Give Us This Day Sample

DAILY PRAYER FOR TODAY’S CATHOLIC®

APRIL 2014

Give Us This Day®Canticle of Zechariah (Benedictus) Luke 1:68-79

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior,born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old that he would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathersand to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:to set us free from the hands of our enemies,free to worship him without fear,holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High;for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,to give his people knowledge of salvationby the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our Godthe dawn from on high shall break upon us,to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 V

Sts. Agape, Chionia, and Irene

Sr. Kathryn Hermes

2 V

[St. Francis of Paola]

St. Francis of Paola Fr. Daniel Durken

3 V

St. Hugh of Grenoble Kathy Coffey

4 V

[St. Isidore]

C. F. Andrews Catherine de Hueck

Doherty

5 V

[St. Vincent Ferrer]

St. Mary Crescentia Fr. Kevin O’Brien

6 Fifth Week of Lent V

Pope Benedict XVI

7 V

[St. John Baptist de la Salle]

St. John Baptist de la Salle

Mary Ann Getty Sullivan

8 V

Bd. Ursulina of Parma

Fr. Carroll Stuhlmueller

9 V

Dietrich Bonhoeffer Deacon Greg Kandra

10 V

Howard Thurman Dolores Leckey

11 V

[St. Stanislaus]

St. Guthlac Fr. Romano Guardini

12 V

St. Teresa of Los Andes

Jean VanierWithin the Word: Raising of Lazarus

Fr. Donald Senior

13 Sixth Week of Lent R

Palm Sunday

Sr. Thea Bowman

14 V

Bp. James Walsh Mahri

Leonard-Fleckman

15 V

Corrie ten Boom Adrienne von Speyr

16 V

Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz

Vinita Hampton Wright

17 W

Holy Thursday

Pope Francis

18 R

Good Friday

Fr. Michael Casey

19 W

Easter Vigil

Caryll HouselanderWithin the Word: Judas

Sr. Genevieve Glen

20 First Week of Easter W

Easter Sunday

Abp. Gregory Aymond

21 W

St. Anselm Sr. Maria Boulding

22 W

St. Hildegund of Schonau

Sr. Melannie Svoboda

23 W

Cesar Chavez Sr. Jeremy Hall

24 W

Bd. Maria Gabriella Sagheddu

Fr. Guerric DeBona

25 W

St. Pedro de San José Betancur

St. Bede

26 W

Queen Emma of Hawaii

Daniella Zsupan-Jerome

Within the Word: Women at the TombSr. Carolyn Osiek

27 Second Week of Easter W

Divine Mercy Sunday

Sts. John XXIII and John Paul IIBp. Robert Morneau

28 W

[St. Peter Chanel; St. Louis Grignion de Montfort]

Fr. Niall O’Brien St. Basil the Great

29 W

St. Catherine of Siena

St. Catherine of Siena

David Farina Turnbloom

30 W

[St. Pius V]

Bd. Luchesio and Buonadonna

Rachel SrubasWithin the Word: ResurrectionFr. Daniel Harrington

April 2014Key Blessed Among Us by Robert Ellsberg Reflection / Within the Word Author[ ] Optional MemorialVestment colors:R Red V Violet W White

Triduum Nick Wagner

Give UsThısDay®DAILY PRAYER FOR TODAY’S CATHOLIC

Editorial Advisors James Martin, SJ Irene Nowell, OSB Bishop Robert F. Morneau Timothy Radcliffe, OP Kathleen Norris Ronald Rolheiser, OMI

Peter Dwyer, PublisherMary Stommes, Editor

Catherine Donovan, Associate PublisherNancy Bauer, OSB, Assistant Editor

Robert Ellsberg, “Blessed Among Us” AuthorIrene Nowell, OSB, Scripture Editor, Morning and Evening

Susan Barber, OSB, Intercessions

www.giveusthisday.orgCustomer Service: 888-259-8470, [email protected]

Give Us This Day, Liturgical PressPO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500

© 2014 by the Order of Saint Benedict, Collegeville, Minnesota.Printed in the United States of America.

Give Us This Day® (ISSN 2159-2136, print; 2166-0654, large print; 2159-2128, online) is published monthly by Liturgical Press, an apostolate of Saint John’s Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota. Rev. John Klassen, OSB, Abbot. For complete publication information see page 446.

Published with the approval of the Committee on Divine Worship, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

CONTENTS April 2014 Volume 4, Issue 4

One Foot in Front of the Other Fr. Timothy Radcliffe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Teach Us to Pray: Pilgrimage as Prayer Fr. James Martin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Prayer of Absolution Mary Stommes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Prayers and Blessings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Prayer at Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Daily Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Order of Mass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 405Liturgy of the Word (with Holy Communion) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 433Hymns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 436Guide to Lectio Divina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 442

Sunday 361360

Sunday, April 27

MorningO Lord, open my lips.And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

(opt. hymn, pp. 436–41)Psalm 118:24-29This is the day the Lord has made;let us rejoice in it and be glad.

O Lord, grant salvation;O Lord, grant success.Blest is he who comesin the name of the Lord.We bless you from the house of the Lord;the Lord is God, and has given us light.

Go forward in procession with branches,as far as the horns of the altar.You are my God, I praise you.My God, I exalt you.Give praise to the Lord, for he is good;his mercy endures forever.

Glory to the Father . . .

