He was a highly revered monk and ascetic from the4th century CE. He spent his early life as a merchantbefore becoming a monk and later a priest.Macarius is celebrated for his ascetic life in thedesert, his spiritual guidance, and his miracles. Hewas known for his profound humility and wasconsidered a key figure in the development ofmonasticism in Egypt.
Entrance Antiphon: Ps 65: 4 All the earth shall bow down before you, O God, and shall sing to you, shall sing to your name, O Most High!
Collect Almighty ever-living God, who govern all things, both in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the pleading of your people and bestow your peace on our times. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
First reading: 1 Samuel 15:16-23 Samuel said to Saul: “Stop! Let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night.” Saul replied, “Speak!” Samuel then said: “Though little in your own esteem, are you not leader of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king of Israel and sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and put the sinful Amalekites under a ban of destruction. Fight against them until you have exterminated them.’ Why then have you disobeyed the Lord? You have pounced on the spoil, thus displeasing the Lord.” Saul answered Samuel: “I did indeed obey the Lord and fulfill the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought back Agag, and I have destroyed Amalek under the ban. But from the spoil the men took sheep and oxen, the best of what had been banned, to sacrifice to the Lord their God in Gilgal.” But Samuel said: “Does the Lord so delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obedience to the command of the Lord? Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission than the fat of rams. For a sin like divination is rebellion, and presumption is the crime of idolatry. Because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he, too, has rejected you as ruler.”
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23 R/ To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you, for your burnt offerings are before me always. I take from your house no bullock, no goats out of your fold.”
Why do you recite my statutes, and profess my covenant with your mouth, Though you hate discipline and cast my words behind you?”
When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it? Or do you think that I am like yourself? I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes. He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me; and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God. »
Gospel Acclamation: Hebrews 4:12 Alleluia, alleluia. The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Mark 2:18-22 The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast. People came to Jesus and objected, “Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day. No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak. If he does, its fullness pulls away, the new from the old, and the tear gets worse. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”
Prayer over the Offerings Grant us, O Lord, we pray, that we may participate worthily in these mysteries, for whenever the memorial of this sacrifice is celebrated the work of our redemption is accomplished. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 22: 5 You have prepared a table before me, and how precious is the chalice that quenches my thirst.
Prayer after Communion Pour on us, O Lord, the Spirit of your love, and in your kindness make those you have nourished by this one heavenly Bread one in mind and heart. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation “New wine is poured into new wineskins.” The new wine and the new cloth Jesus speaks of represent the Gospel, which invites us to a new way of life. This new way of life cannot fit into our usual way of doing things. It does not agree with the way of the world. The Gospel brings about transformation; it obliges us to abandon one way of life in favour of another. The new life that the Gospel calls us to live is a life of submission to God and obedience to his commandments. As Samuel teaches us in the First Reading, there is no greater sacrifice we can offer to God than obedience; we should listen to his Word and act on it, for it is in this way that our lives are transformed. What has changed in your life since you became a Christian? Do you listen to God’s Word and try to live according to it? What are the habits and attitudes you have that God’s Word invites you to change?
Devenue veuve du comte de Spanheim, elle se fit religieuse à l’abbaye bénédictine de Trèves en Rhénanie, où elle mourut en 1176.
Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 30, 2.5
J’ai un recours auprès de toi, Seigneur: que jamais plus je ne sois humilié. Tu m’arraches au filet qu’on m’a tendu, c’est toi qui me protèges.
Prière d’ouverture
Nous t’en prions, Dieu tout-puissant: purifie-nous au long de ce Carême, pour que nous parvenions avec un cœur limpide aux fêtes pascales qui approchent. Par Jésus.
