Dear friends in Christ

We are between the two beautiful Marian feasts of the Assumption of Mary last Friday, and her Queenship next Friday. Mary’s Assumption leads naturally to her coronation. St Ephraim puts these beautiful words on the lips of Mary: Let Heaven hold me in it's embrace, for I am more honoured than Heaven, since Heaven was only your throne, not your Mother. Of course, how much more worthy of honour and veneration than His throne is the Mother of the King! We can only contemplate the great celebration of Heaven as the Blessed Trinity greets Our Lady to take her to Heaven for all eternity. All this was possible because God loved His Mother and gives her to us so that we too can share in His joy.

In the Gospel of this Sunday Jesus speaks to us of fire as a symbol of His desire to purify and purge—a symbol of His love. Love is ignited by our contact with God. On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came down on the Apostles in the form of tongues of fire, to purify their hearts and prepare them for the mission of extending the Kingdom of Christ throughout the world. God desires that this fire of love ignite our hearts so that we too may be all alight and on fire with Him.

God bless you!

Msgr Kevin Hale