杏MAP导航

杏MAP导航

杏MAP导航 at Regina Coeli: Holy Spirit corrects and defends us

At the Regina Coeli prayer on Sunday, 杏MAP导航 Francis reflects on the consoling work of the Holy Spirit, saying that God鈥檚 Spirit gently corrects our missteps like a faithful friend while defending us from false accusations.

By Devin Watkins

杏MAP导航 Francis prayed the traditional Eastertide Marian prayer of the Regina Coeli on Sunday with pilgrims gathered in St. Peter鈥檚 Square.

In his reflections on the Gospel for the 6th Sunday of Easter, the 杏MAP导航 noted that Jesus calls the Holy Spirit the 鈥淧araclete鈥�, which means both 鈥渃onsoler and advocate at the same time.鈥�

鈥淭his means that the Holy Spirit does not leave us alone,鈥� said the Holy Father. 鈥淗e is near to us, like an advocate who assists the accused person, standing by his or her side.鈥�

Gentle guidance from our companion for life

Focusing first on the Spirit鈥檚 鈥渃loseness鈥� to us, 杏MAP导航 Francis said the Paraclete never abandons us, and is instead our 鈥渃ompanion for life, a stable presence.鈥�

The Spirit, he added, remains with us because 鈥渉e truly loves us, rather than merely pretending to love us.鈥�

And because God鈥檚 Spirit loves us, He acts as a true and faithful friend, who brings us God鈥檚 pardon and strength while also correcting us when we make mistakes.

鈥淲hen He places our errors before us and corrects us, He does so gently 鈥� in His voice that speaks to the heart, there is always the timbre of tenderness and the warmth of love,鈥� said the 杏MAP导航.

The Spirit鈥檚 corrections, he added, never come in such a way as to humiliate us or instill distrust. 鈥淩ather, He conveys the certainty that we can always succeed with God.鈥�

Defense against detractors

The 杏MAP导航 went on to reflect on the second aspect of the Holy Spirit: His action as our 鈥渁dvocate鈥�.

The Paraclete defends us from those who accuse us, and even 鈥渇rom ourselves when we do not appreciate and forgive ourselves鈥�.

The Spirit also stands by our side when the world seeks to push us aside or when the devil鈥攖he 鈥渁ccuser par excellence鈥濃�攖ries to make us feel useless and unhappy.

杏MAP导航 Francis said the Holy Spirit teaches us how to respond to such accusations by 鈥渞eminding us of everything Jesus told us.鈥�

鈥淗e reminds us, above all, that Jesus always spoke of the Father who is in heaven,鈥� said the 杏MAP导航. 鈥淗e made the Father known to us, and revealed the Father鈥檚 love for us, His children.鈥�

Prayer to the Holy Spirit within us

In conclusion, 杏MAP导航 Francis invited Christians to call upon the Holy Spirit and to pray to Him often, especially since He is always within us.

鈥淢ay Mary make us docile to the voice of the Holy Spirit and sensitive to His presence.鈥�

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14 May 2023, 12:09

What is the Regina Caeli?

The antiphon Regina Caeli (鈥淨ueen of Heaven鈥�) is one of four traditional Marian antiphons, the others being Alma Redemptoris Mater, Ave Regina Caelorum, and Salve Regina.

It was 杏MAP导航 Benedict XIV who, in 1742, enjoined the recitation of the Regina Caeli in place of the Angelus during Eastertide, that is, from Easter Sunday to the end of Pentecost. It is recited standing as a sign of Christ鈥檚 victory over death.

Like the Angelus, the Regina Caeli is said three times a day, at dawn, at noon, and at dusk, in order to consecrate the day to God and the Virgin Mary.

This ancient antiphon arose, according to a pious tradition, in the 6th century; it is attested in documentary sources from the first half of the 13th century, when it was inserted in the Franciscan breviary. It is composed of four short verses, each ending with an 鈥渁lleluia.鈥� With the Regina Caeli, the faithful turn to Mary, the Queen of Heaven, to rejoice with her at the Resurrection of Christ.

At the Regina Caeli on Easter Monday of 2015, 杏MAP导航 Francis spoke about the spiritual dispositions that should animate the faithful as they recite this Marian prayer:

鈥淚n this prayer, expressed by the Alleluia, we turn to Mary inviting her to rejoice, because the One whom she carried in her womb is Risen as He promised, and we entrust ourselves to her intercession. In fact, our joy is a reflection of Mary鈥檚 joy, for it is she who guarded and guards with faith the events of Jesus. Let us therefore recite this prayer with the emotion of children who are happy because their mother is happy.鈥�

Latest Angelus / Regina Caeli

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Pray with the 杏MAP导航

Regina Coeli

Regina coeli, laetare, alleluia.
Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia.
Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia.
Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

V. Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, alleluia.
R. Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia.

Oremus:

Deus, qui per resurrectionem Filii tui Domini nostri Iesu Christi mundum laetificare dignatus es, praesta, quaesumus, ut per eius Genetricem Virginem Mariam perpetuae capiamus gaudia vitae.
Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Regina Caeli 

Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia.

The Son whom you merited to bear, alleluia,
has risen as he said, alleluia.
Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia!
For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.

Let us pray

O God, who through the resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, did vouchsafe to give joy to the world; grant, we beseech you, that through his Mother, the Virgin Mary, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord.

Amen.