January 1, 2021 Reflection – Come Holy Spirit!
Archbishop Hoser and Cardinal Barbarin! January 1, 2021 Feast of the Mother of God Dear Family of Mary! The Vigil Mass of the Mother of God was celebrated by Cardinal Phillippe Barbarin, who was visiting Medjugorje for the first time from France! He was so warm and excited to be in Medjugorje. And at the end of Holy Mass, Archbishop Henryk Hoser spoke a few words in welcome to the Cardinal. His comments are beautiful! So we have transcribed them for you today. Arch Bishop Henryk Hoser – welcoming Cardinal Phillippe Barbarin after Vigil Mass of the Feast of the Mother of God: Your Eminence, Cardinal Barbarin, we are at the end of the first Holy Mass of the New Year! Thank you for your presence! You, as Cardinal, represent all the Cardinals of the Universal Church, and at the same time the Church in France. France is called the First Daughter of the Church! And France was evangelized 2000 years ago. Our region here has an equally long history. The Balkan region belonged to the Roman Empire, so the evangelization, the Word of God, came here very early on. I would like to thank you for all of us present here: the parishioners here (there are many of them), the pilgrims who are fewer than usual due to the situation today, and all of us present here, connected by television, radio, and internet. Our parish is in the service of our parishioners, people from this country, and from the surrounding countries, and it attracts people from all over the world. On an annual basis, we have between 1 to 1 ½ million pilgrims who come here. Together with you, we pray that this new year, 2021, will be the year of opening, so that all those who yearn for Medjugorje can come here. Medjugorje is a significant place of spirituality. Pilgrims come from far away, and here they discover an atmosphere of peace, of prayer, of adoration. And they find their way to faith and eternal life. Every year in Medjugorje there are numerous conversions. Profound conversions that make people new! In the last years, there have been born over 800 new vocations of Friars and priests. It is a place of grace. It is all God’s grace! And we in a special way venerate Mary, who is the Queen of Peace, which we have spoken of before. The Blessed Virgin Mary, the Queen of Peace, the Mother of God, Mother of the Church, leads us through life and through this world. And she always directs us to her Son. So we rejoice that we are together, and that we share the same hopes for the future. We deeply believe that Jesus Christ is the Master of history. And together with Him, we go through the stormy seas and the deserts of the life. We wish you a happy journey, and a continuation of your mission for the good of France and all peoples of this world. Thank you. (Welcoming words from Archbishop Hoser to Cardinal Barbarin) The Vigil Mass for the Feast of the Mother of God was filled with joy! Truly the Holy Spirit fell upon all present, even those of us viewing the Mass from around the world could feel the Spirit! I believe God wants to bless us in 2021. We only need to be open to the coming of the Holy Spirit. He wants to bless us and give us many gifts, so that we are equipped for the days ahead. Let us pray as this New Year begins: Come Holy Spirit Come, Holy Spirit, Creator blest, and in our souls take up Thy rest; come with Thy grace and heavenly aid to fill the hearts which Thou hast made. O comforter, to Thee we cry, O heavenly gift of God Most High, O fount of life and fire of love, and sweet anointing from above. Thou in Thy sevenfold gifts are known; Thou, finger of God’s hand we own; Thou, promise of the Father, Thou Who dost the tongue with power imbue. Kindle our sense from above, and make our hearts o’erflow with love; with patience firm and virtue high the weakness of our flesh supply. Far from us drive the foe we dread and grant us Thy peace instead; so shall we not, with Thee for guide, turn from the path of life aside. Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow the Father and the Son to know; and Thee, through endless times confessed, of both the eternal Spirit blest. Now to the Father and the Son, Who rose from death, be glory given, with Thou, O Holy Comforter, henceforth by all in earth and heaven. Amen. In Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Cathy Nolan ©Mary TV 2021 Here is the link to find the list on our website: https://marytv.tv/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Saints-List-2020.pdf