Reflections on the Glorious Mysteries -Part 3

Reflections on the Glorious Mysteries – Part 3

Submitted by Thomas Stidl

In part 2 we recounted the forty days that Jesus spent on earth instructing his disciples about the Kingdom of God. We also recounted His Ascension into glory. The disciples then returned to the upper room in Jerusalem. Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was present there also. Although not written in the Christian Testament, I believe that Mary had a great part in preparing the disciples for the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of tongues of fire in her own very humble way. Remember, Mary always directs us to God.

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Blessed Trinity. He is the Love between the Father and Jesus. Now we all know that Jesus was with the Father before the creation of the universe. The Love between the Father and Jesus was also present before the universe was created. Therefore, it makes logical sense that the Holy Spirit, the future spouse of Mary, was also present before the creation of the universe. If you think of the Father as Creator, and the Jesus as the Redeemer, then the Holy Spirit is the Sanctifier. Another way to contemplate the Trinity is to consider the Father as the thinker, Jesus as the thought, and the Holy Spirit as both the thinker and the thought in action.

When Jesus ascended to the Father, He knew that some of His disciples still had doubts and fears. Jesus also knew that his disciples needed the motivation and the courage to preach and teach his word to the entire world. I believe that this is where Mary came to be an important person in the disciple’s development. So the disciples began nine days of prayer with Mary imploring the power of the Holy Spirit to descend upon them. I have always found that God works quietly among men and women. The descent of the Holy Spirit was not quiet. The tongues of fire on the foreheads of the disciples along with the accompanying winds inspired the disciples to preach in Jerusalem in all the different languages of every human being present there at the time. It is said that three thousand people were baptized that day and also received the power of the Holy Spirit.

This is how our Church began. From eleven uneducated, timid fishermen as my eighth grade nun taught to what we see today is the accomplishment of the Holy Spirit working through men and women. Truly, the Holy Spirit is the Father and Jesus in action. We always remember to pray to the Father and Jesus. Let us never neglect to pray to the Holy Spirit. After all, He resides inside all humans as long as we remain in the state of grace. Always keep the perfect act of contrition in mind at every moment of your life so that you stay in the state of grace. While you are praying that prayer, add the act of Spiritual Communion to your prayer list. Thus the Father and Jesus can come to communicate with you always.

In part 4 of this series we will examine the Assumption and the Coronation of our Blessed Virgin Mother

Until next time, Laus Tibi, Christe. Deo Gratias. Gloria Tibi Domini. Praise be to God. See you in Paradise.