Thursday of the Fifth week of Easter

Acts of the Apostles

15,7-21.

After much debate had taken place, Peter got up and said to them, "My brothers, you are well aware that from early days God made his choice among you that through my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.
And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by granting them the holy Spirit just as he did us.
He made no distinction between us and them, for by faith he purified their hearts.
Why, then, are you now putting God to the test by placing on the shoulders of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?
On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they."
The whole assembly fell silent, and they listened while Paul and Barnabas described the signs and wonders God had worked among the Gentiles through them.
After they had fallen silent, James responded, "My brothers, listen to me.
Symeon has described how God first concerned himself with acquiring from among the Gentiles a people for his name.
The words of the prophets agree with this, as is written:
'After this I shall return and rebuild the fallen hut of David; from its ruins I shall rebuild it and raise it up again,
so that the rest of humanity may seek out the Lord, even all the Gentiles on whom my name is invoked. Thus says the Lord who accomplishes these things,
known from of old.'
It is my judgment, therefore, that we ought to stop troubling the Gentiles who turn to God,
but tell them by letter to avoid pollution from idols, unlawful marriage, the meat of strangled animals, and blood.
For Moses, for generations now, has had those who proclaim him in every town, as he has been read in the synagogues every sabbath."

Psalms

96(95),1-2a.2b-3.10.

Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John

15,9-11.

Jesus said to his disciples: "As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love.
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete."

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St. Peter Celestine(Pope (1221-1296))

SAINT PETER CELESTINE V Pope (1221-1296) As a child, Peter had visions of our blessed Lady, the angels and saints. They encouraged his prayer and chided him when he fell into any fault. His mother, though a poor widow, put him to school feeling that he would one day be a Saint. At the age of twenty, Peter left his home in Apulia to live in a mountain solitude. Here, he passed three years and was assaulted by evil spirits. They set upon him with temptations of the flesh. His loyalty to God was even more pleasing when consolations and ecstasies were removed. The demonic retaliations were similar to those suffered by St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Padre Pio and many others. Amidst his struggles with the demonic, angels attended and consoled him. When Peter's seclusion was interrupted by disciples who refused to be sent away, he set a rule of life which became the foundation of the Celestine Order. Angels assisted in the church which Peter built; unseen bells rang peals of surpassing sweetness, and heavenly music filled the sanctuary when he offered the Holy Sacrifice. Peter abruptly found himself torn from his loved solitude by his election to the Papal throne. His resistance was of no avail. He took the name of Celestine, to remind him of the heaven he was leaving and for which he sighed; and was consecrated at Aquila. After a reign of four months, Peter summoned the cardinals to his presence, and solemnly resigned his trust. Peter built himself a boarded cell in his palace, and there continued his hermit's life. Lest his simplicity be taken advantage of to distract the peace of the Church, he was put under guard, saying, "I desired nothing but a cell, and a cell they have given me." There he enjoyed his former loving intimacy with the saints and angels, and sang the Divine praises almost continually. At length, on Whit-Sunday, he told his guards he should die within the week, and immediately fell ill. He received the last sacraments; and the following Saturday, as he finished the concluding verse of Lauds, "Let every spirit bless the Lord!" he closed his eyes to this world and opened them to God.

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St. Yvo(Priest (1253-1303))

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SAINT YVO Priest (1253-1303) St. Yvo Helori, descended from a noble and virtuous family near Treguier in Brittany, was born in 1253. At fourteen years of age, he went to Paris, and afterwards to Orleans to pursue his studies. His mother often encouraged him to live in a manner becoming of a Saint, to which he reply, "I hope to be." This resolution took deep root in Yvo's soul, spurring him to virtue, and checking the least shadow of any dangerous course. His time was chiefly divided between study and prayer. For his recreation, he visited the hospitals, where he attended the sick with great charity, and comforted them under the severe trials of their suffering condition. He made a private vow of perpetual chastity, but this not being known, many honorable matches were proposed to him, which he modestly rejected as incompatible with his studious life. He long deliberated whether to embrace a religious or a clerical state, but the desire of serving his neighbor made him choose the latter. He wished, out of humility, to remain in the lesser orders, but his bishop compelled him to receive the priesthood - a step which cost him many tears, though he had qualified himself for that sacred dignity by the most perfect purity of mind and body, and by a long and fervent preparation. He was appointed ecclesiastical judge for the diocese of Rennes. Fr. Yvo protected the orphans and widows, defended the poor, and administered justice to all with an impartiality, application, and tenderness which gained him the good-will even of those who lost their causes. He was surnamed the advocate and lawyer of the poor. He built a house near his own for a hospital of the poor and sick. He washed their feet, cleansed their ulcers, served them at table, and helped himself last of all, taking meager portions. He distributed his corn, or the price for which he sold it, among the poor immediately after the harvest. When a certain person endeavored to persuade him to keep it some months, that he might sell it at a better price, he answered, "I know not whether I shall be then alive to give it." Another time the same person said to him, "I have gained a fifth by keeping my corn." "But I," replied the Saint, "a hundredfold by giving it immediately away." During the Lent of 1303, he felt his strength failing him. Yet, far from abating anything in his austerities, he thought himself obliged to redouble his fervor in proportion as he advanced nearer to eternity. On the eve of the Ascension, he preached to his people, said Mass, being upheld by two persons, and gave advice to all who addressed themselves to him. After this, he lay down on his bed, which was a hurdle of twigs plaited together, and received the last sacraments. From that moment, he entertained himself with God alone, till his soul went to possess Him in His glory.He joined the Church Triumphant on May 19, 1303 in the fiftieth year of his age.

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Category: Mass by Year / Catholic Missal 2022 / Catholic Missal of may 2022