EXPLORE THE SUNDAY GOSPEL
Appearance to the Disciples
JN 20:19-23 or JN 15:26-27; 16:12-15
On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you."
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
"Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained."
MEET OUR EXTENDED FAMILY
St. Cristóbal Magallanes and Companions (Feast Day May 21)
d. 1915-1937
Cristóbal grew up in rural Mexico, working as a shepherd. At age 19, he entered the seminary, and once ordained, became a parish priest in Jalisco. He founded a seminary, authored a newspaper, founded schools for both adults and children, and assisted the people of his congregation with employment via the organization of carpentry shops and an electric mill. Father Cristóbal encouraged the cooperation of his congregation with the indigenous peoples of the region, together forming an agricultural cooperative which was quite successful.
Cristóbal and his 24 companion martyrs lived under a very anti-Catholic government in Mexico, one determined to weaken the Catholic faith of its people. Churches, schools, and seminaries were closed; foreign clergy were expelled. Cristóbal established a clandestine seminary, and he and the other priests were forced to minister secretly to Catholics during the presidency of Plutarco Calles (1924-28). Despite his preaching against violence, he was arrested on his way to a local farm to celebrate Mass. Without trial, he was shot and killed, following his request to distribute his possessions to the poor, and his general absolution of his would-be executioners. The companions of Father Cristóbal did not die as a single group but over 22 years’ time in eight Mexican states during the Mexican Cristero War. They were beatified in 1992 and canonized eight years later by St. John Paul II.
TAKE TIME TO CHAT
· What’s the difference between the peace that Jesus gives and the peace the world gives?
· Who is the Holy Spirit?
· What is different about someone who allows the Holy Spirit to work in their life?
· St. Cristóbal forgave the people who were about to kill him. In what way does this remind you of Jesus? How can you be more forgiving?
FAMILY FUN
Fruit of the Spirit
The Bible says, "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23). Write down each of these "fruits" on different slips of paper. Gather different kinds of fruit, at least as many as the members of your family. Flip over the paper slips and mix them around. Pair an actual fruit with each fruit of the Spirit and have each family member choose one. Eat the real fruit, and whichever fruit of the Spirit you've chosen can be taped to your bedroom door. In the year ahead, ask the Holy Spirit to help cultivate that fruit in your heart!
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
Rosemary’s Chocolate Cake
Make this cake to celebrate Pentecost! Light some candles to remind you of the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in tongues of fire.
2 cups sifted flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. baking soda
2 cups sugar
½ tsp. salt
4 rounded Tbsp. cocoa powder
2 cups hot water
1 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs, slightly beaten
2 tsp. vanilla
Sift flour, baking powder, soda, sugar salt and cocoa together. Add hot water, oil, eggs and vanilla and beat until all incorporated (batter will be very runny). Bake in heavy 9x13 pan (stoneware is best) at 350 F for 40 minutes or until tester comes out clean.
FAMILY PRAYER
Prayer to the Holy Spirit by St. Augustine and Prayer for a New Pentecost
Pray for the Holy Spirit to work in your life personally with the prayer from St. Augustine. Then, pray for our Archdiocese with the Prayer for a New Pentecost
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Breathe in me O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen.
Prayer for a New Pentecost
Father in heaven, renew your wonders in our time, as though by a new Pentecost and grant that your holy Church in Detroit, praying perseveringly and insistently with one mind, together with Mary, the mother of Jesus, and guided by Sts. Joseph and Anne, may increase the reign of the Divine Savior, the reign of truth and justice, the reign of love and peace. Amen.
LITURGY LINK
The priests says, “The Lord be with you!” What do we say in response?
FUN FACTS
The Monday after Pentecost is the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, which Pope Francis declared in 2018. Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us!
