CHRISTMAS; AN ENCOUNTER OF JOY AND PEACE
Whenever Christmas time draws near, we mostly think of festivities. It’s a season of great joy, happiness, togetherness and merry making. There are many celebrations that precede Christmas Season like staff and club end of year parties, thanks giving parties, pre-weddings and weddings as well as many other merriments.
During the season of preparation, we give attention to house and office decorations, food, drinks and all types of refreshments. We as well think of what to offer to others in Christmas gift boxes. These are beautiful preparations in anticipation of the birth of our Lord and King Jesus Christ.
As Christians, how are we called to prepare for the Birth of the Messiah? And how do we celebrate Jesus being born among us and in our lives?
The Catholic Church gives us a great opportunity to prepare for the birthday of our Lord during the Advent Season. Fernando Armellini in his book Celebrating the Word (Year C) tells us that “Advent is a season that invites us to be vigilant, to keep our eyes wide open in order to discover and prepare the ways that Jesus has chosen to come and free us from the evil with which we seek happiness, but instead provokes only a lot of sorrow.” http://e.paulinesafrica.org/index.php/book/bookDetails/57
After the Advent Season we are ushered into a new season of; the Christmas Season. Christmas begins on the most famous night which we refer to as the Holy Night. We celebrate the birth of Christ into our world and in our hearts, who reflect the splendour and fullness of the glory of the Father.
It’s a time for us to allow all that we hoped and longed for during Advent to take hold of us.
In our families, parishes, and communities; Christmas comes as an event of renewal of the love of God made incarnate in Jesus Christ.
As we celebrate Christmas, let us open our hearts to joyful celebrations filled with love, peace and gratitude, family and communal togetherness.
“The only real blind person at Christmas is he who has not
Christmas in his heart”
(Helen Keller)
Compiled by Sr. Elizabeth Nabuuso (fsp)
YOUNG PEOPLE TOWARDS FULLNESS OF JOY AND LOVE
“In calling you God says to you; ‘you are important to me, I love you, I am counting on you.’ Jesus says this to each one of us! Joy is born from that! The joy of the moment in which Jesus looked at me.” (Pope Francis)
It is an exciting moment for the Catholic Church all over the world. This year we are celebrating the valuable presence of the youth in the Church and in the world!
The Catholic Church is currently celebrating of the Synod on “Young People Faith and Vocational Discernment,” as a way of accompanying young people to embrace their giftedness and talents.
The Church realised that there are various issues that need to be addressed that concern young people. Through the various Episcopal Conferences across the world, the Bishops collected contributions from the youth themselves to be shared and discussed during the Synod.
What is the Synod on the “Young People Faith and Vocational Discernment” all about?
Pope Francis has called this Synod to help the Church in its ministry to the young people. Its aim is to help them in their choice of life and active participation in the Church and the society.
This moment for the young people is an invitation to maturity and holiness. This involves paying attention to the realities in the world today in the diverse circumstances and contexts they live in.
It is a privileged moment to recognise, interpret and make choices that determine their identity. Their valuable presence in the Church, family, education and training institutions, work places, and in the world of social media.
The synod is here to shed light on the vocational horizon of human existence and to remind young people that God calls everyone to some task. The church believes that young people are a real resource for the rejuvenation of ecclesial dynamisms. She encourages them to be more involved in all that is being done.
The church urges young people as baptised persons to be missionary disciples. She invites them to be active on her behalf in evangelisation and in the renewal of the society.
In the midst of novelties, challenges of inadequate employment, strikes in schools, single parenthood, abductions and kidnapping, educational disparity, sex abuse, drug abuse, and many other challenges, young people have a great need to be protected and guided so as to make proper discernment.
Accompanied by parents, educators and religious leaders young people will be able to make better choices in their vocational discernment.
We are all invited to accompany young people in their journey of discernment towards the fullness of joy and love.
Let us pray for the success of this historic synod.