Scripture Ezekiel 37:9b-10, 12b, 13-14

Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man! Say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: From the four winds

come, O breath, and breathe into these slain that they may come to life. I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath entered them; they came to life and stood on their

feet, a vast army. Thus says the Lord God: You shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and make you come up out of them, my people! I will put my spirit in you that you may come to life, and I will settle you in your land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord. I have spoken; I will do it—oracle of the Lord.

Read, Ponder, Pray on a word or phrase from today’s Scriptures (Lectio Divina, p. 442)

AntiphonBlessed be God who gave us a new birth through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Canticle of Zechariah (inside front cover)

IntercessionsGod of peace, in the name of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, we pray: r. Mighty God, hear us.

Send your Holy Spirit upon your Church and unite us in the love of Christ as we celebrate the canonization of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II. r.

Strengthen the faith of all the baptized and enlighten us in our unbelief. r.

Heal those who suffer the pain of sorrow or failure. r.

Our Father . . .

May the God of infinite goodness bless us with thankful hearts and lead us along the everlasting way. Amen.

Sunday 363362 April 27

Blessed Among UsSt. John XXIII and St. John Paul II

The canonization of a pope is not a routine matter. Before today, only one pope of the twentieth century, St. Pius X, had been canonized. Now, today, there are two more: St. John XXIII and St. John Paul II. Through canonization the Church officially recognizes the holiness of God’s servants. But there are inevitably wider implications. Were this not so, Pope Pius XII, his reputation clouded by questions from the Holocaust, might long ago have been declared a saint. In that context, Pope Francis’s decision to link the canonization of his two holy predecessors invites reflection.

While Pius X (and his fellow Piuses) reflected the Church of Vatican I—more defensive and self-assured, more remote from the tides of secular history—both Popes John XXIII and John Paul II represented a different era, a Church en-gaged, as Gaudium et Spes put it, in the “hopes and joys, the griefs and the anxieties” of men and women of our day. John XXIII quite literally inaugurated this age when he convened the Second Vatican Council. Though he did not live to see its completion, he set the tone when he called for a pastoral council, when he spoke of “aggiornamento” (updating) and the need to “open the windows” of the Church. In Pacem in Terris, he won the world’s attention by his work for peace in the context of Cold War tensions. In his humanity, he over-came the image of the pontiff as a remote, otherworldly fig-

ure. By the time of his death he was among the most beloved figures in the world—but not, until today, an official “saint.”

As a young bishop from Poland, John Paul II had attended the Second Vatican Council and throughout his life he in-voked this experience of this “second Pentecost” in the his-tory of the Church. Formed by the traumas of war and totalitarianism, he brought to the papacy a vision of the Church as a bulwark against totalitarian forces and a cham-pion of the moral and spiritual dimensions of the human person. He offered a giant presence on the world stage, while molding the Church to reflect his own forceful personality and mission. Upon his death, following a long physical de-cline, there were cries of “Santo subito!”—sainthood now.

Nevertheless, each pontiff had his supporters and detrac-tors. In some ways this reflected fault lines in the Church over the meaning and legacy of Vatican II—between those who believe the “spirit” of the Council needs to be reined in and those who feel it ought to be released. One may see in this dual canonization that Pope Francis is signaling a desire to transcend such polarization and a desire to summon Catholics to continue together, for the sake of the world, the journey of the Pilgrim People of God.*

Oboedientia et Pax (Obedience and Peace)

—Episcopal motto of Pope John XXIII

Totus Tuus (Totally Yours)

—Episcopal motto of Pope John Paul II

See page 10 for a prayer for the canonization of Saints John XXIII and John Paul II.

The Blessed Among Us features each month are written by Robert Ellsberg, author of All Saints.

365

Jesus Appears to Thomas, from the Mafa Christian communities, 1973.

MassSecond Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday

Entrance Antiphon 1 Peter 2:2Like newborn infants, you must long for the pure, spiritual milk, / that in him you may grow to salvation, alleluia.

Or: 4 Esdras 2:36-37Receive the joy of your glory, giving thanks to God, / who has called you into the heavenly kingdom, alleluia.

Gloria (p. 407)

CollectGod of everlasting mercy,who in the very recurrence of the paschal feastkindle the faith of the people you have made your own,increase, we pray, the grace you have bestowed,that all may grasp and rightly understandin what font they have been washed,by whose Spirit they have been reborn,by whose Blood they have been redeemed.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.

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 2:42-47

All who believed were together and had all things in common.

They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of bread and

to the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, and many won-ders and signs were done through the apostles. All who


believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need. Every day they de-voted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24

r. (1) Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting. or: r. Alleluia.

Let the house of Israel say,“His mercy endures forever.”

Let the house of Aaron say,“His mercy endures forever.”

Let those who fear the Lord say,“His mercy endures forever.” r.

I was hard pressed and was falling,but the Lord helped me.

My strength and my courage is the Lord,and he has been my savior.

The joyful shout of victoryin the tents of the just. r.

The stone which the builders rejectedhas become the cornerstone.

By the Lord has this been done;it is wonderful in our eyes.

This is the day the Lord has made;let us be glad and rejoice in it. r.

A reading from the first Letter of Saint Peter 1:3-9

God has given us new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living

hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time. In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.The word of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation John 20:29You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me,

says the Lord;blessed are those who have not seen me, but still believe!

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 20:19-31

Eight days later Jesus came and stood in their midst.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear

of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace


be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.The Gospel of the Lord.

