+++AMDG+++

FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER ~ PRAYER

(Read John xvi, 23-30.)

 

CONSIDER FIRSTLY in order to increase in you the love of prayer, in what precisely lies its power of obtaining for you every true and best gift of heaven. It does not lie in the merit of him who pleads, but in the promise so often repeated in the holy scripture that we shall be heard: Call upon me, and I will deliver thee. (Ps. xlix, 15.) If Almighty God had not wished to hear us, He would not have so certainly promised to do so nor urge us in so many ways to ask Him. If He pours out so many good things on those who do not call upon Him, what will He not give to those who pray to Him trusting in His promise?

APPLICATION:  When therefore you go to beg some favour of God in prayer, you ought not indeed to regard your own demerits which render you unworthy of being heard, but rather you should place all your confidence in the goodness of God Who has promised to help you.

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: Let me not be confounded, O Lord, for I have called upon thee. (Ps. xxx, 18.)

 

CONSIDER SECONDLY  that the efficacy of prayer depends not only on the divine promise, but much more on the merits of Jesus, which He passes on to us as to His younger brothers. If you ask of the Father anything in my name. You might have reason to doubt about obtaining what you ask , in that you perceive no merit in yourself. But oh how great now ought to be your trust, because the merits of Jesus are all yours, and are regarded by the divine Father as if they were your own, by reason of that most intimate union which every member of the same body has with its head.

APPLICATION:   If then you thus have at your disposal all the infinite merits accumulated for you by Jesus Christ, how can you fear that for want of your own merit you cannot obtain what you would petition for? The merits of Christ give us so great a right of being heard that we may ask the Father the graces we need, not on the plea of His mercy but of His justice: Deliver me inn thy justice. (Ps. xxx, 2.)

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS:  Blessed be God, who hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me. (Ps. lxv, 20.)

 

CONSIDER THIRDLY what are the conditions that are required on your part in order that you may be heard. The first is that you be a living member of Christ through divine grace, since in members that are dead and cut off through sin the virtue that goes forth from the head produces no effect. The second regards the petition made, viz. that your petition for spiritual and for true goods: Ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be full, namely that good which render you perfectly happy, or which shall serve as a means to make you so. The merits which Jesus has acquired for us are ordained to enable us to obtain the good things of heaven, and not those of earth. Consequently these earthly benefits are not absolutely promised us as heavenly ones are, but are given to us over and above, when they will be a help and not a hindrance towards attaining our last end. The third condition is that you ask in faith, lifting up your heart to Him Who is the Omnipotent. All things are possible to him that believeth. (Mark ix, 22.)

APPLICATION:    Pray therefore not only with faith, but with perseverance and without ceasing even when you do not find yourself answered at once, for God often defers to answer our prayers, because He rejoices in the homage we render Him by them, and because our desires are increased and our spirit is the more inflamed by our pleading the longer: Be instant in prayer, says St. Paul to the Colossians. (iv, 2.)

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: Expect the Lord: do manfully. And let thy heart take courage: and wait thou for the Lord. (Ps. xxvi, 14.)

+ + + + + + + JMJ + + + + + + +

  

MONDAY AFTER THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER ~ DUTIES OF A CHRISTIAN

All power is given to me in heaven and earth. Going therefore teach all nations. (Matt. xxviii, 18-19.)

 

CONSIDER FIRSTLY that Christ having shown Himself to all His disciples on a mountain Galilee as He had promised, said to them: All power is given to me in heaven and earth, meaning thereby that the fullness of that glory and power which was in all its fullness His right as the Son of God, He furthermore gained by the merit of His passion and death upon the Cross.

APPLICATION:   If then it behoved Jesus to secure by means of so much suffering all that which was already His: Ought not Christ to suffer and so to enter into his glory? (Luke xxiv, 26.) can you who are a sinful child of Adam, a son of wrath, who for your sins have merited to be exiled from heaven and condemned to the abyss of hell, can you hope for the happiness of the elect, not by conquest but by inheritance, without toil and without suffering? This would be to expect an impossibility.

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: I believe to see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living. Expect the Lord. (Ps. xxvi, 13-14.)

