Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 04-28-04, Optional, St. Peter Chanel, St. Louis M. deMontfort

USCCB.org/New American Bible ^ | 04-28-04 | New American Bible

[Salvation]

April 28, 2004
Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter

Psalm: Wednesday 20 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel

Reading I
Acts 8:1b-8

There broke out a severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem,
and all were scattered
throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria,
except the Apostles.
Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him.
Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church;
entering house after house and dragging out men and women,
he handed them over for imprisonment.

Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.
Thus Philip went down to the city of Samaria
and proclaimed the Christ to them.
With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip
when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing.
For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice,
came out of many possessed people,
and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured.
There was great joy in that city.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 66:1-3a, 4-5, 6-7a

R (1) Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R Alleluia.
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,
sing praise to the glory of his name;
proclaim his glorious praise.
Say to God, "How tremendous are your deeds!"
R Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R Alleluia.
"Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you,
sing praise to your name!"
Come and see the works of God,
his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam.
R Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R Alleluia.
He has changed the sea into dry land;
through the river they passed on foot;
therefore let us rejoice in him.
He rules by his might forever.
R Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R Alleluia.

Gospel
Jn 6:35-40

Jesus said to the crowds,
"I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.
But I told you that although you have seen me,
you do not believe.
Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,
and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
because I came down from heaven not to do my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.
And this is the will of the one who sent me,
that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,
but that I should raise it on the last day.
For this is the will of my Father,
that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him
may have eternal life,
and I shall raise him on the last day."

[Salvation]

For your reading, reflection, faith sharing, comments, questions, discussion.

[Salvation]

Alleluia Ping!

Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Alleluia Ping List.

PS. I am rebuilding my ping list after a computer crash, so if you did not get a ping and you previously had contacted me, please send me another FReepmail.

Thanks in advance for your understanding.

Salvation

[Salvation]

St. Peter Chanel

[Salvation]

Letter to the Friends of the Cross (St. Louis de Montfort)

[Salvation]

FEAST OF THE DAY

St. Peter Chanel was born into a poor family, living in the French
diocese of Belley, in the year 1803. As a youth he was needed by
the family to help make ends meet and took care of the family's
sheep. One day while Peter was tending the family flocks, the parish
priest met him and was impressed by his intelligence and deepness
of faith. The priest asked Peter's parents if he could be allowed to
educate the boy. Peter excelled in his studies and decided to
continue his education in the seminary.

St. Peter received his ordination to the priesthood and was sent to a
parish where many of the parishioners had fallen away from the faith.
Peter devoted his days to prayer, patience and providing a good
example in holiness for the people. Within three years Peter began
to reap the fruits of his labor and more people became on fire with
their faith. Peter saw his success at reconverting people to the faith
and became filled with zeal for the missionary life to convert new
souls to the Faith.

In 1831, St. Peter Chanel joined the newly founded Society of Mary
but was asked to teach in the seminary rather than work in the
mission fields. In the year 1836, the Marists were given leave to work
in the New Hebrides islands in the Pacific and St. Peter was
appointed superior of the first group sent to the area. St. Peter and
his group were well received at first but once they began to learn the
native language and gain support from the people the king began to
fear them. The king realized that acceptance of the Christian Faith
was a threat to his power and began to persecute the missionaries.
After the king's own son expressed a desire to be baptized the king
fell into a rage and sent a group of warriors to kill the missionaries.
On April 28, 1841 St. Peter was clubbed to death. Through his
excellent example and later missionaries, the island became
converted to the Faith a short time after Peter's death. St. Peter was
canonized in 1954 by Pope Pius XII. St. Peter Chanel is the
protomartyr and patron of Oceania.


St. Louis Mary Grignion was born to a poor family of Montfort,
France in the year 1673. Louis was blessed with the opportunity to
receive a Jesuit education and took this chance. In the year 1700 he
was ordained to the priesthood and assigned as chaplain to a
hospital in Poiters. This position did not last long because after trying
to reorganize the hospital staff Louis became the target of great
resentment.

After resigning from his position at the hospital, Louis was appointed
by Pope Clement XI as missionary apostolic and sent him to preach
in Brittany. Louis was greatly effective as a speaker and won many
souls with his emotional and heart filled preaching style. St. Louis
greatly emphasized devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the
Rosary. Although Louis accomplished great good through his
preaching, he received much opposition. During his lifetime he used
both spoken and written word to convey his message. His book True
Devotion to the Blessed Virgin is still in print and is a popular book
for spiritual reading. St. Louis died in 1716 and was canonized in 1947.


