From "The Ascension" to "Pentecost": Video Annotations for 'Busy People' by the Rosary Hour Podcast team + link to St. John Henry Newman Parochial & Plain Sermons
We also feature today a link to the "Acts of the Apostles" (w/ link to Bishop Barron's "Word on Fire Bible: Volume 2") & a plug for Keith Nester's book, "Unpacking the Mysteries of the Rosary".
ETERNAL WISDOM:
“Rezem o terço, todos os dias, para alcançarem a paz para o mundo e o fim da guerra.” (Memórias da Ir. Lúcia, p.174)
“Today, people wish for striking things that move us to produce a deep impression on the soul. But is anything in the world more moving than this wonderful story of Our Redeemer, which unfolds before our eyes, in [twenty] portraits recalling to us the great scenes of the life, death and glory of the Saviour of the world? What prayers are as excellent and sublime as the Lord’s Prayer (the Our Father) and the Angelic Salutation (the Hail Mary)? In them are included all our desires and all our needs”
(St. Louis Marie Grignon de Montfort, Twenty-Fifth Rose: The Treasures of Sanctification Contained in the Prayers & Meditations of the Rosary, “The Secret of the Rosary”).
“What has been now said about the Ascension of our Lord comes to this; that we are in a world of mystery, with one bright Light before us, sufficient for our proceeding forward through all difficulties.” (St. John Henry Newman)
1
THE ROSARY HOUR PODCAST NEWSLETTER [3rd Edition, 23/05/23]
The following post provides extra notes for readers pondering the 2nd Glorious Mysteries on Sundays / Wednesdays in the Month of May.
For today’s Newsletter, The Rosary Hour Podcast team took a little extra time to annotate and cite four YouTube videos / sermons to deepen the “why” behind the Feast of the Ascension (the 2nd Glorious Mystery).
On 2 June 2019, Bishop Barron notes in a podcast that “Christians often turn away from this Feast” and “Far too often we think of it as a time when Jesus left us”.
These notes feature two of our past podcast guests, Fr. Chris Alar, MIC (National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge) & and Fr. Peter Turrone, IMC (Holy Rosary Church); we also annotate two more multimedia sources authored by Word on Fire’s founder, Bishop Robert Barron.2
Finally, we reference briefly the “Parochial & Plain Sermons, Volume 2: Sermon 18” by St. John Henry Newman (UK) and his thoughts on the Ascension — which all of these videos deepen as today’s feast comes to an end (at least very soon for those living in Seattle, Washington, USA time zone) and as we approach the Solemn Feast of Pentecost (3rd Glorious Mystery).
FR. CHRIS ALAR: LIVING DIVINE MERCY (EWTN), “THE ASCENSION”
QUICK RHP ANNOTATIONS for BUSY PEOPLE
EPISODE 88: [CLICK HERE: “THE ASCENSION”]
The Eucharist (a.k.a. The Real Presence) “replaces Christ’s body on Earth”
The Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, can “now flow down from the throne of God, down to Earth”, signalling:
the Birth of the Churchthe Birth of the Liturgythe Birth of the entire theology of the Trinity
Love of the Trinity is showered on Mankind “what Divine Mercy is”
Humanity is elevated to the highest heavens
We follow as the Church / the Body
Doors of Heaven are “now open”
RHP — ANNOTATED SERMON SPOTLIGHT #2: JUNE 2, 2019
PODCAST: https://www.wordonfire.org/videos/sermons/the-ascension-of-jesus/
Bishop Barron notes that “Christians often turn away from this Feast” and “Far too often we think of it as a time when Jesus left us”
Abandonment theme: “Up Jesus goes, and he’s gone”; or “for the moment he has kind of left us”
Barron notes that “To think this way is to miss the point of the New Testament”
Instead, Bishop Barron instructs listeners next to “Read the Acts of the Apostles” to get better “Oriented to the Bible” and reminds those new to scripture that this ‘book’ is “Volume 2 of Luke’s work” — whereas “Volume 1 is the Gospel” where Luke tells “everything Jesus has done up to the Resurrection”, and then the Acts of the Apostles, Luke “tells us what Jesus “continues” to do in his Mystical Body, the Church”3
EMPHASIS: “What was recounted in the Gospel is the BEGINNING of something”
CONCEPT OF “MISSION” IS DEFINED NEXT:
Bishop Barron also notes the word “SENT” — how the apostles are “SENT” by Jesus to be “the vehicles” through which He continues His mission;
The Acts of the Apostles = / is “Our” acts.
