MAGNIFICAT PUBLICATION

R. All the ends of the earth have seen Abide in My Word the salvation of our God. Or: Alleluia. you say, `show us the Father’? Do you 1. O sing a new song to the LORD, for he not believe that I am in the Father and the has worked wonders. His right hand and Father is in me? The words that I say to his holy arm have brought salvation. R. you I do not speak on my own authority; 2. The LORD has made known his but the Father who dwells in me does his salvation, has shown his deliverance to works. Believe me that I am in the Father the nations. He has remembered his and the Father is in me; or else believe merciful love and his truth for the house me for the sake of the works themselves. of Israel. R. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who 3. All the ends of the earth have seen the believes in me will also do the works that salvation of our God. Shout to the I do; and greater works than these will he LORD, all the earth; break forth into do, because I go to the Father. Whatever joyous song, and sing out your praise. R. you ask in my name, I will do it, that the ALLELUIA John 8:31b-32 Father may be glorified in the Son; if you Alleluia. If you continue in my word, ask anything in my name, I will do it.” you are truly my disciples and you will V/ The Gospel of the Lord. know the truth, says the Lord. Alleluia. R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. GOSPEL Prayer over the Offerings A reading from the holy Gospel Sanctify graciously these gifts, O Lord, according to John 14:7-14 we pray, and, accepting the oblation of “He who has seen me has seen the this spiritual sacrifice, make of us an Father.” eternal offering to you. Through Christ At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, our Lord. “If you had known me, you would have Communion Antiphon Jn 17:24 known my Father also; henceforth you Father, I wish that, where I am, those you know him and have seen him.” Philip gave me may also be with me, that they said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, may see the glory that you gave me, and we shall be satisfied.” Jesus said to alleluia. him, “Have I been with you so long, and Prayer after Communion yet you do not know me, Philip? He who We have partaken of the gifts of this has seen me has seen the Father; how can sacred mystery, humbly imploring, O Lord, that what your Son commanded us to do in memory of him may bring us growth in charity. Through Christ our Lord. MEDITATION OF THE DAY Jesus Reveals The Depths Of God’s Love For Us No matter who you are or where you come from, one thing is true about you: you long to see and know your heavenly Father. It’s a deep craving—so deep, in fact, that some of us don’t even know it’s there. But that’s how God has made us: with a built-in desire for him, so that we would feel moved to try to find him. For many people, though, God seems too otherworldly to get to know. His throne is in heaven, and we live on earth. His thoughts are so high, and ours seem so earthbound. We perceive clues about him through scientific discoveries or through the beauty of art, but these are just observations—not 51

Abide in My Word a relationship. Can we really know him who stretched out the universe? The answer is yes. We can, and we already do know him because we know Jesus. As we proclaim every Sunday at Mass, Jesus is “God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God” (Nicene Creed). The disciples didn’t know that yet. That’s why Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father. Maybe they thought Jesus would give them some new insight or, even better, a brief glimpse of his glory. They didn’t realize that the Father was already revealing himself through Jesus. How happy they must have been when they finally understood that God had been with them all the time through his Son! We do know the Father, because we know Jesus. And as it is with anyone else, we can grow to know him deeper still. This doesn’t mean that we always have to discover something brand-new about our Father—although that could happen. He has a way of challenging our assumptions about things. Usually it means that he shows us something we already know about him—like how much he loves us or how glorious he is—but he lets us experience it in a deeper way. Isn’t it amazing? No matter how close to God we grow over the years, there’s always more to learn. There’s always more to experience. POINT TO PONDER: When we pray in Jesus’ name for the grace and strength to share the Gospel with others and help build up the kingdom of God, we are doing what he asked of us. As Jesus says at the end of Gospel passage today: If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it. VERSE TO REMEMBER: Show us the Father, and that will be enough for us. (John 14:8) QUESTION TO CONSIDER: How can I experience God the Father in a deeper way? PRAYER: “Lord Jesus, show me the Father in a deeper way.” MIDDAY PRAYER commands are righteous. Regina Caeli: Refer to pg 193 Let your hand be ready to help me, for I V/ O God, come to my assistance. have chosen your precepts. I have longed R/ O Lord, make haste to help me. for your salvation, O LORD, and your law Glory be... is my delight. Hymn: Refer to pg 192 My soul shall live and praise you. Your Ant: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. judgments give me help. I have strayed like a sheep; seek your servant; for I do not forget your commands. Psalm 119:169-176 XXII (Taw) Ant: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Let my cry come before you, O LORD; Scripture Reading1 Cor 15:20-22 give me insight by your word. Let my Christ has been raised from the dead, the pleading come before you; rescue me firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. according to your promise. For since death came through a human My lips shall proclaim your praise, being, the resurrection of the dead came because you teach me your statutes. My also through a human being. For just as in tongue will sing of your promise, for your Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life. 52

V/ The disciples rejoiced, alleluia. Abide in My Word R/ When they saw the risen Lord, alleluia. Concluding Prayer as in Morning DIVINE MERCY 3 O’CLOCK Prayer. PRAYER Refer to pages 195-197 EVENING PRAYER I Lord. In you I take refuge; spare my soul! V/ O God, come to my assistance. From the trap they have laid for me, keep R/ O Lord, make haste to help me. me safe; keep me from the snares of those Glory be... who do evil. Hymn: Refer to pg 193 Ant: Like the evening offering my hands rise up in prayer to you, O Lord, alleluia. Ant: Like the evening offering my hands Scripture Reading 1 Pt 2:9-10 rise up in prayer to you, O Lord, alleluia. You are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, Psalm 141:1-9 a holy nation, a people of his own, so that A PRAYER WHEN IN DANGER you may announce the praises of him who The smoke of the incense along with the called you out of darkness into his prayers of the holy ones went up before wonderful light. Once you were “no God from the hand of the angel (Rv 8:4). people but now you are God’s people; you I have called to you, LORD; hasten to help “had not received mercy” but now you me! Hear my voice when I cry to you. Let have received mercy. my prayer be accepted as incense before Magnificat Ant: If I go and prepare a you, the raising of my hands like an place for you, I will come back again and evening oblation. take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be, alleluia. Set, O LORD, a guard on my mouth; keep Refer to the Magnificat on pg 194 watch at the door of my lips! Do not turn INTERCESSIONS my heart to things that are evil, to wicked Christ is our life and resurrection. Let us deeds with men who are sinners. Never cry out to him with faith: allow me to share in their feasting. R. Son of the living God, protect your If someone righteous strikes me it is people. kindness; but let the oil of the wicked not Lord Jesus, we pray for your Catholic anoint my head. Let my prayer be ever Church, make it holy, so that your kingdom against their malice. may be established among all nations. R. If they fall into the merciless hands of their We pray for the sick and the sorrowful, for judges, they will grasp how kind are my those in bondage and in exile, that they words. As clods of earth ploughed up on may receive consolation and help. R. the ground, so their bones were strewn at the mouth of Sheol. To you my eyes are turned, O LORD, my We pray for those who have turned away 53

Abide in My Word Our Father... Concluding Prayer from your paths, that they may experience God our Father, look upon us with love. the grace of your forgiveness and the joy You redeem us and make us your children of rising to new life. R. in Christ. Give us true freedom and bring Crucified and risen Saviour, you will come us to the inheritance you promised. We ask to judge the world, have mercy on us this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your sinners. R. Son, who lives and reigns with you and the We pray for the living, and for all who Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. have gone from us in the hope of For night prayer refer to page 182 resurrection. R. Private Intercession exult in their king. Let them praise his name with dancing, and make music 10SUNDAY, MAY 10TH with timbrel and harp. Fifth Sunday of Easter For the LORD takes delight in his (White) people; he crowns the poor with salvation. Let the faithful rejoice in Today’s Rosary: glory, shout with joy on their couches. The Glorious Mysteries Let the praise of God be in their mouths “Keep the ways of the Lord. . . . The way and a two-edged sword in their hand, to of the cross is the path of self-sacrifice deal out vengeance to the nations and and denial. Only a humble soul can walk punishment upon the peoples; to bind this path securely.” —Blessed Miriam their kings in chains and their nobles in Teresa Demjanovich fetters of iron; to carry out the judgment MORNING PRAYER decreed. This is an honour for all his V/ Lord, open our lips, faithful. R/ And we shall praise your name. Ant: The saints will rejoice in glory, Glory be... alleluia. Hymn: Refer to pg 192 Scripture Reading Acts 10:40-43 Ant: The saints will rejoice in glory, God raised Jesus on the third day and alleluia. granted that he be visible, not to all the Psalm 149 people, but to us, the witnesses chosen THE JOY OF GOD’S HOLY PEOPLE by God in advance, who ate and drank Let the sons of the Church, the children with him after he rose from the dead. He of the new people, rejoice in Christ the commissioned us to preach to the people King (Hesychius) and testify that he is the one appointed Sing a new song to the LORD, his praise by God as judge of the living and the in the assembly of the faithful. Let Israel dead. To him all the prophets bear rejoice in its Maker; let Zion’s children witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name. 54

Abide in My Word Benedictus Ant: I am the way, the truth MASS and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me, alleluia. Entrance Antiphon Ps 98:1-2 Refer to the Benedictus on pg 194 O sing a new song to the Lord, for he has INTERCESSIONS worked wonders; in the sight of the Christ is the Lord of life, raised up by the nations he has shown his deliverance, Father; in his turn he will raise us up by alleluia. his power. Let us pray to him, saying: R. Christ our life, save us. The Gloria in excelsis (Glory to God Lord Jesus, light shinning in the in the highest) is said. darkness, you lead your people into life, and give our mortal nature the gift of Opening Prayer holiness, may we spend this day in praise Almighty ever-living God, constantly of your glory. R. accomplish the Paschal Mystery within Lord, you walked this way of suffering us, that those you were pleased to make and crucifixion, may we suffer and die new in Holy Baptism may, under your with you, and rise again to share your protective care, bear much fruit and glory. R. come to the joys of life eternal. Through Son of the Father, our master and our our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who brother, you have made us a kingdom of lives and reigns with you in the unity of priests for our God, may we offer you a the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and joyful sacrifice of praise. R. ever. King of glory, we look forward to the great day of your coming in splendour, FIRST READING that we may see you face to face, and be A reading from the Acts of the Apostles transformed in your likeness. R. 6:1-7 Private Intercession “They picked out seven men full of the Our Father... Holy Spirit.” Concluding Prayer In these days when the disciples were God our Father, look upon us with love. increasing in number, the Hellenists You redeem us and make us your murmured against the Hebrews because children in Christ. Give us true freedom their widows were neglected in the daily and bring us to the inheritance you distribution. And the Twelve summoned promised. We ask this through our Lord the body of the disciples and said, “It is Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and not right that we should give up reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one preaching the word of God to serve God, for ever and ever. tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the 55

Abide in My Word believe, he is precious, but for those who do not believe, “The very stone which apostles, and they prayed and laid their the builders rejected has become the hands upon them. And the word of God cornerstone,” and “A stone that will increased; and the number of the make men stumble, a rock that will make disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, them fall”; for they stumble because and a great many of the priests were they disobey the word, as they were obedient to the faith. destined to do. But you are a chosen V/ The word of the Lord. race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, R/ Thanks be to God. God’s own people, that you may declare RESPONSORIAL PSALM the wonderful deeds of him who called Psalm 33: 1-2.4-5.18-19 (R.22) you out of darkness into his marvellous R. May your merciful love be upon us, light. as we hope in you, O Lord. V/ The word of the Lord. Or: Alleluia. R/ Thanks be to God. 1. Ring out your joy to the LORD, O you ALLELUIA John 14:6 just; for praise is fitting for the upright. Alleluia. I am the way, and the truth, and Give thanks to the Lord upon the harp; the life, says the Lord; no one comes to with a ten-stringed lute sing him songs. the Father, but by me. Alleluia. R. GOSPEL 2. For the word of the LORD is faithful, A reading from the holy Gospel and all his works to be trusted. The according to John 14:1-12 LORD loves justice and right, and his “I am the way, and the truth, and the merciful love fills the earth. R. life.” 3. Yes, the LORD’s eyes are on those In those days: Jesus said to his disciples, who fear him, who hope in his merciful “Let not your hearts be troubled; believe love, to rescue their souls from death, to in God, believe also in me. In my keep them alive in famine. R. Father’s house are many rooms; if it SECOND READING were not so, would I have told you that I A reading from the first Letter of Saint go to prepare a place for you? And when Peter 2:4-9 I go and prepare a place for you, I will “But you are a chosen race, a royal come again and will take you to myself, priesthood. “ that where I am you may be also. And Beloved: Come to the Lord, to that living you know the way where I am going.” stone, rejected by men but in God’s sight Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not chosen and precious; and like living know where you are going; how can we stones be yourselves built into a spiritual know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer the way, and the truth, and the life; no spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God one comes to the Father, but by me. If through Jesus Christ. For it stands in you had known me, you would have Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a known my Father also; henceforth you stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, know him and have seen him.” Philip and he who believes in him will not be said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, put to shame.” To you therefore who and we shall be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who 56

