Pio's Proverb 177: PENTECOST SUNDAY: Birthday of the Church.

Today is Pentecost Sunday: the Birthday of the Catholic Church. The Holy Spirit's coming was predicted and promised by Jesus: "The Holy Spirit will come and bring to your minds all I have taught you."

Before Pentecost, the disciples were in hiding. After Pentecost, the disciples were preaching boldly in the synogues and streets of Jerusalem. They were fearless. When told to not speak in "that name", the disciples  replied: "It is better to obey God than man."

But the most important aspect of Pentecost in not only the boldness of proclaming the Kingdom of God, but the institution of the Sacrament of Reconciliation: Jesus said before going to heaven: "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive, they shall be forgiven. Whose sins you retain, they well be retained." We so often hear the argument: "Why do I need to confess to a priest. I can go directly to God." Of course, you can repent and go and ask God's forgiveness directly; but the to have the personal touch of God's mercy was established by Jesus, Himself. If Jesus did not want us to confess to Him in the person of the priest, then why did He give the power to forgive sins to his apostles..and which handed down through the imposition of the laying of hands in Ordination. In all seven Sacraments, Christ is encountered through the Holy Spirit.

Here are some important Scriptures regarding the Holy Spirit who is a PERSON not merely a force.

1) John 14:26: "He will teach you all things."

2) Acts 8: 29: "And the Spirit said to Philip,'Go up...'"

3) Acts 13:2: "Holy Spirit said, 'Set aprt for me...'"

4)  Romans 8: 27: 'Spirit intercedes for the saints...'"

5) 1 Corinthians 2: 11: "no one understands the thoughts of God except the Spirit."

6)  1 Corinthians 12: 11: " Spirit apportions to each as He wills."

7) Ephesians 4: 30: "do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God."

At Confirmation the Holy Spirit comes to us -- our own personal Pentecost -- with his seven fold gifts. We have our being from these seven gifts and are prepared by the Holy Spirit for our eternal life in the Lord in Heaven.

Peace and love in the Holy Spirit!

 "Come Holy Spirit -- WITH YOUR SEVEN-FOLD GIFTS and fill the hearts of your faithful..and renew the face of the earth!" SO THAT WE CAN ENJOY THE FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - especially: peace, joy, and charity toward others.

For You, Holy Spirit, are Everthing to us: our joy, our peace, our inspiration, our bond of love between family members and the Bond that makes the World into one Family. You are the Giver of Life, help all pregant mothers cherish the Life growing inside of them...so as to not fear the future..not worry about the future..because the Father will Provide for them. Give them the Courage to keep their babies and give Birth to them with the great joy of Motherhood..and of being another Giver of Life. All this we ask of the Father in the Name of Jesus through Your Holy Spirit. Amen!

Peace and love and joy, Pio