A blessed 2nd Sunday of Easter to you all and a blessed God Shepherd Sunday as well!

Crusaders-For-Christ has a wonderful children's sermon on their site (complete with a Good Shepherd Coloring Page) for today as well as a sermon for adults on the 2nd Sunday of Easter.

For those of you who own the Liturgical Year set by Dom Gueranger, today's explanation of the Mass was very excellent and I would highly recommend reading it. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.

A blessed second week of Easter to you all! Last year we hosted a special 50 days of Easter series that we hope you will still enjoy reading from our blog post archives. Today's post continues one with our Easter theme.

Anecdotes and Examples 
By: Rev. Francis Spirago            Imprimatur 1908

Q. On what day did Christ rise from the dead?
A. Christ rose from the dead, glorious and immortal on Easter Sunday, the third day after His death.


THE PASCHAL CONTROVERSY
The first Easter Sunday fell on the 26th of March, the year 782 A.U.C. or 29 A.D. The early Christian Church was much disturbed by the controversy as to what day was the proper one on which to celebrate the Easter festival. The dispute was waged between the JEwish converts who constituted the church in Asia Minor, on the one hand, and the rest of the Christian world, on the other. The former celebrated the crucifixion on the 14th of the month Nisan, and the resurrection on the third day following. The consequence was that Easter was oftenest celebrated on a week day. In the rest of Christendom the custom was to celebrate the resurrection always on Sunday, and the death of Our Lord on the preceding Friday. The controversy lasted centuries, and though attempts to settle it were made by Popes Anicetus (157-168) and Victor (191-201) it was not until the Council of Nicaea (325) that the western custom was adopted by all.

Q. How long did Christ stay on earth after His resurrection?
A. Christ stayed on earth forty days after His resurrection, to show that He was truly risen from the dead, and to instruct His apostles.


THE FORTY MARTYRS
The number forty has been rendered sacred in various ways. The chosen people wandered forty years in the desert; Moses spent forty days on Mount Sinai; Elias traced forty days to Mount Horeb, and Our Lord fasted forty days in the wilderness. In one of the Roman legions were forty young Christian soldiers remarkable for their piety and courage. One day when the legion was being hard pressed by the enemy and was half dead from heat and thirst, these young men prayed God for aid, and immediately a thunder-storm broke out of a clear sky, the rain refreshing their fellow-sodiers, and the thunder and lightning putting the enemy to flight. Soon afterward the "Thundering Legion" was ordered on duty at a pagan religious service, and the forty Christians, for refusing to attend, were stripped and bound and laid side by side on a frozen lake. Night and day they prayed that all might persevere and preserve their number forty intact, but in the middle of the night the soldier on guard saw an angel come down with thirty-nine crowns, and at the same moment one of the suffers rolled himself over and into a hot bath which their torturers had kept handy for any who should yield. Immediately the pagan guard threw down his arms, stripped off his clothes, and announcing himself a  Christian, lay down and perished with the others. Thus was their prayer answered, for the fortieth crown too had a claimant.

READ MORE ABOUT THE 40 MARTYRS FROM DOM GUERANGER'S LITURGICAL YEAR.

A blessed and most holy Easter to you all! We pray that your Easter Sunday was as beautiful as ours was warm and bright. God graced us with the most beautiful sunshine on the day dedicated to His Son! Typically in Oregon it rains EVERY year, but not this year, God is good! 

We also pray that your Holy Week devotions are starting to show their fruits and that Easter JOY is upon you all. Last year on our blog we hosted a series of Easter posts, we would like to encourage you to read those again this year over at our 50 Days of Easter. A Resurrection Coloring page may also be printed for our littlest readers, and Easter Holy Cards here to be printed and laminated. We pray your Easter week is a blessed one!

