Quote of the Day – Easter Saturday – 22 April
“Now all things have been filled with light,
both heaven and earth and those beneath the earth;
so let all creation sing Christ’s rising,
by which it is established.”
St John Damascene – Paschal Canon
Day: April 22, 2017
One Minute Reflection – 22 April – Seventh Day in the Easter Octave
One Minute Reflection – 22 April – Seventh Day in the Easter Octave
DAILY MEDITATION: “Lord I believe, help my unbelief!”
“He reproached them for their incredulity and obstinacy becasue they had refusd to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. And he said to the, ‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the gospel to all creation.’………….Mark 16:14-15
REFLECTION – “The power of faith is enormous. It is so great that it not only saves the believer: thanks to one person’s faith others are saved also. The paralytic at Capernaum did not have faith. But the men who brought him to Jesus and let him down through the roof had it. The soul of the sick man was ill as well as his body. That is made clear in the Gospel: “And when Jesus saw their faith he said…, ‘Rise, take up your pallet and go home'”. The Gospel does not speak of “his” faith but of “their” faith. The stretcher-bearers believed and the paralytic had the benefit of being healed because of it. (Mark 2:1-11) Then there is the death of Lazarus. Four days had passed. His dead body was already decomposing. How could one who had been dead for so many days believe and himself ask for the Deliverer? He could not possibly do so but his sisters provided the faith for him. When they met the Lord, one sister fell down at his feet. He asked, “Where have you laid him?” The other sister said: “Lord, by this time there will be a bad smell”. Then the Lord said, “If you believe you will see the glory of God”. As if to say, “As regards faith, you must take the place of the dead man”. And the faith of the sisters succeeded in calling Lazarus back from the hereafter. (John 11:1-44). So if these two women by believing in place of the other were able to secure his resurrection, how much more certainly will you be able to secure it for yourself by your own faith in Jesus?
Perhaps your own faith is feeble. Nevertheless, the Lord who is love will stoop down to you, provided only you are penitent and can say sincerely from the depths of your soul: “Lord, I believe. Help thou mine unbelief”. (Mark 9:23)……………………..The Power of Faith: St Cyril of Jerusalem (c 315-386) Doctor of the Church
PRAYER – Loving Father, I believe that You love me. I ask you to watch over me and let me feel the love You shower on me.
I have been born again in baptism and long for the undying life You offer me. Strengthen my faith and help me to share this gift of faith
You have bestowed on me. Amen
NOVENA to ST JOSEPH, THE WORKER – DAY ONE – 22 APRIL
NOVENA to ST JOSEPH, THE WORKER
The Liturgical Memorial of St Joseph, the Worker (1 May) was established by Venerable Pope Pius XII (d.1958), to highlight the importance of work and of the presence of Christ and the Church in the working world. It provides an occasion to reflect on – and witness to – the “Gospel of Work.” In a particular way St Joseph, the carpenter of Nazareth, stands as Patron of all workers and craftsmen, revered as a singular model. St John Paul, in his encyclical on human work, encourages us to live with the awareness that “work is a participation in God’s activity” – an awareness that “ought to permeate….even the most ordinary everyday activities.” By our labour and personal industry, we “are unfolding he Creator’s work…..and contributing to the realisation in history of the Divine plan.”
Let us pray:
~~This image is by Pietro Annigoni (1910-1988)~~
DAY ONE
Glorious St Joseph,
in your diligent daily labour,
you provided for the household
of the Holy Family.
Patron of all workers,
you model how work is a
participation in God’s own activity.
Our Lord Jesus Christ declared:
“My food is to do the will of him
who sent me and to accomplish his work.”
I pray for the sanctification of all human labour.
Through it, God never ceases to perfect
and govern the immense work of creation.
St Joseph, by your intercession,
protect the rights of all workers.
Enable all to find work that befits their dignity.
Do not let those who are unemployed become
discourage but aid them in obtainng fitting work.
