Virgo Potens

Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 18th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ 29.— The Questioning of St. Peter Read St. John xxi. 15-17 When therefore they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter: Simon son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs. He saith to him again: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs. He said to him the third time: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved, because he had said to him the third time: Lovest thou me? And he said to him: Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I love thee. He said to him: Feed my sheep. (continued)

2 of 2 28.— The Easter Banquet 1. When the apostles had brought their boat to land with the splendid haul of fish which they had taken, they found that Jesus had already made preparations for them. He had kindled a fire, and laid fish thereon, and provided bread. They bring the fish they had taken, broil some of them, and then Jesus and His disciples sit around the fire, and in the peaceful quiet of the shores of the lake they eat together their Paschal meal. What a happy feast must that have been! No banquet in the palace of kings half so joyful ! — their hearts intoxicated, not with wine, but with the inebriating delights of companionship with Jesus, and drinking in His sacred words with a rapture like that of Paradise. 2. This time they knew well, one and all, that it was Jesus who was with them. The success of their fishing had suggested that it was He; the overflowing joy of their hearts testified to His presence. Even if their eyes had failed to bear witness to His being their Lord, still they would not have doubted. The time of unbelief and hardness of heart was over. Now they had entered on their inheritance of undoubting faith, that He whom they now saw in the beauty of His Sacred Humanity was the same Jesus who suffered and died on the cross. How happy it is for us when God gives this intimate assurance of Jesus' presence! 3. In Holy Mass, we are as certain that Jesus is present, as the apostles were by the Lake of Tiberias. EveryCatholic knows that it is the Lord who has come to feed us— nay, to be Himself the food of our souls. Should not our hearts then burn within us at every Mass if we really appreciate the fact of His Divine Presence? ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 11th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ 28.— The Easter Banquet Read St. John xxi. 9-13 As soon then as they came to land, they saw hot coals lying, and a fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith to them: Bring hither of the fishes which you have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, one hundred and fifty-three. And although there were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus saith to them: Come, and dine. And none of them who were at meat, durst ask him: Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. And Jesus cometh and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish in like manner. (continued)

2 of 2 27.— St. Peter Hastens to Jesus 1. When St. John's instinct of love had recognized his Master, St. Peter's impulse of love prompted him to throw himself into the sea and hasten to His feet. Through the waves and troubled waters, he made his way boldly to the shore where Jesus was calling him. So through the waves and troubled waters of life, the soul that loves Jesus makes its way to Him, following His call, even though it may lead through the waves of sorrow and amid the storms of temptation. He who fixes his eye on Jesus, and thinks only of coming nearer to Him, is always safe. 2. How different is St.Peter's action now from the spirit he formerly displayed! On the occasion of the miraculous draught of fishes he cried, "Depart from me; I am a sinful man." Now he hastens to Jesus. What has worked the change? Then he was honest, brave, faithful, but full of self; now his humiliation hast cast out self-love, and, instead of thinking of his own sins, he thinks only of Jesus. This is what Jesus loves— that we should forget ourselves, and think only of Him. 3. St. Peter casts about him the coat of the fisherman— the symbol of the authority of the supreme Pontiff. The official documents of the Holy Father are given under the seal of the Fisherman. None except those who wear the livery of the Fisherman are recognized by Jesus as fishers of men, or can expect the grace and help necessary for the conversion of souls. This is why the sermons, missions, Bible-readings outside the Church are so devoid of any influence for good; they are not stamped with the seal of the Fisherman, and so are sure to fail. I must thank God that I live a servant and a follower of the Fisherman. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 16th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ 27.— St. Peter Hastens to Jesus Read St. John xxi. 7 That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved, said to Peter: It is the Lord. Simon Peter, when he heard that it was the Lord, girt his coat about him, (for he was naked,) and cast himself into the sea. (continued)

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2 of 2 26.— The Appearance of Jesus at the Lake 1. As the day began to dawn, the apostles looked up and espied a figure standing upon the shore of the lake, in which they were wearily dragging their nets. Who could this stranger be? He accosts them, and asks whether they have any fish in their boat; and they sadly answer: No! In spite of all our toil we find no results. How often we seem, in our prayers,our work for God and for the souls of others, to obtain no results! All the time seems wasted; nothing to show for it, nothing but fruitless labor and constant failures. 2. The stranger calls again to them: "Cast your nets on the right side of the ship, and you shall find." The apostles, with the instinct of obedience, at once follow His directions, and their obedience brings, as its result, a plentiful haul of fish. It is always better to take the advice of another than to follow our own devices; the very fact of submission brings a blessing with it. He who follows the counsel of another, especially if his adviser has any position of authority, shows true prudence, and earns the blessing of God upon his work. 3. This unexpected and marvellous success at once suggests to St. John that the stranger can be none other than Jesus. St. John was pure in heart. He did all with a pure intention; and His Master was ever present to his thoughts. This was the reason why he recognized Him so quickly. It is a great mark of love for Jesus if every piece of good fortune reveals Him to us; if we see Him in all, and recognize Him as the author of all the success to which we attain. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 15th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ 26.— The Appearance of Jesus at the Lake Read St. John xxi. 4-6. But when the morning was come, Jesus stood on the shore: yet the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus therefore said to them: Children, have you any meat? They answered him: No. He saith to them: Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and you shall find. They cast therefore; and now they were not able to draw it, for the multitude of fishes. (continued)