Creed (p. 408)

Prayer over the OfferingsAccept, O Lord, we pray,the oblations of your people(and of those you have brought to new birth),that, renewed by confession of your name and by Baptism,they may attain unending happiness.Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon Cf. John 20:27Bring your hand and feel the place of the nails, / and do not be unbelieving but believing, alleluia.

Prayer after CommunionGrant, we pray, almighty God,that our reception of this paschal Sacramentmay have a continuing effectin our minds and hearts.Through Christ our Lord.

ReflectionSix-Word Story

Supposedly Ernest Hemingway, known for his economy of words, was asked to write a “full” story in just six words. Legend has it he wrote: “For Sale: Baby shoes, never worn!” Whether fact or fiction, what a story is told therein.

Some years ago there was a Six-Word Memoir project inviting people to share some aspect of their life story in just six words. Thousands of people took up the challenge.

In pondering Scriptures for this Second Sunday of Easter, we find several six-word statements worthy of our consider-ation. From the Acts of the Apostles we read: “They ate their meals with exultation!” The “they” are those early Christians who lived a communal life and shared everything in com-mon. It was the meal that held them together as they broke bread and praised God for the marvelous deeds that Christ worked for them.

Another six-word memoir is in St. Peter’s first letter: “You rejoice with an indescribable joy!” What a powerful story is


hidden in these six words. It is the story of a new birth given in Jesus Christ, of an inheritance that is imperishable and unfading, of a faith more precious than gold. That “indescrib-able joy” that is also glorious is rooted in the mystery of God’s love revealed in Jesus. Love experienced produces joy, inde-scribable and indeed glorious.

Even the Gospel of St. John responds to the six-word memoir project: “That first day of the week!” And what a day it was. Doors locked, fear racing through the heart, guilt and shame rooted deeply in the soul. And then, Jesus is present, bestowing his peace and the gift of the Holy Spirit. That first day of the week would govern the apostles’ journey for the rest of their lives.

So take up the challenge. Let just six words from today’s Scriptures become your life story.

Bishop Robert F. Morneau

Robert F. Morneau is pastor of Resurrection Parish in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and the auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay.

EveningGod, come to my assistance.Lord, make haste to help me.

(opt. hymn, pp. 436–41)Psalm 63:2-9O God, you are my God; at dawn I seek you;for you my soul is thirsting.For you my flesh is pining,like a dry, weary land without water.I have come before you in the sanctuary,to behold your strength and your glory.

Your loving mercy is better than life;my lips will speak your praise.I will bless you all my life;in your name I will lift up my hands.My soul shall be filled as with a banquet;with joyful lips, my mouth shall praise you.

When I remember you upon my bed,I muse on you through the watches of the night.For you have been my strength;in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.My soul clings fast to you;your right hand upholds me.


Scripture 1 Corinthians 15:16-20

I]f the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you

are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in

372 April 27

Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are the most pitiable people of all.

But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.


AntiphonDo not be unbelieving, but believe.

Canticle of Mary (inside back cover)

IntercessionsGod, you raised Jesus from the dead and transformed all of life. In hope we pray: r. God of peace, hear us.

Fashion your Church into a community of one heart and one mind in Christ. r.

Make us steadfast and immovable in our faith in Jesus. r.

Give wisdom and compassion to those entrusted with leadership. r.

Our Father . . .

May the God of love guard us from all that is evil and enfold us in the peace of Christ. Amen.

374

375April 27–30Second Week of Easter

Within the WordResurrection in the New Testament

The most extraordinary claim made by Jesus’ first followers was that he was raised from the dead. Their Jewish contem-poraries who believed in resurrection (not all did) expected it to be a collective event at the end of history as we know it, and so a prelude to the last judgment. But the early Christians claimed that God had already raised Jesus as an individual, and that therefore the “new age” had begun.

Resurrection means the restoration of the whole person to life after death. It is not the same as immortality of the soul or resuscitation. It was not a central doctrine in the Old Testament. The ancient Israelites believed in a shadowy kind of life after death and called the abode of the dead “Sheol.” But it was a dark and gloomy place (see Psalm 88). The prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel used the idea of resurrection mainly as a metaphor for the rebirth of Israel as a nation. Only in the second-century BC book of Daniel do we have a clear state-ment of belief in resurrection: “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, others to reproach and everlasting disgrace” (12:2). Among the various groups in Jesus’ time, the Pharisees were the major proponents of belief in resurrection, while the Sadducees re-jected it. On this matter, according to Mark 12:18-27, Jesus sided with the Pharisees. The Essenes, the people who gave us the Qumran scrolls, surely believed in life after death; whether they believed in bodily resurrection is not so clear.

In the New Testament the resurrection of Jesus is affirmed with reference to the empty tomb, the risen Jesus’ appearances to those who knew he had died, and the remarkable transfor-mation that came over these people. All the Evangelists report that Mary Magdalene and other women followers came to Jesus’ tomb on Easter Sunday morning. They had witnessed his death and burial, went to the right tomb, but found the tomb empty. The question was: how did the tomb get empty? The early Christians surmised that God had raised Jesus from the dead. Even more convincing were the many encounters that early Christians had with what they believed was the risen Jesus. While the appearance accounts differ in many details, what they have in common is that their recipients knew Jesus before his death and knew that he had died. And most con-vincing of all was the personal transformations that occurred in them. Those who fled at Jesus’ arrest and even denied know-ing him (like Peter) became fearless proclaimers of the good news that “God raised him up” (Acts 2:24).

