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Luke 1:26-28

Let It Be

“The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, ‘Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.’”

Reflection:

Imagine if the Angel Gabriel, the glorious Archangel who stands before the Most Holy Trinity, were to come to you and announce to you that you were “full of grace” and that “The Lord is with you.” What an indescribable and awe-inspiring experience that would be! And yet this is exactly what happened to this young teenager, the Blessed Virgin Mary.

We celebrate today this amazing event that took place, marking the moment when God took on human flesh within her blessed womb. Note that today is nine months before Christmas. The Church gives us this Solemnity today to invite us to walk with Mary over these coming nine months so as to join her in her rejoicing over the birth of her divine Son.

Much could be said about this glorious Solemnity. We could ponder Mother Mary and her Immaculate Conception. We could ponder the very words spoken by the Archangel. We could ponder the mystery surrounding her pregnancy and the way in which God chose to set this gift into motion. And we could ponder so much more. Though all of these aspects are worth fully pondering and praying over, let’s focus upon the reaction of this young woman to the angelic announcement.

First, we read that Mary was “greatly troubled” and “pondered” these words spoken by the Archangel. Being troubled reveals that Mary did not have full knowledge of what the Archangel was revealing. But the fact that she pondered the words also reveals her openness to a fuller understanding. She then seeks a deeper gift of knowledge by asking, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” This response is first an assent of belief in faith followed by a request for a deeper understanding of this revelation. Faith is the ability to assent to that which we do not fully understand, but true faith always seeks a deeper understanding—and this is what Mary did.

After being given some further revelation by the Archangel, Mary fully accepts what was revealed and trusts that what she was told was all she needed to know at that time. And then she offers what has come to be known as her “fiat.” She says, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” This fiat of Mary is her perfect prayer of surrender to the will of God, and it is also the perfect model for how we all must respond to the will of God. We must see ourselves as true servants of His will, and we must fully embrace whatsoever God asks of us, completely uniting our wills to His.

Reflect, today, upon these words of our Blessed Mother: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” How is God asking you to make this your prayer also? How is God calling you to serve His most holy will? Are you willing to fully assent to anything and everything God asks of you? As you prayerfully reflect upon this fiat of our Blessed Mother, seek to unite her response to yours so that you, too, will be a servant of the most high God.

Source: https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/2024/04/07/let-it-be-3/

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Second Sunday of Easter, Sunday of Divine Mercy

Gosples & Readings

First Reading Acts 4:32-35

The community of believers was of one heart and mind,
and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own,
but they had everything in common.
With great power the apostles bore witness
to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
and great favor was accorded them all.
There was no needy person among them,
for those who owned property or houses would sell them,
bring the proceeds of the sale,
and put them at the feet of the apostles,
and they were distributed to each according to need.

Responsorial Psalm Psalms 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24

R. (1) Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.

Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His mercy endures forever.”

R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.

I was hard pressed and was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just:

R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.

The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.

Second Reading 1 John 5:1-6

Beloved:
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,
and everyone who loves the Father
loves also the one begotten by him.
In this way we know that we love the children of God
when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome,
for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.
And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.
Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ,
not by water alone, but by water and blood.
The Spirit is the one that testifies,
and the Spirit is truth.

Alleluia John 20:29

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord;
Blessed are those who have not seen me, but still believe!

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel John 20:19-31

On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
But he said to them,
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples
that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may come to believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

Source: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040724.cfm

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Divine Mercy Sunday

Daily Saints

In the year 2000, Pope John Paul II canonized Saint Maria Faustina Kowolska and added the Feast of Divine Mercy to the Church’s official calendar. Saint Faustina, who died in 1938, was a member of the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Krakow, Poland. She came from a simple and poor family of farmers, had only three years of rudimentary education, and performed the humblest of tasks in her convent. But she also was a mystic who was privileged to have many private revelations from our Lord. In obedience to her superior and spiritual director, she recorded these private revelations in six notebooks. Those notebooks are known today under the title: Divine Mercy in My Soul: Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska. The messages contained within her diary present profound communications from God for our day and age. Though the messages are many, there are several new ways that God is calling us to a new form of devotion.