QUOTE OF THE DAY

Pray with great confidence, with confidence based upon the
promises of Jesus Christ. God is a spring of living water which flows
unceasingly into the hearts of those who pray. -St. Louis de Montfort


TODAY IN HISTORY

1788 Maryland becomes the 7th state to ratify the constitution
1841 Death of St. Peter Chanel


TODAY'S TIDBIT

St. Louis de Montfort, in addition to his preaching and teaching, is
known for founding several religious orders. While he was working
as a hospital chaplain, he founded the Congregation of the
Daughters of Divine Wisdom, and in the year 1715 he founded a
group of priests into the Missionaries of the Company of Mary.


INTENTION FOR THE DAY

Please pray for the safety of all travelers.

[annalex]

Jn 6:35-40
#	Douay-Rheims	Vulgate
35	And Jesus said to them: I am the bread of life. He that cometh to me shall not hunger: and he that believeth in me shall never thirst.	dixit autem eis Iesus ego sum panis vitae qui veniet ad me non esuriet et qui credit in me non sitiet umquam
36	But I said unto you that you also have seen me, and you believe not.	sed dixi vobis quia et vidistis me et non creditis
37	All that the Father giveth to me shall come to me: and him that cometh to me, I will not cast out.	omne quod dat mihi Pater ad me veniet et eum qui venit ad me non eiciam foras
38	Because I came down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him that sent me.	quia descendi de caelo non ut faciam voluntatem meam sed voluntatem eius qui misit me
39	Now this is the will of the Father who sent me: that of all that he hath given me, I should lose nothing; but should raise it up again in the last day.	haec est autem voluntas eius qui misit me Patris ut omne quod dedit mihi non perdam ex eo sed resuscitem illum novissimo die
40	And this is the will of my Father that sent me: that every one who seeth the Son and believeth in him may have life everlasting. And I will raise him up in the last day.	haec est enim voluntas Patris mei qui misit me ut omnis qui videt Filium et credit in eum habeat vitam aeternam et resuscitabo ego eum in novissimo die

[Salvation]

This is wonderful! Could you do it daily?

[Salvation]

From: Acts 8:1b-8

Persecution of the Church (Continuation)

---

[1b] And on that day a great persecution arose against the Church in
Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the region of Judea and
Samaria, except the Apostles. [2] Devout men buried Stephen and made great
lamentation over him. [3] But Saul laid waste the Church, and entering
house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Philip's Preaching in Samaria

---

[4] Now those who were scattered went about preaching the Word. [5]
Philip went down to a city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the
Christ. [6] And the multitudes with one accord gave heed to what was
said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs which he did.
[7] For unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, crying
with a loud voice; and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.
[8] So there was much joy in that city.

---

Commentary:

1. Stephen's death signals the start of a violent persecution of the
Christian community and Hellenist members in particular.

A new situation has been created. "Far from diminishing the boldness
of the disciples, Stephen's death increased it. Christians were
scattered precisely in order to spread the Word further afield"
(Chrysostom, "Hom. on Acts", 18). This scattering of the disciples is
not simply flight from danger. It originates in danger, but they avail
of it to serve God and the Gospel. "Flight, so far from implying
cowardice, requires often greater courage than not to flee. It is a
great trial of heart. Death is an end of all trouble; he who flees is
ever expecting death, and dies daily. [...] Exile is full of
miseries. The after-conduct of the saints showed they had not fled for
fear. [...] How would the Gospel ever have been preached throughout
the world, if the Apostles had not fled? And, since their time, those,
too, who have become martyrs, at first fled; or, if they advanced to
meet their persecutors, it was by some secret suggestion of the Divine
Spirit. But, above all, while these instances abundantly illustrate
the rule of duty in persecution, and the temper of mind necessary in
those who observe it, we have that duty itself declared in a plain
precept by no other than our Lord: 'When they shall persecute you in
this city,' He says, 'flee into another'" (John Henry Newman,
"Historical Sketches", II, 7).

4. "Observe how, in the middle of misfortune, the Christians keep up
their preaching instead of neglecting it" (Chrysostom, "Hom. on Acts",
18). Misfortune plays its part in the spread of the Gospel. God's
plan always exceeds man's calculations and expectations. An apparently
mortal blow for the Gospel in fact plays a decisive role in its
spread. What comes from God cannot be destroyed; its adversaries in
fact contribute to its consolidation and progress. "The religion
founded by the mystery of the Cross of Christ cannot be destroyed by
any form of cruelty. The Church is not diminished by persecutions; on
the contrary, they make for its increase. The field of the Lord is
clothed in a richer harvest. When the grain which falls dies, it is
reborn and multiplied" (St. Leo the Great, "Hom. on the Feast of St.
Peter and St. Paul").

The disciples are disconcerted to begin with, but then they begin to
have a better understanding of God's providence. They may well have
been reminded of Isaiah's words: "My thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways My ways" (55:8), and of the promises of a
Heavenly Father, who arranges all events to the benefit of His elect.

