The title Veni, Sancte Spiritus is the golden sequence sung at Mass today, at Harvington Hall's parish of St. Mary's. It is a beautiful hymn, probably written by Cardinal Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury in the 13th Century. He was a great legislator, and Fr Higham reminded us in his homily that he was appropriately also a great poet. What a combination so treasured in our Church!
There was something else very special for today's celebration of Pentecost. Not only did we have the Neri Singers lifting our hearts and minds; the delicate precision and noble elegance of the Tridentine Mass; the sweet smell of incense; and the incredible mystery of Our Lord truly present under the appearance of humble bread and wine... but there was a very special chasuble being worn by Fr David Higham! I haven't all the details to hand, but this exquisite vestment dates back to the 15th Century, and features an elegant red cross made using the fabric from one of Catherine of Aragon's dresses, explicit in her last will and testament. What thoughts and feelings this evokes. I will provide more photos and details about this in due course.
Fr Higham preached an inspiring sermon as always. What more appropriate occasion to reflect upon this day, than the unfortunate situation in Brazil where the Holy Father has recently visited? They have the largest Catholic population, but huge numbers are being plucked away by 'Pentecostal' sects. What do these sects claim to have over and above the Church? Rather than set, rubrical forms of worship led by a priest; they have spontaneous, lively preaching and music. Rather than intricate and complicated doctrines; they boast basic and simple biblical truths. "The gifts of the Holy Spirit living and active in believers today." Can the Catholic Faith boast these things?
The Catholic Church holds the day of Pentecost in high esteem, commemorating it on this day. It was this event which founded the Church with the living, Holy Spirit of God. It is this Spirit which is active in the Church throughout the centuries; to preserve her, teach and instruct her, and inspire her members towards holiness and sanctification. This is far more beautiful and divine than warm subjective feelings and outbursts of joy. Such feelings can be reproduced in the most secular of settings, and lend more to a kind of social interaction rather than a living and present divine reality. The Catholic Faith provides sustenance and sanctification through the Holy Spirit's special action in the Sacraments. In particular, at the Mass it is the power of the Holy Spirit which transforms our reality into the heavenly realm: by re-presenting the sacrifice on Calvary of our Lord Jesus Christ; by transforming our earthly gifts of bread and wine into His Body and Blood, the Lamb of God, the Bread from Heaven in which we partake in the eternal banquet. That is a reality which Our Lord begged us to accept like little children, or our Life in the Spirit is simply not possible, and we cannot enter God's Kingdom.
Ecce Agnus Dei, ecce qui tollit peccata mundi
Let us echo the words: "Veni, Sancte Spiritus" and like St Philip Neri, experience that great inrush of the divine Spirit into our hearts. One which for Philip, resulted in an overwhelming burning and divine delight, the likes of which overflowed into the hearts of everyone he met, drawing them into the Church and saving their souls. If we reduce the action of the Holy Spirit into a simple transient community experience then we reduce the Church to an earthly and individualistic realm. Through obedience and authority we accept a higher divine guidance of Christ's body, the Church, one which Our Lord promised the apostles would "teach you all things, and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you."
There was something else very special for today's celebration of Pentecost. Not only did we have the Neri Singers lifting our hearts and minds; the delicate precision and noble elegance of the Tridentine Mass; the sweet smell of incense; and the incredible mystery of Our Lord truly present under the appearance of humble bread and wine... but there was a very special chasuble being worn by Fr David Higham! I haven't all the details to hand, but this exquisite vestment dates back to the 15th Century, and features an elegant red cross made using the fabric from one of Catherine of Aragon's dresses, explicit in her last will and testament. What thoughts and feelings this evokes. I will provide more photos and details about this in due course.
Fr Higham preached an inspiring sermon as always. What more appropriate occasion to reflect upon this day, than the unfortunate situation in Brazil where the Holy Father has recently visited? They have the largest Catholic population, but huge numbers are being plucked away by 'Pentecostal' sects. What do these sects claim to have over and above the Church? Rather than set, rubrical forms of worship led by a priest; they have spontaneous, lively preaching and music. Rather than intricate and complicated doctrines; they boast basic and simple biblical truths. "The gifts of the Holy Spirit living and active in believers today." Can the Catholic Faith boast these things?
The Catholic Church holds the day of Pentecost in high esteem, commemorating it on this day. It was this event which founded the Church with the living, Holy Spirit of God. It is this Spirit which is active in the Church throughout the centuries; to preserve her, teach and instruct her, and inspire her members towards holiness and sanctification. This is far more beautiful and divine than warm subjective feelings and outbursts of joy. Such feelings can be reproduced in the most secular of settings, and lend more to a kind of social interaction rather than a living and present divine reality. The Catholic Faith provides sustenance and sanctification through the Holy Spirit's special action in the Sacraments. In particular, at the Mass it is the power of the Holy Spirit which transforms our reality into the heavenly realm: by re-presenting the sacrifice on Calvary of our Lord Jesus Christ; by transforming our earthly gifts of bread and wine into His Body and Blood, the Lamb of God, the Bread from Heaven in which we partake in the eternal banquet. That is a reality which Our Lord begged us to accept like little children, or our Life in the Spirit is simply not possible, and we cannot enter God's Kingdom.
Ecce Agnus Dei, ecce qui tollit peccata mundi"If any one love Me, he will keep my word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and will make Our abode in him."St John 14:23
Let us echo the words: "Veni, Sancte Spiritus" and like St Philip Neri, experience that great inrush of the divine Spirit into our hearts. One which for Philip, resulted in an overwhelming burning and divine delight, the likes of which overflowed into the hearts of everyone he met, drawing them into the Church and saving their souls. If we reduce the action of the Holy Spirit into a simple transient community experience then we reduce the Church to an earthly and individualistic realm. Through obedience and authority we accept a higher divine guidance of Christ's body, the Church, one which Our Lord promised the apostles would "teach you all things, and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you."
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