Daily Gospel for Monday,
28 April 2014
“Simon Peter answered
him, ‘Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.’”—John
6:68
Monday of the Second Week
of Easter
Saints of the Day:
Saint Gianna Beretta Molla
(1922-1962)
Gianna Beretta was
born in Magenta (Milan) October 4, 1922. Already as a youth she willingly
accepted the gift of faith and the clearly Christian education that she
received from her excellent parents. As a result, she experienced life as a
marvellous gift from God, had a strong faith in Providence and was convinced of
the necessity and effectiveness of prayer.
She diligently
dedicated herself to studies during the years of her secondary and university
education, while, at the same time, applying her faith through generous
apostolic service among the youth of Catholic Action and charitable work among
the elderly and needy as a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. After
earning degrees in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Pavia in 1949,
she opened a medical clinic in Mesero (near Magenta) in 1950. She specialized
in Pediatrics at the University of Milan in 1952 and there after gave special
attention to mothers, babies, the elderly and poor.
While working in the
field of medicine-which she considered a "mission" and practiced as
such-she increased her generous service to Catholic Action, especially among
the "very young" and, at the same time, expressed her joie de vivre and
love of creation through skiing and mountaineering. Through her prayers and
those of others, she reflected upon her vocation, which she also considered a
gift from God. Having chosen the vocation of marriage, she embraced it with
complete enthusiasm and wholly dedicated herself "to forming a truly
Christian family".
She became engaged to
Pietro Molla and was radiant with joy and happiness during the time of their
engagement, for which she thanked and praised the Lord. They were married on
September 24, 1955, in the Basilica of St. Martin in Magenta, and she became a
happy wife. In November 1956, to her great joy, she became the mother of
Pierluigi, in December 1957 of Mariolina; in July 1959 of Laura. With
simplicity and equilibrium she harmonized the demands of mother, wife, doctor
and her passion for life.
In September 1961
towards the end of the second month of pregnancy, she was touched by suffering
and the mystery of pain; she had developed a fibroma in her uterus. Before the
required surgical operation, and conscious of the risk that her continued
pregnancy brought, she pleaded with the surgeon to save the life of the child
she was carrying, and entrusted herself to prayer and Providence. The life was
saved, for which she thanked the Lord. She spent the seven months remaining
until the birth of the child in incomparable strength of spirit and unrelenting
dedication to her tasks as mother and doctor. She worried that the baby in her
womb might be born in pain, and she asked God to prevent that.
A few days before the
child was due, although trusting as always in Providence, she was ready to give
her life in order to save that of her child: "If you must decided between
me and the child, do not hesitate: choose the child - I insist on it. Save
him". On the morning of April 21, 1962, Gianna Emanuela was born. Despite
all efforts and treatments to save both of them, on the morning of April 28,
amid unspeakable pain and after repeated exclamations of "Jesus, I love
you. Jesus, I love you», the mother died. She was 39 years old. Her funeral was
an occasion of profound grief, faith and prayer. The Servant of God lies in the
cemetery of Mesero (4 km from Magenta).
"Conscious
immolation», was the phrase used by Pope Paul VI to define the act of Blessed
Gianna, remembering her at the Sunday Angelus of September 23, 1973, as:
"A young mother from the diocese of Milan, who, to give life to her
daughter, sacrificed her own, with conscious immolation". The Holy Father
in these words clearly refers to Christ on Calvary and in the Eucharist.
Gianna was beatified
by Pope John Paul II on April 24, 1994, and officially canonized a saint on May
16, 2004. Gianna's husband Pietro and their last child, Gianna, were present at
the canonization ceremony. - Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Saint Peter Chanel
Feastday: April 28
Patron of Oceania
Birth: 1803
Death: 1841
In St. Peter Chanel,
Priest and Martyr (Feast day - April 28) The protomartyr of the South Seas, St.
Peter Chanel was born in 1803 at Clet in the diocese of Belley, France. His
intelligence and simple piety brought him to the attention of the local priest,
Father Trompier, who saw to his elementary education. Entering the diocesan
Seminary, Peter won the affection and the esteem of both students and
professors. After his ordination he found himself in a rundown country parish
and completely revitalized it in the three year span that he remained there.
However, his mind was set on missionary work; so, in 1831, he joined the newly
formed Society of Mary (Marists) which concentrated on missionary work at home
and abroad. To his dismay, he was appointed to teach at the seminary at Belley
and remained there for the next five years, diligently performing his duties.
In 1836, the Society
was given the New Hebrides in the Pacific as a field for evangelization, and
the jubilant St. Peter was appointed Superior of a little band of missionaries
sent to proclaim the Faith to its inhabitants. On reaching their destination
after an arduous ten month journey, the band split up and St. Peter went to the
Island of Futuna accompanied by a laybrother and an English layman, Thomas
Boog. They were at first well received by the pagans and their king Niuliki who
had only recently forbidden canabalism. However, the kings jealousy and fear
were aroused when the missionaries learned the language and gained the people's
confidence; he realized the adoption of the Christian Faith would lead to the
abolition of some of the prerogatives he enjoyed as both highpriest and
sovereign.
Finally, when his own
son expressed a desire to be baptized, the king's hatred erupted and he
dispatched a group of his warriors to set upon the saintly head of the
missionaries. Thus, on April 28, 1841, three years after his arrival, St. Peter
was seized and clubbed to death by those he had come to save. And his death
brought his work to completion - within five months the entire island was
converted to Christianity.
Saint Louis Mary Grignion
Feastday: April 28
Birth: 1673
Death: 1716
Louis Mary Grignion
was born to a poor family on January 31, 1673 at Montfort, France. He was
educated at the Jesuit college in Rennes and was ordained there in 1700. He was
assigned as chaplain to a hospital at Poitiers, and his much needed
reorganization of the hospital staff caused great resentment, leading to his
resignation. However, during his stay there he organized a group of women into
the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Wisdom.
