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