From the Rector

The Week of June 1, 2025

“O Holy Spirit, water from heaven our barren clay, heal our wounds and bruises, cleanse our stained hearts, water our dry hearts, heal our wounded hearts.”

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Dear friends,

As we prepare for our celebration of the Feast of Pentecost next Sunday, June 8, I want to share with you ahead of time the following reflection drawn from "The Eucharistic Year," a remarkable book of devotions printed in Dublin in 1887.

We begin with a prayer of aspiration: "Come, thou Father of the poor; come, distribute thy gifts. Come, thou light of our hearts; come, thou Father of the poor, thou bounteous source of all our store, come fill our hearts with love."

This ancient devotion then invites us to reckon with two questions that shepherd our hearts to the Spirit's gift.

First, beloved, who is he who comes? 

Jesus Christ, the God of light and truth, who brings with him the seven gifts that enlighten and inflame souls: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. Jesus speaks to us saying, "My mortal life could not always last, even my sacramental presence is limited in you. But behold I give you the Holy Spirit to remain with you for ever, who will supply the void I leave from one communion to another, ut manet vobiscum in aeternum—that he may abide with you forever."

Beloved, why does he come? 

To send into your soul this Divine Spirit, who will teach you all truth and bring to your mind all the words spoken in the Gospel, rendering you joyful to receive every interior inspiration, and who prays for you with unspeakable groaning (see Romans 8:26).

Saint Augustine writes so beautifully of the yearning of the soul for this divine presence: "O Divine Love; O sacred link which unites the Father and the Son! All-powerful Spirit, consolation of the afflicted, penetrate into the profound abyss of my heart, enlighten with thy brilliant flames these dark and dreary days, and refresh with thy gentle dews this arid, barren clay."

The great bishop of Hippo continues his prayer with mounting intensity: "Come, then, thou sweet consoler of desolate souls, refuge in dangers, protector in the tribulation of this exile. Come, thou who washes away our every stain and heals all our wounds. Come, strength of the weak and help of those who fall."

Pentecost invites us to behold with the eyes of faith Jesus speaking to us: "Behold the Holy Ghost, this God of light, and strength, and love, who transforms his creatures, sweetly testifying to them in the depths of their hearts this glorious assurance, that they are the children and heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ."

May we arrive to Pentecost with hearts joyful and open to receive the Spirit—the gift of God, living fountain, fire, charity, the soul’s anointing from above.

Yours in Christ~

Fr. Peter