Adoration: the Angelic Life

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on April 28, 2011 8:00 AM |

They praised Thy victorious hand, O Lord,
with one accord, alleluia:
for wisdom opened the mouth of the dumb,
and made the tongues of infants vocal with praise,
alleluia, alleluia (Wis 10:21-22).

Praise of Wisdom

Today's Introit, the fifth of eight given us by the Church during this week of glory, is drawn from the 10th chapter of the book of Wisdom. The passage that is sung in the Introit is best understood by placing it in its context: a praise of the wonders wrought by Holy Wisdom during the Exodus.

She . . . led them out on their miraculous journey, affording them shelter by day and starry radiance by night. She made a passage for them through the Red Sea, brought them safely through those leagues of water, and churned up the bodies of their drowned enemy from those unfathomed depths. So, enriched by the spoils of the godless, they extolled, O Lord, thy holy name, proclaimed with one voice thy sovereign power; Wisdom opened the dumb mouths, and made the lips of infants vocal with praise (Wis 10:17-21).

The Mysteries of Initiation

Who is Holy Wisdom? As we know from the Great O Antiphon of December 17th, Wisdom, Sapientia, designates none other than Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of the Father. The Church confesses that Christ led out the catechumens on their miraculous journey into the font of Holy Baptism, and out of the font to the altar of His Sacrifice. The neophytes are characterized, above all, by the praise of Christ that comes to flower on their lips in the celebration of the Eucharist.

The Gift of Praise

Divine grace confers upon the soul the gift of praise. Before Baptism, we are all dumb, that is, incapable of offering to God what the Letter to the Hebrews calls "a continual sacrifice of praise to God, the tribute of lips that give thanks to his name" (Heb 13:15).

Little Children

The grace of Christ makes the lips of infants vocal with praise. Who are these infants? Our Lord himself reveals their identity. "At that time, Jesus was filled with gladness by the Holy Spirit, and said, O Father who art Lord of heaven and earth, I give thee praise that thou hast hidden all this from the wise and the prudent, and revealed it to little children. Be it so, Lord, since this finds favour in thy sight" (Lk 10:21).

A Grave Spiritual Sickness

A soul that finds it tedious to lift her voice to God in praise, a soul that has forgotten the language of thanksgiving, of blessing, of adoration, is suffering from the gravest spiritual sickness: self-absorption. What is the remedy for self-absorption? The recovery of grateful awe in the presence of God. The rediscovery of the infinite beauty of God, of the immensity of His Mercy, of the splendour of His Truth. If we confess our sins, beginning with the pernicious sin of self-absorption, the mercy of God will render us capable of confessing Him, that is, of praising Him in awestruck awareness of His majesty.

The Angels

A soul preoccupied with herself cannot move beyond herself into the praise taught us by the Angels. The Angels have no eyes for themselves. They have eyes only for God. Seeing God as He is, they ceaselessly cry out, "Holy, Holy Holy!" What Pope Benedict XVI said in September 2007 at the Abbey of Heiligenkreuz in Austria is perhaps what we most need to hear in those moments when, being entrapped within our limitations, we cannot move beyond them to praise. Listen to the Holy Father:

In the life of monks . . . prayer takes on a particular importance: it is the heart of their calling. Their vocation is to be men of prayer. In the patristic period the monastic life was likened to the life of the angels. It was considered the essential mark of the angels that they are adorers. Their very life is adoration. This should hold true also for monks. Monks pray first and foremost not for any specific intention, but simply because God is worthy of being praised. Confitemini Domino, quoniam bonus! - Praise the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy is eternal!": so we are urged by a number of Psalms (e.g. Ps 106:1). Such prayer for its own sake, intended as pure divine service, is rightly called officium. It is "service" par excellence, the "sacred service" of monks. It is offered to the triune God who, above all else, is worthy "to receive glory, honour and power" (Rev 4:11), because he wondrously created the world and even more wondrously renewed it.

Pray today that the Adorable Body and Precious Blood of Christ may heal us of the paralysis of self-absorption, and sanctify our tongues for the praise of Him who waits for us, at every moment, to "sing to Him a new song" (Ps 98:1).

Vespers -- Evening Prayer

Vespers (Evening Prayer)

Introduction

O God, come to my aid.

O Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen. Alleluia.

Hymn

Jesus Christ is risen today, alleluia,

Our triumphant holy day, alleluia,

Who so lately on the Cross, alleluia,

Suffered to redeem our loss, alleluia.

Haste, ye Maries, from your fright, alleluia,

Take to Galilee your flight, alleluia,

To his sad disciples say, alleluia,

‘Jesus Christ is risen today,’ alleluia.

