May 28 – Thu of Pentecost / S Emilie de Vialar

Added: 2026-05-28

[00:00:00]Welcome to the traditional Catholic daily devotional for Thursday, May 28th, 2026. It's the Thursday in the octave of Pentecost, first class with a color of red. In this episode, the meditation, the Holy Ghost cast her out of devils.

[00:00:15]Today's news from the church, Pope Leo the 14th announces his trip to France, a preview of the sermon, Pentecost united in grace, and today's thought from the Archbishop.

[00:00:28]But first, the collect of today's mass.

[00:00:31]Oh God, you who on this day have taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us by that Holy Spirit himself to know what is right and ever to rejoice in his help.

[00:00:44]Let's look at a saint who's not as well known outside of France, and that's St. Emily Deiar, a French religious sister whose life was devoted to caring for the poor, the sick, and those abandoned by society. She was born in 1797 in Gayak, France into a wealthy family during the turbulent years following the French Revolution. Though raised among privilege, Emily was deeply affected by the suffering she saw around her and felt called from a young age to dedicate her life entirely to God. Her path was not easy. After the death of her mother, tensions developed within her family, especially regarding her desire for religious life and charitable work. Yet Emily remained steadfast. Using the inheritance left to her, she founded the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition in 1832, a congregation dedicated to serving those most in need, especially the sick and the poor. What made Emily's work remarkable was its missionary spirit. At a time when travel and communication were difficult, she sent sisters not only throughout France, but across the Mediterranean and into the Middle East and North Africa. Hospitals, orphanages, schools, and homes for the elderly were established under her guidance. Her sisters cared for victims of epidemics, ministered during wars, and taught children who otherwise had little access to education. Emily herself traveled extensively, enduring hardship, misunderstanding, and financial difficulty in order to support these missions. Although naturally energetic and determined, she remained deeply rooted in prayer and trust in divine providence. Her spirituality emphasized practical charity lived with humility and courage. The church honors St. Emily Dear as a model of missionary charity and perseverance. Her life demonstrates how faith must be expressed not only in prayer but in concrete acts of mercy towards those who suffer.

[00:02:40]Devotion to her remains especially strong among the sisters of St. Joseph of the apparition and in the regions where her communities continue their work. St. and Emily Dear, devoted servant of the poor and faithful servant of Christ, pray for us.

[00:02:54]Today's meditation, the Holy Ghost, cast her out of devils. As he ascends to the priesthood, the priest receives the order of exorcist, which gives him the power to cast out devils. And even though he must use that power with a great deal of prudence, he does make use of it in many ways. During the ceremony of baptism, the priest performs three exorcisms. Three times he orders the devil to leave the child. At the very beginning of the baptism he says depart from this child unclean spirit and give place to the Holy Ghost. If we could see the soul of the child at the instant of baptism, we would be amazed at the efficacy of the priest's words when he tells the devil to go out of the child.

[00:03:38]Thus, at baptism, the priest casts out the devil. Next, when the priest forgives sins in the sacrament of penance, he is also lessening the influence of the devil over souls and his action is all the more effective as confessions are more frequent. Regular confessions allow the penitant to refine his conscience and the conscience is like the apple of the soul's eye. It is fragile like our physical eyes and requires particular care and corrective lenses. These will be all the more adapted as our confessions are better prepared. The devil will thus progressively lose his influence over us by the grace received in the sacrament of penance. Mass is also an exorcism and even the greatest exorcism there is. For it is by the cross that the devil was vanquished. It is also by the sacrifice of the cross renewed on the altar that the devil loses his influence over souls. The priest again uses his power as an exorcist. For example, when he confesss holy water or blesses a medal of St. Benedict. Finally, in extreme cases, the priest has recourse to a great exorcism, but he must then use extreme prudence. We do not perform exorcisms lightly. There are very precise signs which allow us to distinguish true cases of possession from false ones. And thus, priests still today cast out the devil by exorcisms.

