Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings 11-April-2024

Universalis/Jerusalem Bible ^

[annalex]

11 April 2024

Saint Stanislaus, Bishop, Martyr
on Thursday of the 2nd week of Eastertide



St. Stanislaus Basilica Chicopee MA

Readings at Mass

Liturgical Colour: Red. Year: B(II).

Readings for the feria

Readings for the memorial

These are the readings for the feria

---

First reading	Acts 5:27-33 ©

We are witnesses to all this, we and the Holy Spirit

When the officials had brought the apostles in to face the Sanhedrin, the high priest demanded an explanation. ‘We gave you a formal warning’ he said ‘not to preach in this name, and what have you done? You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and seem determined to fix the guilt of this man’s death on us.’ In reply Peter and the apostles said, ‘Obedience to God comes before obedience to men; it was the God of our ancestors who raised up Jesus, but it was you who had him executed by hanging on a tree. By his own right hand God has now raised him up to be leader and saviour, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins through him to Israel. We are witnesses to all this, we and the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.’

  This so infuriated them that they wanted to put them to death.

---

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 33(34):2,9,17-20 ©

This poor man called and the Lord heard him.

or

Alleluia!

I will bless the Lord at all times,

  his praise always on my lips;

Taste and see that the Lord is good.

  He is happy who seeks refuge in him.

This poor man called and the Lord heard him.

or

Alleluia!

The Lord turns his eyes to the just

  and his ears to their appeal.

They call and the Lord hears

  and rescues them in all their distress.

This poor man called and the Lord heard him.

or

Alleluia!

The Lord is close to the broken-hearted;

  those whose spirit is crushed he will save.

Many are the trials of the just man

  but from them all the Lord will rescue him.

This poor man called and the Lord heard him.

or

Alleluia!

---

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

Christ has risen, he who created all things,

and has granted his mercy to men.

Alleluia!

Or:	Jn20:29

Alleluia, alleluia!

‘You believe, Thomas, because you can see me.

Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.

Alleluia!

---

Gospel	John 3:31-36 ©

The Father loves the Son and has entrusted everything to him

John the Baptist said to his disciples:

‘He who comes from above is above all others;

he who is born of the earth is earthly himself

and speaks in an earthly way.

He who comes from heaven

bears witness to the things he has seen and heard,

even if his testimony is not accepted;

though all who do accept his testimony

are attesting the truthfulness of God,

since he whom God has sent

speaks God’s own words:

God gives him the Spirit without reserve.

The Father loves the Son

and has entrusted everything to him.

Anyone who believes in the Son has eternal life,

but anyone who refuses to believe in the Son will never see life:

the anger of God stays on him.’

Continue

These are the readings for the memorial

---

First reading

Apocalypse 12:10-12 ©

Victory and power and empire for ever have been won by our God

I, John, heard a voice shout from heaven, ‘Victory and power and empire for ever have been won by our God, and all authority for his Christ, now that the persecutor, who accused our brothers day and night before our God, has been brought down. They have triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the witness of their martyrdom, because even in the face of death they would not cling to life. Let the heavens rejoice and all who live there.’

---

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 33(34):2-9 ©

From all my terrors the Lord set me free.

I will bless the Lord at all times,

  his praise always on my lips;

in the Lord my soul shall make its boast.

  The humble shall hear and be glad.

From all my terrors the Lord set me free.

Glorify the Lord with me.

  Together let us praise his name.

I sought the Lord and he answered me;

  from all my terrors he set me free.

From all my terrors the Lord set me free.

Look towards him and be radiant;

  let your faces not be abashed.

This poor man called, the Lord heard him

  and rescued him from all his distress.

From all my terrors the Lord set me free.

The angel of the Lord is encamped

  around those who revere him, to rescue them.

Taste and see that the Lord is good.

  He is happy who seeks refuge in him.

From all my terrors the Lord set me free.

---

Gospel Acclamation	2Co1:3-4a

Alleluia, alleluia!

Blessed be God, a gentle Father

and the God of all consolation,

who comforts us in all our sorrows.

Alleluia!

---

Gospel	Matthew 7:21-29 ©

The wise man built his house on a rock

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘It is not those who say to me, “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. When the day comes many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, cast out demons in your name, work many miracles in your name?” Then I shall tell them to their faces: I have never known you; away from me, you evil men!

