"I also admonish and exhort the brothers that in their preaching their words be studied and chaste, useful and edifying to the people, telling them about vices and virtues, punishment and glory; and they ought to be brief, because the Lord kept his words brief when he was on earth." - Saint Francis of Assisi - Chapter IX, Approved Rule
Brothers and sisters in Christ, on this beautiful Easter Tuesday, the journey of Mary Magdalene invites us to reflect on our own paths of faith and transformation. As we delve into the readings, particularly her poignant encounter with the Lord in John’s Gospel and the powerful message of Peter in Acts, we see how Mary’s experience mirrors our journey and the universal call to conversion.
Fratelli e sorelle in Cristo, in questo bellissimo martedì di Pasqua, il viaggio di Maria Maddalena ci invita a riflettere sui nostri percorsi di fede e di trasformazione. Approfondendo le letture, in particolare il suo toccante incontro con il Signore nel Vangelo di Giovanni e il potente messaggio di Pietro negli Atti, vediamo come l'esperienza di Maria rispecchi il nostro cammino e la chiamata universale alla conversione.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as the joy of Easter Sunday continues to reverberate in our hearts, we gather today on this Easter Monday to reflect on the powerful messages of our readings that underscore the significance of the Resurrection of Jesus. In the Acts of the Apostles, we hear Peter's bold proclamation, reminding us of the transformative power of Christ's rising from the dead. He stands before the people, urging them to listen and witness to the truth of Jesus—the man who was crucified, but who God raised up, releasing Him from the throes of death.
Cari fratelli e sorelle in Cristo, mentre la gioia della domenica di Pasqua continua a riverberare nei nostri cuori, ci riuniamo oggi in questo lunedì di Pasqua per riflettere sui potenti messaggi delle nostre letture che sottolineano il significato della risurrezione di Gesù. Negli Atti degli Apostoli, ascoltiamo l'audace proclamazione di Pietro, che ci ricorda il potere trasformativo della risurrezione di Cristo dai morti. Egli si pone davanti al popolo, esortandolo ad ascoltare e a testimoniare la verità di Gesù, l'uomo che è stato crocifisso, ma che Dio ha risuscitato, liberandolo dalla morte.
My dear friends, the Lord is Risen! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! May his risen peace be with you all. How wonderful a day this is, when after all the persecution, rejection, trauma and pain caused the to the Saviour and the Father, grieving the Holy Spirit, God is vindicated. This is the day in which life has truly conquered death, light has overcome the darkness, and captivity is now held captive in the hands of love.
Cari amici, il Signore è risorto! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Che la sua pace risorta sia con tutti voi. Che giorno meraviglioso è questo, in cui dopo tutte le persecuzioni, i rifiuti, i traumi e i dolori causati al Salvatore e al Padre, addolorando lo Spirito Santo, Dio viene rivendicato. Questo è il giorno in cui la vita ha veramente vinto la morte, la luce ha vinto le tenebre e la cattività è ora tenuta prigioniera nelle mani dell'amore.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we reflect and pray on this solemn Holy Saturday, we stand at the threshold of the greatest celebration in the Christian calendar—the Resurrection of our Lord. This day, however, is marked by silence and reflection, inviting us to contemplate the profound mystery of Christ’s descent into the netherworld. It is a time of waiting and preparation, an intermediate space between the somber recollection of Good Friday and the exhilarating joy of Easter Sunday. For this reason, and in keeping with the spirit of the Lord who was taken from the apostles Thursday night after the Last Supper, and who will only return to them on Easter Sunday morning, do we retain a type of liturgical silence. You will notice that masses are not celebrated on Good Friday and Holy Saturday.
Cari fratelli e sorelle in Cristo, mentre riflettiamo e preghiamo in questo solenne Sabato Santo, ci troviamo alle soglie della più grande celebrazione del calendario cristiano: la Risurrezione di nostro Signore. Questo giorno, tuttavia, è segnato dal silenzio e dalla riflessione, e ci invita a contemplare il profondo mistero della discesa di Cristo agli inferi. È un tempo di attesa e di preparazione, uno spazio liminare tra il cupo raccoglimento del Venerdì Santo e la gioia esaltante della Domenica di Pasqua.
Good Friday is a solemn and profound day in the Christian calendar, marked by the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, our Lord—the pinnacle of our faith and the ultimate manifestation of God's love for humanity. Today, we reflect deeply upon the Sacred Scriptures as we recount the Passion of our Lord and the significance of His suffering and death. We can meditate on the readings and the different components of our Good Friday celebration.
Il Venerdì Santo è un giorno solenne e profondo del calendario cristiano, segnato dalla crocifissione di Gesù Cristo, nostro Signore, apice della nostra fede e manifestazione ultima dell'amore di Dio per l'umanità. Oggi riflettiamo profondamente sulle Sacre Scritture, raccontando la Passione di nostro Signore e il significato della sua sofferenza e morte. Possiamo meditare sulle letture e sulle diverse componenti della nostra celebrazione del Venerdì Santo.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, May the Lord give you his peace. As we gather on this sacred night, we are reminded of the profound mystery of our faith—the Body and Blood of Christ that we receive in the Eucharist. This evening, we find rich symbolism in the Scripture readings that lead us to a deeper understanding of our participation in this heavenly banquet.
Reflect and pray on the Word of God, and allow it to penetrate your heart as it did the Poverello from Assisi, Saint Francis. God's Word is sent to set us free, to experience life in abundance as His sons and daughters. Each week, homilies will be posted ahead of time as regards the daily mass readings! We are currently in Year B of the Liturgical Cycle.
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FranciscanPreacher.com exists to draw you deeper into the living Word of God, inspired by the spirit and example of Saint Francis of Assisi, founder of the Order of Friars Minor. Each reflection and homily seeks to open the treasures of the daily Mass readings and to serve as a humble companion for all those who have been blessed with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
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