A Discerning Heart Online Seminar/Retreat: Discernment of Spirits: Setting Captives Free w/Fr. Timothy Gallagher O.M.V.
The three-part series begins on May 30. Click here for more information.
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The Holy See has issued a new plenary indulgence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here for more information
May 25 — Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Memorial Day
Joyce Kilmer was an American Catholic writer and poet. During World War I, He enlisted in the Seventh Regiment of the New York National Guard and was later assigned to the U.S. 69th Infantry Regiment, known as the “Fighting 69th.” Sgt. Joyce Kilmer was killed during the Second Battle of the Marne in France on July 30, 1918. He was 31 years old.
For his valor, Kilmer was posthumously awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French Republic. A Memorial Mass was celebrated in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City on October 14, 1918.
Kilmer’s poetry reflected his Catholic faith. He is most known for the poem, “Trees”.
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
The Catholic Way: Memorial Day
The Example of a Soldier by Ven. Bruno Lanteri
May 24 — Seventh Sunday of Easter
Ask and you shall Receive
by Fr. Isaac Abu, OMV
Pentecost is around the corner. Normally, before we celebrate any major event, like birthdays, marriages or anniversaries, some form of preparation is done. It is fitting that every Christian get prepared for the celebration of the birthday of the Church. One great way of doing this, is by praying a novena to the Holy Spirit. Read more
May 23 — Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter
A Discerning Heart Online Seminar/Retreat: Discernment of Spirits: Setting Captives Free w/Fr. Timothy Gallagher O.M.V.
Join Fr. Timothy Gallagher for an expanded and extensive online DH seminar/retreat on the Discernment of Spirits as taught by St. Ignatius of Loyola. This is the longer form material similar to the teaching Fr. Gallagher provides to seminaries and spiritual direction/formation programs.
This an incredible opportunity to dive deeper than ever before into the 14 Rules of Spiritual Discernment, which will take place on 3 consecutive Saturdays, with each day comprised of 4 different talks:
Session #1 Saturday May 30 – Rules 1-4
Session #2 Saturday June 6 – Rules 5-9
Session #3 Saturday June 13 – Rules 10-14
There will be time for Q&A after each conference talk.
Each day should last approx. 5 hours. This will provide nearly 15 hours of live formation with Fr. Timothy Gallagher renowned spiritual master of the Discernment of Spirits!
Click here to register.
May 22 — Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Explanation of the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Ven. Bruno Lanteri
Part V
The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Veneration presupposes esteem and respect for the person who is venerated. This esteem and respect are conceived in proportion to the virtue and excellence seen in the person revered; so, people on this earth can be venerated. As for the people who we know possess supernatural and divine virtue and excellence, (and we know this by decision of the Church and she is infallible in what she proposes to us), veneration towards these people becomes all the firmer and more certain and greater. They are venerated with what is called dulia.
But the same Holy Church encourages us to venerate Mary above all creatures, above all Saints, above all Angels by reason of her unique, excellent, and superior virtue with a pure, unique, and excellent veneration, that is superior to all others. Such a veneration and cult is called hyperdulia.
Therefore, she alone can be said to be venerated in preference to all, and consequently we must join Holy Church to invoke her especially with this title: Virgo Veneranda ora pro nobis.
If I were to explain to you all her titles and the reasons why the Church so venerates her and encourages us to venerate her, it would never end. I would certainly not be capable of such a task, since even the Doctors of Holy Church are silent on the subject.
Suffice it to say that superior to Mary there is none other than God and inferior to Mary there is all that is not God. Suffice it to say that God could certainly create a greater, more excellent world than this, but could not create a creature greater than the Mother of God, as the Holy Fathers themselves expressed.
It is therefore clear that Mary is to be venerated in a very particular way after God. She is further to be venerated in a unique way after God because after God she is the source of all the graces and blessings, since she is the main cause of our Redemption. She is our Co-redemptrix. After God she is the one who is most interested in our salvation. So, let us glory in saying with Holy Church: Virgo Veneranda ora pro nobis.
See the Marian Title of the Month here.
