Seventh Sunday of Easter/The Ascension of the Lord

May is the month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary

Mother's Day

Readings for the Rule of Saint Benedict for the Week: Ch 2:16 Qualities of the Abbot - Ch 3 Summoning the Brothers for Counsel

For the Lord, the Most High, the awesome.

MARY, GATE OF HEAVEN,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, 

give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of Him.

(Ephesians 1:17)

Welcome to the Ascension of the Lord, in the month of May dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Mother's Day too. May our souls magnify the Lord and our spirits rejoice in God our Savior, then, for as Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote:

May is Mary's month, and I

Muse at that and wonder why: 

Her feasts follow reason,

Dated due to season ...

All things rising, all things sizing

Mary sees, sympathizing

With that world of good,

Nature's motherhood.

Their magnifying of each its kind

With delight calls to mind

How she did in her stored

Magnify the Lord.

Well but there was more than this

Spring's universal bliss

Much, had much to say

To offering Mary May ...

This ecstasy all through mothering earth

Tells Mary her mirth till Christ's birth

To remember and exultation

In God who was her salvation.

For all mothers, then, we pray with heartfelt gratitude, respect, and deep admiration. Mary, Mother of God, please cover all mothers in your protective veil.

I am still with yesterday's (May 11, 2023) first reading at Mass taken from the Acts of the Apostles 18:23-28, which just happens to be related to today's second reading for Mass, one verse quoted above, from Saint Paul's Letter to the Ephesians. In the account from the Acts of Apostles, we heard about a Jew called Apollos who was an eloquent speaker. He was an authority on Scriptures, had been instructed in the Way of the Lord and, with ardent spirit, spoke and taught accurately about Jesus. However, Apollos knew only the baptism of John. When Priscilla and Aquila heard Apollos speak boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. There are many things to learn from this story. I focus though on the importance of helping one another grow in understanding of the faith. It is one of the spiritual works of mercy, that is, instructing the ignorant. Apollos certainly wasn't ignorant. Still, he needed to go further and learn more. We are all called to grow in our understanding of the faith. So, we spend time in prayer, listening and asking God to help us understand, we open the Bible and spend time with a verse, phrase, or word, and reflect on how God is speaking to us. We look for books, like the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Cardinal Ratzinger's classic, Introduction to Christianity, or Romano Guardini's classic, The Lord, for example, and courses and people to help us. We are united as theologians on our knees, and theologians at the desk. After all, it was Saint John Henry Newman who said that we need an educated laity. We need an educated Church, no matter our state in life. So, in our desire to grow in wisdom and knowledge, we ask the God of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory to give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of Him. As we have the humility and courage to grow in our own understanding of the faith, and then instruct others, the Lord is with us. At the same time, we might remember something Saint John Damascene said of Mary: Mary "has captivated my spirit ... day and night I see her in my imagination. It is she, the Mother of Virtue, who gives me eloquence."

Our voices this week all speak of women in general, and mothers and Mary, Mother of God, more specifically.  We begin with something we heard from Alice von Hildebrand some time ago. Her voice echoes.

A woman by her very nature is maternal - for every woman, either married or unmarried, is called upon to be a biological, psychological, or spiritual mother - she knows intuitively that to give, to nurture, to care for others, to suffer with and for them - for maternity implies suffering - is infinitely more powerful in God's sight than to conquer nations and fly to the moon.

(Alice von Hildebrand, 1923-2022)

Thank you, every woman, for the simple fact of being a woman! Through the insight that is so much of your womanhood, you enrich the world's understanding and help to make human relations more honest and authentic.

(Pope Saint John Paul II, "Letter to Women," 2, June 29, 1995)

I am at peace in the midst of fifty children. I am as a Mother encompassed by many children of different dispositions ... bound to love, instruct, and provide for the happiness of all, to give the example of cheerfulness.

(Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, 1774-1821)

Good Mistress, graciously look down on us; direct and guide our destinies wheresoever you will. Pacify the storm of our wicked passions, guide us into the quiet port of the divine will, and grant us the blessedness to come.

