(c)Mary TV 2013
Come, Holy Spirit!
J.M.J.
May 12, 2013
Dear Family of Mary!
"Dear children! Today I wish to say to everyone in the parish to pray in a special way to the Holy Spirit for enlightenment. From today God wishes to test the parish in a special way in order that He might strengthen it in faith. Thank you for having responded to my call." (April 11, 1985)
Though it doesn't
always make sense to us, we often go through trials and tests of faith.
Life gets tough. It seems like God is far off, and we are left alone.
But these testing times are important for us in our journey towards
heaven.
It says in Scripture that gold is tested in fire: "And
I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines
silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I
will answer them. I will say, `They are my people'; and they will say,
`The LORD is my God.'" (Zech 13: 9)
Assaying precious
metals in fire is an ancient way of determining the content of ore. The
precious metal is separated from the ore in a firing process of intense
heat. We can see our trials as moments when our hearts are tested to see
if they are pure, like the gold in the assayers fire. As it says in
Zechariah, God tests His people, and chooses those who call on His name
in time of trail!
But we need help to
survive these tests, and God wants to help us. He offers us His Holy
Spirit as that help. And Our Lady wants us to have this powerful help.
She told the parish to pray to the Holy Spirit for enlightenment in
their time of testing. Really, the only way to endure tests and actually
grow from them is to cling to the Holy Spirit. He provides the way and
gives us the gifts that sustain us when things get tough.
A friend shared with
me recently that she and her husband had endured a big test of faith
which involved his job. After months of difficulty at work, and much
soul searching, her husband had decided to seek other employment, and
the process was long and arduous. They prayed many novenas and rosaries
in the process. She said that now, as the trial is ending, they look
back and see how much stronger their faith is, how much more peace they
have as a family, and how much their trust in God has increased because
of this trial. Indeed, they are better off for the testing.
I think this is what
Our Lady is saying in this message. She wants us to know that we get
tested by God now and then, and that in the test God provides the
strength and wisdom and counsel and understanding and knowledge and
trust through His Holy Spirit. The test actually cements our
relationship with the Lord by adhering us to the Holy Spirit as our
constant friend.
Let's pray for the gifts of the Spirit, so that we can endure our trials with victory and peace!
Prayer for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit - Saint Alphonsus Liguori
Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler, I adore You as my true God, with God the Father and God the Son. I adore You and unite myself to the adoration You receive from the angels and saints.
I give You my heart and I offer my ardent thanksgiving for all the grace which You never cease to bestow on me.
O Giver of all supernatural gifts, who filled the soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with such immense favors, I beg You to visit me with Your grace and Your love and to grant me the gift of holy fear, so that it may act on me as a check to prevent me from falling back into my past sins, for which I beg pardon.
Grant me the gift of piety, so that I may serve You for the future with increased fervor, follow with more promptness Your holy inspirations, and observe your divine precepts with greater fidelity.
Grant me the gift of knowledge, so that I may know the things of God and, enlightened by Your holy teaching, may walk, without deviation, in the path of eternal salvation.
Grant me the gift of fortitude, so that I may overcome courageously all the assaults of the devil,
and all the dangers of this world which threaten the salvation of my soul.
Grant me the gift of counsel, so that I may choose what is more conducive to my spiritual advancement and may discover the wiles and snares of the tempter.
Grant me the gift of understanding, so that I may apprehend the divine mysteries and by contemplation of heavenly things detach my thoughts and affections from the vain things of this miserable world.
Grant me the gift of wisdom, so that I may rightly direct all my actions, referring them to God as my last end; so that, having loved Him and served Him in this life, I may have the happiness of possessing Him eternally in the next. Amen.
I give You my heart and I offer my ardent thanksgiving for all the grace which You never cease to bestow on me.
O Giver of all supernatural gifts, who filled the soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with such immense favors, I beg You to visit me with Your grace and Your love and to grant me the gift of holy fear, so that it may act on me as a check to prevent me from falling back into my past sins, for which I beg pardon.
Grant me the gift of piety, so that I may serve You for the future with increased fervor, follow with more promptness Your holy inspirations, and observe your divine precepts with greater fidelity.
Grant me the gift of knowledge, so that I may know the things of God and, enlightened by Your holy teaching, may walk, without deviation, in the path of eternal salvation.
Grant me the gift of fortitude, so that I may overcome courageously all the assaults of the devil,
and all the dangers of this world which threaten the salvation of my soul.
Grant me the gift of counsel, so that I may choose what is more conducive to my spiritual advancement and may discover the wiles and snares of the tempter.
Grant me the gift of understanding, so that I may apprehend the divine mysteries and by contemplation of heavenly things detach my thoughts and affections from the vain things of this miserable world.
Grant me the gift of wisdom, so that I may rightly direct all my actions, referring them to God as my last end; so that, having loved Him and served Him in this life, I may have the happiness of possessing Him eternally in the next. Amen.
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
©Mary TV 2013
Here is a link to the traditional Novena to the Holy Spirit:
"Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world!"
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