Tag: Pentecost

Fill. Kindle. Renew.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle 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.

We pray that the Holy Spirit may fill our hearts like a rushing wind, kindle our hearts like a burning bush, and renew our hearts like the baptismal waters of the river Jordan. May the Holy Spirit consume us so that we may be compelled by the love of Christ to go forth and spread the Good News to all nations.

The Holy Spirit enables us to speak the universal language of love, so that, just like the Apostles on Pentecost, we too may be able to proclaim the “mighty acts of God” to all peoples with hopes that others may catch fire and be lead to the conversion of their hearts.

In Baptism we are re-born as children of the Most High. In Confirmation we are indelibly sealed with the Holy Spirit and strengthened by His power to carry out our mission. Let today be a renewal of our baptismal promises and be a reminder of the power of the Holy Spirit within us to fulfill those promises. Let us allow the Lord to stir our hearts once again to enliven our desire to evangelize and give Him the greatest possible glory with our lives!

So, Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle 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 the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

With you

 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever”? (John 14:16)

Many people often associate Pentecost as the Church’s Birthday, I like to think that it’s the day the Church went public and fully revealed the Holy Trinity.  To think the twelve were huddled in a room, fearing for their lives, and then suddenly they were each graced with the fullness of the Holy Spirit.  They were speaking all kinds of languages and what better way to share these gifts but to speak of the wonders of the Lord in public! All the people in the street understood what was being said and how much more personal can you get but receiving the messages in their native tongue.  On that day, the Church went public with her message and the Holy Spirit was right there with her!

Jesus ensured that the apostles wouldn’t be left alone and gave them with His most Holy Spirit to guide them and comfort them and strengthen them as they carry out the work of the Lord.  The same Holy Spirit is with us today, living and breathing and moving and working.  This same Spirit dwells within our hearts and allows us to bare great fruit.

Unfortunately, due to our own human limitations there are times we feel as though we are alone.  Our mere human effort fails us and we seek to fill the void with other things when really we simply lacked the ability to recognize Him within and amongst us.

We must fully understand that it is out of great and true love for us that He gave us the gift of His Holy Spirit.  And through the Holy Spirit, His love is poured out into our hearts so that we may share it with every living creature.

Although I know my journey with and towards Christ is far from over, the recent changes in my life have introduced a new fear of losing Him/losing the ability to recognize Him.  It’s like I’m suddenly aware of every breath and every thought and every action.  But it is because of my confidence in the ‘helper’ He promised that the fear is tamed and extinguished.  Our Lord is truly with us.  And He will be with us, through His Holy Spirit, until He comes again and we are fully reunited with our Maker.

Lord, thank you for blessing me with your Holy Spirit and for always being with me.  I know that it is out of your great love that you sent us a helper.  Please allow my heart to be open to the movings of your Spirit.  Holy Spirit, master of prayer, please help me in my weaknesses and allow my life to bare great fruit so they may be used for God’s Glory.  Amen.