Saints and the Liturgical Year

[grateful_child]

April 2, 2015 - Thursday of Holy Week (Holy Thursday):
Today, we have the Chrism Mass in the morning and the Mass of the Lord’s Supper in the evening.

The Chrism Mass:

Collect (Opening Prayer):
“O God, who anointed your Only Begotten Son with the Holy Spirit
and made him Christ and Lord,
graciously grant
that, being made sharers in his consecration,
we may bear witness to your Redemption in the world.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.”

"1. The Chrism Mass is one of the principal expressions of the fullness of the Bishop’s priesthood and signifies the close unity of the priests with him. During this Mass, which he celebrates with priests of the diocese, the Bishop consecrates the Chrism and blesses the other oils.

1. This Mass takes place on Thursday morning. The concelebrants may also (con)celebrate the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper…
2. Those receiving communion at the Chrism Mass may receive again in the evening, at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper …
3. The Easter Triduum begins with the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, ending with the conclusion of Vespers on Easter Sunday…" (Excerpt from Ordo.)

---

The Sacred Paschal Triduum begins this evening with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper:

“This Mass is, first of all, the memorial of the institution of the Eucharist, that is of the memorial of the Lord’s Passover, by which under sacramental signs he perpetuated among us the sacrifice of the New Law.” (Daily Roman Missal, MTF.)

Collect (Opening Prayer):
“O God, who have called us to participate
in this most sacred Supper,
in which your Only Begotten Son,
when about to hand himself over to death,
entrusted to the Church a sacrifice new for all eternity,
the banquet of his love,
grant, we pray,
that we may draw from so great a mystery,
the fullness of charity and of life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.”

Today’s Scripture readings and reflections:
ymlp232.net/archive_gbmbuqgjgu.php
www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2015-04-02

Lent and Easter 2015 from EWTN:
www.ewtn.com/faith/lent/holy-week-and-easter.asp

The Sacred Paschal Triduum:
“CHRIST REDEEMED US ALL and gave perfect glory to God principally through His paschal mystery: dying He destroyed our death and rising He restored our life. Therefore, the Easter Triduum of the passion, burial, and resurrection of Christ is the culmination of the entire liturgical year. Thus the solemnity of Easter has the same kind of preeminence in the liturgical year that Sunday has in the week. The Easter Triduum begins with the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, reaches its high point in the Easter Vigil, and closes with the evening prayer on Easter Sunday.” (General Norms, 18 - 19.)

Celebration of the Lord’s Passion
“On this day, when *‘Christ our paschal lamb was sacrificed’ *(1Cor 5:7), what had long been promised in signs and figures was at last revealed and brought to fulfillment. The true lamb replaced the symbolic lamb, and the many offerings of the past gave way to the single sacrifice of Christ.” (Daily Roman Missal, MTF.)

 

[grateful_child]

April 3, 2015 - Friday of the Passion of the Lord (Good Friday):

For today’s Celebration for Good Friday, and for the Divine Mercy Novena which starts today, see below:

Excerpts from the ORDO:

1. “Today, Friday of the Passion of the Lord and, if possible, also on Holy Saturday until the Easter Vigil, the sacred Paschal Fast and abstinence are observed everywhere to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, to prepare ourselves to renew our baptismal promises, and to share more deeply in his Resurrection.”
2. “The celebration of the Passion of the Lord takes place on the afternoon of this day, about three o’clock (unless a later hour is chosen for a pastoral reason). The celebration of the Lord’s Passion consists of three parts, namely, the Liturgy of the Word, the Veneration of the Cross, and Holy Communion…”
3. “The narrative of the Lord’s Passion is read in the same way as on the preceding Sunday.”
4. “Only one cross should be used for the Veneration of the Holy Cross, as this contributes to the full symbolism of the rite. The cross is with the image of the crucified Christ.”
5. “After the celebration, the altar is stripped, but the Cross remains on the altar with two or four candlesticks. The faithful may continue to venerate the Holy Cross and spend some time in adoration.”

Prayer:
“Remember your mercies, O Lord,
and with your eternal protection sanctify your servants,
for whom Christ your Son,
by the shedding of his Blood,
established the Paschal Mystery.
Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.”