 

CONSIDER SECONDLY  that Christ by His suffering merited and won the bliss of heaven not for Himself, but for us. Therefore He added: Going therefore teach all nations. In these words Jesus would give His disciples to understand that by the merits of His death He had opened to all nations the way of attaining to His heavenly kingdom. They must embrace His teaching and observe His divine commandments, and be being cleansed in the sacrament of Baptism must be added to the number of the faithful.

APPLICATION.  How you should thank God Who has caused you to be born at a time so favourable to your salvation! You enjoy the happy lot of having been cleansed in holy baptism and of being numbered among His most intimate followers! But it is of no avail to bear the name of Christian by holy baptism, if one does not fulfill what one promised in that Sacrament. Teach them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you (Matt. xxviii, 20.) What will it profit you to call yourself an intimate follower of Christ if you do not correspond with the obligations of your state?

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: I have loved thy commandments above gold and topaz. (Ps. cxviii, 127.)

 

CONSIDER THIRDLY that for the first Christians of the infant church it was necessary that their faith should be confirmed by miracles as our Blessed Lord said. These signs shall follow them that believe, etc. (Mark xvi, 17.) But the faith needs not be confirmed in the church by fresh miracles. It needs now rather to be developed and strengthened by the exercise of virtues. Hence cast out of your heart all vice and sin. Allow only becoming words to come from your lips, not as from the old and carnal man, but such as befit the new and spiritual man. Cast out the poison of evil suggestions and temptations. Do all that lies in you to promote the salvation of your neighbour, healing the infirmities of their souls so far as your state of life may allow you to do so.

APPLICATION.   Enter into yourself and consider whether all your actions are indeed those of a true Christian, seeking to serve God, and not those of a lover of the world: because the profession and the name of Christian alone without good works will not avail for salvation.

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: The iniquity of the proud hath been multiplied over me: but I will seek thy commandments with my whole heart. (Ps.cxviii, 69.)

+ + + + + + + JMJ + + + + + + +

 

TUESDAY AFTER THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER ~ CHRIST ABIDING WITH US

Behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world. (Matt. xxviii, 20.)

 

CONSIDER FIRSTLY that as our Blessed Redeemer was about to separate Himself from His disciples and to ascend into heaven, He promised them for their consolation that He would be with them even to the end of the world, not in His corporal and visible presence but spiritually and invisibly, in order to help and strengthen them. In losing their divine Master, what better comfort could they have wished for than to be assured of His being ever ready to help them, and to be ever present in their needs?

APPLICATION: In this promise of our Blessed Lord, made to all the faithful of all ages, even to the consummation of the world, you also participate. This same Lord Who is the supreme Ruler of heaven and earth, remains also with you to console and strengthen you in all your necessities. Is it not a great marvel that He Who has no need of you, should out of His immense goodness stand always by you to help you? Is it not still greater marvel that you, who are so needy and so wanting in all good, should live so far removed from Him in your affections and thoughts, and should realise so little how to turn to Him in your needs?

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: Blessed are they that fear the Lord, that walk in his ways. (Ps. cxxvii, 1.)

 

CONSIDER SECONDLY  that it was this promise that animated and strengthened the Apostles to undertake the struggle against idolatry, and to plant the faith of Jesus Christ. It made them surmount many difficulties and gladly give up their lives amid the most cruel tortures. For each one knew he was not alone in all these combats, and that the irresistible strength of Jesus would triumph in them. Be not afraid for I am with you. (Jer. I, 8.)

APPLICATION.  This certainty of having Jesus to help you, is what should encourage you to fulfill those duties which are imposed upon you by your state of life. Although it seems to you that you have not the requisite strength of body or gifts of mind for the perfect accomplishment of them, if you will but place your trust in our Lord He will give you help proportionate to the burden which He lays upon you.

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS:  He delivered me from my strongest enemies, and from them that hated me. (Ps. xvii, 18.)

 

CONSIDER THIRDLY how Jesus fulfills this promise of always remaining with the faithful of Hid church. Firstly, He is with them as God in His immensity just as He is in every place. For in Him we live and move and are. (Acts xvii, 28.) Secondly, as God-man He is with the faithful by means of habitual grace which unites our souls to Him, and by actual grace with which He gives us strength to do good works. Thirdly, Jesus is with the faithful by the special care with which He governs and directs them towards their last end, and much more so is He in the whole church to uphold and keep it firm against the assaults of hell. And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matt. xvi, 18.) Finally He remains with the faithful in the sacramental presence.

