Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, Priest
Lectionary: 346
Lectionary: 346
Beloved:
Is anyone among you suffering?
He should pray.
Is anyone in good spirits?
He should sing a song of praise.
Is anyone among you sick?
He should summon the presbyters of the Church,
and they should pray over him
and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.
The prayer of faith will save the sick person,
and the Lord will raise him up.
If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.
Therefore, confess your sins to one another
and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.
Elijah was a man like us;
yet he prayed earnestly that it might not rain,
and for three years and six months it did not rain upon the land.
Then Elijah prayed again, and the sky gave rain
and the earth produced its fruit.
My brothers and sisters,
if anyone among you should stray from the truth
and someone bring him back,
he should know that whoever brings back a sinner
from the error of his way will save his soul from death
and will cover a multitude of sins.
Is anyone among you suffering?
He should pray.
Is anyone in good spirits?
He should sing a song of praise.
Is anyone among you sick?
He should summon the presbyters of the Church,
and they should pray over him
and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.
The prayer of faith will save the sick person,
and the Lord will raise him up.
If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.
Therefore, confess your sins to one another
and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.
Elijah was a man like us;
yet he prayed earnestly that it might not rain,
and for three years and six months it did not rain upon the land.
Then Elijah prayed again, and the sky gave rain
and the earth produced its fruit.
My brothers and sisters,
if anyone among you should stray from the truth
and someone bring him back,
he should know that whoever brings back a sinner
from the error of his way will save his soul from death
and will cover a multitude of sins.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 141:1-2, 3 AND 8
R. (2a) Let my
prayer come like incense before you.
O LORD, to you I call; hasten to me;
hearken to my voice when I call upon you.
Let my prayer come like incense before you;
the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice.
R. Let my prayer come like incense before you.
O LORD, set a watch before my mouth,
a guard at the door of my lips.
For toward you, O God, my LORD, my eyes are turned;
in you I take refuge; strip me not of life.
R. Let my prayer come like incense before you.
O LORD, to you I call; hasten to me;
hearken to my voice when I call upon you.
Let my prayer come like incense before you;
the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice.
R. Let my prayer come like incense before you.
O LORD, set a watch before my mouth,
a guard at the door of my lips.
For toward you, O God, my LORD, my eyes are turned;
in you I take refuge; strip me not of life.
R. Let my prayer come like incense before you.
AlleluiaSEE MT 11:25
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMK 10:13-16
People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them,
but the disciples rebuked them.
When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them,
"Let the children come to me; do not prevent them,
for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Amen, I say to you,
whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child
will not enter it."
Then he embraced the children and blessed them,
placing his hands on them.
but the disciples rebuked them.
When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them,
"Let the children come to me; do not prevent them,
for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Amen, I say to you,
whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child
will not enter it."
Then he embraced the children and blessed them,
placing his hands on them.
Meditation: "Receive the kingdom of
God like a child"
Do you seek to help others draw near to the Lord
Jesus? The parents who brought their children to Jesus wanted Jesus to lay his
hands upon them. They knew of the healing power, both physical and spiritual,
which came from Jesus' touch. Jesus, in turn, rebuked his disciples for
hindering the children from coming. No doubt the disciples wanted to shield
Jesus from the nuisance of noisy children. But Jesus delighted in the children
and demonstrated that God's love has ample room for everyone.
Pray for the young to grow strong in faith
No one is unimportant to God. He comes to each person individually that he might touch them with his healing love and power. Do you show kindness, interest, and care for the youth you encounter in your neighborhood, home, and church? And do you pray for young people that they may come to know the love of Jesus Christ and grow in wisdom and maturity as his disciples?
Why does Jesus say that we must receive the kingdom of God like a child (Mark 10:15)? In the ancient world children were at the bottom of the social ladder. They had no rights or privileges of their own and they had no means or resources to care for themselves. They were totally dependent on their parents for everything they needed. Scripture teaches us that we are totally dependent on God as our eternal Father and Provider. We owe our very existence to him because he is the Creator, Author, and Sustainer of life. We could not find our way to God if he did not first seek us out and draw us to himself. That is why the Father in heaven sent his only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus, to show us the way to the Father.
No one is unimportant to God. He comes to each person individually that he might touch them with his healing love and power. Do you show kindness, interest, and care for the youth you encounter in your neighborhood, home, and church? And do you pray for young people that they may come to know the love of Jesus Christ and grow in wisdom and maturity as his disciples?
