Sunday, April 17 : Saint John Henry Newman

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps 118[117]:24) (…). We Christians, though born in our very infancy into the kingdom of God (…) and though knowing and believing this truth entirely, yet have very great difficulty and pass many years in learning our privilege. Not any one, of course, fully understands it (…). And here we are, even on this great Day, this Day of days, on which Christ arose from the dead,—here are we (…) as infants (…) without eyes to see or heart to comprehend who we are (…). This is Easter Day. Let us say this again and again to ourselves with fear and great joy. As children say to themselves, “This is the spring,” or “This is the sea,” trying to grasp the thought (…), let us say, “This is the Day of Days, the Royal Day, the Lord’s Day (Rv 1:10 Gk.). This is the Day on which Christ arose from the dead; the Day which brought us salvation”. It is a Day which has made us greater than we know. It is our Day of rest, the true Sabbath. Christ entered into His rest (Heb 4), and so do we. It brings us, in figure, through the grave and gate of death to our season of refreshment in Abraham’s bosom (Acts 3:20; Lk 16:22). We have had enough of weariness, and dreariness, and listlessness, and sorrow, and remorse. We have had enough of this troublesome world. We have had enough of its noise and din. Noise is its best music. But now there is stillness; and it is a stillness that speaks… such is our blessedness now. Calm and serene days have begun; and Christ is heard in them, and His “still small voice” (1 Kgs 19:12), because the world speaks not. Let us only put off the world, and we put on Christ (Eph 4:22; Rm 13:14) (…). May that unclothing be unto us a clothing upon of things invisible and imperishable! May we grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, season after season, year after year, till He takes us to Himself (…) into the kingdom of His Father and our Father, His God and our God (Jn 20:17).
Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team