APPLICATION.  If then Jesus abide in so many ways with the faithful, do you also on your part endeavour all you can to remain with Him with all your mind and heart, in all your work and life.

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS:  It is good for me to adhere to my God, to put my hope in the Lord God. (Ps. lxxii, 28.)

+ + + + + + + JMJ + + + + + + +

 

 

WEDNESDAY AFTER THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER ~ PREPARATION FOR THE ASCENSION

And he led them out as far as Bethania, and lifting up his hands he blessed the.  (Luke xxiv, 50.)

 

CONSIDER FIRSTLY that Jesus having given many instructions to the Apostles for the right government of His Church, in His various apparitions to them during the space of forty days, desired at the hour of His departure to show them still more tender marks of affection. He sat at table to eat with them, although His glorified body needed no food. He told them that He was going to heaven, there to prepare a place for each one of them in His kingdom: I go to prepare a place for you. (John xiv, 3.) He assured them that before long they also should sit with Him on their thrones: I will take you to myself that where I am you also may be. (John xiv, 2.) Hence they were not to give way to sadness, but rather to rejoice in His return to His divine Father. With such demonstrations of His tender love did our Blessed Lord captivate the affections and bind the hearts of the disciples to Him.

APPLICATION:  Learn hence how to behave towards your neighbour on order to win him to God, for sweetness will avail with him more than severity, as St. Francis Xavier so well discovered and practiced in the Indies.

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: How sweet are thy words to my palate! More than honey to my mouth. (Ps. cxviii, 103.)

 

CONSIDER SECONDLY  that before ascending up to heaven Jesus led His disciples to the mount of Olives. He led them out as far as Bethania, which stood on the slope of this mountain where He had begun His sacred passion in a sweat of blood and the agony of death. Thus He would teach them that the true path by which to ascend to heaven is the path of suffering, and that glory and triumph succeed to pain and sorrow. What sentiments and affections must have been awakened in the hearts of Peter, James and John who had been the most intimate spectators of the agony in the garden, at the beholding the scene so much changed! How it must have animated them lovingly to embrace the cross!

APPLICATION.  Think often and seriously of the great blessing which you may confidently hope for in suffering for God in this life, so that you may thus come to love the cross more than all the delights and all the greatness of this world.

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS:  Be thou mindful of thy word to thy servant: in which thou hast given me hope. This hath comforted me in my humiliation: because thy word hath enliven me. (Ps. cxviii, 49,50.)

 

CONSIDER THIRDLY that Jesus having reached the summit of the Mount of Olives, cast upon them a look of extraordinary majesty and sweetness. And lifting up his hands he blessed them (Luke xxiv, 50.) , as He gave them to kiss the sacred wounds in His feet and hands. Imagine what must have been the sentiments which filled the hearts of the disciples at that moment, but more particularly those of the Blessed Mother towards her Son and the Son towards His Mother.

APPLICATION.   How fortunate you would have counted yourself, had you been present, to be blessed by Jesus at His departure! Approach now as close as you may in spirit to kiss His sacred wounds and you likewise will be blessed, for the wounds of Jesus are a true source of every good and fountains of all blessings: In that day there shall be a fountain open to the house of David. (Zach. Xiii, 1.)

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS:  As the hart panteth after the fountains of water: so my soul panteth after thee, O God. (Ps xli, 2.)

+ + + + + + + JMJ + + + + + + +

 

THURSDAY AFTER THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER ~ THE ASCENSION

And it came to pass, whilst he blessed them, he departed from them and was carried up to heaven. (Luke xxiv, 51.)

 

CONSIDER FIRSTLY that in the act of ascending from the earth into heaven, Christ appeared to the eyes of the disciples more glorious and luminous than in His transfiguration on Mount Thabor. The further He raise Himself by little and little from the earth, the more clearly did He give them to behold the gifts of glory wherewith His blessed body was adorned. What a spectacle of wonder and of joy it was to the Apostles now to see their divine Master ascending into heaven in such glory, after they had seen Him so humiliated in the cenacle washing their feet, and afterwards throughout His passion so down-trodden and despised! With what desires and ardent affections must they not have followed Him in His triumphant ascension!

