My Dear Friends,
I hope you are all staying safe and well and have been preparing for this great Feast of Pentecost!
Jesus prepared his disciples as best he could and knew that they needed a personal friend to be with them on their Apostolic Mission of Faith.
As the Father sent the Spirit upon Jesus at his baptism in the River Jordan, so too that same Spirit was given to both you and I at our Baptism. That Spirit of God’s personal presence is with us, like the breath in our lungs. It’s refreshing, rejuvenating and it is this Spirit that fuels and empowers us on our journey of faith.
Let us never take the Gifts of the Holy Spirit for granted. The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit are Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord. These gifts belong in their fullness to Christ, Son of David. They complete and perfect the virtues for us who have received them. They make us faithful and docile in readily obeying divine inspirations. (CCC, 1831)
These seven-fold gifts of the Holy Spirit are conferred on us at our confirmation and once again through this great Feast of Pentecost. May Jesus renew us with the Power of His Holy Spirit.
Let us open our hearts and minds to the working of the Holy Spirit and pray that the Holy Spirit will enfold us in the power of his love and guide and direct us on the path to holiness!
Have a blessed and happy Pentecost!
Father John