Introit
Rite of Sprinkling
Gloria
Collect
Graciously hear our supplications, O Lord,
so that we, who believe that the Savior of the human race
is with you in your glory,
may experience, as he promised,
until the end of the world,
his abiding presence among us.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
First Reading Acts 7:55-60
Standing before the high priest and the council, 55 Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57 But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. 58 Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.
Responsorial Psalm 97:1-2,6-7, 9
R. The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth.
Second Reading Rev 22:12-14,16-17,20
I, John, heard a voice saying to me: 12 “See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” 14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. 16 “It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” 17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let everyone who hears say, “Come.” And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift. 20 The one who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
Alleluia Cf. Jn 14:18
Gospel Jn 17:20-26
Jesus looked up to heaven and prayed: “Holy Father, 20 I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 “Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
Catena Nova
Ah, Lord God, thou holy lover of my soul, when thou comest into my soul, all that is within me shall rejoice. Thou art my glory and the exultation of my heart; thou art my hope and refuge in the day of my trouble. Set me free from all evil passions, and heal my heart of all inordinate affections; that being inwardly cured and thoroughly cleansed, I may be made fit to love, courageous to suffer, steady to persevere. Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing more courageous, nothing fuller nor better in heaven and earth; because love is born of God, and cannot rest but in God, above all created things. Let me love thee more than myself, nor love myself but for thee; and in thee all that truly love thee, as the law of love commandeth, shining out from thyself. Amen. (Thomas a Kempis)
Of this ardor there springs unity of heart; for we cannot achieve true unity unless the Spirit of God blows to a flame His fire in our hearts. For this fire makes one with itself and like to itself all that it can master and re-shape. Unity is this: that a man feel himself to be gathered together with all his powers in the unity of his heart. Unity brings inward peace and restfulness of heart. Unity of heart is a bond which draws together body and soul, heart and senses, and all the outward and inward powers and encloses them in the union of love. (Bl. John Ruysbroeck)
See how important is this union and concord. So, long for it, pursue it, embrace it, and hold on to it with all your strength. For I tell you, living all together, thus united in heart, you will be like a mighty fortress, or a tower impregnable against all adversities, persecutions, and deceits of the devil. (St. Angela Merici)
What a holy time this is from now to the feast of Pentecost! A holy week indeed: the Advent of the Holy Ghost.... All those who serve Jesus Christ are one, belong to the church of God and the Christian congregation. Una est amica mea, una est Columba mea. God speaks to his church and says: You are one, my love; you are one, my dove. (Canticles 6:8) And so it is right also that in this holy season we should prepare ourselves, and with the holy apostles desire the coming of the Holy Ghost. Let us raise our hearts to Heaven and our eyes full of tears, let us cry: “Comforter of my soul! Come, console me!” And during all this time let us do nothing else but desire the Holy Ghost to come to our souls. Seek seclusion throughout this week in preparation for the Holy Ghost!... During these days find a secluded corner for yourself and stay there. Contemplate the Blessed Virgin and the holy apostles gathered together in the Cenacle. How would they have behaved? What would they do? How they would have wept thinking of the passion of Jesus Christ, sorrowful for his absence. What sighs they would send to Heaven, longing for this Holy Ghost, their comforter and their healer....And it is essential to observe great reverence during this week, since we are preparing for such a great feast. Do you know, brethren, how important is this occasion and what you will lose if the Holy Ghost does not come to dwell in your house? For neither the feast of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ – the principal feast of the whole year – nor the feasts of his holy birth, passion, or redemption and ascension into Heaven will benefit your soul if you do not profit by this feast; and all that Jesus Christ gained for us will be lost to you. Although it is true that with the death of Jesus Christ Heaven was opened and hell shut – how can this benefit you, if you do not receive the Holy Ghost? Without the grace of God nothing can help you. But if the Holy Ghost is within you, you can avail yourself of all those other aids and consolations. (St. John of Avila)
Religious conversion is being grasped by ultimate concern. It is other-worldly falling in love. It is total and permanent self-surrender without conditions, qualifications, reservations. But it is such a surrender, not as an act, but as a dynamic state that is prior to and principle of subsequent acts. It is revealed in retrospect as an under-tow of existential consciousness, as a fated acceptance of a vocation to holiness, as perhaps an increasing simplicity and passivity in prayer. It is interpreted differently in the context of different religious traditions. For Christians it is God's love flooding our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us. It is the gift of grace. (Bernard Lonergan)
