Sunday, May 24

This Sunday, the Church celebrates the great Solemnity of Pentecost, the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary, gathered in prayer in the Upper Room. With the sound of a mighty wind and tongues of fire, the frightened disciples were transformed into courageous witnesses of Christ. Pentecost is often call the “birthday of the Church,” for through the Holy Spirit, the Gospel began to spread to all nations.

The same Holy Spirit continues to strengthen the Church today, granting us wisdom, courage, Mary was present at Pentecost, praying with the Apostles as the Mother of the Church. Her presence reminds us that wherever Mary is welcomed, she always leads us more deeply to her son through the power of the Holy Spirit.

As we celebrate Pentecost, we also recall with gratitude the beloved title Mary, Help of Christians (Auxilium Christianorum) whose feast day the Church traditionally celebrates on May 24. This title reaches back to the early Church, with St. John Chrysostom invoking Mary as “Help of Christians” as early as 345 AD, but it became especially treasured dur9ing moments of grace danger for Christendom.

In 1571, as Christian Europe faced destruction from Ottoman forces at the Battle of Lepanto, Pope St. Pius V called all Catholics to pray the Rosary. Through Mary’s intercession, victory was won, and Europe was preserved. Again in 1683, when Vienna was besieged by Ottoman forces, the faithful throughout Europe cried out “Mary, Help!” and prayed the Rosary. Vienna was dramatically delivered. Later after Pope Pius VII was imprisoned by Napoleon for five years, he vowed that if restored to Rome, he would establish a feast in Mary’s honor. Freed in 1814, he fulfilled that promise, instituting the Feast of Mary Help of Christians on may 24.

Similary, during this time, a shrine was established in the Slovenian town of Brezje under the title “Marija Pomagaj–Mary Help of Christians”. A Catholic artist, also jailed by Napoleon’s forces, vowed to create a new painting should he be safely released from prison. After his release in 1814, the artist fulfilled his vow by painting the now famous image of Mary Help of Christians for the chapel. The image soon became renowned for miraculous healings and spiritual consolation. As in year’s past, a copy of this painting will be present in our parish church this weekend for the feast day.

On this Pentecost, may the Holy Spirit set our hearts ablaze with divine love, renew our families in faith, and strengthen our parish community. And through the intercession of Our Lady of Help of Christians, especially Our Lady of Brezje, may we remain steadfast through every storm.

Fr. Matthew Larlick, Pastor