has seen me has seen the Father; how Abide in My Word can you say, `Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father 3. For a spirit of trust in God’s promises. and the Father is in me? The words that I (pause) Jesus commands us not to be say to you I do not speak on my own troubled. May our confidence in God be authority; but the Father who dwells in strengthened and our hope confirmed in me does his works. Believe me that I am the promises God has made for those in the Father and the Father is in me; or who follow the way of Jesus. Lord, hear else believe me for the sake of the works us. themselves. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he 4. For a spirit of truth in our lives. who believes in me will also do the (pause) works that I do; and greater works than Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. these will he do, because I go to the May we be a people dedicated to the Father.” truth about God, about the Christ, and V/ The Gospel of the Lord. about God’s purposes for all the people R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. of the world. Lord, hear us. SUGGESTED PRAYER OF THE Priest/Leader FAITHFUL God of the promises, you have loved all (Each local community should compose your creation from the beginning. Renew its own Universal Prayer, but may find our hope in you and grant what we need inspiration in the texts proposed here.) through Christ our Lord. Amen. Priest/Leader Prayer over the Offerings “I am the way, and the truth, and the O God, who by the wonderful exchange life.”God’s holy word nourishes us by its effected in this sacrifice have made us teaching. Filled with Easter joy, we turn partakers of the one supreme Godhead, to our God for what we need in the grant, we pray, that, as we have come to church and in the community. know your truth, we may make it ours by a worthy way of life. Through Christ our Lord. 1. For a spirit of service to others. (pause) Communion Antiphon Cf. Jn 15:1.5 The first Christians shared all they I am the true vine and you are the possessed.They chose special people for branches, says the Lord. Whoever the ministry of service as a sign of their remains in me, and I in him, bears fruit love for one another.May service be the in plenty, alleluia. mark of all our Christian lives in the Prayer after Communion church and in the community. Graciously be present to your people, we Lord, hear us. pray, O Lord, and lead those you have 2. For a spirit of openness to God. imbued with heavenly mysteries to pass (pause)Jesus is the stone rejected by from former ways to newness of life. others yet chosen by God to be the Through Christ our Lord. keystone of God’s reign. May we recognize that we are God’s consecrated people; and may we be open to God’s choices for the church and for the world. Lord, hear us. 57

Abide in My Word MEDITATION OF THE DAY Put Your Trust In The Lord There is no way anyone in the upper room was more troubled than Jesus. In just a few hours, he was going to be beaten, crowned with thorns, and crucified—and he knew it was going to happen. Still, he took the time to encourage his apostles. I may be leaving, he told them, but don’t lose your faith or your peace over it. Trust me instead. As the night went on, the apostles grew increasingly anxious and fearful—so much so that they ended up running away from Jesus. Their faith wasn’t strong enough to sustain them when they faced a life-or-death situation. But that’s not how their story ends. Their faith returned when Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to them. They were so excited that they went out and set the world on fire for Jesus. Were their hearts troubled after Jesus ascended into heaven? Yes, often. Did they lose their peace? Yes, often. Didn’t they have the Holy Spirit in them? Yes. So why couldn’t they hold firm? Because even the great apostles Peter, James, and John were still only human. Sometimes it takes time, even years, to develop that level of faith and trust. So how do we regroup when our faith is tested? The best thing you can do is go easy on yourself. Remember how Peter lost his trust and denied even knowing the Lord. He wept bitterly when he realized what he had done, but he didn’t remain trapped in that bitterness and guilt. When he saw Jesus on the Sea of Galilee, he jumped into the water and ran to him. He let Jesus reassure him, and he resolved to keep moving forward in faith. So whenever your faith is tested, try your best to rest in him. POINT TO PONDER: Whenever your faith is tested, or whatever you are struggling with right now, remember that Jesus knows you. He knows your worries. He is with you, surrounding you with his love. VERSE TO REMEMBER: Do not let your hearts be troubled. (John 14:1) QUESTION TO CONSIDER: How do I regroup when my faith is tested? PRAYER: “Lord, help me to keep moving forward, to hold my peace, and to trust in you.” MIDDAY PRAYER Ant: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Regina Caeli: Refer to pg 193 PSALM 118:10-18 V/ O God, come to my assistance. SONG OF JOY FOR SALVATION R/ O Lord, make haste to help me. Jesus is the stone rejected by you, the Glory be... builders, which has become the Hymn: Refer to pg 192 cornerstone (Acts 4:11) The nations all encircled me; in the name 58

of the LORD I cut them off. They Abide in My Word encircled me all around; in the name of the LORD I cut them off. They encircled Ant: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. me about like bees; they blazed like a Scripture Reading Eph 2: 4-6 fire among thorns. In the name of the God, who is rich in mercy, because of LORD I cut them off. the great love he had for us, even when I was thrust down, thrust down and we were dead in our transgressions, falling, but the LORD was my helper. brought us to life with Christ (by grace The LORD is my strength and my song; you have been saved), raised us up with he was my saviour. him, and seated us with him in the There are shouts of joy and salvation in heavens with Christ Jesus. the tents of the righteous. The LORD’S V/ The disciples rejoiced, alleluia. right hand has done mighty deeds; his R/ When they saw the risen Lord, right hand is exalted. The LORD’S right alleluia. hand has done mighty deeds.” Concluding Prayer as in Morning Prayer I shall not die, I shall live and recount the DIVINE MERCY 3 O’CLOCK deeds of the LORD. The LORD punished PRAYER me, punished me severely, but did not Refer to pages 195-197 hand me over to death. EVENING PRAYER II sheep. V/ O God, come to my assistance. Why was it, sea, that you fled; that you R/ O Lord, make haste to help me. led back, Jordan, on your course? O Glory be... mountains, that you leapt like rams; O Hymn: Refer to pg 193 hills, like yearling sheep? Ant: He has rescued us from the power Tremble, O earth, before the Lord, in the of darkness and has brought us into the presence of the God of Jacob, who turns kingdom of his Son, alleluia. the rock into a pool, and flint into a spring of water. PSALM 114 THE LORD’S WONDERS Ant: He has rescued us from the power AT THE EXODUS of darkness and has brought us into the You too left Egypt when, at baptism, you kingdom of his Son, alleluia. renounced that world which is at enmity Scripture Reading Heb 10:12-14 with God (St Augustine). Christ offered one sacrifice for sins, and When Israel came forth from Egypt, the took his seat forever at the right hand of house of Jacob from a foreign people, God; now he waits until his enemies are Judah became his temple, Israel became made his footstool. For by one offering his domain. he has made perfect forever those who The sea beheld them and fled; the Jordan are being consecrated. turned back on its course. The mountains Magnificat Ant: Lord, show us the leapt like rams, and the hills like yearling Father, and that will be enough for us. 59

Abide in My Word Keep us in the communion of your saints, and grant us rest from our labours Jesus answered him: Have I been with in their company. R. you for so long a time and you still do You have triumphed over death, your not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen enemy; destroy in us the power of death, me, has seen the Father, alleluia. that we may live only for you, victorious Refer to the Magnificat on pg 194 and immortal Lord. R. INTERCESSIONS Christ our Saviour, you were obedient With joy in our hearts, let us call upon even to accepting death, and were raised Christ the Lord, who died and rose again, up to the right hand of the Father, in your and lives always to intercede for us: goodness welcome your brothers and R. Victorious King, hear our prayer. sisters into the kingdom of your glory. R. Light and salvation of all peoples, send Private Intercession into our hearts the fire of your Spirit, as Our Father... we proclaim your resurrection. R. Concluding Prayer as in Morning Let Israel recognise in you her longed Prayer for Messiah, and the whole earth be For night prayer refer to page 182 filled with the knowledge of your glory. R. Canticle 1 Chr 29:10-13 GLORY AND HONOUR ARE DUE TO GOD ALONE 11MONDAY, MAY 11TH Blessed be the God and Father of our Monday of the fifth week Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 1:3). of Easter (White) Today’s Rosary: Blest are you, O LORD, God of Israel, The Joyful Mysteries our father, from eternity unto eternity. “To become aware of the possibility of Yours, O LORD, are greatness and the search is to be onto something. Not to power, splendour, victory and majesty; be onto something is to be in despair.” for all is yours in heaven and on earth. —Walker Percy, The Moviegoer Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom, you are MORNING PRAYER exalted as head over all. V/ Lord, open our lips, Riches and honour are from you, and R/ And we shall praise your name. you have dominion over all. In your Glory be... hand are power and might; your hand gives greatness and strength to all. Hymn: Refer to pg 192 And now, our God, we give you thanks, Ant: Yours is the kingdom, Lord, and and we praise your splendid name. yours the primacy over all the rulers of Ant: Yours is the kingdom, Lord, and the earth, alleluia. yours the primacy over all the rulers of 60

the earth, alleluia. Abide in My Word Scripture Reading Rom 10:8b-10 The word is near you, in your mouth and Concluding Prayer in your heart” (that is, the word of faith Father, help us to seek the values that that we preach) for, if you confess with will bring us eternal joy in this changing your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe world. In our desire for what you promise in your heart that God raised him from make us one in mind and heart. Grant the dead, you will be saved. For one this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your believes with the heart and so is justified, Son, who lives and reigns with you and and one confesses with the mouth and so the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and is saved. ever. Benedictus Ant: Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love MASS him and show myself to him, alleluia. Entrance Antiphon The Good Shepherd has risen, who laid down his life for his sheep and willingly died for his flock, alleluia. Refer to the Benedictus on pg 194 Opening Prayer INTERCESSIONS May your right hand, O Lord, we pray, The Father glorified Jesus and appointed encompass your family with perpetual him heir to all nations. Let us praise him, help, so that, defended from all saying: wickedness by the Resurrection of your R. Save us, Lord, through your victory. Only Begotten Son, we may make our Lord Jesus Christ, by your victory you way by means of your heavenly gifts. broke the power of evil and destroyed Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your sin and death, make us victorious over Son, who lives and reigns with you in the sin today. R. unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for You laid death low and brought us new ever and ever. life, grant that we may walk today in this FIRST READING new life. R. A reading from the Acts of the Apostles You gave life to the dead, and lead 14:5-18 mankind from death to life, give eternal “We bring you good news, that you life to all those we shall meet today. R. should turn from these vain things to a You brought confusion on the guards at living God.” your tomb, but joy to your disciples, In those days: When an attempt was grant the fulness of joy to all who serve made [at Iconium] by both Gentiles and you. R. Jews, with their rulers, to molest Paul Private Intercession and Barnabas and to stone them, they Our Father... learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country; and there they preached the gospel. Now at Lystra there was a man sitting, who could not use his feet; he was a cripple from birth, who had never walked. He listened to Paul speaking; and Paul, looking intently at him and 61

Abide in My Word 2. But our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he wills. Their idols are silver seeing that he had faith to be made well, and gold, the work of human hands. R said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on 3. May you be blest by the Lord, the your feet.” And he sprang up and walked. maker of heaven and earth. The heavens, And when the crowds saw what Paul had the heavens belong to the LORD, but to done, they lifted up their voices, saying the children of men, he has given the in Lycaonian, “The gods have come earth. R. down to us in the likeness of men!” ALLELUIA John 14:26 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Alleluia. The Holy Spirit will teach you because he was the chief speaker, they all things and bring to your remembrance called Hennes. And the priest of Zeus, all that I have said to you. Alleluia. whose temple was in front of the city, GOSPEL brought oxen and garlands to the gates A reading from the holy Gospel and wanted to offer sacrifice with the according to John 14:21-26 people. But when the apostles Barnabas The Holy Spirit whom the Father will and Paul heard of it, they tore their send will teach you all things. garments and rushed out among the At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, multitude, crying, “Men, why are you “He who has my commandments and doing this? We also are men, of like keeps them, he it is who loves me; and nature with you, and bring you good he who loves me will be loved by my news, that you should turn from these Father, and I will love him and manifest vain things to a living God who made the myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said heaven and the earth and the sea and all to him, “Lord, how is it that you will that is in them. In past generations he manifest yourself to us, and not to the allowed all the nations to walk in their world?” Jesus answered him, “If a man own ways; yet he did not leave himself loves me, he will keep my word, and my without witness, for he did good and Father will love him, and we will come gave you from heaven rains and fruitful to him and make our home with him. He seasons, satisfying your hearts with food who does not love me does not keep my and gladness.” With these words they words; and the word which you hear is scarcely restrained the people from not mine but the Father’s who sent me. offering sacrifice to them. “These things I have spoken to you, V/ The word of the Lord. while I am still with you. But the R/ Thanks be to God. Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the RESPONSORIAL PSALM Father will send in my name, he will Psalm 115:1-2.3-4.15-16 (R. 1ab) teach you all things, and bring to your R. Not to us, O Lord, but to your name remembrance all that I have said to you.” give the glory. Or: Alleluia. 1. Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to V/ The Gospel of the Lord. your name give the glory, for your R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. merciful love and fidelity. Why should Prayer over the Offerings the nations say: “Where is their God?” May our prayers rise up to you, O Lord, R. 62

