Today, May 22
Feast of the Day
No feast of the day
Saint of the Day
Saint Rita was born in Umbria, Italy, in 1386. Although she wanted to be a nun, her parents betrothed her to a cruel and ill-tempered man whom she married at age 18. When her husband was murdered 18 years later, her twin sons were determined to avenge his murder. Rita pleaded with them to forgive the murderers, and her prayers eventually prevailed. Now a widow, Rita sought to enter the convent, but was initially refused because some relatives of her husband's murderers were members. In time, through prayer and her personal intercession, a promise of peace and reconciliation was secured and she was admitted to the Augustinian convent at Cascia, living there 40 years in prayer, contemplation and service of the poor. She was canonized in 1900 and is a patron of impossible causes.©2011 Living with Christ, Novalis - Bayard Press Canada Inc., http://www.livingwithchrist.ca/. Reprinted with permission.
Readings of the Day
Acts of the Apostles 25,13b-21.
King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea on a visit to Festus. Since they spent several days there, Festus referred Paul's case to the king, saying, "There is a man here left in custody by Felix. When I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and demanded his condemnation. I answered them that it was not Roman practice to hand over an accused person before he has faced his accusers and had the opportunity to defend himself against their charge. So when (they) came together here, I made no delay; the next day I took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought in. His accusers stood around him, but did not charge him with any of the crimes I suspected. Instead they had some issues with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who had died but who Paul claimed was alive. Since I was at a loss how to investigate this controversy, I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and there stand trial on these charges. And when Paul appealed that he be held in custody for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar."
Psalms 103(102),1-2.11-12.19-20ab.
Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us. The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. Bless the LORD, all you his angels, you mighty in strength, who do his bidding.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 21,15-19.
After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them, he said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." He then said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." (Jesus) said to him, "Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me."
Daily Reflection
Let us be so united with all men by fraternal love, by the love with which we love the members of Jesus in them, with which we love the body of Jesus in them, that we are one with them, as the Father and the Son are a mutual love; indeed, they are one in two ways, by the divine essence which is common to them, and this is not how Jesus wants us to be one with all men... and by their mutual love, and it is in this way that we can and must be one with all men as the Son and the Father are one... Let us be in all men through our love, as the Father is in the Son through his love for Him and as the Son is in the Father through his love for Him: in fact, when we love someone, we are very truly in him, we are in him through love, we live in him through love, we no longer live in ourselves, because it is no longer to ourselves that we are attached, we are detached from ourselves. (…) We must love all men in view of God to the point of becoming one with them, first because God commands us to do so, gives us the example of an ardent love for them, for various serious reasons still drawn from the love due to God, but above all, above all, (…) because all men are, in one way or another, members of Jesus, matter close or distant from his Mystical Body, and therefore, by loving them, by becoming one with them, by living in them by our love, we love something of Jesus, we are one with a portion of Jesus, we live by our love in the members of Jesus, in the body of Jesus, in Jesus.