May 21 — The Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord
Explanation of the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Ven. Bruno Lanteri
Part IV
Mary’s name means Mare-(sea). Mare Amarum- (Sea of bitterness). Stella Maris- (Star of the Sea). Illuminatrix- (Illuminator). Domina- (Lady).
She is called Mare because of the Grace that she received. It is said of the ocean, Omnia fulmina intrant in mare -(all rivers enter the sea). So much more can it be said of Mary, that all the rivers of grace of the Angels and Patriarchs, etc … are found in Mary.
Mare amarum– (Sea of bitterness), since her heart was soaked in the sea of anguish at the Passion of Jesus. Mare amarum for the demons, because of her power to submerge the demons themselves.
Stella Maris- (Star of the Sea), because she lights our way in the sea of the events of life by the Light of her Divine Son.
Illuminatrix-(Illuminator). She illuminates by her example, by her gifts of mercy, with her Glory in heaven in relation to the Angels and the Blessed.
Domina-(Ruler) She is the Lady of the Angels who all race to obey her, Lady of men because everyone is under her protection, Lady of the demons who flee just at the mention of her name.
So, let’s say with confidence Sancta Maria ora pro nobis.
May 20 — Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Explanation of the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Ven. Bruno Lanteri
Part III
It should be noted that at every moment of her existence Our Lady doubled in sanctity, because she continually cooperated with all the grace that God communicated to her. So, at the second moment of her existence she was already double the holiness from the first moment. The third moment she was 4 times holier than the first; the fourth, 8 times; the fifth, 16 times; the sixth, 32 times; the seventh, 64 times. In an hour she could have doubled her capital of sanctity as many times as there are grains of sand that would fill the earth up to the sky.
So, what should be said of the whole course of her life which reached 72 years? What computist can calculate such an increase? And all this only ex opera operantis. What will be the increase in ex opera operato?
To what degree did her holiness increase when the Holy Spirit came to her, and she conceived, and carried, and gave birth to the Divine Son? To what degree did her holiness increase when her Divine Son visited her after the Resurrection and thru the many Holy Communions that she received? Has Holy Church granted her all that Eternal Wisdom has said of her?
May 19 — Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Explanation of the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Ven. Bruno Lanteri
Part II
Notice how the Church calls on the Holy Virgin Mary:
As the Church Triumphant chants to God: Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus; so, the Church Militant invokes Mary: Sancta Maria, Sancta Dei Genitrix, Sancta Virgo Virginum.
The Church proclaims her Holy, Holy, Holy, that is, holy in name, holy in vocation and holy in deed.
Hence, her holiness is said to be analogous to the holiness of God.
This is because the sanctity of Mary far surpasses any other sanctity and is the most similar to the holiness of God.
Do we actually want to form some idea of this great sanctity? As soon the Virgin Mary began to exist, she began to be Holy, (that does not happen to any other person). It is also noted that from the first moment of her being, the Virgin Mary was not only holy but Most Holy, (Santissima), because her sanctity is greater than the sanctity of any other Saint on earth, more than any Cherubim or Seraphim. She is more endowed with gifts, Grace, virtues, and perfections than any of them. Her excellence exceeded anyone’s excellence, she loved God more, and was loved by God more than anyone. She is, in essence, the most united to God. She is the more similar to God than the most beautiful, most perfect creature in heaven.
May 18 — Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Explanation of the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Ven. Bruno Lanteri
Part I
After recourse to the Holy Trinity and to the Humanity of Jesus Christ, Holy Church teaches us to appeal to the Holy Virgin Mary, so that she immediately follows with; Sancta Maria ora pro nobis.
I will not stop to demonstrate the beauty of Holy Church’s judgment and manner of procedure, which always, assisted by the Holy Spirit, in all that she does, will always be excellently done; and in truth what could be more fitting than after invoking the Most Holy Trinity to immediately address she who is Daughter of the Father, Mother of the Son, Bride of the Holy Spirit?
Will we find anywhere titles, privileges, and excellence greater, or even equal, to this?
