A Sunday Before Pentecoast Thought About Our Own Little Crosses

And just like that we arrive at the Sunday before Pentecost. Our Easter Season will soon draw to a close.

Last time, on Ascension Thursday, we suggested praying the ancient Novena to the Holy Spirit to prepare ourselves for Pentecost. It's not too late to start if you haven't already done so. You can find it by doing a simple internet search.

Pentecost has suffered a bit of a "downgrade" (if that's an appropriate description) since the modernists had their way with our venerable Catholic Liturgy. But make no mistake, along with Easter, it is the greatest feast of the Liturgical Year. And yet we don't seem to hold it in the esteem it once had. 

As we've noted in the past, perhaps the best indication of this downgrading or demotion was taking away the Octave that traditionally came with Pentecost. A story has it that Pope Paul VI putting on his vestments on the Monday after Pentecost and - as had been the custom since time immemorial - expected to vest in red. But red vestments were not set out for him. When he questioned this, noting what he thought was to be a celebration of the Octave, he was told that the Octave had been suppressed. He then asked who authorized this and was told that it was him. It is said he broke down in tears.

Whether the story is true or not, it aptly illustrates the point of downgrading Pentecost. 

But no matter, Pentecost will arrive next week. And nothing can stop us from giving it its due attention and devotion.

Pray the Novena if possible. It is said to date at least to the 6th century if not all the way back to the Apostles. It is the oldest Novena we have. To state the obvious, it's very special.

For today, we conclude our recent thoughts centered on difficulties and suffering that come to us from time to time (and may be with some of us right now). As we Catholics know, our salvation comes from the Cross. And with the Cross come our own crosses, some big, but most not so big. Here's something that reminds of our little crosses. These are the ones most of us may find will be our "ticket" to Heaven. This little poem reminds us of that.

 

Splinters from the Cross

Little headaches, little heartaches,
Little griefs of every day,
Little trials and vexations,
How they throng around our way!

One great cross, immense and heavy,
So it seems to our weak will,
Might be borne with resignation,
But these many small ones kill.

Yet all life is formed of small things,
Little leaves make up the trees,
Many tiny drops of water
Blending, make the mighty seas.

Let us not then by impatience
Mar the beauty of the whole.
But for love of Jesus bear all
In the silence of our soul.

Asking Him for grace sufficient
To sustain us through each loss,
And to treasure each small offering
As a splinter from His Cross.
(Author Unknown)
 

Happy Easter!