Devotion for today: Act of Consecration for the United States

In this month of Mary, let us take time to pray for our countries. If you do not live in the USA, simply place your country’s name in the prayer.

Act of Consecration for the United States

Most Holy Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – in union with the Blessed Virgin Mary, we adore Your majesty and acknowledge Your supreme eternal dominion and authority.

Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in union with the Blessed Virgin Mary, we adore Your majesty and acknowledge Your supreme eternal dominion and authority.

Most Holy Trinity, we place the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to You. Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America.

Have mercy on our President and on all the officers of our government. Protect family live in our nation. Grant the precious gift of many vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Have mercy on the sick, the poor, the tempted, and all who are in need.

Mary Immaculate Virgin, Our Mother, Patroness of our land, we honor you and ask your maternal protection and care for us. Obtain for us the graces we need to live and die according to the Will of your Divine Son.

Amen.

Devotion: blessed with power from on high

To conclude our week’s study of Acts, let us take a look at the power the Holy Spirit gave to the early apostles, especially Peter.

Scripture for meditation: Acts 2:4, 12-14

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocked, saying, “They are filled with new wine.” But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.”

Scripture for reflection: Mark15:70-72

A little later the bystanders said to Peter once more, “You are certainly one of them! You are a Galilean, are you not?” He began to curse and to swear, “I do not even know the man you are talking about!” Just then a second cockcrow was heard and Peter recalled the prediction Jesus had made to him, “Before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times.” He broke down and began to weep.

In the Navarre Bible Commentaries for Acts of the Apostles, we are told: Even as the Church takes its first steps St. Peter can be seen to occupy the position of main spokesman… In his commentaries St. John Chrysostom draws attention to the change worked in Peter by the Holy Spirit: “Listen to him preach and argue so boldly, who shortly before had trembled at the word of a servant girl! This boldness is a significant proof of the resurrection of his Master: Peter preaches to men who mock and laugh at his enthusiasm… Calumny (‘they are filled with new wine’) does not deter the Apostles; sarcasm does not undermine their courage, for the coming of the Holy Spirit has made new men of them, men who can put up with every kind of human test. When the Holy Spirit enters into hearts he does so to elevate their affections and to change earthly souls, souls of clay, into chosen souls, people of real courage…. Look at the harmony that exists among the Apostles. See how they allow Peter to speak on behalf of them all. Peter raises his voice and speaks to the people with full assurance. That is the kind of courage a man has when he is the instrument of the Holy Spirit….Just as a burning coal does not lose its heat when it falls on a haystack but instead is enabled to release its heat, so Peter, now that he is in contact with the life-giving spirit, spreads his inner fire to those around him” (Homily on Acts, 4 as taken from The Acts of the Apostles, The Navarre Bible, Four Courts Press, 1992).

Prayer to the Holy Spirit:

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth. Let us pray: O God, who by the light of your Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of your faithful, grant that by that same Holy Spirit, we may be truly wise, and ever rejoice in his consolations, through the same Christ the Lord, amen.

My thoughts:  I really love St. Peter. He reminds me so much of me (and maybe you too). He would speak before thinking, act before reasoning, run in the face of opposition, and love Jesus with all his heart. I find so much consolation in St. Peter, because, despite all his short-comings, Jesus chose him to head the Church. He knew that once the Holy Spirit filled Peter with the power and grace from God on high, he would be unstoppable. This passage from the reading for Pentecost shows us how right Jesus was. The same fearful Peter now takes his rightful position as Christ’s spokesman for the Church, and boldly begins to preach to the people. No fear is found in him. Fortified by the power now residing in him, he can march forward to begin the task Jesus gave him. Peter is every man and woman who prays to God for strength, opens himself up to the Holy Spirit, receives the graces from on high and allows himself or herself to become brave and bold. We can all be St. Peter, and the world needs us to be St. Peter. First, we need prayer; then, openness; then, courage to say “yes” to the Spirit; then, action.  A second lesson for us here is to see Peter as the head of the Church, and to recognize that headship in our Pope.  When others ask Catholics why we just don’t change rules or come up with teachings that fit those of society, why we adhere to the Pope and not to our own judgments, let us direct them to this point. The Catholic Church has always, and will always believe that God sends his Holy Spirit to instruct our Pope to lead us in the right direction. He has councils and advisors, and listens to all sides of all arguments. In the end, however, he has the guidance of God to make the final decision. We do not need to waste endless hours angrily arguing about how the Church is wrong on socially acceptable ideas. We need only remind others that we are different. We answer to a Higher Authority, and we always will.

