to the humble. Give in to God, then; resist the devil, and he will run away from you. The nearer you go to God, the nearer he will come to you. Clean your hands, you sinners, and clear your minds, you waverers. Look at your wretched condition, and weep for it in misery; be miserable instead of laughing, gloomy instead of happy. Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm
54(55):7-11,23
R/ Entrust your cares to the Lord and he will support you.
O that I had wings like a dove to fly away and be at rest. So I would escape far away and take refuge in the desert.
I would hasten to find a shelter from the raging wind, from the destructive storm, O Lord, and from their plotting tongues.
For I can see nothing but violence and strife in the city. Night and day they patrol high on the city walls.
Entrust your cares to the Lord and he will support you. He will never allow the just man to stumble.
Gospel Acclamation: Jn14:23
Alleluia, alleluia! If anyone loves me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him. Alleluia!
Gospel: Mark 9:30-37
Jesus and his disciples made their way through Galilee; and he did not want anyone to know, because he was instructing his disciples; he was telling them, ‘The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men; they will put him to death; and three days after he has been put to death he will rise again.’ But they did not understand what he said and were afraid to ask him. They came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the road?’ They said nothing because they had been arguing which of them was the greatest. So he sat down, called the Twelve to him and said, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all.’ He then took a little child, set him in front of them, put his arms round him, and said to them, ‘Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’
Prayer over the Offerings
As we celebrate your mysteries, O Lord, with the observance that is your due, we humbly ask you, that what we offer to the honour of your majesty may profit us for salvation. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Ps 9: 2-3
I will recount all your wonders, I will rejoice in you and be glad, and sing psalms to your name, O Most High.
Prayer after Communion
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we may experience the effects of the salvation which is pledged to us by these mysteries. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
The disciples argued about who was the greatest among them, demonstrating that they were full of foolish desire like the rest of the world. Such arrogant aim breeds unending squabbling and conflict. In effect, this not only distracts individuals from their primary job in life, which is to be helpful and supportive to one another, but it also defeats that objective because we are now pulling down our brothers and sisters who we are supposed to support. We don’t even get what we want when we fight. In humble prayer, we should ask for anything we require. We should ask for whatever is necessary for our salvation without jeopardising our neighbour’s growth. God only responds to those types of prayers. We discipline our lives and pay attention to the voice of Christ as he challenges us with the facts of life, just as he did the apostles. We must be courageous enough to face life’s challenges with faith, humility, and compassion toward others. This is the only way to be certain of the victory that Christ’s resurrection has in store for us.
by Norbert Doulanni | May 20, 2024 | Agenda Biblique
7ème SEMAINE DU TEMPS
ORDINAIRE
Psautier iii
Saint Constantin
vert/rouge
Empereur romain, c’est lui qui convoqua en 325 le Concile de Nicée qui condamnera l’arianisme.
Antienne d’ouverture : PS 12, 6
Seigneur, je suis sûr de ton amour: mon cœur est dans la joie, car tu me sauves ; je veux chanter au Seigneur tout le bien qu’il m’a fait.
Prière d’ouverture
Accorde-nous, Dieu tout-puissant, de conformer à ta volonté nos paroles et nos actes dans une inlassable recherche des biens spirituels. Par Jésus Christ.
1ère lecture : Jacques 4, 1-10
Bien-aimés, d’où viennent les guerres, d’où viennent les conflits entre vous ? N’est-ce pas justement de tous ces désirs qui mènent leur combat en vous-mêmes ? Vous êtes pleins de convoitises et vous n’obtenez rien, alors vous tuez ; vous êtes jaloux et vous n’arrivez pas à vos fins, alors vous entrez en conflit et vous faites la guerre. Vous n’obtenez rien parce que vous ne demandez pas ; vous demandez, mais vous ne recevez rien ; en effet, vos demandes sont mauvaises, puisque c’est pour tout dépenser en plaisirs Adultères que vous êtes! Ne savez-vous pas que l’amour pour le monde rend ennemi de Dieu ? Donc celui qui veut être ami du monde se pose en ennemi de Dieu. Ou bien pensez-vous que l’Écriture parle pour rien quand elle dit : Dieu veille jalousement sur l’Esprit qu’il a fait habiter en nous ? Dieu ne nous donne-t-il pas une grâce plus grande encore ? C’est ce que dit l’Écriture : Dieu s’oppose aux orgueilleux, aux humbles il accorde sa grâce. Soumettez-vous donc à Dieu, et résistez au diable : il s’enfuira loin de vous. Approchez-vous de Dieu, et lui s’approchera de vous. Pécheurs, enlevez la souillure de vos mains ; esprits doubles, purifiez vos cœurs. Reconnaissez votre misère, prenez le deuil et pleurez ; que votre rire se change en deuil et votre joie en accablement. Abaissez-vous devant le Seigneur, et il vous élèvera.
