APRIL 2015 ST. FAUSTINA AND THE HOLY SPIRIT This article is used with permission from divinemercy.org A fter the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles at Pentecost, they were not afraid. They were filled with holy boldness. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “Through His grace, the Holy Spirit is the first to awaken faith in us and to communicate to us the new life, which is to ‘know the Father and the One whom He has sent, Jesus Christ’” (CCC, 684). When He does speak, which is often, the Spirit elicits from us fruits of obvious goodness. Saint Paul tells us, “Now the works of the flesh are plain: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law” (Gal 5:19-23). When we allow ourselves to be filled with the Holy Spirit, we become overshadowed by Him and begin to bear the fruits in our lives. We “bubble over” with love and joy, and minister by proclaiming the Good News to people. But we must be quiet and listen. Saint Faustina wrote, “Oh Spirit of God, Director of my soul, wise is he whom You have trained! But for the spirit of God to act in the soul, peace and recollection are needed” (Diary of St. Faustina, 145). And, “A noble and delicate soul...follows faithfully the faintest breath of the Holy Spirit; it rejoices in this Spiritual Guest and holds onto Him like a child to its mother” (148). That is why we must listen to hear the Holy Spirit, and we must be ready to be His instrument. Since she was quiet in her soul and heard the Holy Spirit, St. Faustina, by definition, was a contemplative. She had an intuitive grasp of the importance of quiet and silence: “The silent soul is capable of attaining the closest union with God. It lives almost always under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. God works in a silent soul without hindrance” (477). Charismatic in Her Joy However, St. Faustina also was charismatic. She exuded and overflowed with the joy and love of God. She wrote, “Oh, if souls would only be willing to listen, at least a little, to the voice of conscience and the voice—that is, the inspirations—of the Holy Spirit! I say ‘at least a little,’ because once we open ourselves to the influence of the P AGE 2 Holy Spirit, He Himself will fulfill what is lacking in us” (359). Earlier in the Diary, St. Faustina shares this gem about her interior life: “in my interior life I never reason; I do not analyze the ways in which God’s Spirit leads me. It is enough for me to know that I am loved and that I love” (293). We must be filled with the love of God, and we will do His will only by following the Holy Spirit. If we do, we accomplish great things over all the earth: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). C ATHOLIC C HARISMATIC R ENEWAL O FFICE “Oh, if souls would only be willing to listen, at least a little, to the voice of conscience and the voice—that is, the inspirations—of the Holy Spirit!...Once we open ourselves to the influence of the Holy Spirit, He Himself will fulfill what is lacking in us.” Christ’s Instructions to Saint Faustina Kowalska on Spiritual Warfare (Excerpted from an article on www.spiritdaily.com, 3/23/15) In June, 1938, the Lord Jesus directed Sister (now Saint) Faustina Kowalska on the subject of spiritual warfare, during a three-day retreat in Cracow-Pradnik. She recorded His instructions in her Diary and they became her weapon in fighting the good fight. The following are the words of Christ as she recorded them: Jesus began, “My daughter, I want to teach you about spiritual warfare” (1760). Never trust in yourself but abandon yourself to My will. In desolation, darkness and various doubts, have recourse to Me and to your spiritual director (or confessor). He will always answer you in my name. If someone causes you trouble, think what good you can do for the person who caused you to suffer. When boredom and discouragement beat against your heart, run away from yourself and hide in My heart. Do not fear struggle; courage itself often intimidates temptations, and they dare not attack us. Do not examine with curiosity the roads down which I lead you. At the first opportunity, reveal the temptation to a confessor. Put your self-love in the last place, so that it does not taint your deeds. Bear with yourself with great patience. Do not neglect interior mortifications. Baptism in the Holy Spirit Let all act as they like; you are to act as I want you to. Please join us to discuss: Be silent when you are rebuked. Do not become discouraged by ingratitude. Always fight with the deep conviction that I am with you. Do not be guided by feeling, because it is not always under your control; but all merit lies in the will. I will not delude you with prospects of