Daily Mass - Saturday of the sixth week of Easter

I thought that I would mark today as a Lady day, it being Saturday and a ferial day. I'll take any excuse to honour the holy Mother. Mass was offered this morning for the people of the Parish, and the Rosary said for all the penitents I have heard in my years of priesthood. Once all this virus business is finished, we need to bring back Confession in a big way. I would like to recommend that all of you, at home for months without the Sacraments, to prepare carefully with all the examinations of conscience that you can find to make your confessions when the opportunity arrives. I shall do the same. This must be a time for new beginnings, if the whole ordeal has taught us anything.

Back to our Blessed Lady. What we need is a picture and a hymn. Here's a picture. The hymn is below it. And I shall end with today's entry for the novena to the Holy Spirit.

NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT: DAY 2

"Come, Thou Father of the poor!

Come, with treasures which endure!

Come, Thou light of all that live!"

Come, O blessed Spirit of Holy Fear, penetrate my inmost heart, that I may set Thee, my Lord and God, before my face forever; help me to shun all things that can offend Thee, and make me worthy to appear before the pure eyes of Thy Divine Majesty in Heaven, where Thou livest and reignest in the unity of the ever Blessed Trinity, God, world without end. Amen.

One Our Father and one Hail Mary,

Seven times the Glory be.

On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself soul and body to Thee, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Thy purity, the unerring keenness of Thy justice, and the might of Thy love. Thou art the Strength and Light of my soul. In Thee I live and move and am. I desire never to grieve Thee by unfaithfulness to grace, and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against Thee. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Thy light and listen to Thy voice and follow Thy gracious inspirations. I cling to Thee and give myself to Thee and ask Thee by Thy compassion to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus and looking at His Five Wounds and trusting in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart, I implore Thee Adorable Spirit, helper of my infirmity, so to keep me in Thy grace that I may never sin against Thee. Give me grace O Holy Ghost, Spirit of the Father and the Son, to say to Thee always and everywhere, Speak Lord, for Thy servant heareth. Amen.