FEAST OF SAINT MARY MAGDALENE, JULY 22, 2021

MASS READINGS

A Gospel according to Jn 20:1-2, 11-18

On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”

Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he told her.

REFLECTION:

"Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples"

Apostle means "one who is sent out."

There are Apostles with a capital "A". These are the 12 Apostles closest to Jesus. But this title is not exclusive to the 12. Lower case "a" apostles are the rest of us. We are also sent out to proclaim the word.

St. Thomas Aquinas called Mary Magdalene “Apostolorum Apostola” because she announces to the apostles what in turn they will announce to the whole world. She is the first messenger of Our Lord's Resurrection.

Have you ever asked yourself why PAPA is not a Foundation?

PAPA is an apostolate. It is in our name: Priest Always Prayer Apostolate.

Our mission is to Pray for Priests. Give the Prayer for Priests to a kindred soul. And to Ask kindred souls to Pray for Priests and become members of PAPA.

You see, we don't stop at taking a prayer card and keeping our faith and beliefs in a chapel. We want to invite all who search and love Our Lord to join us and pray for our Priests.

The Church is always under attack, especially the Priests. They accepted their vocation to bring Jesus to us in the Eucharist; to forgive our sins in the Name of Jesus; and bring us all other sacraments so we can become children of God.

But they are also frail and weak human beings. So we pray for their repentance and their sanctity.

Don't be afraid to give a kindred soul a prayer card. Or to ask a priest if he would like us to pray for him.

If you are not sure, don't hesitate to contact anybody in PAPA, or the Kitchen to help you. You can always reach us at PAPA@PAPAMio.Org.

God bless y'all!