1ère lecture : Gn 37, 3-4.12-13a.17b-28
Israël, c’est-à-dire Jacob, aimait Joseph plus que tous ses autres enfants, parce qu’il était le fils de sa vieillesse, et il lui fit faire une tunique de grand prix. En voyant qu’il leur préférait Joseph, ses autres fils se mirent à détester celui-ci, et ils ne pouvaient plus lui parler sans hostilité. Les frères de Joseph étaient allés à Sichem faire paître le troupeau de leur père. Israël dit à Joseph : « Tes frères ne gardent-ils pas le troupeau à Sichem? Va donc les trouver de ma part ! » Joseph les trouva à Dotane. Ils se dirent l’un à l’autre : « Voici l’expert en songes qui arrive ! C’est le moment, allons-y, tuons-le, et jetons-le dans une de ces citernes. Nous dirons qu’une bête féroce l’a dévoré, et on verra ce que voulaient dire ses songes ! » Mais Roubène les entendit, et voulut le sauver de leurs mains. Il leur dit : « Ne touchons pas à sa vie. » Et il ajouta : « Ne répandez pas son sang : jetez-le dans cette citerne du désert, mais ne portez pas la main sur lui. » Il voulait le sauver de leurs mains et le ramener à son père. Dès que Joseph eut rejoint ses frères, ils le dépouillèrent de sa tunique, la tunique de grand prix qu’il portait, ils se saisirent de lui et le jetèrent dans la citerne, qui était vide et sans eau. Ils s’assirent ensuite pour manger. En levant les yeux, ils virent une caravane d’Ismaélites qui venait de Galaad. Leurs chameaux étaient chargés d’aromates, de baume et de myrrhe qu’ils allaient livrer en Égypte. Alors Juda dit à ses frères: « Quel profit aurions-nous à tuer notre frère et à dissimuler sa mort ? Vendons-le plutôt aux Ismaélites et ne portons pas la main sur lui, car il est notre frère, notre propre chair. » Ses frères l’écoutèrent. Des marchands madianites qui passaient par là retirèrent Joseph de la citerne, ils le vendirent pour vingt pièces d’argent aux Ismaélites, et ceux-ci l’emmenèrent en Égypte.
Psaume : 104 (105), 16-17, 18-19
R/ Souvenez- vous des merveilles que le Seigneur a faites.
Cherchez le Seigneur et sa puissance, souvenez-vous des merveilles qu’il a faites, vous, la race d’Abraham son serviteur, les fils de Jacob, qu’il a choisis.
Il appela sur le pays la famine, le privant de toute ressource. Mais devant eux il envoya un homme, Joseph, qui fut vendu comme esclave.
On lui met aux pieds des entraves, on lui passe des fers au cou ; il souffrait pour la parole du Seigneur, jusqu’au jour où s’accomplit sa prédiction.
Le roi ordonne qu’il soit relâché, le maître des peuples, qu’il soit libéré. Il fait de lui le chef de sa maison, le maître de tous ses biens.
Acclamation : cf. Jl 2,12-13
Louange à toi, Seigneur, Roi d’éternelle gloire ! Dieu a tellement aimé le monde qu’il a donné son Fils unique, afin que ceux qui croient en lui aient la vie éternelle. Louange à toi, Seigneur, Roi d’éternelle gloire ! (Jn 3, 16)
Évangile : Mathieu 21, 33-43.45-46
En ce temps-là, Jésus disait aux grands prêtres et aux anciens du peuple :« Écoutez cette parabole : Un homme était propriétaire d’un domaine; il planta une vigne, l’entoura d’une clôture, y creusa un pressoir et bâtit une tour de garde. Puis il loua cette vigne à des vignerons, et partit en voyage. Quand arriva le temps des fruits, il envoya ses serviteurs auprès des vignerons pour se faire remettre le produit de sa vigne. Mais les vignerons se saisirent des serviteurs, frappèrent l’un, tuèrent l’autre, lapidèrent le troisième. De nouveau, le propriétaire envoya d’autres serviteurs plus nombreux que les premiers ; mais on les traita de la même façon. Finalement, il leur envoya son fils, en se disant: “Ils respecteront mon fils.” Mais, voyant le fils, les vignerons se dirent entre eux : “Voici l’héritier : venez! tuons-le, nous aurons son héritage !” Ils se saisirent de lui, le jetèrent hors de la vigne et le tuèrent. Eh bien ! quand le maître de la vigne viendra, que fera-t-il à ces vignerons? » On lui répond : « Ces misérables, il les fera périr misérablement. Il louera la vigne à d’autres vignerons, qui lui en remettront le produit en temps voulu.» Jésus leur dit : « N’avez-vous jamais lu dans les Écritures: La pierre qu’ont rejetée les bâtisseurs est devenue la pierre d’angle : c’est là l’œuvre du Seigneur, la merveille devant nos yeux! Aussi, je vous le dis. Le royaume de Dieu vous sera enlevé pour être donné à une nation qui lui fera produire ses fruits. » En entendant les paraboles de Jésus, les grands prêtres et les pharisiens savaient bien compris qu’il parlait d’eux. Tout en cherchant à l’arrêter, ils eurent peur des foules, parce qu’elles le tenaient pour un prophète.