[00:05:01]Let us take advantage of this meditation to make use ourselves of the means which the church gives us to reduce the influence of the devil over us. This is taken and adapted from the book Easter day by day. It's available at Angelus Press and there's a link in the show notes.

[00:05:18]Today's news from the church. Pope Leo I 14th announces his trip to France.

[00:05:23]France is preparing to receive Pope Leo I 14th from September 25th through the 28th, marking the first official papal visit to the country in 18 years. The trip is expected to include stops in Paris, Notredam Cathedral, Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lords and Seazelle, where the Pope is reportedly planning to visit the home of Robert Schuman, one of the founders of European integration. The inclusion of C Shazelle is particularly noteworthy because it signals the political and cultural themes likely to shape the visit. The article interprets this stop as reflecting Leo the 14th's interest in European reconciliation, social Catholicism, and super national cooperation, especially at a time of rising political tensions ahead of the next French presidential election. By choosing Schuman rather than more explicitly national Catholic symbols such as DRI, the Pope appears to emphasize a vision of Europe rooted in dialogue and integration. The trip is also expected to focus heavily on moral and social questions within France, especially the ongoing debate surrounding youth in Asia legislation.

[00:06:28]With Parliament actively discussing assisted dying, observers anticipate close action to any papal comments concerning the dignity of life, secularism, and the direction of French society. FSPX.NE appears to view the plan visit through the lens of broader postconilia themes such as European integration, social Catholicism, and dialogue with modern society. The article suggests that many Catholics will closely scrutinize whether the Pope's message in France emphasizes the restoration of Christian civilization or continues along the more political and humanitarian trajectory associated with recent pontificates. To read this full article, please see the link in our show notes.

[00:07:10]Now, a preview of today's sermon, Pentecost, United in Grace. Pride has plagued mankind from the advent of our creation. So often the devil invites us to seek after achievements that are an affront to our Lord. In a time long past, our race thought they could attain to the heights of heaven by their own artifice. This sinful pride was met with the dispersion of tongues. Yet God in his infinite mercy bequeathed his apostles with the known languages of man so that those sheep once lost due to their own sinfulness may find a way back to him for everlasting life. church was born on Good Friday, but today she is baptized with that fire which our Lord promised to send. Whereas the old law had been promagated in stone, the new law today is promugated in the very spirit of God himself. So my dear faithful, the Catholic Church is the kingdom of heaven of which our Lord speaks in the gospel so many times. And thus like any kingdom, it is visible. It has leadership. It has its economy. It has its defenses like any other kingdom.

[00:08:17]The church is hierarchal. That is say there is a division of powers in the church such as the greater delegates the lesser. The church was founded by our lord upon the apostles whom he sent to preach in his name throughout the whole world. The lur lord made St. Peter his visible representative the chief of the apostolic college. Our lord gave him the keys of heaven, the powers to bind and loose. If you would like to hear the full version, subscribe to the separate SSPX sermons podcast or to the SSPX News YouTube channel. Both links are available in the show notes.

[00:08:52]Finally, today's thought from Archbishop Marcel Lev. What happens at the precise moment when the soul is in a way expelled by a body which no longer finds itself capable of being animated by such a soul? St. Thomas basing himself on our Lord's words themselves expresses the opinion that souls are automatically drawn to the place to which they are destined just as bodies are drawn to a place by the attraction of their own weight. Souls in the state of grace where charity is perfect are drawn to heaven where they immediately enjoy the beatotific vision awaiting the compliment of happiness which the resurrection of the body will give them.

[00:09:33]Souls in the state of grace, but where charity is diminished and imperfect because of venial sin, and who have to still expedate the punishment due for sins already pardoned, go to purgatory.

[00:09:44]Souls still stained with original sin, but without personal sin, are sent to limbo. They will be deprived of the vision of God, but will enjoy a natural happiness. Souls in a state of mortal sin without charity go to hell forever awaiting the resurrection of their bodies which will be a cause of further suffering. This is taken and adapted from the spiritual life published by Angelus Press. There's a link in the show notes. Thank you for listening.

[00:10:09]Until tomorrow, may God bless you.