Love is invisible, but it is the most powerful force in human nature. Jesus spoke of the Spirit which he would send as Truth but also as Love. “If anyone loves me, my Father will love him and we will come to him and make our abode with him.” .... Ultimately a religion is tested by its capacity to waken love in its followers, and, what is perhaps more difficult, to extend that love to all humanity. In the past religions have tended to confine their love to their own followers, but always there has been a movement to break through these barriers and attain to a universal love. (Bede Griffiths)
In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalizes the poorest. For our part, we want to be a small leaven of unity, communion, and fraternity within the world. We want to say to the world, with humility and joy: Look to Christ! Come closer to him! Welcome his word that enlightens and consoles! Listen to his offer of love and become his one family: in the one Christ, we are one. This is the path to follow together, among ourselves but also with our sister Christian churches, with those who follow other religious paths, with those who are searching for God, with all women and men of goodwill, in order to build a new world where peace reigns! We are called to offer God’s love to everyone, in order to achieve that unity which does not cancel out differences but values the personal history of each person and the social and religious culture of every people. (Pope Leo XIV)
Homily
Very few people get to celebrate the Seventh Sunday of Easter as it is replaced in most places by the Solemnity of the Ascension. Fortunately, in New York State the Ascension has been retained on it traditional Thursday date precisely 40 days after Easter. The loss of this Sunday is especially unfortunate this year given the Gospel's injunction concerning the unity of Christ's disciples in light of the beginning of the Petrine ministry of Pope Leo XIV.
For despite readers of papal tea leaves trying to second guess Leo's intentions — with plenty of silliness, conspiracy theories and yes, deepfakes — the pope has in fact given a number of concrete signs as to his priorities. One of which is clearly the fulfillment of Jesus' prayer that all may be one. So I would like to highlight some of the ecumenical — as well as interfaith — signals Leo has already made clear.
On May 14, he addressed Eastern rite Catholics in Rome for the Jubilee Year, saying
The Church needs you. The contribution that the Christian East can offer us today is immense! We have great need to recover the sense of mystery that remains alive in your liturgies, liturgies that engage the human person in his or her entirety, that sing of the beauty of salvation and evoke a sense of wonder at how God’s majesty embraces our human frailty!…. Your traditions of spirituality, ancient yet ever new, are medicinal. In them, the drama of human misery is combined with wonder at God’s mercy, so that our sinfulness does not lead to despair, but opens us to accepting the gracious gift of becoming creatures who are healed, divinized and raised to the heights of heaven…. Today more than ever, the splendor of the Christian East demands freedom from all worldly attachments and from every tendency contrary to communion, in order to remain faithful in obedience and in evangelical witness.
And while he was speaking to members of churches already in full communion with the Catholic Church, one may assume such praise is extended to the Orthodox Churches as well. In fact, it appears his first foreign trip may be in November to join the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople in Turkey to mark the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.
Then during his homily at the Mass inaugurating his ministry as successor of Peter, Leo signaled what will be programmatic for his pontificate, saying:
I would like that our first great desire be for a united Church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world.
In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalises the poorest. For our part, we want to be a small leaven of unity, communion and fraternity within the world. We want to say to the world, with humility and joy: Look to Christ! Come closer to him! Welcome his word that enlightens and consoles! Listen to his offer of love and become his one family: in the one Christ, we are one. This is the path to follow together, among ourselves but also with our sister Christian churches, with those who follow other religious paths, with those who are searching for God, with all women and men of good will, in order to build a new world where peace reigns! (May 18, 2025)
The following day, the new pope met with representatives of other churches and ecclesial communities as well as other religions who were among the 50 delegations who attended the Mass, especially Bartholomew who was accorded the "prerogative of honor" at the Mass enjoyed historically by the Patriarch of Constantinople second only to Bishop of Rome. At the meeting there were also members of other Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches, Anglican, Methodist and Lutheran churches as well as members of Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain faiths. In his address Leo made the following comments,
As Bishop of Rome, I consider one of my priorities to be that of seeking the re-establishment of full and visible communion among all those who profess the same faith in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
I would like to assure you of my intention to continue Pope Francis' commitment to promoting the synodal nature of the Catholic Church and developing new and concrete forms for an ever stronger synodality in ecumenical relations.
