Newsletter The of Our Lady of the Southern Cross Vol 1 No 5 11 2020 - Ascensiontide

Road to Emmaus – Robert Zünd 1877

The Ordinary’s Message Inside This Issue Rogation Days? Page 2 Fr Peter Stravinskas on the high We find ourselves mid-way between the Major calling of the laity Rogation and the Minor Rogations. (From the Encyclopaedia): “Days of prayer, and Page 5 formerly also of fasting, instituted by the Church to Report on the Ordinary’s Appeal appease God’s anger at man’s transgressions, to ask Page 6 protection in calamities, and to obtain a good and Saint Who? bountiful harvest, known in England as ‘Gang Days’ and ‘Cross Page 7 Week’, and in Germany as Bittage, Bittwoche, Kreuzwoche. The St Gregory Prayer Book Rogation Days were highly esteemed in England and King Alfred’s laws considered a theft committed on these days equal to one Page 8 Not part of the curriculum committed on Sunday or a higher Church Holy Day. Their celebration continued even to the thirteenth year of Elizabeth, 1571, Page 9 when one of the ministers of the Established Church inveighed Novena in Preparation for against the Rogation , or Gang Days, of Cross Week. “The Rogation Days are the 25th of April, called Major, and the three days before the , called Minor. The Major Rogation, which has no connexion with the feast of St. Mark (fixed for this date much later) seems to be of very early date and to have been introduced to counteract the ancient Robigalia, on which the heathens held processions and supplications to their gods. St. Gregory the Great (d. 604) regulated the already existing custom. The Minor Rogations were introduced by St. Mamertus, Bishop of Vienne, and were afterwards ordered by the Fifth Council of Orléans, which was held in 511, and then approved by Leo III (795-816) ... The liturgical celebration now consists in the (with the chanted) and the Rogation . For 25 April the Roman Missal gives the rubric: ‘If the feast of St. Mark is transferred, the