Prière sur les offrandes
Que ton amour, Seigneur, devance tes serviteurs pour leur permettre de bien célébrer ces mystères ; et qu’il les aide à rester partout à ton service. Par Jésus.
Antienne de communion : 1Jn 4, 10
Dieu nous a aimés et il a envoyé son Fils qui est la victime offerte pour nos péchés.
Prière après la communion
C’est déjà le salut éternel, Seigneur, que nous commençons de recevoir: accorde-nous de tendre vers lui de manière à le posséder. Par Jésus.
Méditation
Abel, tué par son frère jaloux, est la première image de Jésus dans l’Ancien Testament. Puis vient la figure de Joseph, vendu par ses frères. La jalousie peut prendre des aspects très différents. Si facilement, l’opposition devient haine… La parabole des vignerons homicides s’adresse aux chefs des prêtres et aux anciens du peuple. Cela nous fait comprendre une souffrance particulière du cœur de Jésus, et nous fait entrer en même temps dans le mystère de son Église. Jésus a souffert pour tous nos péchés, mais il a souffert plus particulièrement d’être rejeté, et finalement mis à mort, par les bergers du peuple élu. En ce Carême, demandons la grâce de nous attacher fermement non seulement au message, mais à la personne de Jésus : que le contact avec Jésus, que notre union avec lui soit l’essentiel de notre vie.
During his canonical visitation to Saint Dominic’s Parish, Munyenge, the Major Superior of the Claretian Missionaries in Cameroon, Fr. Jude Thaddeus Langeh, CMF, inaugurated a grinding machine to support the people affected by the ongoing socio-political crisis.
For over seven years, the population of Saint Dominic’s Parish has been displaced, struggling to meet their basic needs. Due to the enclave nature of the area, residents have had to travel long distances at great risk to grind foodstuffs. Lykoko-Native remains the only locality where life shows some promise. The installation of this grinding machine is a significant relief to the suffering population, especially in the absence of electricity for several years.
The oldest Christian and catechist, Papa Eto, expressed that this support benefits not only the Catholic community but the entire village. With gratitude, Fr. Gaston Mary Muh, CMF, Parish Priest, thanked God for the gift of the machine, pledging that the community would take good care of it.
We express our profound gratitude to the General Mission Procure
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 : Heb 4: 16
With boldness let us approach the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace as a timely help, alleluia.
Collect
May your Spirit, O Lord, we pray, imbue us powerfully with spiritual gifts, that he may give us a mind pleasing to you and graciously conform us to your will. 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 22:30,23:6-11
Since the tribune wanted to know what precise charge the Jews were bringing, he freed Paul and gave orders for a meeting of the chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin; then he brought Paul down and stood him in front of them. Now Paul was well aware that one section was made up of Sadducees and the other of Pharisees, so he called out in the Sanhedrin, ‘Brothers, I am a Pharisee and the son of Pharisees. It is for our hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.’ As soon as he said this a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was split between the two parties. For the Sadducees say there is neither resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, while the Pharisees accept all three. The shouting grew louder, and some of the Scribes from the Pharisees’ party stood up and protested strongly, ‘We find nothing wrong with this man. Suppose a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel?’ Feeling was running high, and the tribune, afraid that they would tear Paul to pieces, ordered his troops to go down and haul him out and bring him into the fortress. Next night, the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘Courage! You have borne witness for me in Jerusalem, now you must do the same in Rome.’
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm15:1-2,5,7-11
R/ Preserve me, Lord, I take refuge in you.
Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you. I say to the Lord: ‘You are my God. O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup; it is you yourself who are my prize.’
I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel, who even at night directs my heart. I keep the Lord ever in my sight: since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm.
And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad; even my body shall rest in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead, nor let your beloved know decay.
You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence, at your right hand happiness for ever.
Gospel Acclamation : cf.Jn16:7,13
Alleluia, alleluia! I will send you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord; he will lead you to the complete truth. Alleluia!
Gospel : John 17:20-26
Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said: ‘Holy Father, I pray not only for these, but for those also who through their words will believe in me. May they all be one. Father, may they be one in us, as you are in me and I am in you, so that the world may believe it was you who sent me. I have given them the glory you gave to me, that they may be one as we are one. With me in them and you in me, may they be so completely one that the world will realise that it was you who sent me and that I have loved them as much as you loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they may always see the glory you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Father, Righteous One, the world has not known you, but I have known you, and these have known that you have sent me. I have made your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and so that I may be in them.’
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 16: 7
I tell you the truth, it is for your good that I go; for if I do not go away, the Paraclete will not come to you, says the Lord, alleluia.
Prayer after Communion
May the mysteries we have received, O Lord, we pray, enlighten us by the instruction they bring and restore us through our participation in them, that we may merit the gifts of the Spirit. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Jesus prays for the unity of Christians. He prays that all those who believe in his message may be one, just as he and his heavenly Father are together. More than ever, we Christians need unity. We are divided into countless denominations and Churches, and we quarrel with each other and criticise each other. It is time for us to put aside our differences and focus on what unites us: our faith in the name of Jesus. Let us dialogue with each other and, with one voice, proclaim and defend the values of the Christian message in the world. Let us pray and work for the unity of all Christians.
He was born near Madrid to very poor parents. He was a labourer and later a bailiff on the estates of a landowner called Juan de Vargas. He was noted for his piety. He died on 15 May 1130.
Entrance Antiphon: Ps 46: 2
All peoples, clap your hands. Cry to God with shouts of joy, alleluia.
Collect
Graciously grant to your Church, O merciful God, that, gathered by the Holy Spirit,
she may be devoted to you with all her heart and united in purity of intent. 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 20:28-38
Paul addressed these words to the elders of the Church of Ephesus: ‘Be on your guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you the overseers, to feed the Church of God which he bought with his own blood. I know quite well that when I have gone, fierce wolves will invade you and will have no mercy on the flock. Even from your own ranks there will be men coming forward with a travesty of the truth on their lips to induce the disciples to follow them. So be on your guard, remembering how night and day for three years I never failed to keep you right, shedding tears over each one of you. And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace that has power to build you up and to give you your inheritance among all the sanctified. ‘I have never asked anyone for money or clothes; you know for yourselves that the work I did earned enough to meet my needs and those of my companions. I did this to show you that this is how we must exert ourselves to support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, who himself said, “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.”’ When he had finished speaking he knelt down with them all and prayed. By now they were all in tears; they put their arms round Paul’s neck and kissed him; what saddened them most was his saying they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 67:29-30,33-36
R/ Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God.
Show forth, O God, show forth your might, your might, O God, which you have shown for us. For the sake of your temple high in Jerusalem may kings come to you bringing their tribute.
Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God, praise the Lord who rides on the heavens, the ancient heavens. He thunders his voice, his mighty voice. Come, acknowledge the power of God.
His glory is on Israel; his might is in the skies. God is to be feared in his holy place. He is the Lord, Israel’s God. He gives strength and power to his people. Blessed be God!
Gospel Acclamation : Mt28:19,20
Alleluia, alleluia! Go, make disciples of all the nations. I am with you always; yes, to the end of time. Alleluia!