A first way is through meditation on the image of Divine Mercy. Of this, Saint Faustina wrote:

In the evening, when I was in my cell, I became aware of the Lord Jesus clothed in a white garment. One hand was raised in blessing, the other was touching the garment at the breast. From the opening of the garment at the breast there came forth two large rays, one red and the other pale. In silence I gazed intently at the Lord; my soul was overwhelmed with fear, but also with great joy. After a while Jesus said to me, “paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the inscription: Jesus, I trust in You” (#47).
“The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous; the red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These two rays issued forth from the depths of My most tender Mercy at that time when My agonizing Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross….Fortunate is the one who will dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him” (#299).

A second way is through our participation in the Solemnity of Divine Mercy:

“On that day (the 8th day of Easter each year) 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. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity” (#699).

A third way is through the recitation of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy:

Once, as I was going down the hall to the kitchen, I heard these words in my soul: “Say unceasingly the chaplet that I have taught you. Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death. Priests will recommend it to sinners as their last hope of salvation. Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this chaplet only once, he would receive grace from My infinite mercy. I desire that the whole world know My infinite mercy. I desire to grant unimaginable graces to those souls who trust in My mercy” (#687).

A fourth way is by honoring Jesus’ passion at the 3 o’clock hour:

At three o’clock, implore My mercy, especially for sinners; and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great mercy for the whole world. I will allow you to enter into My mortal sorrow. In this hour, I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of me in virtue of My Passion” (#1320).

A fifth way is through an apostolic movement to spread the message of Divine Mercy. During her lifetime, Sister Faustina believed Jesus was calling her to found a new congregation, but that never materialized. Jesus, nonetheless, spoke to her in ways that revealed His desire that this “new congregation” be established. Since a formal religious congregation was never founded in her lifetime, we must look to the founding of subsequent congregations and apostolic movements that seek to spread the messages of Divine Mercy. God is calling each of us not only to receive His mercy but to spread that mercy to others in personal and organized ways.

Though Saint Faustina died in 1938, we should see the messages in her Diary as messages God especially desires we learn and live today. God moves slowly and methodically. He first revealed these messages, then allowed them to be studied by the Church for decades, then led Pope John Paul to canonize her and establish the universal Feast of Mercy on the last day of the octave of Easter in the year 2000. For these reasons, we should see this as one of the newest and most relevant devotions in our lifetimes.

As we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, ponder the profound significance of this new form of devotion for the Church and world today. We need God’s abundant Divine Mercy to flow from the gates of Heaven upon us more than ever. Only in Heaven will we understand the full depths of God’s Mercy. For now, we must trust all that He has revealed through his humble servant Saint Faustina and respond to the requests He has given to us through her. Commit yourself to the various ways God has called us to call upon His Mercy and do so with as much vigor and devotion you can offer Him. The following is the 3 o’clock prayer Jesus gave to Saint Faustina:

Prayer: You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us (#1319). Jesus, I trust in You.

Source: https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/triduum-and-easter-prayers/divine-mercy-sunday/

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Diary #699

Daily Reflections, Verse

Eternal Contemplation of God’s Mercy

“My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. Everything that exists has come forth from the very depths of My most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity. The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the First Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy”

Reflection:

What will it be like to contemplate the love and mercy of God for all eternity? To some, this might not at first seem that appealing. Won’t it become boring if all we do for all eternity is contemplate God’s mercy? If that is a question that resonates with you, then the reason this idea initially lacks appeal is because you cannot fathom how fulfilling and glorious this will be. Jesus said, “My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity.”

God willed that this Sunday, the eighth day of the Octave of Easter, be celebrated as the Feast of Mercy. By placing this Feast on the last day of the Octave of Easter, God is telling us that the message of this Feast reveals the ultimate purpose of our lives. Easter is the culmination of the perfect plan of redemption. And Divine Mercy Sunday is the culmination of that perfect plan. Therefore, nothing is more important than trying to understand the message this Feast presents.