Eventually Louis went
to Rome where Pope Clement XI appointed him missionary apostolic, and he began
to preach in Brittany. His emotional style caused much reaction, but he was
successful, especially in furthering devotion to the Most Blessed Virgin
through the Rosary. He also wrote a very popular book, True Devotion to the
Blessed Virgin. In 1715, Louis organized several priests and formed the
Missionaries of the Company of Mary. He died in 1716 at Saint-Laurent-sur-Sever,
France, and was canonized in 1947 by Pope Pius XII.
St. Louis de Montfort
was a very able preacher, yet his emotional style along with his appeal to the
poor caused much opposition. Undaunted by his critics, he continued his
preaching. In addition, he expended great effort in spreading devotion to the
Most Blessed Virgin, both through preaching and by the written word. Eventually
he founded the clerical institute known more popularly today as the Montfort
Fathers who carry on the work of preaching the Word and spreading devotion to
Mary. Louis' perseverance in the face of opposition benefits the Church today
in its faith struggle. His feast day is April 28.
Monday of Second Week
of Easter
Acts 4: 23 Being let go,
they came to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and the
elders had said to them. 24 When they heard it, they lifted up their voice to
God with one accord, and said, “O Lord, you are God, who made the heaven, the
earth, the sea, and all that is in them; 25 who by the mouth of your servant,
David, said,
‘Why do the nations
rage,
and the peoples plot a vain thing?
26 The kings of the
earth take a stand,
and the rulers take council together,
against the Lord, and against his
Christ.’[a][b]
27 “For truly, in this
city against your holy servant, Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and
Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered
together 28 to do whatever your hand and your council foreordained to happen.
29 Now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your
word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal; and that
signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.”
31 When they had prayed,
the place was shaken where they were gathered together. They were all filled
with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Footnotes:
a. Acts 4:26 Christ
(Greek) and Messiah (Hebrew) both mean Anointed One.
b. Acts 4:26 Psalm 2:1-2
Psalm 2:1 Why do the
nations rage,
and the peoples plot a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth
take a stand,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against Yahweh, and against his
Anointed,[a] saying,
3 “Let’s break their
bonds apart,
and cast their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the
heavens will laugh.
The Lord[b] will have them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to
them in his anger,
and terrify them in his wrath:
6 “Yet I have set my
King on my holy hill of Zion.”
7 I will tell of the decree.
Yahweh said to me, “You
are my son.
Today I have become your father.
8 Ask of me, and I will
give the nations for your inheritance,
the uttermost parts of the earth for your
possession.
9 You shall break them
with a rod of iron.
You shall dash them in pieces like a
potter’s vessel.”
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 2:2 The word
“Anointed” is the same as the word for “Messiah” or “Christ”
b. Psalm 2:4 The word
translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”
The Holy Gospel of Jesus
Christ according to Saint John 3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named
Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 The same came to him by night, and said to
him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do
these signs that you do, unless God is with him.”
3 Jesus answered him,
“Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew,[a] he can’t see God’s
Kingdom.”
4 Nicodemus said to
him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his
mother’s womb, and be born?”
5 Jesus answered,
“Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can’t
enter into God’s Kingdom! 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That
which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Don’t marvel that I said to you, ‘You
must be born anew.’ 8 The wind[b] blows where it wants to, and you hear its
sound, but don’t know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone
who is born of the Spirit.”
Footnotes:
a. John 3:3 The word
translated “anew” here and in John 3:7 (anothen) also means “again” and “from
above”.
b. John 3:8 The same
Greek word (pneuma) means wind, breath, and spirit.
Monday of the Second Week
of Easter
Commentary of the Day:
Saint Gertrude of Helfta (1256-1301), Benedictine
nun
The Exercises, no. 1, To restore baptismal
innocence ; SC 127 (trans. ©Cistercian publications,1989)
"Being born of
water and Spirit"
For immersion in the
fountain, say: In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Ah
Jesus, fountain of life, make me drink a cup of the living water from you so
that, having tasted you, I may thirst for eternity for nothing other than you.
Immerse me totally in the depth of your mercy. Baptize me in the spotlessness
of your precious death... In the water from your holiest side, wash away every spot
with which I have ever spotted my baptismal innocence. Fill me with your Spirit
and possess me totally in purity of body and soul (cf Jn 4,10; 19,34)...
For the white robe,
say: Ah Jesus, sun of justice, make me clothe myself with you so that I may be
able to live according to your will. Make me, under your guidance, preserve my
robe of baptismal innocence white, holy, and spotless, and present it undefiled
before your tribunal, so that I may have it for eternal life.
In receiving the
light, you will pray for inner enlightenment. Ah Jesus, inextinguishable light,
kindle the burning lamp of your charity within me indistinguishably, and teach
me to guard my baptism without blame. Then, when called, I come to your
nuptials, being prepared I may deserve to enter into the delights of eternal
life to see you, the true light, and the mellifluous face of your divinity (cf
Mt 25,1f)…
Lord God, who have
made me in such a way as also to reshape me: Ah! renew your Holy Spirit in my
heart today... Make me great in faith, rejoicing in hope, patient in
tribulation, delighting in your praise, fervent in spirit, faithfully serving
you, Lord God, any true king, and persevering vigilantly with you to the very
end of my life. Thus, what I now believe in hope. I may gladly see with my eyes
in reality. Let me see you as you are; let me see you face to face (1Jn 3,2;
1Co 13,12). There, dear Jesus, satiate me with yourself; there, in the fruition
of your sweet countenance, let there be rest for me for ever. Amen.
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