together with the sacrificial offerings, so Abide in My Word that, purified by your graciousness, we may be conformed to the mysteries of it to you, says the Lord, alleluia. your mighty love. Through Christ our Lord. Prayer after Communion Communion Antiphon Jn 14:27 Almighty ever-living God, who restore Peace I leave with you; my peace I give us to eternal life in the Resurrection of to you. Not as the world gives do I give Christ, increase in us, we pray, the fruits of this paschal Sacrament and pour into our hearts the strength of this saving food. Through Christ our Lord. MEDITATION OF THE DAY Jesus Is Revealing Himself To The World Through You Why did Jesus spend so much time focusing on his closest disciples? Wouldn’t it have been more efficient for him to reveal himself to “the world” in a big way? He could have summoned political and religious leaders to witness his resurrection in a blaze of cosmic glory that would leave no room for doubt. Was he possibly missing his chance to reach the whole world in one grand spectacle? There’s no doubt that Jesus loves every single person and wants everyone to come to know him. But just as it was when he walked the earth, he has chosen to reveal himself on a small, personal scale. No grand, once-and-for-all gesture will accomplish what he wants to do; only many daily small ones will make him known. Think about it. When God came to us as a helpless baby, he showed that he wanted to be one of us and one with us. Rather than overpowering humanity as a mighty, cosmic Lord, he quietly connected himself to a family and spent years building relationships with Mary and Joseph and his fellow Nazarenes. Then when he called his disciples, he did the same thing. He forged a relationship with them—a relationship that taught them to love as he loved, a relationship that turned them into living examples of his mercy. Jesus is still using the same strategy today. He is revealing himself “to the world” through relationships—our relationships with the people around us. Every time we reach out to someone, he is reaching out through us. Every time we offer someone words of encouragement or understanding, he is speaking through us. It’s in our simple, everyday acts of love that Jesus can shine through the brightest. Now, we know that we aren’t perfect. We know that we don’t always act as Jesus would have us act. But Jesus has taken care of even this wrinkle in his plan. He has chosen to reveal himself in an especially powerful way every time we forgive each other and make amends. POINT TO PONDER: It’s in our simple, everyday acts of love that Jesus can shine through the brightest. VERSE TO REMEMBER: Lord, how is it that you will manifest your self to us and not the world? (John 14:22) 63

Abide in My Word QUESTION TO CONSIDER: How can I be a channel of God’s love to the world? PRAYER: “Jesus, reveal yourself more fully to me so that other people can come to see you more clearly.” MIDDAY PRAYER So in them your servant finds instruction; Regina Caeli: Refer to pg 193 great reward is in their keeping. But who V/ O God, come to my assistance. can detect their own errors? From hidden R/ O Lord, make haste to help me. faults acquit me. Glory be... From presumption restrain your servant; Hymn: Refer to pg 192 may it not rule me. Then shall I be Ant: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. blameless, clean from grave sin. PSALM 19B PRAISE OF GOD WHO May the spoken words of my mouth, the GAVE US THE LAW OF LOVE thoughts of my heart, win favour in your Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father sight, O LORD, my rock and my is perfect (Mt 5:48). redeemer! The law of the LORD is perfect; it Ant: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. revives the soul. The decrees of the Scripture Reading Col 2:9. 10a.12 LORD are steadfast; they give wisdom In Christ dwells the whole fulness of the to the simple. deity bodily, and you share in this fulness The precepts of the LORD are right; they in him. You were buried with him in gladden the heart. The command of the baptism, in which you were also raised LORD is clear; it gives light to the eyes. with him through faith in the power of The fear of the LORD is pure, abiding God, who raised him from the dead. for ever. The judgments of the LORD are V/ The disciples rejoiced, alleluia. true; they are, all of them, righteous. R/ When they saw the risen Lord, They are more to be desired than gold, alleluia. than quantities of gold. And sweeter are Concluding Prayer as in Morning they than honey, than honey flowing Prayer from the comb. DIVINE MERCY 3 O’CLOCK PRAYER Refer to pages 195-197 EVENING PRAYER Ant: He shall sojourn in your tent; he shall V/ O God, come to my assistance. dwell on your holy mountain, alleluia. R/ O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be... Psalm 15 WHO IS WORTHY TO STAND Hymn: Refer to pg... IN GOD’S PRESENCE? You have approached Mount Zion and the city of the living God (Heb 12:22). 64

Abide in My Word LORD, who may abide in your tent, and INTERCESSIONS dwell on your holy mountain? He who walks without fault; who does The Holy Spirit raised the body of Christ to what is righteous, and speaks the truth life and made it the source of life. With joy from his heart; in our hearts let us call upon the risen who does not slander with his tongue; who Christ, saying: does no wrong to a neighbour, who casts R. Lord, make all things new and fill no slur on a friend, who looks with scorn them with life. on the wicked, but honours those who fear the LORD. Saviour of the world and King of the new creation, raise our minds and hearts to your kingdom, where you sit at the right hand of the Father. R. Who keeps an oath, whatever the cost, who Lord, you are always present in your lends no money at interest, and accepts no Church, through your Holy Spirit guide it bribes against the innocent.He who does into all truth. R. these things shall never be shaken. Show your mercy to the sick, the Ant: He shall sojourn in your tent; he shall overburdened and the dying, that all may dwell on your holy mountain, alleluia. receive strength and courage from your Scripture Reading Heb 8:1b-3a love. R. We have such a high priest, who has taken Light that never fails, as the day draws to his seat at the right hand of the throne of its close we offer you our sacrifice of the Majesty in heaven, a minister of the praise, and pray that the glory of your sanctuary and of the true tabernacle that the resurrection may shine in our deceased Lord, not man, set up. Now every high brothers and sisters. R. priest is appointed to offer gifts and Private Intercession sacrifices. Magnificat Ant: The Holy Spirit, the Our Father... Paraclete, whom the Father will send in my Concluding Prayer as in Morning name, will teach you, and remind you all Prayer that I told you, alleluia. Refer to the Magnificat on pg 194 For night prayer refer to page 182 12TUESDAY, MAY 12TH “The Religious Life is only the Gospel Saints Nereus & Achilleus, translated into practice.” Martyrs —St. Magdalene of Canossa Saint Pancras, Martyr (Op- MORNING PRAYER tional Memorial) (White/ Red) Today’s Rosary: V/ Lord, open our lips, The Sorrowful Mysteries R/ And we shall praise your name. Glory be... 65

Abide in My Word Scripture Reading Acts 13:30-33 God raised Jesus from the dead, and Hymn: Refer to pg 192 for many days he appeared to those Ant: The one who came down from who had come up with him from heaven has ascended above all the Galilee to Jerusalem. These are now heavens, alleluia. his witnesses before the people. We PSALM 24 THE LORD’S ENTRY ourselves are proclaiming this good INTO HIS TEMPLE news to you that what God promised Christ opened heaven for us in the our ancestors he has brought to human nature he assumed (St Irenaeus) fulfilment for us, their children, by The LORD’S is the earth and its raising up Jesus, as it is written in the fulness, the world, and those who second psalm, “You are my son; this dwell in it. It is he who set it on the day I have begotten you.” seas; on the rivers he made it firm. Benedictus Ant: Peace I leave with Who shall climb the mountain of the you, alleluia; peace is my gift to you, LORD? Who shall stand in his holy alleluia. place? The clean of hands and pure of Refer to the Benedictus on pg 194 heart, whose soul is not set on vain INTERCESSIONS things, who has not sworn deceitful By his own power Christ raised up the words. temple of his body when it had been Blessings from the LORD shall he destroyed in death. With joy let us ask receive, and right reward from the God him: who saves him. Such are the people R. Lord, share with us the fruits of who seek him, who seek the face of the your victory. God of Jacob. O gates, lift high your heads; grow Christ our Saviour, when you rose higher, ancient doors. Let him enter, again you brought to the holy men and the king of glory! the apostles the joyful news of a world Who is this king of glory? The LORD, redeemed, make us witnesses to your the mighty, the valiant; the LORD, the risen life. R. valiant in war. You promised to all people that we O gates, lift high your heads; grow would rise up again to newness of life, higher, ancient doors. Let him enter, make us heralds of your Gospel. R. the king of glory! You showed yourself to your apostles Who is this king of glory? He, the and breathed the Holy Spirit on them, LORD of hosts, he is the king of glory. renew in us the presence of the same creator Spirit. R. Ant: The one who came down from You promised to be with your disciples heaven has ascended above all the to the end of the world, stay with us heavens, alleluia. today, and remain with us always. R. 66

Private Intercession Abide in My Word Our Father... Concluding Prayer next day he went on with Barnabas to Father, you restored your people to Derbe. When they had preached the eternal life by raising Christ your Son gospel to that city and had made many from death. Make our faith strong and disciples, they returned to Lystra and our hope sure. May we never doubt to Iconium and to Antioch, that you will fulfil the promises you strengthening the souls of the disciples, have made. Grant this through our exhorting them to continue in the faith, Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and saying that through many and reigns with you and the Holy tribulations we must enter the kingdom Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every Church, with MASS prayer and fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they Entrance Antiphon Rv 19:5; 12:10 believed. Then they passed through Sing praise to our God, all you who Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia. And fear God, both small and great, for when they had spoken the word in now salvation and strength have come, Perga, they went down to Attalia; and and the power of his Christ, alleluia. from there they sailed to Antioch, Collect where they had been commended to O God, who restore us to eternal life in the grace of God for the work which the Resurrection of Christ, grant your they had fulfilled. And when they people constancy in faith and hope, arrived, they gathered the Church that we may never doubt the promises together and declared all that God had of which we have learned from you. done with them, and how he had Through our Lord Jesus Christ your opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. Son, who lives and reigns with you And they remained no little time with and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever the disciples. and ever. V/ The word of the Lord. FIRST READING R/ Thanks be to God. A reading from the Acts of the RESPONSORIAL PSALM Apostles 14:19-28 Psalm 145:10-11.12-13ab. 21 (R. see “They gathered the Church together 12a) and declared all that God had done R. Your friends make known, O with them.” Lord, the glory of your reign. In those days: Jews came [to Lystra] Or: Alleluia. from Antioch and Iconium; and having 1. All your works shall thank you, O persuaded the people, they stoned Paul LORD, and all your faithful ones bless and dragged him out of the city, you. They shall speak of the glory of supposing that he was dead. But when your reign, and declare your mighty the disciples gathered about him, he deeds. R. rose up and entered the city; and on the 2. They shall make known your might to the children of men, and the glorious 67

Abide in My Word the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; but I do as the splendour of your reign. Your kingdom Father has commanded me, so that the is an everlasting kingdom; your rule world may know that I love the endures for all generations. R. Father.” 3. Let my mouth speak the praise of V/ The Gospel of the Lord. the LORD; let all flesh bless his holy R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. name forever, for ages unending. . R Prayer over the Offerings ALLELUIA See Luke 24:46, 26 Receive, O Lord, we pray, these Alleluia. Christ had to suffer and to offerings of your exultant Church, and, rise from the dead, and so enter into his as you have given her cause for such glory. Alleluia. great gladness, grant also that the gifts GOSPEL we bring may bear fruit in perpetual A reading from the holy Gospel happiness. Through Christ our Lord. according to John 14:27-31a Communion Antiphon Rom 6:8 “My peace I give to you.” If we have died with Christ, we believe At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, that we shall also live with Christ, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I alleluia. give to you; not as the world gives do I Prayer after Communion give to you. Let not your hearts be Look with kindness upon your people, troubled, neither let them be afraid. O Lord, and grant, we pray, that those You heard me say to you, `I go away, you were pleased to renew by eternal and I will come to you.’ If you loved mysteries may attain in their flesh the me, you would have rejoiced, because incorruptible glory of the resurrection. I go to the Father; for the Father is Through Christ our Lord. greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place, you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for MEDITATION OF THE DAY Jesus Is Always With Us “Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow.” So go Romeo’s famous lines to Juliet in Shakespeare’s play. It’s one of the most memorable farewell scenes in Western literature, made all the more poignant because their two families are bitterly opposed to one another. Today’s Gospel is also a farewell scene, one no less dramatic, no less bitter sweet. Imagine the sorrow and fear the disciples must have felt at the thought of Jesus, their teacher and best friend, leaving them—and in such a violent way. He tried to explain that he would rise again, but they still could not fully grasp his words. So he gently told them, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. . . . I will come back to you” (John 14:27, 28). We can all relate to the struggle with fear and anxiety that the disciples felt that night. As we wait for God to answer a prayer request or intervene in a loved one’s life, we may be tempted to wonder: Where is Jesus? Has he left me? What does the future hold? 68