But let’s first examine the strength of this first title that the Holy Church gives to the Virgin Mary; Sancta Maria.
Two things are shown us here, the Holiness and the Name of Mary.
The Church in first place calls Mary, holy, but what kind of sanctity can be attributed to her?
Is it the same holiness common to all the other Saints? Her holiness is such that we cannot imagine any greater. And the reason is because, as one of the Holy Fathers notes, above Mary there is no other than God, below Mary there is everything that is not God. Can we say the same of any other being, not excluding the angels?
Therefore, after God there is no more excellent object, more worthy of praise than Mary.
Therefore, after God we have to turn to her and put all our trust in her.
May 17 — Sixth Sunday of Easter
BRAINTREE — In a letter distributed to the archdiocesan community May 14, Vicar General Bishop Peter Uglietto cautioned that, despite the state’s expected moves toward reopening, it will likely still be some time before public Masses and other church activities resume. Read more
May 16 — Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter
We do not pretend that life is all beauty. We are aware of darkness and sin, of poverty and pain. But we know Jesus has conquered sin and passed through his own pain to the glory of the Resurrection. And we live in the light of his Paschal Mystery – the mystery of his Death and Resurrection. “We are an Easter People and Alleluia is our song!”. We are not looking for a shallow joy but rather a joy that comes from faith, that grows through unselfish love, that respects the “fundamental duty of love of neighbor, without which it would be unbecoming to speak of Joy”. We realize that joy is demanding; it demands unselfishness; it demands a readiness to say with Mary: “Be it done unto me according to thy word”. — St. John Paul II
May 15 — Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Feast of St. Dymphna
Patron of those suffering from nervous or mental afflictions
Prayer:
Good Saint Dymphna, great wonder-worker in every affliction of mind and body, I humbly implore your powerful intercession with Jesus through Mary, the Health of the Sick, in my present need. (Mention it.) Saint Dymphna, martyr of purity, patroness of those who suffer with nervous and mental afflictions, beloved child of Jesus and Mary, pray to Them for me and obtain my request.
(Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory Be.)
Saint Dymphna, Virgin and Martyr, pray for us.
May 14 — Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Feast of St. Matthias, Apostle
The first act of the apostles after the Ascension of Jesus was to find a replacement for Judas. With all the questions, doubts, and dangers facing them, they chose to focus their attention on finding a twelfth apostle. Why was this important? Twelve was a very important number to the Chosen People: twelve was the number of the twelve tribes of Israel. If the new Israel was to come from the disciples of Jesus, a twelfth apostle was needed.
Peter had one criterion, that, like Andrew, James, John, and himself, the new apostle be someone who had been a disciple from the very beginning, from his baptism by John until the Ascension. The reason for this was simple, the new apostle would must become a witness to Jesus’ resurrection. He must have followed Jesus before anyone knew him, stayed with him when he made enemies, and believed in him when he spoke of the cross and of eating his body — teachings that had made others melt away.
Two men fit this description — Matthias and Joseph called Barsabbas. They knew that both these men had been with them and with Jesus through his whole ministry. But which one had the heart to become a witness to his resurrection. The apostles knew that only the Lord could know what was in the heart of each. They cast lots in order to discover God’s will and Matthias was chosen. He was the twelfth apostle and the group was whole again as they waited for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Clement of Alexandria says that Matthias, like all the other apostles, was not chosen by Jesus for what he already was, but for what Jesus foresaw he would become. He was elected not because he was worthy but because he would become worthy. Jesus chooses all of us in the same way. What does Jesus want you to become?
— from Catholic.org
May 13 — Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Feast of Our Lady of Fatima
The apparition of an angel and Our Lady to three poor children in Fatima, Portugal in the early 20th century is one of the most famous miracles in the Catholic world.
The children received many messages, mostly calling for personal conversion and prayer, as well as the words of 5 new prayers.
The first prayer is one many Catholics are likely already familiar with, but the other 4 are not as well-known.
Here are the 5 prayers given to the children at Fatima:
1) The Fatima Prayer/Decade Prayer
“O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy. Amen.”