Psaume : 54 (55), 7-11,23
R/ Décharge ton fardeau sur le Seigneur : il prendra soin de toi. (Ps 54, 23ab)
J’ai dit : « Qui me donnera des ailes de colombe ? Je volerais en lieu sûr ;loin, très loin, je m’enfuirais pour chercher asile au désert. »
J’ai hâte d’avoir un abri contre ce grand vent de tempête! Divise-les, Seigneur, mets la confusion dans leur langage !
Car je vois dans la ville discorde et violence : de jour et de nuit, elles tournent en haut de ses remparts.
Décharge ton fardeau sur le Seigneur : il prendra soin de toi. Jamais il ne permettra que le juste s’écroule.
Acclamation : Jn14, 23
Alléluia, alléluia ! Que la croix du Seigneur soit ma seule fierté ! Par elle, le monde est crucifié pour moi, et moi pour le monde. Alléluia !
Évangile : Marc 9, 30-37
En ce temps-là, Jésus traversait la Galilée avec ses disciples, et il ne voulait pas qu’on le sache, car il enseignait ses disciples en leur disant : « Le Fils de l’homme est livré aux mains des hommes ; ils le tueront et, trois jours après sa mort, il ressuscitera. » Mais les disciples ne comprenaient pas ces paroles et ils avaient peur de l’interroger. Ils arrivèrent à Capharnaüm, et, une fois à la maison, Jésus leur demanda : « De quoi discutiez-vous en chemin?» Ils se taisaient, car, en chemin, ils avaient discuté entre eux pour savoir qui était le plus grand. S’étant assis, Jésus appela les Douze et leur dit : « Si quelqu’un veut être le premier, qu’il soit le dernier de tous et le serviteur de tous. » Prenant alors un enfant, il le plaça au milieu d’eux, l’embrassa, et leur dit : « Quiconque accueille en mon nom un enfant comme celui-ci, c’est moi qu’il accueille. Et celui qui m’accueille, ce n’est pas moi qu’il accueille, mais Celui qui m’a envoyé. »
Prière sur les offrandes
En célébrant avec respect tes mystères, Seigneur, nous te supplions humblement : que les dons offerts pour te glorifier servent à notre salut. Par Jésus.
Antienne de la communion : Ps 9
De toute mon âme, Seigneur, je rendrai grâce en proclamant tes innombrables merveilles ; j’exulterai, je danserai auprès de toi, je fêterai ton nom, Dieu très-haut.
Prière après la communion
Nous t’en prions, Dieu tout-puissant, donne-nous de recueillir tous les fruits de salut dont ces mystères sont déjà la promesse et le gage. Par Jésus.
Méditation
Pauvres disciples ! Comme leur raisonnement est prosaïque ! Ils cherchent à être appréciés, loués, gratifiés sur le champ. Était-ce vraiment ce à quoi ils aspiraient en suivant Jésus ? Lui parlait de résurrection, de vie éternelle, et eux pensaient aux flatteurs de la terre. Mais Jésus ne désespère pas. Il les prend comme ils sont. Il croit en leur « transformation ». Il sait qu’il faut y aller doucement, et Il les instruit, patiemment, comme des enfants, à partir d’images, de paraboles, d’exemples familiers. Et tout naturellement, Il prend un enfant sur ses genoux. Si vous ne redevenez comme des enfants (Matthieu 18.3). Et tous savent qu’un enfant aime sans calcul. Qu’il est toute gratuité et confiance, qu’il se remet entièrement entre les mains de ses parents. Et les disciples comprendront que la vraie grandeur est de redevenir tout petit. De tout donner aux autres et souffrir pour eux. S’oublier pour eux, mourir pour eux. Le Christ l’a fait pour nous, et avec lui des milliers de chrétiens ont tout donné jusqu’à leur vie. C’est ce qui fait la sainteté de l’Église.
by Norbert Doulanni | May 19, 2024 | Evangelium
Mary, Mother
of the Church
Psalter: week 3
Saint Bernardino of Siena
(1380 – 1444)
White
Bernardino (“Little Bernard”) was born in Tuscany. Inspired by St Vincent Ferrer, he was an energetic and popular preacher. He denounced usury, promoted peace, worked hard for the reform and discipline of the Franciscan order, and for church unity.
