Commemoration of Saints (May 5)

Solemnities, Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials, and Traditional Dates of Commemoration

• Hilary of Arles, bishop
• Mauruntius, abbot
• Avertinus
• Angelo, martyr
• Jutta, widow [1]
• Gotthard of Hildesheim, abbot and bishop [3]

Today, the Catholic Church commemorates 2 bishops, 2 abbots, 1 martyr, 1 widow, and (according to pious legends) 1 hermit who was ordained a deacon.

Since the Church on May 5 commemorates 2 abbots, let us learn how they followed Christ in their monastic way of life.

St. Gotthard of Hildesheim (ca. 960-1038 A.D.) was a reformer. He helped in the reform of the Nieder-Altaich abbey and guided the reform of three other monasteries. On the other hand, St. Mauruntius, or Maurontius of Douai, (ca. 634-701 A.D.) entered the Marchioness abbey and became its deacon. He also founded the abbey of Breuil. He was also superior of the double monastery of Marchiennes.

In their commitment to Christ, both St. Gotthard and St. Mauruntius devoted to their life to the building of the Church's monastic way of life and its abbeys. Both abbots signified the mission of Christ to make the gospel known through a life of prayer and the expansion of the monastic system in Europe during the 7th to the 11th century A.D. [2][3][4]

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [May 5]

• St. Irene, Glorious Martyr [2]

St. Irene of Thessalonica (d. ca. 304 A.D.) was convicted during the persecution of Christians for possessing copies of the Scriptures and for refusing to sacrifice to pagan gods. After being placed in a house of prostitution and chained, she was put to death - by fire or an arrow to her throat. Her feast is commemorated today by the Russian Orthodox Church [3].

References: Books, Websites, Search results & AI Overviews

• [1] Pocket Catholic Dictionary, John A. Hardon, p. 495
• [2] Dictionary of Saints, John J. Delaney, p. 699
• [3] Lives of the Saints, Richard P. McBrien, p. 191
• [4] Maurontius of Douai, en.Wikipedia.org

3rd Sunday of Easter (C)

(Edited) Sunday Reflections (from) Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

3rd Sunday of Easter (C), April 14, 2013

Liturgical readings
Acts 5:27-32, 40-41
Psalm 30
Revelation 5:11-14
John 21:1-19

"This marked the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples."

If you read the gospel of John, beginning at chapter 20:11, you will find two resurrection appearances of Jesus:

• first, to Mary of Magdala in the tomb area (John 20:11-18);
• and second, to the disciples and Thomas in the upper room (termed the cenacle) (John 20:24-29).

This Sunday's gospel presents a third resurrection appearance. In this resurrection story, Jesus appeared to Peter and to six other disciples. A miracle was performed in this third instance. The miracle involved a sizable amount of big fish (a total of 153, cf. John 21:11) that Peter and his companions caught with great surprise. For when Jesus realized they were having difficulty fishing all night long, and still coming empty-handed, He told them to cast their nets towards the right side of their boat. As the fishermen obeyed, they hauled in a big catch. They then set the boat towards shore and shared a part of this hauled catch with Jesus. It is in this instance that Jesus spoke with Peter again. He reinstated Peter in his role as leader of the nascent Christian community by testing Peter's commitment to love Him and take care of His flock of followers.

Jerome Neyrey, in his book, "The Resurrection Stories", confirms that the three "question-answer" form found in this Sunday's gospel, is intended to offset the triple denial of Peter (cf. John 13:38, 18:27). Remember that Peter denied Jesus three times when people noticed him as one of His followers after the arrest of Jesus. After those three denials, the cock crowed as prophesied by Jesus. Author Jerome Neyrey also adds that this resurrection appearance-event is an example of how a significant person in the early church traditionally describes the followers of Jesus by recalling their former sins. Thus, Simon Peter, who was restored as the shepherd of Jesus' flock, is always remembered as the apostle who denied the Lord three times. Jerome Neyrey also notes that Matthew is remembered as the former tax collector; Mary of Magdala as one whom Jesus drove out seven demons; and Paul as a former persecutor of the Church.

