From the link below is available right of S. Mass of the Fourth Sunday after Easter (May 10, 2009), while below is a discussion on liturgical Dom Prosper Guéranger.
Fourth Sunday after Easter
The institution of the Sacraments.
We have seen Jesus established his Church, in the hands of the Apostles entrusted the deposit of truth which will form the object of our faith. But there is another work, not least for the world to which he will dedicate his care during this period of living on earth. It is the institution of the Sacraments. It is not enough to believe: you also that we become righteous, that conform to the holiness of God: we need the grace, the fruit of redemption, will discuss with us, he incorporates us, waves, become living members of our divine Head, we can also be co-heirs of His Kingdom. Now it is through the Sacraments that Jesus must work in us this marvel of justification, by applying the merits of his Incarnation and his sacrifice, by means decreed by His power and wisdom.
Sources and channels of grace.
Sovereign Lord of grace, he is free to determine the sources from which will descend on us is our task to conform to his will.
Each of the Sacraments is therefore a law of his religion, the kind that man can not expect the effects of the Sacrament itself is intended to produce, if despises or neglects to carry out the conditions under which it will operate. Admirable economy that combines, in one act, the humble submission of man with the most extravagant width of the divine munificence. We showed a few days ago as the Church, spiritual society, a society is both visible and outward because the man, who was destined, is composed of a body and soul. Jesus instituted the Sacraments, has awarded each of them an essential rite, and this rite is external and sensitive. The Word taking flesh, has made the instrument of our salvation in His passion on the cross is by the blood of his blood he redeemed us, and, continuing in his divine plan, he takes the elements of the physical nature as auxiliaries in the work of our justification. Li was elevated to the supernatural and makes up the depths of our souls, faithful and powerful conductors of his grace. So will be applied up to its ultimate consequences the mystery of the Incarnation, which had the aim of raising the knowledge and possession of things invisible through the visible. So too is breaking the pride of Satan, who despised the human creature, because the material element it joins the spiritual dignity, and refused, to his eternal disgrace, to bend the knee before the Word made flesh.
At the same time, being visible signs of the sacraments, will form a new constraint in members of the Church, already united by submission to Peter and to the shepherds that he sends, and the profession of that faith. The Holy Spirit tells us in scripture that "the three-wire cord not torn so soon" (Eccl 4:12). Now this is what binds us in the glorious unity of the Church hierarchy, dogma and sacraments, which help make us one body. From north to south, from east to west, the sacraments proclaim brotherhood among the Christians wherever they are a sign of recognition, and what distinguishes them in the eyes of the infidels. It is to this end that the sacraments are the same for all races of the baptized, whatever the variety of liturgical formulas that accompany the administration: everywhere, the base is the same, and the same grace is produced by the same vital signs.
The sacred sevenfold.
Risen Jesus chooses sevenfold as the number of its sacraments. Wisdom of the Eternal Father, he reveals to us since the Old Testament, you will build a house, which is the holy Church, and adds that will rest on seven pillars (Prov 9.1, this represents the Church in advance of the tabernacle Moses, and ordered that a seven-branched candelabrum, decorated with flowers and fruits, light day and night, the sanctuary (Exodus 25.37). When, in an ecstasy, he carries his beloved disciple in heaven, is to show surrounded by seven candlesticks and holding seven stars in his hand (AP 1,12.16). When it appears in the guise of the Lamb victorious, this has seven horns, a symbol of strength, and seven eyes signify the infinite extension of his science ( 5.6 therein). Near him is the book that contains the destinies of mankind, and this book is sealed with seven seals that only the Lamb can be removed (ibid. 5). Before the throne of the Majesty of God, the disciple sees seven spirits blessed glow as seven lamps (including 4.5), attentive to the minimum orders of God, and ready to bring his word to the last limits of creation.
The seven deadly sins.
If now we look to the power of darkness, we see the spirit of evil busy imitating the work of God, usurping the sevenfold, to Lord consecrating evil. Seven deadly sins are the instrument of his victory on man and the Lord tells us that when in his fury, Satan is thrown on a soul takes with him seven spirits more wicked that abyss. We know that Mary Magdalene, lucky sinner, not recovered the life of the soul after the Savior had expelled seven demons from her. This provocative spirit of pride will force the divine wrath, when it falls on the world of sin, to give the seven-up in his justice. St. John tells us that seven trumpets, seven angels sounded, announcing the subsequent seizure of the human race (including 7.2) and seven other angel poured from time to time on earth guilty of seven bowls filled with rage God (ibid. 15:1).
We, therefore we want to be saved and enjoy the grace in this world, and our Master risen another, we welcome with respect and gratitude of his seven-merciful Sacraments.