Abide in My Word In these moments, Jesus offers us the same comforting words that he gave to the disciples: Do not let your heart be troubled. He knows exactly what we are going through and knows the glory he wants to bring us into. It may not always be easy to remember that Jesus is with us, but we can look to Scripture passages like today’s Gospel and remember that God keeps his promises to all his disciples. We can also recall God’s faithfulness to us in the past. All this can help us conclude that Jesus is with us, he is in control, and he has a good plan. Right now, close your eyes, and talk to Jesus about whatever burdens you. Picture him telling you, “Do not let your heart be troubled. I will come to you.” You may taste “sweet sorrow” or anxiety or fear now, but as you lean into his promises, you’ll become more confident that he wants nothing more than to fill you with his peace and strength. POINT TO PONDER: Jesus is with you . He knows exactly what you are going through and knows the glory he wants to bring you into. VERSE TO REMEMBER: Do not let your hearts be troubled. (John 14:27) QUESTION TO CONSIDER: What situation am I facing at the moment that fills me with fear and anxiety? Do I sometimes feel that God has forsaken me? PRAYER: “Jesus, give me the grace to trust in you today.” MIDDAY PRAYER in death; lest my enemy say, “I have Regina Caeli: Refer to pg 193 overcome him; lest my foes rejoice when they see me fall. V/ O God, come to my assistance. As for me, I trust in your merciful R/ O Lord, make haste to help me. love. Let my heart rejoice in your Glory be... salvation. I will sing to the LORD who Hymn: Refer to pg 192 has been bountiful with me. I will sing Ant: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. psalms to the name of the LORD Most Psalm 13 THE LAMENT OF THE High. JUST WHO DOES NOT LOSE HIS Ant: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. HOPE IN GOD Scripture Reading See I Pt 3:21-22a May the God of hope fill you with all You are saved by a baptismal bath. joy (Rom 15:13). This baptism is not a removal of dirt How long, O LORD? Will you forget from the body but an appeal to God for me for ever? How long will you hide a clear conscience, through the your face from me? How long must I resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has bear grief in my soul, have sorrow in gone into heaven and is at the right my heart all day long? How long shall hand of God. my enemy prevail over me? V/ The disciples rejoiced, alleluia. Look, answer me, LORD my God! R/ When they saw the risen Lord, Give light to my eyes lest I fall asleep alleluia. 69

Abide in My Word DIVINE MERCY 3 O’CLOCK PRAYER Concluding Prayer as in Morning Refer to pages 195-197 Prayer EVENING PRAYER firm. V/ O God, come to my assistance. Grant salvation to the king, O LORD, R/ O Lord, make haste to help me. give answer on the day we call. Glory be... Ant: Now the reign of our God has Hymn: Refer to pg 193 begun and power is given to Christ, his Ant: Now the reign of our God has anointed, alleluia. begun and power is given to Christ, his Scripture Reading 1 Pt 2:4-5 anointed, alleluia. Come to the Lord, a living stone, Psalm 20 A PRAYER FOR THE rejected by human beings but chosen KING’S VICTORY and precious in the sight of God, and, And it shall be that everyone shall be like living stones, let yourselves be saved who calls on the name of the built into a spiritual house to be a holy Lord (Acts 2:21) priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices May the LORD answer in time of trial; acceptable to God through Jesus may the name of Jacob’s God protect Christ. you. May he send you help from the Magnificat Ant: If you loved me, you holy place, and give you support from would surely be glad that I am going to Zion. the Father, alleluia. May he remember all your offerings, Refer to the Magnificat on pg 194 and receive your sacrifice with favour. INTERCESSIONS May he give you your heart’s desire, As Christ lay in the darkness of the and fulfill every one of your plans. earth he saw the light of a new glory. May we ring out our joy at your Let us cry out to him in joy: victory, and raise banners in the name R. King of glory, hear us. of our God. May the LORD grant all We pray for all bishops, priests and your prayers. deacons, that they may be zealous in Now I know the LORD saves his their ministry, and prepare for you a anointed, and answers from his holy people devoted to every good work. R. heaven with the mighty victory of his We pray for all who teach in the service hand. of the Church, that they may seek your Some put their trust in chariots or truth with a sincere heart. R. horses, but we in the name of the We pray for your faithful people, that LORD, our God. They will collapse they may be victorious in the contest and fall, but we shall rise up and hold 70

of faith, and win the prize of victory in Abide in My Word your kingdom. R. You cancelled our condemnation by into your kingdom. R. nailing it to the cross, free us from our Private Intercession chains, and lead us out of darkness. R. Our Father... You went down among the dead and Concluding Prayer as in Morning opened for them the gates to life, Prayer welcome our dead brothers and sisters For night prayer refer to page 182 13 WEDNESDAY, MAY 13TH Transgression speaks to the sinner in Our Lady of Fatima the depths of his heart. There is no fear (Optional Memorial) (White) of God before his eyes. In his own eyes, he flatters himself, not to see and detest his own guilt. The words of his mouth are mischief and Today’s Rosary: deceit. He has ceased to be prudent The Glorious Mysteries and do good. “The poor are the critique of this In bed he plots iniquity. He sets his generation . . . and I think that the foot on every wicked way; no evil does parishes are where the waves of the he reject. poor break at our feet and come to us Your mercy, Lord, reaches to heaven, like a daily mission from the Creator, your truth to the clouds. Your with a built-in mandate.” righteousness is like God’s mountains; —Horace McKenna, SJ like the great deep, your justice. Both MORNING PRAYER man and beast you save, O LORD. V/ Lord, open our lips, How precious is your mercy, O God! R/ And we shall praise your name. The sons of men seek shelter in the Glory be... shadow of your wings. Hymn: Refer to pg 192 They feast on the riches of your house; Ant: You, O Lord, are the source of you give them drink from the stream of life, alleluia. your delight. For with you is the Psalm 36 THE MALICE OF fountain of life, and in your light we SINNERS AND GOD’S GOODNESS see light. Whoever follows me will not walk in Maintain your mercy for those who darkness, but will have the light of life know you, your saving justice to (Jn 8:12). upright hearts. Let the foot of the proud not tread on me nor the hand of the wicked drive me out. 71

Abide in My Word every evil. R. King of glory, source of our life, grant There have the evildoers fallen; flung that, when you come again, we may be down, unable to rise! one with you in glory. R. Ant: You, O Lord, are the source of life, alleluia. Scripture Reading Rom 6:8-11 Private Intercession If we have died with Christ, we believe Our Father... that we shall also live with him. We Concluding Prayer know that Christ, raised from the dead, Father of all holiness, guide our hearts dies no more; death no longer has to you. Keep in the light of your truth power over him. As to his death, he all those you have freed from darkness died to sin once and for all; as to his of unbelief. We ask this through our life, he lives for God. Consequently, Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives you too must think of yourselves as and reigns with you and the Holy being dead to sin and living for God in Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Christ Jesus Benedictus Ant: I am the true vine, MASS alleluia; you are the branches, alleluia. Refer to the Benedictus on pg 194 Entrance Antiphon Cf. Ps 71:8.23 INTERCESSIONS My mouth is filled with your praise, Christ was given up for our sins and that I may sing aloud; my lips shall rose again to make us righteous. Let us shout for joy, when I sing to you, cry out to him, saying: alleluia. R. Save us, Lord, by your victory. Collect Christ our Saviour, in conquering O God, restorer and lover of innocence, death you brought us joy, in rising direct the hearts of your servants again you raised us up and filled us towards yourself, that those you have with the abundance of your gifts, stir set free from the darkness of unbelief up our hearts, and sanctify this day may never stray from the light of your through the gift of your Holy Spirit. R. truth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, You are glorified by the angels in your Son, who lives and reigns with heaven and adored by mankind on you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for earth; as we celebrate your resurrection, ever and ever. accept our worship in Spirit and in FIRST READING truth. R. A reading from the Acts of the Lord Jesus, save us; show your great Apostles 15:1-6 mercy to your people, as we look “They were appointed to go up to forward to our own resurrection, have Jerusalem to the apostles and elders mercy on us, and protect us today from about this question.” In those days: Some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised 72

according to the custom of Moses, you Abide in My Word cannot be saved.” And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and ALLELUIA John 15:4a.5b debate with them, Paul and Barnabas Alleluia. Abide in me, and I in you, and some of the others were appointed says the Lord; he who abides in me to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles bears much fruit. Alleluia. and the elders about this question. So, GOSPEL being sent on their way by the Church, A reading from the holy Gospel they passed through both Phoenicia according to John 15:1-8 and Samaria, reporting the conversion “He who abides in me, and I in him, of the Gentiles, and they gave great joy he it is that bears much fruit.” to all the brethren. When they came to At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the “I am the true vine, and my Father is Church and the apostles and the elders, the vinedresser. Every branch of mine and they declared all that God had that bears no fruit, he takes away, and done with them. But some believers every branch that does bear fruit he who belonged to the party of the prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Pharisees rose up, and said, “It is You are already made clean by the necessary to circumcise them, and to word which I have spoken to you. charge them to keep the law of Moses.” Abide in me, and I in you. As the The apostles and the elders were branch cannot bear fruit by itself, gathered together to consider this unless it abides in the vine, neither can matter. you, unless you abide in me. I am the V/ The word of the Lord. vine, you are the branches. He who R/ Thanks be to God. abides in me, and I in him, he it is that RESPONSORIAL PSALM bears much fruit, for apart from me Psalm 122:1-2.3-4ab.4cd-5 (R. see 1) you can do nothing. If a man does not R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch the Lord. and withers; and the branches are 1. I rejoiced when they said to me, gathered, thrown into the fire and “Let us go to the house of the LORD.” burned. If you abide in me, and my And now our feet are standing within words abide in you, ask whatever you your gates, O Jerusalem. R will, and it shall be done for you. By 2. Jerusalem is built as a city bonded as this my Father is glorified, that you one together. It is there that the tribes bear much fruit, and so prove to be my go up, the tribes of the LORD. R. disciples.” 3. For Israel’s witness it is to praise the V/ The Gospel of the Lord. name of the LORD. There were set the R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. thrones for judgment, the thrones of Prayer over the Offerings the house of David. R. Grant, we pray, O Lord, that we may always find delight in these paschal mysteries, so that the renewal constantly at work within us may be the cause of our unending joy. Through Christ our Lord. 73

Abide in My Word most holy exchange, by which you have redeemed us, may bring your Communion Antiphon help in this present life and ensure for The Lord has risen and shone his light us eternal gladness. Through Christ upon us, whom he has redeemed by his our Lord. Blood, alleluia. Prayer after Communion Hear, O Lord, our prayers, that this MEDITATION OF THE DAY Don’t Hesitate To Seek Out Advice The question of how to integrate Gentile converts into the almost exclusively Jewish Church was probably the most hotly debated issue the first disciples faced. When some Jewish believers from Judea came to Antioch teaching that circumcision was necessary for salvation, the need for an answer became immediate. Let’s take a look at the details. Faithful Jews who had embraced Jesus as the Messiah valued the Mosaic law. It set them apart as God’s chosen people. Their special covenant with God was precious: it demonstrated their commitment to him and his commitment to them. It’s no wonder the Jewish Christians expected Gentile believers to embrace the Mosaic Law before they became part of the Church. But Paul and Barnabas had seen dramatic conversions of Gentiles. They had seen that God “opened the door of faith” to a people who had been outside of God’s covenant with Israel (Acts 14:27). Lives were changing, and miraculous healings were taking place—all demonstrating that the Holy Spirit was at work. In light of that, it didn’t seem necessary for Gentiles to convert to Judaism first. These were challenging waters for the new Church to navigate. What did they do? Paul and Barnabas, along with representatives from the Jewish Christians, went to Jerusalem to consult with the apostles and elders. They knew the question was bigger than their own preferences, and they trusted the apostles to help them sort it out. Because the answer would affect the entire Church, they didn’t want to rely on only their own inclinations. Maybe you’re facing a complex situation or a thorny problem. You might pray and think you know what the Holy Spirit is saying on the issue. But how do you confirm it? One way is to talk to your pastor or a trusted priest. Either one is more than qualified. Or talk it over with your spouse or another good friend whose Christian maturity you respect. The Holy Spirit will always bring you clarity—and sometimes he does it through the advice of a trusted authority. POINT TO PONDER: By praying to the Holy Spirit each day and being attentive to the Spirit’s promptings, we receive the gifts, guidance and strength we need to meet the challenges of each new day as it unfolds. VERSE TO REMEMBER: There arose no little dissension and debate. (Acts 15:2) QUESTION TO REMEMBER: When facing a complex situation or a thorny problem, what I do? Who do I go to for advice? PRAYER: “Lord, when I am confused, bring your clarity and peace to me. I trust your goodwill for your people.” 74

MIDDAY PRAYER Abide in My Word Regina Caeli: Refer to pg 193 V/ O God, come to my assistance. To you I call; for you will surely heed R/ O Lord, make haste to help me. me. O God. Turn your ear to me; hear my Glory be... words. Display your merciful love. By Hymn: Refer to pg 192 your right hand you deliver from their foes those who put their trust in you. Guard me as the apple of your eye. Hide me in the shadow of your wings from the violent attack of the wicked. Ant: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Ant: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Psalm 17:1-9a SAVE ME, LORD, Scripture Reading 1 Jn 5:5-6a FROM THOSE WHO HATE YOU Who indeed is the victor over the world In the days when he was in the flesh, but the one who believes that Jesus is the Jesus offered prayers and he was heard Son of God? This is the one who came (Heb 5:7). through water and blood, Jesus Christ O LORD, hear a cause that is just, pay not by water alone, but by water and heed to my cry. Turn your ear to my blood. prayer: no deceit is on my lips. V/ The disciples rejoiced, alleluia. From you, may my justice come forth. R/ When they saw the risen Lord, alleluia Your eyes discern what is upright. Search Concluding Prayer as in Morning my heart and visit me by night. Test me Prayer. by fire, and you will find no wrong in DIVINE MERCY 3 O’CLOCK me. PRAYER My mouth does not transgress as others Refer to pages 195-197 do; on account of the words of your lips, I closely watched the paths of the violent. I kept my steps firmly in your paths. My feet have never faltered EVENING PRAYER human race (Rev 21:3). V/ O God, come to my assistance. The LORD is my light and my R/ O Lord, make haste to help me. salvation; whom shall I fear? The Glory be... LORD is the stronghold of my life; Hymn: Refer to pg 193 whom should I dread? Ant: With his right hand God has When those who do evil draw near to raised him up as king and saviour, devour my flesh, it is they, my enemies alleluia. and foes, who stumble and fall. Psalm 27 Though an army encamp against me, GOD STANDS BYUS IN DANGERS my heart would not fear. Though war Behold, God’s dwelling is with the break out against me, even then would I trust. 75

