My brothers and sisters, the second major event to be held in the coming days is the imposition of the pallium from the Pope to our Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller. The pallium is the name given in the Roman Catholic Church to one of time ecclesiastical ornaments worn by the Pope, by patriarchs, and by archbishops. Its use is held by Roman Catholics to descend from a very early period. The Pope wears it at all times, as a symbol of his reputed universal and abiding jurisdiction. By archbishops it cannot be worn until it has been solemnly asked for and granted by the Pope, and even then only during the solemn service of the great church festivals, and on occasions of the ordination of bishops or of priests, and other similar acts of the archiepiscopal order. The pallium is a narrow annular band of white woolen web; about 3 in. wide, upon which black crosses are embroidered which encircles the neck of the archbishop, and from which two narrow hands of the same material depend, one falling over the breast, the other over the back of the wearer. Its material is the subject of much care and ceremonial. Worn by the Pope, the pallium symbolizes the plenitudo pontificalis officii (i.e., the "plenitude of pontifical office"); worn by archbishops, it typifies their participation in the supreme pastoral power of the Pope, who concedes it to them for their proper church provinces. The new pallia are solemnly blessed after the Second Vespers on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, and are then kept in a special silver-gilt casket near the Confessio Petri (tomb of St. Peter) until required. Since the Second Vatican Council (1962–65), the liturgy for the conferral of the pallium as it appears in the liturgical books is to take place at the beginning of the Mass in which the archbishop takes possession of his see; however, the practice of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI has actually been to summon all new metropolitans to Rome to receive the pallium directly from the hands of the Pope on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Let us all rejoice in this event and pray for the person and the intentions of our beloved Archbishop ■ Fr. Agustín, Pastor. 
Mis queridos hermanos en el Señor, su Santidad el Papa Benedicto XVI celebrará el 60 aniversario de su ordenación sacerdotal el próximo 29 de junio, solemnidad de San Pedro y San Pablo. La Congregación para el Clero nos invita a todos los católicos del mundo a ofrecer 60 horas de adoración eucarística por la santificación del clero y las vocaciones sacerdotales y muy especialmente en acción de gracias por éstos 60 años de servicio del Papa a la Iglesia universal. En uno de los domingos de Mayo en que el Papa se dirigió a los que lo esperaban debajo de la ventana de su apartamento, dijo: «Surge espontáneamente recordar a Dios a los Pastores de la Iglesia, y a quienes se están formando para ser Pastores. Os invito por tanto a una especial oración por los obispos – ¡incluido el Obispo de Roma! –, por los párrocos, por todos aquellos que tienen responsabilidades en la guía del rebaño de Cristo, para que sean fieles y sabios al llevar a cabo su ministerio. En particular, rezamos por las vocaciones al sacerdocio, para que no falten nunca obreros válidos en la mies del Señor. También en este tiempo, en el que la voz del Señor corre el riesgo de ser ahogada en medio de tantas voces, cada comunidad está llamada a promover y cuidar las vocaciones al sacerdocio y a la vida consagrada. Los hombres, de hecho, siempre tienen necesidad de Dios, también en nuestro mundo tecnológico, y siempre habrá necesidad de Pastores que anuncien su palabra y que hagan encontrar al Señor en los Sacramentos. Queridos hermanos y hermanas confiemos nuestros propósitos y nuestras intenciones a la Virgen María, madre de toda vocación, para que con su intercesión suscite y sostenga numerosas y santas vocaciones al servicio de la Iglesia y del mundo. Los invito, pues, a que tengamos presente éste importante aniversario de nuestro queridísimo Papa Benedicto XVI y a que pasemos más horas delante del Santísimo Sacramento orando por él ◼ Fr. Agustín, Párroco. 
The Gift of Knowledge. The gift of Knowledge enables the soul to evaluate created things at their true worth--in their relation to God. Knowledge unmasks the pretense of creatures, reveals their emptiness, and points out their only true purpose as instruments in the service of God. It shows us the loving care of God even in adversity, and directs us to glorify Him in every circumstance of life. Guided by its light, we put first things first, and prize the friendship of God beyond all else. "Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesseth it."
