Preparing for the Holy Spirit Through Love - May 19 - Homily - Fr Michael

Fr Michael gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on May 19, 2026, urging the faithful to prepare for Pentecost by growing in charity and loving God with their whole heart, mind, and soul, following the examples of St. Bonaventure, St. Augustine, and St. Francis. Fr. Michael teaches that baptism makes us children of God and prepares us for the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The apostles, once fearful in the upper room, received courage and gifts from the Spirit to proclaim the Gospel. To welcome this grace, believers must grow in charity, the highest virtue, since God is love. St. Bonaventure describes charity as water poured into a cup that eventually fills it completely and displaces every vice. St. Augustine’s counsel to “love God and do what you will” follows, because authentic love avoids offending the beloved. Loving God with the whole mind keeps Him constantly in thought and seeks truth; with the whole heart it chooses His will undividedly; with the whole soul it offers life itself, even to the point of martyrdom. St. Francis reinforces this by calling for poverty, obedience, fasting, prayer, and love of enemies, promising that those who persevere receive the indwelling Spirit and become children of the Father. By seeking God above all things, the faithful prepare their souls for the transforming power of Pentecost. NAB – John verse on divine adoption – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/1?11 Catechism – Charity as highest virtue – https://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/1822.htm Catechism – Loving God with whole heart – https://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/2083.htm Catechism – Holy Spirit indwelling souls – https://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/733.htm NAB – Love command in Matthew – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew... St Francis – Letter to the Faithful – https://www.liturgies.net/saints/fran... Catechism – Virtue casting out vice – https://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/1829.htm NAB – Spirit empowering apostles – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/2?4 00:00 - Becoming Children of God 00:45 - Preparing for the Holy Spirit 01:23 - The Primacy of Charity 02:38 - St. Bonaventure on Loving God 04:15 - Loving God with Mind, Heart, and Soul 07:16 - St. Francis and the Call to Serve 10:56 - Loving Enemies and Humility 12:52 - Conclusion and Final Blessing Ave Maria! \nMass: Tuesday 7th Week of Easter - Wkdy Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/05192... 1st: Acts 20:17-27 - Paul’s Farewell Address at Miletus Resp: Psalms 68:10-11, 20-21 - God’s Leadership and Care Gsp: John 17:1-11 - Prayer of Jesus More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1815 By the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate http://marymediatrix.com To Subscribe to this channel: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c... To contribute to Franciscanfriars and AirMaria: https://airmaria.com/contribute/ To learn more about Mary and share with others subscribe to our magazine Missio Immaculatae at https://missiomagazine.com/ Interested in Franciscan Spirituality as a layperson? See our MIM movement https://marymediatrix.com/mim/ For information on becoming a friar: https://marymediatrix.com/vocations/