Aware, moreover, that synodality and ecumenism are closely linked, Our common path can and must also be understood in the broad sense of involving everyone, in the spirit of human fraternity that I mentioned above. Now is the time for dialogue and building bridges. I am therefore pleased and grateful for the presence of representatives of other religious traditions, who share the search for God and his will, which is always and only the will of love and life for men and women and for all creatures.
To all of you, representatives of other religious traditions, I express my gratitude for your participation in this meeting and for your contribution to peace. In a world wounded by violence and conflict, each of the communities represented here brings its own contribution of wisdom, compassion and commitment to the good of humanity and the preservation of our common home. I am convinced that if we are in agreement, and free from ideological and political conditioning, we can be effective in saying “no” to war and “yes” to peace, “no” to the arms race and “yes” to disarmament, “no” to an economy that impoverishes peoples and the Earth and “yes” to integral development.
The witness of our fraternity, which I hope we will be able to show with effective gestures, will certainly contribute to building a more peaceful world, something that all men and women of good will desire in their hearts. (May 19, 2025)
To which we might add the Amen! of the Seer of Revelation that the world may believe.
[For those interested in pursuing the status of ecumenical dialogues around the role of the Bishop of Rome's ministry please consult the Vatican study document, The Bishop of Rome: Primacy and Synodality in the Ecumenical Dialogues and in the Responses to the Encyclical Ut Unum Sint (2024).
This document should be read in anticipation of the Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches marking the 1700th anniversary of the first Ecumenical Council of Nicaea which is to take place in Egypt in October 2025 at the invitation of the Coptic Orthodox Church with the theme “Where Now for Visible Unity?”
https://www.oikoumene.org/events/nicaea-2025#sixth-world-conference-on-faith-and-order].
Intercessions (Cf. Joe Milner; The Sunday Web Site)
For the Church: that we may continue the mission of Jesus and bring forth the reign of God through our worship, our work, and our relationships each day.
For the coming of Christ’s reign: that we may strive with great dedication to bring hatred, injustice, and all the evils of our society under the saving and redeeming love of Christ.
For all who spread the Good News, particularly missionaries, preachers, and writers: that God will inspire them to announce God’s saving love and healing presence boldly and dynamically.
For the healing of racism: that all nations and peoples may recognize the value and dignity that God has given each person and work together to bring forth the reign of God in the world.
For government leaders: that God will inspire them with courage and new understanding as they work to develop new immigration policies.
For all victims of violence: that God will heal their pain, ease their fear, and give them the courage to engage with life fully.
For an end to drug trafficking: that God will turn the hearts of those involved with illegal drugs and empower those with addictions to seek help.
For peace in our cities and neighborhoods: that God will break the patterns of violence, open new ways to resolve disputes, and give courage to all working to be peacemakers.
For peace in Ukraine, Gaza and elsewhere: that God will bring an end to armed conflicts, protect the vulnerable for harm, and open new pathways to peace and understanding.
Father, righteous one, your beloved Son prayed that his disciples in every generation might be one as you and he are one. Look upon this assembly gathered in his name. Fulfil in us the prayer of Jesus and crown our celebration of this paschal season with your Spirit’s gift of unity and love. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. (ICEL; 1998)
Offertory Antiphon
Offertory Motet (from Robert Cundick’s,“The Redeemer”)
He is the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and bride say, “Come.” And let him who heareth say, “Come.” And let him who is athirst, come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. He which testifieth these things saith, “Surely I come quickly.” Even so, “Come, Lord Jesus.” (Rev. 22:16-17, 20 KJV)
Communion Antiphon
Closing Hymn (Fulbert of Chartres)
Ye choirs of new Jerusalem, your sweetest notes employ, the Paschal victory to hymn in strains of holy joy.
For Judah's Lion bursts his chains, crushing the serpent's head; and cries aloud through death's domains to wake the imprisoned dead.
Devouring depths of hell their prey at his command restore; his ransomed hosts pursue their way where Jesus goes before.
Triumphant in his glory now to him all power is given; to him in one communion bow all saints in earth and heaven.
While we, his soldiers, praise our King, his mercy we implore, within his palace bright to bring and keep us evermore.
All glory to the Father be, all glory to the Son, all glory, Holy Ghost, to thee, while endless ages run.