Thou in toil art comfort sweet, Pleasant coolness in the heat, solace in the midst of woe.
Holy Spirit! Lord of Light! From Your clear celestial height, Your pure beaming radiance give! Only one thing is important -- eternal salvation. Only one thing, therefore, is to be feared--sin? Sin is the result of ignorance, weakness, and indifference The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Light, of Strength, and of Love. With His sevenfold gifts He enlightens the mind, strengthens the will, and inflames the heart with love of God. To ensure our salvation we ought to invoke the Divine Spirit daily, for "The Spirit helpeth our infirmity. We know not what we should pray for as we ought. But the Spirit Himself asketh for us."
The novena in honor of the Holy Spirit is the oldest of all novenas since it was first made at the direction of Our Lord Himself when He sent His apostles back to Jerusalem to await the coming of the Holy Spirit on the first Pentecost. It is still the only novena officially prescribed by the Church. Addressed to the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, it is a powerful plea for the light and strength and love so sorely needed by every Christian ■
The Second Vatican Council wrote an important document called On Divine Revelation (Dei Verbum in Latin). It's quite readable, and contains definitive teaching on the full meaning of Catholic Tradition. The Council notes the importance of seeing that Catholic Tradition is firmly rooted in the Apostles: it is Christ's whole gift to them, and to us. The Council writes: “In His gracious goodness, God has seen to it that what He had revealed for the salvation of all nations would abide perpetually in its full integrity and be handed on to all generations. Therefore Christ the Lord in Whom the full revelation of the supreme God is brought to completion, commissioned the Apostles to preach to all men that Gospel which is the source of all saving truth and moral teaching, and to impart to them heavenly gifts”[1]. It is specifically this "commissioning of the Apostles" that is fulfilled in the handing on of Catholic Tradition. The Apostles dedicated themselves to this mission, and they appointed other faithful men to succeed them and carry on their work. That same passage of Dei Verbum continues: “This commission was faithfully fulfilled by the Apostles who, by their oral preaching, by example, and by observances handed on what they had received from the lips of Christ, from living with Him, and from what He did, or what they had learned through the prompting of the Holy Spirit. The commission was fulfilled, too, by those Apostles and apostolic men who under the inspiration of the same Holy Spirit committed the message of salvation to writing”[2]. Many Protestants believe that Catholics look to Tradition instead of Scripture. Not at all! Catholic Tradition stands with Scripture in forming the one single deposit of the Faith. For Catholics, Sacred Tradition is not in opposition to Scripture: they complement and confirm one another. Let us all make an effort to learn more about our Catholic faith. Thanks be to God that we can build on these three firm rocks: Scripture, Tradition and Magisterium. We must read with faith and love the church documents, and to be able to give reasons for our hope to all who ask ■ Fr. Agustín, Pastor.
Queridos hermanos, es oportuno que a lo largo de éstos días en que nos preparamos para la fiesta de Pentecostés (fiesta del Espíritu Santo y cumpleaños de la Iglesia) meditemos sobre los tres pilares de nuestra fe católica: Sagrada Escritura, Tradición y Magisterio. El oficio de interpretar correctamente la Palabra de Dios, ha sido encomendado al Magisterio vivo de la Iglesia. Ella lo ejercita en nombre de Jesucristo. Este Magisterio, según la Tradición Apostólica, lo forman los obispos en comunión con el sucesor de Pedro que es el Papa. El Magisterio no está por encima de la Revelación Divina, sino que está a su servicio, para enseñar puramente lo transmitido. Por mandato divino y con la asistencia del Espíritu Santo, el Magisterio de la Iglesia lo escucha devotamente, lo guarda celosamente y lo explica fielmente. Los fieles, recordando la Palabra de Cristo a sus apóstoles: “El que a ustedes escucha, a mí me escucha”[1], reciben con docilidad las enseñanzas y directrices que sus pastores les dan. El Magisterio de la Iglesia es un guía seguro en la lectura e interpretación de la Sagrada Escritura. El Magisterio también orienta también el crecimiento en la comprensión de la fe. Gracias a la asistencia del Espíritu Santo, la comprensión de la fe puede crecer en la vida de la Iglesia cuando los fieles meditan la fe cristiana y comprenden internamente los misterios de la Iglesia. En otras palabras: el creyente vive la Palabra de Dios en las circunstancias concretas de la historia y hace cada vez más explícito lo que estaba implícito en la Palabra de Dios. En este sentido la Tradición va creciendo, como sucede con cualquier organismo vivo. La Tradición, la Escritura y el Magisterio de la Iglesia, según el plan de Dios, están íntimamente unidos, de modo que ninguno puede subsistir sin los otros. Los tres, cada uno según su carácter, y bajo la acción del único Espíritu Santo, contribuyen eficazmente a la salvación de los hombres. Nos conviene pensar en esto en preparación a la fiesta de Pentecostés ■ P. Agustín, Párroco.
