SUNDAY  21  MAY

7th Sunday of Easter

Psalter week III

Entrance Antiphon: Ps 26: 7 – 9

O Lord, hear my voice, for I have called to you; of you my heart has spoken: Seek his face; hide not your face from me, alleluia.

Collect

Graciously hear our supplications, O Lord, so that we, who believe that the Saviour of the human race is with you in your glory, may experience, as he promised, until the end of the world, his abiding presence among us. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

First reading: Acts 1:12-14         

After Jesus was taken up into heaven the apostles went back from the Mount of Olives, as it is called, to Jerusalem, a short distance away, no more than a Sabbath walk; and when they reached the city they went to the upper room where they were staying; there were Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Jude son of James. All these joined in continuous prayer, together with several women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Psalm 26(27):1,4,7-8

R/ I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.

The Lord is my light and my help; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; before whom shall I shrink?

There is one thing I ask of the Lord, for this I long, to live in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life, to savour the sweetness of the Lord, to behold his temple.

O Lord, hear my voice when I call; have mercy and answer. Of you my heart has spoken:  ‘Seek his face.’

Second reading: 1 Peter 4:13-16        

If you can have some share in the sufferings of Christ, be glad, because you will enjoy a much greater gladness when his glory is revealed. It is a blessing for you when they insult you for bearing the name of Christ, because it means that you have the Spirit of glory, the Spirit of God resting on you. None of you should ever deserve to suffer for being a murderer, a thief, a criminal or an informer; but if anyone of you should suffer for being a Christian, then he is not to be ashamed of it; he should thank God that he has been called one.

Gospel Acclamation: cf.Jn14:18        

Alleluia, alleluia! I will not leave you orphans, says the Lord; I will come back to you, and your hearts will be full of joy. Alleluia!

Gospel: John 17:1-11      

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said: “Father, the hour has come: glorify your Son so that your Son may glorify you; and, through the power over all mankind that you have given him, let him give eternal life to all those you have entrusted to him. And eternal life is this: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I have glorified you on earth and finished the work that you gave me to do. Now, Father, it is time for you to glorify me with that glory I had with you before ever the world was. I have made your name known to the men you took from the world to give me. They were yours and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now at last they know that all you have given me comes indeed from you; for I have given them the teaching you gave to me, and they have truly accepted this, that I came from you, and have believed that it was you who sent me. I pray for them; I am not praying for the world but for those you have given me, because they belong to you: all I have is yours and all you have is mine, and in them I am glorified. I am not in the world any longer, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you.”

Prayer over the Offerings

Accept, O Lord, the prayers of your faithful with the sacrificial offerings, that through these acts of devotedness we may pass over to the glory of heaven. Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon: Jn 17:  22

Father, I pray that they may be one as we also are one, alleluia.

Prayer after Communion

Hear us, O God our Saviour, and grant us confidence, that through these sacred mysteries, there will be accomplished in the body of the whole Church what has already come to pass in Christ her Head. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Meditation

Today, as we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension of Jesus, we are invited to each reflect on this event. What does it mean for me? Perhaps, like some of the disciples in today’s Gospel, I am doubtful. I should speak to Jesus very honestly about my doubts, knowing that he will understand me. I should notice that simply for being his disciples, he gives the same mission to those who believe and those who doubt. I note Jesus’ last words: “I am with you always.” Now I hear these words spoken to me, I am with you right now, no matter what is going on in your life. I am with you.

SATURDAY  20  MAY

SAINT Bernardino of Siena

Bernardino (“Little Bernard”) was born in Tuscany. Inspired by St Vincent Ferrer, he was an energetic and popular preacher. He denounced usury, promoted peace, worked hard for the reform and discipline of the Franciscan order, and for church unity.

Entrance Antiphon : Cf. 1 Pt 2: 9

O chosen people, proclaim the mighty works of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light, alleluia.