Hymns of praise, then, let us sing, alleluia,

Unto Christ, our heavenly King, alleluia,

Who endured the Cross and grave, alleluia,

Sinners to redeem and save, alleluia.

Psalm 109 (110) The Messiah, king and priest

Mary Magdalen came with the other Mary to see the tomb where the Lord had been laid, alleluia.

The Lord has said to my lord:

“Sit at my right hand

while I make your enemies your footstool.”

From Zion the Lord will give you a sceptre,

and you will rule in the midst of your foes.

Royal power is yours in the day of your strength,

among the sacred splendours.

Before the dawn, I begot you from the womb.

The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent:

“You are a priest for ever,

a priest of the priesthood of Melchisedech.”

The Lord is at your right hand,

and on the day of his anger he will shatter kings.

He will drink from the stream as he goes –

he will hold his head high.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Mary Magdalen came with the other Mary to see the tomb where the Lord had been laid, alleluia.

Psalm 113A (114) Israel set free from Egypt

Come and see where the Lord was laid, alleluia.

When Israel came out of Egypt,

Jacob’s people from a land of strangers,

Judah became his sanctuary

and Israel his domain.

The sea saw it, and fled;

the Jordan flowed backwards at the sight;

the mountains leapt like rams;

the hills, like yearling sheep.

Sea, what was it, what made you flee?

And you, Jordan, why did you flow uphill?

Mountains, why did you leap like rams?

Hills, like yearling sheep?

Tremble, Earth, at the presence of the Lord,

the presence of the Lord of Jacob,

who has turned the rock into a pool of water

and made a fountain out of the flint.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Come and see where the Lord was laid, alleluia.

Canticle	(Apocalypse 19)

The wedding of the Lamb

Jesus said: ‘Do not fear. Go, and tell my brethren that they are to leave for Galilee: they will see me there.’ Alleluia.

Alleluia.

Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,

because his judgements are true and just.

Alleluia.

Praise our God, all his servants,

and you who fear him, small and great.

Alleluia.

For the Lord reigns, our God, the Almighty:

let us rejoice and exult and give him glory.

Alleluia.

The marriage of the Lamb has come,

and his spouse has made herself ready.

Alleluia.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Jesus said: ‘Do not fear. Go, and tell my brethren that they are to leave for Galilee: they will see me there.’ Alleluia.

Short reading	1 Peter 3:18,21-22 ©

Christ himself, innocent though he was, had died once for sins, died for the guilty, to lead us to God. In the body he was put to death, in the spirit he was raised to life. And now you are saved, not by the washing off of physical dirt but by a pledge made to God from a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has entered heaven and is at God’s right hand, now that he has made the angels and Dominations and Powers his subjects.

Short Responsory

This is the day the Lord made: let us rejoice in it and be glad, alleluia.

Canticle	Magnificat

My soul rejoices in the Lord

Look at my hands and feet; yes, it is I indeed. Alleluia.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation.

For he has shown me such favour –

me, his lowly handmaiden.

Now all generations will call me blessed,

because the mighty one has done great things for me.

His name is holy,

his mercy lasts for generation after generation

for those who revere him.

He has put forth his strength:

he has scattered the proud and conceited,

torn princes from their thrones;

but lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things;

the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel,

he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Look at my hands and feet; yes, it is I indeed. Alleluia.

Prayers and Intercessions

Christ rose from the dead, the first-fruits of all who slept. Let us rejoice and give him praise, saying:

– You rose from the dead: hear our prayer.

Remember, Christ, your holy Church. You founded it on the Apostles and spread it throughout the world:

give your blessing to all who believe in you.

– You rose from the dead: hear our prayer.

Healer of our souls and our bodies,

come to our aid and bring us to safety.

– You rose from the dead: hear our prayer.

Help the sick and give them strength:

free them from their weakness.

– You rose from the dead: hear our prayer.

Help those who are weighed down with pain and oppression;

in your mercy, sustain the poor.

– You rose from the dead: hear our prayer.

Through your cross and resurrection, you opened up for all the road to eternal life:

grant that our brethren who have died may share in the joy of your kingdom.

– You rose from the dead: hear our prayer.

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Lord God,

you have made one people

out of many different races and nations,

united through confessing the glory of your name.

They were born to new life in baptism:

let there be one faith in their hearts,

one love in their Christian way of life.

[We make our prayer] 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.

Amen.

May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.

