Come Holy Spirit (Plenary Indulgence-Jan 1st)| Pope S. Sylvester I| Daily Meditation| Daily Quote by S. Padre Pio| Divine Mercy Reflection
On January 1st, one may gain a Plenary Indulgence by reciting the prayer "Come Holy Spirit."
The four usual conditions apply for any Plenary Indulgence. They are:
1. Attend Mass;
2. Receive the Eucharist in the state of grace; and
3. Sacramental Confession within 8 days before or after today.
4. Prayers for the Holy Fathers intentions.
If you do not go to confession within the prescribed time, you do not meet the mandatory four requirements of the Church, therefore, you do not gain a Plenary Indulgence.
Plenary Indulgence for reciting the following prayer:
Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest (Veni, Creator):
Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest,
and in our souls take up your rest;
come with your grace and heavenly aid to fill the hearts which you have made.
O Comforter, to you we cry,
O heavenly gift of God Most High,
O fount of life and fire of love,
and sweet anointing from above.
You in your sevenfold gifts are known;
you, finger of God's hand we own;
You, promise of the Father,
you Who do the tongue with power imbue.
Kindle our senses from above,
and make our hearts o'er flow with love;
with patience firm and virtue high,
the weakness of our flesh supply.
Far from us drive the foe we dread,
and grant us your peace instead;
so shall we not, with you for guide,
turn from the path of life aside.
Oh, may your grace on us bestow,
the Father and the Son to know;
through endless times confessed,
of both the eternal Spirit blest.
Now to the Father and the Son,
who rose from death, be glory given, with you,
O holy Comforter, henceforth by all in earth and heaven Amen.
St. Sylvester I
(d. 335)
Both Calendars
When you think of this pope, you think of the Edict of Milan, the emergence of the Church from the catacombs, the building of the great basilicas, Saint John Lateran, Saint Peter’s and others, the Council of Nicaea and other critical events. But for the most part, these events were planned or brought about by Emperor Constantine.
A great store of legends has grown up around the man who was pope at this most important time, but very little can be established historically. We know for sure that his papacy lasted from 314 until his death in 335. Reading between the lines of history, we are assured that only a very strong and wise man could have preserved the essential independence of the Church in the face of the overpowering figure of the Emperor Constantine. The bishops in general remained loyal to the Holy See and at times expressed apologies to Sylvester for undertaking important ecclesiastical projects at the urging of Constantine.
Comment:
It takes deep humility and courage in the face of criticism for a leader to stand aside and let events take their course, when asserting one’s authority would only lead to useless tension and strife. Sylvester teaches a valuable lesson for Church leaders, politicians, parents and others in authority.
Quote:
To emphasize the continuity of Holy Orders, the recent Roman breviary in its biographies of popes ends with important statistics. On the feast of Saint Sylvester it recounts: "He presided at seven December ordinations at which he created 42 priests, 25 deacons and 65 bishops for various sees." The Holy Father is indeed the heart of the Church's sacramental system, an essential element of its unity.
Daily Meditation
The Golden Rule:
As people with disabilities enter more and more into the mainstream of daily life, they will be viewed as being people first, people who just happen to have a physical condition. When this happens, the Golden Rule of empathy will become the Golden Rule of life.
Quote by S. Padre Pio:
Lovingly humble yourself before God and men, because God speaks to those who are humble.
Divine Mercy Reflection
Reflections on Notebook Six: 327-365
We enter, now, the last of the six notebooks that Saint Faustina filled with revelations from our Lord about His unfathomable and perfect Mercy. At this point, the Message of Mercy should be clear and evoking of a deep trust in the incomprehensible love of God. All that has been shared to this point reveals that God is relentless in His pursuit of you, seeking only to love you unconditionally and to draw you into His glorious life for all eternity.
The greatest obstacle to this call to holiness is sin. But it is abundantly clear that sin is no match for the Mercy of God. His Mercy dispels your sin in an instant, disposing of your past errors forever. God’s only desire is the present moment, for in this present moment He comes to you, descending from the heights of Heaven, entering into the inner core of your soul so as to form a perfect communion with you, lifting you up to share in His divine life.
This final notebook will be reflected upon as a summary of all that has been reflected upon thus far. Just like the reflections on the first notebook, the reflections for this notebook will be short and to the point. Once you finish this chapter you are invited to return to it often as a way of quickly and easily reminding yourself of the abundant Mercy of God. The Lord’s love is perfect in every way. Allow Him to speak this truth to you with clarity and conviction.
Reflection 365: The Queen of Mercy
This last reflection is dedicated to the Queen of Mercy, the Most Glorious Mother of God. She, more than any other, was and continues to be a perfect instrument of the Mercy of God. She brought forth Mercy Himself into this world by her fiat, her “Yes,” at the Annunciation. She suffered greatly as she watched her Son suffer such brutality, and offered her motherly love to console His Heart and to win much grace in the world through her sacrifice. She was taken body and soul into Heaven and given the Crown of Glory by her Son, so that from her glorious throne in Heaven, she may continue to lavish Mercy on the world. Seek her prayers, trust in her intercession, consecrate yourself to her motherly care, and know of her perfect love for you. She will never abandon her children and, therefore, she will never abandon you.
Dearest Mother, my Queen, I love you with a profound love and I desire to consecrate myself to your Immaculate Heart. Your heart, dear Mother, is a heart overflowing with the Mercy of Your Son. He has given you all grace and entrusted you with the dispensation of this grace upon the world. May I never doubt your maternal care and intercession. I love you, dear Mother. I give myself entirely to you so that you may bring me to Your Son, Jesus. Mother Mary, my Queen, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.