NEWSLETTER OF OLSC VOLUME 1 ISSUE 5 MAY 2020 1 procession is not transferred. In the rare case of 25 April being Sunday [1886, 1943], the procession is held not on Sunday but on the Tuesday following’.” Outside of England, and owing to the Feast of St Mark also falling on 25 April (ANZAC Day in Australia and New Zealand), the Major Rogation has to a very great extent fallen off the Church calendar, even where the three days before Ascension Day (May 18-20 this year) are still kept as Rogation Days – where Ascension Day is kept exactly 40 days after Easter, which always therefore falls on a Thursday. Another European tradition, again especially in England, on the Rogation Days is to “beat the bounds of the ,” – actually where the term “Gang Days” originates. That’s what those fierce looking children are preparing to do in the photograph at the beginning of this message. Apparently the tradition was for only boys to accompany parish officials (although I can’t tell from the photograph if they are only boys – the hats and clothing make it difficult to tell). As is so common outside of England, parish boundaries can be vast indeed; I think that we’ll just sing the Supplication and the Litany at the beginning of Mass … The Right Reverend Monsignor Carl Reid, PA Ordinary ™˜ (Many thanks to Fr Peter Stravinskas for providing the following two part article; timely as we anticipate the Australian Plenary. Part two will be in the subsequent issue of the Newsletter) Escriva – Christifideles Laici A document that would have gladdened the heart of St. José Maria Escrivá On June 26, the of celebrates the feast of their holy founder, José Maria Escrivá, a “grand-daddy,” we could say, of the – decades before Vatican II. In his honour, I offer the following reflections on a critically important text from the Magisterium of St. John Paul II. Part One One of the concrete results of the Synod on the Laity of 1987 was the issuance a year later of Pope John Paul II's apostolic exhortation on the laity, Christifideles Laici (CL). Secular media coverage of the document was almost nonexistent since there was little sensational about it; liberal Catholics decried it as "a giant step backward" from Vatican II's "bold" theology of the laity. In point of fact, the secular media may have had a more accurate grasp of the matter, in that they saw no striking departure from authentic conciliar teaching, while Catholics upset with the exhortation were not facing reality. It is unfortunate that some found nothing worth reporting in CL since it contains the clearest synthesis of the lay vocation ever to appear in an ecclesiastical text. Those who asserted the retrograde nature of the document failed to understand either it or Vatican II. Not insignificant to note is that of the 224 footnotes employed by the Holy Father, 101 of them are citations from Vatican II and yet another 50 come from Synod-related documents. This last point needs to be stressed to emphasize the contemporaneous nature of CL, as well as the collaborative and collegial aspects, which are stressed (cf. n. 2). The title is critical since it sets the tone so well: "Christ's Faithful Laypeople." Christifideles is the term of choice in the 1983 Code of Canon Law to describe all people in the Church; laici makes the focus totally clear. The literary and scriptural image used for the arena of lay activity throughout is that of the vineyard (cf. Mt 13:38), "which is to be transformed according to the plan of God in view of the final coming of the kingdom of God" (n. 1). The Pope begins by praising the wonderful work done by lay people in the Church, especially in response to the call of the . That having been said in all earnestness, he then goes NEWSLETTER OF OLSC VOLUME 1 ISSUE 5 MAY 2020 2 on to note the Synod's concern "that the post-conciliar path of the lay faithful has not been without its difficulties and dangers" (n. 2). He continues: "In particular, two temptations can be cited which they have not always known how to avoid: The temptation of being so strongly interested in Church services and tasks that some fail to become actively engaged in their responsibilities in the professional, social, cultural and political world; and the temptation of legitimizing the unwarranted separation of faith from life, that is, a separation of the Gospel's acceptance from the actual living of the Gospel in various situations in the world." Certainly Catholicism in the United States has suffered from succumbing to both "temptations" in the post-conciliar era. The first problem is seen in the proliferation of so-called "lay ministers" of every description, while the second manifests itself most strongly in the posture of so-called Catholic public figures who adopt the "I am personally opposed/in favour, but" line on abortion, tax equity for parents who choose God-centred schools for their children, and a host of other public policy issues. Antidotes for these two poisons to a healthy Catholic life are offered in this exhortation. The context for lay mission arises from the Lord's question: "Why do you stand here idle all day?" In other words, with all the pressing issues facing the Church of the third millennium, how can any believer place himself or herself outside the realm of creative action? When people respond that they are idle "because no one has hired us," the summons of the Gospel, the Council, the Synod and the Pope should resound in their ears. Of course, a correct reading of "the signs of the times" should also provide ample evidence of the need for the involvement of all God's people. The Holy Father identifies three special areas of concern for the Church in the world today: 1) secularism born of atheism and the de-Christianization of society; 2) violations of human dignity, grounded in the creative work of Almighty God; 3) wars and conflicts which endanger or shatter peace. "This, then, is the vast field of labour that stands before the labourers sent forth by the 'householder' to work in his vineyard" (n. 7). The entire People of God (clergy, religious and laity alike) need to be represented here, but "the lay faithful have an essential and irreplaceable role in this announcement and in this testimony: Through them the Church of Christ is made present in the various sectors of the world as a sign and source of hope and of love" (n. 7, emphasis added). The first major section of CL deals with "the dignity of the lay faithful in the Church as mystery." Who are the "lay faithful"? Quoting , the Pope defines them as "all the faithful except those in Holy Orders and those who belong to a religious state sanctioned by the Church." He underscores the fact that this is a positive definition, not a negative one. First of all, the norm for membership in the Church is the lay state; others are exceptions – not the other way around. Second, the laity have a "dignity" which comes to them directly from the Sacrament of Baptism, and not by way of being borrowed or loaned from Holy Orders. Third, the lay vocation makes sense only when considered from a Christian perspective, that is, from an appreciation of "the Church as mystery." Each point requires some elaboration. What does it mean to be a lay person? It is somewhat ironic that Vatican II, dubbed "the Council of the Laity," should be praised or blamed for helping to make lay people into mini-priests, in order to