(Saint John Damascene, 675/6-749, Priest, Doctor of the Church)

Our Lady of Faith, Mother of all the lonely and the frightened of all the ages, help us to keep faith through the long days and the longer nights: faith in God who does not desert us, who is with us all the days, even unto the consummation of the world (Mt 28:20). Mother of all, you whose faith did not falter because your love was so great, make our hearts large, that God may fill them with His love forever.

(Sister Mary Jean Dorcy, O.P, 1914-1988, author, illustrator, especially of children's literature)

Mother Teresa's words follow, words many mothers might agree with.

May God break my heart so completely that the world falls in.

(Saint Teresa of Calcutta, 1910-1997)

And as we go forth this week, united in faith and prayer,

Let us ask for grace

and let us ask through Mary

because she has found what she sought

and she cannot be disappointed.

Let us ask for grace

but grace with God.

For with human beings

 grace is a delusion.

Let others ask for merit

let us eagerly ask for grace.

Why?

Is it not by grace 

that we are here?

(Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermon for the Feast of the Nativity of Mary)

 

SAINTS NEREUS AND ACHILLES, MARTYRS,

SAINT PANCRAS, MARTYR,

THE CARHTUSIAN MARTYRS,

BLESSED JANE OF PORTUGAL OP,

OUR LADY OF FATIMA,

SAINT ERCONWALD,

BLESSED IMELDA LAMBERTINI OP, PATRON OF FIRST COMMUNICANTS, 

SAINT MATTHIAS, APOSTLE,

SAINT ISIDORE THE FARMER, PATRON OF MADRID, 

SAINT CARTHAGE,

BLESSED ANDREW ABELLON OP,

BLESSED GILES OF VAOZELA OP,

SAINT SIMON STOCK,

SAINT BRENDAN,

SAINT JOHN STONE,

SAINT ERIK OF SWEDEN,

SAINT PACHOMIUS,

POPE SAINT JOHN I,

BLESSED ANTONIA MESINA,

SAINT PASCAL BAYLON, HEAVENLY PROTECTOR OF EUCHARISTIC CONGRESSES AND ASSOCIATIONS,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Sing hymns of praise.

© Gertrude Feick 2024

Sixth Sunday of Easter

May is the month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary

Readings for the Rule of Saint Benedict for the Week:  Prologue 21 - Ch 2:10 Qualities of the Abbot

Sing to the Lord a new song.

MARY, MOTHER OF MERCY,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

In this is love: not that we have loved God, 

but that He loves us and sent His Son as expiation for our sins.

(1 John 4:10)

Welcome to the Sixth Sunday of Easter fully immersed in the glorious month of May, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. What is written about the word in the Letter to the Hebrews certainly rings true today, namely, "the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart" (Heb 4:12). Our readings are packed with wisdom to take to lectio divina, that is, divine reading. What is the word of God saying to you today? Stop. Take inventory. Whether in a moment of gratitude, sorrow, joy, anxiety, restlessness, warmth or cold, listen. Remain in my love, says the Lord.  As the Father loves me, so I also love you, yes, you. It is through Our Lord that we have life. We have life and light to love Him, ourselves and one another. We say with Saint Paul, "I myself am also a human being." Yes, "by God's grace I am what I am" (Rule of Saint Benedict, Prologue 31/1 Cor 15:10). I grow in virtue; I stumble and fall along the path to holiness. No matter, we are all acceptable to the Lord, for He shows no partiality. Our Lord loves saint and sinner alike. He wants His joy to be in us so that our joy might be complete. Complete to share with whoever we encounter on the road to glory. Make God the center of your life, and as Saint Julian of Norwich says, "All will be well." "Only if God exists," writes Pope Benedict XVI, "only if He becomes the center of my life, is this love my neighbor as myself possible. But if He exists, if He becomes the center of my life, then it is also possible to reach this inward freedom of love." Love one another, commands the Lord. I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He may give you. Whatever. Absorb His words that penetrate between soul and spirit. 

