Dear friends in Christ

The days between the Ascension and Pentecost were spent by Mary and the Apostles in prayer and expectation: this is the origin of nine days of prayer (a Novena) in expectation of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit which would mark the birth of the Church. We also await in these days a new Pentecost so that faith, hope and charity may take root and flower in the arid ground of the world.

On 13th July 1852 in Oscott College, St John Henry Newman preached a famous and oft quoted Sermon entitled The Second Spring. It is a masterpiece of oratory and deserves to be read and reread. He hopes for the day when England will return to the ancient Faith planted by our Saints and Martyrs, that England will once again be Catholic!:

One thing alone I know, that according to our need, so will be our strength. One thing I am sure of, that the more the enemy rages against us, so much the more will the Saints in Heaven plead for us; the more fearful are our trials from the world, the more present to us will be our Mother Mary, and our good Patrons and Angel Guardians; the more malicious are the devices of men against us, the louder cry of supplication will ascend from the bosom of the whole Church to God for us. We shall not be left orphans; we shall have within us the strength of the Paraclete, promised to the Church and to every member of it.

I ask you to pray for the young people in our Parish—the young Church—who are making their First Holy Communion over these two weekends and also the young adults who will be Confirmed during the 11.30 Mass on Pentecost Day next weekend. May their young faith be so inflamed by the Holy Spirit so that they can be the presence of Jesus Christ on earth today.

May God bless you and, in this her special month, Mary’s prayers support us!

Msgr Kevin Hale