Entrance Antiphon
The disciples devoted themselves with one accord to prayer with Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Collect
O God, Father of mercies, whose Only Begotten Son, as he hung upon the Cross, chose the Blessed Virgin Mary, his Mother, to be our Mother also; grant, we pray,
that with her loving help, your Church may be more fruitful day by day, and exulting in the holiness of her children, may draw to her embrace all the families of the peoples. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Genesis 3:9-15,20
After Adam had eaten of the tree the Lord God called to him. ‘Where are you?’ he asked. ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden;’ he replied ‘I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.’ ‘Who told you that you were naked?’ he asked ‘Have you been eating of the tree I forbade you to eat?’ The man replied, ‘It was the woman you put with me; she gave me the fruit, and I ate it.’ Then the Lord God asked the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ The woman replied, ‘The serpent tempted me and I ate.’ Then the Lord God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this, ‘Be accursed beyond all cattle, all wild beasts. You shall crawl on your belly and eat dust every day of your life. I will make you enemies of each other: you and the woman, your offspring and her offspring. It will crush your head and you will strike its heel.’ The man named his wife ‘Eve’ because she was the mother of all those who live.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 86(87)
R/ Of you are told glorious things, O city of God!
On the holy mountain is his city cherished by the Lord. The Lord prefers the gates of Zion to all Jacob’s dwellings.
Of you are told glorious things, O city of God! ‘Zion shall be called “Mother” for all shall be her children.’
It is he, the Lord Most High, who gives each his place. In his register of peoples he writes: These are her children,’ and while they dance they will sing: ‘In you all find their home.’
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia! Happy are you, holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of all praise, for from you arose the sun of justice, Christ our God. Alleluia!
Gospel: John 19:25-34
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son.’ Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is your mother.’ And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home. After this, Jesus knew that everything had now been completed, and to fulfil the scripture perfectly he said, ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar full of vinegar stood there, so putting a sponge soaked in the vinegar on a hyssop stick they held it up to his mouth. After Jesus had taken the vinegar he said, ‘It is accomplished’; and bowing his head he gave up his spirit. It was Preparation Day, and to prevent the bodies remaining on the cross during the sabbath – since that sabbath was a day of special solemnity – the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken away. Consequently the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with him and then of the other. When they came to Jesus, they found he was already dead, and so instead of breaking his legs one of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance; and immediately there came out blood and water.
Prayer over the Offerings
Receive our offerings, O Lord, and transform them into the mystery of salvation, so that by its power we may be set aflame with the charity of the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, and with her may be united more closely to the work of redemption. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Jn2:1,11
A wedding was held in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; then Jesus performed the first of his signs and manifested his glory and his disciples believed in him.
Prayer after Communion
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, thanks to the outpouring of the Spirit, may fill the whole earth. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Mary was called the New Eve by the first-century Church Fathers. Saint Anselm addressed Mary thus: “You are the mother of justification and of the justified, the Mother of reconciliation and of the reconciled, the mother of salvation and of the saved.” As Eve was “the mother of all the living” (Gen. 3:20), Mary was the mother of all those living in Christ. St. John states that this Woman’s children are “those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus” in Revelation 12:17. Mary joined her Son’s sacrifice on Calvary and gave birth to the new humanity via labour pains. The Crucified One declares Mary’s maternity to the Apostle John and all disciples by saying, “Woman, behold your son.” Jesus tenderly entrusted Mary to John. Since Jesus is our brother and Mary is His mother, Mary is our mother also. Thus, the Church’s Tradition from the Apostles informs us that the Lord was committing all of His followers to Mary, in the figure of St. John. In effect, “Mary is mother wherever Jesus is Saviour and head of the Mystical Body.” (CCC 973)
by Norbert Doulanni | May 19, 2024 | Agenda Biblique
BVM, mère de l’Eglise
Saint Bernardin de Sienne, prêtre
Blanc
Ce franciscain (1381-1444) savait se faire écouter pendant des heures, tant sa prédication était vivante, simple et pleine de verve. Son ardente dévotion au nom de Jésus, figuré par les lettres IHS, fut le prétexte dont se servirent ses ennemis pour le calomnier et jeter le soupçon sur sa foi, sans pouvoir troubler sa sérénité
Antienne d’ouverture : PS 12, 6
« Nous Te saluons, Mère très Sainte: Tu as mis au monde le Roi qui gouverne le Ciel et la terre pour les siècles sans fin » .
