4th Sunday of Easter (A)

(Edited) Sunday reflections: (From) years 2014 (A), 2015 (B), and 2016 (C)

May 11, 2014
Liturgical readings
Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Psalm 23
1 Peter 2:20b-25
John 10:1-10

"The sheep hear his voice as he calls his own by name."

The Psalm for Good Shepherd Sunday (Psalm 23), can be applied to one's relationship to Jesus: He is your good shepherd. He provides you with nourishment and leads you to restful waters. This shepherd-sheep relationship between the Lord and his faithful is described more in the gospel of John. The evangelist John uses this shepherd-sheep imagery because it is well-understood by the common people who followed Christ, and by the readers of his own time. The community to whom the evangelist John wrote can easily understand what Jesus was referring to because they themselves know about the characteristics of shepherds and sheep. They know how a shepherd takes really good care of his flock of sheep, and how he treats each one in particular.

How can this shepherd-sheep image be more understood in relation to the Catholic faith? Author Bishop Fulton Sheen dedicates a chapter of his book, "Life of Christ" to Jesus the Good Shepherd. Referring to the same psalm (Ps 23) for this Sunday, he writes:

Jesus was not the Good Shepherd because he provided only economic plenty; on the other hand, what was more important in this image is that Jesus would lay down his life for his sheep.

What Bishop Sheen is emphasizing is the responsibility the Good Shepherd practices in caring for his flock of sheep. The Good Shepherd commits himself and risks His life for the sheep; more than just providing them with nourishment.

Being responsible for others and oneself takes a lot of time, strength and resources. It is a test of patience, perseverance and faithfulness. There will be occasions that one may risk losing patience, strength to endure, or fidelity. But God's Word leads one back to the real source of strength to do God's will: in Jesus the Good Shepherd. In a world filled with many voices, the Voice of Christ in the Church is the most important. Humility makes one realize this. Christ in prayer and the Sacraments shepherds one's soul in the right direction. He also is the model of one's Christian commitment to contribute to the greater good: the Kingdom of God, where God's justice and mercy abounds for all.

Scripture quotes for reflection:
"The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul" (Psalm 23)

The Perfect Consecration to Jesus through Mary

A Perfect Renewal of the Vows of Baptism

A giving of oneself entirely to Mary to belong entirely to Jesus

According to St. Louis-Marie de Montfort (1673-1716 A.D.), a French priest and founder of religious congregations, the "perfect consecration to Jesus is but a perfect and complete consecration of oneself to the Blessed Virgin". It is also "the perfect renewal of the vows and promises of holy baptism" (True Devotion to Mary, #120). It is a "giving of oneself entirely to Mary in order to belong entirely to Jesus through her". The giving of oneself entirely requires us to give:

• our body with its senses and members;
  


• our soul with its faculties;
  


• our present material possessions and all we shall acquire in the future;


• our interior and spiritual possessions, that is, our merits, virtues and good actions of the past, the present and the future (True Devotion, 121)

St. John Paul II's "Totus Tuus"

The motto St. John Paul II chose for his papacy, Totus Tuus, ("I am completely yours, O Mary"), is a motto he obtained from his understanding of St. Louis-Marie de Montfort's theology on Marian devotion. The Holy Father came to understand that true devotion to the Mother of God is actually Christocentric (Christ-centered)...that it is very profoundly rooted in the Mystery of the Blessed Trinity, and the mysteries of the Incarnation and Redemption. It was from understanding Marian devotion in the light of the teachings of St. Louis-Marie de Montfort that led him to write the encyclical Redemptoris Mater and the document Mulieris Dignitatem.

Giving of self to God personally and freely

Montfort continues to teach that this perfect consecration, is also a perfect renewal of one's baptismal promises. At one's baptism (usually at infancy), one solemnly renounced Satan, his seductions and his works, through our baptismal sponsors. At the time, one's godparents spoke for you and you are given to Jesus only by proxy. In the perfect consecration to Jesus through Mary, it is your own self who personally and freely give yourself to God - fully aware of what you are doing (True Devotion, #126).