The Lord Jesus did not intend to call perfect men and women to follow Him in building God's Kingdom. Instead, he chose ordinary people, and sinners as well. The Church in our own time does not also call perfect men and women. God calls in the same way as Jesus does: He invites ordinary folks and repentant sinners to return or be baptized in the Church. When sinners return to the fold of the Church, the Church restores their place again in God's Household - a Household where both the prodigal sons and daughters, as well as jealous and righteous "elder brothers", are welcome, and are both treated as sons by the Father. So there is hope. There is a sure way back to God. And God-in-Jesus takes the initiative - as exemplified in today's Gospel by appearing to Simon Peter. In the same way, the presence of the Risen Lord in the Eucharist does not hesistate to re-enter the lives of His sons and daughters again. The Risen Lord in the Eucharist calls all to renew their commitment to God in their baptismal consecration. When Jesus re-enters peoples' lives and opens again the door to His Kingdom, let all hearts be ready to renew their baptismal consecration.

Scripture quotes:

• "The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus whom you put to death." (Acts 5)
• "O Lord, my God, forever will I give you thanks." (Psalm 30)
• "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and praise!" (Revelation 5)

Reference: The Resurrection Stories by Jerome H. Neyrey

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2nd Sunday of Easter (C)

(Edited) Sunday Reflections (from) Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

2nd Sunday of Easter (C), April 7, 2013

Liturgical readings
Acts 5:12-16
Psalm 118
Revelation 1:9-11, 12-13, 17-19
John 20:19-31

"These [signs] have been recorded to help you believe that Jesus is the Messiah."

After the death of Jesus, the disciples had locked the doors were they were staying - for fear of the Jews. But it did not take long until Jesus made His appearance before them - despite the locked doors. Now that they had seen the Risen Lord before their eyes after witnessing His death on the Cross, the disciples rejoiced in their hearts. But Thomas was not with the Twelve when the Lord made this first resurrected appearance. And so when Thomas returned to the community and learned about the event, he was skeptical - even when his companions attested that they had seen the Lord. Soon, as Jesus made another resurrection appearance, Thomas was with the community. Jesus cleared the doubts of Thomas by permitting him to examine His nail-marks and the wound on His side. Thomas' response of faith was: "My Lord and my God!"

This gospel narrative can teach that faith can be expressed both at the communitarian and personal levels. When the disciples as an apostolic community, saw their Risen Master, they exclaimed to Thomas: "We have seen the Lord!" Their faith-response was one on the level of community. They witnessed the same event, and shared the faith of seeing Jesus as a community. But Thomas, though he was also a member of that community, was called to a personal faith-response. What was unbelief in Thomas' heart because of his absence in a community-faith-event, was transformed into a fervent and personal faith-encounter with Jesus, when he himself saw his Master and personally believed with his own eyes. Only Thomas among the Twelve made the confession of faith: "My Lord and my God!" And the personal faith-response of Thomas is now rooted in the communal-faith-response of his companions.

Each believer in the faith community shares in common a baptismal faith that all express together in the Eucharist. Everyone in the Mass responds with the same prayers: the Confiteor, the Apostles' Creed, the Our Father, and other communal prayer responses. But the Lord in the Eucharistic celebration also calls each one to have a personal faith-encounter with Him in the Sacrament. And this personal faith-encounter is based from each person's unique lived experiences - faith-lived experiences in one's respective educational background, professional or work experience, specific obligation in marriage and/or family life, and the personal healing one needs in life. Any spiritual healing needed from doubt or lack of faith that one prays for in the Eucharist can give birth to a faith-response that is both personal and communitarian ("Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.")

Scripture verses

• "Through the hands of the apostles, many signs and wonders occurred among the people." (Acts 5)
• "My strength and my courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior." (Psalm 118)
• "I saw seven lampstands of gold and among the lampstands One like a Son of Man." (Revelation 9)

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