Collect

O God, whose Son, at his Ascension to the heavens, was pleased to promise the Holy Spirit to the Apostles, grant, we pray, that, just as they received manifold gifts of heavenly teaching, so on us, too, you may bestow spiritual gifts. 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 18:23-28

Paul came down to Antioch, where he spent a short time before continuing his journey through the Galatian country and then through Phrygia, encouraging all the followers. An Alexandrian Jew named Apollos now arrived in Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, with a sound knowledge of the scriptures, and yet, though he had been given instruction in the Way of the Lord and preached with great spiritual earnestness and was accurate in all the details he taught about Jesus, he had only experienced the baptism of John. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him speak boldly in the synagogue, they took an interest in him and gave him further instruction about the Way. When Apollos thought of crossing over to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote asking the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived there he was able by God’s grace to help the believers considerably by the energetic way he refuted the Jews in public and demonstrated from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

Psalm 46:2-3, 8-10

R/ God is king of all the earth.

All peoples, clap your hands, cry to God with shouts of joy! For the Lord, the Most High, we must fear, great king over all the earth.

God is king of all the earth, sing praise with all your skill. God is king over the nations; God reigns on his holy throne.

The princes of the people are assembled with the people of Abraham’s God. The rulers of the earth belong to God, to God who reigns over all.

Gospel Acclamation: Jn14:16

Alleluia, alleluia! I shall ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you for ever. Alleluia!

Gospel: John 16:23-28

Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you most solemnly, anything you ask for from the Father he will grant in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and so your joy will be complete. I have been telling you all this in metaphors, the hour is coming when I shall no longer speak to you in metaphors; but tell you about the Father in plain words. When that day comes you will ask in my name; and I do not say that I shall pray to the Father for you, because the Father himself loves you for loving me and believing that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world and now I leave the world to go to the Father.”

Prayer over the Offerings

Graciously sanctify these gifts, O Lord, we pray, and, accepting the oblation of this spiritual sacrifice, make of us an eternal offering to you. Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon: Jn 17: 24

Father, I wish that, where I am, those you gave me may also be with me, that they may see the glory that you gave me, alleluia.

Prayer after Communion

We have partaken of the gifts of this sacred mystery, humbly imploring, O Lord, that what your Son commanded us to do in memory of him may bring us growth in charity. Through Christ our Lord.

Meditation

Asking God for something in Jesus’ name is different from asking in our own name. We need to include him in our decision making and try to see things as he does. When we do this, we transcend ourselves, we are open to God’s will. God may not give us exactly what we ask for, but he will never fail to give us what we need. Jesus speaks easily of coming from the Father and into the world, and leaving the world again to go to the Father. Do I feel the Father’s presence? Do I feel that he is here with me in love throughout my life, as he will be in the world to come?

FRIDAY  19  MAY

SAINT Dunstan

He was born near Glastonbury, a member of a noble family. He became a monk of Glastonbury, where he later became abbot. He was the principal agent in the restoration of English monasticism following the devastation of the Viking invasions.

Entrance Antiphon : Rv 5: 9-10

You have redeemed us, Lord, by your Blood from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us into a kingdom, priests for our God, alleluia.

Collect

O God, who restore us to eternal life in the Resurrection of Christ, raise us up, we pray, to the author of our salvation, who is seated at your right hand, so that, when our Saviour comes again in majesty, those you have given new birth in Baptism may be clothed with blessed immortality. 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 18:9-18

At Corinth one night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision, “Do not be afraid to speak out, nor allow yourself to be silenced: I am with you. I have so many people on my side in this city that no one will even attempt to hurt you.” So Paul stayed there preaching the word of God among them for eighteen months. But, while Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a concerted attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal. “We accuse this man,” they said, “of persuading people to worship God in a way that breaks the Law.” Before Paul could open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “Listen, you Jews. If this were a misdemeanour or a crime, I would not hesitate to attend to you; but if it is only quibbles about words and names, and about your own Law, then you must deal with it yourselves – I have no intention of making legal decisions about things like that.” Then he sent them out of the court, and at once they all turned on Sosthenes, the synagogue president, and beat him in front of the court house. Gallio refused to take any notice at all. After staying on for some time, Paul took leave of the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had his hair cut off, because of a vow he had made.

Psalm 46:2-7

R/ God is king of all the earth.

or Alleluia!

All peoples, clap your hands, cry to God with shouts of joy! For the Lord, the Most High, we must fear, great king over all the earth.

He subdues peoples under us and nations under our feet. Our inheritance, our glory, is from him, given to Jacob out of love.

God goes up with shouts of joy; the Lord goes up with trumpet blast. Sing praise for God, sing praise, sing praise to our king, sing praise.