Thus, Bishop Barron argues that the Rubric: “Jesus is going away” is wrong.
See also today’s sermon on YouTube below and/or download the WORD ON FIRE APP via the store: https://www.wofdigital.org/
RHP — ANNOTATED SERMON SPOTLIGHT #3: 21 MAY, 2023
BISHOP BARRON ASKS, “WHY DID JESUS ASCEND TO HEAVEN?”
In this sermon, Bishop Barron argues in an overarching argument that we must look theologically (closer) to “The Ascension” because it is “Key to understanding the dynamics of the Christian Life”
MORE QUICK VIDEO NOTES for BUSY PEOPLE, BY THE ROSARY HOUR PODCAST
Bishop Barron extends his 2019 podcast with terms like:
The “Properly Transcendent” realm is the realm that is “proper to God”
Thus, PART 1 of this video from 0:00 to 4:28 Bishop Barron explores the DEFINITION of ASCENSION:
Bishop Barron begins by talking about what the word “eternal” means for God (distinguishing God’s existence from the fictional “vampire” universe)
Bishop Barron notes that “eternity is to be outside of time”, and he notes, “God is above space” and “He transcends space”.)
SIDENOTE:
See Cardinal Collins’s definition of “Eternity” in the following re-boot of his video on the Rosary: A Mini Series, recorded last year during our team’s Spiritual Direction session with His Eminence, as we sought his advice on how to shape our podcast focus thematically and his answers to our questions on Eschatology.
NOTE: Watch to the end to listen to Children’s Rosary ® member Amelia inquire about Cardinal Collins’s Favorite Food.
BISHOP BARRON’S 21 MAY 2023 SERMON CONTINUED: RHP NOTES
Bishop Barron evolves his discussion from his 2020 YouTube sermons during the pandemic on the Acts of the Apostles, and gives more specificity to the metaphor to help listeners better grasp the spatial reality of what he calls Jesus’s movement from Earth space to God space;
Bishop Barron also refuses to align Jesus’s movement into Heaven with a “space journey”
The sermon goes into the realm of subjectivity in terms of the question of being — that which is “enhanced” by Christ’s ascension, and the inter-relationship between the body itself and the movement of the body into the realm of Heaven.
“The elevation of THIS body”… to “be a spiritual body” as Paul says, “Something of the Earth has now been brought to Heaven”.
Bishop Barron then nutshells the Ascension in this idea of self / being which culminates in the idea that “Heaven” and “Earth” meet.
NOTE 2: Bishop Barron then helps us to observe, as he has in previous sermons on Acts, what it means to “sit at the right hand of the Father”:
Bishop Barron aligns Jesus with the figure who, like a General of an army, “directs the operations” of the Church and “animating His Church”, which Barron argues is the focus of the Acts of the Apostles, and which also mirrors the work of Christ on Earth to preach, to heal, suffer, win the victory, etc.
NOTE: 3 - Bishop Barron ties the Ascension to the Holy Spirit
RHP RECOMMENDS: “THE WORD ON FIRE BIBLE (VOLUME II)” - SEE: https://bookstore.wordonfire.org/products/the-word-on-fire-bible-volume-ii
RHP — ANNOTATED SERMON SPOTLIGHT #4: 21 MAY 2023
HOLY ROSARY CHURCH: holyrosary.ca4
FR. PETER TURRONE’S SERMON
(ANNOTATED NOTES BY THE ROSARY HOUR PODCAST)
CUE #1: 20:16 - GOSPEL: https://www.youtube.com/live/Ts2pv33zioY?feature=share&t=1216
CUE #2: 21:26 - SERMON: https://www.youtube.com/live/Ts2pv33zioY?feature=share&t=1285
ROSARY HOUR PODCAST NOTES for BUSY PEOPLE
Fr. Peter talks in the first part about the Holiness of the Body, made Holy by Christ taking on the “fullness” of our humanity; Fr. Peter talks about how our bodies are “good” (not “meat suits” to do anything we wish to them, yet, “temples of the Holy Spirit.”
Fr. Peter reminds that Jesus “shares His Divine Life with all of us here present” despite the various objections to the Church by the world, we are sanctified by Christ to whom we belong as part of His Mystical Body.
He reminds us that, “It is a gift to be able to belong to the Church”;
We have “so many graces available” due to this relationship to Christ’s bride (the Church).
