Podcasts about fifth week

Homily from the Mass offered on Friday, May 23rd. To support the podcast financially, click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stpiuscda.org/online-giving⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Full Text of ReadingsSaturday of the Fifth Week of Easter Lectionary: 290The Saint of the day is Saint Mary Magdalene de PazziSaint Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi's Story Mystical ecstasy is the elevation of the spirit to God in such a way that the person is aware of this union with God while both internal and external senses are detached from the sensible world. Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi was so generously given this special gift of God that she is called the “ecstatic saint.” Catherine de' Pazzi was born into a noble family in Florence in 1566. The normal course would have been for her to have married into wealth and enjoyed comfort, but Catherine chose to follow her own path. At 9, she learned to meditate from the family confessor. She made her first Communion at the then-early age of 10, and made a vow of virginity one month later. At 16, Catherine entered the Carmelite convent in Florence because she could receive Communion daily there. Catherine had taken the name Mary Magdalene and had been a novice for a year when she became critically ill. Death seemed near, so her superiors let her make her profession of vows in a private ceremony from a cot in the chapel. Immediately after, Mary Magdalene fell into an ecstasy that lasted about two hours. This was repeated after Communion on the following 40 mornings. These ecstasies were rich experiences of union with God and contained marvelous insights into divine truths. As a safeguard against deception and to preserve the revelations, her confessor asked Mary Magdalene to dictate her experiences to sister secretaries. Over the next six years, five large volumes were filled. The first three books record ecstasies from May of 1584 through Pentecost week the following year. This week was a preparation for a severe five-year trial. The fourth book records that trial and the fifth is a collection of letters concerning reform and renewal. Another book, Admonitions, is a collection of her sayings arising from her experiences in the formation of women religious. The extraordinary was ordinary for this saint. She read the thoughts of others and predicted future events. During her lifetime, Mary Magdalene appeared to several persons in distant places and cured a number of sick people. It would be easy to dwell on the ecstasies and pretend that Mary Magdalene only had spiritual highs. This is far from true. It seems that God permitted her this special closeness to prepare her for the five years of desolation that followed when she experienced spiritual dryness. She was plunged into a state of darkness in which she saw nothing but what was horrible in herself and all around her. She had violent temptations and endured great physical suffering. Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi died in 1607 at age 41, and was canonized in 1669. Her liturgical feast is celebrated on May 25. Reflection Intimate union, God's gift to mystics, is a reminder to all of us of the eternal happiness of union he wishes to give us. The cause of mystical ecstasy in this life is the Holy Spirit, working through spiritual gifts. The ecstasy occurs because of the weakness of the body and its powers to withstand the divine illumination, but as the body is purified and strengthened, ecstasy no longer occurs. See Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle, and John of the Cross' Dark Night of the Soul, for more about various aspects of ecstasies. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Homily from the Mass offered on Thursday, May 22nd. To support the podcast financially, click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stpiuscda.org/online-giving⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter by Mr. Clement Harrold. Easter Weekday First Reading: Acts 16: 1-10 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 100: 2, 3, 5 Alleluia: Colossians 3: 1 Gospel: John 15: 18-21   Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Joanna; wife of Chuza, steward of King Herod Antipas; she was one of the women who helped provide for Jesus and the apostles; she was also one of the three women who discovered the empty tomb of Jesus on the first Easter morning Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/24/25 Gospel: John 16:20-23

ROSARY - JOYFUL MYSTERIES today in the Month of Mary.  DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET for Saturday.

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter by Mr. Clement Harrold. Easter Weekday First Reading: Acts 16: 1-10 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 100: 2, 3, 5 Alleluia: Colossians 3: 1 Gospel: John 15: 18-21   Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter

You belong to someone great than this world

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter by Dr. John Bergsma. Easter Weekday First Reading: Acts 15: 22-31 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 57: 8-9, 10 and 12 Alleluia: John 15: 15b Gospel: John 15: 12-17   Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

