Peter Chanel, Priest and Martyr

Today is the Memorial of Saint Peter Chanel.

Saint Peter Chanel was born in the town of Cuet in France in 1803. After ordination to the priesthood, he was engaged in pastoral work for a few years. He then joined the Marists and journeyed to Oceania to preach the Gospel. Despite many hardships, he converted some of the natives to the faith.

From a eulogy for Saint Peter:

On the day before his martyrdom he had said, “It does not matter if I die. Christ’s religion is so deeply rooted on this island that it cannot be destroyed by my death.”

Out of hatred for the faith, a band of native warriors killed him in 1841 on the island of Futuna.

Mark, Evangelist

Today is the Feast of St. Mark.

Saint Mark, a counsin of Barbabas, accompanied Saint Paul on his first missionary journey and later went with him to Rome. He was a disciple of Saint Peter whose teaching was the basis for Mark’s gospel.

From the treatise Against Heresies by Saint Irenaeus:

The Church, spread throughout the whole world, received this preaching and this faith and now preserves it carefully, dwelling as it were in one house. Having one soul and one heart, the Church holds this faith, preaches and teaches it consistently as though by a single voice. For though there are different languages, there is but one tradition.

Mark is said to be the founder of the church of Alexandria.

Fidelis of Sigmaringen, Martyr

Today is the Memorial of Saint Fidelis.

Saint Fidelis was born in the town of Sigmaringen in Germany in 1578. He entered the Order of Friars Minor Capuchins and led an austere life of penance, vigils and prayer. Continuously engaged in preaching the word of God, he was commissioned by the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith to preach in the canton of the Grisons.

From a eulogy for Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen:

What is it that today makes true followers of Christ cast luxuries aside, leave pleasurers behind, and endure difficulties and pain? It is living faith that expresses itself through love. It is this that makes us put aside the goods of the present in the hope of the future goods. It is because of faith that we exchange the present for the future.

In 1622 Fidelis was attacked by a band of heretics and suffered martyrdom at Seewis in Switzerland.

George, Martyr

Today is the Memorial of Saint George.

The veneration of Saint George began as early as the fourth century at Lydda in Palestine, where a church was built in his honor. From antiquity this veneration has spread throughout both the East and the West.

From a sermon by Saint Peter Damian:

As for Saint George, he was consumed with the fire of the Holy Spirit. Armed with the invincible standard of the cross, he did battle with an evil king and acquitted himself so well that, in vanquishing the king, he overcame the prince of all wicked spirits, and encouraged other soldiers of Christ to perform brave deeds in the cause.

Third Sunday of Easter

Today is the Third Sunday of Easter.

This is the Gospel according to Luke 24:35-48.

The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way,
and how Jesus was made known to them
in the breaking of bread.

While they were still speaking about this,
he stood in their midst and said to them,
“Peace be with you.”
But they were startled and terrified
and thought that they were seeing a ghost.
Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled?
And why do questions arise in your hearts?
Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.
Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones
as you can see I have.”
And as he said this,
he showed them his hands and his feet.
While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed,
he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?”
They gave him a piece of baked fish;
he took it and ate it in front of them.

He said to them,
“These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you,
that everything written about me in the law of Moses
and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.”
Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
And he said to them,
“Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer
and rise from the dead on the third day
and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins,
would be preached in his name
to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things.”

From the Workbook for Lectors, Gospel Readers, and Proclaimers of the Word.

Often someone expresses the need to see miracles, some unmistakable sign, in order to believe. Then, when you point to one, they say, “That’s no miracle!” Hearing claims of the Resurrection, most of the disciples insisted on proof—seeing Jesus, touching his hands and side. So Jesus appears and what happens? Panic, fright, doubts, troubled hearts, and talk of seeing a ghost. Even when they touch his hands and feet they remain “incredulous,” forcing Jesus to consume a fish to convince them he’s real.

In these first Sundays of Easter Time, we read of post-Resurrection appearances whose original intent was to bolster faith in the risen Christ. Today’s readings opens with the excitement of the two disciples who had recognized Jesus in the “breaking of the bread.” But despite that testimony, panic strikes when Jesus suddenly appears. Jesus tries to reason, speaking loudly to be heard over their panicked outcries. Perhaps there’s the same frustration in his voice now that he earlier expressed on the road to Emmaus: “Oh, how foolish you are…How slow of heart to believe…!” Is there reluctance in Jesus’ offer to ear the fish, to insist he’s no magician playing with smoke and mirrors?

Once their fears are quelled, Jesus recalls the words he had spoken before his death. He seems to suggest that they should have remembered those words, which they should cling to them and preserve them for the future. Then, as with Cleopas and friend, he opens their minds to the scriptures. Jesus teaches, reminding them that his death and Resurrection fulfilled scripture. Now the evidence they’ve seen must enable them to become bold witnesses of the Resurrection for those of us who believe but have not seen.

Anselm, Bishop and Doctor

Today is the Memorial of Saint Anselm.

Saint Anselm was born at Aosta in Piedmont in 1033. He entered the Benedictine Order at the monastery of Bec in France. While he quickly progressed in the spiritual life, he taught theology to his fellow students. He went to England where he was appointed archbishop of Canterbury. He fought vigorously for the freedom of the Church, and for this, he was twice exiled. He has achieved fame for his writings, especially those on mystical theology.

From the Proslogion by Saint Anselm:

O complete and blessed truth, how far you are from me, even though I am so near you! How remote you are from my sight, even though I am present to yours! You are everywhere in your entirety, and yet I do not see you; in you I move and have my being, and yet I cannot approach you; you are within me and around me, and yet I do not perceive you.

Anselm died in 1109.

Divine Mercy Sunday

Today is Diving Mercy Sunday

This is the Gospel according to John 20:19-31.

On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
But he said to them,
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples
that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may come to believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

From the Workbook for Lectors, Gospel Readers, and Proclaimers of the Word.

Jesus invades the apostles’ safe house (and their anxiety) and announces, “Peace be with you.” That’s a recurring theme in the post-Resurrection accounts, and Jesus repeats it here. Their anxiety turns to joy when they see the Lord. Immediately, Jesus commissions them and imparts his Holy Spirit, then gives them the power to forgive sins.

The episode with Thomas gives this text its appealing, human quality. Can we disdain his uncertainty? Deprived of the encounter granted the others, Thomas is understandably skeptical. What’s compelling about him is the clarity and boldness of his conditions: “Unless I see the mark…” Jesus does not disappoint. A week later, aware of Thomas’s doubt and the conditions set, Jesus returns, repeating the greeting of peace. He doesn’t let Thomas off easily, but invites him to publicly satisfy his doubts. Thomas is overwhelmed and responds with a powerful assent of faith. Now Jesus chides him and extols those who, unlike the doubter, will believe without seeing.