April 21—We must remaine lowly and let our work grow in the shadows, under the thorns, until God makes it prosper and bear much fruit.

April 22—Devote yourselves to the custody of the heart which is a sure way of correcting your faults and progressing in holiness.

April 23— We must be filled with the Spirit of God and without it we shal achieve nothing.  I await everything from the One who set me to do this work.

April 24—How I wish you the Holy Spirit.

April 25—Remember the divine lesson which our Lord often repeated to His Apostles and which he addresses to everyone: “Learn from me that I am meek and humble of heart.”

April 26—The sustenance we must make use of to sustain us on our journey to eternity is Christ Jesus.  He is as necessary for our souls as is the material bread we take each day for our bodies.

April 27—Dear children, “seek God in simplicity of heart” as the Holy Spirit urges you to do in the book of Wisdom. (Wisdom 1:1)

When charity is the mainspring of our zeal, we are very pleased that everyone do good; we even hope that others will do more good than we, to amke up for the good we fail to do ourselves .

Reflection with Mother Rivier      April 18

Zeal is nothing other than the most ardent love of God.

Reflection with Mother Rivier    April 17

Either make Jesus Christ known or die!

Reflection with Mother Rivier    April 16

The path to holiness has been all mapped out: it is Christ Jesus

Reflection with Mother Rivier   April 15

I do not have the other virtues but as far as zeal is concerned I believe I have it.

Reflection with Mother Rivier   April 14

May tender and fervent affections rise continually from your heart like an arrow that pierces the heart of Jesus to move it to pity and enkindle you with its fire.

Reflection with Mother Rivier        Monday, April 13

When sorrow comes our way and we experience pain and desolation, if we were to speak about Christ and his sufferings as his beloved disciples did, he woiuld soon appear in our midst to keep us company, to console us in our distress, and to restore pece and joy to our souls.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Readings of the Day:

Acts 10: 34-43

Psalm 118

Colossians 3:1-4

John 20:1-9

(Text of the readings: www.usccb.org/nab)

Word of God:

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning; while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb.

                                                                                    John 20:1

A Word from Mother Rivier:

I encourage everyone with firmness.  Be faithful to the meditations on the Resurrection.  I would like everyone’s resurrection to be firmly based…Come, and have good courage.  Do not think so much about yourself.  Think about God and the great mysteries we are celebrating.  I wish you a holy Resurrection with Jesus Christ.  In the future live a completely new life.

                                                Her Heart and Her Hand, Vol. 2,  p.330

Readings of the Day:

There are no readings for during the day on Holy Saturday, because there is no Mass until the Easter Vigil.  Those readings are listed below.  The following reading is from the Gospel of Luke.

Word of God:           

Joseph of Arimathaea went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.  He then took it down, wrapped it in a shroud and put it in a tomb which was hewn in stone and which had never held a body…Meanwhile the women who had come from Galilee with Jesus were following behind.  They took note of the tomb and how the body had been laid.  Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments.  And on the Sabbath day they rested as the Law required.  Luke 23:52-56

A Word from Mother Rivier:

It is he (Jesus), through the words of his mouth, who revealed the truths of the Gospel and taught us the ways of salvation; he who cured the sick and raised the dead by the touch of his hands whose blessing and power filled the world with miracles.  This heart, then, burning with love, was the cause of all that Jesus did for us through the tears of his eyes, the words of his mouth, the works of his hands, and all the labors, sweat, and suffering of his body.                 Spiritual Writings, p. 33

Easter Vigil Readings

Genesis 1:1-2:2, Genesis 22:1-18, Exodus 14:15-15:1, Isaiah 54:5-14, Isaiah 55:1-11 Baruch 3:9-15, 32-4:4, Ezekiel 36:17-22, Romans 6:3-11, Luke 24:1-12   Text of the Readings: www.usccb.org/nab

Good Friday, April 10

Readings of the Day:

Isaiah 52:13-53:12

Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-17, 25

Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9

John 18:1-19:42

Text of the Readings:

www.usccb.org/nab

Word of God: 

            Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified.  So they took Jesus, and, carrying the cross himself, he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgatha.  There they crucified him with two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle.        John 19:18

A Word from Mother Rivier:

            Every minute of your life bears merit in the sight of God; unite each one with those Jesus spent on the Cross.  It is in that refuge that you must remain.  Jesus Christ accomplished during His passion only what He was ordered to.  He accepted His Cross, He carried it, He allowed Himself to be nailed to it, and be given vinegar to drink.  Let us remain as He did in the hands of God.

