Virgo Potens

St. Norbert of Xanthen, pray for us. NOVENA in Honor of ST. NORBERT (1080 - 1134) Feast Day - June 6th Founder of the Norbertines (The Premonstratensian Order) Begins today at Christus Regnat ~ https://t.me/RexUniversi

2 of 2 ~ 15.— Thursday after Pentecost 2. The first miracle performed by the apostles was the healing of the lame man at the gate of the Temple. He who had been a helpless cripple came walking, and leaping, and praising God. The fact of the miracle was undeniable. "It is manifest," said the council of the Jews, and we cannot deny it." They were more honest than modern sceptics, who explain away miracles for which the evidence is just as strong. Pray that you may have none of the sceptical spirit that is so hateful to God. 3. This miracle was worked in the name of Jesus by the operation of the Holy Spirit, in fulfilment of Our Lord's promise, "He shall glorify Me." All true miracles are wrought by the authority and in the name of Jesus, and through the power of the Holy Spirit. We shall do wonderful things for God if all we do is done in Jesus' name and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We fail because we act in our own name and under our own guidance. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

VENI SANCTE SPIRITUS May 28th, 2026 ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ ~ 15.— Thursday after Pentecost The Effects of Pentecost : the Power of Healing 1. Our Lord had promised that the works that He had done on earth, those who believed in Him should do also (St. John xiv. 12). Among these works was the power to raise the dead and to heal the sick. Those on whom the Spirit of God descended performed miracles which even their adversaries could not deny. These miracles still continue; they are the exclusive property of the Catholic Church; they are one of the proofs of the continual presence of the Holy Spirit. Thank God for this, and make an act of faith in the wonder-working power of the Church. (continued)

2 of 2 Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 27th First of all it is necessary to humble ourselves when we approach God with prayer to obtain some grace, because God does not regard, nor heed, nor impart His grace except to the humble. “The Lord looketh on the low,” [Ps. cxxxvii, 6] “The prayer of the humble hath always pleased Thee,” [Judith ix, 16] “God giveth grace to the humble.” [James iv, 6] When therefore you come to ask God for some grace of the body or of the soul, do you always remember to practice this humility? When we pray, and especially when we say the “Our Father,” we are speaking to God; and how many times, when you are saying your prayers, do you speak to God with less respect than if you were speaking to one of your fellow creatures? How often when you are in church, which is the house of God, do you listen to a sermon, which is the Word of God, and assist at the functions of the service without any reverence? Humility of heart, says St. Thomas, [2a 2æ, qu. clxi, art. 2] is accompanied by exterior reverence, and to be lacking in this is to lack humility, and is therefore a sin of pride, “which excludes reverence.” ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 27th 104. There are certain cases in which we are obliged to make acts of virtue –— such as faith, hope and charity –— which some necessity, circumstance, or duty of our state of life may exact, and there are certain cases in which we must make acts of humility in our hearts. (continued)

•❃°•°❀°•°❃•❃°•°❀°•°❃• REMEMBER . . . It’s Ember Wednesday! Summer Ember Days ~ the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday after Pentecost Special days of Prayer, Penance and Fasting •❃°•°❀°•°❃•❃°•°❀°•°❃•

2 of 2 ~ 14.— Wednesday after Pentecost 2. These fruits are the graces of the Holy Spirit, some of them gifts given by God according to His good pleasure, apart from individual merits; others requiring man's co-operation, and imparting a new beauty to the individual soul. The Catholic Church is this tree, sprung from the blood of Jesus, planted by the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, to take firm root, and never to be rooted up, in spite of all the hatred of the wicked and the malice of Satan. How many graces I have received through the Catholic Church! 3. The first of the graces of Pentecost was the power bestowed on the disciples of speaking so that all men, of every nation and tribe, understood them. They thus anticipated the universal language of heaven. Each one heard his own tongue. To each, therefore, as it seemed, the words of the apostles were specially directed. "We all hear them speak in our own tongues." The gift of speaking words suitable to all alike is a great grace. God gives to His faithful servants the power of speaking to the hearts of all, so that all can say, "This is meant for me." ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

VENI SANCTE SPIRITUS May 26th, 2026 ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ ~ 14.— Wednesday after Pentecost The Effects of Pentecost : the Gift of Languages 1. As Our Lord, when He became incarnate, brought down heaven to earth in His own sacred Person, so, after He returned to heaven, the Holy Ghost came to plant on earth a tree, the fruits of which were not only designed for the healing of the nations, but were to be a sort of commencement of the glory of the saints in paradise. Jesus Christ had fought the battle and won the victory, and now He sent the Holy Spirit to make the kingdoms of this world the kingdom of God. (continued)

2 of 2 Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 26th “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy great mercy”; [Ps. l, 1] now as a miserable needy beggar who humbles himself and asks alms to help him in his necessity: “Give us this day our daily bread”; now as the sick man near the Pool of Bethsaida, who humbled himself before the Saviour to be healed of his incurable disease: “Sir, I have no man . . .”; [John v7] now as that blind man who humbled himself that his darkness might be illuminated: “Lord, that I may see”; now as the Canaanite woman who humbled herself and exclaimed: “Have mercy on me, O Lord, help me,” [Matt. xv, 22, 25] and who was not ashamed to liken herself to the dogs who are unworthy to eat their master’s bread, but are content to eat the crumbs that fall from his table. Humility of heart is ingenuous, and in the same manner as our heart loves without needing to be taught to love, it humbles itself without needing to be taught humility. ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 26th 103. But how are we to make these practical acts of humility before God? I will give you some examples. You can imagine yourself in the presence of God now as a convicted felon who humbles himself and implores mercy for the forgiveness of his sins: (continued)

