Saints + Scripture: Friday within the Octave of Easter

The Long Road Back, Part I of V

Friday, 6 April was the Friday within the Octave of Easter: Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of That Day
Mass Readings—Friday within the Octave of Easter
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter four, verses one thru twelve;
Psalm One Hundred Eighteen, verses one, two, & four; twenty-two, twenty-three, & twenty-four; & twenty-six, twenty-six, & twenty-seven(a);
The Gospel according to John, chapter twenty-one, verses one thru fourteen.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

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.

Video reflection by Deacon Clinton Couch: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

†

Otherwise, 6 April would have been the festival of Saint Sixtus I, Pope (circa 42-128, also spelt Xystus), seventh (VII) Bishop of Rome, martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Hadrian: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Twould also have been the festival of Blessed Zefirino Agostini, Priest (1813-1896), founder of the Pious Union of Sisters Devoted to Saint Angela Merici & the Congregation of Ursulines, Daughters of Mary Immaculate: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twould also have been the festival of Blessed Michał Czaroryski, Priest & Martyr, O.P. (1897-1944, A.K.A. Jan Franciszek Czaroryski), martyred in the reign of the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, one of the One Hundred Eight Blessed Polish Martyrs: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link CVIII & Wikipedia-link CVIII.

Papal Quote o' That Day

"Watch! Do not let the precious values of faithful married love & family life be taken away from you. Do not reject them, or think that there is some other human prospect for happiness & human fulfillment."
—Pope St. John Paul II (the Great, 1920-2005; feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' That Day

"For every grace I made good use of, He gave me many more."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' That Day

"The dress of the body should not discredit the good of the soul."
—St. Cyprian of Carthage (200-258, feast day: 16 September)