As the soul gazes at Jesus...

  "If only we had the humility to realize that He alone is

Goodness and makes us good. As soon as we come into His 

Presence in the Eucharist, our souls respond to the power 

before them like a sunflower turning towards the sun.

His silent Presence, hidden in the tabernacle,

says to each one of us, 'I love you.  Come to Me 

all you who labor and are burdened and I will 

refresh you.  Come to the fountain of life and drink. 

Tell Me your problems.  Listen to My voice.  I tug at your 

heart, guiding your way and smoothing your path.'

There is between the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus and 

the soul, a silent exchange of love, a sharing of pain, 

an inaudible dialogue between two who know

 each other perfectly and love each other deeply.

It is as if the soul sees itself in a perfect Mirror

and knows clearly its faults and imperfections. 

A strange phenomenon occurs as the soul gazes at 

Jesus. Its own reflection becomes brighter. 

Its faults fade away and one day that 'soul is turned -

transformed into the image it reflected' (II Cor 3:18).

This being true, why do we permit our souls 

to die of thirst when the Fountain of Living 

Water is just around the corner?"

Mother Angelica

To Leave and Yet to Stay

____________________

Day 6

Novena to St Joseph

St. Joseph the Worker Novena 

 

Feast Day:  May 1 (Patron of Workers)

St Joseph, pray for us!

Good Shepherd Sunday...

 4th Sunday of Easter

GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY

“For He hears the lamb’s innocent call,

And He hears the ewe’s tender reply.

He is watchful while they are in peace.

For they know when their Shepherd is nigh.”

 William Blake

"We adore You, Jesus,

eternal Shepherd of the human race.

You are present in the Eucharist

to dwell continually 

in the midst of Your people.

You nourish us,

You guard us,

You guide us to the heavenly fold."

Bl James Alberione

____________________________

Msgr. Charles Pope, Lord and Shepherd homily, 4th Sunday of Easter   

_____________________

Also ... today... 

63rd WORLD DAY of

PRAYER for VOCATIONS

______________

Pope Leo XIV message for World Day of 

Prayer for Vocations

https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/messages/vocations/documents/20260316-messaggio-vocazioni.html

(Excerpt below...)

 

Dear brothers and sisters, dear young people, I encourage you 

to cultivate your personal relationship with God through daily prayer 

and meditation on the Word.  Pause, listen and entrust yourselves.

In this way, the gift of your vocation will mature, bringing

you happiness and yielding abundant fruit for the Church and 

the world. May the Virgin Mary, model of the interior acceptance

of divine gifts and expert in prayerful listening, always accompany 

you on this journey! - Pope Leo XIV 

________________

Pray TODAY - and EVERYDAY - for vocations -

Father, hear the prayers of Your people 

and bring to maturity the seeds You have 

sown in the field of Your Church. 

________________________

Day 5
Novena to St Joseph

St. Joseph the Worker Novena 

 

Feast Day:  May 1 (Patron of Workers)

St Joseph, pray for us!

Really live!...

"Live on Him that you may live for Him." 

St John Vianney

And as they were eating, He took bread,

and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them, 

and said, "Take; this is My Body."

And He took a chalice, and when He had given 

thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 

And He said to them,

"This is My Blood of the covenant,

which is poured out for many."
Gospel of Mark 14:22-24

St Mark the Evangelist

Evangelist, Martyr (+68 AD)
Disciple of St Peter, Cousin of Barnabus

Symbol:  lion, often winged*

*The Gospel of St Mark begins with St John the Baptist,
"the voice of one crying in the wilderness,"
a voice that St Jerome compared to the roar of a lion.
Feast Day - April 25
________________

Read St Mark's Gospel today in gratitude 
and for the sake of love - and life!

Image above:  The Last Supper ~ Frans Pourbus

Go out into the whole world and 

proclaim the Gospel to every creature. 

 Mark 16:15

  

Click here: St Mark - YouTube (2 mins)

Click here: Feast of St. Mark, evangelist - Catholic Culture
_________________________

Prayer over the Offerings (Today's Liturgy)

As we venerate the glory of Saint Mark,

we offer you, Lord, the sacrifice of praise

and humbly beseech you,

that your Church may always persevere

in the preaching of the Gospel.

Through Christ our Lord.

Basilica San Marco ~ Venice, Italy
Contains the reliquary of St Mark's body

Click here: Saint Mark's Basilica, Venice, begun 1063 - YouTube  (5 mins)

St Mark the Evangelist, pray for us!

________________________

Day 4
Novena to St Joseph

St. Joseph the Worker Novena 

 

Feast Day:  May 1 (Patron of Workers)

St Joseph, pray for us!

Worth remembering...

   "May your heart be an altar, from which 

the bright flame of unending thanksgiving 

ascends to heaven." - St Mary Euphrasia

“Draw near to our Lord, thoroughly 

aware of your own nothingness,

and you may hope all things

from His Goodness and Mercy.

Never forget that 

Jesus Christ is no less generous

in the Blessed Sacrament than He 

was during His mortal life on earth.”

St Mary Euphrasia Pelletier

France ~ 1796-1868

Foundress ~ Sisters of the Good Shepherd

Motto: "One person is of more value

 than a world." 

Feast Day - April 24

 

"Go after the lost sheep without 
other rest than the cross,

other consolation than work,

other thirst than for justice." 

 St Mary Euphrasia

Click here: Life of St.Mary Euphrasia Pelletier - YouTube (4:41 mins)

Click here: Prayer of St.Mary Euphrasia Pelletier - YouTube

St Mary Euphrasia, pray for us!

________________________

Day 3
Novena to St Joseph

St. Joseph the Worker Novena

Feast Day:  May 1 (Patron of Workers)

St Joseph, pray for us!

My soul, stop here...

 This is My Body.  This is My Blood. 

"My soul, stop here and go no further.  

Believe as simply, as forcibly as your Savior 

has spoken, with a submission 

that corresponds to His authority and power.  

Once again, He wants to see in your faith the same 

simplicity with which He has spoken these words.  

In the ancient rite of Communion, the priest said, 

"The body of Jesus," and the 

faithful responded, "Amen," or "so it is," and

"The blood of Jesus Christ," and the 

faithful responded, "Amen," or "so it is."

All has been accomplished.  All has been said. 

All has been explained. 

I am silent.  I believe.  I adore."

Bishop Jacques-Benigne Bossuet (+1704)

Painting above:  artist, Renata Sedmakova

____________________

Day 2
Novena to St Joseph

St. Joseph the Worker Novena 

 

Feast Day:  May 1 (Patron of Workers)

St Joseph, pray for us!