Baptismal vow: most important of all vows

The book on Canon law states that the vow one makes at baptism is the most important of all vows. Human weakness makes the faithful unfaithful to this vow. This universal failure comes from the habitual forgetfulness of the promises made of baptism and the responsibilities which this entails. To remedy this problem, Christians are encouraged to renew the promises and vows of baptism. This is done every year on Easter Sunday. In Montfortian spirituality, this renewal of baptismal promises involves a process whereby the consecration involved an element of true devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

A mission of the Montfort Missionaries

In view of this need to renew perfectly baptismal consecration in the universal Church, the followers of St. Louis-Marie de Montfort, the Montfort Missionaries, has as one of their main missions, the organization of a process of preparation for the consecration to Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom, through the Hands of Mary.

The process is taught through a guide book

Some remark that the guide book produced by Fr. Sigouin, smm and Fr. Belotti, smm appears to be patterned after the way St. Ignatius of Loyola divided his "Spiritual Exercises" into weeks. But the distinct difference between the two books is certainly in the content and in the process - which involves a preparation for the Act of Consecration to Jesus through the Hands of the Blessed Virgin Mary within the celebration of the Eucharist.

A process involving five periods of many sessions

The process of preparation for the Consecration to Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom, popularly known as "The Totus Tuus Journey", is a journey of faith in a spirit of prayer and love, confidently looking forward to the attainment of its reward, the "maturity of Christ in us".


The process is divided into five periods: [1] knowledge of the world, [2] knowledge of self, [3] knowledge of Mary, [4] knowledge of Jesus Christ, and [5] the preparation for the Act of Consecration.

Knowledge of the world

In this period, the participants are led into 12 sessions whereby they recall: the creation of the world; the creation of humanity; the fall of humanity; the evil spread in the world; the sin in the heart of humanity; the false wisdom of the world; the wisdom that is from God; the basic option to choose God above all; the desire for divine wisdom; the knowledge of prayer life; the need for mortification; and the vocation of the Christian in the world.

Knowledge of self

In this second period, the participants are led into 7 sessions, wherein they discover: their self-image and the self-image of Mary; their affective life; their inner self through actions and decisions; their inner self through trials and aspirations; the difference between duty, voluntarism, and perfectionism; the ideals of openness, humility, and determination; and the importance of growth in the consecration to Jesus.

Knowledge of Mary

In this third period, the participants are led into 7 sessions for a more detailed knowledge of the Blessed Mother: in the Old Testament; in the New Testament; in the mystery of the Trinity; in the mystery of Christ; in the mystery of the Holy Spirit; in the mystery of the Church; and in the mystery of our holiness.

Knowledge of Jesus Christ

In this fourth period, the participants are led into 7 more sessions for a greater knowledge of Christ: as the Incarnate Word of God; as the Wisdom of God; in His humanity; in the Wisdom of the Cross; in His dependence on Mary; in His freedom; and in His consecration.

Preparation for the Act of Consecration

This period involves only two sessions: the perfect consecration to Jesus Christ and the Marian Experience of the Consecration.


After all the periods and sessions are completed, the participants are led into a Eucharistic celebration where they profess their consecration to Jesus through Mary within the Mass itself. After they recite the formula of the consecration, they sign their name to ratify their commitment to Christ through a true devotion to Mary. The original text of the Act of Consecration was formulated by St. Louis-Marie de Montfort. There is also an adapted text of this consecration formula that is revised for the modern context in which Catholics presently practice their faith and their devotion to Mary.