Fr. Peter reminds us of “the dignity” we are given by Christ’s ascended and “glorified body”, which gives to us (by the Mystery of the Ascension) the pre-monition of our future state.
One might reference St. John Paul 2’s “Theology of the Body” where he explains the “glorified body” more extensively.
Fr. Peter reminds us of our purpose: “to magnify God in this life” (The Magnificat)
He further reminds us of the Divine comission to preach the Good News so that others might also be invited
to become part of the Body of Christ
to know they are “loved” by Christ;
to know they have “someone who is waiting for them”
to know that “their life has meaning”.
Fr. Peter refers to Our Lady, who is assumed Body and Soul (the 4th Glorious Mystery) and goes on to instruct as to how we will “receive the full dignity of who we are”.
This identity in Christ allows us to “reign with Christ bodily”.
Fr. Peter further notes that we have yet “work to do”, i.e. to “Spread the Good News” and preach the “full” Gospel;
Fr. Peter alludes to the difference between preaching what is “convenient” to other people, thus drawing us away from making compromises with the world in our sharing the Gospel according to fear, etc. He thematically explores the confusion of our times, and this very point can be extended with the writings of Saint Cardinal John Henry Newman who explores the topic of the Ascension in the 2nd volume of his Parochial and Plain Sermons
Newman notes that the mystery of the Ascension is a teaching that helps us to find a way to “
repel” the “illusions of sense and the artifices of reason, by confidence in the Truth of Him who has ascended to the right hand of the Majesty on high” (CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE SERMON —https://newmanreader.org/works/parochial/volume2/sermon18.html)Most importantly, Fr. Peter’s sermon alludes to the threefold requirement of the spiritual life which ultimately leads to “true joy” (i.e. The source of our joy culminates from those initiatives):
1. Repentance
2. Amending one’s life
3. Living out our personal desire to follow the Gospel
Fr. Peter reminds that Our Lady of Fátima told us to “pray the Rosary daily”;
Fr. Peter teaches that when we pray the Second Glorious Mystery, “The Ascension” we contemplate and request the “Virtue of Hope”.
KEITH NESTER EXPANDS ON “HOPE” in his book, published in Oct. 2022 “UNPACKING THE MYSTERIES OF. THE ROSARY”
Keith Nester explains in his book that “The spiritual fruit of the Mystery of the Ascension is Hope” (EXCERPT from COPY FOR EDUCATIONAL USE ONLY):
“We have hope because we know that with the Holy Spirit we can accomplish God’s mission. We have hope because Jesus is coming back and we know that He is preparing an incredible place for us. We have hope because we know that Jesus will return to correct this world's wrongs. We have hope because He’s coming to get us. The Book of Revelation tells us God will “wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (21:4) What an incredible promise!
Where else can humanity find hope like this? Not in politicians or human achievement. Our hope isn’t found within ourselves. Our hope will never come from new-age philosophy self-help fads, or social media influencers. Our hope is found in God alone.
What does it look like for you to live with hope? Have you allowed discouragement to control your life? Hopelessness sometimes happens without us even realizing it. We must not look at the world through the lens of the evil around us or become discouraged by our own shortcomings. Instead, we should see God’s plan for the world and trust His promise to work through us. Just like with a motorcycle, our souls will follow where we look, so keep your eyes on Jesus.”
CHECK-OUT KEITH NESTER’S BOOK on the ROSARY HERE:
“UNPACKING THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY” on AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Unpacking-Mysteries-Rosary-Connecting-Spiritual/dp/1735846457
#PRAYTHEROSARYEVERYDAY
Why?
According to St. Louis Marie de Montfort — we can look to the advice of St. Thomas Aquinas who preached the Rosary for 40 days without ceasing: “we must first train ourselves by acquiring all the virtues whose perfect model is depicted in the mysteries of the Rosary, as if to ready ourselves for the battlefield. “
Further, says the learned Cajetan, “It is precisely in that meditation” … “that we acquire that intimate union with God, without which contemplation is only an illusion capable of leading souls astray.” (de Montfort, The Secret of the Rosary, pg. 82, Twenty-Fifth Rose).