2 of 2 25.— The Fishing of the Apostles 1. After the second appearance to the apostles, Our Lord did not for some time again manifest Himself to them. During this interval they did not remain idle. Under Peter's guidance, they go up to the Lake of Tiberias, and once more fetch out their nets and set out to fish in the lake. After all their gifts and privileges, the supernatural powers intrusted to them, the places of dignity assigned them in the Church, they did not regard it as beneath them to undertake once more their humble craft. This is a great sign of grace— when high dignity does not lead a man to think great things of himself, but rather to love a humble occupation. 2. St. Peter naturally takes the lead. His fall has left no trace of discouragement: he does not allow it to palsy his actions; there is no morbid deprecation and reproach of self, now he has learnt not to think about self, but about what Christ would wish him to do. The other apostles, too, follow him with simple and docile readiness. His denial ofChrist has left no trace upon their minds. This is what pleases God—that the sinner, when once he has made a good act of contrition, should behave as if he had never fallen. When he does this,God takes away from the minds of others the remembrance of his fall. 3. All night long the apostles take nothing. Long ago Our Lord had promised them that henceforth they should be fishers of men; and their long disappointment in their craft seemed to foreshadow that they must expect many such disappointments in seeking to bring into the net of Christ the souls of men. We,too, must expect often to fail; we must not give up when we seem to labor in vain. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 14th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ 25.— The Fishing of the Apostles Read St. John xxi. 1-4. After this, Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. And he shewed himself after this manner. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas, who is called Didymus, and Nathanael, who was of Cana of Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter saith to them: I go a fishing. They say to him: We also come with thee. And they went forth, and entered into the ship: and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was come, Jesus stood on the shore: yet the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. (continued)

2 of 2 24.— St. Thomas's Profession of Faith 1. When St. Thomas heard the voice of Jesus and saw Him with his eyes he needed no further confirmation of his faith. Humbly he falls upon his knees and acknowledges the Divine Visitor to be indeed his Lord and his God! What a grace the presence of Jesus brings with it. All the obstinacy and incredulity of St. Thomas vanishes at once under that holy influence. So, too, in holy Communion Jesus often gives the same grace. Difficulties and obstacles to our advance in virtue fade away, and, what is more, our own scepticism and hardness melt under His sacred presence. 2. "My Lord and my God!" In these words there is a very clear testimony to the Divinity of Jesus Christ. It is an expression we should often repeat to Him. Before the Blessed Sacrament we should cry again and again, "My Lord and my God!" If doubts against faith trouble us, we should repeat these words with all the energy we can command. Above all, when we receive holy Communion we should cry out to our Divine Guest, "My God and my Lord!" 3. Our Lord's answer to St. Thomas's act of faith was to remind him that there was a far higher faith than his. St. Thomas's faith was of that lower kind that will only believe when the senses bear witness to some invisible power of God working in the visible world; but the higher and nobler faith believes in the testimony of God, and despises the evidence of sense. Pray that you may have a lively faith in things you see not, and that you may not be slow to believe. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 13th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ 24.— St. Thomas's Profession of Faith Read St. John xx. 28-30 Thomas answered, and said to him: My Lord, and my God. Jesus saith to him: Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed. Many other signs also did Jesus in the sight of his disciples, which are not written in this book. (continued)

Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 13th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ 24.— St. Thomas's Profession of Faith Read St. John xx. 28-30 Thomas answered, and said to him: My Lord, and my God. Jesus saith to him: Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed. Many other signs also did Jesus in the sight of his disciples, which are not written in this book. (continued)

