April 30, 2026 Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter / Pope Saint Pius V Gospel: John 13:16–20
Today is Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter. The Church celebrates an Optional Memorial of Pope Saint Pius V.
Pope Saint Pius V, born Antonio Ghisleri in 1504 in Bosco, within the Duchy of Milan, was elected Supreme Pontiff on January 7, 1566. He is renowned for his implementation of the reforms of the Council of Trent, his leadership during the Counter-Reformation, and his restoration of order within the Church. During his pontificate, he proclaimed St. Thomas Aquinas a Doctor of the Church. Weighed down by labours, Pius V fell asleep in the Lord on May 1, 1572, at the age of sixty-eight. He was beatified by Pope Clement X in 1672 and canonized by Pope Clement XI in 1712.
Today’s Gospel passage from Saint John describes words spoken by Jesus to His disciples during the Last Supper. At the beginning of the passage, Saint John sets the scene for this discourse, stating that after Jesus had washed His disciples’ feet, He said to them: “Amen, amen, I say to you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand these things and put them into practice, blessed are you. I am not speaking about all of you; I know those whom I have chosen.” (cf. Jn 13:16–17).
This depiction contrasts sharply with the common image we hold of Jesus—the One who preached the Word in the Temple, bore witness to the truth in the streets, cast out demons, healed the sick, and raised the dead. Yet here, Jesus washes His disciples’ feet. He does this to transform the erroneous image of God that the scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, elders, and chief priests had instilled in their hearts and minds. Their understanding presented God as a severe judge who harshly punishes all who fail to conform to His will—a strict and domineering deity. Jesus seeks to reveal to them that the true God is a God who is always loving; He is not a tyrant who merely demands homage or sacrifices from creatures, but a Father who bestows infinite grace upon humanity and draws near to His people.
Today, united with Pope Saint Pius V and regenerated through Baptism and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, we are called to be configured to our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, we must view our relationship with the Divine Word through a supernatural lens and, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, properly order our relationships with the People of God within the Church. Thus, our life in Christ will reach its fullness, and our conduct will become ever more conformed to Him.
O God, who restore human nature to yet greater dignity than at its beginnings, look upon the amazing mystery of your loving kindness, and in those you have chosen to make new through the wonder of rebirth may you preserve the gifts of your enduring grace and blessing. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever
April 29, 2026 Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church Gospel: John 12:44–50
Today is Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter. The Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena. According to her biography, she was a 14th-century Italian Dominican tertiary, a philosopher and theologian of the Scholastic tradition. She played a pivotal role in persuading Pope Gregory XI to return the Papal Court from Avignon, France, to Rome, and she fostered peace among the warring city-states of Italy. In 1939, Pope Pius XII named her, alongside Saint Francis of Assisi, as a principal patroness of Italy. On October 3, 1970, Pope Paul VI declared her a Doctor of the Church. On October 1, 1999, Pope John Paul II, at the Second Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops, proclaimed Saints Catherine of Siena, Birgitta of Sweden, and Teresa Benedicta of the Cross as co-patronesses of Europe.
Today’s passage from the Gospel of John continues to reveal to us the divinity of Jesus Christ. We often rely on our own understanding and reason to decide what to believe or accept, using our own judgments as the measure of all things. Sometimes, we base our knowledge of God solely on the preaching of ecclesiastical superiors, imitating their behaviour until we become like them. Yet, among those we imitate, there are often those who “hear the word of God but do not keep it” (cf. John 12:47). They presume they can escape the judgment of God’s word while continuing to live freely in this passing world. However, when their earthly life ends, the just God will judge them according to their deeds, because they disregarded the infinite mercy Christ revealed to them during their lives and chose instead to remain in darkness.
Today, Jesus tells us: “I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness” (cf. John 12:46). We were called to receive the light of Christ in the Night of the Resurrection through Baptism. In our daily lives, our thoughts, words, and actions must be as open and upright as those of children of light. Like Christ, we must faithfully proclaim the living Christ to the world, helping more of our brothers and sisters living in darkness to step out of the shadows and into the light of life given to us by the risen Lord Jesus Christ.
O God, who set Saint Catherine of Siena on fire with divine love in her contemplation of the Lord’s Passion and her service of your Church, grant, through her intercession, that your people, participating in the mystery of Christ, may ever exult in the revelation of his glory. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
April 28, 2026 Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter / Saint Louis de Montfort / Saint Peter Chanel Gospel: John 10:22–30
Today is Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter. The Church celebrates an Optional Memorial in honour of Saint Louis de Montfort and Saint Peter Chanel. The passage from the Gospel of John reveals to us the relationship between Jesus and the Father.
The Gospel text mentions a specific location—the Portico of Solomon. In the time of Jesus, the rabbis would gather there to answer questions posed by the Jews who came to them for explanations of Scripture. Since Solomon was the wise king of Israel, the rabbis would expound the Scriptures there to display their own wisdom.
Saint Paul tells us: “Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God”(cf. 1 Cor 1:24). By coming to the Portico of Solomon, He proclaimed His identity. Those who approached Him sought to find grounds in His words to accuse Him. Their hesitation stemmed from their refusal to accept the new world Jesus announced; they continued to interpret His words according to the logic of this passing age. To them, His words were radically ahead of their time, far beyond their capacity to grasp. They demanded that Jesus state His identity plainly for two reasons: first, to extract direct evidence from His own mouth to charge Him with blasphemy; second, because they did not believe He was the Messiah foretold by the prophets. They were still awaiting a political liberator.
Today, within our own Church, some of our brothers and sisters act like the Jews of Jesus’ time. They often create discord among the faithful because their hearts are out of tune with the Heart of Christ. They do not persevere in contemplation or constant prayer to align their hearts with His, nor do they strive to conform their actions to His. Yet we must not reject them. Rather, we should pray for them and strive earnestly to keep our own hearts in harmony with the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, celebrating the mysteries of the Lord’s Resurrection, we may merit to receive the joy of our redemption. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever
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