Jesus organized the visible Church along the lines of a sheepfold. St. Peter, first shepherd of the visible Church, depicts Jesus as the invisible “ Shepherd . . . of your souls” (Epistle). He tenderly remembers all that Jesus suffered for us “sheep going astray.”
On catacomb walls, early Christians delighted to draw pictures and to write explanations of the perfect understanding and love between the Good Shepherd and His sheep, such as that which exists between the “Father” and “Me.” We are not only fed through the visible guidance of His Church, but also through the invisible grace of the Sacraments, especially “in the breaking of bread” (Alleluia verse).
This Week:
Monday 19th April
In the General Calendar, No Feasts falls today, and preferred Mass is of the prior Sunday with Gloria, or a Votive Mass. On a ferial Monday, it is preferable to celebrate a Votive Mass the Most Holy Trinity.
However, in the Archdioceses of Westminster and Southwark plus the Dioceses of Arundel and Brighton, Clifton and Portsmouth, the Class III feast of St Alphege, B. M. occurs.
St. Alphege became a monk at Deerhurst, Gloucestershire, about 970, and eventually Abbot of Bath. In 984 he became Bishop of Winchester where he was known for his personal austerity and almsgiving. The king sent him to parley with the Danish raider Anlaf, and this he did with such success that Anlaf never raided England again.
In 1005 Alphege became Archbishop of Canterbury. The Danes were raiding once more and in 1011 they besieged Canterbury and captured it. Alphege was imprisoned and an enormous ransom was asked for his release, which he forbade to be paid. On 19 April 1012, at Greenwich, his captors, drunk with wine, and enraged at ransom being refused, pelted him with bones of oxen and stones, till one of them, called Thurm, dispatched him with an axe. He was buried in St. Paul’s and by his death he became a national hero.
As an act of reconciliation Canute in 1023 translated the body to Canterbury where it was buried near the high altar. Later Lanfranc confirmed the cult, and had a Life and Office written in his honour, and Thomas Becket just before his death commended his cause to God and Alphege.
Tuesday 20th April
No Feasts falls today, and preferred Mass is of the prior Sunday with Gloria, or a Votive Mass. On a ferial Tuesday it is preferable to celebrate a Votive Mass of the Holy Angels.
Wednesday 21st April
St Anselm was born in Aosta, in northern Italy, and became a monk of Bec in Normandy, where he taught theology and devoted himself to the spiritual life. After some years as abbot, he succeeded his master Lanfranc as archbishop of Canterbury. His bitter disputes with the kings of England over the independence of the Church resulted in his twice being exiled. He died at Canterbury on 21 April 1109. He is remembered for his theological learning and writings, and for organising and reforming church life in England.
But in here in Wrexham falls the feast of St Beuno, Abbot. He was a holy man and Abbot of Clynnog Fawr in Gwynedd, on the Llyn peninsula. He is venerated as the Spiritual Father of St Winefride.
Thursday 22nd April
Feast of Popes and Martyrs, SS Soter and Caius. St. Soter was Pope for about 10 years beginning in 166 and was martyred under Marcus Arelius. St. Caius died in 296, served during a period of relative peace as Holy Father.
Friday 23rd April
Feast Day of St. George M., Patron of England where the feast is of the 1st Class. Here in Wales is it of the 3rd Class.
He was martyred at Lydda (now in Israel) in about 303, during the persecution of Diocletian. Like so many saints of that period, the only fact that we can be certain of is his martyrdom. His cult spread quickly through both the East and the West, and the legend of St George and the Dragon only appeared some time afterwards.
During the crusades, George was seen to personify the ideals of Christian chivalry, and he was adopted as the patron saint of several city states and countries, including England and Catalonia. King Richard I of England placed his crusading army under the protection of St George, and in 1222 his feast was proclaimed a holiday.
Saturday 24th April
St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen M. is honoured in the Mass today. A Swabian of the XVI Century, he was a Capuchin Friar, known to love the poor, was stabbed to death in Switzerland by Protestant soldiers who feared his conversions. Today, is Anniversary of Coronation of Pope Benedict XVI, a commemoration might be made Pro Papa for his welfare and intentions as Pope Emeritus.