“Now this love has been forgotten. I want to remind you of it, so that you can learn to know Me as I am” (Father’s message to Sister Eugenia Ravasio).
Showing all posts in May 2024
Pentecost Novena – Day 7: “Friendship with the Holy Spirit”
It is a joy for the three persons of the Holy Trinity to be with us, to dwell in us and to enlighten us with their divine light. This is also true of the Holy Spirit, who gives us His seven gifts to guide us on the path of holiness.
If we follow His guidance, the fruits of the Holy Spirit will grow in our lives and our Father will be very pleased with them. We only have to imagine how wonderful it is for us to meet someone in whom the fruits of the Holy Spirit have matured. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal 5:22-23).
Pentecost Novena – Day 6: “The Holy Spirit and Mary”
If the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles at Pentecost marks the hour of the birth of the Church, then His descent upon Mary in Nazareth marks the beginning of the work of salvation (cf. Lk 1:35).
The Church teaches us that Mary was preserved from original sin in view of the Saviour who would be born of her. This is the dogma of the Immaculate Conception: that the Virgin Mary, by a special grace of God, preserved the state of paradisiacal innocence.
AN AWAKENED EAR
“Open the ear of your heart! Let us listen with awakened ears” (St. Benedict).
It is a great spiritual art to know how to really listen, to listen attentively, as St. Benedict recommends to his monks. We are well aware of the innumerable voices, both from within and without, that seek our attention every day.
Pentecost Novena- Day 5: “The faithful”
On the faithful, who adore
And confess you, evermore
In your sevenfold gift descend;
Give them virtue’s sure reward;
Give them your salvation, Lord;
Give them joys that never end.
THE HOLY FLAVOR
“God is not pleased with the quantity of our work, but with the love with which we work” (St. Francis de Sales).
“Love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Pt 4:8) and increases the value of everything else.
Pentecost Novena – Day 4: “O most blessed Light divine”
O most blessed Light divine,
May that light within us shine
And our inmost being fill!
Where you are not, we have naught,
Nothing good in deed or thought,
Nothing free from taint and ill. Read More
IN PASSING
“Dwell on nothing but God” (Blessed Henry Suso).
We know a similar phrase from St. Augustine, who tells us that we can use all the things of this world, but we should enjoy God alone.
What are these two masters of spiritual life referring to? Was it not our Father who gave us so many wonderful things to rejoice in? No doubt He did! Read More
DO NOT STAGNATE
“I think it is impossible for love to be content to tread water” (St. Teresa of Avila).
Love cannot be content to remain in the same place because it is infinite. “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him” (1 Jn 4:16). Read More
Pentecost Novena – Day 3: “The best of comforters”
You, of comforters the best;
You, the soul’s most welcome guest;
Sweet refreshment here below;
In our labor, rest most sweet;
Grateful coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.