As Paul makes clear in 1 Corinthians 15, our hope of res-urrection depends on the resurrection of Jesus. Through his resurrection we live with the risen Jesus already in the “new age.” In the future fullness of God’s kingdom we will inherit a “spiritual body” (15:44); that is, we will be whole persons animated totally by the Holy Spirit. Now we live in confident hope of sharing fully in Jesus’ resurrection.

—Fr. Daniel J. Harrington

Daniel J. Harrington, SJ, professor of New Testament at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, is the author of numerous books on biblical theology and spirituality.

376 Monday 377

Monday, April 28


(opt. hymn, pp. 436–41)Psalm 71:1-6In you, O Lord, I take refuge;let me never be put to shame.In your justice, rescue me, free me;incline your ear to me and save me.

Be my rock, my constant refuge,a mighty stronghold to save me,for you are my rock, my stronghold.My God, free me from the hand of the wicked,from the grip of the unjust, of the oppressor.

It is you, O Lord, who are my hope,my trust, O Lord, from my youth.On you I have leaned from my birth;from my mother’s womb, you have been my help.At all times I give you praise.


Scripture Ecclesiastes 11:4-6

One who pays heed to the wind will never sow, / and one who watches the clouds will never reap. / Just as

you do not know how the life breath / enters the human

frame in the mother’s womb, / So you do not know the work of God, / who is working in everything. / In the morning sow your seed, / and at evening do not let your hand be idle: / For you do not know which of the two will be successful, / or whether both alike will turn out well.


AntiphonDo not be amazed that I told you, “You must be born from above.”


IntercessionsO Lord, you are our hope from our youth. With trust we pray: r. Favor us with your love, O God.

Lead seekers of employment to find meaningful jobs. r.

Sustain drug counselors and all who seek recovery from their addictions. r.

Shower compassion upon all who pass through food pantries, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters. r.

Our Father . . .

May the praise of God be always on our lips and in our hearts. Amen.

378 April 28 Monday 379

Blessed Among UsNiall O’BrienMissionary (1939–2004)

Fr. Niall O’Brien, an Irish Columban priest, arrived in the Philippines in 1964, soon after his ordination in Dublin. Eventually he settled in Negroes, one of the larger islands of the Philippines and essentially an enormous sugarcane plantation in which workers labored in appalling poverty. Fr. O’Brien immersed himself in the world of these workers, hoping to bring them the solace of faith. But before long he determined that true charity required social justice. With the purchase of land, he formed a worker’s cooperative, modeled on the kibbutzim of Israel; he organized base Christian com-munities in which workers might come to a deeper under-standing of their dignity as children of God; he began to promote a nonviolent “revolution from the heart.” Before long he was branded as a communist.

In 1983 O’Brien along with two other foreign priests and six lay workers were arrested on trumped-up murder charges. They faced the death penalty. After most of a year in prison—where the bishop appointed them as chaplains—an interna-tional campaign helped secure their release on the condition that they leave the country. Three years later the People’s Power Revolution of 1986 drove Ferdinand Marcos from power, and O’Brien returned to Negroes to resume his work for nonviolent social change.

He died on April 27, 2004.

“The Church’s teaching is unambiguous with regard to the pur-suit of justice. Christianity is grotesque when it turns its back on justice. It’s not Christianity, it’s something else.”

—Fr. Niall O’Brien

MassMonday of the Second Week of Easter

[St. Peter Chanel; St. Louis Grignion de Montfort, opt. memorials]

Entrance Antiphon Romans 6:9Christ, having risen from the dead, dies now no more; / death will no longer have dominion over him, alleluia.

CollectGrant, we pray, almighty God,that we, who have been renewed by paschal remedies,transcending the likeness of our earthly parentage,may be transformed in the image of our heavenly maker.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.


As they prayed, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

After their release Peter and John went back to their own people and reported what the chief priests and

elders had told them. And when they heard it, they raised their voices to God with one accord and said, “Sovereign Lord, maker of heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in them, you said by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of our father David, your servant: / Why did the Gentiles rage / and the peoples entertain folly? / The kings of the earth took their stand / and the princes gathered together / against the Lord and against his anointed. / Indeed they gathered in this city against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed, Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do what your hand and your will had


long ago planned to take place. And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and enable your servants to speak your word with all boldness, as you stretch forth your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm 2:1-3, 4-7a, 7b-9

r. (see 11d) Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord. or: r. Alleluia.

Why do the nations rageand the peoples utter folly?

The kings of the earth rise up,and the princes conspire togetheragainst the Lord and against his anointed:

“Let us break their fettersand cast their bonds from us!” r.

He who is throned in heaven laughs;the Lord derides them.

Then in anger he speaks to them;he terrifies them in his wrath:

“I myself have set up my kingon Zion, my holy mountain.”

I will proclaim the decree of the Lord. r.

The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;this day I have begotten you.

Ask of me and I will give youthe nations for an inheritanceand the ends of the earth for your possession.

You shall rule them with an iron rod;you shall shatter them like an earthen dish.” r.

Gospel Acclamation Colossians 3:1If then you were raised with Christ,seek what is above,where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 3:1-8

No one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.

There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi,

we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?” Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”The Gospel of the Lord.

Prayer over the OfferingsReceive, O Lord, we pray,these offerings of your exultant Church,and, as you have given her cause for such great gladness,grant also that the gifts we bringmay bear fruit in perpetual happiness.Through Christ our Lord.