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Full Text of ReadingsFriday of the Fifth Week of Easter Lectionary: 289The Saint of the day is Saint Gregory VIISaint Gregory VII's Story The 10th century and the first half of the 11th were dark days for the Church, partly because the papacy was the pawn of various Roman families. In 1049, things began to change when Pope Leo IX, a reformer, was elected. He brought a young monk named Hildebrand to Rome as his counselor and special representative on important missions. Hildebrand was to become Gregory VII. Three evils plagued the Church then: simony–the buying and selling of sacred offices and things; the unlawful marriage of the clergy; and lay investiture—kings and nobles controlling the appointment of Church officials. To all of these Hildebrand directed his reformer's attention, first as counselor to the popes and later as pope himself. Gregory's papal letters stress the role of the bishop of Rome as the vicar of Christ and the visible center of unity in the Church. He is well known for his long dispute with Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV over who should control the selection of bishops and abbots. Gregory fiercely resisted any attack on the liberty of the Church. For this he suffered and finally died in exile. He said, “I have loved justice and hated iniquity; therefore, I die in exile.” Thirty years later the Church finally won its struggle against lay investiture. The liturgical feast of Saint Gregory VII is celebrated on May 25. Reflection The Gregorian Reform, a milestone in the history of Christ's Church, was named after this man who tried to extricate the papacy and the whole Church from undue control by civil rulers. Against an unhealthy Church nationalism in some areas, Gregory reasserted the unity of the whole Church based on Christ, and expressed in the bishop of Rome, the successor of Saint Peter. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Friends of the Rosary,Christ Jesus, the icon of God the Father, revealed to us the eternal truth of the universe.As we read today in the Gospel (John 15:12-17), he said to his disciples:“This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.No one has greater love than this,to lay down one's life for one's friends.”“You are my friends if you do what I command you.I no longer call you slaves,because a slave does not know what his master is doing.I have called you friends,because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.”A true friend is someone who has seen us at our worst and still loves us. Jesus saw us at our very worst, as we crucified him, and loved us anyway, returning in forgiving love.It's a life of friendship with God.Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will. Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New York• ⁠May 23, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

Join Father Kevin Drew as he preaches on this Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter. Today's readings First Reading: Acts 15:22-31 Psalm: Psalm 57:8-9, 10 and 12 Gospel: John 15:12-17 Catholic Radio Network

Morning lessons: Psalm 59; Deuteronomy 25; Luke 12:53-13:9.  Deliver me from my enemies, O God; defend me from those who rise up against me.

Evening lessons: Psalms 63, 64; Ecclesiastes 10; Acts 2:22-47.  O God, you are my God; early will I seek you.

Evening lessons: Psalms 58, 60; Ecclesiastes 9; Acts 2:1-21.  Do you indeed decree righteousness, O  you rulers, and do you judge uprightly, O children of men.

Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Crispin of Viterbo, 1668-1750; born in Viterbo, Italy, studied, at the Jesuit college, and became a shoemaker; joined the Capuchin Franciscans at the age of 25, and served as gardener and cook; he called himself "the little beast of burden of the Capuchins"; during an epidemic, he effected many miraculous cures; he was also venerated for prophecies and spiritual wisdom Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/23/25 Gospel: John 15:12-17

ROSARY - SORROWFUL MYSTERIES today in the Month of Mary.  DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET for Friday.

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter by Dr. John Bergsma. Easter Weekday First Reading: Acts 15: 22-31 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 57: 8-9, 10 and 12 Alleluia: John 15: 15b Gospel: John 15: 12-17   Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter

I CHOOSE YOU!

Homily from the Mass offered on Tuesday, May 20th. To support the podcast financially, click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stpiuscda.org/online-giving⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Homily from the Mass offered on Monday, May 19th. To support the podcast financially, click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stpiuscda.org/online-giving⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter by Ms. Joan Watson. Easter Weekday/ Rita of Cascia, Religious First Reading: Acts 15: 7-21 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 96: 1-2a, 2b-3, 10 Alleluia: John 10: 27 Gospel: John 15: 9-11   Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

Full Text of ReadingsThursday of the Fifth Week of Easter Lectionary: 288The Saint of the day is Saint Rita of CasciaSaint Rita of Cascia's Story Like Elizabeth Ann Seton, Rita of Cascia was a wife, mother, widow, and member of a religious community. Her holiness was reflected in each phase of her life. Born at Roccaporena in central Italy, Rita wanted to become a nun but was pressured at a young age into marrying a harsh and cruel man. During her 18-year marriage, she bore and raised two sons. After her husband was killed in a brawl and her sons had died, Rita tried to join the Augustinian nuns in Cascia. Unsuccessful at first because she was a widow, Rita eventually succeeded. Over the years, her austerity, prayerfulness, and charity became legendary. When she developed wounds on her forehead, people quickly associated them with the wounds from Christ's crown of thorns. She meditated frequently on Christ's passion. Her care for the sick nuns was especially loving. She also counseled lay people who came to her monastery. Beatified in 1626, Rita was not canonized until 1900. She has acquired the reputation, together with Saint Jude, as a saint of impossible cases. Many people visit her tomb each year. Reflection Although we can easily imagine an ideal world in which to live out our baptismal vocation, such a world does not exist. An “If only ….” approach to holiness never quite gets underway, never produces the fruit that God has a right to expect. Rita became holy because she made choices that reflected her baptism and her growth as a disciple of Jesus. Her overarching, lifelong choice was to cooperate generously with God's grace, but many small choices were needed to make that happen. Few of those choices were made in ideal circumstances—not even when Rita became an Augustinian nun. Saint Rita of Cascia is the Patron Saint of: Difficult MarriagesImpossible CausesInfertilityParenthood Learn more about Saint Rita! Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Listen to Fr. Steve's homily from 5/22/25.Thanks for listening! Please leave us a rating and/or review, and share on social media or with a friend! You can email ashley@rootedinthereallyreal.com with any questions or suggestions. God bless.

