Easter Thursday

Behold, I make all things new.

~Revelation 21:5

In these first days of Easter the Church rejoices in Christ’s resurrection from the dead, which has brought new life to us and to our world. Saint Paul exhorts us to make this new life evident by putting to death the things of this earth and setting our hearts on the things that are on high, where Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father (cf. Col 3:1-2). Having put on Christ in Baptism, we are called to be renewed daily in the virtues which he taught us, especially charity which binds all the rest together in perfect harmony. By living this new life we are not only interiorly transformed, but we also change the world around us. Charity in fact brings that spiritual freedom which can break down any wall, and build a new world of solidarity, goodness and respect for the dignity of all. Easter, then, is a gift to be received ever anew in faith, so that we may become a constant leaven of life, justice and reconciliation in our world. As believers in the risen Lord, this is our mission: to awaken hope in place of despair, joy in place of sadness, and life in place of death. With Christ, through him and in him, let us strive to make all things new!

~Pope Benedict, General Audience of 4/27/11

O my Jesus, risen now in glory, how beautifully you renew the whole world for the praise of our Father's glory!  Grant us Your Easter grace to sing with You forever the resurrection song.  Amen!  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

"Grow, labor, suffer, and be glad"

Easter in me, triumphant Lord:

grow, labor, suffer, and be glad.

Repentecost, creative Breath:

speak to my heart and say,

"See, your God is with you and within you.

Tell Him how good He is."

"Prayer of the Church in Council"

Thomas Dobney, S.J.

published in Commonweal, June 1963

It's true, we really can find just about anything out there in cyberspace. The past couple of days the second line of the above prayer has been running through my mind over and over again. I couldn't remember the rest of it, so I googled it and within seconds found it in the archives for Commonweal magazine. It was published during the Second Vatican Council, which began on October 11, 1962 and ended on December 8, 1965. With Google at my fingertips, I've become less motivated to organize my files of articles, poems, prayers and quotes that I've been collecting since I was in high school. Perhaps I'll finally tackle this project when I retire from my retirement!

Mary

The love I love
Came in the early dawning
Standing as still as light.

How could I ever have dreamed
So sweet a morning
After so dark a night?

Elizabeth Rooney

Mary and the Resurrection

One of the treasured books of the Catholic Church is the Collection Of Masses Of The Blessed Virgin Mary. This set contains the Sacramentary (Volume I) and the Lectionary (Volume II) that can be used to celebrate a total of 46 Masses in honor of Our Blessed Mother. This collection is a rich source of prayer and lectio divina. Here is the Preface of the Mass, The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Resurrection of the Lord, one of four Masses for the Easter Season. Today I pray that the whole Church may share in Our Lady's "joy beyond all telling."

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere
to give you thanks.
At the resurrection of your Anointed One
you filled the heart of the Blessed Virgin
with joy beyond all telling
and wonderfully exalted her faith.

For it was in faith
that she conceived your Son,
It was in faith
that she awaited his resurrection.

In the strength of faith
she waited for that day of light and life
when the night of death would be ended,
the whole world would exult,
and the infant Church tremble with joy
at seeing again its immortal Lord.

Through him the angels of heaven
offer their prayer of adoration
as they rejoice in your presence for ever...

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY!

Rejoice...rejoice...rejoice!!!

Rejoice, heavenly pwers! Sing, choirs of angels!
Exult, all creation around God's throne!
Jesus Christ, our King, is risen!
Sound the trumpet of salvation!

Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendor,
radiant in the brightness of your King!
Christ has conquered! Glory fills you!
Darkness vanishes for ever!

Rejoice, O Mother Church! Exult in glory!
The risen Savior shines upon you!
Let this place resound with joy,
echoing the mighty song of all God's people!

from the Exsultet (Easter Proclamation)

Singing with our lives

The Easter proclamation spreads throughout the world with the joyful song of the Alleluia. Let us sing it with our lips, and let us sing it above all with our hearts and our lives, with a manner of life that is “unleavened”, that is to say, simple, humble, and fruitful in good works. ~Pope Benedict XVI, Homily for Easter Sunday, 4/12/09

Christ our hope

Resurrectio Domini, spes nostra! The resurrection of Christ is our hope! This the Church proclaims today with joy. She announces the hope that is now firm and nvincible because God has raised Jesus Christ from the dead. She communicates the hope that she carries in her heart and wishes to share with all people in every place, especially where Christians suffer persecution because of their faith and their commitment to justice and peace. She invokes the hope that can call forth the courage to do good, even when it costs, especially when it costs. Today the Church sings “the day that the Lord has made”, and she summons people to joy. Today the Church calls in prayer upon Mary, Star of Hope, asking her to guide humanity towards the safe haven of salvation which is the heart of Christ, the paschal Victim, the Lamb who has “redeemed the world”, the Innocent one who has “reconciled us sinners with the Father”. To him, our victorious King, to him who is crucified and risen, we sing out with joy our Alleluia!

Urbi et Orbi, Message of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, Easter 2009

EASTER SUNDAY

He is not here!

He is risen, as he foretold!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!!!