About Today
Wednesday 21 May 2025
Wednesday of the 5th week of Eastertide or Saint Christopher Magallanes and his Companions, Martyrs
The Lord has truly risen, alleluia.
Year: C(I). Psalm week: 1. Liturgical Colour: White.
Saint Christopher Magallanes and his Companions
Cristóbal Magallanes Jara was born in the state of Jalisco in Mexico in 1869. He was ordained priest at the age of 30 and became parish priest of his home town of Totatiche. He took a special interest in the evangelization of the local indigenous Huichol people and founded a mission for them. When government persecution of the Catholic Church began and the seminaries were closed, he opened a small local “auxiliary seminary.” He wrote and preached against armed rebellion but was falsely accused of promoting the Cristero rebellion. He was arrested on 21 May 1927 while on the way to celebrate Mass at a farm. He was executed without a trial, but not before giving his remaining possessions to his executioners and giving them absolution.
With him are celebrated 24 other Mexican martyrs of the early 20th century.
See the article in Wikipedia.
Other saints: St Eugène de Mazenod (1782 - 1861)
Canada, Denmark
He was born at Aix-en-Provence in the south of France and had to flee together with his family when the French Revolution broke out. He returned in 1802 in a penniless and uncertain state, but after a period of depression he began to develop a concern for the French Church, which had been attacked and half destroyed by the Revolution. He discerned a vocation to the priesthood and was ordained in 1811.
He returned to Aix-en-Provence and lived as a wandering priest with no parish church. He and the companions he gathered round him went from village to village, preaching in Provençal, the language of the people. Facing opposition from the local clergy, Eugène went straight to the Pope and obtained official recognition of the “Oblates of Mary Immaculate,” of which he was then elected Superior General. He continued to guide the order until his death.
He was appointed auxiliary bishop of Marseilles in 1832, provoking a furious and debilitating five-year diplomatic row with the French government. At length he became Bishop of Marseilles in 1837, on the retirement of his predecessor. He continued to rebuild the strength of the French Church, and the Oblates of Mary Immaculate were persuaded to send missionaries to other parts of the world, so that they are now active in 68 countries.
See the biography on the Vatican web site.Other saints: St Eugène de Mazenod (1782 - 1861)
Canada, Denmark
He was born at Aix-en-Provence in the south of France and had to flee together with his family when the French Revolution broke out. He returned in 1802 in a penniless and uncertain state, but after a period of depression he began to develop a concern for the French Church, which had been attacked and half destroyed by the Revolution. He discerned a vocation to the priesthood and was ordained in 1811.
He returned to Aix-en-Provence and lived as a wandering priest with no parish church. He and the companions he gathered round him went from village to village, preaching in Provençal, the language of the people. Facing opposition from the local clergy, Eugène went straight to the Pope and obtained official recognition of the “Oblates of Mary Immaculate,” of which he was then elected Superior General. He continued to guide the order until his death.
He was appointed auxiliary bishop of Marseilles in 1832, provoking a furious and debilitating five-year diplomatic row with the French government. At length he became Bishop of Marseilles in 1837, on the retirement of his predecessor. He continued to rebuild the strength of the French Church, and the Oblates of Mary Immaculate were persuaded to send missionaries to other parts of the world, so that they are now active in 68 countries.
See the biography on the Vatican web site.
Gospel John 15:1-8 I am the vine, you are the branchesI am the vine, you are the branches
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine dresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch, and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.’
Reflection on the engraving
Our Gospel today is drawn from John’s account of Jesus’ words to His disciples on the night before He died. In his final moments, Jesus seeks to reassure them that, even beyond His death and resurrection, He will remain deeply united with them. The image He offers of the vine and the branches beautifully expresses the closeness of this communion, not only with His apostles but with each one of us. Just as branches cannot survive apart from the vine, so too we cannot truly live without remaining connected to Christ, the source of our life.
Yet, so often it is we who sever that connection. We convince ourselves that we can manage alone, relying on our own strength, drifting away from the very One who sustains us. But Jesus’ invitation is constant and merciful: to return, to be grafted back onto the vine, where life flows freely. When we reattach ourselves to Him, through prayer, the sacraments, and daily trust, we begin to bear fruit again and grow into the people God has lovingly called us to be.
his theme of reconnection is echoed, perhaps unexpectedly, in our mid-18th-century engraving after François Boucher, where three playful putti hold branches of a vine. While originally intended as a light-hearted allegory of Autumn, we can read it with the eyes of faith, as a quiet illustration of our own spiritual journey. Like those putti holding the detached branches, we too can find ourselves holding parts of a life disconnected from its true source. But Christ, the true vine, never tires of calling us back. The image becomes more than decoration; it becomes a reminder that apart from Him, we can do nothing and we can pray for the angles to bring us back to the vine and reattach us.
In a world, much like Boucher’s France, often distracted by surface beauty and fleeting pleasures, we are invited to seek something deeper. As we reflect on this Gospel, let it be a call to examine where we may have drifted, where pride or self-reliance has cut us off from His grace and His vine.
