Second Sunday of Easter

April is the month dedicated to the Holy Eucharist and the Holy Spirit

Divine Mercy Sunday

Readings for the Rule of Saint Benedict for the Week: Ch 55 The Clothing and Footwear of the Brothers - Ch 59 The Offering of Sons by Nobles or by the Poor

This is the day the Lord has made.

SACRED HOST, ADORED BY COUNTLESS ANGELS,

SPIRIT OF PEACE AND MEEKNESS,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

The victory that conquers the world is our faith.

(1 John 5:4)

Welcome to the Second Sunday of Easter on the Sunday of Divine Mercy in the month of April dedicated to the Holy Eucharist and the Holy Spirit. And if that is not enough, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord on Monday. To God our praise is due. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love is everlasting (Psalm 118). 

I thought during Lauds this morning that it is a good day and week to reflect on the mercy God has given me, through ups and downs, highs and lows, thick and thin. His mercy endures forever. At the same time, just how merciful am I to those closest to me? Hmmm. Are there times when I withhold mercy for one reason or another? How can this be considering the mercy that God never withholds from me? May I never lose hope in God's mercy (see Rule of Saint Benedict, 4:74) and may I extend the same mercy to those closest to me, no matter what. Love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for He Himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful (Luke 6:35-36).  

Our first shout out for the week is from beloved Saint Rafael Arnaiz Baron (1911-1938), who sets the stage for divine mercy and Our Lady. The following is taken from a letter Rafael wrote to his Uncle Leopoldo, October 11, 1937:

Surely we'd go mad if we truly loved Mary. By honoring the Virgin, we will love Jesus more. By placing ourselves under her mantle, we will understand divine mercy better. When we invoke Her name, it's as if everything becomes lighter. When we turn to Her as our intercessor, what will we not receive from Her Son, Jesus!

And now, we hear from a Cistercian father, Baldwin of Forde (1125-1190).

With a salutation

our salvation begins

and the commencement of our reconciliation

is consecrated

 by a proclamation of peace.

The herald of salvation and messenger of peace

was sent from God

and came to the Virgin.

And this lover of virginity greeted her

with a strange new greeting

which never

-from all eternity until that moment-

had been heard,

and so conferred upon her

at one and the same time

both the favor of a new greeting

and the acclaim of a new commendation.

For a woman to be greeted by an angel

is indeed new and rare!

Although Hagar and the wife of Manoah enjoyed

seeing an angel

and speaking with him,

the angel did not greet them. 

Yet now

a woman is greeted by an angel.

Now

the time draws near

when women may be greeted by the Lord himself,

and saying to them, 'All hail'.

The quality of mercy is not strain'd

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath; it is twice blest;

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes ...

(Portia in The Merchant of Venice, Act 4, scene 1)

All grace flows from mercy, and the last hour abounds with mercy for us. Let no one doubt concerning the goodness of God, even if a person's sins were as dark as night, God's mercy is stronger than our misery. One thing alone is necessary; that the sinner sets ajar the door of his heart, be it ever so little, so let in a ray of God's merciful grace, and then God will do the rest.

(Saint Faustine Kowalska, 1905-1938)

But you, beloved, build yourselves up in the most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in the love of God and wait for the mercy of Our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. On those who waver, have mercy.

(Jude, 20-22)

Mercy is heartfelt sympathy for another's distress, impelling us to succor him if we can.

(Saint Augustine, 354-430)

United in faith and prayer, we go forth and ask ...

Do I realize it? The protecting presence, the consoling grace of my Redeemer and God. He raises me up from the dust to feel that I am near Him.

(Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, 1774-1821)

SAINT FAUSTINA KOWALSKA,

POPE SAINT JOHN PAUL II, THE MERCY POPE,

BLESSED ANTHONY NEYROT,

SAINT STANISLAW, BISHOP, MARTYR,

SAINT ZENO OF VERONA,

SAINT TERESA OF THE ANDES,

POPE SAINT MARTIN I,

SAINT JOHN BAPTIST DE LA SALLE,

SAINT HENRY WALPOLE,

SAINT WALTRUDE,

SAINT ANTONINUS,

SAINT FULBERT,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Easter Sunday at the Ottos, Corvallis, Oregon. Let us be glad and rejoice in it.

© Gertrude Feick 2024