Why does Jesus say that we must receive the kingdom of God like a child (Mark 10:15)? In the ancient world children were at the bottom of the social ladder. They had no rights or privileges of their own and they had no means or resources to care for themselves. They were totally dependent on their parents for everything they needed. Scripture teaches us that we are totally dependent on God as our eternal Father and Provider. We owe our very existence to him because he is the Creator, Author, and Sustainer of life. We could not find our way to God if he did not first seek us out and draw us to himself. That is why the Father in heaven sent his only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus, to show us the way to the Father.
The Lord Jesus came to set us free from slavery to
sin, Satan, and death, and to adopt us as children of God - his beloved sons
and daughters. Jesus taught his disciples to not only honor and respect God as
our eternal Father, but to trust in him with great confidence for everything we
need - just as children naturally trust in their parents for all that they
need. God gives generously to those who put their trust in him, who approach
him with child-like simplicity and humility, and with expectant faith that he
will treat them as a loving and merciful Father rather than a cold and stern
judge or tyrant. Do you trust your heavenly Father to give you what you need to
live as his son or daughter?
Do you seek to help others draw near to the
Lord?
Our great privilege and responsibility is to live as true and faithful sons and daughters of God and as loyal citizens and ambassadors of his heavenly kingdom. And our chief responsibility is to pass on the faith, wisdom, and gifts which we have received from God to our young people and to those who do not yet know God that they may find true joy and everlasting life in the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you ready and eager to pass on your faith and experience of God's action in your life to others, especially to the young who need guidance, encouragement, and the godly example and witness of those who have discovered the true source of happiness in knowing, loving, and serving God?
Our great privilege and responsibility is to live as true and faithful sons and daughters of God and as loyal citizens and ambassadors of his heavenly kingdom. And our chief responsibility is to pass on the faith, wisdom, and gifts which we have received from God to our young people and to those who do not yet know God that they may find true joy and everlasting life in the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you ready and eager to pass on your faith and experience of God's action in your life to others, especially to the young who need guidance, encouragement, and the godly example and witness of those who have discovered the true source of happiness in knowing, loving, and serving God?
"Lord Jesus, may we never hinder our youth from
coming to you to receive your blessing, help, and abundant life. Make our youth
strong in faith, hope, and love that they may find true joy and fulfillment in
following you as their Lord and Savior. And as we grow with age, may we never
lose that child-like simplicity and humility which draws us ever deeper into
your loving presence."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: When the reception of grace begins, by
Basil the Great, 329-379 A.D.
"The apostle praised one [Timothy] who had known
the holy Scripture from infancy (2 Timothy 3:15). He also instructed that
children be reared 'in the discipline and correction of the Lord' (Ephesians
6:4). So we consider every time of life, even the very earliest, suitable for
receiving persons into the community of faith." (excerpt from THE LONG RULES 15)
SATURDAY, MAY 26, MARK 10:13-16
(James 5:13-20; Psalm 141)
(James 5:13-20; Psalm 141)
KEY VERSE: "Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these" (v 14).
TO KNOW: Jesus told his disciples that they must serve the simple and lowly ones of the Christian community (Mk 9:36-37). He warned them that grave punishment awaited those who gave scandal to these "little ones" (v 41-50). When some people brought their children to Jesus so that he could bless them, his disciples rebuked the parents for being a nuisance. Jesus was indignant at their insensitive behavior. He told his followers that it was only the childlike who were worthy to enter God's reign. Children knew that they were powerless and must depend on their parents to provide for their needs. Well-trained children were humble, obedient, loving and trusting. Those who humbly obeyed God's Laws and depended upon God with trust and love possessed the attributes necessary for God's reign.
TO LOVE: Who are the hurting children in my life that need my loving embrace?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, embrace me as your little child.
Memorial of Saint Philip Neri,
priest
Philip Neri founded the Confraternity of the Most Holy Trinity. When he began to preach, he had many converts. In 1550 he considered retiring to the life of a solitary hermit, but he received visions that told him his mission was in Rome. He entered the priesthood in 1551. He heard confessions by the hour and could tell penitents their sins before they confessed them. Pope Gregory XIV tried to make him a cardinal, but Philip declined. His popularity was such that he was accused of forming his own sect, but he was cleared of this baseless charge. He founded the Congregation of the Oratory, a group of priests dedicated to preaching and teaching, but suffered from accusations of heresy because of the involvement of laymen as preachers. In later years he was beset by several illnesses, each of which was cured through prayer. In 1594, when he was in an agony of pain, the Blessed Virgin appeared to him, and he was cured. Philip died in 1595 and was canonized by Gregory XV 1622.
