Yesterday, the Church celebrated the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. (*see note below about the date). The meaning of Christs Ascension expresses our belief that, in Christ, the humanity that we all share has entered into the inner life of God in a new and hitherto unheard of way. It means that man has found an everlasting place in God. (Pope Benedict XVI) This solemn feast also begins the final period of the Easter Season. We now wait for the promise of the Spirit, which comes on Pentecost Sunday (June 8th, this year). This is a special time in which the entire Church enters a period of increased prayer, asking for a renewed gift of the Spirit. We receive the true indwelling of the Holy Spirit in Baptism and his full strength in Confirmation, but we must welcome and cooperate with his presence in order to be fully enflamed with his love and power! We do this by praying with all of our hearts and minds, Come Creator Spirit. To help us pray, the Church has always observed the Novena--nine days of prayer--in preparation for the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This Novena beings today! Please consider joining all of the believers around the world in praying this Novena for the gift of the Holy Spirit, who brings the presence of God to every part of the world: https://ewtn/devotionals/pentecost/seven.htm --- * Many dioceses around the world have transferred the observation of Ascension to the following Sunday, but the actual Solemnity for the Church is still properly Ascension Thursday.
Posted on: Fri, 30 May 2014 11:44:14 +0000
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