Mary told the children that people should add this prayer to the end of each decade of the Rosary.
2) The Pardon Prayer
“My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love Thee! I beg pardon for all those that do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love Thee.”
This prayer was given to the children by the angel that visited them in 1916, the year before Mary appeared to them.
3) The Angel’s Prayer
“O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore Thee profoundly. I offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which He is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary I beg the conversion of poor sinners.”
This is another prayer given to them by the angel. There was a Eucharistic host and chalice suspended in the air, and the angel led them in kneeling before it and praying this prayer.
4) The Eucharistic Prayer
“Most Holy Trinity, I adore Thee! My God, my God, I love Thee in the Most Blessed Sacrament.”
When Mary appeared to the children for the first time on May 13, 1917, she said, “You will have much to suffer, but the grace of God will be your comfort.” According to Lucia, one of the children, a bright light shone all around them, and without thinking about it, they all started reciting this prayer.
5) The Sacrifice Prayer
“O Jesus, it is for the love of Thee, in reparation for the offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and for the conversion of poor sinners [that I do this].”
Mary gave the children this prayer, as well as the Fatima Prayer/Decade Prayer, on June 13th, 1917. The prayer is meant to be recited when you are offering up suffering to God.
— from Churchpop.com
May 12 — Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Tuesday Devotion to Our Lady
Marian Title of the Month: Our Lady, Mother of the Church
Hail Holy Queen
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy,
hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve:
to thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.
Turn then, most gracious Advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus,
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
Pray for us O Holy Mother of God,
that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Amen.
May 11 — Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter
The Morning Offering
O Jesus,
through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I offer You my prayers, works,
joys and sufferings
of this day for all the intentions
of Your Sacred Heart,
in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
throughout the world,
in reparation for my sins,
for the intentions of all my relatives and friends,
and in particular
for the intentions of the Holy Father.
Amen.
May 10 — Fifth Sunday of Easter
Happy Mother’s Day!
“The Most Important Person on earth is a mother. She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral. She need not. She has built something more magnificent than any cathedral -a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby’s body. . . The angels have not been blessed with such a grace. They cannot share in God’s creative miracle to bring new saints to Heaven. Only a human mother can. Mothers are closer to God the Creator than any other creature; God joins forces with mothers in performing this act of creation. .. What on God’s good earth is more glorious than this: to be a mother?” ~ Venerable Jozsef Cardinal Mindszenty
May 9 — Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Psalm 98
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
May 8 — Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter
“Today we pray for the deceased who have died because of the pandemic. They have died alone, without the caresses of their loved ones. So many did not even have a funeral. May the Lord welcome them in His glory.” — Pope Francis
Prayer for the Poor Souls in Purgatory
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen. May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
May 7 — Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Thursday Devotion in Honor of St. Jude
From Catholic.org:
Biblical scholars agree St. Jude was a son of Clopas and his mother Mary was the Virgin Mary’s cousin. Ancient writers tell us that he preached the Gospel in Judea, Samaria, Idumaea, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Lybia. According to Eusebius, he returned to Jerusalem in the year 62, and assisted at the election of his brother, St. Simeon, as Bishop of Jerusalem.
Following his death, St. Jude’s body was brought to Rome and left in a crypt in St. Peter’s Basilica. Today his bones can be found in the left transept of St. Peter’s Basilica under the main altar of St. Joseph in a tomb he shares with the remains of the apostle Simon the Zealot.
Pilgrims came to St. Jude’s grave to pray and many reported a powerful intercession, leading to the title, “The Saint for the Hopeless and the Despaired.” Two Saints, St. Bridget of Sweden and St. Bernard, had visions from God asking them to accept St. Jude as “The Patron Saint of the Impossible.”
Prayer to St. Jude
Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of difficult cases, of things almost despaired of, Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone.
Intercede with God for me that He bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly –
(make your request here)
– and that I may praise God with you and all the saints forever. I promise, O Blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor granted me by God and to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you. Amen.
