WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY IN THE
CHURCH? MARY IS THE ONLY PERSON WHO KNEW JESUS FROM WOMB TO TOMB TO RESURRECTION TO ASCENSION TO PENTECOST! THIS KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE QUALIFIES MARY AS MOTHER AND TEACHER IN THE CHURCH.

"The disciples devoted themselves with one accord to prayer with Mary, the mother of Jesus." (Cf Acts 1: 14).
 
Today is Monday after Pentecost 2022,
of the 10th week in Ordinary Time. Today the Church celebrates the Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church.

“Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.” (John 19: 25..... 34).

The Blessed Virgin Mary is the only human being that witnessed all the mysteries of our salvation from Conception to Death of Jesus to the Birth of the Church on Pentecost Sunday. Is this an accident or mere coincidence?

O God, Father of mercies, Your Only Begotten Son, as he hung upon the Cross, chose the Blessed Virgin Mary, his Mother, to be our Mother also; grant with the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary that Your Church will grow to embrace all people. (Cf Collect of the feast).

"Happy are you, holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of all praise,
for from you arose the sun of justice, Christ our God." (Gospel Acclamation).

6. 6. The Church honors the Sacred Heart of Jesus in June:  [The Sacred Heart Devotion]  "wholly consists, properly speaking, in an ardent love of Jesus Christ, constantly residing amongst us in the adorable Eucharist, and in testifying this ardent love by our grief at seeing Him so little loved and so little honoured, and by the means we take to repair this contempt and this want of love."

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE SOURCE OF GRACE. THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY IS THE MEDIATRIX OF ALL GRACES. ON THE EVE OF PENTECOST, LET US ASK THE HUMBLE VIRGIN OF NAZARETH WHO IS FULL OF GRACE TO INTERCEDE FOR US FERVENTLY TO BE FILLED WITH THE FIRE, GIFTS AND FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

"It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true.  There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written." (John 21: 24 - 25)

Saturday 4th June 2022 of the 7th Week of Easter. We honor the Blessed Virgin Mary on this First Saturday in June.

A summary of the key Scripture for today might be: The word of God, Sacred Tradition and Apostolic Magisterium.

#1. The word of God: John the Evangelist whom we believe is the author of the Gospel according to St John testifies to the veracity of the word of God he committed to writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

#2. Sacred Tradition: John warns that it is an error to limit God's word to what is written. There is so much more. The Holy Spirit is promised to lead the Church into the fullness of truth.

#3. Apostolic Magisterium: Anyone who doubts that full teaching authority is given to the Apostles headed by St Peter and his successors should read the New Testament prayerfully. This authority was foreshadowed in the Old Testament by the authority given to Moses and the Prophets to teach and interpret Scripture. God is not the author of confusion.

On the eve of Pentecost, let us pray to God to restore unity of heart and mind in the Church.

6. 4.  "What is meant by Devotion to the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in what it consists. THE particular object of this devotion is the immense love of the Son of God, which has induced Him to die for us, and to give Himself wholly to us in the Adorable Sacrament of the Altar, and this, although He foresaw all the ingratitude and outrages which He was to meet with in this state of a victim immolated till the end of ages; preferring rather to expose himself daily to the insults and contempt of mankind, than to fail in showing us, by the greatest of all wonders, to what an excess He loves us."  (DEVOTION TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS - Fr. John Croiset, SJ).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

O HOLY SPIRIT, POUR YOUR DEW ON OUR DRY HEARTS. WASH THE STAINS OF OUR GUILT AWAY. BEND OUR STUBBORN HEART AND WILL. MELT THE FROZEN, WARM THE CHILL; GUIDE THE STEPS THAT GO ASTRAY. AMEN.

“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." (John 20: 19  - 23).

Sunday June 5th 2022 is the Solemnity of Pentecost.

Brethren, this is Pentecost! This is the Birthday of our Mother, the Church. She is Mother and Teacher. Very old and ever young and beautiful. Virgin and Mother of many children. Queen of Peace and Seat of Wisdom. Happy Birthday Mother Church!

The Holy Spirit descended on the disciples in the Cenacle "like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were." (Acts 2: 2). The Novena, the waiting and praying are over. The Father has delivered the Big Gift He promised. "I promised. I will do it." Thank You Abba Father.

"Come, Holy Spirit, come!
And from your celestial home
Shed a ray of light divine!
Come, Father of the poor!
Come, source of all our store!
Come, within our bosoms shine.
You, of comforters the best;
You, the soul’s most welcome guest;
Sweet refreshment here below;
In our labor, rest most sweet;
Grateful coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.... " (The Pentecost Sequence).

"The Spirit prepares men and goes out to them with his grace, in order to draw them to Christ. The Spirit manifests the risen Lord to them, recalls his word to them and opens their minds to the understanding of his Death and Resurrection." (CCC 737).

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com