May, 2017

Pope's Intention

Christians in Africa, That Christians in Africa, in imitation of the Merciful Jesus, may give prophetic witness to reconciliation, justice, and peace.

Saint Paschal Baylon

Fr. Don Miller, OFM

Image: Saint Paschal Baylon | Giovanni Battista Tiepolo

Saint Paschal Baylon

Saint of the Day for May 17

(May 24, 1540 – May 15, 1592)

Saint Paschal Baylon’s story

In Paschal’s lifetime the Spanish empire in the New World was at the height of its power, though France and England were soon to reduce its influence. The 16th century has been called the Golden Age of the Church in Spain, for it gave birth to Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Peter of Alcantara, Francis Solano and Salvator of Horta.

Paschal’s Spanish parents were poor and pious. Between the ages of seven and 24 he worked as a shepherd and began a life of mortification. He was able to pray on the job and was especially attentive to the church bell, which rang at the Elevation during Mass. Paschal had a very honest streak in him. He once offered to pay owners of crops for any damage his animals caused!

In 1564, Paschal joined the Friars Minor and gave himself wholeheartedly to a life of penance. Though he was urged to study for the priesthood, he chose to be a brother. At various times he served as porter, cook, gardener, and official beggar.

Paschal was careful to observe the vow of poverty. He would never waste any food or anything given for the use of the friars. When he was porter and took care of the poor coming to the door, he developed a reputation for great generosity. The friars sometimes tried to moderate his liberality!

Paschal spent his spare moments praying before the Blessed Sacrament. In time, many people sought his wise counsel. People flocked to his tomb immediately after his burial; miracles were reported promptly. Paschal was canonized in 1690 and was named patron of eucharistic congresses and societies in 1897.

Reflection

Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament occupied much of Saint Francis’ energy. Most of his letters were to promote devotion to the Eucharist. Paschal shared that concern. An hour in prayer before our Lord in the Eucharist could teach all of us a great deal. Some holy and busy Catholics today find that their work is enriched by those minutes regularly spent in prayer and meditation.

Saint Paschal Baylon is the Patron Saint of:

Eucharistic Congresses and Societies
Shepherds

Information: St. Paschal Baylon

Feast Day: May 17

Born: 1540, Torrehermosa, Aragon

Died: 17 May 1592

Canonized: October 16, 1690 by Alexander VIII

Major Shrine: Royal Chapel in Villareal

Patron of: Patron of Eucharistic congresses and Eucharistic associations

Holy Spirit Interactive Kids: A Saint a Day

St. Paschal Baylon

Feast Day: May 17
Born: 1540 :: Died: 1592

Paschal was born at Torre Hermosa, in Aragon (which today is Spain). His pious parents Martin Baylon and Elizabeth Jubera were peasants. From the time he was seven, he worked as a shepherd. His parents could not afford to send him to school but he taught himself to read and write by asking everyone he met to help him. He did this so that he could read from holy books and he often whispered prayers during the day as he took care of the sheep.

When he was twenty-four, Paschal became a Franciscan brother. The other friars liked him. Paschal was easy to get along with and kind. They noticed that he often did the most unpleasant and hardest jobs that no one wanted to do.

He did hard penances that were even stricter than their rules. Yet he was a happy person. When he was a shepherd, he had wished he could be in church praying to Jesus. Now his wish had come true. He loved to keep Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament company. He was also very happy to serve at Mass.

St. Paschal's two great loves were the Holy Eucharist and the Blessed Mother. Every day Paschal prayed the Rosary with great love. He also wrote beautiful prayers to our Heavenly Mother.

Out of some scraps of paper, St. Paschal made himself a little notebook. In it, he wrote down some beautiful thoughts and prayers. After he died, his superior showed the little book to the local archbishop who reading it said, "These simple souls are stealing heaven from us!"

Paschal died in 1592 at the age of fifty-two.

Reflection: How can we grow closer to Jesus in the Eucharist and to Mary? We can make a special visit to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and ask Mary to help us be faithful to her Son.

CATHOLIC ALMANAC

Wednesday, May 17

Liturgical Color: White

Blessed Giulia Salzano died on
this day in 1929. She founded the
Congregation of the Catechetical
Sisters of the Sacred Heart of
Jesus, attracting many followers
because of her great love for the
Sacred Heart and the Blessed
Virgin Mary.

