29 April 2018
5th Sunday of Easter
‘I am the true Vine’ Lithography by A. Melville
1st: Acts 9:26-31
Ps: 21:26-28, 30-32
2nd: 1 John 3:18-24
The Gospel of John 15:1-8
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that bears no fruit he cuts away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes to make it bear even more. You are pruned already, by means of the word that I have spoken to you.
Make your home in me, as I make mine in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself, but must remain part of the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is like a branch that has been thrown away – he withers; these branches are collected and thrown on the fire, and they are burnt. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask what you will and you shall get it. It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit, and then you will be my disciples.’
Abide in Me, and I in you
Not they in Him, as He in them; for both are for the profit not of Him, but them. The branches do not confer any advantage upon the vine, but receive their support from it: the vine supplies nourishment to the branches, takes none from them: so that the abiding in Christ, and the having Christ abiding in them, are both for the profit of the disciples, not of Christ; according to what follows, As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can you, except you abide in Me.
Great display of grace! He strengthens the hearts of the humble, stops the mouth of the proud. They who hold that God is not necessary for the doing of good works, the subverters, not the asserters, of free will, contradict this truth. For he who thinks that he bears fruit of himself, is not in the vine; he who is not in the vine, is not in Christ; he who is not in Christ, is not a Christian.
Catena Aurea (St. Augustine)
This week’s feasts
Mon 30 Saint Pius V, Pope
Tue 1 Saint Joseph the Worker
Wed 2 Saint Athanasius, Bishop, Doctor
Thu 3 Saints Philip and James, Apostles Feast. / St. James First Bishop of Jerusalem, main patron of our Diocese.
Psalter week I
Readings for the 6th Sunday of Easter year b.
1st: Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48
Ps: 97:1-4,
2nd: 1 John 4:7-10
Gospel: John 15:9-17
One Great Pope
Pope St Pius V was born in Italy in 1504, ordained priest in 1528, and in 1556 he was made Bishop and then Cardinal. Always fasting, doing penance, praying before the Blessed Sacrament, and traveling on foot. He was elected pope at the death of Pius IV and he continued displaying monastic virtues and piety, giving large alms to the poor, visiting hospitals. Once, an English nobleman was converted on seeing him kiss the feet of a beggar covered with ulcers. He banished luxury from his court and laboured St. Charles Borromeo, to reform the clergy.
Certain historians have stained Pius V’s image by saying that he gave a new impulse to the Inquisition, when in reality, he worked incessantly to unite Christians and defend Europe, in fact, Protestantism and Turkish invasions were his two biggest preocupations. It was under his pontificate that the famous Battle of Lepanto took place, a naval fight between outnumbered Christian forces and the Ottoman Turks who were trying to invade the island of Cyprus on 7 Oct; the Christian victory was a key factor for future of the Europe as we know today. In memory of this triumph, Pope Pius V instituted the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, and gave to the Virgin Mary the title “Help of Christians.” He died repeating, “Lord, increase my sufferings and my patience!”
St. Pius V, pray for us.
Organ recital by Paul Timmins in Agia Kyriaki Monday 7 May, 12pm. Collection for Archangel Michael Hospice.
In the steps of St. Paul Presentation by Peter Walker. Tues 8 May, 6:30pm. Agia Kyriaki. Donations will go to help the author’s charity.
Parish Easter BBQ Sunday 13 May, 1:30pm at LPH. Suggested donation €10 to cover costs. Please SIGN UP by Monday 7 May at the back of the Church for catering purposes.
Dinner at Riley’s Entertainment by Joe Mac, Friday 4 May, 6:30pm Choice Menu €13. To help Caritas.
Caritas Raffle: Win a Spring Hamper, €1 Tickets at Shop. Draw 1 May.
Donate a used handbag and fill it with personal care items. Bring donations to the Coffee Shop or Contact Wendy 9904 0294
Mass Times HERE