On May 4, 1897, Pope Leo XIII proclaimed: "We decree and command that throughout the whole Catholic Church, this year and in every subsequent year, a novena shall take place before Whit-Sunday (Pentecost), in all parish churches." It has been reported that Pope Leo XIII was inspired to mandate the Pentecost novena because of a letter from a housewife in Italy. Pope John Paul II has reiterated Pope Leo XIII's command for a worldwide Pentecost novena, although the novena can be prayed at any time - not only before Pentecost.
On May 18th the Pentecost novena begins for 2012. You can use our Pentecost novena prayer booklet to help guide your prayer.
http://www.presentationministries.com/brochures/PentNovena.asp
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Tuesday, May 15, 2012, St. Isidore the Farmer (USA)
Acts 16:22-34, Psalm 138:1-3, 7-8, John 16:5-11
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/051512.cfm
"A FUTURE FULL OF HOPE" (Jer 29:11)
"About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as their fellow prisoners listened, a severe earthquake suddenly shook the place." -Acts 16:25-26
While evangelizing in Philippi, St. Paul was harassed by a girl who had a spirit of fortune-telling and made a lot of money by predicting the future. Annoyed, Paul took authority, "and said to the spirit, 'In the name of Jesus Christ I command you, come out of her!' Then and there the spirit left her" (Acts 16:18). For this, Paul and Silas were brutally flogged and thrown into prison. Their future looked bleak.
However, Paul and Silas didn't worry about what the future held in store for them. Rather, they focused on praising God in the present. They praised through an earthquake, converted their jailer and his household, and walked away in freedom (Acts 16:25-34).
Satan still tempts people to focus on the future instead of the present. He sends his evil spirits through fortune-tellers, psychics, those who read palms and tarot cards, ouija boards, and countless other mediums. (His harassment in this area is constant. In fact, as I started typing the previous sentence about evil spirits, my computer program crashed!) If we resist Satan, he attempts to persecute and intimidate us. Yet, like Paul and Silas, praise the Lord in joyful hope and do not be intimidated (Mt 10:26).
We have a godly way to experience the future - the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. In the Mass, the present is joined to the future, eternal life with the Lord. In the Mass, heaven and earth are filled with His glory. Attend Mass daily or desire to do so. Celebrate "a future full of hope" (Jer 29:11).
Prayer: Lord, "I will worship at Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name" (Ps 138:2).
Promise: "The prince of this world has been condemned." -Jn 16:11
Praise: St. Isidore, a holy farmer in Spain, is patron of the United States Rural Life Conference.
(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from April 1, 2012 through May 31, 2012
?Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 31, 2011
The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.
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