Regina Coeli

Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia. / For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.

Has risen, as he said, alleluia. / Pray for us to God, alleluia.

Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia. / For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.

Let us pray. O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Information: St. Mary Cleophas

Feast Day: April 9

Holy Spirit Interactive Kids: A Saint a Day

St. Waldetrudis

Feast Day: April 09
Born: (around) 615 :: Died: 686

Waldetrudis was born in Belgium. Her mother Bertille, her father and her sister Aldegondes are all saints. She grew up to be a beautiful girl and even when she was enjoying herself, she had a way of enriching the lives of people.

Several young men wanted to marry her. Since parents chose husbands for their daughters in those days, they chose Count Madelgar. They could not have picked a better man, because he became a saint too. He is St. Vincent Madelgar. Vincent and Waldetrudis had two sons and two daughters. Amazingly, they have all been declared saints.

St. Waldetrudis was happy that God had given her such a wonderful family. But jealous ladies spread terrible stories about her and she suffered much in her lifetime. The women were not pure and kind as she was and did not want people to think that she was better than they. But Waldetrudis did not protect herself from their lies. She thought of how Jesus had suffered on the cross and, like him, she forgave them.

When their children were grown, St. Vincent told his wife that he wanted very much to be a monk and hoped he could spend the rest of his life in the monastery. His wife understood and gave him her permission. Before going, St. Vincent made sure that his family was well taken care of.

The couple was going to miss each other very much. But Waldetrudis would not hold her husband back. She made the sacrifice for God. Two years later, Waldetrudis joined the convent and became a nun. She lived a very self-sacrificing life and was very generous with the poor.

People came to her for advice and for healing. St. Waldetrudis died in 688. After her death, many people who prayed at her tomb were miraculously healed.

Saturday

April 9, 2016

Fruit of the Spirit

There is an Asian belief that, “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind.” Understanding that every act of kindness grows the spirit and strengthens the soul, let us take moments throughout today to practice kindness and the other fruits of the Spirit. May God’s blessing be upon you.

Year of Mercy Calendar for Today: “Let someone merge in front of you on the road today.”

Thank you, Salvation!

John
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	John 6
16.	And when evening was come, his disciples went down to the sea.	Ut autem sero factum est, descenderunt discipuli ejus ad mare.	ως δε οψια εγενετο κατεβησαν οι μαθηται αυτου επι την θαλασσαν
17.	And when they had gone up into a ship, they went over the sea to Capharnaum; and it was now dark, and Jesus was not come unto them.	Et cum ascendissent navim, venerunt trans mare in Capharnaum : et tenebræ jam factæ erant et non venerat ad eos Jesus.	και εμβαντες εις το πλοιον ηρχοντο περαν της θαλασσης εις καπερναουμ και σκοτια ηδη εγεγονει και ουκ εληλυθει προς αυτους ο ιησους
18.	And the sea arose, by reason of a great wind that blew.	Mare autem, vento magno flante, exsurgebat.	η τε θαλασσα ανεμου μεγαλου πνεοντος διηγειρετο
19.	When they had rowed therefore about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking upon the sea, and drawing nigh to the ship, and they were afraid.	Cum remigassent ergo quasi stadia viginti quinque aut triginta, vident Jesum ambulantem supra mare, et proximum navi fieri, et timuerunt.	εληλακοτες ουν ως σταδιους εικοσι πεντε η τριακοντα θεωρουσιν τον ιησουν περιπατουντα επι της θαλασσης και εγγυς του πλοιου γινομενον και εφοβηθησαν
20.	But he saith to them: It is I; be not afraid.	Ille autem dicit eis : Ego sum, nolite timere.	ο δε λεγει αυτοις εγω ειμι μη φοβεισθε
21.	They were willing therefore to take him into the ship; and presently the ship was at the land to which they were going.	Voluerunt ergo accipere eum in navim et statim navis fuit ad terram, in quam ibant.	ηθελον ουν λαβειν αυτον εις το πλοιον και ευθεως το πλοιον εγενετο επι της γης εις ην υπηγον

16. And when even was now come, his disciples went down to the sea,
17. And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.
18. And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.
19. So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh to the ship: and they were afraid.
20. But he said to them, It is I; be not afraid.
21. Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.

AUG. The Evangelist now returns to explain why they went, and relate what happened to them while they were crossing the lake: And it was dark, he says, and Jesus was not come to them.