Abide in My Word my words live in you, all you ask for will be yours, alleluia. There is one thing I ask of the LORD, Refer to the Magnificat on pg 194 only this do I seek: to live in the house INTERCESSIONS of the LORD all the days of my life, to Christ rose from the dead and is seated gaze on the beauty of the LORD, to at the right hand of the Father. Let us enquire at his temple. pray to him saying: For there he keeps me safe in his R. Lord Jesus, you live for ever; shelter in the day of evil. He hides me hear our prayer under cover of his tent; he sets me high Lord, remember all who minister in upon a rock. your service, may their holy lives be And now my head shall be raised an example to your people. R. above my foes who surround me, and I shall offer within his tent a sacrifice of joy. I will sing and make music for the LORD. Ant: With his right hand God has Give to those who govern us the spirit raised him up as king and saviour, of justice and peace, so that the human alleluia. family may live in harmony. R. Scripture Reading Heb 7:24-27 Guide our days in the way of salvation, Jesus, because he remains forever, has and fill the earth with your plenty, for a priesthood that does not pass away. the sake of the needy. R. Therefore, he is always able to save Christ our Saviour, light of the world, those who approach God through him, you have called creation from death to since he lives forever to make life, may your light shine for ever in intercession for them. It was fitting our departed brothers and sisters. R. that we should have such a high priest: Private Intercession holy, innocent, undefiled, separated Our Father... from sinners, higher than the heavens. Concluding Prayer as in Morning He has no need, as did the high priests, Prayer to offer sacrifice day after day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did that once for all when he offered himself. Magnificat Ant: If you live in me and For night prayer refer to page 182 “Live for the day. Life is made up of 14 THURSDAY, MAY14TH days. Our eternity is built on time. If Saint Matthias, Apostle one has given all to Jesus and Mary, (Red) one has no right to waste time.” —Venerable Edel Quinn Today’s Rosary: The Mysteries of light 76

MORNING PRAYER Abide in My Word V/ Lord, open our lips, R/ And we shall praise your name to deal out vengeance to the nations Glory be... and punishment upon the peoples; to Hymn bind their kings in chains and their Let all on earth their voices raise, nobles in fetters of iron; to carry out Resounding heaven’s praise, the judgment decreed. This is an To him who gave apostles grace honour for all his faithful. To run their glorious race. Ant: You are my friends, says the Of Gospel truth they bore the light Lord, if you do what I command you, Of brighten earthly night alleluia May we that heav’nly light impart Scripture Reading Eph 2:19-22 To ev’ry mind and heart You are no longer strangers and Praise God the Father and the Son sojourners, but you are fellow citizens And Spirit Three in One, with the holy ones and members of the Who sent these men with holy fire household of God, built upon the All mankind to inspire. Amen. foundation of the apostles and Ant: You are my friends, says the prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as Lord, if you do what I command you, the capstone. Through him the whole alleluia structure is held together and grows Psalm 149 THE JOY OF GOD’S into a temple sacred in the Lord; in HOLY PEOPLE him you also are being built together Let the sons of the Church, the children into a dwelling place of God in the of the new people, rejoice in Christ the Spirit. King (Hesychius) Benedictus Ant: We must choose Sing a new song to the LORD, his someone who was with us all the time praise in the assembly of the faithful. that the Lord Jesus lived among us; he Let Israel rejoice in its Maker; let will take his place with us in giving Zion’s children exult in their king. Let witness to the Lord’s resurrection, them praise his name with dancing, alleluia. and make music with timbrel and harp. Refer to the Benedictus on pg 194 For the LORD takes delight in his INTERCESSIONS people; he crowns the poor with Beloved friends, we have inherited salvation. Let the faithful rejoice in heaven along with the apostles. Let us glory, shout with joy on their couches. give thanks to the Father for all his Let the praise of God be in their mouths gifts: and a two-edged sword in their hand, R. The company of apostles praise you, O Lord. Praise be to you, Lord, for the banquet of Christ’s body and blood given us through the apostles, which refreshes us and gives us life. R. 77

Abide in My Word numbered among the elect. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who Praise be to you, Lord, for the feast of lives and reigns with you in the unity your word prepared for us by the of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever apostles, giving us light and joy. R. and ever. Praise be to you, Lord, for your holy FIRST READING Church, founded on the apostles, A reading from the Acts of the where we are gathered together into Apostles 1:15-17. 20-26 your community. R. “The lot fell on Matthias; and he was Praise be to you, Lord, for the cleansing enrolled with the eleven apostles.” power of baptism and penance that In those days Peter stood up among the you have entrusted to your apostles, brethren (the company of persons was through which we are cleansed of our in all about a hundred and twenty), and sins. R. said, “Brethren, the Scripture had to be Private Intercession fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke Our Father... beforehand by the mouth of David, Concluding Prayer concerning Judas who was guide to Father, you called Saint Mathias to those who arrested Jesus. For he was share in the mission of the apostles. numbered among us, and was allotted By the help of his prayers may we his share in this ministry. For it is receive with joy the love you share written in the book of Psalms, `Let his with us and be counted among those habitation become desolate and let you have chosen. We ask this through there be no one to live in it’; and `His our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who office let another take.’ So one of the lives and reigns with you and the Holy men who have accompanied us during Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the MASS baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us one of these men Entrance Antiphon Jn 15:16 must become with us a witness to his It was not you who chose me, says the resurrection.” And they put forward Lord, but I who chose you and two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who appointed you to go and bear fruit, was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. fruit that will last, alleluia. And they prayed and said, “Lord, who The Gloria in excelsis (Glory to God knows the hearts of all men, show in the highest) is said. which one of these two you have Opening Prayer chosen to take the place in this ministry O God, who assigned Saint Matthias a and apostleship from which Judas place in the college of Apostles, grant turned aside, to go to his own place.” us, through his intercession, that, And they cast lots for them, and the lot rejoicing at how your love has been fell on Matthias; and he was enrolled allotted to us, we may merit to be with the eleven apostles. V/ The word of the Lord. R/ Thanks be to God. 78

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Abide in My Word Psalm 113:16-2.3-4.5-6.7-8 R. The Lord made them sit with the commandment, that you love one princes of his people. another as I have loved you. Greater Or: Alleluia. love has no man than this, that a man 1. Praise, O servants of the LORD, lay down his life for his friends. You praise the name of the LORD! May the are my friends if you do what I name of the LORD be blest both now command you. No longer do I call you and for evermore! R. servants, for the servant does not know 2. From the rising of the sun to its what his master is doing; but I have setting, praised be the name of the called you friends, for all that I have LORD! High above all nations is the heard from my Father I have made LORD, above the heavens his glory. R known to you. You did not choose me, 3. Who is like the LORD, our God, but I chose you and appointed you that who dwells on high, who lowers you should go and bear fruit and that himself to look down upon heaven and your fruit should abide; so that earth? R. whatever you ask the Father in my 4. From the dust he lifts up the lowly, name, he may give it to you. This I from the ash heap he raises the poor, command you, to love one another.” to set them in the company of princes, V/ The Gospel of the Lord. yes, with the princes of his people. R. R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. ALLELUIA See John 15:16 Prayer over the Offerings Alleluia. I chose you from the world Receive, O Lord, the offerings of your that you should go and bear fruit and Church, reverently presented for the that your fruit shall abide, says the Feast of Saint Matthias, and through Lord. Alleluia. them strengthen us by the power of your grace. Through Christ our Lord. Communion Antiphon Jn 15:12 This is my commandment: Love one another as I love you, says the Lord, alleluia. GOSPEL Prayer after Communion A reading from the holy Gospel Never cease, O Lord, we pray, to fill according to John 15:9-17 your family with divine gifts, and, “You did not choose me, but I chose through blessed Matthias’ intercession you.” for us, graciously admit us to a share in At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, the lot of the Saints in light. Through “As the Father has loved me, so have I Christ our Lord. loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my 79

Abide in My Word MEDITATION OF THE DAY A Faith-Filled Way To Act Have you ever anguished over an important decision, wanting to follow God but unsure if you’re making the right choice? Decision making can be especially challenging when several doors are open before us, and many of them seem good. How much easier it would be if God would simply text us a message or send us an e-mail telling us exactly what to do! The disciples were faced with just such a difficult decision regarding which of two well-qualified candidates should fill Judas’ spot as the twelfth member of their group. To our modern minds, drawing lots—the method they decided upon—may seem illogical. Why leave such a crucial matter up to the luck of the draw? The disciples recognized that the matter transcended their natural wisdom. They didn’t know the mind of God, so they prayed to the One “who knows the hearts of all” (Acts 1:24). Then they gave God room to act. They reasoned that God had already made the choice, and drawing lots would make it clear. Biblical scholar Maureen Duffy explained it this way: “They choose not to choose—or exclude. According to the practice of the time, they cast lots, for an outcome unbiased by human ignorance. Perhaps, in secular language, they leave the decision to chance. In their language of faith, they leave it to God.” In our own lives, many situations are clear-cut with straightforward decisions. But what about those times when we’re trying to choose between things that seem equally appealing, equally advantageous—or equally risky? First, ask yourself: “Does my choice conform to God’s law? Will it bring me closer to Christ?” Then, rather than trying to control things yourself, seek the Lord for guidance and some sign of direction or confirmation. Give God a chance to show his hand! Even if you make a wrong decision, he’ll find a way to bring good out of it. All he asks is that you try your best. Take a chance, and leave the rest up to the Lord. Isn’t that a really faith-filled way to act? POINT TO PONDER: Our choices must conform to God’s law, and should bring us closer to God. VERSE TO REMEMBER: You, Lord, who know the hearts of all . . . (Acts 1:24) QUESTION TO CONSIDER; When making decisions , what guides me? PRAYER: “Father, I trust you! Guide me in your truth, and teach me, for you are God my savior’ (Psalm 25:5).” MIDDAY PRAYER Hymn: Refer to pg 192 Regina Caeli: Refer to pg 193 V/ O God, come to my assistance. Ant: Know that I am with you always, R/ O Lord, make haste to help me. even to the end of the world, alleluia. Glory be... Psalm 124 OUR HELP IS IN THE NAME OF THE LORD The Lord said to Paul, “Do not be 80

Abide in My Word afraid... for I am with you” (Acts 18:9- Ant: Know that I am with you always, 10). even to the end of the world, alleluia. “If the LORD had not been on our Scripture Reading Acts 5:12a.14 side,” let Israel say “If the LORD had Many signs and wonders were done not been on our side when men rose among the people at the hands of the against us, then would they have apostles. Yet more than ever, believers swallowed us alive when their anger in the Lord, great numbers of men and was kindled. women, were added to them. Then would the waters have engulfed V/ The apostles held fast to Christ’s us, the torrent gone over us; over our message, alleluia. head would have swept the raging R/ They kept the precepts he gave waters.” them, alleluia. Blest be the LORD who did not give Concluding Prayer as in Morning us a prey to their teeth! Our life, like a Prayer bird, has escaped from the snare of the DIVINE MERCY 3 O’CLOCK fowler. PRAYER Indeed, the snare has been broken, and Refer to pages 195-197 we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. EVENING PRAYER To you, Redeemer, now we cry, V/ O God, come to my assistance. That you would join to them on high R/ O Lord, make haste to help me. Your servants, who this grace implore, Glory be... For ever and for ever more. Hymn Ant: I have lived among you as one who The eternal gifts of Christ the King, ministers to others, alleluia. The apostle’s glory, let us sing, Psalm 126 And all with hearts of gladness raise JOYFUL HOPE IN GOD Due hymns of thankful love and praise. As you share in the sufferings, you also Their faith in Christ, the Lord, prevailed; share in the encouragement (2 Cor 1:7). Their hope, a light that never failed; When the LORD brought back the exiles Their love ablaze o’er pathways trod of Zion, we were like those who are To lead them to the eternal God. dreaming. Then was our mouth filled In them the Father’s glory shone, with laughter; on our tongues, songs of In them the will of God the Son, joy. In them exults the Holy Ghost, Then the nations themselves said, “What Through them rejoice the heav’nly host. great deeds the LORD worked for 81

