St. Catherine of Siena

"Father, in meditating on the sufferings of your Son and in serving your Church, St. Catherine was filled with the fervor of your love. By her prayers, may we share in the mysteries of Christ's death and rejoice in the revelation of his glory…." (Opening Prayer in the Mass on the feast of St. Catherine of Siena, virgin and doctor of the Church – April 29)

Catherine grew in holiness through meditating on the passion of Christ. She was imprinted with the sacred stigmata. "In word and deed, she showed her love for God's Church and the Roman Pontiff. With her short life she gave us a lesson in courage." (Roman Missal)

Choice

"The Lord says, I have chosen you from the world to go and bear fruit that will last, alleluia." (John 15: 16, 19)

The choice, the call and the anointing.

Lord, here I am. I have come to do your will. (Psalm 40: 8-9)

Holy Exchange

"Lord God, by this holy exchange of gifts you share with us your divine life. Grant that everything we do may be directed by the knowledge of your truth…." (Prayer at Mass)

The Eucharist is a holy exchange of gifts: Our bread and wine are accepted and transformed into the Body and Blood of Jesus. We received the transformed gifts in Holy Communion.

If we come to the Eucharist and do not bring our gifts, represented by bread and wine, there will be nothing to transform. Our bread and wine encompass the fruits of our labor, our disappointments, delays, obstacles; our joys and sorrows. We offer all these to the Lord during the offertory.

We pray during the Eucharist that the Lord will strengthen our will and resolve so that everything we do will be directed by the knowledge of His truth. We ask for the all-encompassing light of Christ direct everything we do.

Being in the light

"I have come into the world as light, to prevent anyone who believes in me from staying in the dark anymore." (John 12: 46)

Christ is the light of the world.

To be in the light means to know, love and serve Jesus Christ.

How does Jesus prevent anyone who believes in Him from staying in the dark? He does it through His word and the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Penance. These gifts of Jesus are available and abundant to believers.

Light and darkness

"I am the light of the world, says the Lord; the man who follows me will have the light of life." (John 8: 12)

The word of God is the light of the world. The Gospel provides light on all our problems.

The Gospel light shines on these areas of our life:

• Family
  
• Money
  
• Health
  
• Job
  
• Tools
  
• Food
  
• Future
  

The Sermon on the Mount is the masterpiece of the golden rule for peace and true riches of life. If we follow its light, we shall never be in darkness.

Set apart

"I want Barnabas and Saul set apart for the work to which I have called them." (Acts 13: 2)

• The choice
  
• The call
  
• The anointed
  

Peter came to the ministry as a fisherman. Matthew came as a tax collector. Paul came as a rabbi.

What am I bringing to the ministry? To what has the Holy Spirit called me?

"I will be a witness to you in the world, O Lord. I will spread knowledge of your name among my brothers."

St. Peter Chanel

"Father, you called St. Peter Chanel to work for your Church and gave him the crown of martyrdom. May our celebration of Christ's death and resurrection make us faithful witnesses to the new life he brings…." (Opening Prayer on the feast of St. Peter Chanel, April 28)

God called St. Peter Chanel

God called St. Louis de Montfort

God called St. Ignatius Loyola

Is God calling me?

The Eucharist is the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The Eucharist makes us faithful witnesses to the calling of God.