                                            Her Heart and Her Hand, Volume 2,  p. 87

Holy Thursday, April 9

Readings of the Day:

Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14

Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18

1Corinthians 11:23-26

John 13:1-15

Text of the Readings:

(www.usccb.org/nab)

Word of God:           

            Brothers and sisters: I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, This is my body that is for you.  Do this in remembrance of me.”

                                                                        1 Corinthians 11:23-24

A Word from Mother Rivier:

            Those who set out on a journey need provisions to restore their energy from time to time.  Now, the sustenance we must make use of to sustain us on our journey is Christ Jesus.  He is as necessary for our souls as is the material bread we take each day for our bodies.  Substantial bread has been prepared for us, and this bread is the divine Word.  It is also grace, but it is especially the Holy Eucharist: it is thus called “the Bread of Life”…”the Bread of the Stalwart”, and our daily Bread.

                                                            Spiritual Writings, pp.24-25

Holy Week   Wednesday, April 8

Readings of the Day:

Isaiah 50:4-9

Psalm 68:8-10, 21-22, 31, 33-37

Matthew 26:14-25

Text of the Readings:

www.usccb.org/nab

Word of God:           

On the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?”  He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”

                                                                                    Matthew 26

A Word from Mother Rivier:

Imitate a painter who, if he wants to capture a likeness, considers it attentively, and as soon as he has clearly perceived one trait quickly picks up his brush, marks this trait on the canvas, and then returns to his study of the original.  We must act in the same way when imitating Jesus Christ.  Study Him and then take up the brush of good will; steep it in the traits of all the virtues which form the colours basic to the portrait.  The work takes our whole life.  May God grant us this grace.    Her Heart and Her Hand, Volume 3, pp.361-62

Holy Week  Tuesday, April 7

Readings of the Day:

Isaiah 49:1-6

Psalm 71:1-6, 15, 17

John 13:21-33, 36-38

Text of the Readings:

www.usccb.org/nab

Word of God:

            Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”                         John 13

A Word from Mother Rivier:

Clothe yourself with the attitude of Jesus, take Him as pattern for your own conduct, walk in the way He has worked out for you, renounce yourself, carry your small crosses, your dislikes, your worries, your sorrows.  Unite them to those of Jesus in the Garden of Olives.  Go often to this Garden and to Calvary.  Be faithful to His grace.             Her Heart and Her Hand, Volume 2, pp.135-36

Holy Week Monday, April 6

Readings of the Day:                                                           

Isaiah 42:1-7

Psalm 27:1-2, 3, 13-14

John 12:1-11

Text of the Readings:

www.usccb.org/nab

Word of God:

            A large crowd of the Jews found out that Jesus was there (Bethany) and came, not only because of Him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.  And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him.    John 12

A Word from Mother Rivier:

I wish you a fervent (Holy) Week.  I desire above all that you become humble through the meditation of the ignominies and torments of Our Lord.  Offer yourself to Him to endure in union with Him, all your sufferings and to bear the crosses which God will send you, either through sickness or other causes, and above all through everything that thwarts us.   

                                                            Her Heart and Her Hand, Volume 2, p.175

Palm Sunday, April 5, 2009

Gospel for the Blessing of the Palms:

Mark 11:1-10

Readings of the Day:

Isaiah 50:4-7

Psalm 22:8-9, 17-24

Philippians 2:6-11

Mark 14:1-15:47

(Text of the Readings:www.usccb.org/nab)

Word of God:

Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields.  Those preceding him as well as those who followed cried out: “Hosanna to the Son of David!  Blessed be he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest heaven”                              Mark  11:10

A Word from Mother Rivier:

            I ask a lot of strength for you.  Draw it from your meditations on the sufferings of Jesus Christ.  Let us learn this week (Holy Week) to carry our crosses…in silence like Jesus Christ.  When you find it difficult to practice humility, consider Jesus Christ laden with all our iniquities in the sight of His Father, sweating blood and water in the struggle between grace and nature.

                                            Her Heart and Her Hand, Volume 3, pp.368-69

Lenten Reflection with Mother Rivier

5^th Week of Lent    Saturday, April 4, 2009

Readings of the Day: 

Ezekiel 37:21-28

Psalm : Jeremiah 31:10-13

John 11:45-56

(Text of the Readings:

www.usccb.org/nab)

Word of God:                                   

The chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting, “What are we to do with this man performing all sorts of signs?”  Caiaphas prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation – and not for this nation only, but to gather into one all the dispersed children of God.

                                                John 11

A Word from Mother Rivier:

            Let the eye of your good intention help you to discover the great wealth hidden even in the most commonplace actions.  Meditate on Jesus Christ, consider His reluctance in the Garden of Olives.  This reluctance could not have been deeper for all He had to suffer.                         Her Heart and Her Hand, Volume 2, p.327