Prière d’ouverture
Dieu, Père de toute Miséricorde, ton Fils unique, cloué sur la Croix, a voulu que la Bienheureuse Vierge Marie, sa Mère, soit aussi notre Mère ; accorde à ton Église, soutenue par son Amour, la joie de donner naissance à des enfants toujours plus nombreux, de les voir grandir en sainteté et d’attirer à elle toutes les familles des peuples. Par Jésus Christ, ton Fils, Notre Seigneur » .
1ère lecture : Gn 3, 9-15.20
Quand Adam eut mangé du fruit de l’arbre, le Seigneur Dieu l’appela et lui dit : « Où es-tu donc ? » L’homme répondit : « J’ai entendu ta voix dans le jardin, j’ai pris peur parce que je suis nu, et je me suis caché. » Le Seigneur reprit : « Qui donc t’a dit que tu étais nu ? Aurais-tu mangé de l’arbre dont je t’avais interdit de manger ? » L’homme répondit : « La femme que tu m’as donnée, c’est elle qui m’a donné du fruit de l’arbre, et j’en ai mangé. » Le Seigneur Dieu dit à la femme : « Qu’as-tu fait là ? » La femme répondit : « Le serpent m’a trompée, et j’ai mangé. » Alors le Seigneur Dieu dit au serpent : « Parce que tu as fait cela, tu seras maudit parmi tous les animaux et toutes les bêtes des champs. Tu ramperas sur le ventre et tu mangeras de la poussière tous les jours de ta vie. Je mettrai une hostilité entre toi et la femme, entre ta descendance et sa descendance : celle-ci te meurtrira la tête, et toi, tu lui meurtriras le talon. » L’homme appela sa femme Ève (c’est-à-dire : la vivante), parce qu’elle fut la mère de tous les vivants. – Parole du Seigneur.
Psaume : 86 (87), 1-2, 3 et 5, 6-7
R/ Pour ta gloire on parle de toi ville de Dieu !
Elle est fondée sur les montagnes saintes. Le Seigneur aime les portes de Sion plus que toutes les demeures de Jacob.
Pour ta gloire on parle de toi, ville de Dieu ! Mais on appelle Sion : « Ma mère ! » car en elle, tout homme est né. C’est lui, le Très-Haut, qui la maintient.
Au registre des peuples, le Seigneur écrit : « Chacun est n é là-bas. » Tous ensemble ils dansent, et ils chantent : « En toi, toutes nos sources ! »
Acclamation
Alléluia, alléluia! Heureuse Vierge Marie tu as enfanté le Seigneur ! Bienheureuse Mère de l’Église, tu fais brûler en nous l’Esprit de ton Fils Jésus, le Christ. Alléluia. (2 Tm 1, 10)
Évangile : Jn 19, 25-34
En ce temps-là, près de la croix de Jésus se tenaient sa mère et la sœur de sa mère, Marie, femme de Cléophas, et Marie Madeleine. Jésus, voyant sa mère, et près d’elle le disciple qu’il aimait, dit à sa mère : « Femme, voici ton fils. » Puis il dit au disciple : « Voici ta mère. » Et à partir de cette heure-là, le disciple la prit chez lui. Après cela, sachant que tout, désormais, était achevé, pour que l’Écriture s’accomplisse jusqu’au bout, Jésus dit : « J’ai soif. » Il y avait là un récipient plein d’une boisson vinaigrée. On fixa donc une éponge remplie de ce vinaigre à une branche d’hysope, et on l’approcha de sa bouche. Quand il eut pris le vinaigre, Jésus dit : « Tout est accompli. » Puis, inclinant la tête, il remit l’esprit. Comme c’était le jour de la Préparation (c’est-à-dire le vendredi), il ne fallait pas laisser les corps en croix durant le sabbat, d’autant plus que ce sabbat était le grand jour de la Pâque. Aussi les Juifs demandèrent à Pilate qu’on enlève les corps après leur avoir brisé les jambes. Les soldats allèrent donc briser les jambes du premier, puis de l’autre homme crucifié avec Jésus. Quand ils arrivèrent à Jésus, voyant qu’il était déjà mort, ils ne lui brisèrent pas les jambes, mais un des soldats avec sa lance lui perça le côté ; et aussitôt, il en sortit du sang et de l’eau. – Acclamons la Parole de Dieu.
Prière sur les offrandes
En célébrant avec respect tes mystères, Seigneur, nous te supplions humblement : que les dons offerts pour te glorifier servent à notre salut. Par Jésus.