CHRYS. The mention of the time is not accidental, but meant to show the strength of their love. They did not make excuses, and say, It is evening now, and night is coming on, but in the warmth of their love went into the ship. And now many things alarm them: the time, And it was now dark; and the weather, as we read next, And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew; their distance from land, So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs.

BEDE. The way of speaking we use, when we are in doubt; about five and twenty, we say, or thirty.

CHRYS. And at last He appears quite unexpectedly: They see Jesus walking upon the sea, drawing nigh. He reappears after His retirement, teaching them what it is to be forsaken, and stirring them to greater love; His reappearance manifesting His power. They were disturbed, were afraid, it is said. Our Lord comforts them: But He said to them, It is I, be not afraid.

BEDE. He does not say, I am Jesus, but only I am. He trusts to their easily recognizing a c voice, which was so familiar to them, or, as is more probable, He shows that He was the same who said to Moses, I am that I am.

CHRYS. He appeared to them in this way, to show His power; for He immediately calmed the tempest: Then they wished to receive Him into tile ship; and immediately the ship was at the land, whither they went. So great was the calm, He did not even enter the ship, in order to work a greater miracle, and to show his Divinity more clearly.

THEOPHYL. Observe the three miracles here; the first, His walking on the sea; the second, His stilling the waves; the third, His putting them immediately on shore, which they were some distance off, when our Lord appeared.

CHRYS Jesus does not show Himself to the crowd walking on the sea, such a miracle being too much for them to hear. Nor even to the disciples did He show Himself long, but disappeared immediately.

AUG. Mark's account does not contradict this. He says indeed that our Lord told the disciples first to enter the ship, and go before Him over the sea, while He dismissed the crowds, and that when the crowd was dismissed, He went up alone into the mountain to pray: while John places His going up alone in the mountain first, and then says, And when even was now come, His disciples went down to the sea. But it is easy to see that John relates that as done afterwards by the disciples, which our Lord had ordered before His departure to the mountain.

CHRYS. Or take another explanation. This miracle seems to me to be a different one, from the one given in Matthew: for there they do not receive Him into the ship immediately, whereas here they do: and there the storm lasts for some time, whereas here as soon as He speaks, there is a calm. He often repeats the same miracle in order to impress it on men's minds.

AUG. There is a mystical meaning in our Lord's feeding the multitude, and ascending the mountain: for thus was it prophesied of Him, So shall the congregation of the people come about You: for their sake therefore lift up Yourself again: i.e. that the congregation of the people may come about You, lift up Yourself again. But why is it fled; for they could not have detained Him against His wild? This fleeing has a meaning; viz. that His flight is above our comprehension; just as, when you do not understand a thing, you see, It escapes me. He fled alone to the mountain, because He is ascended from above all heavens. But on His ascension aloft a storm came upon the disciples in the ship, i.e. the Church, and it became dark, the light, i.e. Jesus, having gone. As the end of the world draws nigh, error increases, iniquity abounds. Light again is love, according to John, He that hates his brother is in darkness. The waves and storms and winds then that agitate the ship, are the clamors of the evil speaking, and love waxing cold. Nevertheless the wind, and storm, and waves, and darkness were not able to stop, and sink the vessel; For be that endures to the end, the same shall be saved. As the number five has reference to the Law, the books of Moses being five, the number five and twenty, being made up of five pieces, has the same meaning. And this law was imperfect, before the Gospel came. Now the number of perfection is six, so therefore five is multiplied by six, which makes thirty: i.e. the law is fulfilled by the Gospel. To those then who fulfill the law Jesus comes treading on the waves, i.e. trampling under foot all the swellings of the world, all the loftiness of men: and yet such tribulations remain, that even they who believe on Jesus, fear lest they should be lost.

THEOPHYL. When either men or devils try to terrify us, let us hear Christ saying, It is I, be not afraid, i.e. I am ever near you, God unchangeable, immovable; let not any false fears destroy your faith in Me. Observe too our Lord did not come when the danger was beginning, but when it was ending. He suffers us to remain in the midst of dangers and tribulations, that we may be proved thereby, and flee for succor to Him Who is able to give us deliverance when we least expect it. When man's understanding can no longer help him, then the Divine deliverance comes. If we are willing also to receive Christ into the ship, i.e. to live in our hearts, we shall find ourselves immediately in the place, where we wish to be, i.e. heaven.