(Compiled by Sr. Elizabeth Nabuuso fsp)
OSCAR ROMERO; A MODEL SAINT FOR YOUTHS
Pope Francis reminds us that to be saints is not a privilege for a few but a vocation for many, and so we are all called to sainthood.
What makes Archbishop Oscar Romero a special saint?
Oscar Romero was born on August 15 1917 in Ciudad Barrios El Salvador. He was shot while celebrating Mass in a hospital chapel and died on March 24, 1980. In 2015 Pope Francis declared him a martyr and he was beatified May 23, 2015.
As a leader, in his journey to holiness Archbishop Oscar Romero advocated for human rights and sought for justice for the peasants. His focus was on the Church’s “preferential option for the poor.”
He emphasised the need for Justice, and in the world of today he is recognised as a courageous witness and a model Christian.
In our countries today, dictatorship, corruption, violence, poverty, abuse of human rights and many others injustices are evident as they were in San Salvador during the time of Oscar Romero.
As youths of today, how do we live as ambassadors of peace, unity and justice in the face of all these challenges?
“Jesus invites disciples to give their entire lives without expecting any human advantage.” (Young People; Faith and Vocational Discernment). As we celebrate the canonisation of Archbishop Oscar Romero let us fearlessly stand for the truth and propagate true love in the world by listening and extending charity to the needy. Let us endeavour to promote justice first in our own lives and so encourage others to live the justice of the Gospel that has its foundation in love and equality as children of the same Father.
That way we shall be witnesses of Christ.
The Catholic Church will officially recognise the sainthood of Pope Paul VI and Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador. They will be canonised on October 14, 2018.
“Let us not tire of preaching love; it is the force that will overcome the world.
(Blessed Oscar Romero)
(Compiled by; Sr. Elizabeth Nabuuso fsp)
Theme of 51st World Day of Social Communications:
“Fear not, for I am with you (Is 43,5): Communicating hope and trust in our time”, 29.09.2016
Today the theme of the 51st World Day of Social Communications was published. It is celebrated in numerous countries, upon recommendation by bishops from around the world (Inter Mirifica, art. 18, Communio et Progressio Nos. 100 and 167) on the Sunday before Pentecost. The Pope’s message for World Day of Social Communications is traditionally published on the feast day of St. Francis de Sales, patron of journalists (24 January).
The theme selected for 2017 is “Fear not, for I am with you (Is. 43,5). Communicating hope and trust in our time”, and the Secretariat for Communication has issued a brief document to explain this choice:
“Numbness of conscience or letting desperation get the better of us are two possible “diseases” that our current communication system can cause.
It is possible that our conscience is cauterised, as Pope Francis comments in Laudato si’, as a result of the fact that often professionals, opinion leaders and means of communication work in urban areas distant from places of poverty and need, and their physical distance often leads them to ignore the complexity of the dramas faced by men and women.
Desperation is possible, instead, when communication is emphasised and transformed into spectacle, at times becoming a genuine strategy for constructing present dangers and looming fears.
But in the midst of this tumult a whisper is heard: ‘Fear not, for I am with you’. In His Son, God expresses his solidarity with every human situation and revealed that we are not alone, because we have a Father Who does not forget His children. Those who live united with Christ discover that even darkness and death become, for those who so wish, a place for communion with Light and Life. In every event, they try to discover what is happening between God and humanity, to recognise how He too, through the dramatic scenario of this world, is writing the history of salvation. We Christians have ‘good news’ to tell, because we contemplate trustfully the prospect of the Kingdom. The Theme of the next World Day of Social Communications is an invitation to tell the history of the world and the histories of men and women in accordance with the logic of the ‘good news’ that reminds us that God never ceases to be a Father in any situation or with regard to any man. Let us learn to communicate trust and hope for history”.
( From Vatican Radio)
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the one bringing good news.