AMEN

Regnum Christi

You Are Witnesses of These Things

INTERNATIONAL | SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

Thursday in the Octave of Easter (April 28, 2011)

April 28, 2011
Thursday in the Octave of Easter
Father Robert Presutti, LC

Luke 24:35-48
The disciples of Jesus recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, it is really I. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have." And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them. He said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. And he said to them, "Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things."

Introductory Prayer: Lord, you are the source of all life because you are life itself. Your resurrection gives me the hope of being raised from the dead to rejoice with you in heaven forever. I need to reflect more often on the good you have done for us and on your promises to those who put their trust in you. Thank you, Jesus, for taking up your life again and leading the way home to heaven. I love you, and I want to follow after you with all my heart. I want to cooperate more fully with you in bringing many others to heaven with me.

Petition: Lord Jesus, bring me your Easter peace. Let me share in your victory over sin and death. May I live for you alone.

1. The Disciples’ Mixed and Changing Reaction to the Resurrection: The Gospel narratives manifest the disciples’ volatile situation. They want to believe, but lack confidence. They experience the sincere joy of seeing Christ resurrected, but have not completely overcome their cautious disbelief. The two from Emmaus recount their encounter, and Christ himself appears to them. Yet even when he is right there in front of them, they are slow to believe. Our Lord’s patient, accepting attitude is encouraging. He did not come for a meal, but takes a piece of fish to help them believe. We all have our moments of light and generosity, and our moments of sluggishness and inner resistance. I want to believe, but because it implies letting go of my false securities, I need detachment and purification. Christ aids my weakness by his closeness.

2. It Is I Myself: Christ is not a ghost. He is not a figment of my imagination, nor the result of my wishful thinking––something too good to be true. Christ is more real than my fears; his grace is stronger than my weakness, more powerful than sin and death itself. As the disciples have mixed reactions to his presence, he invites them to get a grip on themselves and reflect in faith. Reflection and contemplation in faith always lead to the truth of Christ. Am I living in an illusory world of my own making because I’m not reflecting in faith on the realities and experiences of my life? All I need to do is overcome my incredulity with faith and trust in the Christ.

3. Thus It Was Written: The Cross was not a mistake. Christ does not see it as a necessary evil. Rather, “it was written”. In other words, it could not have been any other way. Without the Cross there is no resurrection. Without the Resurrection there is no experience of the fullness of life, no hope for things to come. My life too has its own experience of Christ’s cross. What for me might be an unexpected twist, an obstacle or a problem, is for the Lord a means of purifying my heart and bringing me to the Resurrection.

Conversation with Christ: At times Lord, I fear I am seeing a ghost, just like the disciples. Your plan and will are so far beyond me that at times I have difficulty distinguishing my own wishful thinking or false hopes from your will and your call. Help me to find in you the only source of my hopes and the One who will never fail me.

Resolution: Today I will speak of Christ’s resurrection and the hope which it brings us.

One Bread, One Body

<< Thursday, April 28, 2011 >>

Easter Week
Saint of the Day

Acts 3:11-26
View Readings

Psalm 8:2, 5-9

Luke 24:35-48

THE GRATEFUL DEAD?

"You disowned the Holy and Just One and preferred instead to be granted the release of a murderer." —Acts 3:14

Satan deals death and introduced death into the human race (Catechism, 407). You'd think getting humans to accept death would be a hard sell for Satan, but it's actually easy for him. All he must do is divert people's attention away from Jesus, Who is the "Author of Life" (Acts 3:15) and, in fact, is Life (Jn 11:25; 14:6). With their eyes no longer fixed on Jesus, Satan then gets people to focus on the pleasures of the flesh, and the concern of the flesh is death (see Rm 8:6, RNAB). Therefore, once Satan leads people away from Life, they will invite death, consider it a friend, pine for death, and even make a covenant with it (Wis 1:16; Is 28:15). That's the progression Satan uses to convince people to disown Jesus and prefer a killer (Acts 3:14).

In America, especially, we have such a focus on death that Pope John Paul II coined the phrase "culture of death" for our secular society. He even warned that America could be in danger of losing its soul. This culture of death promotes a tolerance toward death. Some modern music and rock groups glorify death; for example, there are rock bands named The Grateful Dead, Megadeth, etc. There even exists a genre of rock music called Death Metal. Euthanasia, suicide, and abortion sell. A popular movie climaxes with the heroine's assisted suicide. In America, Halloween (Eve of All Hallows) has eroded into a day which romanticizes death. There is even further evidence of a tolerant, even friendly, attitude toward death. God has set a choice before you: life and death. Choose life (Dt 30:19). Choose Jesus, the Life (Jn 11:25; 14:6).