The different periods of Church history show certain similarities, and
difficulties caused by hidden or overt enemies never create totally new
situations. Christians always have good reason to be optimistic--with
an optimism based on faith, self-sacrifice and prayer. "Christianity
has been too often in what seemed deadly peril that we should fear for
it any new trial now. So far is certain; on the other hand, what is
uncertain [...] is the particular mode by which, in the event,
Providence rescues and saves His elect inheritance. Sometimes our
enemy is turned into a friend; sometimes he is despoiled of that
special virulence of evil which was so threatening; sometimes he falls
to pieces himself; sometimes he does just so much as is beneficial, and
then is removed. Commonly the Church has nothing more to do than to go
on in her own proper duties, in confidence and peace; to stand still
and to see the salvation of God" (J. H. Newman, "Biglieto Speech",
1879).

Those who do not know Christ may resist the Gospel, but that resistance
makes good Christians spiritually stronger and helps to purify the
Church. "The storm of persecution is good. What is the loss? What is
already lost cannot be lost. When the tree is not torn up by the
roots--and there is no wind or hurricane that can uproot the tree of
the Church--only the dry branches fall. And they...are well fallen"
([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 685).

5. This is not Philip the Apostle (1:13) but one of the seven deacons
appointed to look after Christians in need (6:5). The Gospel is
proclaimed to the Samaritans--who also were awaiting the Messiah. This
means that it now spreads beyond the borders of Judea once and for all,
and our Lord's promise (Acts 1:8) is fulfilled: "You shall by My
witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria."

The despised Samaritans became the first to benefit from the Gospel's
determination to spread all over the world. We can sense St. Luke's
pleasure in reporting its proclamation to the Samaritans; earlier he
had already showed them in a favorable light: he is the only Evangelist
to recount the parable of the Good Samaritan (cf. Luke 10:3-037) and to
mention that the leper who came back to thank Jesus after being cured
was a Samaritan (cf. Luke 17:16). On the Samaritans in general, see
the note on John 4:20.

---

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

[Salvation]

From: John 6:35-40

The Discourse on the Bread of Life (Continuation)

---

[35] Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me
shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
[36] But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.
[37] All that the Father gives Me will come to Me; and him who comes to
Me I will not cast out. [38] For I have come down from Heaven, not to
do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me; [39] and this is the
will of Him who sent Me, that I should lose nothing of all that He has
given Me, but raise it up on the last day. [40] For this is the will of
My Father, that every one who sees the Son and believes in Him should
have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."

---

Commentary:

35. Going to Jesus means believing in Him, for it is through faith that
we approach our Lord. Jesus uses the metaphor of food and drink to
show that He is the one who really meets all man's noblest aspirations:
"How beautiful is our Catholic faith! It provides a solution for all
our anxieties, calms our minds and fills our hearts with hope"
([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 582).

37-40. Jesus clearly reveals that He is the one sent by the Father.
This is something St. John the Baptist proclaimed earlier on (Jn
3:33-36), and Jesus Himself stated it in His dialogue with Nicodemus
(Jn 3:17-21) and announced publicly to the Jews in Jerusalem (Jn
5:20-30). Since Jesus is the one sent by the Father, the bread of life
come down from Heaven to give life to the world, everyone who believes
in Him has eternal life, for it is God's will that everyone should be
saved through Jesus Christ. These words of Jesus contain three
mysteries: 1) that of faith in Jesus Christ, which means "going to
Jesus", accepting His miracles (signs) and His words; 2) the mystery of
the resurrection of believers, something which begins in this life
through faith and becomes fully true in Heaven; 3) the mystery of
predestination, the will of our Father in Heaven that all men be
saved. These solemn words of our Lord fill the believer with hope.

St. Augustine, commenting on vv. 37 and 38, praises the humility of
Jesus, the perfect model for the humility of the Christian: Jesus chose
not to do His own will but that of the Father who sent Him: "Humbly am
I come, to teach humility am I come, as the master of humility am I
come; he who comes to Me is incorporated in Me; he who comes to Me,
becomes humble; he who cleaves to Me will be humble, for he does not
his will but God's" ("In Ioann. Evang.", 25, 15 and 16).

---

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

[Salvation]

**"Humbly am
I come, to teach humility am I come, as the master of humility am I
come; he who comes to Me is incorporated in Me; he who comes to Me,
becomes humble; he who cleaves to Me will be humble, for he does not
his will but God's" ("In Ioann. Evang.", 25, 15 and 16).**

What does my own humility look like, feel like? Could I ask Jesus for help in becoming more humble?

[annalex]

"Novissimus" is newest or most recent.

"The last day" indicates the last day of this world. "Novissimo die" literally refers to the first day of the new life. The Greek (Stephanus) is "te eschate emera", the utmost or extreme day.

So the familiar English translation is closer to the original than to Jerome.

But Jerome's seems more precise, since resurrection is the first day of the new life rather than the last day of the old.

