Friday May 1, 2020
Weekday of Easter (3)
Vestment: White
Today’s Rosary: Sorrowful Mystery
Readings for the Memorial
The days reading below
ENUGU: Tomorrow is the 10th anniversary of the Episcopal Ordination of Most Revd Callistus V. Onaga, 2nd may 2009.

ST JOSEPH THE WORKER (Opt Mem)
The first day of May has long been dedicated to working people. In 1955 Pope Pius XII expressed the desire that on this day the example of Saint Joseph, the worker, be presented to Christian communities. The contemplation of Joseph is meant to enable us to grasp the meaning of human labour as our way of sharing in the creative power of God and cooperating in the building of a more just and Christian society where greater solidarity is achieved.

 

---

Entrance Antiphon  Ps 128:11
Blessed are all who fear the Lord, and walk in his ways! By the labour of your hands you shall eat; blessed are you, and blessed will you be, alleluia.

 

Collect
O God, Creator of all things, who laid down for the human race the law of work, grant graciously, that by the example of Saint Joseph and under his patronage, we may complete the works you set us to do and attain the rewards you promise. Through our Lord. . .

The Gospel of this memorial is proper.

 

FIRST READING
“Fill the earth and subdue it.”
A reading from the Book of Genesis (Genesis 1:26-2:3)

God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all his work which he had done in creation.

The word of the Lord.

 

Or the following:

 

FIRST READING
“Whatever the task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians (Colossians 3: 14-15.17.23-24)

Brethren: Over all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you are serving the Lord Christ.

The word of the Lord.

 

 

RESPONSORIAL PSALM   Psalm 90:2.3-4.12-13.14 and 16 (R. 17c)
R/. Give success to the work of our hands, O Lord.
Or: Alleluia.

Before the mountains were born,
or the earth or the world were brought forth,
you are God, from age to age. R/.

You turn man back to dust,
and say, “Return, O children of men.”
To your eyes a thousand years
are like yesterday, come and gone,
or like a watch in the night. R/.

Then teach us to number our days,
 that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Turn back, O Lord! How long?
Show pity to your servants. R/.

At dawn, fill us with your merciful love;
we shall exult and rejoice all our days.
Let your deed be seen by your servants,
and your glorious power by their children. R/.

 

ALLELUIA Psalm 68:19
Alleluia. Blessed be the Lord who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Alleluia.

 

GOSPEL
“Is not this the carpenter’s son? ”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 13:54-58)

At that time: Coming to his own country, Jesus taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works?  Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brethren James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?” And they took offence at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honour except in his own country and in his own house.” And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

The Gospel of the Lord.

 

 

 

---

READINGS FOR THE DAY

Entrance Antiphon  Rv 5 : 12
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and divinity, and wisdom and strength and honour, alleluia.

Collect
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we who have come to know the grace of the Lord’s Resurrection, may through the love of the Spirit, ourselves rise to newness of life. Through our Lord…

 

FIRST READING
“He is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles.”
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 9:1-20)

In those days: Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he journeyed he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed about him. And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting; but rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were travelling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul arose from the ground; and when his eyes were opened, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul; for behold, he is praying, and he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go., for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptised, and took food and was strengthened. For several days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And in the synagogues immediately he proclaimed Jesus, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

The word of the Lord.

 

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 117:1.2 (R. Mark 16:15)
R/. Go into all the world, and preach the Gospel.
Or: Alleluia.

O praise the Lord, all you nations;
acclaim him, all you peoples! R/.

For his merciful love has prevailed over us;
and the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever. R/.

 

ALLELUIA   John 6:56
Alleluia. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him, says the Lord. Alleluia.

 

 

GOSPEL              
“My flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 6:52-59)

At that time: The Jews disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever.” This he said in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.

The Gospel of the Lord.

 

---

Today’s Reflection
In chapter 6 of the Gospel of John, Jesus repeats again and again that he is the bread of life and that he who eats this bread will live eternally. The Eucharist concretizes union with Christ in faith and ensures life in him. When the Jews are scandalized at this teaching Jesus reinforces his expression and insists on the necessity of eating his flesh and drinking his blood. The blood in particular points to the sacrificial sense of the Eucharist and union with Christ in participating in the work of redemption. The Eucharist is different from all earthly food because it leads to participation in the mystery of Christ through faith. Faith is a necessary requirement for participation which makes present the entire redemptive work of Christ.

 

---

Personal Devotional: Day 1 of May Devotion

Mary and Joseph worked very hard supporting each other as they raised Jesus and in the end their efforts were rewarded with heavenly blessings.

You lose nothing when you offer your time, talent and treasure to support one another to make the world a better place. May God bless all the workers who are working hard to make our world a beautiful and happy place.

Meditation: Matthew 13: 54-55

Prayer:
Oh God, help me to be generous with my time and gifts so that together as a team with my brothers and sisters everywhere we can make you proud. Amen.
 

#Pray the Rosary,
Honour the Blessed Virgin Mary

 

---

M A Y   D E V O T I O N
Program of Daily Events for May Devotion (Personal / Group)

 

1. Introduction: Sign of the Cross +  / (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament optional)
 

2. Act of contrition:
    O my God because you’re so good, I am very sorry that I have sinned against you and by the help of your grace I will not sin again.
 

3. Act of Consecration to the Immaculate heart of Mary:
O most pure heart of Mary, full of goodness, show your love towards us. Let the flame of your heart, O Mary, descend on all people. We love you immensely. Impress on our hearts true love so that we may long for you. O Mary, gentle and humble of heart, remember us when we sin. You know that all we sin. Grant that through your most pure and motherly heart, we may be healed from every spiritual sickness. Grant that we may always experience the goodness of your motherly heart, and that through the flame of your heart we may be converted. Amen.

 

4. Rosary Recitation and Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(Begin with the invocation of the Holy Spirit: Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the heart……….

 

5. Art of Reparation to the Immaculate heart of Mary:
O Most Holy Virgin, and Our Mother, we listen with grief to the complaints of your immaculate Heart surrounded with the thorns placed therein at every moment by the blasphemies and ingratitude of ungrateful humanity. We are moved by the ardent desire of loving you as Our Mother and of promising a true devotion to your Immaculate Heart. We therefore kneel before you to manifest the sorrow we feel for the grievances that people cause you, and to atone by our prayers and sacrifices for the offenses with which they return your love. Obtain for them and for us the pardon of so many sins. Hasten the conversion of sinners that they may love Jesus Christ and cease to offend the Lord, already so much offended. Turn your eyes of mercy toward us, that we may love God with all our heart on earth and enjoy him forever in Heaven.

 

6.  Brief talk on Blessed Virgin Mary

7. Gift of candle light and offering of petition. (Lighting of candles and submission of petition). (Optional)

 

8. Memorare:
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine     intercession was left unaided Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.  Amen.

9. Prayers for the intention of Our Holy Father (One Our Father, One Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father).

10. Benediction (optional)

 

11. Closing /Dismissal