Gospel Acclamation: Jn14:26

Alleluia, alleluia! The Holy Spirit will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you. Alleluia!

Gospel: John 16:20-23

Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you most solemnly, you will be weeping and wailing while the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy. A woman in childbirth suffers, because her time has come; but when she has given birth to the child she forgets the suffering in her joy that a man has been born into the world. So it is with you: you are sad now, but I shall see you again, and your hearts will be full of joy, and that joy no one shall take from you. When that day comes, you will not ask me any questions.”

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: Rm 4: 25

Christ our Lord was handed over for our transgressions and was raised again for our justification, alleluia.

Prayer after Communion

Keep safe, O Lord, we pray, those whom you have saved by your kindness, that, redeemed by the Passion of your Son, they may rejoice in his Resurrection. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Meditation

In all four gospels, the emphasis on Christ’s passion and crucifixion almost overwhelms the resurrection narrative. Church teaching often seems to suggest that we find God through suffering, but much less frequently that we find God in joy. Yet Jesus himself never saw suffering as an end in itself – he endured the Cross for the joy that was offered to him. At the Last Supper, he urged his disciples to abide in his love, “that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete.” According to Teilhard de Chardin, joy is the infallible sign of God’s presence. Lord, may your joy be abundant in our hearts!

THURSDAY  18  MAY

THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD

Pope SAINT John I

He was born in Tuscany and elected pope in 523. It was a time of high political and religious tension. He was a key figure in resolving the tensions provoked by the Arian heresy.

Entrance Antiphon Acts 1: 11

Men of Galilee, why gaze in wonder at the heavens? This Jesus whom you saw ascending into heaven will return as you saw him go, alleluia.

Collect

Gladden us with holy joys, almighty God, and make us rejoice with devout thanksgiving, for the Ascension of Christ your Son is our exaltation, and, where the Head has gone before in glory, the Body is called to follow in hope. 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 1:1-11

In my earlier work, Theophilus, I dealt with everything Jesus had done and taught from the beginning until the day he gave his instructions to the apostles he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. He had shown himself alive to them after his Passion by many demonstrations: for forty days he had continued to appear to them and tell them about the kingdom of God. When he had been at table with them, he had told them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for what the Father had promised. What you have heard me speak about: John baptised with water but you, not many days from now, will be baptised with the Holy Spirit. Now having met together, they asked him, “Lord, has the time come? Are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know times or dates that the Father has decided by his own authority, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judaea and Samaria, and indeed to the ends of the earth.” As he said this he was lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight. They were still staring into the sky when suddenly two men in white were standing near them and they said, “Why are you men from Galilee standing here looking into the sky? Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, this same Jesus will come back in the same way as you have seen him go there.”

Psalm 46:2-3, 6-9

R/ God goes up with shouts of joy; the Lord goes up with trumpet blast.

or Alleluia!

All peoples, clap your hands, cry to God with shouts of joy! For the Lord, the Most High, we must fear, great king over all the earth.

God goes up with shouts of joy; the Lord goes up with trumpet blast. Sing praise for God, sing praise, sing praise to our king, sing praise.

God is king of all the earth, sing praise with all your skill. God is king over the nations; God reigns on his holy throne.

Second Reading Ephesians 1:17-23

May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and perception of what is revealed, to bring you to full knowledge of him. May he enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you, what rich glories he has promised the saints will inherit and how infinitely great is the power that he has exercised for us believers. This you can tell from the strength of his power at work in Christ, when he used it to raise him from the dead and to make him sit at his right hand, in heaven, far above every Sovereignty, Authority, Power, or Domination, or any other name that can be named not only in this age but also in the age to come. He has put all things under his feet and made him, as the ruler of everything, the head of the Church; which is his body, the fullness of him who fills the whole creation.

Gospel Acclamation: Mt 28:19, 20

Alleluia, alleluia! Go, make disciples of all the nations. I am with you always; yes, to the end of time. Alleluia!

Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20

The eleven disciples set out for Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had arranged to meet them. When they saw him they fell down before him, though some hesitated. Jesus came up and spoke to them. He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.”

Prayer over the Offerings

We offer sacrifice now in supplication, O Lord, to honour the wondrous Ascension of your Son: grant, we pray, that through this most holy exchange, we too, may rise up to the heavenly realms. Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon: Mt 28: 20

Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age, alleluia.