Do you know if the same semantics existed at the time?

[annalex]

It was a project of mine at LibertyForum, as I was trying to learn Latin by osmosis. For a while we had a mirror operation going there.

Ping me and I will be happy to post those, both here and at LF. On occasion, the text comparison reveals things we tend to overlook.

Glad your computer is back on track.

[spectre]

Thank you for all you do, Salvation.

Bump :~)

sw

[Romulus]

II. Transf., in the sup.: novissimus , a, um, the latest, last, hindermost, extreme (syn.: extremus, proximus, recentissimus): a quo (sc. novo) etiam extremum novissimum quoque dici coeptum vulgo, quod meā memoriā ut Aelius sic senes aliquot, nimium novum verbum quod esset, vitabant, Varr. L. L. 6, § 59 Müll.: histriones, Cic. Rosc. Com. 11, 30 ; Brut. ap. Cic. Fam. 11, 1, 3; Cass. ib. 12, 13, 1: qui ex iis novissimus venit, necatur, Caes. B. G. 5, 56 : novissimum agmen,the rear, id. ib. 1, 15 ; 7, 68. --So as subst.: nŏvissĭmi , ōrum, the rear of an army, the soldiers in the last line: novissimis praesidio esse, Caes. B. G. 1, 20 : novissimos adorti magnam multitudinem conciderunt, id. ib. 2, 11 : dixitque novissima verba, Verg. A. 4, 650 : novissima cauda,i. e. the end of, Ov. M. 3, 681 ; 13, 963: luna, Plin. 2, 13, 10, § 56 .--

2. Like Engl. last, extreme, highest: exempla,the extreme penalty, the penalty of death, Tac. A. 12, 20 ; 15, 44; and absol.: a summā spe, novissima exspectabat, id. ib. 6, 50 : novissimum casum experitur, id. ib. 12, 33 .--

B. Esp. in eccl. Lat.

1. Youngest: liberorum, Vulg. Jos. 6, 26 .--

2. Lowest in rank or fortune: de novissimis populi, Vulg. 3 Reg. 13, 33 .--

3. As subst.

a. Sing.: nŏvissĭmum , i, n., the end.

(a). Of place: terrae, Vulg. 1 Macc. 3, 9 : a summo ad novissimum,the bottom, id. Isa. 56, 11 .--

(b). Of time: habent spem in novissimo, Vulg. Prov. 23, 18 .--

b. Plur.: nŏvissĭma , ōrum, n.

(a). Of place, the bottom, depths: abyssi, Vulg. Job. 38, 16 .--

(b). Of time: habebis in novissimis spem, Vulg. Prov. 24, 14 ; cf.: novissima hominis illius,the end, id. Luc. 11, 26 .--Hence, adv. (not in Cic.) in two forms.

(a). Form nŏvÄ" , newly, in a new or unusual manner: ornata ut lepide! ut concinne! ut nove! Plaut. Ep. 2, 2, 38 : ne quid ambigue, ne quid nove dicamus, _ast; Auct. Her. 1, 9, 15: verba nove aut insigniter dicta, Gell. 19, 7, 2 ; cf. id. 17, 2, 13; Sen. Contr. 1, 4 fin.--

(b). Form nŏvÄ­ter , newly: BASILICA IVLIA A SE NOVITER REPARATA, Inscr. Orell. 24 (A. D. 377): amor noviter venit, Fulg. Myth. 3, 1 med. --Sup.: nŏvissÄ­mÄ" .

a. Of time, recently, lately, a short time ago: mater cum novissime aegrotāsset, Val. Antias. ap. Charis. p. 186 P.: quod novissime nobiscum foedus fecissent, id. ib. : novissime, memoriā nostrā, argentum aere solutum est, Sall. C. 33, 2 : liber quem novissime tibi misi, Plin. Ep. 8, 3, 1 : eloquendi rationem novissime repertam, Quint. 12 praef. § 3.--

b. Of succession, lastly, last of all, finally: dicam primum ... deinde ... novissime, Sen. Ira, 3, 5, 2 : primum ... post haec ... novissime, Quint. 3, 6, 24 ; cf.: primum ... post <a href="http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/morphind

[Salvation]

**On occasion, the text comparison reveals things we tend to overlook.**

So true, pointing out these differences is good, but arguing about them won't help us during out day. I will add you to the ping list.

Thanks.

[annalex]

Thank you. I overlooked the second usage, somehow, although I was looking in the same place. You can lead a horse to water...

This is a good illustration how semantics shape our thinking. We wouldn't say "I bought myself last shoes", or "the new ferry from the island leaves at 6", but Latin, apparently, can conflate both meanings in one word.

[annalex]

I don't think we ever argued. How does one argue with the text?

[Romulus]

We wouldn't say "I bought myself last shoes",

No, but we do say "stay tuned for the latest news."