  ‘Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock. But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell; and what a fall it had!’

  Jesus had now finished what he wanted to say, and his teaching made a deep impression on the people because he taught them with authority, and not like their own scribes.

Continue

 

Christian Art

Each day, The Christian Art website gives a picture and reflection on the Gospel of the day.

The readings on this page are from the Jerusalem Bible, which is used at Mass in most of the English-speaking world. The New American Bible readings, which are used at Mass in the United States, are available in the Universalis apps, programs and downloads.

You can also view this page with the Gospel in Greek and English.

[annalex]

For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments, questions, discussion.

[annalex]

KEYWORDS: catholic; easter; jn3; mt7; prayer;

[annalex]

Alleluia Ping

Please FReepmail me to get on/off the Alleluia Ping List.

[annalex]

My dad is back in the hospital. [JimRob update at 242]
Jim still needs our prayers. Thread 2
Prayer thread for Salvation's recovery
Pray for Ukraine
Prayer thread for Fidelis' recovery
Update on Jim Robinson's health issues

[annalex]

John
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	John 3
31.	He that cometh from above, is above all. He that is of the earth, of the earth he is, and of the earth he speaketh. He that cometh from heaven, is above all.	Qui desursum venit, super omnes est. Qui est de terra, de terra est, et de terra loquitur. Qui de cælo venit, super omnes est.	ο ανωθεν ερχομενος επανω παντων εστιν ο ων εκ της γης εκ της γης εστιν και εκ της γης λαλει ο εκ του ουρανου ερχομενος επανω παντων εστιν
32.	And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth: and no man receiveth his testimony.	Et quod vidit, et audivit, hoc testatur : et testimonium ejus nemo accipit.	και ο εωρακεν και ηκουσεν τουτο μαρτυρει και την μαρτυριαν αυτου ουδεις λαμβανει
33.	He that hath received his testimony, hath set to his seal that God is true.	Qui accepit ejus testimonium signavit, quia Deus verax est.	ο λαβων αυτου την μαρτυριαν εσφραγισεν οτι ο θεος αληθης εστιν
34.	For he whom God hath sent, speaketh the words of God: for God doth not give the Spirit by measure.	Quem enim misit Deus, verba Dei loquitur : non enim ad mensuram dat Deus spiritum.	ον γαρ απεστειλεν ο θεος τα ρηματα του θεου λαλει ου γαρ εκ μετρου διδωσιν ο θεος το πνευμα
35.	The Father loveth the Son: and he hath given all things into his hand.	Pater diligit Filium et omnia dedit in manu ejus.	ο πατηρ αγαπα τον υιον και παντα δεδωκεν εν τη χειρι αυτου
36.	He that believeth in the Son, hath life everlasting; but he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.	Qui credit in Filium, habet vitam æternam ; qui autem incredulus est Filio, non videbit vitam, sed ira Dei manet super eum.	ο πιστευων εις τον υιον εχει ζωην αιωνιον ο δε απειθων τω υιω ουκ οψεται [την] ζωην αλλ η οργη του θεου μενει επ αυτον

[annalex]

Catena Aurea by St. Thomas Aguinas

3:31–32

31. He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

32. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth;

CHRYSOSTOM. (Hom. xxx. 1) As the worm gnaws wood, and rusts iron, so vainglory destroys the soul that cherishes it. But it is a most obstinate fault. John with all his arguments can hardly subdue it in his disciples: for after what he has said above, he saith yet again, He that cometh from above is above all: meaning, Ye extol my testimony, and say that the witness is more worthy to be believed, than He to whom he bears witness. Know this, that He who cometh from heaven, cannot be accredited by an earthly witness. He is above all; being perfect in Himself, and above comparison.

THEOPHYLACT. Christ cometh from above, as descending from the Father; and is above all, as being elected in preference to all.

ALCUIN. Or, cometh from above; i. e. from the height of that human nature which was before the sin of the first man. For it was that human nature which the Word of God assumed: He did not take upon Him man’s sin, as He did his punishment.

He that is of the earth is of the earth; i. e. is earthly, and speaketh of the earth, speaketh earthly things.