heighten their identity and self-esteem in the Church. The sacrament which makes one into a "new creation" is Baptism; therein lies the source of one's Christian dignity, vocation in the world, and call to holiness. Being a priest does not provide a man with a better "shot" at salvation; rather, it is a specific way of living out one's baptismal commitment in response to a call personally perceived and then confirmed by the Church. A priest is no more a Christian than the lowliest baby just baptized; in reality, because of failures to live both his baptismal and ministerial vocations, he may actually be less. Furthermore, it is good to stress the fact that the word "layman" does not imply non-professional or unprofessional status in the Church; it points to one's having been incorporated into the "laos tou Theou" (the People of God), who have been called out of the world to become God's special portion, redeemed by the Blood of Christ and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Redemption and sanctification are just that, and they admit of no tourist-class status. NEWSLETTER OF OLSC VOLUME 1 ISSUE 5 MAY 2020 3 In a worldly view of reality, the one who collects the most toys wins the game. In carrying over that approach, it is no wonder that some Catholics presume that the one who can "do more" or "do the most" in the Church is the most important. That kind of transference of secular models creates havoc within the Body of Christ, but the Body of Christ can survive and thrive only on the basis of loving service and a healthy diversity of roles and ministries. St. Paul dealt with this "division of labour" concept clearly, and the Magisterium has picked it up in modern times with Pope Pius XII, Vatican II and Pope John Paul II. Hence, CL declares that "each member of the lay faithful, together with ordained ministers and men and women religious, shares a responsibility for the Church's mission" (n. 15). Now what is the specific responsibility entrusted to the laity? Their apostolate is marked by its "secularity," as Lumen Gentium puts it: "The secular character is properly and particularly that of the lay faithful" (n. 31). The exhortation then explicates this role: "The 'world' thus becomes the place and the means for the lay faithful to fulfil their Christian vocation, because the world itself is destined to glorify God the Father in Christ. The Council is able then to indicate the and special sense of the divine vocation which is directed to the lay faithful. They are not called to abandon the position they have in the world." On the contrary, they are to function "like leaven" in the world; therefore, for them, "to be present and active in the world is not only an anthropological and sociological reality, but in a specific way, a theological and ecclesiological reality as well" (n. 15). The laity sanctify themselves and the world at one and the same time by living out their particular vocation in fidelity to the Gospel as "shining example(s) of the infinite love of the Father that has regenerated them in His own life of holiness" (n. 17). Citing Apostolicam Actuositatem, the Holy Father spells this out: "Neither family concerns nor other secular affairs should be excluded from their religious program of life" (n. 17). Quoting the Synod Fathers, he continues: "The unity of life of the lay faithful is of the greatest importance: Indeed they must be sanctified in everyday professional and social life. Therefore, to respond to their vocation, the lay faithful must see their daily activities as an occasion to join themselves to God, fulfil His will, serve other people and lead them to communion with God in Christ" (n. 17). This is obviously a tall order; it can become a reality only when the lay faithful recognize their dignity, understand they are destined for a life of holiness (precisely as lay people), and realize that their holiness and that of the world depends entirely on their being "untiring labourers who work in the Lord's vineyard," obtaining their fruitfulness by "remaining united to the vine," who is Christ (n. 17). If someone wants to get down to the very essence of life in the Church, the most apt image is that of koinonia, variously translated into English as community, communion, fellowship. Unfortunately, it has lately been reduced to a rather shallow term and experience, no different in many ways from being a member of the local Kiwanis Club. However, koinonia describes a profound reality and thus deserves serious reflection. The verb which grounds it comes from the Gospel of St. John: "Abide." Our blessed Lord declares to His apostles that the goal of the Christian life is to "abide in me and I in you" (15:4). This "abiding" in the Lord signifies a permanent relationship, reflective of the Son's relationship to the Father, initiated by Christ, and accepted by the believer. Because and His followers are united to each other, that necessarily overflows into their relationships with each other. And so, we hear Jesus pray on the night before He died: "That they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me" (Jn 17:21). Much of this process of abiding is a matter of imitation or emulation. Because the Father and the Son are one, Jesus seeks unity with His disciples; because He and His followers are one, they in turn seek unity with one another. And what is the end result of all this unity? A broken world begins to believe. In the divine plan, the very characteristic which makes the Church to be the Church (namely, unity) is likewise the drawing card for bringing the whole of humanity out of its many divisions into the unity and community of the Church. NEWSLETTER OF OLSC VOLUME 1 ISSUE 5 MAY 2020 4 How does this life of communion begin and grow? It begins with Christ who moves toward us in loving union in Baptism. It is nourished in the sacrament of the Lord's Body and Blood, which is not only a sign of unity but a cause of it. It grows yet more whenever the Word of God is proclaimed and responded to in faith. Opportunities for communion, then, are literally all around us, but all too often we are blind to their presence; in fact, not infrequently we miss them because we have bought into other models of human organization, which do not issue forth in unity but in an unhealthy competition and even rivalry. This realization causes the Holy Father to consider how important diversity and complementarity are in the life of the Church, so that "every member of the lay faithful is seen in relation to the whole body and offers a totally unique contribution on behalf of the whole body" (n. 20). The Pope goes on to underscore the fact that this results in harmony because the Holy Spirit "is always the dynamic principle of diversity and unity in the Church" (n. 20). In other words, in a structure exclusively human, diversity could be expected to devolve into chaos and instead of complementarity one could reasonably anticipate competition. Not so in the communion of the Church – that is, if all are imbued with the same Spirit who breathes life and unity into the whole Body of Christ. Fr. Peter M. Stravinskas By Fr. Peter M. Stravinskas Fr. Peter M. Stravinskas is the founder and superior of the Priestly Society of Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman. He is also president of the Catholic Education Foundation and editor of The Catholic Response.