APPLICATION: Do you likewise accompany Him by raising your heart from the lowliness of this wretched earth and valley of tears. But if you also would rise to the heights of glory, you must first humble yourself after the example of Jesus, Who ascended in glory to heaven, because He had abased Himself so humbly upon earth. Now that He ascended, what is it, but because He also descended first. (Ephes. iv, 9.)

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: God is ascended with jubilee: and the Lord with the sound of trumpet. (Ps. xlvi, 6.)

 

CONSIDER SECONDLY  that as the disciples stood motionless with their eyes and hearts fixed upon this heavenly vision, a cloud received Him out of their sight. (Acts I, 9.) It was by a cloud that they were suddenly deprived of the further sight of our blessed Lord. This cloud, which mysteriously intervened and so obscured their vision, signified that in this our journey of life the consolations of the divine mysteries do not last long for us, but are to be enjoyed only for a short time and as it were in a passing manner. God wishes that the mote solid virtues should be exercised amid obscurity, aridity and desolations. Moreover He would hereby also give us to understand that it is our passions, vices and sins which are the clouds intervening and separating us from God: Thou hast set a cloud before Thee that our prayer may not past through. (Lam. iii, 44.)

APPLICATION:  Bear well in mind then that all evil and ill-regulated affections in your heart are so many clouds which prevent your rising to heaven and rejoicing in the abundance of its blessings.

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS:  Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew a right spirit within my bowels. (Ps. l, 12.)

 

CONSIDER THIRDLY that as the disciples continued accompanying with their looks the triumph of Christ, they saw two angels descending who said to them: Why stand you looking up to heaven? He who is called to the apostolate of Christ must not shut himself up in mere contemplation, but must pass forward to the labours of his charge, to work for the good of his neighbour, and to the exercise of virtue. But if the disciples were reproved for standing there still contemplating the divine mystery, how much more reprehensible will it be to waste in idle converse and pastime, neglecting to work when one should and as one should?

APPLICATION:   Ever remember that you are a pilgrim in this short life, and as a pilgrim you should go from virtue to virtue (Ps. lxxxiii, 8.) , and not spend your time uselessly. For Christ will return before long in all that majesty with which to-day He ascended into heaven. And thus you will see Him at the moment of your death, when He will mete out to you the reward of your good deeds or the punishment of your evil ones. But it will be a reward or a punishment that will be eternal.

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS:  Blessed is the man whose help is from thee. In his hearts he hath disposed to ascend by steps, in the vale of tears, in the place which he hath set. (Ps. lxxxiii, 6-7.)

+ + + + + + + JMJ + + + + + + +

 

FRIDAY AFTER THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER ~ CHRIST'S ENTRANCE INTO HEAVEN

Now glorify me, O Father, with thyself with the glory which I had, before the world was, with thee. (John xvii, 5.)

 

CONSIDER FIRSTLY the triumphal entry of our Blessed Redeemer into heaven, followed by all the innumerable legions of souls delivered from limbo,  of the just, of prophets, of patriarchs, and welcomed by all the choirs of angels who came forth to receive Him in triumph. Astounded even they at glory so immense they chanted in full chorus: Who is this that cometh from Edom with dyed garments from Bosra, this beautiful one in hid robe walking in the greatness of his strength? (Isa. lxiii, 1.) But how much greater even was the wonder and joy of those blessed souls, as they passed from the dark prison of limbo to the glorious abode of paradise. How fervently they thanked their loving Redeemer from their hearts, how they rejoiced now in all the sufferings which they had endured upon earth. All these seemed to them as a dream, as a mere nothing in comparison with the glorious reward it had gained for them, whilst they repeated the words of the Psalmist: We have rejoiced for the days in which thou hast humbled us: for the years in which we have seen evils. (Ps. lxxxix, 15.)

APPLICATION:  If you also would but often raise your thoughts to your heavenly country and there fix your heart, how short and light would appear to you too all the sufferings of this life which you must endure in order to attain to it.

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: How lovely are thy tabernacles, O Lord of host! My soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord. (Ps. lxxxiii, 2, 3.)