CHRYSOSTOM. (Hom. xxx. 1) And yet he was not altogether of the earth; for he had a soul, and partook of a spirit, which was not of the earth. What means he then by saying that he is of the earth? Only to express his own worthlessness, that he is one born on the earth, creeping on the ground, and not to be compared with Christ, Who cometh from above. Speaketh of the earth, does not mean that he spoke from his own understanding; but that, in comparison with Christ’s doctrine, he spoke of the earth: as if he said, My doctrine is mean and humble, compared with Christ’s; as becometh an earthly teacher, compared with Him, (Col. 2:3) in Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

AUGUSTINE. (Tr. xiv. c. 6) Or, speaketh of the earth, he saith of the man, i. e. of himself, so far as he speaks merely humanly. If he says ought divine, he is enlightened by God to say it: as saith the Apostle; Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. (1 Cor. 15:10) John then, so far as pertains to John, is of the earth, and speaketh of the earth: if ye hear ought divine from him, attribute it to the Enlightener, not to him who hath received the light.

CHRYSOSTOM. (Hom. xxx. 1) Having corrected the bad feeling of his disciples, he comes to discourse more deeply upon Christ. Before this it would have been useless to reveal the truths which could not yet gain a place in their minds. It follows therefore, He that cometh from heaven.

GLOSS. That is, from the Father. He is above all in two ways; first, in respect of His humanity, which was that of man before he sinned: secondly, in respect of the loftiness of the Father, to whom He is equal.

CHRYSOSTOM. (Hom. xxx. 1) But after this high and solemn mention of Christ, his tone lowers: And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth. As our senses are our surest channels of knowledge, and teachers are most depended on who have apprehended by sight or hearing what they teach, John adds this argument in favour of Christ, that, what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; meaning that every thing which He saith is true. I want, saith John, to hear what things He, Who cometh from above, hath seen and heard, i. e. what He, and He alone, knows with certainty.

THEOPHYLACT. When ye hear then, that Christ speaketh what He saw and heard from the Father, do not suppose that He needs to be taught by the Father; but only that that knowledge, which He has naturally, is from the Father. For this reason He is said to have heard, whatever He knows, from the Father.

AUGUSTINE. (Tr. xiv. c. 7) But what is it, which the Son hath heard from the Father? Hath He heard the word of the Father? Yea, but He is the Word of the Father. When thou conceivest a word, wherewith to name a thing, the very conception of that thing in the mind is a word. Just then as thou hast in thy mind and with thee thy spoken word; even so God uttered the Word, i. e. begat the Son. Since then the Son is the Word of God, and the Son hath spoken the Word of God to us, He hath spoken to us the Father’s word. What John said is therefore true.

3:32–36

32. —and no man receiveth his testimony.

33. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.

34. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

35. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

CHRYSOSTOM. (Hom. xxx. 1) Having said, And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth, to prevent any from supposing, that what he said was false, because only a few for the present believed, he adds, And no man receiveth his testimony; i. e. only a few; for he had disciples who received his testimony. John is alluding to the unbelief of his own disciples, and to the insensibility of the Jews, of whom we read in the beginning of the Gospel, He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.

AUGUSTINE. (Tr. xiv. c. 8) Or thus; There is a people reserved for the wrath of God, and to be condemned with the devil; of whom none receiveth the testimony of Christ. And others there are ordained to eternal life. Mark how mankind are divided spiritually, though as human beings they are mixed up together: and John separated them by the thoughts of their heart, though as yet they were not divided in respect of place, and looked on them as two classes, the unbelievers, and the believers. Looking to the unbelievers, he saith, No man receiveth his testimony. Then turning to those on the right hand he saith, He that hath received his testimony, hath set to his seal.

CHRYSOSTOM. (Hom. xxx. 2) i. e. hath shewn that God is true. This is to alarm them: for it is as much as saying, no one can disbelieve Christ without convicting God, Who sent Him, of falsehood: inasmuch as He speaks nothing but what is of the Father. For He, it follows, Whom God hath sent, speaketh the words of God.

ALCUIN. Or, Hath put to his seal, i. e. hath put a seal on his heart, for a singular and special token, that this is the true God, Who suffered for the salvation of mankind.