From Catholic Life - Imprimatur 1908
This is the Christian Pasch, or Passover. The Jewish Passover commemorated their passage out of Egypt, and their deliverance from its slavery, of Egypt, and their deliverance from its slavery, and so was a type. Jesus Christ at His Resurrection passed from death to life, and by this passage triumphed over the powers of hell, rescued us from their tyranny and from eternal death, and opened a passage for us to eternal life. At that time "Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome brought sweet spices, that coming, they might anoint Jesus. And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they came to the sepulcher, and sun being now risen. And they said one to another: Who shall roll us back the stone from the door of the sepulcher? And looking, they saw the stone rolled back. For it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side clothed with a white robe; and they were astonished. Who saith to them: Be not affrighted; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, Who was crucified: He is risen, He is not here, behold the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter, that He goeth before you into Galilee: there you shall see Him, as He told you.'*

To celebrate this festival with due dispositions, we ought with joy and gratitude to adore Jesus Christ in His immortal state, and to rise with Him, by entering as He did upon a new life, so as never more to die by relapsing into sin, and to persevere in the practice of virtue and good works. We may know if we have entered on this new life- if we are at peace with God; if we love whatever leads to Him, such as prayer, reading good books, hearing the word of God, and assisting devoutly at Mass and other devotions. As we hope, too, that the Last Day our bodies will rise and partake of the privileges of our Lord's glorious body, so we should respect our bodies, resist evil passions, and not use the members of our body for sinful purposes, but for the practice of good works.

"We, Lord, with faithful heart and cheerful voice, On this Thy glorious rising day rejoice: O Thou! Whose conq'ring power o'er came the grave, By thy victorious grace us, sinners, save."

* Mark xvi. 1-7

Example.- Lamoricieré.

Lamoriciére's name stands prominently in the military history of France in the nineteenth century. His early intercourse with certain students of the Polytechnic School, and his almost constant engagement in warfare, dimmed for a time the lustre of the lofty Catholic principles instilled into him by a pious father. It is true he never lost his faith, but the smoke of the battle-field sometimes concealed it from his view. A period of forced rest, in which he could count no longer on outward victories, turned his thoughts to interior conquest, and thus he left an example of spiritual bravery which, while it excites our admiration, stimulates us to imitation. One day an old colleague and friend visited him and found him bent over maps, in which he was noting with anxiety the movements of the armies to the Crimea. To keep down the curled corners of the map he had employed the books which were the usual companions of his leisure hours - a Catechism, his Prayer Book, the "Imitation," and some other pious book. The visitor could not conceal his surprise at the sight of the four silent witnesses of the General's occupation.

"Well, yes," said Lamoriceiére, "that is my occupation. I do not wish to remain like you between day and night. I like to know where I go and by what I hold; and I make no secret of it."

At an age when few seek to modify their long formed character and habits, he laboured diligently to soften and tone the asperities of his impetuous nature. Every day he became more patient, more indulgent to adversaries, and calmer under the many little annoyances with which this life is strewn. For instance, he was told that one of his best horses had broken its knees: some years before, the same matter had been made the signal for a storm, and coachman trembled to think of what was coming; but to his astonishment the General was not even impatient. In his camp-life he had learned a somewhat free and dictatorial mode of speaking, and was much addicted to swearing; but these faults entirely disappeared.

When his son died he felt it very much, and what added to his grief was the fact that he could not be present. "My God!" he exclaimed, "You send us bitter trials in this world; I beseech You to be merciful to us in the next."

Although not unexpected, Lamoriciére's death was rather sudden. He died on his knees with the crucifix pressed to his breast, and received absolution while still conscious. It would be well for the world to have many more such lives to record.

Sunday Morning Storyland
Sunday Sermons for Children
By: Rev. Wildred J. Diamond
Imprimatur 1945
4th Sunday of Easter

"I go to Him that sent Me."

When our time comes to say, "I go to Him that sent me," what will be in store for us? We have two stories this morning to show you that what we do during our lives decides what our reward will be in Heaven.

A rich lady had a dream, one that we would all like to have. She dreamed that she was in Heaven. She walked around and saw a huge mansion being built.