By analogy, if you were given a new car but never drove it, the car would be of no use. Or if you won the lottery and the money simply sat in your account unused, what’s the benefit? Or if you were gravely ill and were given a medicine that would cure that illness but you never took it, then you would remain ill. So also, if we believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus, but never allow the Mercy that is given by that act to transform us, then we have missed the point. The Divine Mercy is the point of life. It’s the only thing worth seeking. It’s the only source of satisfaction and fulfillment. It’s the only cure for our ills. It’s the only source of true riches. In three short words: It Is Everything!

When Jesus says that our eternity will be spent contemplating His Mercy, He doesn’t only mean that this is something we will do after we die. True, the fullness of the revelation of His Mercy will be set before us when we enter into the Beatific Vision and contemplate God forever. But “eternity” includes today. It includes the here and now. Therefore, our contemplation of The Divine Mercy must be the single most important goal in our life today. When it is, everything else in life will fall into place in support of this goal.

In order to make the contemplation of The Divine Mercy the most important goal of your life, you must begin to understand it. That’s why we were given this special day, this most solemn Feast of Mercy. Therefore, use this day as an opportunity to deepen your contemplation of this Gift. Begin by reading about God’s Mercy as it was revealed to us through Saint Faustina. Try to spend time reading Jesus’ words, His explanations, descriptions and revelations about His Mercy. As you do, if you find that it remains incomprehensible, don’t worry. It is incomprehensible! However, since Jesus promised us that our eternity would be spent in contemplation of His Mercy, then we must believe that the more deeply we enter into that contemplation now, the more glorious our lives will become. If we can truly taste of this Mercy, gain a small glimpse of its grandeur, and comprehend even a small aspect of its meaning, then we will truly find much satisfaction in this endeavor.

Reflect, today, upon The Divine Mercy. As you do, humble yourself through prayer by admitting to God and to yourself that His Mercy is beyond what you will ever comprehend. Do this in prayer. Reading about God’s Mercy is important, but it will only be through prayer that we begin our contemplation. And it will only be through this contemplation that we will begin to live the central purpose of our lives.

Source: https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/2024/04/06/eternal-contemplation-of-gods-mercy/

Diary #699 Read More »

Saint John Baptiste de La Salle

Daily Saints

Profile
John studied for the priesthood in Paris, France, but quit to care for his brothers and sisters upon the death of his parents. When his siblings were grown, John returned to seminary. He was named the Canon of Reims, France in 1667. Ordained in 1678. He was a Doctor of theology in 1680.

John was a Spiritual director of the Sisters of the Holy Infant who were devoted to teaching poor girls. He founded the Brothers of the Christian Schools (Christian Brothers or La Salle Brothers) in 1681, established and supported academic education for all boys. He liquidated his personal fortune, and his Brothers expected him to use it to further his education goals, but he surprised them by saying they would have to depend on Providence. The money (about $400,000) was given away to the poor in the form of bread during the great famine of 1683-1684. Saint John kept enough to endow a salary for himself similar to that which the Brothers received so he wouldn’t be a burden on them.

John instituted the process of dividing students into grades; He established the first teacher’s school, started high schools and trade schools, and was proclaimed the patron of all teachers of all youth by Pope Pius XII in 1950.

Born

30 April 1651 at Rheims, France

Died

7 April 1719 at Saint-Yon, Rouen, France of natural causes
buried in Rouen
re-interred Lembecq-lez-Hal, Belgium in 1906
re-interred in the chapel at the Christian Brothers Curia in Rome, Italy on 25 January 1937

Canonized

24 May 1900 by Pope Leo XIII

Source: http://catholicsaints.mobi/calendar/7-april.htm

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Mark 16:9

Daily Reflections, Verse

The Beauty of Repentance

“When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons.”

Reflection:

The first person recorded in Scripture to whom Jesus appeared was Mary Magdalene. Notably, she was the one out of whom Jesus cast seven demons. Being possessed by seven demons has traditionally been understood to mean that she was completely possessed. Prior to Jesus freeing her, satan and His demons had completely taken over her will by her free submission to evil. And yet, it was to her, a woman with such a horrible past, that Jesus chose to give the honor of His first appearance. What an amazing fact!