Abide in My Word our almighty Father for his holy people and say: them!” What great deeds the LORD R. Be mindful of your Church, O worked for us! Indeed, we were glad. Lord. Bring back our exiles, O LORD, as Father, you wanted your son to be seen streams in the Neged. Those who are first by the apostles after the resurrection sowing in tears will sing when they reap. from the dead, we ask you to make us his They go out, they go out, full of tears, witnesses to the farthest corners of the bearing seed for the sowing; they come world. R. back, they come back with a song You sent your son to preach the good bearing their sheaves. news to the poor, help us to preach his Ant: I have lived among you as one who gospel to every creature. R. ministers to others, alleluia. Scripture Reading Eph 4:11-13 You sent your son to sow the seed of Christ gave some as apostles, others as unending life, grant that we who work at prophets, others as evangelists, others as sowing the seed may share the joy of the pastors and teachers, to equip the holy harvest. R. ones for the work of ministry, for You sent your son to reconcile all people building up the body of Christ, until we to you through his blood, help us all to all attain to the unity of faith and work towards achieving this knowledge of the Son of God, to mature reconciliation. R. manhood, to the extent of the full stature Your son sits at your right hand in of Christ. heaven, let the dead enter your kingdom Magnificat Ant: You have not chosen of joy. R. me but I have chosen you and have Private Intercession appointed you to go forth and bear fruit, and your fruit will remain, alleluia. Refer to the Magnificat on pg 194 Our Father... INTERCESSIONS Concluding Prayer as in Morning Prayer My brothers and sisters, we build on the For night prayer refer to page 182 foundation of the apostles. Let us pray to 15FRIDAY, MAY 15TH “Have love in your hearts but repress Friday of the fifth week of Eas- the tendency to appear devout.” —St. ter (White) Mary Mazzarello MORNING PRAYER Today’s Rosary: V/ Lord, open our lips, The Sorrowful Mysteries R/ And we shall praise your name. Glory be... 82

Abide in My Word Hymn: Refer to pg 192 INTERCESSIONS Ant: Serve the Lord with gladness, Let us pray to God the Father, who alleluia. gave us new life through the risen Psalm 100 THE JOYFUL SONG OF Christ: THOSE ENTERING GOD’S R. Give us the glory of your Son. TEMPLE Lord our God, your mighty works The Lord calls his ransomed people to have revealed your eternal plan: you sing songs of victory (St Athanasius) created the earth, and you are faithful Cry out with joy to the LORD, all the in every generation, hear us, Father of earth. Serve the LORD with gladness. mercy. R. Come before him, singing for joy. Purify our hearts with your truth, and Know that he, the LORD, is God. He guide them in the way of holiness, so made us; we belong to him. We are his that we may do what is pleasing in people, the sheep of his flock. your sight. R. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and Let your face shine upon us, that we his courts with songs of praise. Give may be freed from sin and filled with thanks to him, and bless his name. your plenty. R. Indeed, how good is the LORD, eternal You gave the apostles the peace of his merciful love. He is faithful from Christ, grant peace to your people, and age to age. to the whole world. R. Ant: Serve the Lord with gladness, Private Intercession alleluia. Our Father... Scripture Reading Acts 5:30-32 Concluding Prayer The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, Lord, by this Easter mystery prepare though you had him killed by hanging us for eternal life. May our celebration him on a tree. God exalted him at his of Christ’s death and resurrection right hand as leader and saviour to guide us to salvation. We ask this grant Israel repentance and forgiveness through our Lord Jesus Christ, your of sins. We are witnesses of these Son, who lives and reigns with you things, as is the Holy Spirit that God and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever has given to those who obey him. and ever. Benedictus Ant: My commandment is MASS this: love one another as I have loved you, alleluia. Entrance Antiphon Rv 5:12 Refer to the Benedictus on pg 194 Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and divinity, and wisdom and strength and honour, alleluia. 83

Abide in My Word sent off, they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the congregation Collect together, they delivered the letter. And Grant us, Lord, we pray, that being when they read it, they rejoiced at the rightly conformed to the paschal exhortation. mysteries, what we celebrate in joy V/ The word of the Lord. may protect and save us with perpetual R/ Thanks be to God. power. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, RESPONSORIAL PSALM your Son, who lives and reigns with Psalm 57:8-9.10-12 (R. 10a) you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for R. I will praise you, Lord, among the ever and ever. peoples. Or: Alleluia. FIRST READING 1. My heart is ready, O God; my heart A reading from the Acts of the is ready. I will sing, I will sing your Apostles 15:22-31 praise. Awake, my soul! Awake, lyre “It has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and harp! I will awake the dawn. R and to us to lay upon you no greater 2. I will praise you, Lord, among the burden than these necessary things.” peoples, among the nations sing In those days: It seemed good to the psalms to you, for your mercy reaches apostles and the elders, with the whole to the heavens, and your truth to the Church, to choose men from among skies. Be exalted, O God, above the them and send them to Antioch with heavens; may your glory shine on all Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas the earth! R. called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading ALLELUIA Jn 15:15b men among the brethren, with the Alleluia. I have called you friends, following letter: “The brethren, both says the Lord, for all that I have heard the apostles and the elders, to the from my Father I have made known to brethren who are of the Gentiles in you. Alleluia. Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, GOSPEL greeting. Since we have heard that A reading from the holy Gospel some persons from us have troubled according to John 15:12-17 you with words, unsettling your minds, “This I command you, to love one although we gave them no instructions, another. “ it has seemed good to us in assembly At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, to choose men and send them to you “This is my commandment, that you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, love one another as I have loved you. men who have risked their lives for the Greater love has no man than this, that sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have a man lay down his life for his friends. therefore sent Judas and Silas, who You are my friends if you do what I themselves will tell you the same command you. No longer do I call you things by word of mouth. For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from unchastity. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.” So when they were 84

servants, for the servant does not know Abide in My Word what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have Lord, we pray, and, accepting the heard from my Father I have made oblation of this spiritual sacrifice, known to you. You did not choose me, make of us an eternal offering to you. but I chose you and appointed you that Through Christ our Lord. you should go and bear fruit and that Communion Antiphon your fruit should abide; so that The Crucified is risen from the dead whatever you ask the Father in my and has redeemed us, alleluia. name, he may give it to you. This I Prayer after Communion command you, to love one another.” We have partaken of the gifts of this V/ The Gospel of the Lord. sacred mystery, humbly imploring, O R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Lord, that what your Son commanded Prayer over the Offerings us to do in memory of him may bring Sanctify graciously these gifts, O us growth in charity. Through Christ our Lord. MEDITATION OF THE DAY A Friend Of Jesus Do you remember how your relationship with your best friend developed? You probably spent a lot of time with that person, confiding in him and sharing some of your deepest thoughts, fears, and desires. You built a relationship on trust, honesty, and loyalty. Your best friend may be the only one who knows how you got that scar next to your right ear. And he may be the only one who knows just why that confession you made last March was so important. In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus calls his disciples his closest friends. But we are mistaken if we think that his love is limited to just these few believers. He wants to tell you the same thing! Remember, he gave up his life so that you and he could be joined together. He gave everything so that you could find rest and comfort, encouragement and inspiration, in his presence, just as you find with your best friend on earth. That’s right! Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, the Lord of the universe, calls you his friend! Isn’t that wonderful? A slave has very few rights, little dignity, and no freedom. He works tirelessly just to please his master. But a friend serves out of love. He gives generously because he holds his friend in high esteem. That’s how Jesus looks at you. He invites you into a sharing of respect, love, and intimacy with him. He never tries to bully you or scare you into following him. Rather, he helps you see how fulfilling your life can be as you let his plan unfold. In a word, he loves you for who you are. Take a few minutes today and think about who Jesus is to you. Then think about who you are to Jesus. Imagine and listen, as Jesus calls you his friend. Speak to him as you would speak to a close friend. Let him look you in the eye, and don’t be afraid to look right back at him. You belong together! POINT TO PONDER: Jesus looks at you as His friend, and He invites you into 85

Abide in My Word a sharing of respect, love, and intimacy with him. VERSE TO REMEMBER: I no longer call you slaves. . . . I have called you friends. (John 15:15) QUESTION TO CONSIDER: Who is Jesus to me? And who am I to Him? PRAYER: “Jesus, I love you. I give my life to you, not as a slave dedicates himself to his master, but as someone who opens his heart to a friend. Help me to see myself through your eyes.” MIDDAY PRAYER your wonders. O LORD, I love the house Regina Caeli: Refer to pg 193 where you dwell, the place where your glory abides. V/ O God, come to my assistance. Do not sweep away my soul with sinners, R/ O Lord, make haste to help me. nor my life with men who shed blood, in Glory be... whose hands are evil plots, whose right Hymn: Refer to pg 192 hands are filled with a bribe. Ant: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. As for me, I have walked in my integrity. Psalm 26 TRUSTING PRAYER OF Redeem me and have mercy on me. My THE INNOCENT foot stands on level ground: I will bless God chose us in Christ, to be holy and the LORD in the assembly. without blemish (Eph 1:4) Ant: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Give judgment for me, O LORD, for I Scripture Reading Gal 3:27-28 have walked in my integrity. I have All of you who were baptised into Christ trusted in the Lord; I have not wavered. have clothed yourselves with Christ. Examine me, LORD, and try me. O test There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is my heart and my mind. Your mercy is neither slave nor free person, there is not before my eyes, and I walk according to male and female; for you are all one in your truth. Christ Jesus. I never take my seat with lying men, and V/ The disciples rejoiced, alleluia. with hypocrites I shall not go. I hate the R/ When they saw the risen Lord, evildoer’s company; I will not take my alleluia. seat with the wicked. Concluding Prayer as in Morning Prayer I wash my hands in innocence and take D I V I N E M E R C Y 3 O ’ C L O C K my place around your altar, singing a PRAYER song of thanksgiving, recounting all Refer to pages 195-197 EVENING PRAYER Ant: The streams of the river gladden V/ O God, come to my assistance. the city of God, alleluia. R/ O Lord, make haste to help me. Psalm 46 GOD, OUR REFUGE AND Glory be... STRENGTH Hymn: Refer to pg 193 They shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us “ (Mt 1:23). 86

God is for us a refuge and strength, an Abide in My Word ever-present help in time of distress: so we shall not fear though the earth Magnificat Ant. There is no greater should rock, though the mountains love than to lay down your life for quake to the heart of the sea; even your friends, alleluia. though its waters rage and foam, even Refer to the Magnificat on pg 194 though the mountains be shaken by its INTERCESSIONS tumult. Christ is the way, the truth and the life. The LORD of hosts is with us: the God Let us praise him, and say: of Jacob is our stronghold. R. Son of the living God, bless your The waters of a river give joy to God’s people. city, the holy place, the dwelling of the We pray to you, Lord Jesus, for all Most High. God is within, she cannot ministers of your Church, as they be shaken; God will help her at the break for us the bread of life, may they dawning of the day. Nations are in themselves receive nourishment and tumult, kingdoms are shaken: he lifts strength. R. his voice, the earth melts away. We pray for the whole Christian The LORD of hosts is with us: people, that all may be worthy of their the God of Jacob is our stronghold. calling, and safeguard their unity in the Come and behold the works of the Spirit by the bond of peace. R. LORD, the awesome deeds he has We pray for those who govern us, that done on the earth. He puts an end to they may temper justice with mercy, wars over all the earth; the bow he and promote harmony and peace breaks, the spear he snaps, the shields throughout the world. R. he burns with fire: “Be still and know We pray for ourselves, that our hearts that I am God, Exalted over nations, may be purified to sing your praises in exalted over earth!” the communion of saints, may we be The LORD of hosts is with us: reunited with our deceased brothers the God of Jacob is our stronghold. and sisters, whom we commend to Ant: The streams of the river gladden your loving kindness. R. the city of God, alleluia. Private Intercession Scripture Reading Heb 5:8-10 Our Father... Son though he was, Christ learned Concluding Prayer as in Morning obedience from what he suffered; and Prayer when he was made perfect, he became For night prayer refer to page 182 the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, declared by God high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. 87

