Come, O Holy Spirit, Fill the Hearts of Your Faithful and Enkindle in Them the Fire of Thy Love!

My husband and I gave our priests worldly and otherworldly gifts for Christmas. The more important was our spiritual gift of the novena to the Holy Spirit which we plan to begin on New Year's Day. What a good way to begin a new year, we decided, by entreating the Holy Spirit to enlighten our minds and those of our spiritual guides. We expect that not only the priests will benefit from this gift, but we will too. Can you ever pray without being immersed in a pool of grace?

 This morning, during my prayer time, I read an excerpt from St. Claude de la Colombiere's 1674 notes from a retreat in Lyons. It confirmed for me the wisdom of choosing the Holy Spirit novena as a starting place for 2025. What better helper can we invoke as St. Claude writes; and what easier way to endure all things in peace and tranquility?:

Sunday Meditation: What Better Way to Start the New Year than Repent of Our Sins and Make a Firm Purpose of Amendment?

I'm not sure how I got on Buffalo Regional Right to Life's mailing list, but a recent newsletter contained an Act of Contrition which offers much for meditation. One can sin through malice or through ignorance. Obviously, the sins we commit out of ignorance limit our culpability, but they still offend God's justice. Praying and sacrificing in atonement for those sins, both our own and those of others, can be a response to St. Paul's admonition to "make up what's lacking in the suffering of Christ." (Colossians 1:24)

Obviously, Jesus' sacrifice is perfect so what can possibly be lacking? The answer: our free will decision to join our sufferings to His. He will never force our will, but He invites us to participate in the salvation of the world. If you read Fr. Collins' description of God's covenantal relationship with us, you know how much God desires our union with Him and with each other. Whenever we sin, we break that covenant and damage both our relationship with God and with the human family. It is good to ponder on that and repent.

Good Friday Meditation in Pictures

O, my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee. And I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace to confess my sins, do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.