"THE LOVE OF GOD HAS BEEN POURED OUT INTO OUR HEARTS THROUGH THE SPIRIT OF GOD DWELLING IN US! ALLELUIA" (Romans 5:5).

THE GIFT OF THE LOVE OF GOD IS THE HOLY SPIRIT.

We are in a time of great expectation. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS COMING. We just celebrated the ASCENCION OF THE LORD. At the very end of Luke's Gospel (Luke 24: 50-53), Jesus blesses his disciples as he is being lifted up to heaven, then "his disciples returned to Jerusalem with GREAT JOY, and they were continually in the temple praising God". Like Jesus' first disciples, we are also anticipating the COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WITH GREAT JOY. THIS IS THE JOY OF PENTECOST:

"The disciples were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of FIRE, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. AND THEY WERE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT and began to speak in different tongues as THE SPIRIT enabled them to proclaim " (Acts 2: 1-4)

These four verses set the stage for our CELEBRATION OF PENTECOST. We have been waiting for 50 days since EASTER. Those 50 days are the summit of our entire Liturgical Year. They culminate in the DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, which fulfills Jesus' PROMISE to all of us. Jesus will never abandon us. When Jesus was lifted up (Ascension) HE OPENED for all of us the HEAVEN, giving us all HOPE THAT ONE DAY WE WILL BE WITH HIM FOREVER AND EVER.

Once Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, HE SENDS US HIS SPIRIT to guide us, to transform us. HE SENDS US THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE GIFT OF THE LOVE OF GOD.

GOD IS LOVE. HE loves each of us. THE FIRE OF HIS LOVE, the HOLY SPIRIT dwells within us since our Baptism. At our Confirmation, we received more of the Holy Spirit, including His seven GIFTS. At every Liturgy, at every Sacrament, THE HOLY SPIRIT IS FULLY PRESENT AND ACTIVE. At every Mass, we celebrate the entire PASCHAL MYSTERY: the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, His Death, Resurrection, Ascension, and the coming down of HIS SPIRIT. Every Mass is CHRISTMAS. Every Mass is GOOD FRIDAY. Every Mass is EASTER. every Mass is PENTECOST. EVERY MASS IS HEAVEN ON EARTH.

When was the last time you prayed to the Holy Spirit? Let us pray together the prayer we pray every single day of the week in our chapel before our daily Rosary:

Come O Holy Spirit
Beloved of my soul,
I adore You.
Enlighten me,
guide me,
strengthen me,
and console me.
Tell me what I must do.
Inspire me
with what I must say.
Give me Your orders.
I promise
to submit myself
to You in all
that You ask of me
and to accept all
that You permit
to happen to me.
Let me only
know Your will,
And do Your will.
Amen

May the Holy Spirit grant all of us a most Blessed Pentecost!

One in Christ,

 

Father Alain