Three Cupids Playing with Vine Branches,
Engraving by Louis Félix de la Rue (1731–1765),
After François Boucher (1703-1770),
Mid 18th century
Etching and engraving on paper
Wednesday of the 5th week of Eastertide or Saint Christopher Magallanes and his Companions, Martyrs
The Lord has truly risen, alleluia.
Year: C(I). Psalm week: 1. Liturgical Colour: White.
Saint Christopher Magallanes and his Companions
Cristóbal Magallanes Jara was born in the state of Jalisco in Mexico in 1869. He was ordained priest at the age of 30 and became parish priest of his home town of Totatiche. He took a special interest in the evangelization of the local indigenous Huichol people and founded a mission for them. When government persecution of the Catholic Church began and the seminaries were closed, he opened a small local “auxiliary seminary.” He wrote and preached against armed rebellion but was falsely accused of promoting the Cristero rebellion. He was arrested on 21 May 1927 while on the way to celebrate Mass at a farm. He was executed without a trial, but not before giving his remaining possessions to his executioners and giving them absolution.
With him are celebrated 24 other Mexican martyrs of the early 20th century.
See the article in Wikipedia.
Other saints: St Eugène de Mazenod (1782 - 1861)
Canada, Denmark
He was born at Aix-en-Provence in the south of France and had to flee together with his family when the French Revolution broke out. He returned in 1802 in a penniless and uncertain state, but after a period of depression he began to develop a concern for the French Church, which had been attacked and half destroyed by the Revolution. He discerned a vocation to the priesthood and was ordained in 1811.
He returned to Aix-en-Provence and lived as a wandering priest with no parish church. He and the companions he gathered round him went from village to village, preaching in Provençal, the language of the people. Facing opposition from the local clergy, Eugène went straight to the Pope and obtained official recognition of the “Oblates of Mary Immaculate,” of which he was then elected Superior General. He continued to guide the order until his death.
He was appointed auxiliary bishop of Marseilles in 1832, provoking a furious and debilitating five-year diplomatic row with the French government. At length he became Bishop of Marseilles in 1837, on the retirement of his predecessor. He continued to rebuild the strength of the French Church, and the Oblates of Mary Immaculate were persuaded to send missionaries to other parts of the world, so that they are now active in 68 countries.
See the biography on the Vatican web site.Other saints: St Eugène de Mazenod (1782 - 1861)
Canada, Denmark
He was born at Aix-en-Provence in the south of France and had to flee together with his family when the French Revolution broke out. He returned in 1802 in a penniless and uncertain state, but after a period of depression he began to develop a concern for the French Church, which had been attacked and half destroyed by the Revolution. He discerned a vocation to the priesthood and was ordained in 1811.
He returned to Aix-en-Provence and lived as a wandering priest with no parish church. He and the companions he gathered round him went from village to village, preaching in Provençal, the language of the people. Facing opposition from the local clergy, Eugène went straight to the Pope and obtained official recognition of the “Oblates of Mary Immaculate,” of which he was then elected Superior General. He continued to guide the order until his death.
He was appointed auxiliary bishop of Marseilles in 1832, provoking a furious and debilitating five-year diplomatic row with the French government. At length he became Bishop of Marseilles in 1837, on the retirement of his predecessor. He continued to rebuild the strength of the French Church, and the Oblates of Mary Immaculate were persuaded to send missionaries to other parts of the world, so that they are now active in 68 countries.
See the biography on the Vatican web site.
Gospel John 15:1-8 I am the vine, you are the branchesI am the vine, you are the branches
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine dresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch, and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.’
Reflection on the engraving
Our Gospel today is drawn from John’s account of Jesus’ words to His disciples on the night before He died. In his final moments, Jesus seeks to reassure them that, even beyond His death and resurrection, He will remain deeply united with them. The image He offers of the vine and the branches beautifully expresses the closeness of this communion, not only with His apostles but with each one of us. Just as branches cannot survive apart from the vine, so too we cannot truly live without remaining connected to Christ, the source of our life.
Yet, so often it is we who sever that connection. We convince ourselves that we can manage alone, relying on our own strength, drifting away from the very One who sustains us. But Jesus’ invitation is constant and merciful: to return, to be grafted back onto the vine, where life flows freely. When we reattach ourselves to Him, through prayer, the sacraments, and daily trust, we begin to bear fruit again and grow into the people God has lovingly called us to be.
his theme of reconnection is echoed, perhaps unexpectedly, in our mid-18th-century engraving after François Boucher, where three playful putti hold branches of a vine. While originally intended as a light-hearted allegory of Autumn, we can read it with the eyes of faith, as a quiet illustration of our own spiritual journey. Like those putti holding the detached branches, we too can find ourselves holding parts of a life disconnected from its true source. But Christ, the true vine, never tires of calling us back. The image becomes more than decoration; it becomes a reminder that apart from Him, we can do nothing and we can pray for the angles to bring us back to the vine and reattach us.
In a world, much like Boucher’s France, often distracted by surface beauty and fleeting pleasures, we are invited to seek something deeper. As we reflect on this Gospel, let it be a call to examine where we may have drifted, where pride or self-reliance has cut us off from His grace and His vine.
Three Cupids Playing with Vine Branches,
Engraving by Louis Félix de la Rue (1731–1765),
After François Boucher (1703-1770),
Mid 18th century
Etching and engraving on paper