Prayer after Communion

Almighty ever-living God, who allow those on earth to celebrate divine mysteries, grant, we pray, that Christian hope may draw us onward to where our nature is united with you. Through Christ our Lord.

Meditation

Here, Jesus sends the disciples. They had been called to be with him and to be sent (Mark 3:14). They must be courageous, for the Lord will work with them and confirm their message with great signs. The resurrection has arrived. The Crucified One now walks the earth again… and he does so even more in his disciples. Lord, send me every day to witness to you by my actions. I am to serve you through the sick, the poor, the hungry, the displaced, the imprisoned of our world… grant me the courage to bear your love towards them unceasingly.

WEDNESDAY  17  MAY

SAINT Paschal Baylon

In 1564, Paschal joined the Friars Minor. He served as porter, cook, gardener and official beggar. Paschal spent his spare moments praying before the Blessed Sacrament. People attributed miracles to his intercession. He is the patron of Eucharistic congresses and societies.

Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Ps 17: 50; 21

I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will tell of your name to my kin, alleluia.

Collect

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that, as we celebrate in mystery the solemnities of your Son’s Resurrection, so, too, we may be worthy to rejoice at his coming with all the Saints. 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 17:15, 22-18:1

Paul’s escort took him as far as Athens, and went back with instructions for Silas and Timothy to re-join Paul as soon as they could. So Paul stood before the whole Council of the Areopagus and made this speech: “Men of Athens, I have seen for myself how extremely scrupulous you are in all religious matters, because I noticed, as I strolled round admiring your sacred monuments, that you had an altar inscribed: To An Unknown God. Well, the God whom I proclaim is in fact the one whom you already worship without knowing it. Since the God who made the world and everything in it is himself Lord of heaven and earth, he does not make his home in shrines made by human hands. Nor is he dependent on anything that human hands can do for him, since he can never be in need of anything; on the contrary, it is he who gives everything – including life and breath – to everyone. From one single stock he not only created the whole human race so that they could occupy the entire earth, but he decreed how long each nation should flourish and what the boundaries of its territory should be. And he did this so that all nations might seek the deity and, by feeling their way towards him, succeed in finding him. Yet in fact he is not far from any of us, since it is in him that we live, and move, and exist, as indeed some of your own writers have said: ‘We are all his children.’ Since we are the children of God, we have no excuse for thinking that the deity looks like anything in gold, silver or stone that has been carved and designed by a man. God overlooked that sort of thing when men were ignorant, but now he is telling everyone everywhere that they must repent, because he has fixed a day when the whole world will be judged, and judged in righteousness, and he has appointed a man to be the judge. And God has publicly proved this by raising this man from the dead.” At this mention of rising from the dead, some of them burst out laughing; others said, “We would like to hear you talk about this again.” After that Paul left them, but there were some who attached themselves to him and became believers, among them Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman called Damaris, and others besides. After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.

Psalm 148:1-2, 11-14

R/ Your glory fills all heaven and earth.

Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights. Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his host.

All earth’s kings and peoples, earth’s princes and rulers, young men and maidens, old men together with children.

Let them praise the name of the Lord for he alone is exalted. The splendour of his name reaches beyond heaven and earth.

He exalts the strength of his people. He is the praise of all his saints, of the sons of Israel, of the people to whom he comes close.

Gospel Acclamation: Col3:1

Alleluia, alleluia! Since you have been brought back to true life with Christ, you must look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is, sitting at God’s right hand. Alleluia!

Gospel : John 16:12-15

Jesus said: “I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you now. But when the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you to the complete truth, since he will not be speaking as from himself but will say only what he has learnt; and he will tell you of the things to come. He will glorify me, since all he tells you will be taken from what is mine. Everything the Father has is mine; that is why I said: All he tells you will be taken from what is mine.”

Prayer over the Offerings

O God, who by the wonderful exchange effected in this sacrifice have made us partakers of the one supreme Godhead, grant, we pray, that, as we have come to know your truth, we may make it ours by a worthy way of life. Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon: Cf. Jn 15: 16, 19

I have chosen you from the world, says the Lord, and have appointed you to go out and bear fruit, fruit that will last, alleluia.

