THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Her Doctrine and Morals

Sunday after the Ascension

1 June 2025

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The Sunday

Sermon

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Dear Friends in Christ,

In today's Gospel reading (Saint John 15:26 — 16:4), Jesus prepared the Apostles to receive the Holy Ghost. We refer to the Holy Ghost with many Names. He is known as The Holy Spirit, The Paraclete, The Spirit of Truth, etc. The Third Person of the Blessed Trinity is the Spirit of God. He is the Spirit of the Father as well as the Spirit of the Son. The Holy Ghost proceeds from both The Father and The Son — not as from two or as two, but as One.

Saint Augustine reminds us that: "The Father as well as The Son is a Spirit. It was fitting that that which they both singly and together are called He also should be called Who is not one or other of them, but in Whom what they possess in common is manifested. Why, then, may we not hold that the Holy Ghost also proceeds from the Son since He is also the Spirit of the Son? For if He did not proceed from Him, He would not after His Resurrection have breathed upon His Disciples, saying: 'Receive ye the Holy Ghost.' It is of this power also we must believe the Evangelist was speaking when he says: 'For virtue went out from Him, and healed all' (Luke 6:19). If then the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Son, why does the Son say, 'Who proceedeth from the Father,' unless that it is just as He is wont to refer what is His to Him from Whom He also has being? For this, He said: 'My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me' (John 7:16). If then it is His doctrine which He yet says is not His but the Father's, how much more should we here understand that the Holy Ghost proceeds from Him also, although He says, 'Who proceedeth from the Father,' yet not as though He were also saying: from Me, He does not proceed? From Whom then the Son derives that He is God, from the Same the Holy Spirit derives that He proceeds from Him."

The Holy Ghost comes to us in varying ways and varying degrees. We do not pray to the Father without also addressing the Son and the Holy Ghost. Nor do we pray to the Son without also addressing the Father and the Holy Ghost. We do not pray to the Holy Ghost without also addressing the Father and the Son. When we receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, we also receive the Father and the Holy Ghost.

As long as we see Jesus in His Humanity, we struggle to see the Father and the Holy Ghost. This is why Jesus had to Ascend into Heaven, leaving His Body with us hidden in the Holy Eucharist under the appearances of bread and wine. While everyone who receives Jesus in Holy Communion receives God — whole and complete, both True God and True Man - not everyone gets the same graces or spiritual benefits. Nor does the same person receive the same graces every time he receives the Holy Eucharist. The Holy Ghost gives us graces in varying degrees because our souls are at different stages of spiritual development. At various times, our souls need different graces.

Ultimately, we seek from The Holy Ghost the grace of final perseverance. Jesus has prepared the Apostles for inevitably being barred from the assembly of the Jews. In the early Church, Jews and Gentiles persecuted, insulted, and abused Christians. Catholics were forced to choose between God and the state, religion and politics, church and family/friends, etc. In many ways, our world is very different, but in this way, not much has changed. The persecution may be more subtle or less deadly to our bodies, but it is, nonetheless, deadly to our souls.

We must be wary of the world, the devils, and our fallen natures, just as many in the early Church had to do, but we must also be on our guard against false teachers and preachers — devils appearing as angels of light. The false religions try every demonic tactic of ridicule, shame, peer pressure, etc., to turn us away from God and the True Church with true worship and true doctrines.

The doctrines of the True Church are not the doctrines of men but are the inspired teachings of God the Holy Ghost. God cannot change, the Father does not change, the Son does not change, the Holy Ghost does not change, and neither does the worship, petition, honor, and praise which we owe to God. The Holy Ghost teaches us through the Catholic Church that the Mass is the Sacrifice of Calvary. Those who teach, insinuate, or connive to have us believe that the Mass is a memorial meal or something else are not working with God the Holy Ghost but are instead working against God.

May the Immaculate Heart of Mary inspire, guide, and protect us!