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Saint Gertrude Parish - Lasne
May 17, 2026
On this page you will find:
The readings for Mass, the Mass leaflet with the choice of hymns
A sample universal prayer available for download, in PDF and editable Word formats.
A meditation on the Sunday Gospel, a spiritual text and commentary by Marie-Noëlle Thabut
7th Sunday of Easter
World Day of Social Communications.
Jesus and the apostles on the Mount of Olives, St. Matthew's Church in Stitar, Croatia
Eternal life,
It's because they know you.
You, the only true God,
and the one you sent,
Jesus Christ.
John 17:3
Readings from the Mass
Mass leaflet
Universal Prayer
In 2020, Pope Francis invited us to celebrate World Communications Day, which that year focused on the theme of storytelling . He urged us with these words: "May this event encourage us to tell and share constructive stories that help us understand that we are all part of a story larger than ourselves and that we can look to the future with hope if we truly care for one another as brothers and sisters." We recommend reading his message!
Link below
Consult the Lectio Divina page, which invites you to read the Gospel in a prayerful atmosphere so that you may be touched in your heart. It is important not to rush to read commentaries or homilies before having this personal experience of encountering Christ in Scripture.
Next, if you wish, you can read the meditations below which will enrich your personal reading and meditation.
Meditation of Pope Benedict XVI
Dear brothers and sisters!
Forty days after the Resurrection—according to the Book of Acts—Jesus ascended into heaven, that is, he returned to the Father, who had sent him into the world. In many countries, this mystery is celebrated not on Thursday, but today, the following Sunday. The Ascension of the Lord marks the fulfillment of the salvation that began with the Incarnation. After instructing his disciples for the last time, Jesus ascends into Heaven (cf. Mk 16:19). But “he did not separate himself from our condition” (cf. Preface); indeed, in his humanity, he drew humanity to himself into the intimacy of the Father, thus revealing the final destination of our earthly pilgrimage. Just as for us he descended from Heaven, suffered, and died on the cross, so for us he rose again and ascended to God, who is therefore no longer far away. Saint Leo the Great explains that through this mystery, “not only the immortality of the soul but also that of the flesh” are proclaimed. Today, in fact, not only are we in possession of paradise, but we have also entered into Jesus Christ in the heights of heaven” (De Ascensione Domini, Tractatus 73, 2.4: ccl 138 A, 451, 453). Therefore, the disciples, seeing their Master rise from the earth and ascend upward, were not overcome by discouragement, as one might expect; on the contrary, they experienced great joy and felt compelled to proclaim Christ’s victory over death (cf. Mk 16:20). And the risen Lord acted with them, bestowing upon each a personal charism. Saint Paul also writes: "He gave gifts to men... He also gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, some to be pastors and teachers... for the building up of the Body of Christ... in the prime of life, which brings about the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:8, 11-13).
Dear friends, the Ascension tells us that in Jesus Christ, our humanity is raised to the level of God; thus, every time we pray, the earth reaches Heaven. And just as the smoke of incense rises when it burns, so too, when we confidently raise our prayer to Jesus Christ, it passes through the heavens and reaches God himself, where it is heard and answered by Him. In the famous work of Saint John of the Cross, The Ascent of Mount Carmel, we read that “the best way to see the desires of our hearts fulfilled is to focus all the strength of our prayer on what pleases God most. He will then give us not only what we ask of Him, that is, salvation, but also what, according to Him, is suitable for us and what He judges good for us, even if we do not ask Him” (Book III, chap. 44, 2, Rome 1991, 335).
Finally, let us beseech the Virgin Mary, that she may help us to contemplate the heavenly blessings that the Lord promises us, and to become ever more credible witnesses of his Resurrection, of true Life.
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BENEDICT XVI
REGINA CÆLI
Sunday, May 20, 2012
( Video )
Homily
Draw from the source
Between the Ascension and Pentecost, this Sunday may go unnoticed by many. And yet, it holds very important good news. Today's biblical readings speak of the Church being born. It is a Church in prayer. Present are the apostles, the women who accompanied Jesus during his ministry, and members of his family. For them, this is significant because a great mission awaits them.
This is also important for us: before making life-changing decisions, we begin with a time of prayer. This is true for a young man preparing for priesthood. He goes to a monastery for a few days of retreat. It is also true for couples preparing for marriage. Whatever our commitments, we all need these times of prayer. They allow us to align ourselves with what God expects of us. It is his love that the world must be able to recognize in us.
In this nascent Church, Saint Luke emphasizes the place of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. She was present among the apostles; she is also present in the Church today. We could not dream of a better companion. Today, as in the past, she is there to lead us back to Christ and his Gospel. She constantly tells us: “Do whatever he tells you.” And what Jesus tells us is to draw from the Source of living water that is in God.
In today's Gospel, it is Jesus who is praying; it all begins with these words: "Father, glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you." This saying is sometimes misunderstood. In our world, glory is fame. Many are ready to do anything to promote themselves and obtain honorary distinctions. In the Bible, it is something quite different: glory is the true value of a person, their worth. Saint Paul tells us this in his own way: "If I do not have love, I am nothing."
This prayer of Jesus shows us his complete communion with his Father. They are bound to one another by an eternal communion. The Gospels tell us that Jesus sometimes spent entire nights praying to his Father. This union surpasses anything we can experience on our own level. It shows us the intensity of Jesus' prayer, and we are filled with wonder. What is extraordinary is that he wants to involve us all in this prayer. It is with him that we discover the joy of prayer. In fact, it is not we who pray, but Christ who prays within us.
This Sunday's Gospel shows us Jesus at a crucial moment in his life. He is preparing to "pass from this world to his Father." His death on the cross will not be a failure but an "exaltation." It will be the great victory of love over death and sin. Today, he gives thanks for these wonders. He acknowledges the faith of his disciples who welcomed him as the Father's Envoy and who have kept his words. He intercedes for them because they will "remain" in the world. There, they will have the task of continuing his mission and his work.
This is the message being conveyed to a Church in its infancy. It is a Church that is suffering. We find Christians there who are persecuted because of their faith in Christ. The Apostle Peter (second reading) reminds them that this trial is what leads them to glory. They should rejoice because "the Spirit of glory, the Spirit of Jesus," rests upon them. The disciples of the Risen Lord follow his path. This path leads through suffering, but it leads to joy.
With Mary and with the whole Church, we turn to Christ. We prepare ourselves to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit. We can ask him to transform us into a truly fervent community of prayer. It is from him that we will draw the strength and courage we need to overcome trials. And may Mary, the Mother of God, teach us to live "for the glory of God and the salvation of the world." Amen
Understanding the readings
with Marie-Noëlle THABUT
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