We celebrate this weekend the mystery of God, that God is one in three. Our faith teaches us that there is only one God, and there are three persons in God - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We confess that these three persons are separate and distinct individuals, but united and undivided in their substance. They are all God, co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial. What we speak of the one we must do the same of the other two. However, we must not confuse their identities or suppose that the one God appears in different modes. This would be the heresy of modalism - that is, that the one God who created the universe came in the form of Jesus and then after the ascension, came in the form of the Holy Spirit. No, the Catholic Church teaches that there are three distinct divine persons, but one God. The mystery of God is one that no one, no matter how intelligent, can completely grasp unless God reveals himself. [Click to read more]

Christians commemorate the solemnity of Pentecost on the fiftieth day after Easter. Originally, Pentecost, Greek "Pentekoste," was one of the three major Jewish agricultural festivals marked by a pilgrimage of adult Jews to Jerusalem. It was celebrated fifty days after Passover. It was on this auspicious occasion, when Jerusalem was filled with pilgrims, that the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles, who were locked in the Upper Room, for fear of the Jews. They spoke of the marvels of God in different languages, and the people could understand them. This event was the turning point in the lives of a once timid and cowardly band of disciples, making them fearless and courageous preachers, ready to risk even death in defense of their faith in the risen Christ. These were the same disciples who fled on the night Jesus was captured, who denied knowing him, and watched from afar as he was tortured and led to his death. The coming of the Holy Spirit upon them confirmed their faith that Jesus was truly the Christ. [Click to read more]

We celebrate this weekend the Ascension of the Lord into heaven. This solemnity, commemorated on the fortieth day after Easter, marks the completion of Christ’s earthly existence. Our Lord Jesus, having accomplished his mission on earth returns to the Father. He does not do so in order that he might be distant from us. By ascending Christ is even more present to us...