Prayer after Communion

Graciously be present to your people, we pray, O Lord, and lead those you have imbued with heavenly mysteries to pass from former ways to newness of life. Through Christ our Lord.

Meditation

It is impossible to absorb all that Jesus has to teach us, talk less of doing so in a short time. As our journey through life progresses, the Holy Spirit gradually reveals God’s message so that it speaks to us at the appropriate time in our lives. Our ability to understand what God has to reveal to us is expandable, depending on how open we are to the Spirit. The “Spirit of truth” will reveal more and guide us into the whole truth. Jesus wants to draw us into the life of God. He knows how anxious we are, both to let go of the past and to trust what the future holds. Can I talk to him about my anxieties?

TUESDAY  16  MAY

SAINT Simon Stock

He became a Carmelite, and in 1245 or 1247 was elected the sixth general of the order. As a result of Simon’s work, Pope Innocent IV placed the order under the special protection of the Holy See. After this the order grew greatly, especially in England.

Entrance Antiphon: Rv 19:7, 6

Let us rejoice and be glad and give glory to God, for the Lord our God the Almighty reigns, alleluia.

Collect

Grant, almighty and merciful God, that we may in truth receive a share in the Resurrection of 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 16:22-34

The crowd joined in and showed their hostility to Paul and Silas, so the magistrates had them stripped and ordered them to be flogged. They were given many lashes and then thrown into prison, and the gaoler was told to keep a close watch on them. So, following his instructions, he threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. Late that night Paul and Silas were praying and singing God’s praises, while the other prisoners listened. Suddenly there was an earthquake that shook the prison to its foundations. All the doors flew open and the chains fell from all the prisoners. When the gaoler woke and saw the doors wide open he drew his sword and was about to commit suicide, presuming that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted at the top of his voice, “Don’t do yourself any harm; we are all here.” The gaoler called for lights, then rushed in, threw himself trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas, and escorted them out, saying, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They told him, “Become a believer in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, and your household too.” Then they preached the word of the Lord to him and to all his family. Late as it was, he took them to wash their wounds, and was baptised then and there with all his household. Afterwards he took them home and gave them a meal, and the whole family celebrated their conversion to belief in God.

Psalm 137:1-3, 7-8

R/ You stretch out your hand and save me, O Lord.

I thank you, Lord, with all my heart: you have heard the words of my mouth. In the presence of the angels I will bless you. I will adore before your holy temple.

I thank you for your faithfulness and love, which excel all we ever knew of you. On the day I called, you answered; you increased the strength of my soul.

You stretch out your hand and save me, your hand will do all things for me. Your love, O Lord, is eternal, discard not the work of your hands.

Gospel Acclamation: Jn14:6, 9

Alleluia, alleluia! Christ has risen and shone upon us whom he redeemed with his blood. Alleluia!

Gospel:  John 16:5-11

Jesus said to his disciples: “Now I am going to the one who sent me. Not one of you has asked, ‘Where are you going?’ Yet you are sad at heart because I have told you this. Still, I must tell you the truth: it is for your own good that I am going because unless I go, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I do go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will show the world how wrong it was, about sin, and about who was in the right, and about judgement: about sin: proved by their refusal to believe in me; about who was in the right: proved by my going to the Father and your seeing me no more; about judgement: proved by the prince of this world being already condemned.”

Prayer over the Offerings

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that we may always find delight in these paschal mysteries, so that the renewal constantly at work within us may be the cause of our unending joy. Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon: Cf. Lk 24: 46, 26

The Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead, and so enter into his glory, alleluia.

Prayer after Communion

Hear, O Lord, our prayers, that this most holy exchange, by which you have redeemed us, may bring your help in this present life and ensure for us eternal gladness. Through Christ our Lord.

Meditation

The disciples are fragile. They will fall if Jesus leaves them. So, he promises to send them an ‘Advocate’ – the Holy Spirit – who will defend them. The Spirit is like an older brother or sister to me, strong and resourceful. I am not alone. The Holy Spirit is able to strengthen and direct me in everything, no matter how weak and helpless I feel. Whether we ask for it or not, the Spirit is present everywhere. The Spirit challenges false values so that truth and goodness can prevail. I am supposed to be the Spirit’s spokesperson. Can the Spirit count on me?