May 6 — Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Psalm 67:2-3
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
May 5 — Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Giving Tuesday Now
May 5, 2020 is Giving Tuesday Now — a new global day of giving and unity as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. Click here to support St. Francis Chapel today. God bless you!
We can still show social connection and come together on behalf of our communities even while practicing physical distancing.
- Support healthcare workers by donating supplies, advocating for them, and staying home.
- Give to the organizations that you love most – no amount is too little and nonprofits need our support.
- Help out small businesses by buying gift cards or writing an online review.
- Combat loneliness by reaching out to a neighbor, relative, seniors or veterans.
May 4 — Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Managing Peace and Crisis
From Vatican News:
“We Christians need to learn how to manage both moments of peace and moments of crisis”, Pope Francis explained. Crises in the faith have been described by spiritual writers as “going through fire in order to become strong”, he said. His prayer to the Lord was that the Lord might send His Holy Spirit so that we might know “how to resist temptations in moment of crisis, that we might know how to be faithful…with the hope” that moments of peace will follow. “May the Lord grant us the strength in moments of crisis not to sell out the faith”.
May 3 — Fourth Sunday of Easter
“Are we often weary, disheartened and sad? Do we feel weighed down by our sins? Do we think that we won’t be able to cope? Let us not close our hearts, let us not lose confidence, let us never give up: there are no situations which God cannot change, there is no sin which he cannot forgive, if only we open ourselves to him.” –Pope Francis
May 2 — Saturday of the Third Week of Easter
Marian Title of the Month: Our Lady, Mother of the Church
Click here to learn more.
The Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
May 1 — Friday of the Third Week of Easter
Why is May Mary’s month?
From the National Catholic Register:
For centuries, the Catholic Church has set aside the entire month of Mary to honor Mary, Mother of God. Not just a day in May, mind you, but the entire month.
The custom spans both centuries and cultures, with roots going back as far as the Ancient Greeks. In early Greece, May was dedicated to Artemis, the goddess of [fertility].
In Ancient Rome, May was dedicated to Flora, the goddess of blooms, or blossoms. They celebrated ludi florals, or floral games, at the end of April and asked the intercession of Flora for all that blooms.
In medieval times, similar customs abounded, all centering around the practice of expelling winter, as May 1 was considered the start of new growth.
During this period, the tradition of Tricesimum, or “Thirty-Day Devotion to Mary,” came into being. Also called, “Lady Month,” the event was held from August 15-September 14 and is still observed in some areas.
The idea of a month dedicated specifically to Mary can be traced back to baroque times. Although it wasn’t always held during May, Mary Month included thirty daily spiritual exercises honoring Mary.
It was in this era that Mary’s Month and May were combined, making May the Month of Mary with special devotions organized on each day throughout the month. This custom became especially widespread during the nineteenth century and remains in practice until today.
April 30 — Thursday of the Third Week of Easter
Thursday Devotion in Honor of St. Jude
Many contemporary images of St. Jude depict him wearing a medallion featuring the face of Jesus.
Tradition says that he is not wearing a medallion, rather, he is carrying a Mandylion — a cloth, with the image of Jesus Christ. The story goes that King Abgar of Edessa (modern-day Turkey) was suffering from leprosy or another serious disease. He heard about the healing miracles performed by Jesus of Nazareth, and, desperate for a cure, sent a servant to ask for Jesus to come and heal him. Jesus answered that he could not go, but would send his apostle, Jude, in his place. King Abgar was visited by St. Jude, carrying the mandylion with Jesus’ image and the king was miraculously cured.
Some believe that this cloth with the image of Christ was the shroud of Turin, folded to reveal the face of Jesus, which St. Jude was carrying with him after Jesus’ death and resurrection.
St. Jude is the patron of desperate causes and many people pray for a miraculous healing through his intercession.
Prayer to St. Jude
Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of difficult cases, of things almost despaired of, Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone.
Intercede with God for me that He bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly –
(make your request here)
– and that I may praise God with you and all the saints forever. I promise, O Blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor granted me by God and to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you.