˜™˜™˜™ Report on the Ordinary’s Appeal 2020 If you have visited the Ordinariate web site any time recently (www.ordinariate.org.au), you may have come across a new tab: 2020 Appeal. Under that tab, beside the Ordinary’s letter that launched the appeal is pie chart showing the progress to date against a very unscientifically arrived- at target of $40,000. The pie chart to the left shows the progress up to 8 May 2020. Of the $15,608 donated to date, we have expended: Vocations Tuition Fees over and above previously budgeted: $5,284 Vocations Extraordinary Expenses: $600 Ad Limina and Equalisation $6,958 Archdiocese of Sydney unbudgeted payments for Ordinary’s housing and associated expenses: $3,382 Total Expended $16,224 (The actual unbudgeted expenses now regularly due the Archdiocese of Sydney are much higher, and ongoing. The $3382 amount was a particular donation made to offset part of those expenses.) ²²²²²

NEWSLETTER OF OLSC VOLUME 1 ISSUE 5 MAY 2020 5 Saint Who? Promoting the shining lights of lesser known saints The 10th of May is the of Saint Damien of Molokai, being the anniversary of when this Belgian missionary arrived on the island of Molokai where he cared for Hawaiian lepers. St Damien was born into a Flemish family at Tremelo. Of his six elder siblings, two became nuns and his brother Auguste (Fr Pamphile) joined the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, the order in which he too would make his profession in 1860. In spite of some initial hesitance due to his lack of education, his superiors decided that he should train for the priesthood. Admiring the example of St Francis Xavier, he often prayed to become a missionary. As the Lord would have it, Fr Pamphile had been chosen to serve in Hawaii but fell ill, so his brother was sent instead. After arriving in Honolulu in 1864, he was ordained at what would become the Cathedral. He soon observed how swiftly the native people were succumbing to a variety of illnesses caught from foreign sailors. One such disease was leprosy, which had been introduced to the islands by Chinese traders. The next year, King Kamehameha V of Hawaii ordered all lepers to be quarantined. Although their colonies were meant to grow their own Saint Damien food, the lepers’ health, a poor environment, and supply problems of Molokai resulted in an unworkable situation. Consequently, the bishop thought a priest should be assigned to help, but being unwilling to behove any Born: 3 January 1840 man to put his own life at risk, he asked for volunteers with a plan that Died: 15 April 1889 the priests would serve in rotation. St Damien was the first of four to volunteer. Upon his arrival on the Memorial: 10 May island, he found 600 lepers present, among whom he not only lived as Patron of: Lepers an equal but served as Christ, washing their sores and sharing their tables. He organised a leadership to enforce laws, teach, improve crop Image: St Damien yields, better living standards, bury the dead, and build infrastructure. of Molokai When the time came for him to rotate, the residents requested him to Stained glass window in St stay and permission was granted. Paul the Apostle Church, Westerville, Ohio Later, when King David Kalākaua sent the Crown Princess to present © Copyright Wikimedia St Damien with a medal, she was so taken aback by the priest’s noble Image User: Nheyob & licensed for reuse under Creative efforts in such distressing conditions that she was unable to read her Credit: speech but instead praised with tears his humble achievements. Once Commons Licence CC BY-SA 4.0 her report of the mission’s plight spread, even Protestants in Europe (https://creativecommons. and the United States began to send aid. In 1884 St Damien contracted org/licenses/ leprosy and was treated the next year by the Japanese leprologist by-sa/4.0/) Masanao Goto. Though his efforts relieved the symptoms, the saint still succumbed to it in 1889. Gandhi later said that the world can boast of few heroes who compare with Fr Damien of Molokai. Prayer: Father of mercy, who hast given us in Saint Damien a shining witness of love for the poorest and most abandoned, grant that by his intercession, as faithful witnesses of the heart of Thy Son Jesus, we too may be servants of the most needy and rejected, through Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

