Monday of the Fifth week of Easter

Acts of the Apostles

There was an attempt in Iconium by both the Gentiles and the Jews, together with their leaders, to attack and stone Paul and Barnabas.
they realized it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding countryside,
where they continued to proclaim the good news.
At Lystra there was a crippled man, lame from birth, who had never walked.
He listened to Paul speaking, who looked intently at him, saw that he had the faith to be healed,
and called out in a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet." He jumped up and began to walk about.
When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they cried out in Lycaonian, "The gods have come down to us in human form."
They called Barnabas "Zeus" and Paul "Hermes," because he was the chief speaker.
And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, for he together with the people intended to offer sacrifice.
The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their garments when they heard this and rushed out into the crowd, shouting,
"Men, why are you doing this? We are of the same nature as you, human beings. We proclaim to you good news that you should turn from these idols to the living God, 'who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them.'
In past generations he allowed all Gentiles to go their own ways;
yet, in bestowing his goodness, he did not leave himself without witness, for he gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filled you with nourishment and gladness for your hearts."
Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.

Psalms

Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name give glory,
because of your mercy, because of your truth.
Why should the pagans say,
"Where is their God?"
Our God is in heaven;
whatever he wills, he does.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the handiwork of men.
May you be blessed by the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
Heaven is the heaven of the LORD,
but the earth he has given to the children of men.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John

Jesus said to his disciples: “Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”
Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him, "Master, (then) what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?"
Jesus answered and said to him, "Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me.
I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name--he will teach you everything and remind you of all that (I) told you."

St. Catherine of Siena((1347-1380))

SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENA Virgin and Doctor of the ChurchCo patron of Europe - Feast in Europe (1347-1380) St. Catherine, the daughter of a humble tradesman, accepted God's will to guide and guard the Church in one of the darkest periods of its history, the fourteenth century. As a child, prayer was Catherine's delight. She would say the Hail Mary on each step as she climbed the stairs, and was granted in reward a vision of Christ in glory. At 7 years old, she made a vow of virginity; and afterward endured bitter resentment and mistreatment for refusing to marry. Our Lord gave her his heart in exchange for her own, communicated her with his own hands, and stamped on her body the print of his wounds. At 15, she entered the Third Order of St. Dominic, but continued to reside in her father's shop, where she united a life of active charity with the prayer of a contemplative saint. From this obscure home, the seraphic virgin was summoned to defend the Church's cause. Armed with papal authority and accompanied by three confessors, she travelled throughout Italy: subduing rebellious cities to the Holy See's authority and winning hardened souls to God. In the face of impossibility, well-nigh of the whole world, she sought out Gregory XI in Avignon, brought him back to Rome, and by her letters to the kings and queens of Europe made good the papal cause. She was the counsellor of Pope Urban VI, and sternly rebuked disloyal cardinals who elected an antipope. Long had the holy virgin foretold the terrible schism, which began ere she died. Day and night, she wept and prayed for unity and peace, but the devil excited the Roman people against the pope, so that some sought the life of Christ's vicar. With intense earnestness did St. Catherine beg our Lord to prevent this enormous crime. In spirit, she saw the whole city full of demons tempting the people to resist and even slay the pope. The seditious temper was subdued by Catherine's prayers, but the devils vented their malice by scourging her. She gladly endured the demonic assaults for God and the Church. Her experiences were akin to those of saints like Padre Pio and other Christians who endured demonic attack. Hence her intercession may be relied upon for those who wish to conquer - our foremost intercessor being the Blessed Virgin Mary. Catherine passed away in Rome in 1380, age 33. Her intercession is unfailing. She looks upon those who trust her with love, and intercedes before God forever.

St. Hugh of Cluny(Abbot (1024-1109))

SAINT HUGH Abbot of Cluny (1024-1109) St. Hugh was a prince related to the sovereign house of the dukes of Burgundy. He was educated by his pious mother and under the care of Hugh, the bishop of Auxerre, his great-uncle. From his childhood, St. Hugh was exceedingly given to prayer and meditation, and his life was remarkably innocent and holy. One day, hearing an account of the wonderful sanctity of the monks of Cluny under St. Odilo, the young Hugh was so moved that he set out that moment; and going thither, humbly begged the monastic habit. After a rigid novitiate, he made his profession in 1039, being 16 years old. Hugh's extraordinary virtue, especially his admirable humility, obedience, charity, sweetness, prudence and zeal, gained him the respect of the whole community. Upon the death of St. Odilo, in 1049, though only 25 years old, he succeeded to the government of that great abbey, which he held 62 years. He received to the religious profession Hugh, the duke of Burgundy, and passed away on April 29, 1109.He was canonized twelve years after his death by Pope Calixtus II.

Bl. Mary Magdalene of the Incarnation((1770-1824))

Bl. Mary Magdalene of the Incarnation Foundress, Perpetual Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament (1770-1824) Caterina Sordini was born on April 16, 1770, at Grosseto, Italy. She was the fourth of nine children in a truly Catholic family. When she was 17, her father arranged for her to marry a maritime merchant. At first, she was against it, but later complied. The young man gave her a casket of jewels; and having adorned herself, she turned to admire her reflection in the mirror, but saw the image of the Crucified Christ who asked: "Do you want to leave me for another?" Her conscience and heart's desire and spoken. True to herself, Caterina visited, in February 1788, the Franciscan Tertiary Monastery in Ischia di Castro. She entered then and there, which shocked her father, who thought it was merely a visit. Caterina was clothed six months later, taking the name of Sr. Mary Magdalene of the Incarnation. On February 19, 1789, Sr. Mary fell into ecstasy and saw a vision of "Jesus seated on a throne of grace in the Blessed Sacrament, surrounded by virgins adoring him" and heard him telling her: "I have chosen you to establish the work of perpetual adorers who, day and night, will offer me their humble adoration..." Thus, she was called to become a foundress who would adore Jesus in the Eucharist. During that turbulent period, she set an example to all. Sr. Mary was elected Abbess on April 20, 1802. The period of her governance was accompanied by extraordinary phenomena and increasing fervor in the community's spiritual life. With the consent of her spiritual director and the local bishop, Ab. Mary drafted the rules of the new Institute and set out for Rome on May 31, 1807. On July 8, she and a few Sisters moved into Sts. Joachim and Anne convent near the Trevi Fountain. Under the French occupation, the convent was confiscated and the Order was suppressed. Ab. Mary was then exiled to Tuscany.There, she formed a new group of Adorers. On March 19, 1814, when they could return to Rome, they settled at Sant'Anna al Quirinale. On February 13, 1818, Pope Pius VII approved the Institute, which was dedicated to perpetual, solemn, public exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Mother Mary Magdalene passed away in Rome on April 29, 1824. She was buried at Sant'Anna al Quirinale. In 1839, her remains were translated to the Church of Santa Maria Maddalena, the new generalate of the Perpetual Adorers in Rome.Pope John Paul II decreed her heroic virtues in 2001; and Pope Benedict XVI beatified her on May 3, 2008.

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