The Family Foundation School Catholic Community Bulletin
Pauca Verba (Latin for: “A Few Words)
Mary’s Breastplate
(A Prayer for Protection)
Direct me in your praise – though no master I in poetry –
O Angelic countenance without blemish, who gave the milk
of your breast to redeem me.
I commend myself to your protection, O loving Mother of
the only Son: under your shield protect my body, my heart, my will and my strength.
O temple of the three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I beseech you to help me at the hour of my judgment and my death.
O Queen, on whom the King, the Father, bestowed perpetual favor – virginity and motherhood – I enlist your aid for my salvation.
O vessel bearing the light, O great brightness outshining the sun, draw me ashore, under your protection, from the short-lived ship of the world.
O Mary, gracious and beautiful, gentle, mild and stately, I do not tire of calling on you; you are my defender on the day of danger.
Listen to Benedict XVI speak to us at the start of his Apostolic Journey.
“In today’s Gospel, the risen Lord bestows the gift of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and grants them the authority to forgive sins. Through the surpassing power of Christ’s grace, entrusted to frail human ministers (priests), the Church is constantly reborn and each of us is given the hope of a new beginning. Let us trust in the Spirit’s power to inspire conversion, to heal every wound, to overcome every division, and to inspire new life and freedom. How much we need these gifs! And how close at hand they are, particularly in the sacrament of Penance! The liberating power of this sacrament, in which our honest confession of sin is met by God’s merciful word of pardon and peace, needs to be rediscovered and reappropriated by every Catholic. To a great extent, the renewal of the Church in America and throughout the world depends on the renewal of the practice of Penance and the growth of holiness which that sacrament both inspires and accomplishes.”
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I would add to the Holy Father’s reflections that it is not enough to do good works. The Church of Christ is not a social service agency. We are a people called to holiness of life – and conversion through repentance – even tears for the world and our own need for turning – turning to God in humility, simplicity and purity of heart. Only then can we say we have even begun to understand the idea of discipleship.
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A prayer in anticipation of the Feast of Pentecost
Come, thou Holy Spirit, come!
And from thy celestial home
Shed a ray of light divine!
Come, thou Father of the poor!
Come, thou source of all our store!
Come, within our bosoms shine!
Thou, of comforters the best;
Thou, 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.
O most blessed Light divine,
Shine within these hearts of thine,
And our inmost being fill!
Where thou are not, man hath naught,
Nothing good in deed or thought,
Nothing free from taint of ill.
Heal our wounds, our strength renew
On our dryness pour thy dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away;
Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill’
Guide the steps that go astray.
On the faithful, who adore
And confess thee, evermore
In thy sevenfold gift descend;
Give them virtue’s sure reward;
Give them thy salvation, Lord;
Give them joys that never end.
Amen. Alleluia!
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It is First Communion Sunday at Saint Paul’s Parish and in parishes all over the United States. We pray for the little children who receive the Lord in Holy Communion today and throughout the month of May. Padre Pio greeted a group of young children and said, “May your last Holy Communion be as pure as your first.” Indeed! Jesus spare us from receiving Holy Communion on “automatic pilot.” Spare us from receiving the Eucharist without any fasting – without repentance – without inner bowing – without deep gratitude – without belief – without joy – without intimacy. “Blessed are the pure of heart, they will see God.” What a promise! To see God – even now! Heaven begins NOW! HERE!
