Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 06-06-19, OM, St. Norbert, Bishop

USCCB.org/RNAB ^ | 06-06-19 | Revised New American Bible

[Salvation]

To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.

-St. Thomas Aquinas

[Salvation]

The 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.

[Salvation]

Catholic Culture

Easter: June 6th

Optional Memorial of St. Norbert, bishop

MASS READINGS

June 06, 2019 (Readings on USCCB website)

COLLECT PRAYER

O God, who made the Bishop Saint Norbert a servant of your Church outstanding in his prayer and pastoral zeal, grant, we ask, that by the help of his intercession, the flock of the faithful may always find shepherds after your own heart and be fed in the pastures of salvation. 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.

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Recipes (1)

• Sour Beef

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Activities (2)

• Considerations for Parents of Small Families
• What Your Child Needs

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Prayers (3)

• The Golden Sequence
• Means of Spiritual Renewal in the Family
• Novena to the Sacred Heart

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Library (1)

• Canons Regular Of Premontre (Norbertines: Premonstratensians: O. Praem.) | Helen Walker Homan

» Enjoy our Liturgical Seasons series of e-books!

Old Calendar: St. Norbert

St. Norbert was born at Xanten near Cologne about the year 1080. As a young cleric he resided at the court of the Archbishop of Cologne and then at that of the emperor where he allowed himself to be influenced by the spirit of the world. But he was won back by grace; caught by a storm during a journey on horseback he made up his mind to take his clerical obligations seriously. After ordination to the priesthood he devoted himself to itinerant preaching.

In 1120, on the advice of the bishop of Laon, he settled in the forest of Voix, not far from Soissons at a place called Premontre, in order to found a community of regular Canons. In 1126 he was sent to what was then one of the outposts of Christendom for he was appointed archbishop of Magdeburg. He died in 1134.

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St. Norbert
Although a cleric, Norbert led a very worldly life for a number of years. The decisive change took place suddenly in 1115. While riding one day, he was overtaken by a thunderstorm. A flash of lightning struck the ground before him, the horse threw him, and he seemed to hear a voice upbraiding him for his conduct.

As in the case of St. Paul, the experience wrought a complete transformation. Norbert decided to give away his property and income rights, and to lead a life of abnegation, devoting himself particularly to preaching. In 1120 he founded the Order of Premonstratensians (the first monastery was at Premontre) according to the rule of St. Augustine; approval came from Pope Honorius II in 1126.

In 1125, he was named archbishop of Magdeburg. On July 13, 1126, Norbert entered the city and came barefoot to the cathedral. About to enter the archepiscopal palace, he was refused admission by the porter, who failed to recognize a bishop so poorly dressed. "You know me better and see me with clearer eyes than those who are forcing me to this palace. Poor and wretched man that I am, I should never have been assigned to this place," Norbert answered when the porter later sought his pardon.

Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

Patron: Bohemia, peace.

Things to Do:

• Read the life of St. Norbert written by his first disciple, Hugh, who succeded him in the government of his order.

• St. Norbert was called the “Apostle of the Blessed Sacrament”. Try making a holy hour today and pray to St. Norbert to help us to have a great love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, too.

• For those interested in liturgical music you can read about Norbertine Gregorian Chant. The order has its "own" chant.

• Read this brief history and overview of the Norbertine Order.

• Here is an excellent link to even more information about St. Norbert.

• The Norbertine order has been around for 900 years. The Canons Regular of Prémontré, otherwise known as the Premonstratensians or the Norbertines, run the parish of Our Lady of England, Storrington. Learn more about their charism here.

[Salvation]

The Word Among Us

Meditation

Saint Norbert, Bishop (Optional Memorial)

. . . that they may all be one. (John 17:21)

Have you ever participated in an event with people from all walks of life? Maybe it was something united around a common cause, like the March for Life, or a food drive, or a race to raise money for cancer research. While you were there, chances are no one asked you about your age, where you lived, your occupation, or even your religious affiliation. What brought you together was the cause.

