Consuming the Word

A new book coming out this month by Dr. Scott Hahn, "Consuming the Word - The New Testament and the Eucharist in the Early Church". Read Chapter One:
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Consuming the Word by Scott Hahn (Chapter 1) by Image Books

Pentecost - Tongues of Fire and a Mighty Wind

The Coming of the Holy Spirit 

 'When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.  And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.  And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.  And they were all  filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.  And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.  And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?  And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?  Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,  Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,  both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”
Acts 2:1-11

"..... we are the first fruits of a new humanity - fashioned from out of every nation under heaven, with no distinctions of wealth or language or race, a people born of the Spirit." 
~ Scott Hahn

A Mighty Wind ~ Scott Hahn's Reflection of the Pentecost

"The Ear of the Heart" by Mother Dolores Hart

The Ear of the Heart: An Actress' Journey from Hollywood to Holy Vows

"The most important thing an actor can do is listen."

"Listen and attend with the ear of your heart." - Saint Benedict — with Mother Dolores Hart.



Learn more about the Book, the Authors, Author Events, The Abbey of Regina Laudis, and the DVD Documentary, "God is Bigger than Elvis" about the life of Dolores Hart: HERE

A short preview from "The Ear of the Heart":

"In the evenings after production wrapped, Elvis and I would share a limo back to the hotel. There were always hordes of shrieking teenage girls reaching out to touch him. He reacted politely, but of course he couldn’t stop or we would be stranded for hours. Once, however, he did stop for a moment and spoke to a girl who had just called out, “You’re the king!”

“Don’t call me the king”, he said to her softly but firmly. “There is only one king, the Lord Jesus Christ.” I thought that was lovely and wanted to say something to him, but I was too shy."
---
From the book “Ear of the Heart: An Actress’ Journey from Hollywood to Holy Vows” by Mother Dolores Hart, O.S.B., and Richard DeNeut

(Just my opinion....can you imagine any modern day 'rock star', such as Mick Jagger, bearing such a strong witness and testimony of Our Lord? Christian celebrities are few and far between today, and the enemy applauds..let us NOT!)

Apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima

 
Today is the 96th anniversary of the Apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima.

 13 May 1917 

 "On 13 May 1917 the three children took their flocks out to pasture on the small area known as the Cova da Iria. After lunch and the rosary they suddenly saw a bright flash of something like lightning, followed quickly by another flash in the clear blue sky. They looked up to see in Lucia's words, "a lady, clothed in white, brighter than the sun, radiating a light more clear and intense than a crystal cup filled with sparkling water, lit by burning sunlight." The children stood there amazed, bathed in the light that surrounded the apparition, as the Lady smiled and said: "Do not be afraid, I will not harm you." Lucia as the oldest asked her where she came from. The Lady pointed to the sky and said: "I come from heaven." Lucia then asked her what she wanted: "I have come to ask you to come here for six months on the 13th day of the month, at this same hour. Later I shall say who I am and what I desire. And I shall return here yet a seventh time.""  

Descriptions of each of the Fatima Apparitions

Ave Maria (Caccini)

A beautiful version of Ave Maria composed by Caccini, sung by Andrea Bocelli. In honor of Our Lady, Mary Mother of God....Perfect for Mother's Day!

True Freedom through Detachment

In the secular news lately there have been  two horrific stories of people who could not let go of their attachments. Now that they are in the grips of the Criminal Justice system, they just want freedom from all  their attachments.

They want to totally detach themselves,  but in their mixed up minds, they are hoping for the death penalty or considering suicide to bring them the 'freedom' they now crave.  This of course is an example of extreme and  disturbed individuals. However, many 'regular'  'normal' people also do not know how to free themselves from attachments and find the Spiritual Freedom and Joy found only through detachment. 

 The following articles are a place to start.  Also, two excellent books on detachment are "Fire Within" by Fr. Thomas Dubay about the intense prayer life and Spiritual detachment of St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross.  And the classic text on detachment is of course, "Abandonment to Divine Providence".

Detachment from the world

The power of Spiritual Detachment

Catholic Wisdom - Archive of  'Detachment' category

The Joy of Full Surrender - Abandonment to Divine Providence

Ascension of Christ

 

  Tradition designates Mount Olivet near Bethany as the place where Christ left the earth. The feast falls on Thursday. It is one of the Ecumenical feasts ranking with the feasts of the Passion, of  Easter and of  Pentecost, among the most solemn in the calendar,  has a vigil and, since the fifteenth century, an octave which is set apart for a novena of preparation for Pentecost,  in accordance with the directions of Leo XIII.

 "Gladden us with holy joys, almighty God,
and make us rejoice with devout thanksgiving,
for the Ascension of Christ your Son
is our exaltation,
and, where the Head has gone before in glory, the Body is called to follow in hope.
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."  - Collect at Mass for the Solemnity of The Ascension of the Lord

A Feast of Charity and Hope and the New Evangelization

Hearing the Call

  When he had led them out as far as Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them;  and even as he blessed them he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. ~  Luke 24:51

 And so the Lord Jesus, when he had finished speaking to them, was taken up to heaven, and is seated now at the right hand of God. ~  Mark 16:19

 And his companions asked him, Lord, dost thou mean to restore the dominion to Israel here and now?  But he told them, It is not for you to know the times and seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority.  Enough for you, that the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and you will receive strength from him; you are to be my witnesses in Jerusalem and throughout Judaea, in Samaria, yes, and to the ends of the earth.   When he had said this, they saw him lifted up, and a cloud caught him away from their sight.  And as they strained their eyes towards heaven, to watch his journey, all at once two men in white garments were standing at their side.  Men of Galilee, they said, why do you stand here looking heavenwards? He who has been taken from you into heaven, this same Jesus, will come back in the same fashion, just as you have watched him going into heaven.  Then, from the mountain which is called Olivet, they went back to Jerusalem.  ~ Acts 1:6-12

Novena to the Holy Spirit

To be prayed between Ascension Thursday and Pentecost.

 The novena in honor of the Holy Spirit is the oldest of all novenas since it was first made at the direction of Our Lord Himself when He sent His apostles back to Jerusalem to await the coming of the Holy Spirit on the first Pentecost. It is still the only novena officially prescribed by the Church. Addressed to the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, it is a powerful plea for the light and strength and love so sorely needed by every Christian.

 Novena to the Holy Spirit for the Seven Gifts 
ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT 

On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, soul and body to You, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring keenness of Your justice, and the might of Your love. You are the Strength and Light of my soul. In You I live and move and am. I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness to grace and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against You. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Your light, and listen to Your voice, and follow Your gracious inspirations. I cling to You and give myself to You and ask You, by Your compassion to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus and looking at His Five Wounds, and trusting in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart, I implore You, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, to keep me in Your grace that I may never sin against You. Give me grace, O Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father and the Son to say to You always and everywhere, "Speak Lord for Your servant heareth." Amen.

 To be recited daily during the Novena 

 PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 

O Lord Jesus Christ Who, before ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in the souls of Your Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in my soul, the work of Your grace and Your love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal, the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints, the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable, and the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of Your true disciples and animate me in all things with Your Spirit. Amen. 

From  EWTN -  Entire text of 9 day Novena to the Holy Spirit

St. Hildegard of Bingen

Pope Benedict XVI's talks about the life, visions, music and mission of St. Hildegard of Bingen