 

CONSIDER SECONDLY  in the midst of all this jubilee of the angels and of the saints, the joy of Christ Himself. He had now with so much glory reopened heaven, which for so many ages had been closed to the children of Adam. He had despoiled Lucifer of the supremacy which he so tyrannically held over the earth to the ruin of souls. He had by His doctrine and His holy example made known to all the true way top eternal salvation. So then in offering to His Father the spoils of these souls rescued from hell He could say: I have glorified thee on earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now glorify me, O Father. ... I have manifested thy name to men. (John xvii, 4, 6.)

APPLICATION:  If you also can say all of this at the moment of your death when you are about to appear before God, happy indeed will you be! But in the meanwhile mark well how you obey and glorify God, in promoting the good of your neighbour and in fulfilling the duties of your state, lest in that last hour you find yourself deceived.

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS:.  My heart had said to thee: My face hath sought thee. Thy face, O Lord, will I still seek. (Ps. xxvi, 8.)

 

CONSIDER THIRDLY how exceedingly pleasing to the Father  was the gift of these souls, and how He made His divine Son sit at His right hand that all the angels and all the creatures might adore Him. Then the Son, by the supreme power which He had by His nature as God and which as man He had merited, assigned to these souls according to their merits, the places from which Lucifer and his companions had been driven, leaving however innumerable places vacant for those who should come hereafter.

APPLICATION: You cannot indeed be assured if among these blessed ones there will be found place for you also. In order however to have a strong assurance of obtaining it, follow as closely as you possibly can in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. Our Blessed Lord began at His ascension the work of advocate in heaven on our behalf, pleading for us with the voice of His blood and of His wounds: We have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Just. (1 John ii, 1.)

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS:  Adore ye the Lord in his holy court. Let all the earth be moved at his presence. Say ye among the Gentiles: The Lord hath reigned. (Ps. xcv, 9-10.)

 + + + + + + + JMJ + + + + + + +

 

SATURDAY AFTER THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER ~ AWAITING THE COMING OF THE HOLY GHOST

They adoring went back into Jerusalem with great joy. (Luke xxiv, 52.)

 

CONSIDER FIRSTLY how before leaving the mount of Olives the disciples once more adored their Lord now reigning in the highest heaven, and kissed with tears of tenderness and with joy of spirit the marks left by His footprints as He ascended from earth. This joy was increased in their hearts by the faith which had been perfected in them at the sight of the glorious ascension of their divine Master: by the hope that was thus strengthened in them of one day beholding Jesus upon His throne: and by that intense charity which made them exult in the glory of their Master.

APPLICATION: The ascension of our Blessed Lord should produce in you a similar joy, by means of a lively faith, a strong hope and a sincere charity. These are the sources of true joy by keeping your mind ever fixed upon this divine mystery, your desires aspiring to your heavenly country, and your heart soaring up to Jesus as a ray to its own centre.

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: They that sow in tears shall reap in joy, casting their seeds. (Ps. cxxv, 5, 6.)

 

CONSIDER SECONDLY  that the disciples, when they returned from the mount of Olives, all assembled in the cenacle in Jerusalem: They entered into the cenacle and abode there, in preparation for the coming of the Holy Ghost.

APPLICATION  Such is for you also one of the principal means by which to dispose yourself to receive the gifts from heaven, namely, to remain retired in quietness of soul, without too much going abroad or distraction. It is in this manner that in imitation of the disciples you ought during these days to await the coming of the Holy Spirit.

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS:  As for me, my prayer is to thee, O Lord; for the time of thy good pleasure, O God. In the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation. (Ps. lxviii, 14.)

 

CONSIDER THIRDLY that, remembering the weakness they had shown and their grievous defections during the time of the sacred passion, they passed all these days in humbling themselves and in distrust of their own strength, praying and awaiting to be clothed with the strength from above and armed with heavenly help.

APPLICATION: The more you presume and confide in your own strength, so much the less will you receive help from God, Who resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble. (James iv, 6.) Strive therefore to realise your own weakness, and acknowledge that of yourself you can do nothing, if you desire to be clothed by the Holy Spirit with strength from above. For He communicates Himself more liberally to those hearts which are empty of self, and which are less encumbered by earthly and worldly affections.

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS:  The Lord is high, and looketh on the low: and the high he knoweth afar off. (Ps. cxxxvii, 6.)

+ + + + + + + JMJ + + + + + + +

+++AMDG+++