tuesday 14 April 2020
Saint Lydwine
St. Lydwine is the patroness of sickness. She was born in Holland. She experienced mystical gifts, including supernatural visions of heaven, hell, purgatory, apparitions of Christ, and the stigmata. She was canonised by Pope Leo XIII in 1890.
White
Entrance Antiphon: Sir 15: 3-4
He gave them the water of wisdom to drink; it will be made strong in them and will not be moved; it will raise them up for ever, alleluia.
Collect
O God, who have bestowed on us paschal remedies, endow your people with heavenly gifts, so that, possessed of perfect freedom, they may rejoice in heaven over what gladdens them now on earth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Acts 2:36-41
On the day of Pentecost, Peter spoke to the Jews: ‘The whole House of Israel can be certain that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.’ Hearing this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the apostles, ‘What must we do, brothers?’ ‘You must repent,’ Peter answered ‘and every one of you must be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise that was made is for you and your children, and for all those who are far away, for all those whom the Lord our God will call to himself.’ He spoke to them for a long time using many arguments, and he urged them, ‘Save yourselves from this perverse generation.’ They were convinced by his arguments, and they accepted what he said and were baptised. That very day about three thousand were added to their number.
Psalm 32(33):4-5,18-20,22
R/ The Lord fills the earth with his love.
1) The word of the Lord is faithful and all his works to be trusted. The Lord loves justice and right and fills the earth with his love.
2) The Lord looks on those who revere him, on those who hope in his love, to rescue their souls from death, to keep them alive in famine.
3) Our soul is waiting for the Lord. The Lord is our help and our shield. May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.
Gospel Acclamation: Ps 117:24
Alleluia, alleluia! This day was made by the Lord: we rejoice and are glad. Alleluia!
Gospel: John 20:11-18
Mary stayed outside near the tomb, weeping. Then, still weeping, she stooped to look inside, and saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, the other at the feet. They said, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ ‘They have taken my Lord away’ she replied ‘and I don’t know where they have put him.’ As she said this she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not recognise him. Jesus said, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him.’ Jesus said, ‘Mary!’ She knew him then and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbuni!’ – which means Master. Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and find the brothers, and tell them: I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ So Mary of Magdala went and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that he had said these things to her.
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept in compassion, Lord, we pray, the offerings of your family, that under your protective care they may never lose what they have received, but attain the gifts that are eternal. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Col 3: 1-2
If you have risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God; mind the things that are above, alleluia.
Prayer after Communion
Hear us, almighty God, and, as you have bestowed on your family the perfect grace of Baptism, so prepare their hearts for the reward of eternal happiness. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Beloved brothers and sisters, today, like yesterday, the spirit of the Risen Lord flows through the whole world. We are children of the resurrection.; and we continue to share that joy with everyone. In the First Reading, Peter’s speech provoked repentance and three thousand people were baptized in Jerusalem. The human heart longs for God and we must show the way that leads to God. So many people are trapped by the devil and we need to free them by showing the way that leads to the risen Saviour. Like Peter we must now preach with courage and tell the truth to everyone- Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He has truly risen from the dead to assure us of eternal life with God. Let us not allow the evil one to take control of our lives again! Jesus appears to Mary and she did not easily recognize him, but as soon as it was clear to her; she tried to cling to Him- Rabuni (Master). Like Mary, we will still have moments of doubts and incomprehension, times of sadness and pain. But when we allow the Risen Lord to touch our lives, everything changes. Like Mary each of us must be ready to shout out – Rabuni! And then bring the Good News to everyone. This is the only mission for which the Church exists; the only obligation that we have as Christians- namely- to proclaim the Risen Lord to the entire world, with confidence and with deep faith.