Amen
April 29 — Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter
Watch Pope Francis’ homily for today:
April 28 — Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter
Tuesday Devotion to Our Lady
Marian Title of the Month: Our Lady of Health
The Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.
April 27 — Monday of the Third Week of Easter
From Vatican News:
Pope Francis introduced morning Mass on Monday of the Third Week of Easter, with special thoughts for artists.
“Let us pray today for artists, for those who have this great capacity for creativity,” and for showing us the way to beauty. He continued: “May the Lord give us all the grace of creativity at this time.”
He then reflected on the Gospel reading of the day (Jn 6:22-29) in which Jesus redirects the crowd for seeking Him after the multiplication of the loaves and fishes only because their stomachs had been filled by exhorting them “not to work for food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life.”
Read more and watch the video here. The pope’s homily begins at the 12:15 mark.
April 26 — Third Sunday of Easter
Psalm 16
Lord, you will show us the path of life.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
Lord, you will show us the path of life.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
Lord, you will show us the path of life.
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
Lord, you will show us the path of life.
You will show me the path to life,
abounding joy in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
Lord, you will show us the path of life
April 25 — Feast of St. Mark
Prayer to St. Mark
O God,
who raised up Saint Mark,
your Evangelist,
and endowed him with the grace
to preach the Gospel,
grant, we pray, that we may
so profit from his teaching
as to follow faithfully
in the footsteps of Christ.
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
April 24 — Friday in the Third Week of Easter
“Deepen your knowledge of Jesus which ends loneliness, overcomes sadness and uncertainty, gives real meaning to life, curbs passions, exalts ideals, expands energies in charity, brings light into decisive choices. Let Christ be for you the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” — St. John Paul II
April 23 — Thursday in the Second Week of Easter
Thursday Devotion in Honor of St. Jude
Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of difficult cases, of things almost despaired of, Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone.
Intercede with God for me that He bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly –
(make your request here)
– and that I may praise God with you and all the saints forever. I promise, O Blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor granted me by God and to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you.
Amen.
April 22 — Wednesday in the Second Week of Easter
Psalm 34
The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
April 21 — Tuesday in the Second Week of Easter
Pope Francis opened his Mass by praying for the ability to listen, as the world faces an “unfamiliar” silence due to the coronavirus pandemic, and on this particularly rainy day in Rome, the weather.
“It’s so quiet in this weather. You can even hear the silence. May this silence, which is a bit new to what we are accustomed, teach us how to listen, that we might grow in our ability to listen. Let us pray for this.” — from vaticannews.va
Watch the Pope’s Mass below. Homily begins at the 11:00 mark:
April 20 — Monday in the Second Week of Easter
“The Christian response to the storms of life and history cannot but be mercy: compassionate love among us and toward everyone, especially toward those who suffer, who have more difficulties, and are abandoned.
Divine Mercy comes from the Heart of the Risen Christ. It flows from the wound in His side that is always open, open for us, who are always in need of pardon and comfort.” — Pope Francis
Have your intentions prayed for in a novena of Masses beginning on Divine Mercy Sunday.
April 19 — Divine Mercy Sunday
“Some day, we will know the value of suffering, but then we will no longer be able to suffer.” — St. Faustina
Read Fr. Jim’s reflection for Divine Mercy Sunday here.
April 18 — Saturday in the Octave of Easter
A Reflection by Fr. Isaac Abu, OMV
Tomorrow, the second Sunday of Easter, is known as Divine Mercy Sunday. Our focus therefore, is on the mercy of God especially in these difficult times we are in. First of all, I would like to congratulate all those who were able to prepare for this Feast of Divine Mercy with a nine days novena that started on Good Friday. We may recall that Our Lord, in the revelation to St. Faustina Kowalska, specifically requested a nine-day novena. “I desire that during these nine days you bring souls to the fount of My Mercy, that they may draw therefrom strength and refreshment and whatever graces they need in the hardships of life, and especially at the hour of death.(Diary 1209). Everyone needs God’s mercy to live.