Saturday 26 May
2018
St Philip Neri.
James 5:13-20. Psalm 140(141):1-3, 8. Mark 10:13-16.
Let my prayer come like incense before you—Psalm 140(141):1-3,
8.
Who is worthy?
Who have we stopped from coming to Jesus? Who have we turned
away because it was just too hard to keep on reaching out? Who have we judged
as unworthy of ‘bothering’ Jesus? Have we stopped ourselves for the same
reason? Do we feel that we need to ‘have it together’ or have already produced
something of great value before we can come before Jesus with our smallness?
The Kingdom of God belongs to those who welcome it like a little child: in awe
and wonder, in honesty, in openness, in trust, in abandonment to love, and in
curiosity deeply lived in each moment.
Saint Philip Neri
Saint of the Day for May 26
(July 21, 1515 – May 26, 1595)
 |
| The Madonna Appearing to Saint Philip Neri | Sebastiano Conca |
Saint Philip Neri’s Story
Philip Neri was a sign of contradiction, combining popularity
with piety against the background of a corrupt Rome and a disinterested clergy:
the whole post-Renaissance malaise.
At an early age, Philip abandoned the chance to become a
businessman, moved to Rome from Florence, and devoted his life and
individuality to God. After three years of philosophy and theology studies, he
gave up any thought of ordination. The next 13 years were spent in a vocation
unusual at the time—that of a layperson actively engaged in prayer and the
apostolate.
As the Council of Trent (1545-63) was reforming the Church on a
doctrinal level, Philip’s appealing personality was winning him friends from
all levels of society, from beggars to cardinals. He rapidly gathered around
himself a group of laypersons won over by his audacious spirituality.
Initially, they met as an informal prayer and discussion group, and also served
poor people in Rome.
At the urging of his confessor, Philip was ordained a priest and
soon became an outstanding confessor himself, gifted with the knack of piercing
the pretenses and illusions of others, though always in a charitable manner and
often with a joke. He arranged talks, discussions, and prayers for his
penitents in a room above the church. He sometimes led “excursions” to other
churches, often with music and a picnic on the way.
Some of Philip’s followers became priests and lived together in
community. This was the beginning of the Oratory, the religious institute he
founded. A feature of their life was a daily afternoon service of four informal
talks, with vernacular hymns and prayers. Giovanni Palestrina was one of
Philip’s followers, and composed music for the services. The Oratory was
finally approved after suffering through a period of accusations of being an
assembly of heretics, where laypersons preached and sang vernacular hymns!
Philip’s advice was sought by many of the prominent figures of
his day. He is one of the influential figures of the Counter-Reformation,
mainly for converting to personal holiness many of the influential people
within the Church itself. His characteristic virtues were humility and gaiety.
After spending a day hearing confessions and receiving visitors,
Philip Neri suffered a hemorrhage and died on the feast of Corpus Christi in
1595. He was beatified in 1615 and canonized in 1622. Three centuries
later, Cardinal John Henry Newman founded the first
English-speaking house of the Oratory in London.
Reflection
Many people wrongly feel that such an attractive and jocular
personality as Philip’s cannot be combined with an intense spirituality.
Philip’s life melts our rigid, narrow views of piety. His approach to sanctity
was truly catholic, all-embracing, and accompanied by a good laugh. Philip
always wanted his followers to become not less but more human through their
striving for holiness.
LECTIO DIVINA: MARK 10:13-16
Lectio Divina:
Saturday, May 26, 2018
Ordinary Time
1) OPENING PRAYER
Father,
keep before us the wisdom and love
You have revealed in Your Son.
Help us to be like Him
in word and deed,
for He lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
keep before us the wisdom and love
You have revealed in Your Son.
Help us to be like Him
in word and deed,
for He lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) GOSPEL READING - MARK
10:13-16
People were bringing children to Jesus
that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this
he became indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not
prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to
you, whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter
it." Then he embraced the children and blessed them, placing his hands on
them.
3) REFLECTION
• The Gospel of two days ago indicated
the advice of Jesus concerning the relationship of the adults with little ones
and with the excluded (Mk 9:41-50). Yesterday’s Gospel indicated the advice on
the relationship between man and woman, husband and wife (Mk 10:1-12). Today’s
Gospel indicates the advice on the relationship between parents and sons. Jesus
asked for the greatest acceptance for the little ones and the excluded. In the
relationship man-woman, He asked for the greatest equality. Now, with the sons
and their mother, He asks for the greatest tenderness.