Catholic Tradition often seems odd to those outside the Catholic Church. People assume it's something that we just "made up." Sacred Tradition comes from Christ. It's the full, living gift of Christ to the Apostles, faithfully handed down through each generation. It is through Tradition that the Holy Spirit makes the Risen Lord present among us, offering us the very same saving Word and Sacraments that he gave to the Apostles! Understanding Tradition is essential to understanding the Catholic Church and the Catholic faith. The word "tradition" actually means handing down something to another person. Scripture testifies to this meaning of Catholic Tradition as the normal mode of transmitting the Faith: "For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you...."[1]. "You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also"[2]. This is the most basic meaning of Catholic Tradition: it is the true Faith itself, given to the Apostles by Christ and faithfully transmitted to each new generation[3]. We often write Tradition, with a capital 'T', to mean Sacred Tradition. This Catholic Tradition is different from those traditions (small 't') that are merely customs, and which are not part of Divine Revelation. I write this after the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation in our parish. Listening to Bishop John Yanta is to feel the living Tradition of the Church! All who were in that Mass last Sunday will agree with me. We are fortunate to have in our Archdiocese men like Bishop Yanta who have spent their entire lives in service of the Gospel and the Church and now, old, tired, still giving a great testimony of faith and joy. As pastor of this community, I felt very encouraged by his priesthood, and I invite you to join me in giving thanks and praying for him ■ Fr. Agustin, Pastor. 
Hace dos domingos, como muchos vieron, tuvimos en la parroquia la celebración del Sacramento de la Confirmación. Presidió la santa Misa, Mons. John Yanta, obispo emérito de Amarillo, TX. Mientras nos hablaba en la homilía, yo pensaba en la sucesión apostólica, de la que él es depositario. La expresión sucesión apostólica significa que los Apóstoles no constituyen en la historia de la Iglesia una figura o institución aislada, propia de la primera época del cristianismo, sino que, por voluntad de Cristo, estaban destinados a tener sucesores: los obispos, sucesores de los Apóstoles y el Papa, sucesor de S. Pedro. Hay en los Apóstoles algo único e irrepetible: el haber convivido con Cristo durante su vida terrena y haber sido testigos de su Resurrección y haber sido constituidos en primer eslabón que, con una especialísima asistencia del Espíritu Santo, transmite la Revelación a la comunidad cristiana. Nada impide que la misión confiada a los Apóstoles pueda ser transmitida a otras personas que les sucedan; más aún, en esa misión está implícita su transmisión. Esas personas, obviamente, no serán Apóstoles, en el sentido preciso que el término tiene en el Nuevo Testamento, sino sucesores de ellos. Al hablar de sucesión apostólica se alude a la pervivencia del poder de predicar y de administrar los sacramentos. La idea de sucesión apostólica implica, pues, en primer lugar, la pervivencia de una misión. Pero indica algo más: que esa misión pervive a través de una transmisión realizada de persona a persona, de modo que cabe trazar una línea histórica que une a la Iglesia actual con la apostólica. La Iglesia es por eso apostólica no sólo porque en ella pervive la doctrina y la praxis de los Apóstoles, sino por una apostolicidad de sucesión, es decir, porque se ha dado -como consecuencia de la voluntad fundacional de Cristo y de la asistencia del Espíritu Santo- una ininterrumpida sucesión de pastores y maestros, Bishop Yanta es uno de ésos sucesores ¡Oremos por él! ■ P. Agustín, Párroco. 
