Praying with the Marianist • April 16 2024

Music permission from OneLicense.net #A-70566 

Antiphons and Responsory composed by María A. Smith 

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disci-ples were…Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you’… 

The Lord has truly risen! Alleluia! Alleluia! 

After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples and others on nu-merous occasions: to Mary Magdalene and the other women at his tomb; to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus; to his disciples by the Sea of Tiberius; to Thomas in the presence of other disciples; and to the 500 that St. Paul speaks of in his first Letter to the Corinthians. 

In each encounter, Jesus brought comfort, hope, and assurance of his presence among them. More importantly, he strengthened their faith in him and they became filled with courage and conviction, which empowered them to spread his teachings. 

The serenity that Christ shares with his believers then and with us today involves being at peace interiorly and in harmony with one’s community. The experience of the Risen Christ is manifest by sharing his love with one another. 

In this month of April, we remember Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, born on April 8, 1761 and who himself along with the Christian community despite living in the midst of a fear, violence and persecution in France, manifested Christ’s love. Possessing that intimate relationship with Christ and looking to the example of the Son’s Mother, Mary, he formed communities of faith saying …we need Jesus Christ as our strength and light. I desire you to be at peace, as confident in Providence as I am ordinarily. We ought to do all we can, but always in peace and confidence. Such was the mission he imparted to us. Let us live Blessed Chaminade’s legacy by affirming the faith with our words and actions and help bring about the message of the Risen Christ: “Peace be with you.”