Today’s Scripture readings and reflections:
ymlp232.net/archive_gbmbuqgjgu.php
www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2015-04-03

Holy Week and Easter 2015 from EWTN:
www.ewtn.com/faith/lent/holy-week-and-easter.asp​

**For the Divine Mercy Novena and Indulgence, **see quote below:

For those who have a devotion to the Divine Mercy, the Novena to the Divine Mercy starts today, Good Friday, in preparation for the Divine Mercy Sunday on April 12. The Novena may be found in St. Faustina’s diary, 'Divine Mercy in My Soul’, # 1209 - 1229.

The Novena is also available from this link:
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm

For the Divine Mercy Sunday Indulgence, see link:
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/indulgence.htm

 

[grateful_child]

April 4, 2015 - Holy Saturday:

"1. On Holy Saturday the Church waits at the Lord’s tomb in prayer and fasting, meditating on his Passion and Death and on his Descent into Hell, and awaiting his Resurrection.

1. The Chruch abstains from the Sacrifice of the Mass, with the sacred table left bare, until after the solemn Vigil, that is, the anticipation by night of the Resurrection, when the time comes for paschal joys, the abundance of which overflows to occupy fifty days.
2. Holy Communion may only be given on this day as Viaticum." (Daily Roman Missal, MTF.)

Today’s Scripture readings and reflections:
ymlp232.net/archive_gbmbuqgjgu.php
www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2015-04-04

"*Baptism, the original and full sign of which is immersion, efficaciously signifies the descent into the tomb by the Christian who dies to sin with Christ in order to live a new life.‘We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.’’’ * (CCC 628.)

Holy Week & Easter 2015 from EWTN:
www.ewtn.com/faith/lent/holy-week-and-easter.asp

 

[Amiciel]

“Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?” We know that physically, we were not … but Isa 53:3-6 pointedly tells us we were all there – represented by our sins and iniquities!

Describing the “Man of Sorrows”, Isaiah writes:

“3. He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief …
4. Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
5. But he was wounded for our transgressions,
he was bruised for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that made us whole,
and with his stripes we are healed.”
6. All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned every one to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.” (isa 53:3-6)

In his narrative of the Lord’s Passion, Luke describes Jesus as the actual ‘Man of Sorrows’ in Isaiah. He also presents various characters as they related to Jesus during His Passion. During this Holy Week, it might do us good to reflect and see who of these Gospel characters mirror our own lives, at one time or other.

‘Were you there when they crucified my Lord?’ No, we know we were not physically there with Jesus when they crucified Him. But our whole life’s activities today were!

Perhaps our choices today for material things and self-indulgence placed us then among the crowd who cried out: *Give us Barabbas! Away with Jesus! *

Or our prideful choices in life situate us among those who insulted and mocked Jesus, and mercilessly gave Him the lashes that caused His precious blood and strength to ooze steadily out of His sacred Body.

Or are we like Judas whose unbridled greed for material things led him to betray a friend? And most probably, we have been like Peter, so confident of ourselves but taken by surprise and fear, we did not have the courage to own publicly our affinity to Jesus? Then there’s Pilate who, fearing threat to his political career, allowed injustice to be done to an innocent man? Could we have acted like Pilate towards our neighbor in order to protect our image?

Yes, what we do to others today, we did to Jesus. For although Jesus physically lived His Passion on earth centuries ago, He assures us that He is still with us today… and the manner we treat our neighbor (and our own selves) gave him pain or comfort during His Passion. For He assures us: “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.” (Mt 25:40)
(Read on for continuation of thought.)

 

[Amiciel]

Reflections on the Lord’s Passion - continued:

“Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.” (Mt 25:40)

So then, our presence during the Passion of Our Lord need not be totally negative. There is also another aspect of our life where our interaction with others can count us among those who publicly acclaimed Jesus their King when He triumphantly entered Jerusalem: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Lk 19:38)

Or we can be like Simon of Cyrene who helped Jesus carry the Cross (which is really our cross) by courageously carrying our own crosses every day, and helping others to carry theirs. Then, in our silent way, we can also be among the faithful followers of Jesus from Galilee by faithfully living out our daily routine for love of Him and remaining faithful to the demands of our state in life. And if, perhaps, we are aware that we have denied Jesus countless times before in our life, we can be like Peter responding to Jesus’ unconditional love by pledging - and living out - our steadfast loyalty and love for Him.

While we were not physically present when Jesus was crucified, today, however, through the miracle of Liturgical Remembrance, we can be present physically with our Sacramental Lord when His Sacrifice on the Cross is brought forth from the distant Past to the Present. Thus, the Lord’s Sacrifice of long ago becomes present to us, and we become present to it. Our Lord Jesus truly becomes present to us, and we become present to Him!