Join Father Kevin Drew as he preaches on this Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter. Today's readings First Reading: Acts 15:7-21 Psalm: Psalm 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 10 Gospel: John 15:9-11 Catholic Radio Network

Evening lessons: Psalms 55; Ecclesiastes 8; 3 Acts 1:15-26.  Hear my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my petition.

Morning lessons: Psalm 56, 57; Deuteronomy 24; Luke 12:35-53.  Be merciful to me, O God, for my adversaries are treading me down; they are daily fighting and troubling me.

Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter Optional Memorial of St. Rita of Cascia, 1381-1457; born in central Italy, and wanted to become a nun, but was pressured into marrying a harsh and cruel man; she bore and raised two sons; after her husband was killed in a brawl and her sons died, she became an Augustinian nun; her austerity, prayerfulness, and charity became legendary; she frequently meditated on Christ's passion; along with St. Jude, she acquired the reputation as being a saint of impossible cases Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/22/25 Gospel: John 15:9-11

ROSARY - LUMINOUS MYSTERIES today in the Month of Mary.  DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET for Thursday.

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter by Ms. Joan Watson. Easter Weekday/ Rita of Cascia, Religious First Reading: Acts 15: 7-21 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 96: 1-2a, 2b-3, 10 Alleluia: John 10: 27 Gospel: John 15: 9-11   Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter by Dr. John Bergsma. Easter Weekday/ Christopher Magallanes, Priest, & Companions, Martyrs First Reading: Acts 15: 1-6 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 122: 1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5 Alleluia: John 15: 4a, 5b Gospel: John 15: 1-8   Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

Read Online“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.” John 15:10When Jesus spoke the line above, He followed it by saying, “I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete.” These two lines, taken side by side, provide a helpful unity of Jesus' teaching regarding holy obedience to Him.First, Jesus speaks of the necessity of keeping His commandments. To some, such a statement, when taken by itself, can seem burdensome, dictatorial, oppressive and confining. But is it? The answer is found clearly as we read on.The next thing Jesus teaches is that the effect of keeping His commandments is that we “remain in His love.” He further explains that He is not asking us to do anything that He Himself was not willing to do. He was obedient to the will of the Father, keeping the commandments of the Father to perfection. Therefore, we should hear His command as a dictate flowing from His own freely lived choice to be obedient. As the Incarnate Son of God, He perfectly obeyed the Father in His human nature. The result was that He remained perfectly filled with the love of the Father. But that's not all. Joy is also experienced in a “complete” way when we imitate Jesus' perfect obedience.In light of the teaching from our Lord, how do you view holy obedience to the will of God? Take, for example, each of the Ten Commandments. Do you struggle with unwavering obedience to them? Do you experience them as oppressive and imposed limitations rather than what they truly are? When understood correctly, the Ten Commandments, and every other dictate of the will of God, are exactly what we need and, even more so, exactly what we deeply desire in life. We want interior order rather than chaos. We want integrity rather than fragility. We want joy rather than sadness. And we want unity with the love of God rather than the loss of God. The path to the life we so deeply desire is obedience to the commands of the will of God in all things. Reflect, today, upon your immediate interior reaction to holy obedience. If you do find yourself resistant in any way to this teaching of Jesus, then that is a good sign that you need this teaching more than you may know. Try to look at obedience in the light of truth. Try to see that, deep down, your soul yearns for obedience and the interior order it brings. Examine, especially, any areas of obedience you struggle with and firmly recommit yourself to unwavering obedience to each and every command of our Lord. My obedient Lord, You obeyed the will of Your Father in Heaven to perfection. Through this obedience, You not only experienced the full love and joy of the Father in Your human nature, You also set for us a perfect example and model for holiness. Help me to see the areas of my life in which I need to be more obedient, so that I, too, will share in Your holy life and that of the Father's. Jesus, I trust in You.I Come to Fulfill the Law by Lawrence OP, license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

