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