Prayer: Jesus, help me to be "pro-life" in its fullest meaning. Teach me to regard death as an enemy (1 Cor 15:26), not a friend.

Promise: "He opened their minds to the understanding of the Scriptures." —Lk 24:45

Praise: Jesus lives! Jesus is Life! Alleluia!

Homily of the Day

Let Him Raise Up What’s Best in You!

April 28th, 2011 by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.

Acts 3:11-26 / Lk 24:35-48

The resurrection of Jesus thoroughly transformed the apostles. Not only were they able to step outside their fears and preach the good news of Jesus courageously, but they were able to look at the world and at their fellow countrymen with more generous hearts. After both the anguish and the fright of Jesus’ death, followed in turn by the vindication of Jesus’ resurrection, they could easily have settled into a vengeful “I told you so” attitude.

Instead, they extended to one and all the hand of friendship and forgiveness, just as Jesus had done to them when they didn’t deserve it either. That was a real change of heart and a dawning of wisdom for those men who had so often bickered about who would get the best places in Jesus’ kingdom.

It’s the kind of change of heart and dawning of wisdom that we all hope for, and it can be ours if we lay ourselves open to the touch of God’s grace.

Open your heart to the risen Lord, and let him raise up what’s best in you.

Compline -- Night Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer)

Introduction

O God, come to my aid.

O Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen. Alleluia.

This is an excellent moment for an examination of conscience. In a communal celebration of Compline, one of the penitential acts given in the Missal may be recited.

Hymn

Jesu, the world’s redeeming Lord,

The Father’s co-eternal Word,

Of light invisible true Light,

Thine Israel’s Keeper day and night.

Our great Creator and our Guide,

Who times and seasons dost divide,

Refresh at night with quiet rest,

Our limbs by daily toil oppressed.

We pray thee, while we dwell below,

Preserve us from our ghostly foe;

Nor let his wiles victorious be

O’er them that are redeemed by thee.

That while in this frail house of clay

A little longer here we stay,

Our flesh in thee may sweetly sleep,

Our souls with thee their vigils keep.

All praise be thine, O risen Lord,

From death to endless life restored;

All praise to God the Father be,

And Holy Ghost eternally.

Psalm 90 (91) The protection of the Most High

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

He who lives under the protection of the Most High

dwells under the shade of the Almighty.

He will say to the Lord:

“You are my shelter and my strength,

my God, in whom I trust.”

For he will free you from the hunter’s snare,

from the voice of the slanderer.

He will shade you with his wings,

you will hide underneath his wings.

His faithfulness will be your armour and your shield.

You will not fear the terror of the night,

nor the arrow that flies by day;

nor the plague that walks in the shadows,

nor the death that lays waste at noon.

A thousand will fall at your side,

at your right hand ten thousand will fall,

but you it will never come near.

You will look with your eyes

and see the reward of sinners.

For the Lord is your shelter and refuge;

you have made the Most High your dwelling-place.

Evil will not reach you,

harm cannot approach your tent;

for he has set his angels to guard you

and keep you safe in all your ways.

They will carry you in their arms

in case you hurt your foot on a stone.

You walk on the viper and cobra,

you will tread on the lion and the serpent.

Because he clung to me, I shall free him:

I shall lift him up because he knows my name.

He will call upon me and for my part, I will hear him:

I am with him in his time of trouble.

I shall rescue him and lead him to glory.

I shall fill him with length of days

and show him my salvation.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Reading	Apocalypse 22:4-5 ©

They will see the Lord face to face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. It will never be night again and they will not need lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will be shining on them. They will reign for ever and ever.

Short Responsory

Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit, alleluia, alleluia.

– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit, alleluia, alleluia.

You have redeemed us, Lord, God of faithfulness, alleluia, alleluia.

– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit, alleluia, alleluia.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit, alleluia, alleluia.

Canticle	Nunc Dimittis

Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace. Alleluia.

Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace.

You have fulfilled your promise.

My own eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples.

A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness;

the glory of your people Israel.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace. Alleluia.

Let us pray.

Today we have celebrated the mystery of the Lord’s resurrection, and so now we humbly ask you, Lord, that we may rest in your peace, far from all harm, and rise rejoicing and giving praise to you.

Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

May the almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.

AMEN

	Regina Caeli

Queen of Heaven, be joyful,

Alleluia.

You who were worthy to bear him.

Alleluia.

He has risen, as he promised.

Alleluia.

Pray for us to God.

Alleluia.

Regina caeli laetare, Alleluia,

Quia quem meruisti portare, Alleluia,

Resurrexit sicut dixit, Alleluia.

Ora pro nobis Deum. Alleluia.