She asked her guide, "Whose will that be?"
The angel replied, "That is for your gardener."
The lady was surprised because on earth the gardener lived in a tiny cottage with hardly enough room for his family.
The angel said, "He might live in a better house on earth if he were not so generous."
They walked on a little bit and saw a tiny little cottage being built.
The lady asked, "And whose will that be?"
The angel replied, "This is for you."
"But," the lady cried, "I live in a great mansion. I can't get used to a little cottage."
"Well," said the angel, "We do the best we can up here but we can use only the materials that are sent us from on earth."
The lady learned her lesson from this dream and began to do good works and lay up treasures for herself in Heaven.

The other story is about the palace of good works.
Alexander the Great, who conquered the whole known world of his day, made up his mind that he would have the most beautiful palace ever built by man. Being the richest most beautiful palace ever built by man. Being the richest man in the world, he could afford to do it. He chose a place far off in the hills and sent his agent Stephen with gold and jewels to do the work.

Stephen sent word to Alexander. "There is a village of people living in just the spot that you have chosen for your palace."

Alexander sent an order back, "Drive them away and destroy the village."

But Stephen was a kind and generous man. Instead of driving the people away and destroying their village, he used the jewels and money to feed them and help them. The starving came to Stephen and he fed them. The sick were brought to him and he cared for them.

After some time, Alexander came to see his palace. He aw what Stephen had done and was angry. Poor Stephen was cast into jail. But that night, Alexander had a dream,. In his dream he saw a palace far more wonderful than the one he had planned. Its walls were of gold, its floors of silver, and set in the walls were myriads of gleaming jewels. A voice in the dream spoke to him and said:
"Alexander, this is the palace of good works that Stephen has built for you."

Alexander awoke and released Stephen from jail. From his dream he had learned the lesson that we should so live that when our time comes to say, "I go to Him that sent me," we will know that we have sent up plenty of material from earth and that there is a palace of good works waiting for us in Heaven.

This week's Keeping it Catholic Monday has been replaced with another 50 Days of Easter series. Keeping It Catholic Monday posts will resume after Pentecost.

First Fruits; A series of Short Meditations
By: Sister Mary Philip
Imprimatur 1918

"Simon, son of John, lovest thou Me more than these?" (St John. xxi.)

I.
Saint Peter had thrice denied his Lord and Master during the Passion, and now Our Lord gives him an opportunity of making reparation. All during the public life, even to the very night of the Last Supper, Peter had boasted that whatever the other disciples did, he at least would be true to Our Lord. We know how he fell, and how at a look
from Our Lord he went out and wept
bitterly. Do I ever boast that I am safe from such and such a fault, that in that respect at least I have no cause for fear ? If so, let me learn a lesson from St Peter. If, unhappily, I should fall, let me strive to imitate his deep and heartfelt penitence, a sorrow which he
kept up all his life.

II.
"Lovest thou Me?" I can imagine I hear
Our Lord addressing these words to me. "Lovest thou Me? Lovest thou Me sufficiently to sacrifice thyself for My sake ? Lovest thou Me when I ask thee to do some work for My sake which is naturally distasteful to thee ? Lovest thou Me in the person of My poor? Lovest thou My will above thine own ? Lovest thou Me sufficiently to follow Me, in whatsoever state of life I may call thee to? Answer Me My child, lovest thou Me?" What am I going to answer to this tender appeal of Our Lord ? Can I with truth say to Him : " Yea, Lord, Thou knowest all things, Thou knowest that I love Thee."

III.
Our Lord said to St Peter, "Lovest thou Me more than these?" I can understand
these words as addressed to myself in two ways. First, Our Lord may say to me, "Thou sayest that thou lovest Me more than others do, but where are the proofs of thy love? Where shall I find in thee the charity of My apostles, the purity of My virgins, the zeal of My confessors, the fidelity of My martyrs? Love is proved by deeds."

Secondly, Our Lord may ask : " Lovest thou Me more than these—more than thy
pleasures, more than thy convenience, more than thy life itself?"  Lord, what can I say to Thee? Indeed, indeed I do love Thee, but I cannot compare with Thy holy ones. Increase my love that with more and more truth I may be able to say to Thee, " Lord, Thou knowest all things, Thou knowest that I love Thee."

First Fruits; A Series of Short Meditations
By: Sister Mary Philip
Imprimatur 1918

"It is the Lord" (St. John, xxi. 7).