In this month of June we have witnessed our sisters make their first and others final profession. Being a month dedicated to St. Paul, they too want to be St. Paul living today, by making the gospel fly to the furthest ends of the earth. As our founder said, “If St. Paul was alive today he will be a journalist.” These sisters have decided to offer their lives totally to God, all their life time without turning back or looking aside, in imitating Christ who lived poor, chaste and obedient life up to death on a cross. Through their witness of life and their courage to take this initiative, we too are challenged and invited to ask ourselves, “To whom do we dedicated our energies.” The sisters who made their first profession are eight. Three from Kenya, two-Congo, one Uganda, one Burkina Faso and one Madagascar. They have been in novitiate community for two years whereby they have reflected, assimilated and disciplined themselves in different angles on the life they want to live and preparing for this great mission ahead of them. It has not been a easy journey, but journey done in faith and trust in God who calls and sustains the called. God has called us to live in his son and consecrates us to himself to proclaim the unfathomable riches of the mystery of the kingdom. Christ has set apart these sisters for himself, so that they may continue in his mission as Barnabas and Paul, were set apart by the Holy Spirit for a specific mission.
The sisters who did their final profession are four. Three from Nigeria and one from Uganda. Our congregation has been a good mother, who cares for the life of her children even those who are not yet born and she is jubilating in receiving all these sisters in their new family. We thank God for His faithfulness in their lives and the graces granted to our dear sisters, as we continue to keep them in our prayers so that they may remain docile to the will of God who has chosen them among many. Congratulations dear sisters.
Day 9
Sent In The Power Of The Spirit
Antiphon: Lord, send us your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.
Act of Adoration
I believe, my God, that I am in your presence;
that you are looking at me and listening to my prayers.
You are so great and so holy: I adore you.
You have given me everything: I thank you.
I have been so ungrateful, I ask your pardon with all my heart. You are so merciful: I ask you all the graces which you know are beneficial to me.
Before reading the Scripture: Jesus Christ our Master, you are the Way, the Truth and the Life. Pour out on us your Spirit, as you did on the Apostles, gathered together in prayer with Mary at Pentecost. Open our hearts to receive your Word with the humble docility of Mary and in the spirit of the apostle St Paul, so that it may bear abundant fruits of holiness and dedicated service also in our life.
Reading: 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).
Silent reflection: What does this passage from John say to me, to us, today?
- R. Come, Holy Spirit source of light! Come Holy Spirit source of strength and joy, of forgiveness and peace, come! Fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.
- And you will renew the face of the earth.
Hymn to the Holy Spirit.
Prayer: Father of Light, you enlighten the mind of your disciples by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, bless us and give us the gifts of the Holy Spirit forever. May the fire which hovered over the disciples as tongues of flame, burn out all evil from our hearts and make them glow with pure light. May it disperse the divisions of words and tongue so that, with one voice and one song all races and nations on earth may proclaim your glory and praise your name in joy and thanksgiving. Amen.
Cf. The Liturgy of the Day
Conclusion: Hymn to Mother Mary.
Day 8
In The Spirit
We Are One Body In Christ
Antiphon: Lord, send us your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.
Act of Adoration
I believe, my God, that I am in your presence;
that you are looking at me and listening to my prayers.
You are so great and so holy: I adore you.
You have given me everything: I thank you.
I have been so ungrateful, I ask your pardon with all my heart. You are so merciful: I ask you all the graces which you know are beneficial to me.
Before reading the Scripture: Jesus Christ our Master, you are the Way, the Truth and the Life. Pour out on us your Spirit, as you did on the Apostles, gathered together in prayer with Mary at Pentecost. Open our hearts to receive your Word with the humble docility of Mary and in the spirit of the apostle St Paul, so that it may bear abundant fruits of holiness and dedicated service also in our life.
Reading: For by the grace given to me I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than one ought to think, but to think soberly, each according to the measure of faith that God has apportioned. For as in one body we have many parts, and all the parts do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually parts of one another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them: if prophecy, in proportion to the faith; if ministry, in ministering; if one is a teacher, in teaching; if one exhorts, in exhortation; if one contributes, in generosity; if one is over others, with diligence; if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honour. Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality (Romans 12:3-13).
