This Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost. Traditionally one of the Jewish feasts of Harvest, it was on this feast that the Holy Spirit descended upon our Blessed Mother and the apostles moving them to evangelize the world. It is thanks to this feast and its fruits that 29% of the world’s population is Christian. The Power of the Holy Spirit is certainly at work in the successors of the apostles and all Christians. Some respond; some don't.
When we are confirmed we receive the same Holy Spirit who stirs our hearts to grow in faith, trust, and love of God. The prayer prayed over those to be confirmed is as follows:
Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who brought these your servants to new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, freeing them from sin: send upon them, O Lord, the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete; give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and fortitude, the spirit of knowledge and piety; fill them with the spirit of the fear of the Lord. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
In the U.S. those that claim to be Christian are about 65%. In 1990 our country was more than 80% Christian. As you can see as a country we are less Christian today than 30 years ago. This shouldn’t make us discouraged but rather let us pray for the grace to be evangelizers of the Catholic Faith in our own families and amongst our own friends and co-workers. This can only begin by a deep relationship with our Lord in daily prayer and before him in the Blessed Sacrament. Spending time with our Lord is key to knowing what he wants us to do.
This Monday, June 1, we’ll celebrate the new obligatory memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. Mass will be at 7:00 p.m. in Killdeer. May Mary our mother help us to receive more fully the gifts of the Holy Spirit.