References of this series

• God Alone: The Collected Writings of St. Louis-Marie de Montfort,
  by Montfort Publications
  


• The Totus Tuus Journey, by Sigouin and Belotti, SMM


• Crossing the Threshold of Hope, by John Paul II

St. Louis-Marie de Montfort (Apr 28), St. Catherine of Siena (Apr 29)

St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort [April 28] and St. Catherine of Siena [April 29]

Two exemplary author-saints

In the past, a Saint's feast was celebrated on the birth date of the saint. Now, present liturgical practice celebrates it on the actual date of death. As an example, we now celebrate St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort and St. Catherine of Siena's feast days on April 28 and April 29, respectively. St. Louis-Marie passed away on April 28, 1716 A.D., while St. Catherine of Siena passed away on April 29, 1380 A.D. Not all the beatified and saints are placed in the liturgical calendar of the Church. Not all of them have their feast days celebrated in the Eucharist. Saints whose way of life have influenced the universal Church are placed in the Roman liturgical calendar, while those whose influence are more directed to a local culture, are celebrated by the local Church in their Masses.

St. Catherine of Siena as author

This saint has a remarkable story. She is known to be unlettered, and yet she has produced a lot of writings. This she achieved by dictating her spiritual messages to her followers. She is one of the six great patrons of Europe, known especially to have politically maneuvered the return of the papal seat to Rome [at a time when the Church was divided into two - with a pope in Rome and another pope at Avignon, France].


St. Catherine is known to have produced the spiritual classic, "The Dialogue". She also "wrote" many letters and prayers. "The Dialogue" is a good primary resource, but there is a good secondary resource that abstracts many of her writings, letters and prayers. This is the book written by Mary O'Driscoll, O.P., "Catherine of Siena: Passion for the Truth, Compassion for Humanity". This book contains selected spiritual writings of St. Catherine of Siena, complete with documentation, notes and references to the original works.

St. Catherine of Siena is also quoted many times in the Series, "The Saints' Guide Series". Much of what she said in relation to prayer is referenced in this series of books. Since St. Catherine lived in a time when the Church was divided, she found her calling to restore the Church's unity. She represented the ideal of Church unity very well. She expresses these well in her poems and prayers.

St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort as author

This saint is a rural missionary-priest in France who authored a work that has influenced one of the great religious leaders of our millenium, St. John Paul II. The work that St. Louis-Marie has written is the "True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin". St. Louis-Marie wrote the book to make his readers understand that true devotion to Mary is one that leads to Christ. He completes this writing with a consecratory formula for all who wish to consecrate themselves to Jesus through the spirit of Mary. This book is contained in a single compendium of his other writings: "God Alone".


Like St. Catherine of Siena, Montfort wrote a lot of prayers and letters. Since Montfort was more lettered than St. Catherine, he had the opportunity to write more books - including the popular "Secret of the Rosary", "Secret of Mary" and the beautifully written treatise, "The Love of Eternal Wisdom". The spiritual insight or intuition that is unique in his spirituality is his perception of Mary as truly highly favored by God. According to him, Mary received such a plenitude of grace that God had to "ask her consent" to be the Mother of Jesus - that the world may be saved from sin. The great mystery that captivates Montfort and leaves him awestruck, is the mystery of an all-powerful, all-knowing, omnipotent and omniscient God asking a simple and humble maiden from Nazareth to be the Mother of God.

Summary:

Two saints, two important messages. St. Catherine of Siena teaches all the faithful the importance of unity. Her whole life of just 33 years was spent in the cause of unity in the Church. Without her work, both in writing and in political activity, the Roman Church would probably have been divided since her era. As for St. Louis-Marie, his message is also important. He teaches that not all devotions to Mary are genuine. This is an important for Marian devotion. Without St. Louis-Marie's qualifying standards for a true and genuine devotion to Mary, Marian devotion would have deteriorated and many Catholics would lose their belief in the significant role God has given the Blessed Mother in the history of salvation.

Related resources:

• Montfort, A Prophet for Our Times, by Benedetta
  Papàsogli


• The Man Who Came Up from the Wind, by Benedetta
  Papàsogli


• Light, Wind and Water, by J. Patrick Gaffney, smm


• Make Way for Jesus Christ, Marcel Gendrot, smm, editor


• Doctors of the Church


• Litany of St. Louis-Marie de Monfort