Friday of the Third Week of Eastertide

Year of Saint Joseph

Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"

Other saints: Saint George, Martyr (-c.303); Saint Adalbert of Prague (956-997);  Blessed Teresa Maria of the Cross (1846-1910)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 65:11-22

Mass: Acts 9:1-20; Resp Ps 117; Jn 6:52-59

Praise the Lord, all you nations; glorify Him, all you peoples!

Auguri. Buon onomastico, Papa Francesco!

Congratulations and Happy Name Day Pope Francis, Jorge Mario Bergoglio. May Saint George intercede for you.

The believer looking for encouragement or inspiration could turn to Saint Paul or Saint George, both of whom are proof that all things are possible with God. In today's account from the Acts of the Apostles, then Saul not yet Paul was still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord and on the hunt for any men or women who belonged to the Way (Acts 9:1-2). By the end of the story Saul is baptized then gets busy proclaiming Jesus in the synagogue, that He is the Son of God (Acts 9:18, 20). In a sermon by Saint Peter Damian included in the Office of Readings, we read that "Saint George was a man who abandoned one army for another: he gave up the rank of tribune to enlist as a soldier for Christ. Eager to encounter the enemy, he first stripped away his worldly wealth by giving all he had to the poor. Then, free and unencumbered, bearing the shield of faith, he plunged into the thick of the battle, an ardent soldier for Christ." And come to think of it, it just may be that Saint Benedict was inspired by both men. In the Prologue of the Holy Rule, our holy father Benedict writes this: "This message of mine is for you, then, if you are ready to give up your own will, once and for all, and armed with the strong and noble weapons of obedience to do battle for the true King, Christ the Lord" (RB Prol. 3). Onward Christian soldiers!

Are you still in need of encouragement and inspiration? Then why not look to Saint Adalbert of Prague. He faced opposition in Prague, withdrew to Rome only to be sent back to the "battlefield" by Pope John XV. He evangelized and founded an abbey. Still opposed, Adalbert was forced into exile. He became a missionary in Pomerania only to be martyred for the cause at the age of 41 (see Universalis). I believe, help my unbelief.

SAINT GEORGE,

SAINT ADALBERT OF PRAGUE,

BLESSED TERESA MARIA OF THE CROSS,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: More from the Columbia River George. Magnificent!

© Gertrude Feick 2021