•❃°•°❀°•°❃•❃°•°❀°•°❃• REMEMBER . . . Beginning tomorrow! Summer Ember Days ~ the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday after Pentecost Special days of Prayer, Penance and Fasting •❃°•°❀°•°❃•❃°•°❀°•°❃•

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine. NOVENA for CORPUS CHRISTI Begins the Tuesday after Pentecost and ends on the eve of the Feast of Corpus Christi. Begins today at Christus Regnat ~ https://t.me/RexUniversi

2 of 2 ~ 13.— Whit-tuesday 2. This new fire was a purifying fire, driving out all sin, cleansing the soul of its dross. The fire of divine love has a power to consume the gnawing rust of selfishness, and indolence, and jealousy of the success of others. When its work is done, it leaves nothing of spiteful words and hard thoughts and unkind actions; nothing but the love of God remains behind. Purify me, O God, by the fire of Thy love. 3. This fire was also exceedingly bright. It was to communicate its attractive brilliancy to those on whom it descended, both collectively and individually. It is this bright fire of Pentecost that illuminates the Church, and makes it draw men of good will into it. How thankful should I be in that I dwell where the fire of Pentecost ever brightly burns! Around the priest there is a halo belonging to his sacred office; around each individual Catholic there is a light of faith which burns not outside the fold. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

VENI SANCTE SPIRITUS May 26th, 2026 ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ ~ 13.— Whit-tuesday The Tongues of Fire The tongues which came down from heaven and rested upon the disciples were tongues of fire. The fire had its own meaning. 1. It was a fulfilment of Our Lord's words, "I am come to send fire upon earth," a fire of charity such as had never been kindled before. He brought to man and taught to man a charity without bounds, ready to sacrifice itself even to the death; a charity which loved the sinner and the fallen because they were sinners and fallen; a charity which esteemed it a joy to suffer for others for Christ's sake. Is my charity of this kind? Is it a self-denying charity? Is it a charity which extends even to those whom I dislike? (continued)

2 of 2 Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 25th Christ Himself taught humility of heart, and the heart must not remain idle, nor fail to produce the necessary acts–—and what acts of humility do you make before God? How often do you make them? When have you made them? How long is it since you made them? It would be absurd to hope for the reward which is promised to the humble without being humble, or at least without the desire to be humble; and without making acts of humility; humility of heart without the heart humbling itself–—what folly! And are you foolish enough to believe that this can be done? Sometimes you give utterance to certain words which seem to tend to your own humiliation; you say you are a contemptible wretch, and good for nothing, but do you say such things sincerely from your heart? If you are afraid of lying to yourself by confirming them in your own mind, listen to what St. Thomas [Loc. cit. art. 6 ad 1] tells us for our instruction, that everyone can truthfully say and believe of himself that he is a contemptible wretch, referring all his ability and talent to God. ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 25th [102.] The Angelic Doctor teaches that the reason why humility tends principally to render the soul subject to God is because this virtue is nearest to the theological virtues, and as it does not suffice only to know what things we must believe or hope, but it is also necessary for us to make acts of faith and hope, so in the same way we must make like acts of humility. (continued)

2 of 2 ~ 12.— Whit-monday 2. The tongues indicated that the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts, either by His holy inspirations or by the voice of those who have authority to teach us. If I wish to speak and act prudently, I must take Him for my guide. Do I listen attentively to His voice, and obey most faithfully its holy utterances ? 3. The tongues were also to remind us that it is our words which will obtain for us justification or condemnation at the day of judgment. Our Lord warns us that "by our words we shall be justified, and by our words we shall be condemned." He does not say by our actions or our good intentions, but by our words. How often I forget this when I let loose my tongue in foolish and uncharitable words! ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

VENI SANCTE SPIRITUS May 25th, 2026 ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ ~ 12.— Whit-monday The Parted Tongues At the same time that the sound of the mighty wind filled the whole house, there appeared something more wondrous still. Parted tongues of fire appeared, and descended on the head of each of the disciples who were present. Why did the Holy Spirit's presence manifest itself under the form of tongues ? 1. Because they signified that to each would be given the office of speaking of the things of God, of communicating to others the truth that they had themselves learned. This was the sacred duty to which their whole lives were to be given. So now, on all priests, the same obligation rests, and, in their own degree, on all parents, teachers, all in authority, nay, on every one of the faithful. I, too, in Baptism, and still more in Confirmation, have received this obligation of communicating to those around me the sacred truths of the Gospel. (continued)

2 of 2 Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 24th This is of faith. “No man can say the Lord Jesus but by the Holy Ghost.” [1 Cor. xii, 3] “Not that we are sufficient to think anything of ourselves as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God.” [2 Cor. iii, 5] “For it is God Who worketh in you both to will and to accomplish according to His good will.” [Phil. ii, 13] It is not enough only to say I know all these things, but it is necessary to realize them to become really humble. ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

2 of 2 Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 23rd This is of faith. “No man can say the Lord Jesus but by the Holy Ghost.” [1 Cor. xii, 3] “Not that we are sufficient to think anything of ourselves as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God.” [2 Cor. iii, 5] “For it is God Who worketh in you both to will and to accomplish according to His good will.” [Phil. ii, 13] It is not enough only to say I know all these things, but it is necessary to realize them to become really humble. ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).