In this sacred number he was able to encompass all forms of grace. Whether, in his goodness, wants us to pass from death to life, through Baptism and Penance, is trying to support us in the supernatural life and consolation in our trials, through Confirmation, Eucharist and Extreme Unction, and finally forming the ministry of his Church and its propagation through the Order of Marriage: not possible to find a need of the soul, a necessity of Christian society, not that he has done by means of the seven sources of regeneration and life that has opened for us, and never ceases to get over our souls.
The seven sacraments are sufficient for all, one less, and harmony would be broken. The Churches of the East, separated from the Catholic for many centuries, we confess with the seven sacraments, and Protestantism, taking on that number, its unhallowed hand, has shown, in this as in all its other claims reforms that the defect made him a Christian. No wonder there, the whole theory of the sacraments is binding to the faith the humble submission of the faithful must accept, first of all, as coming from the Supreme Master is when you apply to the soul, that his magnificence and divine prove its effectiveness, then we understand, because we believed. believe and intelligetis.
Baptism.
Today we consecrate our admiration and our gratitude to the first of the sacraments: Baptism. Time Easter shows it in all its glory. We we saw, Holy Saturday, making the votes of catechumens lucky, and give people the whole life of the heavenly home. But this mystery had its preparation. On the feast of Epiphany we worshiped Emmanuel, descended into the waves of the Jordan, communicate element of water, through contact with his flesh, the power to purify all the stain on the soul. The Holy Spirit came to rest on the head of the Man-God, and fertilize with its divine influence, the regenerator element, while the Father's voice sounded heavenly cloud in announcing that the adoption, in his Son Jesus, would deign to do the baptized, the object of his eternal pleasure.
Already during the mortal life, the Redeemer said, before a lawyer, his mysterious intentions. He said: "No one, if not born by water and Spirit, can enter the kingdom of God" (Jn 3:5). According to his habit, almost constant, he announces you have to do a day without doing it again, we know only that have not been pure in our first birth, there will be preparing a second holy, and that water will become the tool.
But these days it is time to declare the power that gave the water to produce the planned adoption by the Father. Addressing his Apostles, says to them, with the majesty of a king who promulgated the Basic Law of the empire: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19) . That's the main benefit that proclaims to the world: salvation by water, with the invocation of the Holy Trinity, because, he says again: "Whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). Revelation is full of mercy for mankind; inauguration of the sacraments, through the declaration of the first, of what, in the language of the Fathers, is the gateway to all the others! Us that we owe the life of our souls with the eternal and mysterious seal that makes us members of Christ, lovingly salute this August mystery. St. Louis, called the humble source of Poissy, was pleased to sign: "Louis de Poissy" Whereas the baptismal font as a mother who had given the heavenly life, forgot his royal origin not to mention that the child God Our feelings must be the same as the holy king.
But we admire the condescension of the risen Jesus when he instituted the most essential of its sacraments. The subject he chose was the most common, the easiest to meet. The bread, wine, olive oil, are not everywhere on earth, the water flows everywhere, and the providence of God has multiplied in all its forms, so that the day marked the fountain of regeneration was fully accessible to sinful man. The Savior has entrusted the other sacraments for the priesthood who alone has the power to administer, for the baptism will not be so. Whatever may be the faithful minister, without distinction of sex or status. And there is more: any man, even if not a member of the Christian Church, will give its like, through water and the invocation of the Blessed Trinity, the baptismal grace which is not in him, the sole condition want to take seriously, with this act, what makes the Church to administer the sacrament of Baptism. And yet there's more: this minister of the sacrament may be missing man who is dying, eternity will be opened for him without a hand of others get up to pour on his head purifying water, the divine founder the regeneration of souls, not the leaves in this supreme moment. It pays homage to the holy baptism, he / she wishes with all the ardor of his soul, who has feelings of sincere repentance and true love, after that, if he dies, the gates of heaven will open to him through Baptism of desire.
But the child does not have the use of reason, and that death falcerà few hours, then will be forgotten in this general munificence? Jesus said that he who believes and is baptized will be saved: how then will salvation, this is weak you off the stain of original sin and is incapable of having faith? Have patience. The power of Baptism will extend to him. The Church's belief that the child wants, he will be charged; you pour water over his head in the name of the three divine Persons, and there he will be Christian forever. Baptized in the Church's faith, this faith is now in him personally, along with Hope and Charity, the water has produced this wonderful sacrament. Time to expire, the kingdom of heaven is his.
These are, or Redeemer, the signs that you operate in the first of the sacraments, as a result of your sincere desire that the salvation of all (1 Tim 2:4), so that, in those who have not fulfilled this commitment, beyond the grace of regeneration only in consequence of sin committed before, your eternal shame that justice is not always allows you to prevent itself, or to repair its consequences. But your mercy has come to the rescue: she stretched out his nets, and many have fallen elected. The holy water fell back on the front of the child who was dying in the arms of a pagan mother, and the Angels opened their ranks to receive it. At the sight of so many wonders, what remains to be done, if not exclaim with the Psalmist: "We who possess life, we bless the Lord"?