This kind of unity of purpose can help us understand one facet of the unity that Jesus prayed for in today’s Gospel, but he wants us to know much more than unity of purpose. He wants us to know unity of love and unity of vision as well.

It’s no secret that the Church is fractured and that Jesus’ prayer remains unfulfilled. We know that Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox are separated. There are countless different denominations, and the Catholic Church continues to suffer from internal divisions. Even on a smaller level, every parish seems to have its own difficulties.

And so Jesus continues to pray that his followers become one as they share in his Father’s perfect, selfless love. He wants more than cooperation and tolerance. He wants reconciliation and love. When our divisions no longer define our relationships, we’ll begin to see each other as brothers and sisters. We may not believe everything in exactly the same way, but we can rejoice that there is far more that unites us than divides us.

How can we promote Christian unity? By praying. We can bless our brothers and sisters from other traditions. We can ask the Holy Spirit to soften our hearts toward each other. We can echo Jesus’ prayer that all barriers of hostility would be broken down and that God’s children would be one.

Just think of what your prayer for unity can accomplish. Close your eyes and imagine the heavenly throne room. Picture the angels and saints there worshipping Jesus. Now picture everyone from all the churches in your neighborhood joining them. See them all gathered together singing hymns of glory to the Lord. Imagine the smiles on their faces as they greet each other—and as they greet you. Isn’t this a unity worth praying for?

“Come, Lord, and make us one!”

Acts 22:30; 23:6-11
Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11

[Salvation]

Daily Gospel Commentary

Saint John Cassian (around 360-435)
founder of monasteries
Conferences, no. 10,7 ; PL 49, 827 (©Ancient Christian writers, no.57)

"That the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them"

Our Savior prayed to his Father on his disciples' behalf : "That the love with which you have loved me may be them, and they in us." And again: "That all may be one, as you Father in me and I in you, that they also may be one in us." Then that perfect love of God, by which "he loved us first," (1Jn 4:10) will have passed into our heart's disposition upon the fulfillment of this prayer of the Lord...

This will be the case when every love, every desire, effort, every undertaking, every thought of ours, everything that we live, that we speak, that we breathe, will be God, and when that unity which the Father now has with the Son and which the Son has with the Father will be carried over into our understanding and our mind, so that, just as he loves us with a sincere and pure and indissoluble love, we too may be joined to him with a perpetual and inseparable love and so united with him that whatever we breathe, whatever we understand, whatever we speak, may be God. In him we shall attain, I say, to that end... which the Lord longed to be fulfilled in us when he prayed: "That all may be one as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they themselves may also be made perfect in unity." And again: "Father, I wish that those whom you have given me may also be with me where I am."

"This, then, is the goal of the solitary, and this must be his whole intention: to deserve to possess the image of future blessedness in this body and as it were to begin to taste the pledge of that heavenly way of life and glory...

[Salvation]

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

Daily Marriage Tip for June 6, 2019:

Every evening, talk about three favorite memories from your marriage. Consider making a scrapbook of these memories for your anniversary this year.

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Regnum Christi

June 6, 2019 – God’s Eternal Love
Daily Meditation

 

Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Father Paul Campbell, LC

John 17:20-26

 

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am, they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.”

 

Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe in you and all that you have revealed for our salvation. I hope in you because of your overflowing mercy. Every single act of yours on this earth demonstrated your love for us. Your ascent into heaven before the eyes of the Apostles inspires my hope of one day joining you there. I love you and wish you to be the center of my life.

Petition: Lord, increase my faith in your love.

1. Who is God? In his first epistle, John tells us that God is love. Before the foundation of the world, the Father loved the Son. Within the Trinity there is a perfect sharing of life and love. Even after the Incarnation, Jesus remained in his Father’s love. At Christ’s baptism, the Father spoke of his love for his Son. “This is my beloved son” (Matthew 3:17). At the Transfiguration he repeated this sign of love: “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased; listen to him” (Matthew 17:5). These moments manifest God’s inner life.