Abide in My Word why Christ died and came to life, that he might be Lord of both the dead and SATURDAY, MAY 16TH the living. Saturday of the fifth week of Benedictus Ant: Christ died and rose from the dead, that he might be the 16Easter (White) Lord of the living and the dead, alleluia. Today’s Rosary: The Joyful Mysteries “Everybody would be what he ought to Refer to the Benedictus on pg 194 be, if everybody tried to be what he INTERCESSIONS wants the other fellow to be.” Christ is the bread of life; he will raise —Peter Maurin up on the last day all who share the MORNING PRAYER table of his word and his body. In our V/ Lord, open our lips, joy let us pray: R/ And we shall praise your name. R. Lord, give us peace and joy. Glory be... Son of God, you were raised from the Hymn: Refer to pg 192 dead to lead us into life, bless and Ant: Strong and steadfast is his love sanctify all the children of your Father. for us, alleluia. R. Psalm 117 PRAYER FOR GOD’S You give peace and joy to all who LOVING COMPASSION believe in you, grant that we may walk For I say the… the Gentiles might as children of the light, rejoicing in glorify God for his mercy (Rom 15:8- your victory. R. 9). Build up the faith of your pilgrim O praise the LORD, all you nations; Church on earth, that it may bear Acclaim him, all you peoples! witness to your resurrection before the whole world. R. For his merciful love towards us is You suffered and so entered into the great; and the LORD’S faithfulness glory of the Father, change the tears of endures for ever. the sorrowful into joy. R. Ant: Strong and steadfast is his love Private Intercession for us, alleluia. Our Father... Scripture Reading Rom 14:7-9 Concluding Prayer None of us lives for oneself, and no Loving Father, through our rebirth in one dies for oneself. For if we live, we baptism you give us your life and live for the Lord and if we die, we die promise immortality. By your for the Lord; so then, whether we live unceasing care, guide our steps or die, we are the Lord’s. For this is 88

towards the life of glory. Grant this Abide in My Word through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you and faith, and they increased in numbers the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and daily. And they went through the ever. region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to MASS speak the word in Asia. And when they had come opposite Mysia, they Entrance Antiphon Col 2:12 attempted to go into Bithynia, but the You have been buried with Christ in Spirit of Jesus did not allow them; so, baptism, through which you also rose passing by Mysia, they went down to again by faith in the working of God, Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in who raised him from the dead, alleluia. the night: a man of Macedonia was Collect standing pleading with him and saying, Almighty eternal God, who through “Come over to Macedonia and help the regenerating power of Baptism us.” And when he had seen the vision, have been pleased to confer on us immediately we sought to go on into heavenly life, grant, we pray, that those Macedonia, concluding that God had you render capable of immortality by called us to preach the gospel to them. justifying them, may by your guidance V/ The word of the Lord. attain the fullness of glory. Through R/ Thanks be to God. our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who RESPONSORIAL PSALM lives and reigns with you and the Holy Psalm 100:1-2.3.5 (R. 1) Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. R. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth. FIRST READING Or: Alleluia. A reading from the Acts of the 1. Cry out with joy to the LORD, all Apostles 16:1-10 the earth. Serve the LORD with “Come over to Macedonia and help gladness. Come before him, singing us.” for joy. R. In those days: Paul came to Derbe and 2. Know that he, the LORD, is God. to Lystra. A disciple was there, named He made us; we belong to him. We are Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman his people, the sheep of his flock. R. who was a believer; but his father was 3. Indeed, how good is the LORD, a Greek. He was well spoken of by the eternal his merciful love. He is faithful brethren at Lystra and Iconium. Paul from age to age. R. wanted Timothy to accompany him; ALLELUIA Colossians 3:1 and he took him and circumcised him Alleluia. If then you have been raised because of the Jews that were in those with Christ, seek the things that are places, for they all knew that his father above, where Christ is seated at the was a Greek. As they went on their right hand of God. Alleluia. way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions which had been reached by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the 89

Abide in My Word Prayer over the Offerings Accept in compassion, Lord, we pray, GOSPEL the offerings of your family, that under A reading from the holy Gospel your protective care they may never according to John 15:18-21 lose what they have received, but “You are not of the world, but I chose attain the gifts that are eternal. Through you out of the world.” Christ our Lord. At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, Communion Antiphon Jn 17:20-21 “If the world hates you, know that it Father, I pray for them, that they may has hated me before it hated you. If be one in us, so that the world may you were of the world, the world would believe it was you who sent me, says love its own; but because you are not the Lord, alleluia. of the world, but I chose you out of the Prayer after Communion world, therefore the world hates you. Keep safe, O Lord, we pray, those Remember the word that I said to you, whom you have saved by your A servant is not greater than his kindness, that, redeemed by the master.’ If they persecuted me, they Passion of your Son, they may rejoice will persecute you; if they kept my in his Resurrection. Who lives and word, they will keep yours also. But all reigns for ever and ever. this they will do to you on my account, because they do not know him who sent me.” V/ The Gospel of the Lord. R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. MEDITATION OF THE DAY Listening To The Holy Spirit Everything seemed to be going well for Paul and Timothy as they traveled from city to city, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. But today, we read that they couldn’t preach in certain cities because “they had been prevented by the Holy Spirit” (Acts 16:6). What happened? Scripture doesn’t say they heard a voice from the sky or were rebuked by a fiery prophet. So how did the Spirit lead them, and why would he direct them not to go to certain areas? Paul and Timothy experienced senses from the Lord, internal promptings to do certain things and not do others. In a word, God guided them. It’s not a far-fetched idea when you think about it. We experience something similar when our conscience encourages us: “Don’t yell at him” or “Sit down and pray.” Granted, Paul and Timothy’s nudges from the Spirit were more consequential than these, but the same principle is at work in us. The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us baptism gives us “the power to live and act under the prompting of the Holy Spirit,” so that we can bring God’s goodness into the world (CCC, 1266). When we follow the Spirit, we become “free collaborators in his work in the Church and in the world” (1742). That’s what was happening with Paul and Timothy. The call is the same for us. Today’s Responsorial Psalm tells us that we—all of us— are the “flock” of the Lord, not just the first apostles or the pope or our bishop (Psalm 100:3). We can all learn to recognize the Spirit’s guidance in our day-to-day activities just as a sheep recognizes the voice of the shepherd. This means carrying on an interior 90

Abide in My Word conversation with the Lord throughout our day. We can say, “Holy Spirit, show me how to treat my family today.” “Holy Spirit, what should I do with my free time tonight?” “Jesus, help me to resist temptation today.” Try as best you can to stay connected to the Lord today. Try to follow what you feel the Spirit is leading you to do. As you practice, you’ll find yourself becoming more and more fruitful; you’ll find yourself working arm in arm with Jesus as he builds the kingdom of God! POINT TO PONDER: When we follow the Spirit, we become free collaborators in his work in the Church and in the world. VERSE TO REMEMBER: They had been prevented by the Holy Spirit. (Acts 16:6) QUESTION TO CONSIDER: Am I open and receptive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit? Do I recognize the Spirit’s guidance in my day-to-day-activities? PRAYER: “Holy Spirit, guide me. Help me to follow your promptings today.” MIDDAY PRAYER around those who fear him, to rescue Regina Caeli: Refer to pg 193 them. Taste and see that the LORD is V/ O God, come to my assistance. good. Blessed the man who seeks refuge R/ O Lord, make haste to help me. in him. Glory be... Fear the LORD, you his holy ones.They Hymn: Refer to pg 192 lack nothing, those who fear him. The rich suffer want and go hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no blessing. Ant: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Ant: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Psalm 34 Scripture Reading 1 Cor 15:20-22 GOD THE SAVIOUR OF THE JUST Christ has been raised from the dead, the You have tasted that the Lord is good (1 firstfruits of those who have fallen Pt 2:3). asleep. For since death came through a I will bless the LORD at all times, praise human being, the resurrection of the of him is always in my mouth. In the dead came also through a human being. LORD my soul shall make its boast; the For just as in Adam all die, so too in humble shall hear and be glad. Christ shall all be brought to life. Glorify the LORD with me; together let V/ The disciples rejoiced, alleluia. us praise his name. I sought the LORD, R/ When they saw the risen Lord, and he answered me; from all my terrors alleluia. he set me free. Concluding Prayer as in Morning Look towards him and be radiant; let Prayer your faces not be abashed. This lowly DIVINE MERCY 3 O’CLOCK one called; the LORD heard, and rescued PRAYER him from all his distress. Refer to pages 195-197 The angel of the LORD is encamped 91

Abide in My Word praises” of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once EVENING PRAYER I you were “no people” but now you are V/ O God, come to my assistance. God’s people; you “had not received R/ O Lord, make haste to help me. mercy” but now you have received Glory be... mercy. Hymn: Refer to pg 193 Magnificat Ant: I will ask the Father Ant: Was it not necessary for Christ to and he will give you another Advocate suffer and so enter into his glory? to be with you always, alleluia. alleluia. Refer to the Magnificat on pg 194 Canticle Phil 2:6-11 INTERCESSIONS CHRIST, GOD’S HOLY SERVANT Though he was in the form of God, Jesus In rising from the dead, Christ destroyed did not deem equality with God death and restored life. Let us cry out to something to be grasped at. him, saying: Rather, he emptied himself and took the R. Lord Jesus, you live for ever; hear form of a slave, being born in the our prayer. likeness of men. You are the stone rejected by the builders He was known to be of human estate and which became the cornerstone, make us it was thus that he humbled himself, living stones in the temple of your obediently accepting even death, Church. R. death on a cross! You are the faithful and true witness, the Because of this, God highly exalted him firstborn from the dead, make your and bestowed on him the name above Church bear witness to yourself. R. every other name, You alone are the Bridegroom of the so that at Jesus’ name every knee must Church, born from your wounded side, bend in the heavens, on the earth and make us reveal to the world the love of under the earth, Bridegroom and Bride. R. and every tongue proclaim to the glory You are the first and the last, you were of God the Father: Jesus Christ is Lord! dead and are alive, keep those who have Ant: Was it not necessary for Christ to been baptised faithful until death, that suffer and so enter into his glory? they may receive the crown of victory. alleluia. R. Scripture Reading 1 Pt 2:9-10 Light and lamp of God’s holy city, shine You are “a chosen race, a royal on our friends who have died, that they priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his may reign for ever. R. own, so that you may announce the Private Intercession 92

Our Father... Abide in My Word Concluding Prayer your Son, who lives and reigns with you Ever-living God, help us to celebrate our and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever joy in the resurrection of the Lord and to and ever. express in our lives the love we celebrate. For night prayer refer to page 182 Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, O praise him with resounding cymbals; 17 SUNDAY, MAY 17TH praise him with clashing of cymbals. Sixth Sunday of Easter Let everything that breathes praise the (White) LORD! Today’s Rosary: Ant: Worship God who is seated upon the The Glorious Mysteries throne; sing to him in praise: Amen, alleluia. “The greatest honor we can give Almighty Scripture Reading Acts 10:40-43 God is to live gladly because of the God raised Jesus on the third day and knowledge of his love.” —Julian of granted that he be visible, not to all the Norwich people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with MORNING PRAYER him after he rose from the dead. He commissioned us to preach to the people V/ Lord, open our lips, and testify that he is the one appointed by R/ And we shall praise your name. God as judge of the living and the dead. To Glory be... him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive Hymn: Refer to pg 192 forgiveness of sins through his name. Ant: Worship God who is seated upon the Benedictus Ant: I will not leave you throne; sing to him in praise: Amen, orphans: I am going but I will come back to alleluia. you, and your heart will rejoice, alleluia. Psalm 150 PRAISE THE LORD Refer to the Benedictus on pg 194 Let mind and heart be in your song: this is INTERCESSIONS to glorify God with your whole self God the almighty Father raised Jesus as the (Hesychius). firstborn from the dead, and made him our Praise God in his holy place; saviour. Let us call upon him, saying: praise him in his mighty firmament. R. Give us, Lord, the glory of your Son. Praise him for his powerful deeds; All-holy Father, you brought your beloved praise him for his boundless grandeur. Son Jesus from the darkness of death into O praise him with sound of trumpet; the splendour of your glory, bring us also praise him with lute and harp. into your marvellous light. R. Praise him with timbrel and dance; You have given us faith to save us, may we praise him with strings and pipes. 93

Abide in My Word In those days: Philip went down to a city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the live today by the faith of our baptism. R. Christ. And the multitudes with one accord gave heed to what was said by Philip, when You command us to seek the things that are they heard him and saw the signs which he above, where Christ is seated at your right did. For unclean spirits came out of many hand, do not let us be deceived by the who were possessed, crying with a loud allurements of sin. R. voice; and many who were paralysed or lame were healed. So there was much joy May our life, hidden with Christ in you, in that city. Now when the apostles at our Father, shine before the world, Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received foreshadowing a new heaven and a new the word of God, they sent to them Peter earth. R. and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Private Intercession Spirit; for the Spirit had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been Our Father... baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and Concluding Prayer they received the Holy Spirit. Ever-living God, help us to celebrate our V/ The word of the Lord. joy in the resurrection of the Lord and to R/ Thanks be to God. express in our lives the love we celebrate. RESPONSORIAL PSALM Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Psalm 66:1-3a.4-5.6-7a. 16 and 20 (R.1) your Son, who lives and reigns with you R. Cry out with joy to God, all the earth. and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. MASS Entrance Antiphon Cf. Is 48:20 Or: Alleluia. Proclaim a joyful sound and let it be heard; 1. Cry out with joy to God, all the earth; proclaim to the ends of the earth: The Lord O sing to the glory of his name. O render has freed his people, alleluia. him glorious praise. Say to God, “How The Gloria in excelsis (Glory to God in awesome your deeds!” R. the highest) is said. 2. “Before you all the earth shall bow Opening Prayer down, shall sing to you, sing to your Grant, almighty God, that we may celebrate name!” Come and see the works of God: with heartfelt devotion these days of joy, awesome his deeds among the children of which we keep in honour of the risen Lord, men. R and that what we relive in remembrance we 3. He turned the sea into dry land; they may always hold to in what we do. Through passed through the river on foot. Let our our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives joy, then, be in him; he rules forever by his and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy might. R Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. FIRST READING 4. Come and hear, all who fear God; I will A reading from the Acts of the Apostles tell what he did for my soul. Blest be God, 8:5-8.14-17 who did not reject my prayer, nor withhold ”They laid hands on them, and they from me his merciful love. R received the Holy Spirit. “ 94