AUGUSTINE. (Tr. xiv. c. 8) What is it, that God is true, except that God is true, and every man a liar? For no man can say what truth is, till he is enlightened by Him who cannot lie. God then is true, and Christ is God. Wouldest thou have proof? Hear His testimony, and thou wilt find it so. But if thou dost not yet understand God, thou hast not yet received His testimony. Christ then Himself is God the true, and God hath sent Him; God hath sent God, join both together; they are One God. For John saith, Whom God hath sent, to distinguish Christ from himself. What then, was not John himself sent by God? Yes; but mark what follows, For God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him. To men He giveth by measure, to His only Son He giveth not by measure. To one man is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom, to another the word of knowledge: one has one thing, another another; for measure implies a kind of division of gifts. But Christ did not receive by measure, though He gave by measure.

CHRYSOSTOM. (Hom. xxx. 2) By Spirit here is meant the operation of the Holy Spirit. He wishes to shew that all of us have received the operation of the Spirit by measure, but that Christ contains within Himself the whole operation of the Spirit. How then shall He be suspected, Who saith nothing, but what is from God, and the Spirit? For He makes no mention yet of God the Word, but rests His doctrine on the authority of the Father and the Spirit. For men knew that there was God, and knew that there was the Spirit, (although they had not right belief about His nature;) but that there was the Son they did not know.

AUGUSTINE. (Tr. xiv. c. 11) Having said of the Son, God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him; he adds, The Father loveth the Son, and farther adds, and hath given all things into His hand; in order to shew that the Father loveth the Son, in a peculiar sense. For the Father loveth John, and Paul, and yet hath not given all things into their hands. But the Father loveth the Son, as the Son, not as a master his servant: as an only, not as an adopted, Son. Wherefore He hath given all things into His hand; so that, as great as the Father is, so great is the Son; let us not think then that, because He hath deigned to send the Son, any one inferior to the Father has been sent.

THEOPHYLACT. The Father then hath given all things to the Son in respect of His divinity; of right, not of grace. Or; He hath given all things into His hand, in respect of His humanity: inasmuch as He is made Lord of all things that are in heaven, and that are in earth.

ALCUIN. And because all things are in His hand, the life everlasting is too: and therefore it follows, He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.

BEDE. We must understand here not a faith in words only, but a faith which is developed in works.

CHRYSOSTOM. (Hom. xxxi. 1) He means not here, that to believe on the Son is sufficient to gain everlasting life, for elsewhere He says, Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. 7) And the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is of itself sufficient to send into hell. But we must not think that even a right belief on Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, is sufficient for salvation; for we have need of a good life and conversation. Knowing then that the greater part are not moved so much by the promise of good, as by the threat of punishment, he concludes, But He that believeth not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. See how He refers to the Father again, when He speaketh of punishment. He saith not, the wrath of the Son, though the Son is judge; but maketh the Father the judge, in order to alarm men more. And He does not say, in Him, but on Him, meaning that it will never depart from Him; and for the same reason He says, shall not see life, i. e. to shew that He did not mean only a temporary death.

AUGUSTINE. (Tr. xiv. c. 13) Nor does He say, The wrath of God cometh to him, but, abideth on him. For all who are born, are under the wrath of God, which the first Adam incurred. The Son of God came without sin, and was clothed with mortality: He died that thou mightest live. Whosoever then will not believe on the Son, on him abideth the wrath of God, of which the Apostle speaks, We were by nature the children of wrath. (Eph. 2:3)

Catena Aurea John 3

[annalex]

The Throne of Mercy with Sts. Peter and Bruno

Ventura Salimbeni (1568-1613)

[annalex]

April 11: Saint Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr—Memorial

1030–1079
Patron Saint of Poland, soldiers in battle, moral order
Canonized by Pope Innocent IV on September 17, 1253, in Assisi, Italy
Liturgical Color: Red (Purple if Lenten Weekday)

Quote: Just as a baptized person comes to Christian maturity by means of this sacrament of Confirmation, so Divine Providence gave to our nation, after its Baptism, the historical moment of Confirmation. Saint Stanislaus, who was separated by almost a whole century from the period of the Baptism and from the mission of Saint Adalbert, especially symbolizes this moment by the fact that he rendered witness to Christ by his own blood. ~1979 homily of Saint John Paul II in Poland

Reflection: In 966, Mieszko I, duke and ruler of Poland, along with many others in his ruling court, converted to the Catholic faith. Their conversion marked the beginning of what is often referred to as “The Baptism of Poland.” In the years that followed, many more conversions took place throughout the land, especially through the efforts of missionary bishop Saint Adalbert. Just over a century later, another significant event took place in Poland. The Archbishop of Krakow, Stanislaus of Szczepanów, was brutally martyred by King Bolesław II. In 1979, Pope Saint John Paul II, the former Archbishop of Krakow himself, referred to Saint Stanislaus’ martyrdom analogously as “Poland’s Confirmation” (see above).