2. A Share in His Life: God created us to share in the loving relationship of the Trinity. The Father’s plan is to love us, to bring us into Trinitarian love. He wants to love us in his Son with a Father’s eternal love. If we could catch a mere glimpse of the reality of this love, it would transform our lives. God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son into the world (see John 3:16). Love is at the heart of the universe.

3. Sharing in God’s Love: God is love, and if he is in us, it is as love. God pours his love, himself, into our hearts. As he shares his life, he shares his love. This is the love that he wants us to give to others. Jesus gave his disciples the love he had received from his Father and sent them forth to continue his work of sharing that love with all of humanity. Think of the people today who are lonely and lost, starving for love and attention. They have no clue that God loves them with an eternal love or that he has loved them intimately, deeply and perfectly from all eternity. They do not know that this love has given them life and maintains them in existence. People need to hear the good news of God’s love. This is our mission.

Conversation with Christ: Jesus, help me to share your love with those around me. Don’t allow me to remain focused just on myself and the circumstances in my life. I need you. I need your love, as do so many others. I need to love in order to give myself to your work, but I also need your constant help and support.

Resolution: I will let someone know that God loves them.

[Salvation]

June 6, 2019

Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Catholic Exchange

Paul as a missionary appears before the Sanhedrin to answer their accusation. The Pharisees believe in the resurrection, while the Sadducees don’t. Since the Sanhedrin is composed of Pharisees and Sadducees, Paul states that he was brought before them because of his belief in the resurrection of the dead. A verbal uproar becomes violent between the nonbelievers. The commander has to rescue Paul from the crowd, otherwise they might finish him. Let’s imagine ourselves as members of the Sanhedrin. How would we have reacted with the statement of Paul regarding the resurrection of the dead?

In today’s Gospel Jesus prays: “I pray not only for these but for those who through their word will believe in me. May they also be one as you Father are in me and I am in you. May they be one in us so the world may believe that you have sent me.”

Among the four evangelists, only St. John presents the sacerdotal prayer of Jesus. Can we feel the closeness of Jesus to us as we read and discern these Scripture passages? Can we then pray the prayer of Jesus? As missionaries of Jesus, can we be sent by the Father and experience the same unity with God?

[Salvation]

One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

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<< Thursday, June 6, 2019 >>

St. Norbert Pentecost Novena - Day 7

Acts 22:30; 23:6-11
View Readings

Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11

John 17:20-26
Similar Reflections

THE PROBLEM OF TRUTH AND LOVE

"A dispute arose between Pharisees and Sadducees which divided the whole assembly." �Acts 23:7

We must be men and women of the truth, for God is the Truth (Jn 14:6) and the Holy Spirit guides us to all truth (Jn 16:13). The Church is "the pillar and bulwark of truth" (1 Tm 3:15), and God's "word is truth" (Jn 17:17). Thus, Jesus' disciples are "consecrated in truth" (Jn 17:19).

Men and women of truth must stand up for the truth and "even to the death fight for truth" (Sir 4:28). However, we must do this in love (see Eph 4:15), for without love, we gain nothing even in living and dying for the truth (see 1 Cor 13:3). Those who fight for the truth without having love are zealots. Those who think they are loving without being men and women of the truth are self-deceived and destructive to themselves and others.

Only the Holy "Spirit of truth" (Jn 16:13), Who is also the Spirit of love (see Gal 5:22), can give us the wisdom to insist on the truth in a loving way and to insist on love being based on truth. How can we maintain the common good and protect innocent people from being victimized? How can we stop Planned Parenthood and so many other pro-death organizations from killing many more millions of babies? How can we do this in love and without violence, even psychological violence? We need the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit of truth and love. Come, Holy Spirit!

Prayer: Father, on this seventh day of the Pentecost novena, give me the love to die not only for the truth but also for those who oppose the truth.

Promise: "That night the Lord appeared at Paul's side and said: 'Keep up your courage!' " —Acts 23:11

Praise: St. Norbert led an undisciplined life until he had a dramatic conversion to Christ in 1115 A.D. Once ordained, he began preaching to the priests of his day.

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