The Fourth Sunday after Easter, the Greek Church is called the Sunday of the Samaritan woman, because we read the Gospel passage which shows the conversion of this woman.
The Roman Church today, in the office at night, began reading the Epistles that fee, reading that it continues until the feast of Pentecost.
Mass
Epistle (James 1.16 to 21). - Dear: Every good thing received, every perfect gift is from above, and descends from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. He has his desire generated by word of truth, that we are what first fruits of his creatures. You know, my beloved brethren: every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger because the anger of man does not fulfill the righteousness of God and then getting rid of all uncleanness and all the rest of malice, embrace with meekness the word engaged in you, which can save your souls.
Imitating the Father.
The favors bestowed by the Christian people are very calm and goodness of the Heavenly Father, source of all order of nature, and if the order of grace, we are all his children, is why he sent us his consubstantial Word, which is the word of truth, by which we are now, in Baptism, God's children It follows that we should imitate, as far as possible in our weakness, the calm of our Father in heaven, and guaranteed by those who are passionate unrest in the nature of terrestrial life only, whereas ours is to take place on the sky where God draws us. The holy Apostle tells us to receive this word with sweetness that makes us what we are. It is, according to his doctrine of salvation grafting, transplanted in our souls. It can svilupparvisi that his success is not prevented by us, and we shall be saved.
Gospel (Jn 16.6 to 14). - At that time: Jesus said to his disciples: I go to him who sent me: and none of you asks me: Where to go? But because I have said these things, sorrow has filled my heart there. But I tell you the truth: it is better for you that I go, because if I would not go away, the Comforter will not come to you, and if I go, I will send it to you. And coming, he will convince the world about sin, justice, and the trial. Sin, for not having believed in me in righteousness, so I go to the Father and not see me; the trial, because the prince of this world is already judged. I would still tell you many things, but for now you are not capable. But when the Spirit of truth is come, he will ammaestrerà in all truth, why do not you speak for himself, but whatsoever he shall hear that, and will announce the future. He will glorify me, because mine and will declare it to you.
The announcement of the Holy Spirit.
When Jesus told the Apostles: "I'm leaving", he / she was saddened. Not so are we, since its birth in Bethlehem we constantly followed by the Liturgy we joined him at every step? Another few days and he will ascend to heaven, and the enchantment that was lost years, day by day, by his actions and his speeches. But that does not want to let us go to a grief too big. We announced that in its place, the Advocate, the Paraclete will come on earth and will remain with us, to enlighten and strengthen us until the end of time. Benefit of the last hours of Jesus will soon be time to prepare to receive the heavenly host, who will come to replace it.
Jesus, who spoke these words on the eve of his passion, not merely to show the coming of the Holy Spirit, as consolation for his faithful, but at the same time, shows us how terrible for those who have not wanted to recognize the Savior. Jesus' words are as mysterious as terrible, we take the explanation that there from St. Augustine, the Doctor of doctors. "When the Holy Spirit will come, says the Saviour, will convince the world that regards sin." Why? "Why do men have not believed in Jesus." How big will, indeed, the responsibility of those who, having witnessed the wonders worked by the Redeemer, will not bend to his word! Jerusalem hear that the Spirit descended upon the disciples of Jesus, and will remain so indifferent, as it was for the signs that point to the Messiah.
The coming of the Holy Spirit will be the prelude of ruin city deicide. Jesus adds that the Paraclete will convict the world concerning righteousness, because, he says, "I go to the Father, and you will not see me." The Apostles, and those who believe their word, will be holy and righteous by faith. Believe in him who has gone to the Father, who in their eyes will not see more in this world. Jerusalem, on the contrary, it does not retain the memories for blasphemy, justice, holiness, faith of those who believe will be his sentence, and the Holy Spirit to leave its fate. Jesus said again: "The Paraclete will convict the world since the trial." Why? "For the prince of this world is already judged." Those who do not follow Jesus Christ, follow, however, another master, this master is Satan. Now, the trial of Satan has already been pronounced. The Holy Spirit warns the disciples of the world so that their prince is sunk forever in reprobation.
We therefore reflect because, Augustine adds, "the pride of man would be wrong to count sull'indulgenza; worthwhile for him to contemplate the torture to which they are proud abandoned angels" [Tratt. XCV on St John].
Please
O God, who join the souls of the faithful in one will, by 'your people to love what you command and desire what you promise, so that our hearts, even in the midst of earthly events are fixed where true joys are .
(Dom Prosper Guéranger, the liturgical year. Trad. L. Roberti, P. Graziani and P. Suffi, Dawn, 1959)
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