Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

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

Saints:Pope Saint John I, Martyr (-526)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 3:7-13 Summoning the Brothers for Counsel

Mass: Acts 15:1-6; Resp Ps 122; Jn 15:1-8

Within your gates, O Jerusalem.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

Bear much fruit and become my disciples.

(Jn 15:8)

I am the vine, Jesus tells us, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing (Jn 15:5). Nothing. Cling to the Vine, for nourishment, for strength, for comfort. Without Him we do nothing. "By God's grace I am what I am" (1 Cor 15:10). United in faith and prayer, we go forth.

The Lord calls Himself the vine and those united to Him the branches in order to teach us how much we shall benefit from our union with Him, and how important it is for us to remain in His love. By receiving the Holy Spirit, who is bond of union between us and Christ our Savior, those who are joined to Him, as branches are to a vine, share in His own nature ...

From Christ and in Christ, we have been reborn through the Spirit in order to bear the fruit of life; not the fruit of our old, sinful life but the fruit of a new life founded upon our faith in Him and our love for Him ... 

By bestowing on them the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, the only begotten Son of the Father, gives Christians a certain kinship with Himself and with God the Father because they have been united to Him by faith and by determination to do His will in all things. He helps them to grow in love and reverence for God, and teaches them to discern right from wrong and to act with integrity.

(From a commentary on the Gospel of John by Saint Cyril of Alexandria, bishop, in Office of Readings, Fifth Week of Easter, Tuesday).

POPE SAINT JOHN I,

SAINT TITUS BRANDSMA,

SAINT MARIE RIVIER,

SAINT CAROLINA SANTOCANALE,

SAINT CHARLES DE FOUCAULD,

SAINT DEVASAHAYAM PILLAI,

SAINT CESAR DE BUS,

SAINT LUIGI MARIA PALAZZOLA,

SAINT JUSTIN RUSSOLILLO,

SAINT ANNA MARIA RUBATTO,

SAINT MARIA DOMENICA MANTOVANI,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Give thanks to the name of the Lord.

© Gertrude Feick 2022