Very little is known for certain about Saint Stanislaus, since his first biography was not written until more than a century after his death. Nonetheless, his influence upon Poland has been great. He is believed to have been born and raised in southern Poland, in the village of Szczepanów. His town and the surrounding area stood out from the rest of Poland for their unique culture, architecture, traditional costumes, dances, food, and dialect. The capital and largest city of the territory was Krakow. His parents were prominent and wealthy, as well as devout and charitable. For most of their marriage, they were without children. When his mother conceived Stanislaus later in their lives, his parents saw their child as a gift from Heaven.

As a youth, Stanislaus became very devout, charitable toward the poor, fervent in mortifications, and dedicated to growth in virtue. As a young man, it is believed that he was sent to study in the then capital of Poland, Gniezno, and later completed his theological studies in Paris. After his parents died, Stanislaus received a huge inheritance, which he immediately gave to the poor. He was ordained to the priesthood by the Bishop of Krakow and appointed canon at the cathedral, became a well-respected preacher, was later appointed as a pastor, and eventually became the Vicar General of Krakow, a position of great importance in the local church. When the Bishop of Krakow died, Stanislaus was chosen as his successor by popular acclaim. At first he refused the position, but on the explicit order of the pope, he accepted and was ordained a bishop around the age of forty-two.

As a bishop, Stanislaus vigorously preached against immoralities at all social levels. He even confronted the king. When he was met with opposition, he remained steadfast in his convictions. It is believed that, to help solve various ecclesiastical matters, he brought papal legates to Poland, reestablished the Diocese of Gniezno as an archdiocese, and worked with the king to found new monasteries to help with the ongoing efforts of evangelization.

At that time, Bolesław II was King of Poland. Legend has it that Bishop Stanislaus had purchased land for the church from a man named Piotr. After Piotr’s death, however, his three sons disputed the sale and took the matter to the king. The king, agitated with Bishop Stanislaus for condemning his immoralities, sided with the sons and ordered that the bishop return the property. Bishop Stanislaus is said to have asked for three days to produce Piotr as his witness of the sale. The king and his court laughed and gave him his three days. After three days of prayer and fasting, Bishop Stanislaus led a procession to the cemetery where Piotr’s body was exhumed and the bishop ordered him to rise, which he did. The group then proceeded to the king and Piotr testified that he did indeed sell the property, scolding his sons before returning to his grave.

Though King Bolesław enjoyed many honors as a successful military leader, he also continued to manifestly indulge in immoralities, such as lusts and heavy-handed cruelty to anyone who opposed him. Tensions continued to grow between the bishop and the king. Eventually, after the king ignored the bishop’s warnings, Bishop Stanislaus excommunicated Bolesław. Outraged, Bolesław held a mock trial and found the bishop guilty of treason, punishable by death. When Bolesław’s soldiers refused to carry out the order, Bolesław himself slew the bishop with his sword while the bishop was celebrating Mass. The legend continues that after Stanislaus’ death, the soldiers were ordered to dismember the bishop’s body and scatter the pieces on the land to be devoured by wild beasts. Miraculously, eagles guarded the pieces until the canons of the cathedral were able to gather them and bury them properly. Outrage against Bolesław’s actions quickly reached a fever pitch in the kingdom, and the king had to flee to Hungary, where he died an unhappy death.

Saint Stanislaus has become a legend and inspiration for all of Poland for many centuries. Like many kingdoms throughout the ages, Poland has gone through times of division, later to be reunited once again. Through it all, Saint Stanislaus has been a guiding light to Poles and a source of hope when it was needed the most. There is little doubt that his martyrdom confirmed Poland as a Christian country, strengthening its people throughout the years to become true witnesses to Christ no matter the cost.

Ponder your own call to courageously lay down your life for the faith. When fear keeps you from fidelity, turn to prayer and seek to imitate Saint Stanislaus. Allow his prayers and witness to confirm you more firmly in the faith so that you will be a witness to those who need it the most.