I.
"... That night they caught nothing. But when the morning was come Jesus stood on the shore." Picture the Apostles weary with their labour during the long dreary night; they had probably started off full of hope that they would have a good night's work, and they caught—nothing ! Then, with the dawn, they drew nigh to the shore and Jesus stood there to welcome them. How often in my life do I start off full of hope? But things go wrong. Darkness seems to envelop me on every side, and I do no good. I make no progress. I seem to acquire no more virtue than I ever had. I
am not more patient, or more kind and submissive. In fact "I catch nothing" of the virtues of my Lord and Master. Then after a long and weary time the light begins
to break. Jesus shows Himself and the darkness is scattered; my weariness is
changed into joy.

II.
"The disciples knew not that it was Jesus." So often is it thus with me. Our Lord is there, but a mist hides Him partly from me, and, because my faith is weak, I do not recognize Him. Yet He is there close to me. In the early morning Mass He is there, offering Himself for me; yet my distractions, my worries, my pleasures perhaps, occupy my mind, and I do not realize that He is there. In the glare of mid-day. He is in the Tabernacle waiting for me. In the evening stillness He is raised on His throne to bless and comfort me, and yet I act as though I did not know that it was He. He comes to me in joy, and I forget that it is His joy, given in love to me. He comes to me in sorrow, and I will not rouse myself to see that it is the best gift He can give me, because it means likeness to and union with Him.

Lord, how often I know Thee not. Open my eyes that I may learn to know Thee
more and more, to recognize Thee under any disguise Thou choosest to take in order to try my faith.

III.
"It is the Lord!" It was St John, the Beloved Disciple, who first recognized Our Lord. Why? St. John was pure of heart. "Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God." If I want to see Our Lord in all that befalls me, and under all circumstances,
I must strive to obtain cleanness of heart. In the Blessed Sacrament we recognize
Our Lord, and say with St. John, " It is the Lord," and we know that the Banquet
Jesus has prepared for us there is sweeter far than that which He gave to His Disciples on the shore that April morning, for it is the Banquet in which He gives us His own Flesh and Blood.

O Sacred Banquet, in which Christ is received, the memory of His Passion is
renewed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us!

First Fruits; A Series of Meditations
By: Sister Mary Philip
Imprimatur 1918

I. "Jesus stood in the midst of them and saith to them : Peace be to you, it is I, fear not." Peace is the great treasure Our Lord desires to give us. At the Last Supper He had said: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you : not as the world giveth do I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid " (St John xv.). And now we picture Him in His glorious, risen Life, come to bring this same gift of peace to His disciples, and not to them only, but to all—to me! Our Lord's peace is true peace, founded on distrust of self and boundless confidence in Him. Whatever my troubles, temptations, and trials may be, I can always count on Him. He will give me peace and say to me, "Let not your heart be troubled." "It is I, fear not!"

II. St Thomas was not present at this apparition on Easter Sunday evening. When he came in he was greeted with the words, "We have seen the Lord!" He would not believe, " Unless 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." How often in the past have I imitated the incredulity and distrust of St. Thomas, and how deeply has my want of trust wounded the heart of my Lord! I have wished, how often, to lay down conditions to God. By my conduct, if not by my words, I have said to Him, " Unless I see the result of my prayers, unless I get help in the exact way I want it, I will not believe!" I will kneel before Him now and ask His pardon for my want of faith, and say to Him sincerely and from the depths of my heart: "Heart of Jesus, I trust in Thee."

III. After eight days Our Lord came and, with the utmost compassion, condescended to the weakness of St Thomas. "Put in thy finger hither, and see My hands . . . and be not faithless but believing." What could St Thomas do but fall on his knees, exclaiming, "My Lord and my God!" Then came Our Lord's gentle rebuke: "Because thou hast seen Me, Thomas, thou hast believed : blessed are they that have not seen and have believed." Here is my comfort, for I have to live by faith. I have not seen, and yet, O Lord, Thou knowest that I believe in Thee. "Thy wounds, as Thomas saw, I do not see, Yet Thee confess my Lord and God to be; Make me believe Thee, ever more and more. In Thee my hope, in Thee my love to store."