Communion Antiphon John 20:19Jesus stood in the midst of his disciples and said to them: / Peace be with you, alleluia.

Prayer after CommunionLook with kindness upon your people, O Lord,and grant, we pray,that those you were pleased to renew by eternal mysteriesmay attain in their fleshthe incorruptible glory of the resurrection.Through Christ our Lord.

ReflectionBorn of Water and Spirit

Our Lord made a covenant with us through baptism in order to give us eternal life. There is in baptism an image both of death and of life, the water being the symbol of death, the Spirit giving the pledge of life. The association of water and the Spirit is explained by the twofold purpose for which bap-tism was instituted, namely, to destroy the sin in us so that it could never again give birth to death, and to enable us to live by the Spirit and so win the reward of holiness. The water into which the body enters as into a tomb symbolizes death; the Spirit instills into us his life-giving power, awakening our souls from the death of sin to the life that they had in the beginning. This then is what it means to be born again of water and the Spirit: we die in the water, and we come to life again through the Spirit.

To signify this death and to enlighten the baptized by transmitting to them knowledge of God, the great sacrament of baptism is administered by means of a triple immersion

and the invocation of each of the three divine Persons. What-ever grace there is in the water comes not from its own nature but from the presence of the Spirit, since baptism is not a cleansing of the body, but a pledge made to God from a clear conscience. . . .

Through the Holy Spirit we are restored to paradise, we ascend to the kingdom of heaven, and we are reinstated as adopted sons. Thanks to the Spirit we obtain the right to call God our Father, we become sharers in the grace of Christ, we are called children of light, and we share in everlasting glory. In a word, every blessing is showered upon us, both in this world and in the world to come. As we contemplate them even now, like a reflection in a mirror, it is as though we al-ready possessed the good things our faith tells us that we shall one day enjoy. If this is the pledge, what will the perfection be? If these are the firstfruits, what will the full harvest be?

St. Basil the Great, On the Holy Spirit

Basil the Great (ca. 329–379), was bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). He came from a family of saints that included his sister, St. Macrina, and his brother, St. Gregory of Nyssa. As a theologian, he is known as one of the three “Cappadocian Fathers” and a Doctor of the Church.



(opt. hymn, pp. 436–41)Psalm 114Alleluia!

When Israel came forth from Egypt,the house of Jacob from a foreign people,Judah became his temple,Israel became his domain.

The sea beheld them and fled;the Jordan turned back on its course.The mountains leapt like rams,and the hills like yearling sheep.

Why was it, sea, that you fled;that you turned back, Jordan, on your course?O mountains, that you leapt like rams;O hills, like yearling sheep?

Tremble, O earth, before the Lord,in the presence of the God of Jacob,who turns the rock into a pool,and flint into a spring of water.


Scripture Romans 8:5-9a

For those who live according to the flesh are concerned with the things of the flesh, but those who live according

to the spirit with the things of the spirit. The concern of the

flesh is death, but the concern of the spirit is life and peace. For the concern of the flesh is hostility toward God; it does not submit to the law of God, nor can it; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you.


AntiphonOnly those born of water and Spirit can enter the kingdom of God.


IntercessionsGod, with you all things are possible. Transform our hearts as we pray: r. Fill us with your Spirit, O God.

Bless catechists and all who are preparing to make their First Communion. r.

Help us to grow in appreciation and understanding of cultures different from our own. r.

Guide the study and teaching of Scripture scholars, theologians, and spiritual writers. r.

Our Father . . .

May God, the source of hope, fill us with all joy and peace by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

386 Tuesday 387

Tuesday, April 29


(opt. hymn, pp. 436–41)Psalm 142:2-4, 6-8With all my voice I cry to the Lord;with all my voice I entreat the Lord.I pour out my trouble before him;I tell him all my distresswhile my spirit faints within me.But you, O Lord, know my path.

To you I cry, O Lord.I have said, “You are my refuge,my portion in the land of the living.”Listen, then, to my cry,for I am brought down very low.

Rescue me from those who pursue me,for they are stronger than I.Bring my soul out of prison,and I shall give thanks to your name.Around me the just will assemble,because of your goodness to me.


Scripture Deuteronomy 15:7-8, 10-11

If one of your kindred is in need in any community in the land which the Lord, your God, is giving you, you shall

not harden your heart nor close your hand against your kin who is in need. Instead, you shall freely open your hand and generously lend what suffices to meet that need. When you give, give generously and not with a stingy heart; for that, the Lord, your God, will bless you in all your works and undertakings. The land will never lack for needy per-sons; that is why I command you: “Open your hand freely to your poor and to your needy kin in your land.”


AntiphonDistribution was made to each according to need.


IntercessionsGracious God, in company with St. Catherine, who gave herself wholeheartedly to you, we pray: r. O God, hear us.

Pave the way for continued dialogue between Pope Francis and women in the Church. r.

Open our hands to reach out to the poor and needy in our communities. r.

Support us in our commitments to you and to one another. r.

Our Father . . .

May God bless us with clarity in our vision and charity in our hearts as we seek to do God’s will. Amen.

388 April 29 Tuesday 389

Blessed Among UsSt. Catherine of SienaDoctor of the Church (1347–1380)

St. Catherine of Siena was one of the greatest saints of a tu-multuous era. Like other great mystics, she enjoyed an inti-mate relationship with Christ. What was distinctive about Catherine was the way she mediated through her own heart the burning love of Christ and the needs of her time.