Psalm 130:3 says: “If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?” George Kosicki, in his Revelations of Divine Mercy opined that: “Mercy is at the heart of Christ gospel.” For instance, During the Passion narrative on Good Friday, we read text that could be seen as a huge self condemnation. Let His blood be upon us and upon our children. Toward the end of the narrative, we heard a comforting, life giving and hope restoring words: Father forgive them for they not know what they are doing [particularly what they just said a while ago]. In other words, they are ignorant of what their action can cost them.
According to the Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, Our Lord Jesus Christ revealed to her: Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy.(699). Who can live a meaningful and fulfilled life without peace? Everyone needs peace. At the birth of Jesus Christ, the angel wished us peace saying “Peace to men of Good Will” The peace which the world cannot guarantee comes from Jesus Christ. So we are all invited to be immersed in the Divine Mercy. St. Paul assures everyone in Ephesian 2: 4-5 a very important attribute (the chief attribute in the opinion of St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Augustine of Hippo) of God saying But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ by grace you have been saved.
Sin is a heavy load with undesirable consequences, Jesus is ever inviting us to his merciful heart in other to have rest. Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,and I will give you rest (Mt 11: 28)
The adulterous woman came to MERCIFUL Jesus condemned but went away acquitted. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and do not sin any more.” The Good Thief in the eleventh hour of his life realising that he was staying close to the merciful Jesus, asked for mercy and he got immediate response. “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Lk 23: 43. It is very obvious that our Lord because of the love he has for us, wants us to constantly enjoy his mercy. From the Diary of St. Faustina Christ said: “I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all soul, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of my tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of my mercy…. (699)
Let us ask of the mercy of God with confidence, bearing in mind that so long there is a sinner who is every set to ask for his mercy there is a prodigal Father ever ready to lavish his mercy he or her. Our founder Venerable Bruno Lanteri, would always reminds us about how small our sins are compared the hugeness of God’s mercy, consequently, we must begin again. As we ask for the mercy of God upon us and on our world, lets us remember to extend it to others. Dr. John Bruchalski in his conversion story said: “we don’t throw stones at anyone. In fact, it’s God’s mercy that brings people around. Divine mercy is the vehicle for the new birth.” — John 8: 10-11
April 17 — Friday in the Octave of Easter
From VaticanNews.va:
This year, the feast of Divine Mercy, which is celebrated on the Sunday after Easter, turns 20. Pope Francis will mark it on Sunday with a Holy Mass at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Sassia, the centre of the devotion to Divine Mercy in Rome.
Some 200 meters from St. Peter’s Square is the Church of the Holy Spirit, the sanctuary and center of the devotion to Divine Mercy in Rome, where Pope Francis will mark Divine Mercy Sunday, April 19. The Mass that will be streamed and televised live [at 11 a.m. local time], will have only a handful of faithful because of the coronavirus lockdown in Italy and the Vatican.
April 16 — Thursday in the Octave of Easter
The Healing Miracle that made Sr. Faustina Kowalska a Saint
From TheDivineMercy.org: The following was first published in the Summer 2000 issue of the Bulletin, now Marian Helper magazine:
Father Ron Pytel has had some big days, but few were as important as Divine Mercy Sunday 2000. “After my ordination, it was the most emotional day of my life,” Fr. Ron says of standing alongside the Holy Father on April 30 and hearing him declare Sr. Maria Faustina the first saint of the Great Jubilee.
“I’ve been blessed by the Lord with a wonderful healing through Sr. Faustina’s intercession. My healing became the canonization miracle. So it was awesome to see her become a saint. And now, more people than ever will hear of the message of mercy,” he says.
It has been nearly five years since doctors gave Fr. Ron three to five years to live. At that time, he was extremely thin and pale with a badly damaged heart.
“I suppose I probably shouldn’t be around anymore,” jokes the 52-year-old pastor of Holy Rosary parish in Baltimore, Md. “But I’m living proof that miracles do happen.”
The miracle is not only that Fr. Ron is alive, but that his permanent heart ailment is gone. As a matter of fact, he says he is in better health today than he’s ever been.