Catholic Culture

Easter: May 17th

Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

MASS READINGS

May 17, 2017 (Readings on USCCB website)

COLLECT PRAYER

O God, restorer and lover of innocence, direct the hearts of your servants towards yourself, that those you have set free from the darkness of unbelief may never stray from the light of your truth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

show

Recipes (1)

Coffee Bread-and-Butter Pudding

show

Activities (3)

show

Prayers (4)

Regina Coeli (Queen of Heaven)
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Litany of Loretto)
Litany of St. Paschal Baylon, Patron of Eucharistic Congresses
Novena to St. Rita
Old Calendar: St. Paschal Baylon, confessor
According to the 1962 Missal of St. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, today is the feast of St. Paschal Baylon, who lived and died in the kingdom of Aragon, Spain. He spent his early years as a shepherd and often gave religious instruction to the shepherds on the hills of Aragon. At the age of twenty-four he entered the Franciscan Order and embraced the humble, austere life of a lay brother. He was noted for his devotion to the Holy Eucharist. Pope Leo XIII declared him protector or all Eucharistic Congresses and works. His feast is no longer on the calendar in the United States.

St. Paschal Baylon
Paschal Baylon (named after the day of his birth and death: Pentecost Sunday—Pascha Pentekostes) was a simple, pious shepherd boy who later became an ardent spiritual son of St. Francis and the heavenly patron of adorers of the Most Blessed Sacrament. He belongs to that illustrious circle of saints who, by heroic holiness of life, refurbished the Church's crown that had been desecrated by the heretics of the sixteenth century. He hailed from the Spanish section of Valencia and died at the age of 52. As he lay dead upon the bier, he opened and closed his eyes twice when the sacred species were elevated at the consecration. Leo XIII declared him the heavenly patron of all Eucharistic leagues and societies.
One day Paschal heard the bells of a convent announce the approaching consecration at Mass. Such an ardent longing for God overcame him that, prompted by yearning and love, he involuntarily cried out: "O God, most worthy of all adoration, please let me see You!" Hardly had he uttered the prayer when a glowing star appeared in the sky. As he watched, the heavens opened; the star disappeared and was replaced by a chalice with the Host, flanked by two adoring angels. Christian art has selected this vision to show his chief virtue, viz., love for the most holy Eucharist.
Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch
Patron: Cooks; Eucharistic congresses and organizations (proclaimed by Pope Leo XIII); Obado, Bulacan, Phillipines.
Symbols: In adoration before a vision of the Host.
Things to Do:
- Whoever intends to live with the Church must make the holy Eucharist the primary concern of his life. But he can accomplish this only by participating as actively as possible with the priest in offering the Sacrifice and by receiving holy Communion as part of the sacrificial banquet. Receive the Blessed Sacrament today with the desire to fully appreciate this great gift.

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Acts 15:1-6

5th Week of Easter

There arose no little dissension and debate. (Acts 15:2)

Now that’s an understatement! The question of how to integrate Gentile converts into the almost exclusively Jewish Church was probably the most hotly debated issue the first disciples faced. When some Jewish believers from Judea came to Antioch teaching that circumcision was necessary for salvation, the need for an answer became immediate. Let’s take a look at the details.

Faithful Jews who had embraced Jesus as the Messiah valued the Mosaic law. It set them apart as God’s chosen people. Their special covenant with God was precious: it demonstrated their commitment to him and his commitment to them. It’s no wonder the Jewish Christians expected Gentile believers to embrace the Mosaic Law before they became part of the Church.

But Paul and Barnabas had seen dramatic conversions of Gentiles. They had seen that God “opened the door of faith” to a people who had been outside of God’s covenant with Israel (Acts 14:27). Lives were changing, and miraculous healings were taking place—all demonstrating that the Holy Spirit was at work. In light of that, it didn’t seem necessary for Gentiles to convert to Judaism first.

These were challenging waters for the new Church to navigate. What did they do? Paul and Barnabas, along with representatives from the Jewish Christians, went to Jerusalem to consult with the apostles and elders. They knew the question was bigger than their own preferences, and they trusted the apostles to help them sort it out. Because the answer would affect the entire Church, they didn’t want to rely on only their own inclinations.

Maybe you’re facing a complex situation or a thorny problem. You might pray and think you know what the Holy Spirit is saying on the issue. But how do you confirm it? One way is to talk to your pastor or a trusted priest. Either one is more than qualified. Or talk it over with your spouse or another good friend whose Christian maturity you respect. The Holy Spirit will always bring you clarity—and sometimes he does it through the advice of a trusted authority. So don’t hesitate to seek out that advice!

“Lord, when I am confused, bring your clarity and peace to me. I trust your goodwill for your people.”