QUICK LINK to FR. PETER LEADING THE HOLY ROSARY ABOVE
THE *NEW COMPANION GUIDE TO THIS VIDEO IS HOUSED in the following easy-to-remember substack address: theholyrosary.substack.com
COMING SOON:
Dr. Bob Schuchts Book talk (20 minutes) on “Be Healed” ♥️ w/ Dr. Tina Bailey
Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson talks books with Godric and Dr. Bailey. Check out her book Reading for the Love of God ♥️ on AMAZON USA
Padre Nuno Rocha teaches the Holy Rosary in Portuguese + ROCTV report on JMJ in Porto, on Pe. Nuno’s recent devotions to Our Lady of Fátima ♥️ led by his catechists on 13 May & 20 May on the Camino to Santiago.
Fr. Anthony Gramlich’s *new* teaching video on prayer for Pentecost ♥️ from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy (shrineofdivinemercy.org)
Subscribe to our YOUTUBE CHANNELS and share these resource with others:
ROSARY MINI SERIES OF MICRO TALKS:
THE DIGITAL CAFÉ:
COPYRIGHT © 2022-present, TRAVESSA DA SENRA HOUSE PRESS in PORTO, PORTUGAL - 🥹 THE ROSARY HOUR PODCAST NEWSLETTER™️. “UNPACKING THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY” COPYRIGHT KEITH NESTER, STEWARDSHIP: A MISSION OF FAITH (PUBLISHER). CITATIONS FROM ST. LOUIS MARIE DE MONTFORT’S “THE SECRET OF THE ROSARY” via AVE MARIA CENTRE FOR PEACE (OUT-OF-PRINT). VIDEOS BY BISHOP BARRON, COPYRIGHT © WORD ON FIRE (NOTE TRANSCRIPTION FOR EDUCATIONAL USE ONLY). VIDEO BY FR. ALAR, NOTE TRANSCRIPTION for EDUCATIONAL USE ONLY. THEDIVINEMERCY.ORG
ANNOTATED FOOTNOTES
CONTINUED:
Take away this Light, and we are utterly wretched,—we know not where we are, how we are sustained, what will become of us, and of all that is dear to us, what we are to believe, and why we are in being. But with it we have all and abound. Not to mention the duty and wisdom of implicit faith in the love of Him who made and redeemed us, what is nobler, what is more elevating and transporting, than the generosity of heart which risks everything on God's word,
dares the powers of evil to their worst efforts, and repels the {216} illusions of sense and the artifices of reason, by confidence in the Truth of Him who has ascended to the right hand of the Majesty on high? What infinite mercy it is in Him, that He allows sinners such as we are, the privilege of acting the part of heroes rather than of penitents? Who are we "that we should be able" and have opportunity "to offer so willingly after this sort?" [1 Chron. xxix. 14.]
—"Blessed," surely thrice blessed, "are they who have not seen, and yet have believed!"We will not wish for sight; we will enjoy our privilege; we will triumph in the leave given us to go forward, "not knowing whither we go," knowing that "this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." [1 John v. 4.] It is enough that our Redeemer liveth; that He has been on earth and will come again. On Him we venture our all; we can bear thankfully to put ourselves into His hands, our interests present and eternal, and the interests of all we love. Christ has died, "yea rather is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.Who shall separate us from His love? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through Him that loved us." [Rom. viii. 34-37.] SERMON 18
CITATION SOURCE — PLEASE SEE PAROCHIAL and PLAIN SERMONS, VOLUME 2 - https://www.newmanreader.org/works/parochial/volume2/sermon18.html
Bishop Barron’s Sunday sermon provides some evolution from his Acts of the Apostles formation during the pandemic when he gave sermons daily on Luke’s account in Acts. We link to the Word on Fire Bible: Volume 2, which is thicker than Volume 1, and still contains many essays on curated Sacred Art embedded in this edition, written by Michael Stevens and continued essay style commentaries by Bishop Barron. On page 48, “Cut to the Heart” (Acts 2: 36-42) and “An Icon of the Church” (Acts 6: 1-7), Bishop Barron notes that “The Acts of the Apostles can be read as a sort of icon of what the Church, at its best, looks like” (66).
READ THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES IN ENGLISH, HERE: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/0
Please pray for Fr. Peter and his group as he directs them on Marian pilgrimage to Italy, France, Portugal for 12 days next week. Let’s also pray for all pilgrims on their journeys, everywhere, especially those travelling this summer, that they will be re-energized and come to a deeper Faith after their pilgrim adventures. Pray the Chaplet to the Divine Mercy with the Marian Fathers for all souls every day via their livestream: https://thedivinemercy.org at 15h00; Daily Rosary at 17h00 at the Shrine.