Quote of the Day Quote of the Day
"Put your heart at His feet. It is the gift He loves most." — St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Today's Meditation "The profession of faith of the robber crucified with Christ is one of the most extraordinary events recorded in history. It is difficult to imagine anything so unlikely. When this robber looked at Jesus, he saw One who was apparently a criminal, condemned by His own people and the Roman authorities, dying now on a cross, reviled and mocked by all but a few helpless friends in a little group nearby. Yet he professed his belief that Jesus was the Messiah and begged Him to remember him at the time of His glorious return in His Messianic kingdom...He could see that Jesus was not dying like a criminal. He noted His silence, patience, and goodness. He heard Him address God familiarly as His Father and ask pardon for those who had crucified HIm. All this helped to prepare him for the very special divine grace that alone could account for his sudden conversion from sinner to saint." —Fr. Ralph Gorman, C.P., p. 255-256
An excerpt from The Last Hours of Jesus - From Gethsemane to Golgotha Daily Verse "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be." Matthew 6:19-21 — Matthew 6:19-21 | St. Anselm Of Canterbury St. Anselm (1033–1109) was born into a noble family in the Lombardy region of Italy. The example of his pious mother led him to great faith, and he sought to enter the monastery at age 15. However, the abbot refused him due to Anselm's stern father. After his mother's death Anselm left home and settled in Normandy to study under the direction of a famed monk named Lanfranc. Upon the death of his father, Anselm became a Benedictine monk at the age of 27. Due to his brilliance, Anselm became a teacher at the abbey's school and prior of the monastery. He went on to become the most learned theologian, philosopher, and mystic of his generation, the greatest since St. Augustine of Hippo. Anselm's fame led to his appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury in England, succeeding Lanfranc in this office, where he went on to correct abuses against the Church at the hand of the English kings. Twice he was banished from the island while appealing to Rome for assistance, and twice he returned to Canterbury to carry on his duties until his death. His abilities as an extraordinary theologian, negotiator, and statesman greatly supported the cause of the Church. As archbishop he continued his monastic lifestyle and intellectual pursuits. He composed several philosophical and theological treatises, as well as a series of beautiful prayers and meditations, which led him to be proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Clement XI in 1720. His feast day is celebrated on April 21st. | Monday in the Octave of Easter Reading 1 Acts 2:14, 22-33 On the day of Pentecost, Peter stood up with the Eleven,
raised his voice, and proclaimed:
"You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem.
Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. "You who are children of Israel, hear these words.
Jesus the Nazorean was a man commended to you by God
with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs,
which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know.
This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God,
you killed, using lawless men to crucify him.
But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death,
because it was impossible for him to be held by it.
For David says of him: I saw the Lord ever before me,
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue has exulted;
my flesh, too, will dwell in hope,
because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,
nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence. My brothers, one can confidently say to you
about the patriarch David that he died and was buried,
and his tomb is in our midst to this day.
But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him
that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne,
he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ,
that neither was he abandoned to the netherworld
nor did his flesh see corruption.
God raised this Jesus;
of this we are all witnesses.
Exalted at the right hand of God,
he poured forth the promise of the Holy Spirit
that he received from the Father, as you both see and hear." Responsorial Psalm Psalm 16:1-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11 R. (1) Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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.
or:
R. Alleluia. Sequence-- optional Victimae paschali laudes
Christians, to the Paschal Victim
Offer your thankful praises!
A Lamb the sheep redeems;
Christ, who only is sinless,
Reconciles sinners to the Father.
Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous:
The Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal.
Speak, Mary, declaring
What you saw, wayfaring.
"The tomb of Christ, who is living,
The glory of Jesus' resurrection;
bright angels attesting,
The shroud and napkin resting.
Yes, Christ my hope is arisen;
to Galilee he goes before you."
Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining.
Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!
Amen. Alleluia. Alleluia Psalm 118:24 R. Alleluia, alleluia.-
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Matthew 28:8-15 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb,
fearful yet overjoyed,
and ran to announce the news to his disciples.
And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them.
They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage.
Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid.
Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee,
and there they will see me." While they were going, some of the guard went into the city
and told the chief priests all that had happened.
The chief priests assembled with the elders and took counsel;
then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,
telling them, "You are to say,
'His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.'
And if this gets to the ears of the governor,
we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble."
The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed.