peace and consolations; on the contrary, prepare for great battles. Fight like a knight so I can reward you. Do not be unduly fearful, because you are not alone. QUARTERLY LEADERS’ GATHERING April 11, 2015 9:00-Noon How we can lead others more readily into this experience. How we can assist people in growing in the power of the Holy Spirit. IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH 40TH AND JACKSON STREET NE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MN All Prayer Group Leaders are encouraged to attend. Bring as many members of your leadership/core group as possible. A PRIL 2015 P AGE 3 April Happenings & Announcements LIFE IN THE SPIRIT SEMINARS Continuing on Tuesdays through April 14, 7-9pm. Epiphany Prayer Group, Epiphany Catholic Church, 1900 111th Ave. NW, Coon Rapids. Call Pete, 763-7670767. Tuesdays April 21—June 9, 7-9pm. St. Peter’s Prayer Group, St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 2600 N. Margaret Street, North St. Paul, MN. Call Peter, 651-353-4311 for details. (no meeting on May 5 and June 2 due to Healing Mass). HAPPENINGS April 3 (Friday) FIRST FRIDAY WITH THE FRANCISCANS, 7PM. 1289 LaFond Ave., St. Paul, MN. Adoration, Franciscan Crown Rosary, Compline and Benediction. Fellowship follows. April 3 (Friday) COR JESU, Praise & Worship Night at the St. Paul Seminary (St. Mary’s Chapel) 8-10PM, 2260 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, MN. Information and directions: 651-962-5050. Thursdays April 23—June 4, 7-8:45pm. Jim and Rita Hanson’s home, 3128 Leyland Trail, Woodbury, MN. Registrations appreciated. For more information, Fr. Joseph K. Bill Ministries, info@frbillusa.net; or Rita, 651-321-3056. April 7 (Tuesday) HEALING MASS at Church of St. Peter, 2600 N. Margaret St., No. St. Paul. Celebrant Fr. Cory Rohlfing. Rosary 7pm, Mass 7:30PM. Call Peter 651353-4311. “I expect from you that you share with all in the Church the grace of Baptism in the Holy Spirit.” April 11 (Saturday) LIFELINE MASS, NET Center, 110 Crusader Ave., West St. Paul. 6-9:30PM, band, Mass, speaker: Bishop Andrew Cozzens, presents: “WHY SOME PEOPLE SAY MASS IS SO BORING” Call 651-450-4311. Pope Francis. MARK YOUR CALENDAR All-City Charismatic Pentecost Mass Sunday May 24, 2015 starting at 2pm Celebrant: Fr. Jim Livingston Immaculate Conception Church 4030 Central Ave. NE, Columbia Heights (Location is correction from March newsletter) CCRO’S SUMMER CONFERENCE WITH LLOYD AND NANCY GREENHAW Fri.-Sat. August 7-8, 2015 Trinity School in Eagan THE CHARISM SCHOOL AND MIRACLE HEALING SERVICE WITH DAMIAN STAYNE May 1-3, 2015 in Chicago, IL J. Sterling Morton West High School 2300 Home Ave., Berwyn, IL April 11 (Saturday) QUARTERLY LEADER’S GATHERING, 9AM—Noon. Immaculate Conception Church, 4030 Jackson Street NE, Columbia Heights. April 17 (Friday) EMMAUS, Church of St. Mark, 2001 Dayton Ave., St. Paul. 8-9:30pm. Adoration, Confession, praise and worship. Call 651-645-5717. April 21 (Tuesday) HEALING MASS at St. Patrick’s Church, 1500 Vine Street, Hudson, WI. 6PM. Call 715381-5120. April 24 (Friday) HEALING MASS at St. Nicholas Church, 412 4th Street West, Carver, MN, Celebrant Fr. Jim Livingston. Rosary 6:30PM; Mass 7PM. Call 952-4482345. April 28 (Tuesday) HEALING MASS at Immaculate Conception Church, 4030 Jackson Street NE, Columbia Heights. Celebrant Fr. Jim Livingston. Mass 7PM. Call Mary at 763-788-9062. April 17 and 24 (Friday) HEALING PRAYER SERIES, 79PM in Owens Science Hall, Room 150 (the 3M Auditorium) University of St. Thomas. Call Fr. David Smith, 651-962-8929 or dwsmith@stthomas.edu. Details and registration is online at www.chicagorenewal.org, or call the Chicago Renewal Office at 708-209-1199. ATTENTION PRAYER GROUPS From time to time, we hear of charismatic prayer groups that are meeting but for which we don’t have information. If you are part of a group, please let us know, so we can include you in our directory and website, and refer people who are looking for a group in your area. We would also like to know of any changes to your meeting time, location or contact information. Please call us at 763-571-5314, or email office@ccro-msp.org. Thank you! NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. Postage PAID Twin Cities, MN Permit No. 2967 LET THE FIRE FALL! ALL-CITY CHARISMATIC PENTECOST MASS Sunday, May 24, 2015 Starting at 2:00 PM Immaculate Conception Church 4030 Jackson Street NE Columbia Heights Fr. Jim Livingston Praise & Worship led by Justin Stroh Charismatic Mass Refreshments & Fellowship Follow (The March issue erroneously listed St. Peter’s in North St. Paul as the location of the Pentecost Mass. Please note the correction).
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