Psalm 122:1-5
John 15:1-8

Marriage = One Man and One Woman Until Death Do Us Part

Daily Marriage Tip for May 17, 2017:

Make time at the end of each day to share the highs and lows of your day with each other. Go beyond “just the facts” to how it made you feel. Ask questions; listen well.

Regnum Christi

May 17, 2017 – Separated From Christ

Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

Father Patrick Langan, LC

John 15: 1-8

Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”
Introductory Prayer: Lord, thank you for granting me the opportunity to be with you. There are things in life, Lord, that attract me, but you attract me more. I hope in you, and I love you. Maybe I don’t really understand what it means to love, and maybe I don’t love the way I should, but I do love you.

Petition: Lord, help me to grow in my interior life so I can remain united to you.

1. Forgetfulness of God: Lord, it is so easy to forget you when life gets busy. It is easy to forget you when things go well. Almost without realizing it, I begin to separate myself from the vine. My prayer time is a good thermometer: When I am separating myself from the vine, it becomes shorter and shorter until it almost fades. I go my own way. I forget to pray. However, it isn’t necessarily a question of eliminating activities but of doing all of these tasks for God and in union with him.

2. Barrenness: If I separate myself from Christ, the vine, and invest my energies in something else, I know what is going to happen. I will produce no fruit. This is my experience; it has already happened. Eventually I will wither and be thrown out like a dry branch. Lastly, these withered, old, dried-up branches will be gathered and thrown into a fire, and they will be burned. There is no way I can bear fruit if I am separated from the vine.

3. Abundant Fruit: I want to produce abundant fruit. I want to help bring about a change in this world. That is attractive to me. That means a lot to me. I have tried different ways, and I know that only united to the vine can I bear lasting fruits for Christ’s Kingdom. This is the way I will glorify the Father. In this meditation, I already sense the sap running back into my soul. My life will produce fruit for others. Lord, help me to cling to the vine. Help me to strengthen that bond of unity. Help my faith and love for you grow, for you are my all.

Conversation with Christ: Lord, it is easy to trust what I can see, feel and touch. It is wiser, infinitely wiser to trust you, even if you are hidden from me for now.

Resolution: At least three times today I will lift up my thoughts to offer one of my activities to God.

Homily of the Day

May 17, 2017

In the first reading we are told that “we must go through many trials to enter the kingdom of God.”

We all want to have a good life, a good career, a nice family with a suitable house. We are willing to work hard for these things. But how eager are we “to go through many trials to enter the kingdom of God”?

The disciples of Jesus worked hard to let others know about the kingdom of God. They strove, through their preaching and good works, to make the kingdom of God a reality, though a partial one, even here on earth. The followers of Jesus, those who love him, want goodness and kindness to reign in their families and communities. They appreciate the peace which Christ gives and work hard that this peace may reign on earth.

Who do we say Jesus is? He is the Son of God whose mission was to do the will of the Father. In fact, the essence of the kingdom of God is that people do God’s will so that God’s love and peace may reign. These are what we should value and strive to establish all our days.

One Bread, One Body

Language: English | Espa�ol

All Issues > Volume 33, Issue 3

<< Wednesday, May 17, 2017 >>

Acts 15:1-6
View Readings

Psalm 122:1-5

John 15:1-8
Similar Reflections

BEAR THE MOST ABUNDANT FRUIT

"He who lives in Me and I in him, will produce abundantly." �John 15:5

We must bear fruit:

the fruit of holiness and evangelization,
or be "like a withered, rejected branch, picked up to be thrown in the fire and burnt" (Jn 15:6; also 15:2),
and be trimmed to increase our yield (Jn 15:2),
by being attached to Jesus, the Vine (Jn 15:4-5),
abundantly (Jn 15:5),
and thereby glorify God the Father (Jn 15:8),
and become Jesus' disciples (Jn 15:8),
for Jesus chose us "to go forth and bear fruit" (Jn 15:16),
which endures (Jn 15:16).

Because of His perfect love for us, Jesus wants all to be saved (1 Tm 2:4). We must bear fruit abundantly, or for many people Jesus' death and Resurrection will be in vain. Because God is Love (1 Jn 4:16), He must insist that we bear fruit as abundantly as possible. If we live in Jesus and He in us, we will automatically bear fruit. We must bear fruit.

Prayer: Father, prune me as much as is necessary for me to bear as much fruit as possible.

Promise: "The church saw them off and they made their way through Phoenicia and Samaria, telling everyone about the conversion of the Gentiles as they went. Their story caused great joy." �Acts 15:3

Praise: John and Sarah, who grew up with a home-based Community, are starting their own.