The Popish Plot
"May the 4th Be with You: The Force v. the Holy Spirit"
'Tis the Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter (Latin: Pascha, meaning "Passover"): Pascha-link & Wikipedia-link Paschaltide.
Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter eight, verses one(b) thru eight;
Psalm Sixty-six (R/. one; or, "Alleluia"), verses one, two, & three(a); four & five; & six & seven(a);
The Gospel according to John, chapter six, verses thirty-five thru forty.
Commentary: Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus declares that he is the bread of life and promises eternal life to all who believe in him.Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D. (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Paschal Reflection.
Many of the Church Fathers characterized the Eucharist as food that immortalizes those who consume it. They understood that if Christ is really present in the Eucharistic elements, the one who eats and drinks the Lord’s Body and Blood becomes configured to Christ in a far more than metaphorical way. The Eucharist, they concluded, Christifies and hence eternalizes.
If the Eucharist were no more than a symbol, this kind of language would be so much nonsense. But if the doctrine of the Real Presence is true, then this literal eternalization of the recipient of Communion must be maintained.
But what does this transformation practically entail? It implies that the whole of one’s life—body, psyche, emotions, spirit—becomes ordered to the eternal dimension. The Christified person knows that his life is not finally about him but about God; the Eucharistized person understands that her treasure is to be found above and not below. Wealth, pleasure, power, honor, success, titles, degrees, even friendships and family connections are all relativized as the high adventure of life with God opens up.
Video reflection by Doctor Tim Gray (Augustine Institute/Formed.org): Paschal Reflection.
Papal Quote o' the Day
"The Heart of Christ still beats. It unites millions of other hearts. The Church sees the beauty of these hearts, which will surely proclaim a spiritual acceleration in our modern world."Saint Quote o' the Day
—Pope Saint Paul VI (1897-1978, r. 1963-1978; feast: 29 May)
"God gave me a father & a mother more worthy of heaven than of earth."Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day
—Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, O.C.D., Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast: 1 October)
"Let us not make a mistake. The hunger of today is for Love… Feeding the hungry, not only for food but for the Word of God. Giving drink to the thirsty, not only for water, but for peace & justice… nursing the sick & the dying, not only of body but also of mind & spirit."Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day
—Saint Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)
"Our Lord did not ask us to give up the things of earth, but to exchange them for better things."
—Venerable Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)
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