Almighty Father, who in your great mercy gladdened the disciples with the sight of the risen Lord: give us such knowledge of his presence with us, that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life and serve you continually in righteousness and truth. Amen.
Saturday, 30 April 2022
Today (30 April), the Church celebrates the life and ministry of Pandita Mary Ramabai.
Mary Ramabai was born in 1858, the daughter of a Sanscrit scholar who believed in educating women.
Converting to Christianity, she nevertheless remained loyal to many aspects of her Hindu background, pioneering an Indian vision of the faith.
She became well known as a lecturer on social questions, and was the first woman to be awarded the title ‘Pandita’ (which means scholar or master of the five sciences; the feminine version of the word Pundit).
She spent many years working for the education of women and orphans, founding schools and homes. Personally, she lived in great simplicity and was a prominent opponent of the caste system and child marriage.
She died on this day in 1922.
Converting to Christianity, she nevertheless remained loyal to many aspects of her Hindu background, pioneering an Indian vision of the faith.
She became well known as a lecturer on social questions, and was the first woman to be awarded the title ‘Pandita’ (which means scholar or master of the five sciences; the feminine version of the word Pundit).
She spent many years working for the education of women and orphans, founding schools and homes. Personally, she lived in great simplicity and was a prominent opponent of the caste system and child marriage.
She died on this day in 1922.
Friday, 29 April 2022
Compline (night prayer) - Friday, 29 April 2022
God of compassion, who gave your servant Catherine of Siena a wondrous love of the passion of Christ: grant that your people may be united to him in his majesty and rejoice for ever in the revelation of his glory. Amen.
Today (29 April) the Church celebrates the life and ministry of Catherine of Siena.
Catherine Benincasa was born in 1347, the second youngest of twenty-five children.
Pious from her earliest years, she overcame family opposition to her vocation and became a Dominican tertiary at the age of eighteen. Nourished by a life of contemplative prayer and mystical experience, she devoted herself to active care for the poor and sick.
She became increasingly sought out as an adviser on political as well as religious matters and, in 1376, she journeyed to Avignon as an ambassador to the pope and influenced his decision to return to Rome.
She wrote a Dialogue on the spiritual life as well as numerous letters of counsel and direction, which stressed her devotion to the Precious Blood of Jesus.
She suffered a stroke on 21 April and died eight days later, on this day in the year 1380.
Pious from her earliest years, she overcame family opposition to her vocation and became a Dominican tertiary at the age of eighteen. Nourished by a life of contemplative prayer and mystical experience, she devoted herself to active care for the poor and sick.
She became increasingly sought out as an adviser on political as well as religious matters and, in 1376, she journeyed to Avignon as an ambassador to the pope and influenced his decision to return to Rome.
She wrote a Dialogue on the spiritual life as well as numerous letters of counsel and direction, which stressed her devotion to the Precious Blood of Jesus.
She suffered a stroke on 21 April and died eight days later, on this day in the year 1380.
Thursday, 28 April 2022
Compline (night prayer) - Thursday, 28 April 2022
Risen Christ, for whom no door is locked, no entrance barred: open the doors of our hearts, that we may seek the good of others and walk the joyful road of sacrifice and peace, to the praise of God the Father. Amen.
Today (28 April) the Church celebrates the life and ministry of Peter Chanel.
Peter was born at Cras in France in 1803 and, after ordination, joined the Marist missionary congregation in 1831.
In 1836 he was sent to the islands of the South Pacific to preach the faith. Peter and his companions brought healing medicines as well as the gospel and were much loved and respected.
On the island of Futuna in the Fiji group, where Peter was living, the chief’s son asked for baptism, which so infuriated his father that he dispatched a group of warriors with explicit orders to murder Peter. They attacked him with clubs, axes and knives and he died on this day in the year 1841.
Within a year, the whole island was Christian and Peter became revered throughout the Pacific Islands and Australasia as its protomartyr.
In 1836 he was sent to the islands of the South Pacific to preach the faith. Peter and his companions brought healing medicines as well as the gospel and were much loved and respected.
On the island of Futuna in the Fiji group, where Peter was living, the chief’s son asked for baptism, which so infuriated his father that he dispatched a group of warriors with explicit orders to murder Peter. They attacked him with clubs, axes and knives and he died on this day in the year 1841.
Within a year, the whole island was Christian and Peter became revered throughout the Pacific Islands and Australasia as its protomartyr.
Wednesday, 27 April 2022
Compline (night prayer) - Wednesday, 27 April 2022
I take my heart in my hand--I shall not die, but live--Before Thy face I stand;
I, for Thou callest such: All that I have I bring, all that I am I give, smile Thou and I shall sing, but shall not question much.
I, for Thou callest such: All that I have I bring, all that I am I give, smile Thou and I shall sing, but shall not question much.
Today (27 April) the Church celebrates the life and ministry (through her poetry) of Christina Rossetti.
Christina Rossetti was born in 1830 and was associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, of which her older brother, Dante, was a prominent member.
Her elder sister became an Anglican Religious. Christina’s own fame rests upon her poetry, which dealt mainly with religious subjects but also the sadness of unrequited or disappointed love. Her first recorded verses, addressed to her mother on the latter’s birthday, were written on 27 April 1842.
She was the author of the Christmas carol In the bleak mid-winter.
She died on 29 December 1894.
Her elder sister became an Anglican Religious. Christina’s own fame rests upon her poetry, which dealt mainly with religious subjects but also the sadness of unrequited or disappointed love. Her first recorded verses, addressed to her mother on the latter’s birthday, were written on 27 April 1842.
She was the author of the Christmas carol In the bleak mid-winter.
She died on 29 December 1894.
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