Early in life she declared her betrothal to Christ. When her parents retaliated by forcing her to work as a household ser-vant, she responded by erecting within her heart “a secret cell” of “self-knowledge” to which she could retreat from her daily drudgery. Eventually, while still living at home, she was per-mitted to put on the habit of a Dominican tertiary. But after three years she experienced a mystical marriage with Christ. This launched her on a new public career, as she cared for the poor and sick and attracted a large band of disciples.

In 1374 she received a divine commission to help heal the world and the Church. She wrote hundreds of letters to the pope, monarchs, and other powerful men, counseling them on their duties to make peace and restore unity in the Church. She even traveled to Avignon on a mission to persuade the pope to return to his see in Rome.

After a final vision in which she saw the Church, as if like a mighty ship, placed on her back, she collapsed in pain. She died soon after on April 29, 1380, at the age of thirty-three.

“To the servant of God every place is the right place, and every time is the right time.”

—St. Catherine of Siena

MassSt. Catherine of Siena, Memorial

Entrance AntiphonHere is a wise virgin, from among the number of the prudent, / who went forth with lighted lamp to meet Christ, alleluia.

CollectO God, who set Saint Catherine of Siena on fire with

divine lovein her contemplation of the Lord’s Passionand her service of your Church,grant, through her intercession,that your people,participating in the mystery of Christ,may ever exult in the revelation of his glory.Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,one God, for ever and ever.


The community of believers was of one heart and mind.

The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his

own, but they had everything in common. With great power the Apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all. There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the Apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need.

Thus Joseph, also named by the Apostles Barnabas (which is translated “son of encouragement”), a Levite, a


Cypriot by birth, sold a piece of property that he owned, then brought the money and put it at the feet of the Apostles.The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm 93:1ab, 1cd-2, 5

r. (1a) The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty. or: r. Alleluia.

The Lord is king, in splendor robed;robed is the Lord and girt about with strength. r.

And he has made the world firm,not to be moved.

Your throne stands firm from of old;from everlasting you are, O Lord. r.

Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed:holiness befits your house,O Lord, for length of days. r.

Gospel Acclamation John 3:14-15The Son of Man must be lifted up,so that everyone who believes in himmay have eternal life.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 3:7b-15

No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.

Jesus said to Nicodemus: “ ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear

the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said to him, “How can this happen?” Jesus answered and said to him, “You are the

teacher of Israel and you do not understand this? Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony. If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”The Gospel of the Lord.

Prayer over the OfferingsAccept, O Lord, the saving sacrifice we offerin commemoration of Saint Catherine,so that, instructed by her teaching,we may give ever more fervent thanksto you, the one true God.Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon Cf. 1 John 1:7If we walk in the light, as God is in the light, / then we have fellowship with one another, / and the blood of his Son Jesus Christ / cleanses us from all sin, alleluia.

Prayer after CommunionMay the heavenly tableat which we have been fed, O Lord,confer eternal life upon us,as even in this worldit nourished the life of Saint Catherine.Through Christ our Lord.


ReflectionThe Way of the Wind

As I write this reflection, my wife is at a job interview, my doctoral studies are coming to a rapid close, and I do not know where we will end up living or working. The next twelve months are an utter mystery. Frankly, it can be terrifying not to know what is coming next. Being faced with a crossroads makes us keenly aware that we are not in control. In the face of uncertainty, it takes honesty and courage to acknowledge our dependence on God.

Both of today’s readings speak to this experience of de-pendence. With Nicodemus we learn that to be born again from above is to be caught up in the life of the Spirit. Playing off the double meaning of pneuma, Jesus invokes the image of the wind, pointing out that the Spirit’s life is a life we do not control. We never fully know where that life comes from or where it will take us. That uncertainty, Christ tells us, is why he has been given to us. In the paschal mystery we are assured of God’s love for us; we are given a triumphal hope that trumps our uncertainties.

The scene from the Acts of the Apostles is a beautiful ex-ample of what happens when a community dedicates itself to this gift of hope. The disciples of Christ sold their property and laid it at the feet of the apostles. They gave their posses-sions, their land, and their lives so that they could be utilized in whatever way the Wind wanted. They allowed themselves to be swept up into the turbulent and hopeful life of the Spirit. They were born again from above.

David Farina Turnbloom

David Farina Turnbloom is a doctoral candidate studying systematic theology at Boston College.


(opt. hymn, pp. 436–41)Psalm 36:6-13Your mercy, Lord, reaches to heaven,your truth to the clouds.Your justice is like God’s mountains;like the great deep, your justice.Both man and beast you save, O Lord.

How precious is your mercy, O God!The children of men seek shelterin the shadow of your wings.

They feast on the riches of your house;you give them drink from the stream of your delight.For with you is the fountain of life,and in your light we see light.

Maintain your mercy for those who know you,your saving justice to upright hearts.Let the foot of the proud not tread on menor the hand of the wicked drive me out.There have the evildoers fallen;flung down, unable to rise!


Scripture 1 Corinthians 15:45-49

So, too, it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living being,” the last Adam a life-giving spirit. But the

spiritual was not first; rather the natural and then the spiri-tual. The first man was from the earth, earthly; the second

394 April 29

man, from heaven. As was the earthly one, so also are the earthly, and as is the heavenly one, so also are the heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of the earthly one, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one.


AntiphonYou must be born from above.