Prayer: Saint Stanislaus, your birth was a gift from Heaven, and your life of virtue, courage, and charity was a gift to the Church of Poland. Please pray for me, that I will never cower in the face of opposition, always preferring persecution over sin, and a holy life over fear of death. Like you, may I become a true witness of my faith and a source of inspiration to others. Saint Stanislaus, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

---

mycatholic.life

[annalex]

[fidelis]

NAVARRE BIBLE COMMENTARY (RSV)

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (To the Greater Glory of God)

First Reading:

From: Acts 5:27-33

The Apostles Before the Sanhedrin
--------------------------------------------------
[27] And when they (the captain and the officers) brought them (the Apostles), they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, [28] saying, "We strictly charged you not to teach in this Name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to bring this Man's blood upon us." [29] But Peter and the Apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men. [30] The God of our fathers raised Jesus whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree. [31] God exalted Him at His right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. [32] And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him."

[33] When they heard this they were enraged and wanted to kill them.

************************************************************
Commentary:

29. The Apostles' failure to obey the Sanhedrin is obviously not due to pride or to their not knowing their place (as citizens they are subject to the Sanhedrin's authority); the Sanhedrin is imposing a ruling which would have them go against God's law and their own conscience. The Apostles humbly and boldly remind their judges that obedience to God comes first. They know that many members of the Sanhedrin are religious men, good Jews who can understand their message; they try not so much to justify themselves as to get the Sanhedrin to react: they are more concerned about their judges' spiritual health than about their own safety. St. John Chrysostom comments: "God allowed the Apostles to be brought to trial so that their adversaries might be instructed, if they so desired. [...] The Apostles are not irritated by the judges; they plead with them compassionately, with tears in their eyes, and their only aim is to free them from error and from divine wrath" ("Hom. on Acts", 13). They are convinced that "those who fear God are in no danger, only those who do not fear Him" ("ibid.") and that it is worse to commit injustice than to suffer it. We can see from the Apostles' behavior how deep their convictions run; grace and faith in Jesus Christ have given them high regard for the honor of God. They have begun at last to love and serve God without counting the cost. This is true of Christian maturity. "In that cry "serviam"! [I will serve!] you express your determination to `serve' the Church of God most faithfully, even at the cost of fortune, of reputation and of life" (St J. Escriva, "The Way", 519).

The Church often prays to God to give its children this resilience: they need it because there is always the danger of growing indifferent and of abandoning the faith to some extent. "Lord, fill us with that spirit of courage which gave your martyr Sebastian," his feast's liturgy says, "strength to offer his life in faithful witness. Help us to learn from him to cherish your law and to obey you rather than men" ("Roman Missal").

A Christian should conform his behavior to God's law: that law should be his very life. He should obey and love God's commandments as taught by the Church, if he wishes to live a truly human life. The law of God is not something burdensome: it is a way of freedom, as Sacred Scripture is at pains to point out: "The Lord is my portion, I promise to keep Thy words. I entreat Thy favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to Thy promise. When I think of Thy ways, I turn my feet to Thy testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep Thy commandments. Though the cord of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget Thy law. At midnight I rise to praise Thee, because of Thy righteous ordinances. I am a companion of all who fear Thee, of those who keep Thy precepts. The earth, O Lord, is full of Thy steadfast love; teach me Thy statutes" (Psalm 119:57-64).

Conscience, which teaches man in the depths of his heart, gradually shows him what the law of God involves: "Man has in his heart a law inscribed by God. His dignity lies in observing this law, and by it he will be judged (cf. Romans 2:15-16). His conscience is man's most secret core, and his sanctuary. There he is alone with God, whose voice echoes in his depths. By conscience, in a wonderful way, that law is made known. [...] The more a correct conscience prevails, the more do persons and groups turn aside from blind choice and try to be guided by the objective standards of moral conduct" (Vatican II, "Gaudium Et Spes", 16).

Good and evil are facts of life. A person can identify them. There are such things as good actions--and there are evil actions, which should always be avoided. The goodness or badness of human actions is not essentially dependent on the circumstances, although sometimes these can affect it to some extent.

Like the eye, conscience is designed to enable a person to see, but it needs light from outside (God's law and the Church's guidance) to discover religious and moral truths and properly appreciate them. Without that help man simply tires himself out in his search; he seeks only himself and forgets about good and evil, and his conscience becomes darkened by sin and moral opportunism.

