Sunday, May 25, 2014: (SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER) Readings for today: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 / 1 Peter 3:15-18 / John 14:15-21:
Readings from: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/052514.cfm (Pics from elsewhere on the internet)
Reading 1 - A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 8:5-8, 14-17):
Philip went down to the city of Samaria
and proclaimed the Christ to them.
With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip
when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing.
For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice,
came out of many possessed people,
and many paralyzed or crippled people were cured.
There was great joy in that city.
Now when the apostles in Jerusalem
heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God,
they sent them Peter and John,
who went down and prayed for them,
that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
for it had not yet fallen upon any of them;
they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Then they laid hands on them
and they received the Holy Spirit.
Responsorial Psalm - (Psalm 66 "Let All the Earth" by Marty Haugen):
Lyrics From: http://www.theinterpretersfriend.org/songs/lt-all-e-erth.html
Video From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqhq81gZi4M&list=PLMU14pkSZ8lWGgbWZ180Yb4ie43CXi52f&index=5
Refrain: Let all the earth cry out in joy to the Lord. Alleluia.
1. Cry out in joy to the Lord, all peoples on earth, sing praise of his name, proclaim him forever, tremendous his deeds for us. Oh, Refrain
R: Let all the earth cry out in joy to the Lord. Alleluia.
2. Leading his people safe through fire and water, bringing their souls to life, come sing of his glory, his love is eternal. Oh, Refrain
R: Let all the earth cry out in joy to the Lord. Alleluia.
3. Hearken to me as I sing my love of the Lord, He answers the prayer of my heart, he leads me in safety, from death unto life.
R: Let all the earth cry out in joy to the Lord. Alleluia.
Reading 2 - A reading from the first letter of St. Peter (1 Peter 3:15-18):
Beloved:
Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts.
Always be ready to give an explanation
to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope,
but do it with gentleness and reverence,
keeping your conscience clear,
so that, when you are maligned,
those who defame your good conduct in Christ
may themselves be put to shame.
For it is better to suffer for doing good,
if that be the will of God, than for doing evil.
For Christ also suffered for sins once,
the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous,
that he might lead you to God.
Put to death in the flesh,
he was brought to life in the Spirit.
Gospel - A reading from the holy Gospel according to St. John (John 14:15-21):
Jesus said to his disciples:
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
And I will ask the Father,
and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always,
the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept,
because it neither sees nor knows him.
But you know him, because he remains with you,
and will be in you.
I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
In a little while the world will no longer see me,
but you will see me, because I live and you will live.
On that day you will realize that I am in my Father
and you are in me and I in you.
Whoever has my commandments and observes them
is the one who loves me.
And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”
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05/25/2014 - St. Joan of Arc (1412-1431) -(Feast Day: May 30 - Patron Saint of: France, Military members, Captives and prisoners, and People ridiculed for their piety):
From: http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1741
May 30
St. Joan of Arc
(1412-1431)Patron Saint of:
France
Military members
Captives and prisoners
People ridiculed for their piety
Burned at the stake as a heretic after a politically-motivated trial, Joan was beatified in 1909 and canonized in 1920.
Born of a fairly well-to-do peasant couple in Domremy-Greux (southeast of Paris), Joan was only 12 when she experienced a vision and heard voices that she later identified as Sts. Michael the Archangel, Catherine of Alexandria, and Margaret of Antioch.
During the Hundred Years War, she led French troops against the English and recaptured the cities of Orléans and Troyes. This enabled Charles VII to be crowned as king in Reims in 1429. Captured near Compiegne the following year, she was sold to the English and placed on trial for heresy and witchcraft. Professors at the University of Paris supported Bishop Pierre Cauchon of Beauvis, the judge at her trial; Cardinal Henry Beaufort of Winchester, England, participated in the questioning of Joan in prison. In the end, she was condemned for wearing men's clothes. The English resented France's military success–to which Joan contributed.
On this day in 1431, she was burned at the stake in Rouen, and her ashes were scattered in the Seine River. A second Church trial 25 years later nullified the earlier verdict, which was reached under political pressure.
Remembered by most people for her military exploits, Joan had a great love for the sacraments, which strengthened her compassion toward the poor. Popular devotion to her increased greatly in 19th-century France and later among French soldiers during World War I. Theologian George Tavard writes that her life "offers a perfect example of the conjunction of contemplation and action" because her spiritual insight is that there should be a "unity of heaven and earth."
Joan of Arc has been the subject of many books, plays, operas, and movies.
Comment:
"Joan of Arc is like a shooting star across the landscape of French and English history, amid the stories of the Church's saints and into our consciousness. Women identify with her; men admire her courage. She challenges us in fundamental ways. Despite the fact that more than 500 years have passed since she lived, her issues of mysticism, calling, identity, trust and betrayal, conflict and focus are our issues still." (Joan of Arc: God's Warrior, by Barbara Beckwith)
Quote:
As she was being burned at the stake, Joan called on Jesus.
Patron Saint of:
France
Military members
And from: http://www.joanofarc.us/st_joan_of_arc_patron_saint.html
Joan of Arc Patronage
Every saint is the patron of something. Those that they watch over, their patrons, are the ones who need the protection of this particular saint. There are many patron saints in Christianity, but few are as well known as St. Joan of Arc, patron saint.
Joan of Arc was the woman who led the French to victory over the British in a series of decisive battles during the Hundred Years’ War. She was captured eventually by the English and put to trial for heresy, where she was found guilty. On May 30, 1431, she was burned at the stake. However, in 1920, she became a patron saint due to her canonization, with her feast day being May 30 appropriately.
Many do not realize just how many people Joan of Arc is the patron saint of. However, she protects literally millions of people, especially considering Joan of Arc is the patron saint of France.
On top of that, Joan of Arc is the patron saint of martyrs, captives, militants, people ridiculed for their piety, prisoners, soldiers, Anglophobes, Women Appointed for Voluntary Emergency Services and the Woman's Army Corps.
The people in these categories will often be know to carry a medal that signifies Joan of Arc as their patron. Many people in France have these medals and look to Joan of Arc, patron saint of the country, with respect and admiration. Naturally, looking at the list of groups Joan of Arc is a patron saint of, you can see they match what she did in life. The Women Appointed for Voluntary Emergency Service and Women's Army Corps are for her leadership in the army, along with militants and soldiers. She was put on trial for heresy, hence Joan of Arc as the patron saint of those people ridiculed for their piety. She was held prisoner, so she is the Joan of Arc is the patron saint of prisoners and captives, and since the English held her, she is the patron saint of Anglophobes as well.
Lastly, for being burned at the stake, Joan of Arc became the patron saint of martyrs.