Everyone has a past. Some have been grave sinners. Others, like Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, have never committed a mortal sin. Obviously, the beauty of a soul like Saint Thérèse is deeply admirable, and such a soul will be greatly rewarded in Heaven. But what about the grave sinner? What about those like Mary Magdalene who have lived horribly sinful lives? What does our Lord think about them?

The fact that Mary Magdalene is the first person recorded in Scripture to have seen the risen Lord should tell us much about how Jesus views a person who has greatly struggled with serious sin but has later overcome that sin and turned wholeheartedly to our Lord. Sin is demoralizing. When unrepented, it leaves a loss of dignity and integrity. However, even after one has repented, some people will continue to struggle with unhealthy guilt and shame. And for some, these struggles can become a weapon by which the evil one tries to discourage them from feeling worthy to serve our Lord with zeal and passion.

But the truth in the mind of God is that repentant sinners are true jewels and beautiful in the eyes of our Lord. They are worthy of the greatest honors. God does not dwell on our past sin. Instead, our past sin, when it has been repented of and forgiven, will be an eternal sign of the love and mercy of God.

How do you deal with your past sin? First, have you completely acknowledged it, repented of it and sought forgiveness from our Lord? If so, does it still haunt you? Does the evil one still try to remind you of your past and strip away your hope in the mercy of God?

Reflect, today, upon the most grievous of your past sins. If you haven’t yet confessed them, then do so as soon as you can. If you have, try to see your soul through the eyes of God. God does not see your past sins with anger and disgust. Rather, He sees only the depth of your conversion, sorrow and repentance. And, to Him, this is holy and beautiful. Ponder the beauty of your repentant heart and know that, as you do, you will be looking at your own heart through the eyes of God.

Source: https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/2024/04/05/the-beauty-of-repentance-3/

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Saint Vincent Ferrer, Priest

Daily Saints

Patron Saint of builders, plumbers, fishermen, and prisoners; Canonized by Pope Calixtus III in 1455

It can be said that today’s saint lived two sequential lives. The first forty-nine years of his life were, in many ways, a preparation for the final twenty years of his life. All sixty-nine years, however, were years of fervent study, prayer, zeal, and extraordinarily impactful preaching.

Vincent was the fourth child of noble parents born in Valencia, Spain. According to popular legend, Vincent’s father had a dream that his son would become famous throughout the whole world. This was miraculously confirmed when his mother was said not to have experienced any pains during his birth. Vincent was named after the Third Century Valencian saint, Vincent the Deacon, Protomartyr of Spain. At a young age, Vincent completed studies in philosophy and joined the Dominican friars when he was about eighteen. As a young Dominican, he spent the next several years teaching, writing, preaching, praying, fasting, and doing penance, and was very devoted to the poor. His study of the Sacred Scripture was so intense that it is said that for about three years he read nothing but Scripture, memorizing the entire Bible.

The first of the miracles that would later become commonplace in his ministry took place during a severe famine. Brother Vincent’s heart was so moved with compassion for the hungry people that he prophesied that two boats would arrive that evening at port, loaded with food. To the surprise of everyone, it happened as he said. Brother Vincent continued his studies, obtaining a Doctorate in Theology, and was ordained a Catholic priest around the age of twenty-eight.

Father Vincent was ordained during a period in the Church that is commonly referred to as the Western Schism, in which the Church found itself with two men claiming to be pope in 1378. Urban VI resided in Rome, and Clement VII resided in Avignon, France. At the time of the division, good and holy people disagreed on who the real pope should be. The future Saint Catherine of Sienna supported Urban VI in Rome, and the future Saint Vincent Ferrer supported Clement VII. This division raged on until 1417 when the matter was finally resolved by a Church council in Constance. Though Father Vincent’s choice was named the antipope by that council, Father Vincent humbly embraced this resolution and convinced many people to do the same, helping to end the schism.