NEWSLETTER OF OLSC VOLUME 1 ISSUE 5 MAY 2020 6 If You Don’t Already Have One Even if the days of participating in Mass via a live-stream by one of our priests might be (we pray) drawing to an end, may we commend a very useful companion prayer book. While its primary purpose is as a personal devotional prayer resource, it may also serve as a handy companion during Mass celebrations, as Section 13 includes the people’s parts from Divine Worship: The Missal. It is available from various sources: https://www.ignatius.com/St-Gregorys-Prayer-Book-P3228.aspx https://www.booktopia.com.au/st-gregory-s-prayer-book-personal- ordinariate-of-the-chair-of-st/book/9781621642701.html https://www.amazon.com.au/Gregorys-Prayer-Book-Clinton- Brand/dp/1621642704 You may wish to shop around from these and various other sources to determine the best price with shipping costs accommodated. A description: “The St Gregory's Prayer Book is a beautifully produced leatherette prayer book compiled by the Ordinariates established by Pope Benedict XVI and drawing on the riches of the Anglican liturgical heritage and the exquisite Cranmerian language of the to further enrich the panoply of and devotion. “The text includes ancient English collects, introits and hymns available together for the first time for the whole Church as approved examples of Catholic liturgy. In addition to the Liturgical texts, classic translations of traditional prayers and devotions for use in the Church and in the home have been lovingly compiled and edited in St Gregory's Prayer Book.” Contents 1. An Outline of Duties of the Christian Life 2. Common Forms of Prayer & Professions of Faith 3. Various Prayers & Intercessions 4. Devotions for Days of the Week & Hours of the Day 5. Devotions for the Morning 6. Devotions for Midday 7. Devotions for the Evening 8. A Selection of 9. Divine Worship Collects 10. Devotions for the Church Year 11. Penitential Devotions & the Sacrament of Penance 12. Devotions for Holy Communion: Prayers Before & After Mass 13. Prayers at Mass: People's Order of Mass - Divine Worship: The Missal 14. Eucharistic Devotions & Visits to the Blessed Sacrament 15. Devotions to the Holy Trinity 16. Devotions to Our Lord Jesus Christ 17. Devotions to the Holy Spirit 18. Devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary 19. Devotions to the Saints & Angels 20. Devotions for the Sanctification of Sickness & Death 21. Devotions for the Faithful Departed 22. Prayers for Various Occasions & Intentions 23. Emergency Baptism NEWSLETTER OF OLSC VOLUME 1 ISSUE 5 MAY 2020 7 ²²²²² Second Year Seminarian Fails Skateboarding Course On Saturday, 9 May, an uncharacteristically warm-for-this-time-of-year day in Sydney, our second-year Seminarian, Bradley Le Guier, was enjoying the sunshine while preparing for the last few weeks of term prior to examinations. During the coronavirus lock- down, only the first year students have remained at the Seminary of the Good Shepherd, while all of the others have been placed in various . Brad has been staying with Fr Stephen Hill, VG, in the inner- west suburb of Sydney called Newtown. Fr Stephen is in charge of the local diocesan parish of St Joseph’s, and is also the priest for our Ordinariate community of St Bede the Venerable. Sometime in the afternoon, Fr Stephen received a phone call from Brad, informing Father that he was probably going to miss Evensong. Fr Stephen immediately asked Brad, knowingly it appears, if he had fallen off his skateboard. And what a fall it was! To the left is a photo of the X-Ray of Brad’s left arm. After a restless Saturday night, an operation, including plates to brace his bone structure, took place on Sunday morning. My wife Barb went to the hospital so that Brad would have a friendly face upon his waking from general anaesthetic. Barb even set up her iPad so that

Brad could watch/participate in the Sunday morning Ordinariate live-streamed Mass. He attempted valiantly to stay awake during Mass. As I write this article on the following Tuesday, Brad is still in hospital. The bones broke through his skin, and he therefore is remaining in hospital for an extra day or two to ensure that no infection incurs.

NEWSLETTER OF OLSC VOLUME 1 ISSUE 5 MAY 2020 8 NOVENA TO THE HOLY GHOST The first novena was prayed by the Apostles, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the small company of those who had been with the Lord Jesus. After His ascension, they "devoted themselves to prayer," until the coming of the Holy Ghost. This year the Novena should begin on Friday, May 22nd. The prayers of the Novena may be abbreviated by using only the Proper Prayer each day, and the concluding Collect.