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Full Text of ReadingsWednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter Lectionary: 287   The Saint of the day is Saint Cristbal Magallanes and CompanionsSaint Cristóbal Magallanes and Companions' Story Like Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro, SJ, Cristóbal and his 24 companion martyrs lived under a very anti-Catholic government in Mexico, one determined to weaken the Catholic faith of its people. Churches, schools, and seminaries were closed; foreign clergy were expelled. Cristóbal established a clandestine seminary at Totatiche, Jalisco. He and the other priests were forced to minister secretly to Catholics during the presidency of Plutarco Calles (1924-28). All of these martyrs except three, were diocesan priests. David, Manuel and Salvador were laymen who died with their parish priest, Luis Batis. They all belonged to the Cristero movement, pledging their allegiance to Christ and to the Church that he established, to spread the Good News in society—even if Mexico's leaders had made it a crime to receive baptism or celebrate the Mass. These martyrs did not die as a single group but over 22 years time in eight Mexican states, with Jalisco and Zacatecas having the largest number. They were beatified in 1992 and canonized eight years later. Reflection Every martyr realizes how to avoid execution, but refuses to pay the high price of doing so. A clear conscience was more valuable than a long life. We may be tempted to compromise our faith while telling ourselves that we are simply being realistic, dealing with situations as we find them. Is survival really the ultimate value? Do our concrete, daily choices reflect our deepest values, the ones that allow us to “tick” the way we do? Anyone can imagine situations in which being a follower of Jesus is easier than the present situation. Saints remind us that our daily choices, especially in adverse circumstances, form the pattern of our lives. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Friends of the Rosary,In today's Gospel reading (John 15:1–8), Jesus declares that he is the vine, and we are the branches who must remain in him. To unleash the spiritual power we are created for, we must participate in Christ's divine life."I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.Remain in me, as I remain in you.Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its ownunless it remains on the vine,so neither can you unless you remain in me.”Our God does not want merely worshipers but followers and participants:The Logos became flesh, so we will allow the divine energy to come to birth in us. In other words, God became human so that humans might become God.“I am the vine, you are the branches.Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,because without me you can do nothing.Anyone who does not remain in mewill be thrown out like a branch and wither;people will gather them and throw them into a fireand they will be burned.If you remain in me and my words remain in you,ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.By this is my Father glorified,that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will. Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New York• ⁠May 21, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

Join Father Kevin Drew as he preaches on this Wednesday of Fifth Week of Easter. Today's readings First Reading: Acts 15:1-6 Psalm: Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5 Gospel: John 15:1-8 Catholic Radio Network

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter by Dr. Shane Owens. Easter Weekday/ Bernardine of Siena, Priest, Religious, Missionary First Reading: Acts 14: 19-28 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 145: 10-11, 12-13ab, 21 Alleluia: Luke 24: 46, 26 Gospel: John 14: 27-31a   Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

Read Online“I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” John 15:5The first amazing thing to recognize in this passage is the simple fact that God wants to produce good fruit in your life. He also wants to bring His grace and mercy into the world through you. The vine does not produce the fruit alone but does so through the instrumentality of the branches. So if we take this teaching at face value, God is saying that He has chosen to bring His grace and mercy into your life and into the world through you. To add greater clarity to this holy mission that we have all been given, Jesus makes a very profound statement. He says “without me you can do nothing.” When considering this line spoken by our Lord, it may be useful to reflect upon what the word “nothing” means. Saint Augustine points out that Jesus added “you can do nothing” to emphasize the fact that, by ourselves, by our own effort, we cannot even produce a “little” good fruit. For example, it would be like cutting off a twig from an apple tree and hoping that the twig will produce an apple.The fruit that God wants to produce also takes place within your soul, in the form of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. These fruits consist of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (See Galatians 5:22–23). Each one of these gifts from God will have the effect of transforming you more fully into an image of God Himself in our world. Try to take a moment to consider each one of those Fruits of the Holy Spirit. Each one is very desirable. Growing in a desire for them will help you grow in a desire for the Holy Spirit in your life.When the Gospel passage quoted above is considered in its two parts, it is also clear that if we separate ourselves from God, then it is impossible to experience any one of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. Without a firm connection to our God, we will have no love, no joy, no patience, kindness, etc. None of that is possible unless our lives are firmly connected to the Vine, Who is Christ Himself. So fostering a positive desire for these good fruits, as well as a holy fear of losing them, is useful.Reflect, today, upon the beautiful and meaningful image given to us by Jesus of the vine and the branches. Think of a vine and then think of yourself firmly attached to that vine. Sit with that image prayerfully and let God speak to you. He wants to do great things in you and through you. If you will only cling to Him with all your heart, an abundance of good fruit will be produced.Jesus the Vine, You are the source of all goodness, and, without You, I can do nothing. Help me to always remember how deeply I need You in my life and help me to cling to You always. Please bring forth an abundance of good fruit in my life and, through me, into the world. Jesus, I trust in You.Image via Pixabay.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.