Antienne de la communion : Ps 9, 2-3
« Heureuse la Vierge Marie, qui a porté dans son sein le Fils du Père éternel »
Prière après la communion
« En Communiant à la Nourriture du Ciel, nous implorons ta Bonté, Seigneur : puisque nous avons la joie de faire Mémoire de la Vierge Marie, rends-nous capables d’accueillir comme Elle le Mystère de notre Rédemption. Par Jésus, le Christ, Notre Seigneur. »
Méditation
Si nous disons que nous sommes sans soucis, que nous sommes imperturbables, alors nous sommes des menteurs comme le dit l’apôtre St Jean la vérité n’est pas en nous. Il existe dans toute vie humaine des situations troubles devant lesquels nous semblons impuissants. Aujourd’hui nous pouvons comprendre que seule notre proximité avec le Christ-Jésus dans la prière nous assure la victoire. Sans moi a-t-Il dit, vous ne pouvez rien faire. Seigneur apprends-moi à prier. Amen !
by Norbert Doulanni | May 18, 2024 | Evangelium
Pentecost – Mass of the Day
Psalter: Proper
Saint Dunstan
red
Entrance Antiphon : Wis 1: 7
The Spirit of the Lord has filled the whole world and that which contains all things understands what is said, alleluia.
Collect
O God, who by the mystery of today’s great feast, sanctify your whole Church in every people and nation, pour out, we pray, the gifts of the Holy Spirit across the face of the earth, and, with the divine grace that was at work when the Gospel was first proclaimed, fill now, once more the hearts of believers. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : Acts 2:1-11
When Pentecost day came round, they had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech. Now there were devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and at this sound they all assembled, each one bewildered to hear these men speaking his own language. They were amazed and astonished. ‘Surely’ they said ‘all these men speaking are Galileans? How does it happen that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; people from Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya round Cyrene; as well as visitors from Rome – Jews and proselytes alike – Cretans and Arabs; we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God.’
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 103:1,24,29-31,34
R/ Send forth your spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth.
Bless the Lord, my soul! Lord God, how great you are, How many are your works, O Lord! The earth is full of your riches.
You take back your spirit, they die, returning to the dust from which they came. You send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the earth.
May the glory of the Lord last for ever! May the Lord rejoice in his works! May my thoughts be pleasing to him. I find my joy in the Lord.
Second reading : 1 Cor. 12:3-7,12-13
No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ unless he is under the influence of the Holy Spirit. There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in all of them. The particular way in which the Spirit is given to each person is for a good purpose. Just as a human body, though it is made up of many parts, is a single unit because all these parts, though many, make one body, so it is with Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptised, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as citizens, and one Spirit was given to us all to drink.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia! Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Alleluia!
Gospel : John 20:19-23
In the evening of the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. ‘As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.’ After saying this he breathed on them and said: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Grant, we pray, O Lord, that, as promised by your Son, the Holy Spirit may reveal to us more abundantly the hidden mystery of this sacrifice and graciously lead us into all truth. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Acts 2: 4, 11
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke of the marvels of God, alleluia.
Prayer after Communion
O God, who bestow heavenly gifts upon your Church, safeguard, we pray, the grace you have given, that the gift of the Holy Spirit poured out upon her may retain all its force and that this spiritual food may gain her abundance of eternal redemption. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
The Baptism of Fire should not be confused with the sacrament of Baptism. An intrinsic connection remains between the sacrament of Baptism and the Holy Spirit. The best relationship between the Holy Spirit and Baptism is done by Saint John Paul II in his General Audience, September 6, 1989: “In the light of Pentecost, we can also understand better the significance of Baptism as a first sacrament, insofar as it is a work of the Holy Spirit…. The Baptismal walk in newness of life began on Pentecost day at Jerusalem” The Baptism of Fire experienced in the Acts of the Apostles 2, 1-11 marks the “Birthday of the Church” because on this day, with the Descent of the Holy Spirit, Christ’s mission is completed, and the New Covenant is inaugurated. Today, the Church celebrates the day God sends the Spirit of His Son into the world. The Holy Spirit gives us the Church, and she, in turn, gives us the sacraments. Saint Augustine in his Sermo, no. 267 teaches us that “what the soul is to man’s body, the Holy Spirit is to the Body of Christ, which is the Church. The Holy Spirit does in the whole church what the soul does in the members of the one body”. Cardinal Newman (PPSIII, sermon 19) opines that “The Holy Spirit came to finish in us, what Christ had finished in Himself, but left unfinished as regards us” “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love.”