This weeks Keeping It Catholic Monday has been put aside to honor the 50 days of Easter with a new post series. Keeping It Catholic will resume once the Easter Season is over. God bless!


Catholic Life; or Feasts, Fasts and Devotions
Section titled Sunday
Imprimatur 1908 Printed by Washbourne

God Almighty in the beginning of the world appointed a Sabbath, or day of rest, to be kept once a week in memory of His having accomplished the creation of the world in six days, and His resting on the seventh; and also that man might not only give rest to his body, but especially to his soul. This is done by withdrawing from the cares and pleasures of life, and raising our thoughts to consider the eternal rest in the world to come, the means to secure it, and the evils to be avoided.

Thus, the day of rest is a remembrance of God's power and goodness, and so an excellent means of increasing our love for Him, because we cannot fail to love Him Whom we know to be the most perfect Being, to Whom all creatures owe their existence, Who is our greatest benefactor. Later on, when the sanctification of the Sabbath was included in the Ten Commandments given on Mount Sinai, Almighty God prefixed the word remember, as time had shown how apt man was to forget Him and His service, by being too fond of the perishable goods and pleasures of this life.

The last day of the week was appointed to be kept holy in the Old Law, but the Church, the beloved spouse of Christ, chose Sunday in memory of our Saviour's resurrection and the descent of the Holy Ghost, both of which happened on that day. Hence it is called the Lord's Day.

We are obliged to hear Mass every Sunday, and to abstain from servile works which are not required by necessity or charity. We ought, also, to endavour to be present at the other public devotions, such as Vespers, Sermon, Benediction, or Rosary. A part of the day might be profitably spent in reading pious books, such as the "History of the Bible," the "Lives of the Saints," the "Imitation of Christ," St. Liguori's "Way of Salvation," and the publications of the Catholic Truth Society, which may be found at most church doors. These will help us to enjoy what peace of heart which is found by those who retire from the noise and tumult of life to devote some time to their eternal interests.

There is a plenary indulgence granted in some countries to the faithful who receive Holy Communion worthily on the first Sunday of the month, and afterwards say a few Paters and Aves for the Pope's intentions.

Those who have more leisure and aptitude may further sanctify the Sunday by teaching catechism in the church, collecting for the various charities, ect. A Sunday spent thus passes sweetly, having been truly sanctified by prayer and charity, and refreshed by family reunions, rest, and innocent joys. It is a guarantee of eternal rest in the kingdom of God.

"Grant I may ever, at the morning ray,
Open with prayer the consecrated Day;
Tune Thy great praise, and
bid my soul arise,
And with the mounting sun ascend the skies;
As that advances, let my seal improve,
And glow with ardour of consummate love'
Nor cease with eve, but with the setting sun
My endless worship shall be still begun."

Example.- Rudolph de Lisele. Born A.D. 1853

If there was one specially marked characteristic about Rudolph from earliest boyhood, it was his absolute fearlessness, whether of danger, ridicule, or hardship, in the discharge of duty. Many striking instances of this better part of valour are given. Take one, there was a French man-of-war station not far from his ship in one of the harbours of the Pacific Ocean. As there was Mass on board this ship, Rudolph thought it best to take his men there rather than go on shore.

Leave was asked and obtained, so a quarter of an hour before the time, he arrived with his men. He himself was invited at once by the officers into the cabin, where they showed him every politeness. But by and by,

the quarter of an hour being expired, Rudolph looked at his watch, and said: "Ah, I see 'tis Mass-time now." These French officers were Catholics, but lived, as too many of the French in that station of life do, in total disregard of religion. So when Rudolph said "It is Mass-time," they replied, "Mass! surely you are not going to Mass?" "Yes, I am," said Rudolph, and, at once taking leave, he went off and entered the place where Mass was said. About the time of the Sanctus one of the French officers slunk in. The next Sunday two or three came in; the Sunday after the whole of the officers attended Mass from every commencement, and they continued to do so for the six weeks longer that the two men-of-war were within easy reach of each other.