On Oct. 5, 1995, the feast day of St. Faustina (who was then a blessed), Fr. Ron and some friends gathered for prayer at Holy Rosary Church, which is also the Baltimore archdiocesan Shrine of The Divine Mercy. After a time of prayer for the healing of his heart through Sr. Faustina’s intercession, Fr. Ron venerated a relic of St. Faustina and collapsed. He felt paralyzed, but was completely at peace. A subsequent visit to his cardiologist showed that his heart had been healed.
Although he was healed through St. Faustina’s intercession, Fr. Ron is quick to point out that Jesus healed him. “I know in my heart that Faustina put in a word with Jesus, and His Heart touched mine. It’s as simple as that,” he explains.
After almost three years of examining Fr. Ron and his medical records, doctors and theologians from the Congregation for the Cause of Saints concluded an exhaustive investigation of the healing.
And on Dec. 20, 1999, Pope John Paul II ordered publication of the fact of the healing as a miracle through Sr. Faustina’s intercession, leading to her canonization on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 30, in St. Peter’s Square.
St. Faustina’s relic is displayed permanently for veneration at St. Francis Chapel, Boston.
April 15 — Wednesday in the Octave of Easter
“As a gift to humanity, which sometimes seems bewildered and overwhelmed by the power of evil, selfishness and fear, the Risen Lord offers his love that pardons, reconciles and reopens hearts to love. It is a love that converts hearts and gives peace. How much the world needs to understand and accept Divine Mercy!
Lord, who reveal the Father’s love by your death and Resurrection, we believe in you and confidently repeat to you today: Jesus, I trust in you, have mercy upon us and upon the whole world.” — St. John Paul II
The Oblate priests at St. Francis Chapel are celebrating a novena of Masses from Divine Mercy Sunday, April 19, to April 27. If you would like to enroll a loved one or have an intention to pray for, click here. Your donations help us pay our rent. God bless you!
April 14 — Tuesday in the Octave of Easter
Tuesday devotion to Our Lady
Marian Title of the Month: Our Lady of Health
Between 1630 and 1631 the city of Venice, Italy was struck with a particularly strong epidemic of the bubonic plague. In the city of Venice 46,000 people died, while another 48,000 died in the Venetian Republic as a whole. Processions and vigils took place in the city in 1631 imploring the intercession of Our Lady to end the plague. The Doge of Venice and the Senate of the Republic pledged to build a basilica in honor of Our Lady should she answer their prayers for relief. Within weeks the plague had died out. Madonna della Salute (Our Lady of Health) was finally completed in the 1681. To this day, Venice celebrates a festival in honor of Madonna della Salute on November 21 each year.
Novena to Our Lady of Health
[Say the following prayers daily for 9 days.]
O Most
Holy Virgin!
You were chosen by the Most Adorable Trinity
from all eternity to be the most pure Mother of Jesus.
I beg
you to obtain for me the favours
which I petition for in this novena,
if it be the Holy Will of God to grant them;
to ask for me whatever graces I most stand in need of.
O
Tender Mother of the afflicted!
Grant me under my present necessities
that special protection You have promised
to those who devoutly commemorate this ineffable joy.
Relying on the infinite mercies of your Divine Son,
trusting in the promise which He has made
that those who ask should receive,
and penetrated with confidence in your powerful prayers,
I most humbly entreat you intercede for me.
(Here specify your requests…)
O
Mother of God,
accept these salutations
in union with the respect and veneration
with which the Angel Gabriel first hailed you,
“Full of Grace”.
Say 9 times the Hail Mary…
I
beseech you, O comfortress of the afflicted,
by the joy you received,
when the word was made flesh,
to obtain for me the favours and graces,
which I have now implored through your powerful intercession.
For this end I offer you all the good works
which have even been performed in your honour.
I most humbly entreat you
for the love of the amiable Heart of Jesus,
with which yours was ever so inflamed,
to hear my humble prayers
and to obtain my requests.
Amen.
April 13 — Monday in the Octave of Easter
Psalm 16
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
A blessed Easter to all!
Easter Sunday
Reflection for Easter Sunday
by Fr. James Doran, OMV