United in your powerful help and intercession,
I offer you my own intentions……
(make your intention)
I pray you, dear St Joseph, through our Lord,
Jesus Christ, your dearly beloved foster Son,
in union with the Holy Spirit.
Amen
DIVINE MERCY NOVENA – DAY NINE – Easter Saturday – Seventh Day of the Octave
DIVINE MERCY NOVENA – DAY NINE – Easter Saturday – Seventh Day of the Octave
“Today bring to Me the Souls who have become Lukewarm,
and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: ‘Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will.’ For them, the last hope of salvation is to run to My mercy.”
Most compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love, let these tepid souls who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen.
Our Morning Offering – 22 April
Our Morning Offering – 22 April
Lord, Grant us Your Grace
St Anselm of Canterbury
O Father, most merciful, Who,
in the beginning, created us;
Who, by the Passion of Your only begotten Son,
created us anew.
Work in us now, we beseech You, both to will
and to do your good pleasure!
And because we are weak
and can do no good thing on our own,
grant us Your grace.
Grant us your heavenly benediction,
that in whatever work we undertake
we may do all to Your honour and Your glory;
that being kept from sin,
daily increasing in good works,
so long as we live in the body,
we may always give service to You –
and after our departure,
we may receive pardon for all our sins,
attaining life eternal: through Him who,
with You and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns,
God, forevermore. Amen.
Saint of the Day – 22 April – St Theodore of Sykeon (Died c613) Bishop
Saint of the Day – 22 April – St Theodore of Sykeon (Died c613) Bishop, Monk, Abbot, (born at Sykeon, Galaia, Bulgaria on an unknown date and died c613) – Patronages – of difficult marriages, for rain.
A native of Sykeon, in Galatia, Asia Minor, he was the son of a Byzantine imperial messenger and possibly of a prostitute. Entering a monastery in Jerusalem, he served there for many years until becoming abbot of a number of monastic institutions. He predicted the rise of Emperor Maurice and cured a royal prince of leprosy. About 590, he was appointed Bishop of Anastasiopol is, in Galatia.
St. Theodore spent his childhood at his mother’s inn that doubled as a brothel at Sykeon in Asia Minor. v When Theodore was about six years old a wonderful cook arrived at the inn who created so much business that his mother stopped her prostitution. The cook became Theodore’s spiritual director, teaching him to visit churches, to pray and fast, and to use the sacraments.
When the church at Anastasiopolis chose Theodore as bishop, he reluctantly accepted the office. About his administration we know very little as his biography records only a long series of his miracles. After ten years he resigned because he was neglecting his prayer and his monks at Sykeon. Theodore retired to an oratory near Heliopolis. There he exercised a apostolate of charity and miracles until his death in 613.
Saints – 22 April
St Abel McAedh
St Aceptismas of Hnaita
St Pope Agapitus I,
St Apelles of Smyrna
St Arwald
St Epipodius of Lyon
St Euflamia
Bl Francis of Fabriano
St Helimenas
St Joseph of Persia
St Leo of Sens
St Leonidas of Alexandria
St Lucius of Laodicea
St Opportuna of Montreuil
St Senorina
St Pope Soter
St Theodore of Sykeon
St Virginio
—
Martyrs of Alexandria
Martyrs of Persia: Bishops, priests, deacons and laity who were martyred in Persia and celebrated together. Several of them have their stories related in the Acta of Saints Abdon and Sennen.
• Abdiesus the Deacon
• Abrosimus
• Aceptismas of Hnaita
• Aithilahas of Persia
• Azadanes the Deacon
• Azades the Eunuch
• Bicor
• Chrysotelus of Persia
• Helimenas of Persia
• James of Persia
• Joseph of Persia
• Lucas of Persia
• Mareas
• Milles of Persia
• Mucius of Persia
• Parmenius of Persia
• Tarbula of Persia
AnaStpaul 
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