Collect taken from the Memorial of Sts. Philip and James, Apostles
Collect: O God, who gladden us each year with the feast day of the Apostles Philip and James, grant us, through their prayers, a share in the Passion and Resurrection of your Only Begotten Son, so that we may merit to behold you for eternity. Through our Lord Jesus Christ…
“O God, who gladden us each year with the feast day of the Apostles Philip and James“
– Simply put, the fact that the Apostles existed and the fact that we have a feast in their honor should make us glad. And, we should be grateful to God for that gladness.
“grant us, through their prayers, a share in the Passion and Resurrection of your Only Begotten Son, so that we may merit to behold you for eternity”
– As apostles, these two had a preeminent share in the passion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but all Christians are called to share in that same mystery. While sharing in the crucifixion doesn’t always sound appealing, our motivation is that it is the only way that we will share in the eternal joy of the vision of God. Beholding God for eternity is heaven – it means no boredom, no fear or doubt, no pain, and joy unimaginably greater than our happiest moments here on earth.
Questions & Advice: Do you allow the Church’s feast days to be celebrations in your own life? How much do you know about the beatific vision we will have in heaven? If you want the joy of heaven, are you willing to share in the cross?
Do something celebratory for the sake of this feast day; Perhaps offer a toast to the apostles at dinner. Focus some of your daily prayer time on the importance of sharing in Christ’s passion. Look ahead and see the next feast or solemnity – consider offering a small fast before in order to more fully enter into the practice of feasting.
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| Sancti Philippe et Iacobe, orate pro nobis! |