Gospel : John 17:11-19
Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said: ‘Holy Father, keep those you have given me true to your name, so that they may be one like us. While I was with them, I kept those you had given me true to your name. I have watched over them and not one is lost except the one who chose to be lost, and this was to fulfil the Scriptures. But now I am coming to you and while still in the world I say these things to share my joy with them to the full. I passed your word on to them, and the world hated them, because they belong to the world no more than I belong to the world. I am not asking you to remove them from the world, but to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world, and for their sake I consecrate myself so that they too may be consecrated in truth.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept, O Lord, we pray, the sacrifices instituted by your commands, and through the sacred mysteries, which we celebrate as our dutiful service, graciously complete the sanctifying work by which you are pleased to redeem us. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Jn 15: 26-27
When the Paraclete comes, whom I will send you, the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me, and you also will bear witness, says the Lord, alleluia.
Prayer after Communion
May our partaking of this divine Sacrament, O Lord, constantly increase your grace within us, and, by cleansing us with its power, make us always ready to receive so great a gift. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Jesus prays for his apostles, whom he will entrust with leading his Church. In the same way, Paul advises the elders of the Church of Ephesus, urging them to watch over the flock entrusted to their care and pray with them. The leaders of the Church have the difficult task of providing for the spiritual needs of Christians. They must teach them sound doctrine and cultivate the love of the Word of God. They have to govern them and get them to live and work together in love and unity. They have to sanctify them by giving them the sacraments. In addition, they have to show them the example of a holy life. Let us pray for them so that they may accomplish their mission faithfully.
Du 1er avril au 09 mai 2024, le TRP Henry Omonisaye, cmf a effectué une visite canonique au Cameroun. Après avoir visité toutes nos communautés et notre mission, parlé avec chaque membre de la délégation et dialogué avec certains évêques, le 6 mai 2024 a été une journée très spéciale pour notre délégation. Ce fut une journée de trois réunions très importantes
1. Rencontre avec les Supérieurs locaux et les membres du Conseil élargi
La rencontre a commencé à 8h30 par l’Adoration Eucharistique. Par la suite, le TRP Henry Omonisaye, cmf a fait écho de sa visite dans la Délégation. En passant par les trois processus de transformation, il a exposé les semences de vie et les mauvaises herbes dans la délégation. Il a remercié les frères pour leur vocation et pour les signes visibles de croissance de notre Délégation. Il les a tous encouragé à continuer à servir Dieu dans leurs différentes communautés et missions. Il a félicité la Délégation pour la croissance significative depuis la dernière visite canonique qui a eu lieu en 2017. Enfin, il a insisté sur la nécessité de réorganiser nos différentes communautés et de promouvoir « Ut Unum Sint » au sein de la Délégation.
2. Rencontre avec la Préfecture de Bible et Communication, les Cybermissionnaires, le Secrétaire et le Conseil
En sa qualité de Préfet Général de la Bible et de la Communication, le Père Henry a eu une formation avec les membres de cette préfecture. Il a expliqué les différentes composantes de la préfecture. Il a également encouragé la délégation à poursuivre toutes les grandes initiatives dans le ministère et les publications bibliques. Sur cette note, il a prié pour que les initiatives telles que les Semaines bibliques, les quiz bibliques, les festivals bibliques et la copie de la Bible « Scriptura » se poursuivent. Il a encouragé l’équipe à continuer à servir au renforcement du ministère de la pastorale biblique dans les diocèses, comme l’ont demandé certains évêques. Le Père Henry a également remercié les membres pour les services de traduction.
3. Rencontre avec le Conseil
La dernière réunion de la journée était avec les membres du conseil. Après avoir fait un aperçu général de la visite, le Père Henry a remercié les membres pour avoir si bien organisé la visite et a insisté sur la nécessité du travail en équipe et de la confidentialité entre les membres.
La visite à la Délégation a été vraiment un moment d’animation. Le visiteur a encouragé les membres à garder la fraternité et la fidélité comme mots d’ordre. Dans une messe d’action de grâce pour clôturer officiellement la visite, le 8 mai 2024, le Supérieur Majeur a remercié et félicité le Père Henry d’avoir cheminé avec la Délégation et visité même les périphéries les plus difficiles. Pendant les prières d’intercession, le P. Henry a officiellement clôturé la visite. A la fin de la messe, il a encore remercié la Délégation pour la croissance significative et a prié pour tous les membres.
Nous remercions le Père Général d’avoir envoyé le Père Henry à notre Délégation pour la Visite Canonique.