And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present day.
| Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: Matthew 28:8-15 Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid." (Matthew 28:10) Happy Easter once again! Isn't it wonderful to know that we still have fifty days to celebrate Jesus' resurrection? Fifty days leading us to the great feast of Pentecost, another cause for rejoicing! In the verses leading up to today's Gospel, Matthew describes how Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to Jesus' tomb early in the morning. They were weighed down with profound grief. But when they reached the tomb, there was an earthquake, and they encountered an angel, whose "appearance was like lightning" and who told them that Jesus had been raised "just as he said" (28:3, 6). No wonder they left quickly, "fearful yet overjoyed" (28:8). Yet notice what happened next: as the women made their way to the disciples, Jesus met them "and greeted them" (Matthew 28:9). How merciful and loving of the Lord! He didn't just send his message through an angel but appeared to them himself, assuring them that he truly had risen and comforting them with his presence. Then he spoke directly to their fears, urging them to "not be afraid" (28:10). Jesus didn't want the shadow of fear clouding their experience. He wanted them to rejoice! Especially in this Easter season, Jesus speaks these same words to us. He wants us to understand that his resurrection has changed everything. Of course, we will still be afraid at times, but whenever we are feeling that way, we can count on him to meet us where we are. Just as he did for the women at the tomb, he wants to assure us that he has truly risen. Our greatest enemies, sin and death, have been conquered once and for all! Whatever we face in this life, we have the certain hope of being united with the Lord for all of eternity. What a reason for rejoicing! Is fear, uncertainty, or worry clouding your experience of the resurrection today? Yield it to the Lord. Ask him for the grace to experience more fully the deep-down joy of Easter that he so deeply desires for you. "Risen Christ, I surrender all my fears to you today. Lord, I want to rejoice in the truth of your resurrection!" Acts 2:14, 22-33
Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Hear AI Read it for u | From today's Holy Gospel: In the Gospel we hear today:
"Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb,
fearful yet overjoyed,
and ran to announce the news to his disciples.
And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them.
They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage.
Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid.
Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee,
and there they will see me.
....." - Word of the Lord! | From Roberto Juarez:
"The women, moved by joy, "ran to announce." Do I have that paschal fire in my heart? Am I moved by the joy of knowing that Christ lives? Easter cannot remain in Mass or in my intimacy: we must go out to proclaim it with our lives, with words, with gestures of love.
It is not always we who come to God. Many times, as in this Gospel, it is the Lord who goes ahead and comes to our path. Am I ready to recognize it when it appears in everyday life, in the poor, in the signs of new life?
While women spread the story of life, soldiers spread a false story. The gospel invites us to examine what "version of the facts" we share with the world. Do I transmit hope or despair? Faith or cynicism? Truth or convenience?
Risen Lord Jesus,
you who went out to meet women on the road,
come out to meet me today, too.
Dispel my fears, ignite my joy,
and make me a courageous witness of your victory over death.
Don't let me be silent about fear or buy into lies,
but that he runs to announce that you live and are with us.
Amen. Hallelujah!.... " End quote.
From brother Adrian:
Easter is a time of newness, in the spring, in the new life. Pope Francis passed away this day, following Easter Sunday.
He is entering the next day of eternal life. There, the sun does not set, nor does the sun rise.
We witnessed baptisms on Easter Vigil, our Mass was 3.5 hours long, some I spoke with said it did not seem that long. Time stops when you are in eternity. And a Holy Mass is a step into Eternity. What does time matter in Heaven? It matters to us on the earth down below.
We need Easter, we need hope, a message that was always perpetuated by our latest Pope. "Christ, my hope, has risen," Pope Francis announced. These were some of his last words to us. "Love has triumphed over hatred, light over darkness, and truth over falsehood. Forgiveness has triumphed over revenge," he said. "Evil has not disappeared from history; it will remain until the end, but it no longer has the upper hand; it no longer has power over those who accept the grace of this day."
How will love and light, the hope of the world continue?
It will continue in the will of the person. I always express to the elderly at the hospital nursing home, that we need to make sure we let God in our lives and let Him shine right where we are at.
I pray we can do what the Pope said before He passed. His final wishes were end to wars, everywhere....even in your world, all sorts of world wars. It is a big calling, because there will always be wars until our Lord comes.
But why can't he Come NOW?
You see, if He enters now, the wars can end.
They can end the atrocities in your family. That feud can end.
That quarrel and unrest can end, if only, Christ comes.
Why should the end of the world come before you make amends, and let Christ reign? In Him, love is sacrificial. In Him we have an offering of thanksgiving, from us to Him and Him to us for the whole world.
The women came to the tomb, and left running, only to run into, our Lord Himself. They believed. This made them run.
Do you believe? Does your heart race and burn for Christ? We must then make haste, to announce, that He will meet us.... | Random Bible Verse 1
1 Peter 3:12–13 "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