Let us then hold dear our Eucharistic Liturgy. It’s a wonderful time to make amends for the times our behavior mirror those who betrayed Jesus, denied Him, rejected, beat, mocked, insulted and crucified Him.

Let our Holy Masses remind us of this precious opportunity we still have to choose a life-style that places us in the company of transformed Peter, of Simon of Cyrene, the faithful followers from Galilee, the repentant thief, the centurion, and above all, in the company of Our Lady.​

More reflections on the sufferings of our life understood in light of the sufferings of Jesus:

1. Fr. V Serpa, O.P. – Reflection on the Passion of Our Lord, Jesus Christ
   forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?threadid=948527
2. “Learn to view our suffering from a higher level when we feel betrayed.”
   www.ymlp.com/zOyBmi
3. The mystery of our sufferings and the mystery of Jesus’ life are revealed to those who are open to Him and seek Him.
   www.ymlp.com/zwps53
4. Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?
   www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPmGcridHQ8 (with scenes from the Passion movie)

 

[grateful_child]

April 04, 2015 - The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night (Solemnity):
Excerpts from the Daily Roman Missal, MTF:

1. “By most ancient tradition, this is the night of keeping vigil for the Lord (Ex 12:42), in which, following the Gospel admonition (Lk 12:35-37), the faithful, carrying lighted lamps in their hands, should be like those looking for the Lord when he returns, so that at his coming he may find them awake and have them sit at his table.”
2. “The entire celebration of the Easter Vigil must take place during the night, so that it begins after nightfall and ends before daybreak on the Sunday.”
3. “Anyone who participates in the Mass of the night may receive Communion again at Mass during the day.”

The Vigil Celebration has four parts:

1. First Part - The Solemn Beginning of the Vigil or Lucernarium (The Blessing of the Fire and Preparation of the Candle.)
2. Second Part - The Liturgy of the Word
   Collect Prayer:
   “O God, who make this most sacred night radiant
   with the glory of the Lord’s Resurrection,
   stir up in your Church a spirit of adoption,
   so that, renewed in body and mind,
   we may render you undivided service.
   Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
   who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
   one God, for ever and ever.”
3. Third Part - Baptismal Liturgy which includes Renewal of Baptismal Promises
4. Fourth Part - The Liturgy of the Eucharist

A very blessed Easter Celebration to all!

 

[grateful_child]

April 05, 2015 - Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord:

Collect (Opening Prayer) - Mass during the Day:

“O God, who on this day,
through your Only Begotten Son,
have conquered death
and unlocked for us the path to eternity,
grant, we pray, that we who keep
the solemnity of the Lord’s Resurrection
may, through the renewal brought by your Spirit,
rise up in the light of life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.”

Today’s Scripture readings and reflections:
ymlp232.net/archive_gbmbuqgjgu.php
www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2015-04-05

Lent and Easter 2015 from EWTN:
www.ewtn.com/faith/lent/holy-week-and-easter.asp

HAPPY EASTER, EVERYONE!

 

[Amiciel]

Easter Sunday Reflections from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

CCC 639: "The mystery of Christ’s resurrection is a real event, with manifestations that were historically verified, as the New Testament bears witness…"

CCC 640: "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen." The first element we encounter in the framework of the Easter events is the empty tomb. In itself it is not a direct proof of Resurrection; the absence of Christ’s body from the tomb could be explained otherwise. Nontheless the empty tomb was still an essential sign for all. Its discovery by the disciples was the first step toward recognizing the very fact of the Resurrection. This was the case, first with the holy women, and then with Peter. The disciple ‘whom Jesus loved’ affirmed that when he entered the empty tomb and discovered ‘the linen cloths lying there,’ ‘he saw and beleived.’ This suggests that he realized from the empty tomb’s condition that the absence of Jesus’ body could not have been of human doing and that Jesus had not simply returned to earthly life as had been the case with Lazarus."

CCC 644: "Even when faced with the reality of the risen Jesus the disciples are still doubtful, so impossible did the thing seem: they thought they were seeing a ghost. ‘In their joy they were still disbelieving and still wondering.’ Thomas will also experience the test of doubt and St. Matthew relates that during the risen Lord’s last appearance in Galilee ‘some doubted.’ Therefore the hypothesis that the Resurrection was produced by the apostles’ faith (or credulity) will not hold up. On the contrary their faith in the Resurrection was born, under the action of divine grace, from their direct experience of the reality of the risen Jesus."