2 of 2 23.— The Second Appearance of Jesus to the assembled Apostles 1. One of the apostles, St. Thomas, had been absent when Jesus first appeared to them. When the rest announced the visit of their Master, Thomas would not believe them: he stood out against their consentient voice, and declared that he would remain incredulous till he had actually put his finger into the sacred wounds of Our Lord's hands and feet, and thrust his hand into His side. Men fancy that in early days the followers of Christ were ready to accept every marvel without question, but what modern sceptic could be more sceptical than Thomas? He had heard the ancient prophecies, the repeated predictions of Our Lord, the united testimony of the apostles, yet he would not believe. Pray for a loyal readiness to believe. 2. Our Lord had waited eight days before again visiting His apostles. He was preparing them forHis final departure from them— training them to remember Him whom they saw not; to love Him nonetheless because He was absent from them. This is always a great mark of affection—to bear in mind a friend in his absence. Do I thus remember Him from one Communion to another, the one preparing for the other, and its sweet memory lasting on in my heart? 3. When Our Lord had greeted His apostles He called St. Thomas to Him and told him to touch His hands and feet and side, and thus learn to believe. What wonderful condescension! God does not generally let men dictate their conditions of belief. But Jesus, though now triumphant, is still full of compassion, meek and gentle of heart, patient, forbearing, and forgiving. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 12th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ 23.— The Second Appearance of Jesus to the assembled Apostles Read St. John xx. 24-29. Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him: We have seen the Lord. But he said to them: Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said: Peace be to you. Then he saith to Thomas: Put in thy finger hither, and see my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and put it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing. Thomas answered, and said to him: My Lord, and my God. Jesus saith to him: Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed. (continued)

2 of 2 22.— The Powers bestowed on the Apostles 1. Jesus now proceeded to bestow upon the apostles first the power to be apostles and then priests, and the privilege of offering the Holy Sacrifice. The latter had indeed been given at the Last Supper in the words "Do this in remembrance of Me." Now it is confirmed in the words, "As My Father sent Me, so I send you." Christ was sent to offer a Propitiatory Sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. The apostles were sent to offer the same sacrifice—to carry on to the end of time in themselves and their successors the Sacrifice of Calvary. 2. Besides this, it also included the power to forgive sins. The Son of Man had power on earth to forgive sins—not only to declare the sinner loosed from his sins, but to loose him. So, too, every priest of God has power to loose from sin in the Sacrament of Penance. How many a sinner knows by experience the consoling influence of the sacrament so justly called the Sacrament of Consolation! How many a broken heart has there found relief from a sorrow that was too hard for human heart to bear! Thank God for it with all your heart. 3. Our Lord in conferring these apostolic and priestly powers breathed upon His apostles, as the sign that He was bestowing upon them the same Spirit that had breathed in Him. The Spirit of God was upon Him to preach the Gospel to the poor, to heal the contrite of heart, to preach deliverance to the captives. The same spirit breathes now throughout the Catholic Church, not in her priests alone, but in all her children who seek to carry on the work of Jesus. On all there rests the same Holy Spirit, giving life and power to their prayers, their words, their deeds. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 11th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ 22.— The Powers bestowed on the Apostles Read St. John xx. 23 Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained. (continued)

Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 12th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ 23.— The Second Appearance of Jesus to the assembled Apostles Read St. John xx. 24-29. Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him: We have seen the Lord. But he said to them: Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said: Peace be to you. Then he saith to Thomas: Put in thy finger hither, and see my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and put it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing. Thomas answered, and said to him: My Lord, and my God. Jesus saith to him: Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed. (continued)

2 of 2 21.— The Mission of the Apostles 1. Our Lord had come not merely to bring peace to His apostles and to fill their hearts with lightness and with joy; this supernatural happiness was intended only as the prelude to the work He was going to entrust to them. First peace for themselves and after that they were to go forth as the messengers of peace to others. First a firm faith for themselves, and then they were to carry that faith to others. We shall never do much to benefit the souls of others until we have ourselves put into practice the counsels that we give to others. 2. In these words: "As My Father sent Me, I also send you," Jesus gave to His apostles their future mission and the powers necessary thereto. What are these powers? They are no other than those that the Eternal Father had bestowed upon His Divine Son. As He was invested in His Sacred Humanity with graces unlimited flowing into it from His Divine nature, so His apostles are to have graces and gifts innumerable. What a respect and reverence we ought to have for priests, since they are the vice regents of Jesus Christ Himself. 3. If priests thus receive graces corresponding to those bestowed on the Son of God, they have corresponding responsibilities. They must obey as Christ obeyed, they must be servants of all as Christ was, they must be willing to sacrifice themselves as Christ sacrificed Himself; and not priests only, but all who aspire to be apostles must remember that their model and type in dealing with those to whom they minister was He who was meek and humble of heart, who came not to do His own will, but the will of God. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 10th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ 21.— The Mission of the Apostles Read St. John xx. 20-23 And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained. (continued)