IntercessionsGod, you grant mercy always to your own. Hear us as we pray: r. Give us wisdom, O God.

For spiritual directors, counselors, and confessors, we pray: r.

For all who work to keep our environment clean and healthy, we pray: r.

For those who have lost sight of you, we pray: r.

Our Father . . .

May the light of Christ scatter the darkness of our hearts and minds. Amen.

405

The Order of Mass In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the

Holy Spirit. Amen.

GreetingThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,and the love of God,and the communion of the Holy Spiritbe with you all.And with your spirit.Grace to you and peace from God our Fatherand the Lord Jesus Christ.And with your spirit.The Lord be with you.And with your spirit.

Penitential ActBrethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins,and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.

(Pause)I confess to almighty Godand to you, my brothers and sisters,that I have greatly sinned,in my thoughts and in my words,in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, And, striking their breast, they say:

through my fault, through my fault,through my most grievous fault; Then they continue:

B

C

A

A

406 The Order of Mass The Order of Mass 407

therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,all the Angels and Saints,and you, my brothers and sisters,to pray for me to the Lord our God.Have mercy on us, O Lord.For we have sinned against you.Show us, O Lord, your mercy.And grant us your salvation.

These or other invocations may be used.

You were sent to heal the contrite of heart:Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.You came to call sinners:Christ, have mercy. Or: Christe, eleison.Christ, have mercy. Or: Christe, eleison.You are seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us:Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.

Amen.

KyrieThe Kyrie, eleison (Lord, have mercy) invocations follow, unless they have just occurred in a formula of the Penitential Act. Lord, have mercy. Kyrie, eleison. Lord, have mercy. Kyrie, eleison. Christ, have mercy. Christe, eleison. Christ, have mercy. Christe, eleison. Lord, have mercy. Kyrie, eleison. Lord, have mercy. Kyrie, eleison.

GloriaGlory to God in the highest,and on earth peace to people of good will.We praise you,we bless you,we adore you,we glorify you,we give you thanks for your great glory,Lord God, heavenly King,O God, almighty Father.Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us;you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer;you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.For you alone are the Holy One,you alone are the Lord,you alone are the Most High,Jesus Christ,with the Holy Spirit,in the glory of God the Father.Amen.

Collect (Opening Prayer)

Liturgy of the WordFirst Reading

Responsorial Psalm

C

B

408 The Order of Mass The Order of Mass 409

Second Reading

Gospel Acclamation

GospelCleanse my heart and my lips, almighty God,that I may worthily proclaim your holy Gospel. The Lord be with you. And with your spirit. A reading from the holy Gospel according to N. Glory to you, O Lord.At the end: The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Through the words of the Gospelmay our sins be wiped away.

Homily

Profession of Faith[The Apostles’ Creed can be found on p. 434]

I believe in one God,the Father almighty,maker of heaven and earth,of all things visible and invisible.I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,the Only Begotten Son of God,born of the Father before all ages.God from God, Light from Light,true God from true God,begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;through him all things were made.For us men and for our salvationhe came down from heaven,

At the words that follow, up to and including and became man, all bow.

and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,and became man.For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,he suffered death and was buried,and rose again on the third dayin accordance with the Scriptures.He ascended into heavenand is seated at the right hand of the Father.He will come again in gloryto judge the living and the deadand his kingdom will have no end.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,who proceeds from the Father and the Son,who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,who has spoken through the prophets.I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sinsand I look forward to the resurrection of the deadand the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayer of the Faithful (Bidding Prayers)

Liturgy of the EucharistPresentation and Preparation of the GiftsBlessed are you, Lord God of all creation,for through your goodness we have receivedthe bread we offer you:fruit of the earth and work of human hands,it will become for us the bread of life.Blessed be God for ever.

410 The Order of Mass

By the mystery of this water and winemay we come to share in the divinity of Christwho humbled himself to share in our humanity.Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation,for through your goodness we have receivedthe wine we offer you:fruit of the vine and work of human hands,it will become our spiritual drink.Blessed be God for ever.With humble spirit and contrite heartmay we be accepted by you, O Lord,and may our sacrifice in your sight this daybe pleasing to you, Lord God.Wash me, O Lord, from my iniquityand cleanse me from my sin.

Invitation to PrayerPray, brethren (brothers and sisters),that my sacrifice and yoursmay be acceptable to God,the almighty Father.May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your handsfor the praise and glory of his name,for our goodand the good of all his holy Church.

Prayer over the Offerings

Eucharistic Prayer The Lord be with you. And with your spirit. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right and just.

433

Celebration of the Liturgy of the Word[With Holy Communion]

Introductory RitesIntroductionDeacon or lay leader:We gather here to celebrate the Lord’s Day.Sunday has been called the Lord’s Day because

it was on this daythat Jesus conquered sin and death and rose to new life.Unfortunately, we are not able to celebrate the Mass todaybecause we do not have a priest.Let us be united in the spirit of Christ with

the Church around the worldand celebrate our redemption in Christ’s suffering,

death, and resurrection.Sign of the CrossDeacon or lay leader: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the

Holy Spirit. Amen.GreetingDeacon or lay leader: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from

the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God for ever. Blessed be God for ever.Collect

Liturgy of the WordFirst ReadingResponsorial PsalmSecond ReadingGospel AcclamationGospelHomily or Reflection on the Readings

434 Celebration of the Liturgy of the Word Celebration of the Liturgy of the Word 435

Period of SilenceProfession of Faith[The Nicene Creed can be found on p. 408]

Apostles’ CreedI believe in God,the Father almighty,Creator of heaven and earth,and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. At the words that follow, up to and including the Virgin Mary,

all bow.