Sunday Morning Storyland; Sunday Sermons for Children
By: Rev. Wilfrid J. Diamond
Imprimatur 1945

Monmouth's Escape
In England many years ago there was a general named the Duke of Monmouth. His army was hopelessly defeated in battle and Monmouth was forced to flee for his life. He hid in the fields all day and traveled every night. Finally, his enemies caught up with him. They chased him into a shepherd's hut. Instead of closing the door on poor Monmouth the shepherd did a brave thing. He changed clothes with the Duke and stepped out to meet his foes. Long and well he fought, trying to delay the soldiers until Monmouth could make his escape. He held them off with his sword, for three hours, until he fell exhausted and was killed. The Duke of Monmouth by this time was far away and safe - saved by a good shepherd.

In the war against sin, people have always been pursued by the devil. But Our Lord became a man and fought the devil for three hours on the Cross of Calvary until He too was slain. During the struggle sinful man was able to escape from the devil's power. That is why Our Lord has a perfect right to call Himself the Good Shepherd Who lays down His life for His sheep. Over and over agin He tells us that He is the Shepherd of souls. "If a man has a hundred sheep and loses one, does he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after that which was lost?" "Other sheep I have that are not of this fold; them also must I bring."

What wonderful things our souls must be if Christ the Good Shepherd is willing to lose his life to save them. We should always keep this in mind. We have something within ourselves which is very valuable, something which we treasure and guard. To be the Shepherd of our souls Christ came down to earth. Sheep go to the shepherd for all their needs. For food - Christ has given Himself in the Eucharist to be the food of our souls. For water - our souls drink the sweet waters of Christ in Baptism. For healing - Christ heals the wounds of our souls in the sacrament of Penance. For guidance - whenever we go astray Christ draws us back to Him as the shepherd draws back his sheep with his crook. For protection - the good shepherd will lay down his life for his sheep and Christ died on the cross for us. What wonderful things Christ has done for our souls! What wonderful things our souls must be! We should treasure them and not do anything that will make them displeasing to their Shepherd.

Just as the shepherd died to save the Duke of Monmouth, so did Christ die on Calvary to save us. That is why He has a perfect right to say, "I am the Good Shepherd. I lay down my life for my sheep."

First Fruits ~ A Series of Short Meditations
By: Sister Mary Philip
Imprimatur 1918

"Stay with us, Lord, for the day is now far spent" (St. Luke, xxiv.).

I.
The two disciples are on their way to
Emmaus and are sad. Suddenly a third
traveler joins Himself to them, but "their
eyes were held so that they should not know Him." Our Lord does not reveal Himself to them yet, but He questions them as though He knew nothing of their trouble: "What are these discourses that you hold one with another and are sad?" This shows me how anxious Our Lord is that I should tell Him all my troubles, and lay before Him all my needs. He knows it all, of course, but He delights to receive my
confidence, and indeed has made my petitions the guarantee of my receiving. " Ask and you shall receive."

II.
"Ought not Christ to have suffered thesethings and so enter into His glory." Ought
not? As though the Scourging, the Crowning with Thorns, the Cross, and all His other sufferings were quite a matter of course. What a revelation these words are of Our Lord's humility! He, Who suffered solely for my sins and the sins of the world, speaks as though even for Him suffering was the only way to glory. Next time I have something to suffer I will say to myself: "Ought not I to suffer this, and so lay up merit for heaven?"

III.
When the travelers got to the cross-roads,Jesus made as if He would go farther, but the Disciples constrained Him, saying: "Stay with us, because it is towards evening and the day is now far spent. And he went in with them,"I will store up in my heart this beautiful prayer of the Disciples ; again and again I will say to Our Lord: "Stay with me, O stay with me, my Lord"; I will "constrain Him," beg Him, persuade Him. But Our Lord needs no persuasion, He is always willing to be with me, if only I desire Him. There is no moment in which I can afford to be without Him. Especially after Holy Communion I will beg Him to remain with me. I do not know how soon the evening of my life may close in upon me ; devoutly then, and with all my heart, I will say to Jesus: Stay with me. Lord, because it is towards evening, and my day may" even now be far spent.