• Mark 10:13-16: Receive the
Kingdom like a child. People brought little children to Him, for Him to
touch them. The disciples wanted to prevent this. Why? The text does not say
it. Perhaps because according to the ritual norms of the time, the small
children with their mothers lived almost constantly the legal impurity. To
touch them meant to become impure! If they touched Jesus, He would become
impure! But Jesus does not feel uncomfortable with this ritual norm of legal
purity. He corrects the disciples and welcomes the mothers with the
children. He touches them, embraces them saying: “Let the little
children come to me, do not stop them: for it is to such as these that the
Kingdom of God belongs”. And He comments: “In truth I tell
you, anyone who does not accept the Kingdom of God like a little child will
never enter it”. And then Jesus embraces the children and blesses
them, and laid His hands on them. What does this phrase mean? (a) The children
receive everything from their parents. They cannot merit what they receive, but
live from gratuitous love. (b) The parents receive the children as a gift from
God and take care of them with the greatest possible love. The concern of the
parents is not to dominate the children, but to love them, educate them in a
way in which they can grow and be fulfilled! This is
the relationship we have with our Father in Heaven! We must be just like these
children.
• A sign of the Kingdom: To
welcome the little ones and the excluded. There are many signs of the
acting presence of the Kingdom in the life and the activity of Jesus. One of
these is the way of welcoming, of accepting the little ones and the children:
a) To welcome them and not scandalize
them. One of the hardest words of Jesus was
against those who cause scandal to the little ones, that is, who are the reason
so that the little ones no longer believe in God. For them it is better to have
a millstone hung round their neck and be thrown into the sea (Mk 9:42; Lk 17:2;
Mt 18:6).
b) To identify oneself with the little
ones. Jesus embraces the little ones and identifies Himself with them. Anyone
who receives a child, “receives Me” (Mk 9:37). “And as long as you did this to
one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to Me”. (Mt 25:40).
c) To become like children. Jesus asks the disciples to become like children and
to accept the Kingdom as they do. Otherwise it is not possible to enter into
the Kingdom (Mk 10:15; Mt 18:3; Lk 9:46-48). He makes the children teachers of
adults! And that is not normal. Generally, we do the contrary.
d) To defend the right that children
have to shout and yell. When
Jesus, entering into the Temple, turned over the tables of the money changers,
the children were those who shouted the most: “Hosanna to the Son of David!”
(Mt 21:15). Criticized by the high priests and by the Scribes, Jesus defends
them and in defending them He recalls the Scriptures (Mt 21:16).
e) To be pleasing for the Kingdom
present in little children. Jesus’ joy is
great, when He perceives that the children, the little ones, understand the
things of the Kingdom which He announced to the people“. “I bless you,
Father!” (Mt 11:25-26). Jesus recognizes that the little ones
understand the things of the Kingdom better than the doctors!
f) To welcome, accept and take care. Many are the little children and the young whom
Jesus accepts, takes care of and raises from the death: the daughter of Jairus
who was 12 years old (Mk 5:41-42), the daughter of the Canaanite woman (Mk
7:29-30), the son of the widow of Nain (Lk 7:14-15), the epileptic boy (Mk
9:25-26), the son of the Centurion (Lk 7:9-10), the son of the public officer
(Jn 4:50), the boy with the five loaves of bread and two fish (Jn 6:9).
4) PERSONAL QUESTIONS
• In our society and in our community,
who are the little ones and the excluded? How do we welcome and accept them?
• What have I learned in my life from
children concerning the Kingdom of God?
• There are so many ways modern adults
are not like children. What can I do to become more child-like for the Father
and in relation to my peers; imitative, obedient, humble, grateful, innocent?
Do I even want to?
• I place myself as innocent, obedient,
humble, and grateful into my world of friends, my business, recreation and my
responsibilities. What happens? How am I perceived by the world around me? If I
continue to be this way, how would this make a better world?
5) CONCLUDING PRAYER
Yahweh, I am calling, hurry to Me,
listen to my voice when I call to You.
May my prayer be like incense in Your presence,
my uplifted hands like the evening sacrifice. (Ps 141:1-2)
listen to my voice when I call to You.
May my prayer be like incense in Your presence,
my uplifted hands like the evening sacrifice. (Ps 141:1-2)
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