All our voices this week speak of the Blessed Virgin Mary, dear Mary, who will help us in this way of love so that we bear fruit, fruit that will remain. Indeed, "we must run and do now what will profit us forever" (Rule of Saint Benedict, Prologue 44). And, as Saint Rafael Arnaiz Baron wrote to his Uncle Leopoldo in 1937, "Given Mary, how could you not love God!!!"  "Not to us, Lord, not to us give the glory, but to your name alone" (RB Prologue 30).

First, we listen to Romano Guardini (1885-1968), from his classic work, The Lord. Chapter II, The Mother, begins in this way:

Anyone who would understand the nature of a tree, should examine the earth that encloses its roots, the soil from which its sap climbs into branch, blossom, and fruit. Similarly, to understand the person of Jesus Christ, one would do well to look to the soil that brought Him forth: Mary, His mother.

Let us look to Mary, His mother, then, especially this month: Our Lady's month.

Our Mother in heaven deserves all the love our poor hearts are capable of. Our Lady never forgets us ... Ask yourself: Do I try to put new love each day into my effort to stay close to Our Lady?

(Blessed Alvaro del Portillo, 1914-1994, to members of Opus Dei)

The first thing which kindles ardor in learning is the greatness of the teacher. What is greater than the Mother of God? What more glorious than she whom Glory Itself chose?

(Saint Ambrose, 340-397, Bishop of Milan, Doctor of the Church)

Every great man in the Church has been most devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary ...

Virgin most innocent of any stain or fault, make me more worthy of God.

(Saint Robert Bellarmine, 1542-1621)

The knot of Eve's disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary. For what the virgin Eve has bound fast through unbelief, this did the virgin Mary set free through faith.

(Saint Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, Doctor of the Church, 130-202)

Mary

has been exalted

above the choirs of angels.

The Mother can contemplate

nothing above herself

but her Son alone.

The Queen

can gaze in wonder

as nothing above herself

but the King.

The Mediatrix

can venerate

nothing above herself

but the Mediator.

May she

by her prayers

represent

reconcile

and commend us

to her Only begotten Son

Jesus Christ

to whom be honor and glory

for endless ages.

(Guerric of Igny, 1070-80-1157)

And as we, united as we are in faith and prayer, go forth this week, we take with us comforting words from Pope Francis, words His Holiness gave to members of the Spanish Confraternity of Our Lady of Montserrat on the 800th anniversary of its foundation (2023). Our Lady of Montserrat, pray for us.

To celebrate Mary is to celebrate the closeness and tenderness of God who is with His people, who does not leave us alone, who has given us a Mother who cares for us and accompanies us.

SAINT ASAPH,

BLESSED EDMUND RICE,

SAINT RICHARD REYNOLDS,

SAINT ANGELUS,

SAINT FRANCOIS DE LAVAL,

SAINT EVODIUS,

SAINT JOHN OF BEVERLEY,

SAINT ALBERT OF BERGAMO, OP,

SAINT DOMINIC,

SAINT HILDA OF WHITBY,

SAINT PETER OF TARANTAISE,

BLESSED CATHERINE OF SAINT AUGUSTINE,

BLESSED JOHN SULLIVAN,

BLESSED ALOYSIUS RABATA,

SAINT GEORGE PRECA, MALTA'S SECOND FATHER IN FAITH,

SAINT COMGALL,

SAINT ANTONINUS OF FLORENCE, OP,

THE CARTHUSIAN MARTYRS,

SAINT PAUL,

BLESSED CHRISTIAN DE CHERGE AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS OF ATLAS,

SAINT JOHN OF AVILA,

SAINT DAMIEN DE VEUSTER,

HOLY ABBOTS OF CLUNY,

SAINT IGNATIUS OF LACONI,

PRAY FOR US

Today's photo: I managed this one while teetering on a ladder. With God, all things are possible. For He has done wondrous things. Alleluia.

© Gertrude Feick 2024