Gospel – John 20:19-31
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, 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.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”
Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Now, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church
448 Very often in the Gospels people address Jesus as “Lord.” This title testifies to the respect and trust of those who approach him for help and healing. At the prompting of the Holy Spirit, “Lord” expresses the recognition of the divine mystery of Jesus. In the encounter with the risen Jesus, this title becomes adoration: “My Lord and my God!” It thus takes on a connotation of love and affection that remains proper to the Christian tradition: “It is the Lord!”
From “The Visible Face of the Invisible God” Testimony of Catalina Rivas (Ch.V:31)
31) When we feel that we have found that “precious pearl,” we ought to kneel before God as that centurion who, faced by the Crucifixion, said: “Truly this man was the Son of God” (Mk 15:39); or as Thomas, His Apostle, who on seeing the Resurrected Risen Jesus and seeing and touching His wounds, fell on his knees and said: “My Lord and My God”… (Jn 20:28)
From “From Sinai to Calvary” Testimony of Catalina Rivas (Part 7:79)
79) At that moment I saw a room with light colored walls and a not so big window and Jesus, resplendent, all dressed in white, Who was blowing upon His apostles and saying to them: “Receive the Holy Spirit… Whose sins you forgive will be forgiven in Heaven…”
From “Divine Providence” Testimony of Catalina Rivas (Pg.18)
THE CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY
Jesus gave Saint Faustina extraordinary promises of graces for those who would recite the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy. This devotion uses ordinary rosary beads and begins with an Our Father, Hail Mary and the Apostles Creed. On the large bead before each decade of the Rosary say:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world. On the ten small beads of each decade say: For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world. After praying for five decades, conclude by saying three times: Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
Each week we will be presenting a portion of the following Sunday’s readings, and linking it to relevant parts of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and messages from the Testimony of Catalina. Pay special attention to the italicized underlined sections. We hope this is inspiring and educational. Any comments you have are certainly welcomed.
Tim Francis prepared this educational program to help you increase your faith and love for the Holy Trinity and our Blessed Mother. His website is http://YouShallBelieve.com
I have known Tim for many years and recommend his work highly. He is a strong advocate for the “The Real Body and Blood Of Jesus” and the numerous miracles that occur on a daily basis. Both of us are greatly inspired by the amazing writings of Catalina Rivas. Catalina is one of the few individuals in history who personally experienced the “Stigmata Of Jesus Christ.”