 

[Amiciel]

CCC 645: "By means of touch and the sharing of a meal, the risen Jesus establishes direct contact with his disciples. He invites them in this way to recognize that he is not a ghost and above all to verify that the risen body in which he appears to them is the same body that had been tortured and crucified, for it still bears the traces of his passion. Yet at the same time this authentic, real body possesses the new properties of a glorious body: not limited by space and time but able to be present how and when he wills; for Christ’s humanity can no longer be confined to earth, and belongs henceforth only to the Father’s divine realm. For this reason too the risen Jesus enjoys the sovereign freedom of appearing as he wishes … precisely to awaken their faith."

CCC 646: "Christ’s Resurrection was not a return to earthly life, as was the case with the raisings from the dead that he had performed before Easter: Jairus’ daughter, the young man of Naim, Lazarus… Christ’s Resurrection is essentially different. In his risen body he passes from the state of death to another life beyond time and space. At Jesus’ Resurrection his body is filled with the power of the Holy Spirit: he shares the divine life in his glorious state, so that St. Paul can say that Christ is ‘the man of heaven.’"

 

[Amiciel]

April 05, 2015 - Easter Sunday:

Sharing with you some excerpts from the Euchalette, 3/31/2013, p. 4. The reflection is timeless, and is just as applicable today, as it was in 2013:

“The Resurrection is first of all, an event that concerns Jesus Christ. It is his personal triumph over death, and the vindication of the truth of his teaching … He experienced his physical resurrection in all its transforming vitality, just as he had experienced the destructive power of sin in his agony and death. This is what the ‘Paschal Mystery’ is all about…”

But whatever happened to Christ has also cosmic resonance … ** At the Incarnation, the Son of God united himself in a permanent way to every human being with a solidarity that makes him share in all the miseries of every individual (including the deadly consequences of sin), and makes every human being a sharer in Christ’s dignity, holiness, and glory.**"

"This is why Jesus’ coming out of the tomb alive, transformed, immortal … concerns us, too. It concerns all human beings. His resurrection is also mankind’s resurrection because it marks mankind’s liberation from the oppression of sin."

“Christ’s shattering the shackles of death (manifested through the breaking of the seals of his grave) is like the cracking of the shell of a seed which allows the sprout to burst forth with all the freshness of the new life it carries. That sprout is Christ, but is also all mankind. It is also each one of us. On Easter morning a new world dawned, a new humanity rose from the slavery of sin and death, in Jesus, through him and with him. (See Col 2:12-13).”

“No human expression can exhaust the transforming greatness of this mystery. The Church has been proclaiming it during her 20 centuries of existence through her liturgy, her creeds, and her life. She will continue to do so until the liberating power of the Resurrection will have reached its full manifestation in the Kingdom of heaven.”

"There are a billion and one reasons for celebrating, then, as we commemorate, re-live and rejoice in the Resurrection of Jesus. It is our resurrection, too. But we are challenged to prove it by living a new life …" (p. 4.)

Easter Blessings to all!

 

[grateful_child]

Note: The saints whose feastdays fall during the Paschal Triduum and Easter are:

April 2 - Saint Francis of Paola, Hermit (Optional Memorial):

Collect (Opening Prayer):
“O God, exaltation of the lowly,
who raised Saint Francis of Paola to the glory of your Saints,
grant, we pray, that by his merits and example
we may happily attain the rewards promised to the humble.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.”

“In an effort to unite himself with the crucified Christ, St. Francis (1416-1507) became a hermit near his birthplace in Calabria, in a cave by the sea. He lived a life of prayer and mortification. He founded the Order of Minim [least] Friars.” (Daily Roman Missal, MTF.)

For more on St. Francis of Paola, see link:
www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/F/stfrancisofpaola.asp

April 2 - St. Pedro Calungsod, Catechist and Martyr:

“Pedro Calungsod, was a teen-aged native of the Visayas region of the Philippines. He was one of the boy catechists who went with some Spanish Jesuits missionaries from the Philippines to the Ladrones Islands, later renamed ‘Marianas’ - in 1668 to evangelize the Chamorros. On April 2, 1672, while helping Fr. Diego Luis de San Vitores, the rector of the Mission, to recover a runaway servant and to do some baptism at the Village of Tomhon on the Island of Guam, he was killed by two natives for his being a Christian, for catechizing the Chamorros, and for helping in the administrationof the Sacrament of Baptism. His body was thrown into the deep ocean together with that of the rector who was also killed after him.” (ORDO)

April 4 - Saint Isidore, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Optional Memorial):

Collect (Opening Prayer):
“Graciously hear the prayers, O Lord,
which we make in commemoration of Saint Isidore,
that your Church may be aided by his intercession,
just as she has been instructed by his heavenly teaching.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.”