BEDE. This ship, however, does not carry an idle crew; they are all stout rowers; i.e. in the Church not the idle and effeminate, but the strenuous and persevering in good works, attain to the harbor of everlasting salvation.

Catena Aurea John 6

The walking on waters

Michail Vrubel

1856 – 1910

You’re welcome.

Catholic Culture

Easter: April 9th

Saturday of the Second Week of Easter

MASS READINGS

April 09, 2016 (Readings on USCCB website)

COLLECT PRAYER

Set aside, O Lord, the bond of sentence written for us by the law of sin, which in the Paschal Mystery you canceled through the Resurrection of Christ your Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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Recipes (2)

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Activities (2)

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Prayers (5)

Blessing of the Home with Easter Water
Easter Season II Table Blessing 1
April Devotion: The Blessed Sacrament
Easter Prayers
Novena to St. Bernadette
Old Calendar: St. Mary of Cleophas (Hist); St. Gaucherius (Hist)
Historically today is the feast of St. Mary of Clophas, Mother of St. James the Less and Joseph, wife of Cleophas (or Clopas or Alpheus). She was one of the "Three Marys" who served Jesus and was present at the Crucifixion , and accompanied Mary Magdalen to the tomb of Christ. Tradition reports that she went to Spain as a missionary. Mary reportedly died at Ciudad Rodrigo. Another tradition states that she went to France with St. Lazarus and his sisters.
Also St. Gaucherius' feast is historically celebrated today. He was also know as Walter, abbot-founder and friend of St. Stephen of Grandmont. He founded St. John's Monastery at Aureilfor and a convent for women.

St. Mary of Clophas
"And there were standing by the cross of Jesus His mother and His mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen." How should we understand "His mother's sister," literally, as in having the same parents, or in the same sense that Jesus's "brothers" are to be understood as close relatives?
The short answer is that Mary of Cleophas is probably the Blessed Virgin's sister-in-law. Mary of Cleophas may have had a previous husband named Alpheus, or this Alpheus may have been Cleophas. The Blessed Virgin Mary, of course, only had one husband (Joseph) and remained a virgin. The long answer may be found here.

St. Gaucherius
Born in Meulan-sur-Seine to the northwest of Paris, he received a classical education and became a priest. However he felt a deep longing for solitude and a life more radically centered on God. He thereupon devoted his life God as a hermit and began with his friend, Germond, to reside in the area of Limoges. Alone and forgotten by the world, Gaucherius and Germond grew in holiness. Their example attracted others who built hermitages near to theirs. Finally Gaucherius decided to build a monastery at Aureil and to establish two communities, one for men, the other for women, both under the rule of St. Augustine. The passage of an eremitical settlement into the canonical life was one of the principal ways through which the canons regular grew in the 11th and 12th Century. The community of Aureil is typical of these kinds of Ordo Novus canons regular. Thereafter he lived with his companions, being for all a model of sanctity. His companions and disciples include St. Lambert of Angouleme and St. Faucherus as well as the founder of Grandmont monastery, St. Stephen Muret. He died 80 years old in 1140 and was canonized in 1194.
Excerted from the Canons Regular of St. Augustine

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Acts 6:1-7

2nd Week of Easter

They presented these men to the Apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. (Acts 6:6)

If we were to read just this one verse, we might imagine that the apostles were praying over a group of extra-spiritual men as preparation for a heroic missionary journey. But these men were being commissioned just to take care of a neglected group within the Church. They weren’t “going out” into the world at all. So what do you suppose is going on here?

Just before Jesus ascended to heaven, he promised his disciples that they would “receive power” when the Holy Spirit came upon them (Acts 1:8). We might think this promise was meant only for the apostles, the twelve men Jesus had handpicked to lead the Church after he was gone. Evidently, that’s not the case. The gift of the Spirit is meant for everyone.

This may seem like an obvious statement, but there is a truth behind it that can stagger the imagination. Jesus promises the Holy Spirit to everyone who believes in him because he sees each and every person as precious. He looks upon every one of us as worthy of becoming a vessel of his grace. Age, gender, race, education, background—none of that matters to the Lord. No matter who we are, no matter what our role in this world is, the Holy Spirit can shine through us.