Silent reflection: What does this passage from Romans say to me, to us, today?
- R. Come, Holy Spirit, source of light! Come, Holy Spirit, source of strength and joy, of forgiveness and peace. Come! Fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.
- And you shall renew the face of the earth.
Hymn to the Holy Spirit.
Prayer: Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit, strengthen the Church’s commitment to the new evangelisation and guide our steps along the pathways of the world, to proclaim Christ by our lives, and to direct our earthly pilgrimage towards the city of heavenly light. May Christ’s followers show forth their love for the poor and the oppressed; may they be one with those in need and abound in works of mercy. May they be compassionate towards all, that they themselves may obtain indulgence and forgiveness from you. Amen.
Blessed John Paul II
Day 7
The Spirit At Work Within Us
Antiphon: Lord, send us your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.
Act of Adoration
I believe, my God, that I am in your presence;
that you are looking at me and listening to my prayers.
You are so great and so holy: I adore you.
You have given me everything: I thank you.
I have been so ungrateful, I ask your pardon with all my heart. You are so merciful: I ask you all the graces which you know are beneficial to me.
Before reading the Scripture: Jesus Christ our Master, you are the Way, the Truth and the Life. Pour out on us your Spirit, as you did on the Apostles, gathered together in prayer with Mary at Pentecost. Open our hearts to receive your Word with the humble docility of Mary and in the spirit of the apostle St Paul, so that it may bear abundant fruits of holiness and dedicated service also in our life.
Reading: For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen (Ephesians 3:14-21).
Silent reflection: What does this passage from Ephesians say to me, to us, today?
- R. Come, Holy Spirit, source of light! Come, Holy Spirit, source of strength and joy, of forgiveness and peace. Come! Fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.
- And you shall renew the face of the earth.
Hymn to the Holy Spirit.
Prayer: Spirit of holiness, divine breath which moves the universe, awaken in all Christians a desire for full unity that they may be for the world an effective sign and instrument of intimate union with God and the unity of the whole human race.
Spirit of wisdom, inspiration of minds and hearts, direct science and technology to the service of life, justice and peace, render fruitful our dialogue with other religions, lead the different cultures to appreciate the values of the Gospel.
Spirit of life, by whose power the Word was made flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary, the woman of attentive silence; make us docile to the promptings of your love and ever ready to accept the signs of the times which you place along the path of history. Amen.
Blessed John Paul II
Day 6
Live By The Spirit
Antiphon: Lord, send us your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.
Act of Adoration
I believe, my God, that I am in your presence;
that you are looking at me and listening to my prayers.
You are so great and so holy: I adore you.
You have given me everything: I thank you.
I have been so ungrateful, I ask your pardon with all my heart. You are so merciful: I ask you all the graces which you know are beneficial to me.
Before reading the Scripture: Jesus Christ our Master, you are the Way, the Truth and the Life. Pour out on us your Spirit, as you did on the Apostles, gathered together in prayer with Mary at Pentecost. Open our hearts to receive your Word with the humble docility of Mary and in the spirit of the apostle St Paul, so that it may bear abundant fruits of holiness and dedicated service also in our life.
Reading: I say, then: live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh. For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do what you want. But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ [Jesus] have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit. Let us not be conceited, provoking one another, envious of one another (Galatians 5:16-26 ).
Silent reflection: What does this passage from Galatians say to me, to us, today?
R. Come, Holy Spirit, source of light! Come, Holy Spirit, source of strength and joy, of forgiveness and peace. Come! Fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.
V. And you shall renew the face of the earth.
Hymn to the Holy Spirit.
Prayer: Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work too may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I may love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen.
St Augustine
Day 5
Led By The Spirit
We Are Children Of God
Antiphon: Lord, send us your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.
Act of Adoration
I believe, my God, that I am in your presence;
that you are looking at me and listening to my prayers.
You are so great and so holy: I adore you.
You have given me everything: I thank you.
