AUGUST 23, 2017
10:00 AM ORDINARY FORM (ENGLISH) MASS (ALL SCHOOL)
Today is the Feast of St. Rose of Lima. She is from Lima, Peru and was born in 1586 and died in 1617. She is the first person in the western hemisphere to be canonized a saint. Among other things, she is the patroness of our diocese: the Diocese of Santa Rosa, as well as the city of Santa Rosa.
St. Rose was known for praying a lot, as well as many sacrifices. Where we may give up one or two things during Lent, St. Rose was always giving up things all the time. She live a life of great penance, and was known for her piety and holiness.
Which goes to the question: How can we become saints?
Why be good? The reason is that we need to build a foundation or a framework for God to work with. While God gives us everything, the primary virtues we receive in Baptism are Faith, Hope, and Love. The other virtues – the human or cardinal virtues – we have to work on: Justice (giving people the good they deserve), Prudence (doing the right thing, at the right time, in the right way), Courage (standing up for what is right), and Temperance (keeping our thoughts, words, and actions within proper boundaries.)
Once we've built a framework or foundation of virtue, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit which we receive in both Baptism and Confirmation perfect the virtues we have developed. No virtues, no gift. Lots of virtue, lots of gifts. We want to have something for the Holy Spirit to build on ... after all, we don't want the Holy Spirit flying off like a dove without a place to roost.
And once we have done our part to live a good life, and have allowed the Holy Spirit to perfect our good habits of virtue, we can experience the Fruits of the Holy Spirit – which are the first taste of the life of Heaven.
So, who wants to go to heaven? How about right now? Yeah. I thought so.
Nonetheless, we all want to go to Heaven, and in Heaven we know that Jesus will judge us based on our life. In the resurrection at the end of all time, we will receive the perfect life of the Trinity.
And so, that's why this is the Mass of the Holy Spirit. Because school will help us, not only to get smarter, but also give us opportunities to work on virtuous living. Also, in the Sacraments we prepare for and receive, we will learn how to receive the graces configured to who we are; and experience a little bit of Heaven on Earth.
And in the end, we will – with God's grace – aspire to Heaven with God and the Saints for all Eternity.
