They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayers.
A sense of awe was felt by all for many wonders and signs were performed by the apostles.44 All the believers were together and owned everything in common. They would sell their property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to all according to what each one needed. Every day, united in spirit, they would assemble together in the temple. They would break bread in their homes and share their food with joyful and generous heartsas they praised God, and they were regarded with favor by all the people. And day by day the Lord added to those who were being saved.
FromThe Mysteries of Christianityby Fr. Matthias Scheeben
In accordance with its office the priesthood must bring Christ to birth anew in the bosom of the Church, both in the Eucharist and in the hearts of the faithful, by the power of Christ’s Spirit reigning in the Church. Priests must build up the organism of Christ’s mystical body, as Mary, by the power of the same Holy Spirit, brought forth the Word in His own humanity, and gave Him His physical body. The miraculous conception of Christ and His birth from the womb of the Virgin is the model and also the basis of the further spiritual conception and birth of Christ in the Church through the priesthood. And this priesthood stands in a relationship to the God-man similar to that of Mary to the Son of God who descended into her and was born of her. The two mysteries are complementary; they illuminate and set off each other.
As Mary conceived the Son of God in her womb by the over-shadowing of the Holy Spirit, drew Him down from heaven by her consent, and gave Him, the Invisible, to the world in visible form, so the priest conceives the Incarnate Son of God by the power of the same Spirit in order to establish Him in the bosom of the Church under the Eucharistic forms. Thus Christ is born anew through the priesthood by a continuation, as it were, of His miraculous birth from Mary; and the priesthood itself is an imitation and extension of the mysterious maternity that Mary possessed with regard to the God-man. The priesthood is for the Eucharistic Christ what Mary was for the Son of God about to become man.
Incomprehensible is the fruitfulness which the Church reveals in this maternity, unspeakable the union with the overshadowing Holy Spirit, who in her bosom and through her brings about marvels similar to those that took place in the most pure womb of Mary.
Musical Selection (Benedictine of Mary, Queen of Apostles)
Ave, Ave Maria, Daughter of the Father!
thou peerless maiden of thy race! the Father
gave thee highest grace: by overshadowing
outpoured chose the temple whence His Son
adored. For did He, more than His All
might, conceive still more intense delight in
thee, His love and diadem ‘midst daughters
of Jerusalem?
Ave, Ave Maria, Mother of the Son!
The Word descended well-pleased to dwell In
thou who breached the door of hell. A baby
God, a crownless King! Whose flesh of flesh
unaltering His being, nor dominion fade,
His throne of exaltation made in thee. And
now each heart enthrall: thou bore the One
who bore us all!
Ave, Ave Maria, Spouse of the Spirit!
A flame thyself, the most pure bride who
callest virgins to thy side! Sustaining Him
whose life is Love, the life thou hast partaken
of, and binds together Three in One. Fair as
the moon, bright as the sun, thy magnifying
soul hath shone, and at the eternal Mass in-
tones: Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus.
Prayer
O God, who gave the Holy Spirit to your Apostles
as they joined in prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus,
grant through her intercession
we may faithfully serve your majesty
and extend, by word and example, the glory of your name.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,