“Born in Seville, Spain, St. Isidore (560-636) was Archbishop of Seville for thirty-five years and presided over several important councils, including in Seville (619) and Toledo (633). He strengthened Catholicism in Spain and was admired for his preaching, writings, and charity. His most extensive work, Etymologies, was an encyclopedia that would be used throughout the Middle Ages.” (Daily Roman Missal, MTF.)

For more on St. Isidore of Seville, see link:
www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/ISIDSEV.HTM

April 5 - Saint Vincent Ferrer, Priest (Optional Memorial):

Collect (Opening Prayer):
“O God, who raised up the Priest Saint Vincent Ferrer
to minister by the preaching of the Gospel,
grant, we pray,
that, when the Judge comes,
whom Saint Vincent proclaimed on earth,
we may be among those blessed
to behold him reigning in heaven.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.”

“Born in Valencia, Spain, St. Vincent (1350-1419) was a renowned preacher, missionary, and teacher of theology. He converted thousands of sinners, Jews, and Moors.” (Daily Roman Missal, MTF.)

For more on St. Vincent Ferrer, see link:
www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/V/stvincentferrer.asp

 

[grateful_child]

April 6, 2015 - Monday within the Octave of Easter:
“Other celebrations are not permitted, with the exception of funeral Masses.” (Ordo)

Collect (Opening Prayer):

“O God, who give constant increase
to your Church by new offspring,
grant that your servants may hold fast in their lives
to the Sacrament they have received in faith.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.”

Today’s Scripture Readings and reflections:
ymlp232.net/archive_gbmbuqgjgu.php
www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2015-04-06

 

[grateful_child]

April 7, 2015 - Tuesday within the Octave of Easter:
"Other celebrations are not permitted, with the exception of funeral Masses." (Ordo)

Collect (Opening Prayer):

“O God, who have bestowed on us paschal remedies,
endow your people with heavenly gifts,
so that, possessed of perfect freedom,
they may rejoice in heaven
over what gladdens them now on earth.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.”

Today’s Scripture readings and reflections:
ymlp232.net/archive_gbmbuqgjgu.php
www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2015-04-07​

Saint whose calendar feastday is today:
April 7 - Saint John Baptist de la Salle, Priest (Memorial):

Collect (Opening Prayer):
“O God, who chose Saint John Baptist de la Salle
to educate young Christians,
raise up, we pray, teachers in your Church
ready to devote themselves wholeheartedly
to the human and Christian formation of the young.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.”

"Born in Rheims, France, St. John (1651-1719) is known as the Father of Modern Pedagogy. He opened free schools for poor children and therein introduced new teaching methods. He organized the Brothers of the Christian Schools, which has made great contributions to popular education. (Daily Roman Missal, MTF.)

For more on St. John Baptist de la Salle, see link:
www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/J/stjohnbaptistdelasalle.asp

 

[grateful_child]

April 8, 2015 - Wednesday within the Octave of Easter:
"Other celebrations are not permitted, with the exception of funeral Masses." (Ordo)

Collect (Opening Prayer):

“O God, who gladden us year by year
with the solemnity of the Lord’s Resurrection,
graciously grant,
that, by celebrating these present festivities,
we may merit through them to reach eternal joys.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.”

Today’s Scripture readings and reflections:
ymlp232.net/archive_gbmbuqgjgu.php
www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2015-04-08

 

[grateful_child]

April 9, 2015 - Thursday within the Octave of Easter:
"Other celebrations are not permitted, with the exception of funeral Masses." (Ordo)

Collect (Opening Prayer):

“O God, who have united the many nations
in confessing your name,
grant that those reborn in the font of Baptism
may be one in the faith of their hearts
and the homage of their deeds.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.”

Today’s Scripture readings and reflections:
ymlp232.net/archive_gbmbuqgjgu.php
www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2015-04-09

 

[grateful_child]

April 10, 2015 - Friday within the Octave of Easter:
"Other celebrations are not permitted, with the exception of funeral Masses." (Ordo)

Collect (Opening Prayer):
“Almighty ever-living God,
who gave us the Paschal Mystery
in the covenant you established
for reconciling the human race,
so dispose our minds, we pray,
that what we celebrate by professing the faith
we may express in deeds.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.”