Before he ascended, Jesus also asked the disciples to “wait” for the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4). He had a plan, and the time had not yet come. These seven newly commissioned table waiters were part of Jesus’ plan as well. They stepped into their new role at a time when the apostles were struggling with the challenge of inclusiveness: would the “Hellenists” (believers who did not come from Jerusalem) be treated as equals to the “Hebrews” (those who came from the holy city)? Similarly, God has a plan for you—but the time may not be right. That doesn’t mean you should do nothing. Stay close to him. Keep doing all the good you know you should do. Over time, you’ll find yourself becoming a brighter and brighter vessel for the light of Christ.

“Thank you, Lord, for giving me the gift of your Spirit. Thank you too for your perfect plan and perfect timing in my life.”

Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19
John 6:16-21

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

Daily Marriage Tip for April 9, 2016:

Instead of pointing out faults you see in your spouse, offer ways for improvement. When your spouse does this, be open to his/her feedback.

Regnum Christi

Walking on rough Waters

U. S. A. | SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

April 9, 2016 - Saturday of the Second Week of Easter

Father Steven Reilly, LC

John 6:16-21

When it was evening, his disciples went down to the sea, embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum. It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they began to be afraid. But he said to them, "It is I. Do not be afraid." They wanted to take him into the boat, but the boat immediately arrived at the shore to which they were heading.

Introductory Prayer: I come before you, Lord, poor and unworthy. Yet you welcome me with such love. With my effort during this meditation I want to make a small return on your great kindness.

Petition: May I never give into my fears, knowing that you are always at my side.

Rough Times: Moments in our lives can be aptly symbolized by this reading: rough waters, darkness and little headway. At times the waters of our soul are stirred up by our unchecked emotions, our pride or vanity; we lose the sense of direction and seem to be rowing with futility. Could it be any other way if Christ is not in our boat? When we are struggling, we should take a look at our prayer life. Therein, perhaps, lies the answer to some of our difficulties.

I AM! Jesus’ response to the fear of his disciples is a majestic word indeed. Translated here as “It is I,” literally in Greek it is “I am,” the divine name used by God when speaking to Moses from the burning bush. It is a name that speaks of presence and power. God is not watching our travails ineffectually from afar. He comes to our aid, as he does to the disciples’ in this story.

The Safe Port: The immediate arrival of the boat to the shore described in this passage is something very hard to imagine. For the disciples, it must have been almost like waking up from a nightmare, going from the danger of the rough waters in the middle of the sea to finding themselves already with Christ at the shore. What might this be telling us? Perhaps that once we decide to take Christ in our boat, we have, in a sense, already reached our destination.

Conversation with Christ: Lord, help me to not to be swept away by the rough waters of my pride, vanity and sensuality. When I make no progress, whom do I have to blame except myself? Yet I trust in your mercy. Your divine presence reassures me. Lord, never leave my boat!

Resolution: I will make a visit to the Eucharist today to renew my complete trust in Christ.

One Bread, One Body

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<< Saturday, April 9, 2016 >>

Acts 6:1-7
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Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19

John 6:16-21
Similar Reflections

MORE FAST FOOD?

"The number of disciples grew." �Acts 6:1

In our American society, we want more, and we want it fast. We even super-size our fast food. The Lord also wants more, and He wants it fast. However, He wants not more material things or more pleasures. Rather, He wants more conversions. He wants us to be able to say: "The word of God continued to spread, while at the same time the number of the disciples in Jerusalem enormously increased. There were many priests among those who embraced the faith" (Acts 6:7). Moreover, the Lord wants this great harvest of evangelization as fast as possible. When the apostles wanted to take Jesus into their boat, "suddenly it came aground on the shore they had been approaching" (Jn 6:21). We can get somewhere fast with Jesus, if we're talking evangelization.

The more we want more materially and selfishly, the less we want more people to come to Christ, for "the flesh lusts against the spirit" (Gal 5:17). Also, the quicker our lifestyles, the less time we have for the Lord. Thus, in our desire for more of the "world," we get less of God's kingdom, and our need for speed slows down the progress of God's work in our lives.

In this Easter season, may we let the Holy Spirit use God's Word to prove us wrong (see Jn 16:8) about our lifestyle of wanting more things and living in the "fast lane." Then we can live lifestyles of evangelization as witnesses for the risen Christ.

Prayer: Father, remove from me the baggage which slows me down in evangelization.

Promise: Jesus "told them, 'It is I; do not be afraid.' " �Jn 6:20

Praise: Nick, a young adult, gives up a night each week so he can spend that time worshiping Jesus in Eucharistic adoration.

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