THE FEAST OF THREE YOUNG ROMAN MARTYRS.
FEAST OF SAINTS NEREUS, ACHILLEUS AND PANCRAS.
THE GIFT OF ABUNDANT LIFE.
THE GOODNEWS:
"Jesus said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber.
"But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
"The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice.
"But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them.
"So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
"I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10: 1 - 10).
Monday May 12, 2025 in the 4th Week in the Easter Season.
The Church celebrates today the feast of three youthful soldier martyrs. St Pancras (+ 304). Roman. Martyred at 14 under Emperor Diocletian. Also today: Saints Nereus and Achilleus, Roman soldiers. Both martyred under Emperor Trajan. The Church rejoices in saints that bore witness to Jesus at very young age: Agnes, Perpetua, Felicity, Agatha, Maria Goretti, etc.
"I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”
Why was Jesus conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontus Pilate, crucified, died and buried and raised again on Easter Sunday, which we celebrate each Easter Season?
The answer is: THAT WE MAY HAVE ABUNDANT LIFE.
Humanity had lanquished in squalor since the downfall of Adam and Eve.
What is Abundant Life?
Abundant Life is the Holy Spirit. When we become baptized, the third Person of the Blessed Trinity instantly comes and dwells in us. He does not come empty handed.
The Holy Spirit comes with all His gifts: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Reverential Fear of the Lord and Piety.
These gifts come to us as seeds to be developed by us through desire, prayer and study.
The Holy Spirit blesses us too with the fruits of His personality, for example: Charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity and others.
This is the Abundant Life that Jesus speaks about in John 10: 10.
He who believes enjoys Abundant Life Here and Now. St Catherine of Siena says that we continue to enjoy this Abundant Life from now all the way to eternity.
Abundant life is life in the Spirit. It is not eating, drinking and revelry which is the life of the unsaved.
If you lose the joy and peace of abundant life through sin, you go to the Hospital in the Sacrament of Reconciliation where the Good Shepherd is waiting for you with the merciful medicine of Mercy.
The Church honors the Blessed Virgin Mary in May. How can you honor the Most Holy Virgin in May? Mary loves the Rosary and rewards those who honor her by praying the Rosary in May.
“Woe to those who despise devotion to Mary! ... The soul cannot live without having recourse to Mary and recommending itself to her. He falls and is lost who does not have recourse to Mary.” (St Alphonsus Liguori).
Honor Mary through the Holy Rosary, Litany, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Consecration to The Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pilgrimages, etc.
For the Litany, 15 Promises of Mary, Consecration Prayer, etc and Prayer intentions click the link below:
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