Today’s Scripture readings and reflections:
ymlp232.net/archive_gbmbuqgjgu.php
www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2015-04-10

 

[grateful_child]

April 11, 2015 - Saturday within the Octave of Easter:
"Other celebrations are not permitted, with the exception of funeral Masses." (Ordo)

Collect (Opening Prayer):
“O God, who by the abundance of your grace
give increase to the peoples who believe in you,
look with favor on those you have chosen
and clothe with blessed immortality
those reborn through the Sacrament of Baptism.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.”

Today’s Scripture readings and reflections:
ymlp232.net/archive_gbmbuqgjgu.php
www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2015-04-11

Saint whose calendar feastday is today:
April 11 - Saint Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr (Memorial):

Collect (Opening Prayer):
“O God, for whose honor the Bishop Saint Stanislaus
fell beneath the swords of his persecutors,
grant, we pray,
that we may persevere strong in faith even until death.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.”

“St. Stanislaus (1030 - 1079) was the Bishop of Cracow, Poland. A champion of the liberty of the Church and human rights, he defended the poor and downtrodden. When he reproached King Boleslaus the Bold for his immoral life, the king himself killed St. Stanislaus during mass.” (Daily Roman Missal, MTF.)

For more on St. Stanislaus, see link:
www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/S/ststanislaus.asp

 

[grateful_child]

April 12, 2015 - Second Sunday of Easter
Today, the Octave of Easter, is also Divine Mercy Sunday.

Collect (Opening Prayer):
“God of everlasting mercy,
who in the very recurrence of the paschal feast
kindle the faith of the people you have made your own,
increase, we pray, the grace you have bestowed,
that all may grasp and rightly understand
in what font they have been washed,
by whose Spirit they have been reborn,
by whose Blood they have been redeemed.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.”

Today’s Scripture readings and reflections:
ymlp232.net/archive_gbmbuqgjgu.php
www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2015-04-12

“Today, the Octave of Easter, is also Divine Mercy Sunday. The Congregation for Divine Worship decreed (23 May 2000) that ‘throughout the world, the second Sunday of Easter will receive the name Divine Mercy Sunday, a perennial invitation to the Christian World to face, with confidence in divine benevolence, the difficulties and trials that humankind will experience in the years to come.’ Devotion to the Divine Mercy was promoted by St. Faustina Kowalska, canonized by Blessed John Paul II, 31 April 2000.” (Ordo.)

Link to Divine Mercy Sunday Indulgence:
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/indulgence.htm

For ‘those who cannot go to Church or the seriously ill’, click on the Decree of Indulgence in the link above for the conditions to gain the Indulgence.

 

[grateful_child]

April 13, 2015 - Monday, 2nd Week of Easter:

Collect (Opening Prayer):
“Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that we, who have been renewed by paschal remedies,
transcending the likeness of our earthly parentage,
may be transformed in the image of our heavenly maker.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.”

Today’s Scripture readings and reflections:
ymlp232.net/archive_gbmbuqgjgu.php

April 13 - Saint Martin I, Pope and Martyr (Optional Memorial):

Collect (Opening Prayer):
“Grant, almighty God,
that we may withstand the trials of this world
with invincible firmness of purpose,
just as you did not allow your Martyr Pope Saint Martin the First
to be daunted by threats or broken by suffering.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.”

“Born in Todi, Italy, St. Martin I (d. 656) was elected pope in 649 during the last major Christological controversy. For his defense of the Person of Jesus Christ as true God and true man, he was exiled to Crimea, where he died, by Emperor Constans II.” (Daily Roman Missal, MTF.)

For more on St. Martin I and St. Hermenegild, see links:
www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/M/stmartini.asp
www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2015-04-13

 

[grateful_child]

April 14, 2015 - Tuesday, 2nd Week of Easter:

Collect (Opening Prayer):
“Enable us, we pray, almighty God,
to proclaim the power of the risen Lord,
that we, who have received the pledge of his gift,
may come to possess all he gives
when it is fully revealed.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.”

Today’s Scripture readings and reflections:
ymlp232.net/archive_gbmbuqgjgu.php

For information on Sts. Tiburtius, Valerian, and Maximus, click link:
www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2015-04-14