But St. John of the Cross identifies the climax of the spiritual life with breathing the Spirit together with Jesus. What if our deepest prayer is not when we think or do, but rather, sit in silence, feeling His breath, His Spirit, upon us, and learning to breathe that Spirit with Him. Filled with His Breath, we then are sent forth, to breathe that Spirit upon others. Sometimes, faced with so many problems in the world that we cannot solve, all we can do is the same as Jesus: breathe with others, asking that our simple breath convey the same Spirit to their hearts. How can you learn to be present to Jesus who breathes His Spirit upon you? How can you be present to others and breathe that same spirit upon them? 3. “Come, Father of the poor!” The Pentecost sequence – Veni Sancte Spiritus (Come, Holy Spirit) – petitions the Holy Spirit to take care of us in all our sundry needs. This petition – “Come, Father of the poor!” – summarizes them all. We are truly poor when we do not have the Holy Spirit; but with Him, He provides for all that we need, in body and in soul. The more we admit and recognize our poverty, the more we learn to cry out to Him, to be filled with the abundance of His life and grace. All we need to say is, “Come!” And, sometimes, all we need to do in the face of others’ poverty and pain is the same: inviting Him to pour forth His love and help the poor. And, indeed, He comes, not only when we ask, but each time we receive Jesus in Holy Communion, filling us with His abundant riches. Where do you experience your poverty? How can you cry out more frequently to the Holy Spirit for His help? What riches do you need Him to give you this week? By Fr. Thaddaeus Lancton, MIC Who is Saint Stanislaus Papczynski? Father Papczynski (1607-1701) was an esteemed theologian, philosopher, and preacher. He wrote many books, and the Marians wrote a beautiful book on his life titled, Saint Stanislaus of Jesus and Mary Papczynski: The Life and Writings of the Marians’ Founder. Father first entered the Order of Piarists; the order struggled from 16461656 due to rapid growth and laxity of rules, and in 1670 he was dispensed from his vows and set up hermitage in Pia Marianska (Marian Forest). After many years he was able to start a new order. The Congregation of Marians of the Immaculate Conception was the first male Order dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and this was nearly two centuries before the declaration of this dogma. St. Stanislaus was beatified in 2007 in Lichen, Poland. He was canonized in 2016 by Pope Francis. The miracles leading up to his canonization are both amazing, and I encourage you to listen to the story of the infant that had died in the womb. It is a pro-life miracle emphasizing the great mercy of God and the gift of human life. To learn more go to: https://www.thedivinemercy.org/videos/who-was-st-stanislauspapczynski-founder-marians-immaculate-conception Excerpt from Mercy Unbound – Who was St. Stanislaus Papczynski, Founder of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception? by Fr. Joseph Roesch, MIC; www.thedivinemercy.org Picture: www.padrimariani.org
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