Otherwise, 21 April would be the festival of Saint Simeon of Ctesiphon, Bishop & Martyr (died 345, A.K.A. Shemon Bar Sabbae), martyred in the reign of the king Shapur II: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.
'Twould also be the festival of Saint Anselm of Canterbury, Bishop & Doctor of the Church, O.S.B. (circa 1033-1109, of Aosta): Doctor-link ūnus, Doctor-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.
Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:
At fifteen, Anselm wanted to enter the monastery, but was refused acceptance because of his father's opposition. Twelve years later he finally fulfilled his desire to be a monk. He entered the monastery of Bec in Normandy, was elected prior three years later, & fifteen years later, was unanimously chosen abbot. Considered an original & independent thinker, Anselm was admired for his patience, gentleness, & teaching skill. Under his leadership, the Abbey of Bec became a monastic school, influential in philosophical & theological studies.'Twould also be the festival of Saint Conrad of Parzham, Religious, O.F.M. Cap. (1818-1894): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.
Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter four, verses one thru twelve;
Psalm One Hundred Eighteen, verses one, two, & four & twenty-two thru twenty-seven(a);
The Gospel according to John, chapter twenty-one, verses one thru fourteen.
Commentary: Easter Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron:
Friends, in today’s Gospel, the Risen Jesus appears to seven disciples on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias. Jesus rose bodily from the dead. This is the fact—eminently surprising and unexpected—that gives birth to Christianity. The excitement that you can sense on every page of the New Testament comes from this novelty.* * * * *
Why did the Risen Jesus appear only to a few? Why didn’t he make himself readily apparent to anyone who wanted to see? Cardinal Newman commented on this. If Jesus had appeared publicly and indiscriminately to all, the power of the resurrection would have been lessened. Some would believe; others wouldn’t. Some would get it; others wouldn’t. Some would be fascinated, others indifferent.
Instead, he deigned to appear to a small coterie of dedicated disciples who knew him, loved him, understood him—confident that they would be the effective bearers of his message. We are those now who eat and drink with him after his resurrection. And so we have a commission to announce this good news.
Thursday, 20 April would also have been the festival of Saint Anicetus, Pope (died circa 168), eleventh Bishop of Rome: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.
Commentary: Wayback Machine.
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Tuesday, 21 March was also the festival of Blessed Thomas Pilchard, Priest & Martyr (1557-1587, also spelt Pilcher), martyred in the reign of the queen Elizabeth I, one of the Eighty-five Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link LXXXV.
Commentary: Wayback Machine.
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