Happy Mother's Day to Our Blessed Mother

As we celebrate Mother's Day (Happy Mother's Day to all mothers, grandmothers, godmothers, and others who serve in the role of a mother!), I offer this presentation of "Sing of Mary" to offer Mother's Day greetings to our Blessed Mother, Mary

 

 

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Today the Church celebrates the Sixth Sunday of Easter. The assigned readings are Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; 1 Peter 3:15-18; and John 14:15-21. The Responsorial Psalm is from Psalm 66 (Psalm 66:1-7, 16, 20).

For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:

YouTube: Respond & Acclaim 2026 - Easter 6 - Psalm

The Gospel reading is as follows:

Jesus said to his disciples: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father,
and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows him. But you know him, because he remains with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him."

Reflections related to these readings:

Community in Mission: Lessons of Love - A Homily for the 6th Sunday of Easter (9 MAY 26) 

Benedictine College: This Sunday, Your Baptism Is for Others, Not Just You (7 MAY 26)

Word on Fire: Five Signs of the Holy Spirit (Cycle A * Easter * 6th Week)

The Pilot: Echoes: Scott Hahn: Alive in the Spirit (8 MAY 26)

The Pilot: Echoes: Deacon Greg Kandra: Scripture Reflection for May 10, 2026, Sixth Sunday of Easter (6 MAY 26)

The Quiet Corner: Monasticism in Transition: A 900-Year Legacy Faces a New Horizon (8 MAY 26)

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of our mothers.

Cerith Gardiner on Deacon Scott Borba's Call to the Priesthood

"At first glance, the story of Scott Borba sounds almost too cinematic to be true. A former model, actor, beauty entrepreneur, and co-founder of e.l.f. Cosmetics, he spent years immersed in the world of image, luxury, and success before walking away from it all to become a Catholic priest. Yet what makes his story so compelling is not the dramatic change itself, but the quiet realization that beauty, on its own, was never enough."

In a recent commentary, writer Cerith Gardiner reflected on Deacon Scott Borbal and his call to the priesthood.

To access Ms. Gardiner's complete post, please visit:

Aleteia: Cerith Gardiner: The millionaire beauty entrepreneur becoming a priest (8 MAY 26)

Reflection Starter from Pope Leo XIV

"The Lord commands us to love one another as He has loved us (cf. Jn 13:34): it is the love of Jesus that gives birth to love in us. Christ Himself is the criterion of true love: love that is faithful forever, pure and unconditional, love that gives without wanting to possess." - Pope Leo XIV

Joseph Haydn: String Quartet in C Major, Op. 20 No. 2

It’s time for some classical music. This is a presentation of Joseph Haydn’s String Quartet in C Major, Op. 20, No. 2, as presented by the Isidore String Quartet:

 

Thought Starter

"Many years ago, while on a visit to America, a wealthy businessman was fascinated by a powerful microscope. Looking through its lens to study crystals and flower petals, he was amazed at their beauty and detail. So he decided to purchase one of these instruments of marvels and take it back to his country.

 "He thoroughly enjoyed using it until one day he examined a few grains of rice he was planning to eat for dinner. Much to his dismay, he discovered that tiny living creatures were crawling on the grains. Since he was especially fond of this staple food in his daily diet, he wondered what to do. Finally, he concluded that there was only one way out of this dilemma - he would destroy the instrument that caused him to discover this distasteful fact! So he smashed the microscope to pieces.

"'How foolish!' you say, 'those little critters are still there even if he chooses not to see them.' But how many people do the same thing with the Word of God? They try to rid themselves of it because it reveals their sinful nature." - Source Unknown; shared in "Apple Seeds," May 2020

National Public Gardens Day

Today, 8 May, is being observed as National Public Gardens Day. This observance is designed to a day to promote awareness of North America's public gardens (including botanic gardens, arboreta, historic gardens, or other public gardens). The observance is held on the Friday before Mother's Day.

Background information:

American Public Gardens Association

Facebook: American Public Gardens Association

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessings that come with walking.

Cerith Gardiner on Walking and Prayer

"We tend to think of prayer as something that requires stillness, a chair, a chapel, a quiet corner, and a moment carved out of a day that already feels too full. And yet, for centuries, Christians have also prayed on the move, walking fields, cloisters, and city streets, discovering that movement itself can become a form of attention. It is only now, rather curiously, that science is beginning to confirm what was once simply lived."

In a recent commentary, writer Cerith Gardiner reflected on how Christians ave long understood that walking could steady both body and soul.

To access Ms. Gardiner's complete post, please visit:

Aleteia: Cerith Gardiner: Why walking might be the prayer we've forgotten (7 MAY 26)

Reflection Starter from Denis Waitley

“Most people spend their entire lives on a fantasy island called 'Someday I'll'" - Denis Waitley

The Moonglos: "Here I Am"

It's time for some more doo-wop. Here is a presentation of "Here I Am" by The Moonglows: