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Today's Readings
Reading I
Acts 16:11-15
We set sail from Troas, making a straight run for Samothrace, and on
the next day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, a leading city
in that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We spent some time
in that city. On the sabbath we went outside the city gate along the
river where we thought there would be a place of prayer. We sat and
spoke with the women who had gathered there. One of them, a woman
named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, from the city of Thyatira, a
worshiper of God, listened, and the Lord opened her heart to pay
attention to what Paul was saying. After she and her household had
been baptized, she offered us an invitation, “If you consider me a
believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home,” and she prevailed
on us.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b
R. (see 4a) The Lord takes delight in his people. or: R.
Alleluia. Sing to the LORD a new song of praise in the assembly
of the faithful. Let Israel be glad in their maker, let the children
of Zion rejoice in their king. R. The Lord takes delight in his
people. or: R. Alleluia. Let them praise his name in the
festive dance, let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people, and he adorns the lowly with victory.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people. or: R. Alleluia.
Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy upon
their couches. Let the high praises of God be in their throats. This
is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia. R. The Lord takes
delight in his people. or: R. Alleluia.
Gospel
Jn
15:26—16:4a
Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom I will
send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the
Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because
you have been with me from the beginning. “I have told you
this so that you may not fall away. They will expel you from the
synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you
will think he is offering worship to God. They will do this because
they have not known either the Father or me. I have told you this so
that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.” |
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Saint Louis de Montfort
1673 - 1716
April 28
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Born poor. Studied in Paris,
and ordained in 1700. While a seminarian he delighted in researching the
writings of Church Fathers, Doctors and Saints as they related to the
Blessed Virgin Mary, to whom he was singularly devoted.
Under Mary's inspiration, he founded the Congregation of the Daughters of
Divine Wisdom, a religious institute of women devoted to the care of the
destitute. During this work, he began his apostolate of preaching the
Rosary and authentic Marian devotion. He preached so forcefully and
effectively against the errors of Jansenism that expelled from several
dioceses in France. In Rome Pope Clement XI conferred on him the title and
authority of Missionary Apostolic, which enabled him to continue his
apostolate after returning to France. He preached Mary everywhere and to
everyone. A member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic, Saint Louis was
one of the greatest apostles of the Rosary in his day, and by means of
his miraculously inspiring book, The Secret of the Rosary, he is
still so today; the most common manner of reciting the Rosary is the
method that originated with Saint Louis's preaching. In 1715, he founded a
missionary band known as the Company of Mary.
His greatest contribution to the Church and world is Total Consecration to
the Blessed Virgin. He propagated this in his day by preaching and after
his own death by his other famous book True Devotion to Mary.
Consecration to Mary is for Saint Louis the perfect manner of renewing
one's baptismal promises. His spirituality has been espoused by millions,
especially Pope John Paul II, who has consecrated not only himself but
every place he has visited as pope. In True Devotion to Mary, Saint Louis
prophesied that the army of souls consecrated to Mary will be Her
instrument in defeating the Devil and his Antichrist. As Satan gains power
in the world, so much more shall the new Eve triumph over him and crush
his head.
The cause for his declaration as a Doctor of the Church is now being
pursued.
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