Tag: christianity
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Priests at the crossroads
José María Rodríguez Olaizola, SJ A young Italian priest was found dead in his home last week. He had committed suicide. The news has provoked countless echoes – including this one – on the internet. Perhaps it is particularly striking to imagine that the faith – which we take for granted and which is established…
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Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Nine: Saturday, Vigil of Pentecost
Thou, on those who evermore Thee confess and Thee Adore, in Thy sevenfold gift, Descend; Give Them Comfort when they die; Give them Life with Thee on high; Give them joys which never end. Amen. The Fruits of the Holy Spirit The gifts of the Holy Spirit perfect the supernatural virtues by enabling us to…
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Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Seven: Thursday, 7th Week of Easter
Heal our wounds – our strength renew; On our dryness pour Thy dew, Wash the stains of guilt away. The Gift of Counsel The gift of Counsel endows the soul with supernatural prudence, enabling it to judge promptly and rightly what must done, especially in difficult circumstances. Counsel applies the principles furnished by Knowledge and…
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Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Six: Wednesday, 7th Week of Easter
If Thou take Thy grace away, nothing pure in man will stay, All his good is turn’d to ill. The Gift of Understanding Understanding, as a gift of the Holy Spirit, helps us to grasp the meaning of the truths of our holy religion BY faith we know them, but by Understanding we learn to…
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Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Five: Tuesday, 7th Week of Easter
Light immortal! Light Divine! Visit Thou these hearts of Thine, And our inmost being fill! The Gift of Knowledge The gift of Knowledge enables the soul to evaluate created things at their true worth–in their relation to God. Knowledge unmasks the pretense of creatures, reveals their emptiness, and points out their only true purpose as…
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Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Four: Monday, 7th Week of Easter
Thou in toil art comfort sweet, Pleasant coolness in the heat, solace in the midst of woe. The Gift of Fortitude By the gift of Fortitude the soul is strengthened against natural fear, and supported to the end in the performance of duty. Fortitude imparts to the will an impulse and energy which move it…
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Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Three: Sunday, 7th Week of Easter
Thou, of all consolers best, Visiting the troubled breast, Dost refreshing peace bestow. The Gift of Piety The gift of Piety begets in our hearts a filial affection for God as our most loving Father. It inspires us to love and respect for His sake persons and things consecrated to Him, as well as those…
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Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Two: Saturday, 6th Week of Easter
Come. Father of the poor. Come, treasures which endure; Come, Light of all that live! The Gift of Fear The gift of Fear fills us with a sovereign respect for God, and makes us dread nothing so much as to offend Him by sin. It is a fear that arises, not from the thought of…
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Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day One: Friday, 6th Week of Easter
Holy Spirit! Lord of Light! From Your clear celestial height, Your pure beaming radiance give! The Holy Spirit Only one thing is important — eternal salvation. Only one thing, therefore, is to be feared–sin! Sin is the result of ignorance, weakness, and indifference. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Light, of Strength, and of…
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The Institution of the Eucharist: meaning of the last supper (Holy Thursday)
The Institution of the Eucharist At the Last Supper, Jesus did more than share a meal, He instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist, the New Covenant sacrifice, fulfilling and transforming the Jewish Passover. Fulfilment of the Passover The Last Supper occurred during Passover, when Jews remembered their deliverance from Egypt (Exodus 12). In the original…
Fr. Valentine Umoh 