Our prayer to God: Today, let us reflect on the power God has given to each of us to speak boldly and proudly about our faith. If we have fallen into the habit of criticizing priests, the Church, the Pope, why not give it up for today and just be thankful we have priests, the Church and the Pope. Let us pray for our priests, the Church and the Pope so that they can be filled with the Holy Spirit and renew the face of the earth. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMiUiHiWyvc

Devotion for today: first, they prayed

We have learned from the early Church that they were prompt, praising, and now…prayerful. This is the feast of the Ascension; however, in many dioceses it will be celebrated on Sunday. Today we will take a look at what happened immediately after the Ascension, as we continue to study the practices of the early Church and how they apply to us.

 Scripture for meditation: Acts 1:12-14

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away; and when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

Scripture for reflection: Matthew 6:6, 14:23-24

“Whenever you pray, go to your room, close your door, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees what no man sees, will repay you.”  When he had sent them away, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray, remaining there alone as evening drew on.

We learn from the commentary given to us in The Navarre Bible Acts of the Apostles: This is the first passage which tells of the spiritual life and devout practices of the disciples. Significantly it places the emphasis on prayer, in keeping with our Lord’s own practice and with his constant recommendation to his followers. “Prayer is the foundation of the spiritual edifice. Prayer is all-powerful: (J. Escriva, The Way, 83). It can truly be said that prayer is the bedrock of the Church, which will be made manifest with the coming of the Holy Spirit. The prayer of the disciples, including the women, in the company of Mary would have been a supplication of entreaty and praise and thanksgiving to God. This union of hearts and feelings produced by prayer is a kind of anticipation of the gifts the Holy Spirit will bring. “We are told this time and again in the passage narrating the lives of the first followers of Christ. ‘All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer’ (Acts 1:14) … Prayer was then, as it is today, the only weapon, the most powerful means, for winning the battles of our interior struggle” (J. Escriva, Friends of God, 242). (The Navarre Bible, Acts of the Apostles, Four Courts Press, 1992)

 

Prayer: The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, Our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell, and on the third day he arose from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, from whence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

My thoughts: It is not surprising to learn that the first thing the apostles, disciples, women, Mary and Christ’s brethren did after the Ascension was to go to their upper room and pray. Whenever a big event in the Church was about to occur, it was always preceded by prayer. This is the pattern Jesus gave us. Before beginning his public ministry, he went into the desert and prayed. Before he faced crucifixion and death, he prayed. We see him slip away into a peaceful place on many occasions to pray to his Father. Nothing that Jesus ever did was anything less than an example for us to follow. So it is with prayer. Many people wonder today why their lives are a mess. They claim to have faith, yet when pressed on the matter of personal prayer in their lives, they will admit 1) they don’t make time for it, or 2) they don’t believe in its power. How sad! There is no relationship with God without prayer.  Just as there is no hope for a human relationship which has no communication, so, too, there is no hope for a relationship with God if we never take the time to talk to him. The early apostles and disciples never did anything without prayer. Because of this, the Church flourished amidst trial and persecution and all efforts to shut it down. It will always survive as long as people pray. No weapon of the enemy can withstand the power of prayer. It is the same for our lives as well. If we think we can do this thing called living without God, we will surely be sad and alone. If we follow the example of Peter and the Apostles, filling our lives, our decision-making and our trials with prayer, we will find peace, comfort and answers. To hear the answers, however, we must know God’s voice, and to hear his voice, we must take the time to listen.

Our prayer to God: Why not stop everything today for a few minutes, and just thank God for our lives, for the good and the bad, for the gifts and the trials, for the blessings and the crosses. Then, let us just be quiet. Really quiet and let God say “I love you.” That is all he ever really wants to say.