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,born of the Virgin Mary,suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, died and was buried;he descended into hell;on the third day he rose again from the dead;he ascended into heaven,and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit,the holy catholic Church,the communion of saints,the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body,and life everlasting. Amen.

Prayer of the Faithful

Communion RiteLord’s PrayerDeacon or lay leader:The Father provides us with food for eternal life.At the Savior’s commandand formed by divine teaching,we dare to say:

Our Father, who art in heaven,hallowed be thy name;thy kingdom come,thy will be doneon 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.Amen.Invitation to CommunionDeacon or lay leader:Behold the Lamb of God,behold him who takes away the sins of the world.Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.Lord, I am not worthythat you should enter under my roof,but only say the wordand my soul shall be healed.CommunionAct of Thanksgiving

Concluding RiteInvitation to Pray for Vocations to the PriesthoodDeacon or lay leader:Mindful of our Lord’s word, “Ask the Master of the harvest to send out laborers for the harvest,” let us pray for an increase of vocations to the priesthood. May our prayer hasten the day when we will be able to take part in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist every Sunday.BlessingSign of Peace

436 Hymns Hymns 437

O Cross of Christ, Immortal TreeLent/Good Friday—am/pm

Familiar Tune: Jerusalem, My Happy Home

The Heavenly Word Proceeding ForthHoly Thursday—am/pm

Familiar Tune: O Saving Victim

O Sacred Head SurroundedLent/Good Friday—am/pm

1. O Sacred Head surrounded by crown of piercing thorn!O bleeding Head, so wounded, reviled and put to scorn!The pow’r of death comes o’er you, the glow of life decays,yet angel hosts adore you, and tremble as they gaze.

2. I see your strength and vigor all fading in the strife,and death with cruel rigor, bereaving you of life;O agony and dying! O love to sinners free!Jesus, all grace supplying, O turn your face on me.

3. In this, your bitter passion, Good Shepherd, think of mewith your most sweet compassion, unworthy though I be:beneath your cross abiding for ever would I rest,in your dear love confiding, and with your presence blest.

Text: Salve caput cruentatum; ascr. to Bernard of Clairvaux, 1091–1153; tr. by Henry Baker, 1821–1877.

Music: PASSION CHORALE, 76 76 D, Hans Leo Hassler, 1564–1612.

438 Hymns Hymns 439

This Day Our Risen Savior ReignsEaster—am

Proclaim His Triumph, Heaven and EarthEaster—pm

Sing of Christ, Proclaim His GloryEaster—am/pm

Familiar Tune: Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

1. Sing of Christ, proclaim his glory, / sing the resurrection song! / Death and sorrow, earth’s dark story, / to the former days belong. / All around the clouds are breaking, / soon the storms of time shall cease; / in God’s likeness, people, waking, / know the everlasting peace.

2. O what glory, far exceeding / all that eye has yet perceived! / Holiest hearts for ages pleading, / never that full joy conceived. / God has promised, Christ prepares it, / there on high our welcome waits; / ev’ry humble spirit shares it, / Christ has passed the eternal gates.

3. Life eternal! O what wonders / crown on faith, what joy unknown, / when, amid earth’s closing thunders, / saints shall stand before the throne! / O to enter that bright portal, / see that glowing firmament, / know, with you, O God immortal, / Jesus Christ whom you have sent!

Text: William Josiah Irons, 1812–1883, alt. Music: HYMN TO JOY, 87 87 D; Ludwig van Beethoven, 1770–1827;

adapt. by Edward Hodges, 1796–1867.

Guide to Lectio DivinaChoose a word or phrase of the Scriptures you wish to pray. It makes no difference which text is chosen, as long as you have no set goal of “covering” a certain amount of text. The amount of text covered is in God’s hands, not yours.

Read. Turn to the text and read it slowly, gently. Savor each portion of the reading, constantly listening for the “still, small voice” of a word or phrase that somehow says, “I am for you today.” Do not expect lightning or ecstasies. In lectio divina, God is teaching us to listen, to seek him in silence. God does not reach out and grab us but gently invites us ever more deeply into his presence.

Ponder. Take the word or phrase into yourself. Memorize it and slowly repeat it to yourself, allowing it to interact with your inner world of concerns, memories, and ideas. Do not be afraid of distractions. Memories or thoughts are simply parts of yourself that, when they rise up during lectio divina, are asking to be given to God along with the rest of your inner self. Allow this inner pondering, this rumination, to invite you into dialogue with God.

Pray. Whether you use words, ideas, or images—or all three—is not important. Interact with God as you would with one who you know loves and accepts you. Give to God what you have discovered during your experience of meditation. Give to God what you have found within your heart.

It is not necessary to assess the quality of your lectio divina, as if you were “performing” or seeking some goal. Lectio divina has no goal other than that of being in the presence of God by praying the Scriptures.

—Fr. Luke Dysinger

Luke Dysinger, OSB, is a Benedictine monk of Saint Andrew’s Abbey, Valyermo, California.

Canticle of Mary (Magnificat) Luke 1:46-55

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:the Almighty has done great things for me,and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear himin every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israelfor he has remembered his promise of mercy,the promise he made to our fathers,to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

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