"With respect to conscience," Pope Paul VI teaches, "an objection can arise: Is conscience not enough on its own as the norm of our conduct? Do the Decalogues, the codes, imposed on us from outside, not undermine conscience [...]? This is a delicate and very current problem. Here all we will say is that subjective conscience is the first and immediate norm of our conduct, but is needs light, it needs to see which standard it should follow, especially when the action in question does not evidence its own moral exigencies. Conscience needs to be instructed and trained about what is the best choice to make, by the authority of a law" ("General Audience", 28 March 1973).

A right conscience, which always goes hand in hand with moral prudence, will help a Christian to obey the law like a good citizen and also to take a stand, personally or in association with others, against any unjust laws which may be proposed or enacted. The State is not almighty in the sphere of law. It may not order or permit anything it likes; therefore not everything legal is morally lawful or just. Respect due to civil authority--which is part of the Gospel message and has always been taught by the Church--should not prevent Christians and people of good will from opposing legislators and rulers when they legislate and govern in a way that is contrary to the law of God and therefore to the common good. Obviously, this legitimate kind of resistance to authority should always involve the use of lawful methods.

It is not enough for good Christians to profess privately the teaching of the Gospel and the Church regarding human life, the family, education, freedom, etc. They should realize that these are subjects of crucial importance for the welfare of their country, and they should strive, using all the usual means at their disposal, to see that the laws of the State are supportive of the common good. Passivity towards ideologies and stances that run counter to Christian values is quite deplorable.

30. "Hanging Him on a tree": this is reminiscent of Deuteronomy 21:23: if a criminal is put to death "and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night upon a tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is accursed by God." This is a reference to crucifixion, a form of capital punishment which originated in Persia; it was common throughout the East and was later adopted by the Romans.

32. God sends the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him, and, in turn, the Apostles obey the indications of the Spirit with complete docility.

If we are to obey the Holy Spirit and do what He asks us, we need to cultivate Him and listen to what He says. "Get to know the Holy Spirit, the Great Stranger, on whom depends your sanctification. "Don't forget that you are God's temple. The Advocate is in the center of your soul; listen to Him and be docile to His inspirations" (St J. Escriva, "The Way", 57).

[fidelis]

Gospel Reading:

From: John 3:31-36

The Visit of Nicodemus (Continuation)
-------------------------------------
(Jesus said to Nicodemus,) [31] "He who comes from above is above all; he who is on the earth belongs to the earth, and of the earth he speaks; He who comes from Heaven is above all. [32] He bears witness to what He has seen and heard, yet no one receives His testimony; [33] he who receives His testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. [34] For He whom God has sent utters the words of God, for it is not by measure that He gives the Spirit; [35] the Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. [36] He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him."

[fidelis]

Click here to go to the My Catholic Life! Devotional thread for today’s Gospel Reading

[fidelis]

Please join Cardinal Burke’s novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe for ‘crises of our age’ (Started March 12—Never too late to join!)

Let us pray.

O Virgin Mother of God, we fly to your protection and beg your intercession against the darkness and sin which ever more envelop the world and menace the Church. Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, gave you to us as our mother as He died on the Cross for our salvation. So too, in 1531, when darkness and sin beset us, He sent you, as Our Lady of Guadalupe, on Tepeyac to lead us to Him Who alone is our light and our salvation.

Through your apparitions on Tepeyac and your abiding presence with us on the miraculous mantle of your messenger, Saint Juan Diego, millions of souls converted to faith in your Divine Son. Through this novena and our consecration to you, we humbly implore your intercession for our daily conversion of life to Him and the conversion of millions more who do not yet believe in Him. In our homes and in our nation, lead us to Him Who alone wins the victory over sin and darkness in us and in the world.

Unite our hearts to your Immaculate Heart so that they may find their true and lasting home in the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Ever guide us along the pilgrimage of life to our eternal home with Him. So may our hearts, one with yours, always trust in God's promise of salvation, in His never-failing mercy toward all who turn to Him with a humble and contrite heart. Through this novena and our consecration to you, O Virgin of Guadalupe, lead all souls in America and throughout the world to your Divine Son in Whose name we pray. Amen.

[fidelis]

“God of all good, you call men and women in every age to serve the Gospel in the face of persecution from the powerful. Grant all believers a share in their courage; grant them the reward of their labors, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

(From Magnificat magazine)

[fidelis]

April is the month of devotion to the Most Holy Eucharist: