This is some important information for all of us.
May is a month that the Catholic Church has consecrated to our mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary. People pray the rosary, crown Mary, or have a personal and special devotion to the Mother of God. On May 12, we celebrate also our Mother’s Day, and we will have the crown of Mary. Let us ask Mary, our heavenly mother, to intercede not only for our mothers, but for all mothers in the world. The Blessed Virgin Mary has been present in human history through her different apparitions. Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Chinquiquirá, Our Lady of the Rosary, Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of the Mount Carmel, Our Lady of the Snow, Our Lady of the Milk, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Our Lady of Graces, Our Lady of La Salette, Our Lady of Knock, Our Lady of the Good Event, Our Lady of Laus, Our Lady of Good Help, Our Lady of Pontmain, Our Lady of Hope, Our Lady of Gietrzwałd, etc., are some of the apparitions of our Blessed Virgin throughout the world. They are manifestations of God’s love to us regardless the culture, nationality, language, or race. For this reason, this month is consecrated to her, so that all humankind can praise the Lord through the presence of our Blessed Mother.
The Roman Catholic Church will celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. Let us remember that this day is one of the Holy Days of obligation. It is very important that we do not confuse the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord with the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Heaven. In the Ascension, Jesus ascends to Heaven by His own power and will because Jesus is divine (let us remember that Jesus is 100% God and 100% human being). On the other hand, Mary, who is only a human being, goes to Heaven by the power of God. God took her to Heaven. The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord is one of the most important solemnities in the Roman Catholic Church, and it is described in Mark 16:19, Luke 24:50-51, and Acts 1:2-11. This special moment in the life of the Lord and the Church happened 40 days after the Resurrection of the Lord. This Solemnity will be celebrated on May 9th. Here, at Holy Trinity Church, we will have two Masses: 9:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Let us participate in this celebration as the family who we are.
On May 19th, we will celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost. We will celebrate that day the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the Roman Catholic Church. We ask each one of you to be in red that day as a sign that the Holy Spirit is coming and is in each of us. In addition, we will start to pray the Novena to the Holy Spirit from May 10th to 18th. This Novena will be prayed after the homily in daily Mass, and before starting the Eucharist on weekend masses. I encourage you to pray this Novena and ask for the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit.
God bless you, and may the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you always!
Fr. Jorge Ramirez