During the schism, in the year 1398, Father Vincent had an experience that would open the door for the second and most remarkable period of his priestly ministry. Father Vincent had become quite ill. On what seemed to be his deathbed, he had a vision of Christ, accompanied by Saints Dominic and Francis who exhorted him to go forth to preach penance, heal the sick, and prepare the faithful for the coming Judgment. Shortly after, Father Vincent recovered and then sought and received a special commission for this new mission from the Avignon pope. He set out on an extraordinary journey that lasted about twenty years, traveling on foot from town to town all across Europe, including England, Scotland, Ireland, Spain, France, Switzerland, and Italy.

The twenty years of itinerant traveling and preaching that Father Vincent engaged in is a miracle in and of itself. Countless stories abound. During his preaching, many claim that Father Vincent had the charismatic gift of tongues. Although he spoke in his native language, everyone heard him in their own language. While he was an intellectual of the highest caliber, his style of preaching was new, more pastoral in nature, proclaiming the deep truths of the faith with a simple eloquence in which the people easily understood him. Prayer was always his immediate preparation for his sermons, while his study was the remote preparation that provided the content of his compelling messages. Among his most preached upon topics was the Final Judgment of Christ. This earned him the nickname “Angel of the Apocalypse.” Through that message, he instilled a holy fear of God and a desire for repentance among his listeners.

As Father Vincent traveled, it is said that hordes of people traveled with him, doing penance along the way. Some days he had as many as 300 followers, other days as many as 10,000. His “pulpit” was often a large field or public square, so that everyone who wanted to listen could do so.

Miracles also abounded. He raised the dead, healed the lame, cured illnesses, and did so with such regularity that people were mesmerized. As a result of his powerful sermons, backed up by miraculous signs, an estimated 25,000 Jews, 1000s of Muslims, and many pagans converted, while Catholics deepened and renewed their faith.

Father Vincent’s reputation so preceded him that kings and nobles sought him out to come to their lands. He generously responded, over and over again. His love for the poor was also evident, and he inspired many powerful and wealthy people to practice generosity. Saint Vincent is considered the patron saint of builders due to his effectiveness in building up the Church.

Source: https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/april-5-saint-vincent-ferrer-priest/

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John 21:12-14

Daily Reflections, Verse

The Mystery of the Resurrection

“Jesus said to them, ‘Come, have breakfast.’ And none of the disciples dared to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.”

Reflection:

The appearances of Jesus after His Resurrection were cloaked in mystery. Not a mystery of confusion, but a mystery of profound depth and awe. On this, the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples, Jesus first spoke to them from the shore after they had been fishing all night without catching anything. He told them to try again and to throw the net over the right side of the boat. They did so without even realizing that it was Jesus Who was speaking to them. But upon catching more than they could handle, they realized it was the Lord.

The “mystery” present in this resurrection appearance has many aspects. Why did the disciples not recognize Jesus at first? Why did Jesus instruct them to throw the net over the right side of the boat? Why was Jesus made known through this catch of one hundred and fifty-three large fish? Why was Jesus cooking breakfast for the disciples on the shore? And why did John record that “none of the disciples dared to ask him, ‘Who are you?’” Though all of these mysteries have answers that have been offered over the centuries by the saints and great Scripture commentators, it’s useful to also simply ponder the fact that Jesus’ resurrection appearances were, indeed, cloaked in mystery.

In a mystery novel, the reader is given various vague clues to help them try to figure out the mystery and solve it. The clues are vague intentionally so as to make the solving more enjoyable and challenging. However, when it comes to a “mystery of faith,” such as the mystery of faith surrounding Jesus’ resurrection appearances, the mystery is of an entirely different sort. In these cases, the mystery is one of depth and breadth and is something that has the potential to draw us deeper and deeper into the infinite nature of God and His saving action.

Take, for example, this one line quoted above: “And none of the disciples dared to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ because they realized it was the Lord.” It appears that the disciples gathered around Jesus as He was preparing breakfast on the shore and sat there in awe of Him. Their silent awe of Him in this appearance reveals that words are not sufficient. Normally, when you see someone whom you are happy to see, you greet them and start talking, asking them how they are, etc. But here, the disciples remained in this holy awe, listening to Him, receiving this meal and pondering the mystery of His resurrected presence.