I have been so ungrateful, I ask your pardon with all my heart. You are so merciful: I ask you all the graces which you know are beneficial to me.
Before reading the Scripture: Jesus Christ our Master, you are the Way, the Truth and the Life. Pour out on us your Spirit, as you did on the Apostles, gathered together in prayer with Mary at Pentecost. Open our hearts to receive your Word with the humble docility of Mary and in the spirit of the apostle St Paul, so that it may bear abundant fruits of holiness and dedicated service also in our life.
Reading: But you are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is alive because of righteousness. If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you. Consequently, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him (Romans 8:9-17).
Silent reflection: What does this passage from Romans say to me, to us, today?
- R. Come, Holy Spirit, source of light! Come, Holy Spirit, source of strength and joy, of forgiveness and peace. Come! Fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.
- And you shall renew the face of the earth.
Hymn to the Holy Spirit.
Prayer: O Holy Spirit, soul of my soul, I adore you. Enlighten, guide, strengthen and console me. Tell me what I ought to do and command me to do it. I promise to submit to everything that you ask of me and to accept all that you allow to happen to me. Just show me your will. Amen.
Cardinal Mercier
Day 4
Different Gifts But The Same Spirit
Antiphon: Lord, send us your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.
Act of Adoration
I believe, my God, that I am in your presence;
that you are looking at me and listening to my prayers.
You are so great and so holy: I adore you.
You have given me everything: I thank you.
I have been so ungrateful, I ask your pardon with all my heart.You are so merciful: I ask you all the graces which you know are beneficial to me.
Before reading the Scripture: Jesus Christ our Master, you are the Way, the Truth and the Life. Pour out on us your Spirit, as you did on the Apostles, gathered together in prayer with Mary at Pentecost. Open our hearts to receive your Word with the humble docility of Mary and in the spirit of the apostle St Paul, so that it may bear abundant fruits of holiness and dedicated service also in our life.
Reading: Now in regard to spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be unaware. You know how, when you were pagans, you were constantly attracted and led away to mute idols. Therefore, I tell you that nobody speaking by the spirit of God says, “Jesus be accursed.” And no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the holy Spirit.
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom; to another the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit; to another mighty deeds; to another prophecy; to another discernment of spirits; to another varieties of tongues; to another interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes (1 Cor 12:1-11).
Silent reflection: What does this passage from the First letter to the Corinthians say to me, to us, today?
- R. Come, Holy Spirit, source of light! Come, Holy Spirit, source of strength and joy, of forgiveness and peace. Come! Fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.
- And you shall renew the face of the earth.
Hymn to the Holy Spirit.
Prayer: Spirit of communion, soul and strength of the Church, grant that the wealth of charism and ministries may contribute to the unity of the Body of Christ; grant that laity, consecrated persons and ordained ministers may work together in harmony to build the one Kingdom of God.
Spirit of consolation, unfailing source of joy and peace, inspire solidarity with the poor, grant the seek the strength they need, pour out trust and hope upon those experiencing trials, awaken in all hearts a commitment to a better future. Amen. Blessed John Paul II
Day 3
The Spirit Of Truth Who Guides US
Antiphon: Lord, send us your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.
Act of Adoration
I believe, my God, that I am in your presence;
that you are looking at me and listening to my prayers.
You are so great and so holy: I adore you.
You have given me everything: I thank you.
I have been so ungrateful, I ask your pardon with all my heart.You are so merciful: I ask you all the graces which you know are beneficial to me.
Before reading the Scripture: Jesus Christ our Master, you are the Way, the Truth and the Life. Pour out on us your Spirit, as you did on the Apostles, gathered together in prayer with Mary at Pentecost. Open our hearts to receive your Word with the humble docility of Mary and in the spirit of the apostle St Paul, so that it may bear abundant fruits of holiness and dedicated service also in our life.
Reading: “I have told you this so that you may not fall away. They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God. They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me. I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.
“I did not tell you this from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: sin, because they do not believe in me; righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.
“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you (John 16:1-15).
Silent reflection: What does this passage from John’s Gospel say to me, to us, today?
- R. Come, Holy Spirit, source of light! Come, Holy Spirit, source of strength and joy, of forgiveness and peace. Come! Fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.
- And you shall renew the face of the earth.
Hymn to the Holy Spirit.
Prayer: Father, pour out your Spirit upon your people, and grant us a new vision of your glory, a new experience of your power, a new faithfulness to your Word, a new consecration to your service, that your love may grow among us and your kingdom come, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Day 2
The Holy Spirit Who Dwells Within Us
Antiphon: Lord, send us your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.
Act of Adoration
I believe, my God, that I am in your presence;
that you are looking at me and listening to my prayers.
You are so great and so holy: I adore you.
You have given me everything: I thank you.
I have been so ungrateful, I ask your pardon with all my heart.
You are so merciful: I ask you all the graces which you know are beneficial to me.
Before reading the Scripture: Jesus Christ our Master, you are the Way, the Truth and the Life. Pour out on us your Spirit, as you did on the Apostles, gathered together in prayer with Mary at Pentecost. Open our hearts to receive your Word with the humble docility of Mary and in the spirit of the apostle St Paul, so that it may bear abundant fruits of holiness and dedicated service also in our life.
Reading: Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me.
“I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that [I] told you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid (John 14:23-27).
Silent reflection: What does this passage from John’s Gospel say to me, to us, today?
- R. Come, Holy Spirit, source of light! Come, Holy Spirit, source of strength and joy, of forgiveness and peace. Come! Fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.
- And you shall renew the face of the earth.
Hymn to the Holy Spirit.
Prayer: God, our Father, complete in us the work you have begun and keep the gifts of your Holy Spirit active in our hearts and in the hearts of all your people. Make us ready to live the Gospel and eager to do his will. May we never be ashamed to proclaim to all the world the Good News of the Risen Lord. Amen.
Day 1
Filled With The Holy Spirit
Antiphon: Lord, send us your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.
Act of Adoration
I believe, my God, that I am in your presence;
that you are looking at me and listening to my prayers.
You are so great and so holy: I adore you.
You have given me everything: I thank you.
I have been so ungrateful, I ask your pardon with all my heart.
You are so merciful: I ask you all the graces which you know are beneficial to me.
Before reading the Scripture: Jesus Christ our Master, you are the Way, the Truth and the Life. Pour out on us your Spirit, as you did on the Apostles, gathered together in prayer with Mary at Pentecost. Open our hearts to receive your Word with the humble docility of Mary and in the spirit of the apostle St Paul, so that it may bear abundant fruits of holiness and dedicated service also in our life.
Reading: When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language? We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travellers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.” They were all astounded and bewildered, and said to one another, “What does this mean?” (Acts 2:1-12)
Silent Reflection: What does this passage from the Acts of the Apostles say to me, to us, today?
R. Come, Holy Spirit, source of light! Come, Holy Spirit, source of strength and joy, of forgiveness and peace. Come! Fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.
V. And you shall renew the face of the earth.
Hymn to the Holy Spirit.
Prayer: All-powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, send your Holy Spirit upon us to be our helper and guide. Give us the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgement and courage, and the spirit of knowledge and reverence. Fill us with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Happy Easter dear friends! Today we celebrate God’s gift poured on us through his infinite 
love and boundless mercy. Love has conquered evil at its roots through the death and resurrection of Christ. Alleluia is our song because He is risen as he promised! God’s love has won and thus we celebrate with joy and jubilation this unconditional love. By sharing in God’s mercy, joy and happiness as well as his sorrow and adversity we learn to share in joy and sorrow with others.
“It is gratitude for his fatherly mercy, the joy that opens
eyes and hearts to his presence, the goodness and the beauty of our brothers and sister” as Pope Francis says in the General audience June 4, 2014.
Therefore, we wish you the fullness of Christ‘s Joy at Easter.
Happy Easter to you all!
Pauline Youth 
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