Saturday May 4, 2024
Weekday of Easter (5)
Office: Psalter Week 1
Mass of the day; Preface of Easter
Vestment: White
Today’s Rosary: The Joyful Mysteries
Click HERE for the Previous Catholic Daily Reading
Vespers I of the 6th Sunday of Easter
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON Col 2: 12
You have been buried with Christ in baptism, through which you also rose again by faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead, alleluia.
COLLECT
Almighty eternal God, who through the regenerating power of Baptism have been pleased to confer on us heavenly life, grant, we pray, that those you render capable of immortality by justifying them, may by your guidance attain the fullness of glory. Through our Lord
FIRST READING
“Come over to Macedonia and help us.
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 16: 1-10)
In those days: Paul came to Derbe and to Lystraa disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer; but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they went on their 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 faith, and they increased in numbers daily. And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come opposite Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them; so, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 100: 1-2.3.5 (R. 1)
R/. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Or: Alleluia.
Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing for joy. R/.
Know that he, the Lord, is God.
He made us; we belong to him.
We are his people, the sheep of his flock. R/.
R/. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Or: Alleluia.
Indeed, how good is the Lord,
eternal his merciful love.
He is faithful from age to age. R/.
Also Read: Daily Reading for Friday, May 3rd, 2024
ALLELUIA Colossians 3:1
Alleluia. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“You are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 15:18-21)
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But all this they will do to you on my account, because they do not know him who sent me.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
In his missionary journey St Paul takes Timothy as a travelling companion, as he believes wholeheartedly in collaborative ministry; he does not do it all alone. He trains the younger ones to walk in his footsteps, since Christ said, ‘The disciple will grow to be like his Master.’ This points to the fact that everyone has a role to play in the Church, which the Holy Spirit makes possible. In the Gospel Jesus makes known to us the cost of being a faithful disciple: “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you too.” We need not be afraid to stand firm, for there is joy in the end. May Jesus give us the grace to truly serve Him and not count the cost!
PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL IN HONOUR OF B.V.M
Our Mother Mary was chosen by God for the purpose of being the Mother of His only begotten Son and she accepted this role and bore a lasting fruit for God.
Our responsibility in this life is to do God’s will and to bear fruits of love for Him. God will make demands of us from time to time in this life and when we submit our will and accept His own will we will be able to find the joy and inner peace that our Mother Mary found when she let God’s will be done in her life. Our Mother Mary is a sure help for you when you desire to do God’s will.
Let Us Pray,
Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for choosing me to be your child, help me to say yes to you always as your Mother did and may the will of God for my life come to perfect fulfilment. Through the intercession of our blessed Mother Mary, May Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
MAY DEVOTION
Proposed Program of Daily Events for May Devotion (Personal / Group)
1. Opening / Introduction: Sign of the Cross + / (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament optional)
2. ACT OF CONTRITION: O my God because you’re so good, I am very sorry that I have sinned against you and by the help of your grace I will not sin again.
3. ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY: O most pure heart of Mary, full of goodness, show your love towards us. Let the flame of your heart, O Mary, descend on all people. We love you immensely. Impress on our hearts true love so that we may long for you. O Mary, gentle and humble of heart, remember us when we sin. You know that all we sin. Grant that through your most pure and motherly heart, we may be healed from every spiritual sickness. Grant that we may always experience the goodness of your motherly heart, and that through the flame of your heart we may be converted. Amen.
4. ROSARY RECITATION AND LITANY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
(Begin with the invocation of the Holy Spirit: Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the heart……….
5. ART OF REPARATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY: O Most Holy Virgin, and Our Mother, we listen with grief to the complaints of your immaculate Heart surrounded with the thorns placed therein at every moment by the blasphemies and ingratitude of ungrateful humanity. We are moved by the ardent desire of loving you as Our Mother and of promising a true devotion to your Immaculate Heart. We therefore kneel before you to manifest the sorrow we feel for the grievances that people cause you, and to atone by our prayers and sacrifices for the offenses with which they return your love. Obtain for them and for us the pardon of so many sins. Hasten the conversion of sinners that they may love Jesus Christ and cease to offend the Lord, already so much offended. Turn your eyes of mercy toward us, that we may love God with all our heart on earth and enjoy him forever in Heaven.
6. Talk on Blessed Virgin Mary (optional).
7. Gift of candle light and offering of petition. (Lighting of candles and submission of petition).
8. MEMORARE: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
9. Prayers for the intention of Our Holy Father (One Our Father, One Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father).
10. Closing/Benediction: Sign of the Cross