Reflect, today, upon the ways that our Lord comes to you. It’s easy to miss Him since His ongoing presence in our lives is also mysterious. Imagine if the disciples would have ignored Jesus’ call to “Cast the net over the right side of the boat…” If they would have ignored that command, they may have never come to realize it was the Lord. Reflect upon the ways that our Lord speaks to you. Do you respond? Do you recognize Him? Do you allow yourself to be drawn into this holy awe of His divine presence? Follow the example of the disciples and be on the lookout for the ongoing presence of our Lord all around you.

Source: https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/2024/04/04/the-mystery-of-the-resurrection-3/

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Saint Isidore, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Daily Saints

Patron Saint of computer technicians, the Internet, and students; Pre-Congregation canonization; Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1722 by Pope Innocent XIII

Saint Isidore of Seville was among the most learned and prolific writers in the history of the Catholic Church. His influence was felt directly for more than a millennia, as his books were among the most copied and read books throughout the Middle Ages. Today, the world is unquestionably different because of this holy and brilliant man.

Isidore was born in Cartagena, modern-day Spain, to Severianus and Theodora, a well-respected, influential, and upper-class couple. Isidore had an older brother, Leander, who became a monk and then the Bishop of Seville. His younger brother, Fulgentius, became the Bishop of Astigi, and his sister, Florentina, became a nun of prominence. All three of Saint Isidore’s siblings are saints.

Isidore’s parents died when he was young, so his older brother, Leander, cared for him and his other two siblings. As a monk devoted to studies himself, Leander was especially attentive to the education of his siblings. Leander was quite strict in his disciplines, which resulted in Isidore obtaining a thorough education in grammar, logic, rhetoric, arithmetic, astronomy, music, geometry, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and the Catholic faith. His interests were so vast that it has been said that Isidore knew everything. Isidore also benefited greatly from the contemplative influence of the monks he so admired and was drawn to their life of deep prayer.

At the time that Isidore was completing his education, the Visigoths were the ruling party in the Iberian Peninsula. The Visigoths were Christians who embraced the Arian heresy, which caused much division between them and the Nicene Catholics they ruled. Isidore’s brother, Leander, became the Bishop of Seville in 580 and served as bishop for about twenty years. In the first years of his episcopate, Leander, with the help of Isidore, worked tirelessly to convert the Visigoths to the Nicene Creed and to reject Arianism. When Liuvigild, the Arian Visigoth King died in 586, his younger son, Reccared, became king. A year later, through the efforts of Bishop Leander and Isidore, King Reccared renounced Arianism and embraced the true faith. In the decades to follow, most of the Visigoths also converted, bringing about Christian unity within the Iberian Peninsula.

When Bishop Leander died around the year 600, Isidore was named his successor in Seville and continued to strengthen the unified faith of Nicene Catholicism. Bishop Isidore was amazingly successful in his pastoral work. People flocked to him, listened to his preaching, were in awe of his vast knowledge, and were inspired by his holiness. As a shepherd, he was both an intellectual and a contemplative and enjoyed great confidence and trust from his people and other Church leaders.

One of Bishop Isidore’s greatest contributions to the Church and to the entire Western world was the writing of the Etymologiae, a comprehensive encyclopedia of all knowledge. This encyclopedia consisted of twenty volumes and summarized many of the great writers who had come before him, both pagan and Christian. Topics included grammar, rhetoric, logic, mathematics, geometry, music, astronomy, law, military science, languages, philosophers, architecture, clothing, food, cosmology, agriculture, mineralogy, physiology, zoology, and, of course, the Catholic faith. This encyclopedia became one of the most copied sets of books throughout the Middle Ages, directly influencing the Western world for more than 1,000 years.