In the Name of the Father, + and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Each day, the Novena begins with these prayers:

O HOLY SPIRIT, our Lord and our God, we adore thee and humbly acknowledge here in thy sacred presence that we are nothing, and can do nothing, without thy operation within us. Come, great Paraclete, thou Father of the poor, thou Comforter of the blest, fulfil the promise of our Saviour, who would not leave us orphans, and enter our minds and hearts as thou didst descend on the day of Pentecost upon the Holy Mother of Jesus and upon His first disciples. Grant that we may have a part in those gifts which thou didst so graciously bestow upon them. Take from our hearts all that is not pleasing to thee and make of them a worthy dwelling-place for Jesus. Illumine our minds, that we may see and understand the things that are for our eternal welfare. Inflame our hearts with the pure love of the Father, that, cleansed from attachments to all unworthy objects, our lives may be hidden with Jesus in God. Strengthen our wills, that they may be conformed to the will of our Creator and guided by thy holy inspirations. Aid us to practise the heavenly virtues of humility, poverty, and obedience which are taught to us in the earthly life of Jesus. Descend upon us, O mighty Spirit, that, inspired and encouraged by thee, we may faithfully fulfil the duties of our various states in life, carry our particular crosses with patience and courage, and accomplish the Father's will for us more perfectly. Make us, day by day, more holy and give to us that heavenly peace which the world cannot give. O Holy Spirit, thou Giver of every good and perfect gift, grant to us our special intentions of this novena of prayer. May the Father's will be done in us and through us; and mayest thou, O mighty Spirit of the living God, be praised and glorified for ever and ever. Amen. Here is said or sung the Veni Creator Spiritus: Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire, and lighten with celestial fire, thou the anointing Spirit art, who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart.

Thy blesséd unction from above, is comfort, life, and fire of love, enable with perpetual light the dullness of our blinded sight.

Anoint and cheer our soiled face with the abundance of thy grace. Keep far our foes, give peace at home; where thou art Guide, no ill can come.

Teach us to know the Father, Son, and thee, of both, to be but One; that through the ages all along, this may be our endless song:

Praise to thy eternal merit, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

NEWSLETTER OF OLSC VOLUME 1 ISSUE 5 MAY 2020 9 OUR FATHER, who art in heaven; hallowed be thy Name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen. Here is said the Proper Prayer for the Day: FIRST DAY Come, O Holy Ghost, the Lord and Lifegiver; take up thy dwelling within our souls, and make of them thy sacred home. Make us live by grace as adopted children of God. Pervade all the energies of our souls, and create in us fountains of living water, springing up unto eternal life. SECOND DAY Come, O Spirit of Wisdom, and reveal to our souls the mysteries of heavenly things, their exceeding greatness, and power, and beauty. Teach us to love them above and beyond all the passing joys and satisfactions of earth. Show us the way by which we may be able to attain to them, and possess them, and hold them hereafter, our own forever. THIRD DAY Come, O Spirit of Understanding, and enlighten our minds, that we may know and believe all the mysteries of salvation, and may merit at last to see the eternal light in thy light; and in the light of glory to have the clear vision of thee and the Father and the Son. FOURTH DAY Come, O Spirit of Counsel, help and guide us in all our ways, that we may always do thy holy will. Incline our hearts to that which is good, turn them away from all that is evil, and direct us by the path of thy commandments to the goal of eternal life. FIFTH DAY Come, O Spirit of Fortitude, and give courage to our souls. Make our hearts strong in all trials and in all distress, pouring forth abundantly into them the gifts of strength, that we may be able to resist the attacks of the devil. SIXTH DAY Come, O Spirit of Knowledge, and make us to understand and despise the emptiness and nothingness of the world. Give us grace to use the world only for thy glory and the salvation of thy creatures. May we always be faithful in putting thy rewards before every earthly gift. SEVENTH DAY Come, O Spirit of Piety, possess our hearts, and incline them to a true faith in thee, to a holy love of thee, our God. Give us thy grace, that we may seek thee and find thee, our best and our truest joy. EIGHTH DAY Come, O Spirit of holy Fear, penetrate our inmost hearts, that we may set thee, our Lord and God, before our faces forever; and shun all things that can offend thee, so that we may be made worthy to appear before the pure eyes of thy divine Majesty in the heaven of heavens. NINTH DAY Come, O Holy Comforter, and grant us a desire for holy things. Produce in our souls the fruits of virtue, so that, being filled with all sweetness and joy in the pursuit of good, we may attain unto eternal blessedness. The following prayer concludes the Novena each day: O GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit: grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth with thee in the unity of the same Holy Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen. NEWSLETTER OF OLSC VOLUME 1 ISSUE 5 MAY 2020 10