SECOND READING Abide in My Word A reading from the first Letter of Saint Peter 3:15-18 and keeps them, he it is who loves me; and “Put to death in the flesh, he was made he who loves me will be loved by my alive in the Spirit.” Father, and I will love him and manifest Beloved: In your hearts reverence Christ as myself to him.” Lord. Always be prepared to make a V/ The Gospel of the Lord. defence to any one who calls you to R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. account for the hope that is in you, yet do it SUGGESTED PRAYER OF THE with gentleness and reverence; and keep FAITHFUL your conscience clear, so that, when you (Each local community should compose its are abused, those who revile your good own Universal Prayer, but may find behaviour in Christ may be put to shame. inspiration in the texts proposed here.) For it is better to suffer for doing right, if Priest/Leader that should be God’s will, than for doing “I will not leave you orphaned,” says the wrong. For Christ also died for sins once Lord. This good news comforts us, for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, especially in times of distress. Strengthened that he might bring us to God, being put to by the teaching of the word, we turn with death in the flesh but made alive in the confidence to our God for what we need. Spirit. V/ The word of the Lord. 1. For a desire to witness to the gospel. R/ Thanks be to God. (pause) ALLELUIA John 14:23 By lives that reflect gospel teaching and the Alleluia. If a man loves me, he will keep values of the way of Jesus, may others be my word, says the Lord; and my Father attracted to believe God’s word. May they will love him, and we will come to him. accept baptism and the gifts of God’s Spirit Alleluia. that bring life in all its fullness. Lord, hear us. GOSPEL 2. For a desire to reverence the Lord. A reading from the holy Gospel (pause) according to John 14:15-21 Jesus was put to death for us and rose to “I will ask the Father, and he will give you bring us new life. May we always reverence another Counsellor.” the Lord Jesus in our hearts, confident in At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “If bearing witness to what we believe about you love me, you will keep my the Christ and the teaching we have commandments. And I will ask the Father, received. Lord, hear us. and he will give you another Counsellor, to 3. For a desire to keep the commandments. be with you for ever, even the Spirit of (pause) truth, whom the world cannot receive, May we strive always to obey the because it neither sees him nor knows him; commandments of the Lord, especially to you know him, for he dwells with you, and love others and serve them; and, by our will be in you. “I will not leave you care for others, may we show forth our love desolate; I will come to you. Yet a little for the Christ and our faith in his teaching while, and the world will see me no more, that brings life forever. but you will see me; because I live, you Lord, hear us. will live also. In that day you will know 4. For a desire to prepare for the coming of that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. He who has my commandments 95

Abide in My Word that, purified by your graciousness, we may be conformed to the mysteries of your the Spirit. (Pause) mighty love. Through Christ our Lord. Jesus promised to send another Advocate, Communion Antiphon Jn 14:15-16 the Spirit of truth who would be with the If you love me, keep my commandments, community. By our witness to the truth of says the Lord, and I will ask the Father and the gospel and our faithfulness to the he will send you another Paraclete, to abide teaching of Jesus, may we prepare well to with you for ever, alleluia. celebrate the coming of God’s Spirit. Prayer after Communion Lord, hear us. Almighty ever-living God, who restore us Priest/Leader to eternal life in the Resurrection of Christ, God of love, you have never left us and increase in us, we pray, the fruits of this your Spirit guides us always. Listen to the paschal Sacrament and pour into our hearts prayers we make through Christ our Lord. the strength of this saving food. Through Amen. Christ our Lord. Prayer over the Offerings May our prayers rise up to you, O Lord, together with the sacrificial offerings, so MEDITATION OF THE DAY Resisting Satan’s Temptations Today’s first reading tells us three things: evil exists (Acts 8:7); we have the Holy Spirit in us (8:14-15); and we can experience “great joy” as God manifests his power (8:8). Ever since the time of the Enlightenment, there has been a tendency to dismiss belief in the devil. An overemphasis on reason and science led people to believe that there was no reality beyond the material universe. Yet Scripture gives us plenty of evidence to the contrary. Jesus confronted demonic forces when he met a man with an unclean spirit (Mark 1:21-28), a blind demoniac (Matthew 12:22-29), and the daughter of a Canaanite woman (15:21-28). Evil spirits are real, and they are most effective when we are indifferent to them. There are real-life situations of people who are possessed by evil spirits through witchcraft, curses, and the like. These people need the help of an exorcist. But those are rare cases. For the rest of us, Satan tends to harass us, not possess us. He whispers thoughts that tempt us to be negative, resentful, or self-condemning. We may think these thoughts come from ourselves, and partly they do. But at the same time, they are fostered by Satan’s negative accusations. So what can you do? First, have faith that the Holy Spirit is in you, helping you fight Satan’s temptations. Second, pray. Hold on to the words of the Lord’s Prayer, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Then, pay attention to what is going on in your heart. Look for signs of how the temptation is diminishing. Rejoice in even the smallest sign of freedom! Jesus has already conquered Satan. Now he wants us to step into the freedom he has won for us. By following these three simple steps, we can begin to know the “great joy” that comes when we resist Satan’s temptations. POINT TO PONDER: Jesus has already conquered Satan. Now he wants us to step into the freedom he has won for us. Evil spirits are real, and they are most effective 96

Abide in My Word when we are indifferent to them. VERSE TO REMEMBER: “There was great joy in that city” (Acts 8:8) QUESTION TO CONSIDER: How can I resist the attacks of Satan in my lives? PRAYER: “Lord, lead me not into temptation. Deliver me from every evil harassment.” MIDDAY PRAYER You have prepared a table before me in Regina Caeli: Refer to pg 193 the sight of my foes. My head you have anointed with oil; my cup is overflowing. V/ O God, come to my assistance. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow R/ O Lord, make haste to help me. me all the days of my life. In the LORD’s Glory be... own house shall I dwell for length of Hymn: Refer to pg 192 days unending. Ant: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Ant: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. PSALM 23 THE GOOD SHEPHERD Scripture Reading Eph 2: 4-6 For the Lamb will shepherd them and God, who is rich in mercy, because of the lead them to springs of life-giving water great love he had for us, even when we (Rv 7:17). were dead in our transgressions, brought The LORD is my shepherd; there is us to life with Christ (by grace you have nothing I shall want. Fresh and green are been saved), raised us up with him, and the pastures where he gives me repose. seated us with him in the heavens with Near restful waters he leads me; he Christ Jesus. revives my soul. V/ The disciples rejoiced, alleluia. R/ When they saw the Lord, alleluia He guides me along the right path, for Concluding Prayer as in Morning the sake of his name. Though I should Prayer walk in the valley of the shadow of DIVINE MERCY 3 O’CLOCK death, no evil would I fear, for you are PRAYER with me. Your crook and your staff will Refer to pages 195-197 give me comfort. EVENING PRAYER II You turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God (1 Thes 1:9). V/ O God, come to my assistance. Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your R/ O Lord, make haste to help me. name give the glory, for your merciful Glory be... love and fidelity. Why should the nations say: “Where is their God?” Hymn: Refer to pg 193 But our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he wills. Their idols are silver Ant: You have been turned from faith in and gold, the work of human hands. idols to the living God, alleluia. They have mouths but they cannot speak; Psalm 115 PRAISE TO THE TRUE GOD 97

Abide in My Word Refer to the Magnificat on pg 194 INTERCESSIONS they have eyes but they cannot see. They have ears but they cannot hear; they have nostrils but they cannot smell. They have hands but they cannot feel; God the Father raised Christ from the they have feet but they cannot walk. dead and exalted him at his right hand. They make no sound from their throats. Let us pray to the Father, saying: Their makers will come to be like them, R. Through Christ in glory, watch as will all who trust in them. over your people, Lord. House of Israel, trust in the LORD; he is Righteous Father, you lifted Jesus above their help and their shield. House of the earth through the triumph of the Aaron, trust in the LORD; he is their cross, may all things be lifted up in him. help and their shield. You who fear the R. LORD, trust in the LORD; he is their Through your Son in glory send the Holy help and their shield. Spirit upon the Church, that it may be the The LORD remembers us, and he will sacrament of unity for the whole human bless us; he will bless the house of Israel. race. R. He will bless the house of Aaron. You have brought a new family into He will bless those who fear the LORD, being through water and the Holy Spirit, the little no less than the great. To you keep them faithful to their baptism, and may the LORD grant increase, to you bring them to everlasting life. R. and all your children. Through your exalted Son help those in May you be blest by the LORD, the distress, free those in captivity, heal the maker of heaven and earth. The heavens, sick, and by your blessings give joy to the heavens belong to the LORD, but to the world. R. the sons of men, he has given the earth. You nourished our deceased brothers The dead shall not praise the LORD, nor and sisters with the body and blood of those who go down into the silence. But the risen Christ, raise them up at the last we who live bless the LORD both now day. R. and for evermore. Private Intercession Ant: You have been turned from faith in Our Father... idols to the living God, alleluia. Scripture Reading Heb 10:12-14 Concluding Prayer as in Morning Christ offered one sacrifice for sins, and Prayer took his seat forever at the right hand of For night prayer refer to page 182 God; now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool. For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated. Magnificat Ant: Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him, alleluia. 98

MONDAY, MAY 18TH Abide in My Word Saint John I, Pope and Thus will they know as we have known 18Martyr (White/Red) that there is no God but you, O LORD. Today’s Rosary: Grant new signs and accomplish further The Joyful Mysteries wonders, make glorious your hand, confirm your right arm. “As I hit the road I realize that I have never really known what it is to be totally without. Gather together all the tribes of Jacob, and There is a faith dependency about which I restore to them their heritage as it was from do not know much at this point, but if two the beginning. or three persons were called to such a life of poverty correctly understood, of prayer, Have mercy on your people called by your and of quiet: WOW!” name: Israel, whom you likened to your —Fr. Larry Rosebaugh firstborn. Have mercy on your holy city: Jerusalem, the place of your rest. Fill Zion with your majesty, your temple with your glory. MORNING PRAYER Ant: Fill Zion with your praises, Lord, and let your wonders be proclaimed, alleluia. V/ Lord, open our lips, R/ And we shall praise your name. Scripture Reading Rom 10:8b-10 Glory be... “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that Hymn: Refer to pg 192 we preach) for, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in Ant: Fill Zion with your praises, Lord, and your heart that God raised him from the let your wonders be proclaimed, alleluia. dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one Canticle Sir 36:1-7.13-16 P R A Y E R confesses with the mouth and so is saved. OF ENTREATY FOR THE HOLY CITY, JERUSALEM Benedictus Ant: By raising Jesus Christ This is eternal life, that they should know from the dead, God has given us a new you, the only true God, and the one whom birth to a living hope in the promise of an you sent, Jesus Christ (Jn 17:3). inheritance that will last for ever, alleluia. Have mercy on us, God of all, look upon Refer to the Benedictus on pg 194 us,and show us the light of your mercies; INTERCESSIONS and send your fear upon the nations who have not sought you out, that they may God the Father was glorified in the death know there is no God but you,and may and resurrection of his Son. Let us pray to recount your wondrous deeds. him with confidence, saying: R. Lord, enlighten our minds. Raise your hand over the foreign nations, that they may see your power. As you have Father of light, you bathed the world in used us to show them your holiness, so splendour when Christ rose again in glory, now use them to show us your greatness. fill our minds today with the light of faith. 99

Abide in My Word Setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following R. day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is the leading city of the district of Through the resurrection of your Son you Macedonia, and a Roman colony. We opened for us the way to eternal life, as we remained in this city some days; and on the work today sustain us with the hope of sabbath day we went outside the gate to the glory. riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke Through your risen Son you sent the Holy to the women who had come together. One Spirit into the world, set our hearts on fire who heard us was a woman named Lydia, with spiritual love. R. from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshipper of God. The May Jesus Christ, who was crucified to set Lord opened her heart to listen to what was us free, be today our salvation and said by Paul. And when she was baptised, redemption. R. with her household, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Private Intercession Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. Our Father... V/ The word of the Lord. Concluding Prayer R/ Thanks be to God. God of mercy, may our celebration of your Son’s resurrection help us to experience its RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm effect in our lives. We ask this through our 149:1bc-2.3-4.5-6a and 9bc Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and R. The Lord takes delight in his people. reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Or: Alleluia. MASS Entrance Antiphon Rom 6:9 1. Sing a new song to the LORD, his praise Christ, having risen from the dead, dies in the assembly of the faithful. Let Israel now no more; death will no longer have rejoice in its Maker;let Sion’s children dominion over him, alleluia. exult in their king. R. Collect 2. Let them praise his name with dancing, Grant, O merciful God, that we may and make music with timbrel and harp. For experience at all times the fruit produced the LORD takes delight in his people; he by the paschal observances. Through our crowns the poor with salvation. R. Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy 3. Let the faithful exult in glory, and rejoice Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. as they take their rest. Let the praise of God be in their mouths. This is an honour for all FIRST READING his faithful. R. A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 16:11-15 ALLELUIA John 15:26b.27a “The Lord opened her heart to listen to Alleluia. The Spirit of truth will bear what was said by Paul.” witness to me, says the Lord; and you also 100