In addition to his writings, Bishop Isidore presided over a number of Church councils. These councils were essential for the strengthening of the Church by further purifying it of heretical teaching, setting up administrative church structures and disciplines, and helping unify the people and bishops into one united voice and vision for the future. Bishop Isidore’s role in these councils was so crucial that in 653, just seventeen years after Bishop Isidore’s death, a subsequent Council in Toledo honored his memory and influence in these words: “The extraordinary doctor, the latest ornament of the Catholic Church, the most learned man of the latter ages, always to be named with reverence, Isidore.”

During his lifetime, Saint Isidore had an enormous influence upon the Church and Western world. He influenced popes, bishops, clergy, laity, kings, and heretics. He won over the minds and hearts of countless people for Christ, uniting them with confidence in the true faith. His intellectual gifts, coupled with his deep holiness, inspired many to turn to him for guidance. It’s hard to underestimate the influence this one man had upon the entire Western world by being a holy bishop in the Diocese of Seville. Though very few people are called to accomplish what he accomplished, we must all do our part. Ponder the legacy that you will leave behind, and pray that God will use you to not only influence those around you today, but that your influence will also be felt for generations to come.

Source: https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/april-4-saint-isidore-bishop-and-doctor-of-the-church/

Saint Isidore, Bishop and Doctor of the Church Read More »

Luke 24:45-48

Daily Reflections, Verse

Becoming a Witness to the Truth

“Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”

Reflection:

Jesus once again appears to a group of His disciples, and He once again gets straight to the point. He “opened their minds” so that they would understand all that the Scriptures revealed about Him. He helped them to see that His death and Resurrection were fulfillments of the teachings of Moses and the prophets. And then Jesus says something new: “You are witnesses of these things.”

As we saw in yesterday’s Gospel, it’s clear that the disciples did not yet understand why Jesus had to die and then rise again. They were still in shock and traumatized by these events. Therefore, Jesus had to carefully explain to His disciples the meaning of what had just taken place. They needed to understand this on a level that they couldn’t comprehend by themselves. They needed Jesus’ clear and detailed explanation as well as a special grace by which their minds would be opened to an understanding of these profound mysteries of faith.

We are no different than these disciples. It’s easy to believe in Jesus for insufficient reasons which only result in superficial faith. Some believe simply because that’s what they were taught when they were young. Some believe because it makes them feel better to believe. Some believe because they don’t know of anything better to believe. But then there are those who believe for the right reason. Like the disciples in this resurrection appearance, they have listened to Jesus speak clearly and in detail to them, such as through their study of Scripture, the Catechism, or other holy sources, and then they were given a special grace from God that “opened their minds” to an understanding that goes far beyond human rational abilities alone. Are you one of those people?

If you are, then you have another duty. Not only must you continue to internalize these truths, allowing them to deepen and change your own life completely and totally, but you must also become a “witness” to these things. When you grow in an authentic knowledge of the faith revealed by our Lord, you must also share it with others. Real faith must be shared!

Reflect, today, upon this powerful resurrection appearance. As you do, ponder whether or not you have allowed our Lord to speak to you in the same way that He did to these disciples, and whether or not you have truly internalized all that He has spoken to you and explained to you. If you are among this grouping of people, reflect also upon your duty to be a witness of these truths to others. Jesus wants to appear in His resurrected form to many others, but He especially does this, today, through the mediation of His faithful followers who are now sent forth to be witnesses to Christ and His glorious Resurrection.

Source: https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/2024/04/03/becoming-a-witness-to-the-truth-3/

Luke 24:45-48 Read More »

Author name: Sani

Let It Be

First Reading Acts 4:32-35

Responsorial Psalm Psalms 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24

Second Reading 1 John 5:1-6

Alleluia John 20:29

Gospel John 20:19-31

Eternal Contemplation of God’s Mercy

The Beauty of Repentance

Patron Saint of builders, plumbers, fishermen, and prisoners; Canonized by Pope Calixtus III in 1455

The Mystery of the Resurrection

Patron Saint of computer technicians, the Internet, and students; Pre-Congregation canonization; Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1722 by Pope Innocent XIII

Becoming a Witness to the Truth

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