8th May 2016 - EWTN: Interview with - Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

On this weeks programme John is joined by Paul MacAree who is an associate producer with EWTN Ireland to tell us about the story of Mother Angelica and her creation of one of the largest religious radio and tv stations in the world.

On the blog we have our regular Sunday gospel reflections and links. In Ireland this Sunday is the Solemnity of the Lords Ascension.

You can listen to the podcast of this weeks programme HERE.

Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN)

Paul MacAree Associate Producer with EWTN Ireland tells us the story of Mother Angelica and her creation of the largest religious Radio & TV station in the world with a viewing of over 240 million worldwide 24/7.

 

When Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) was launched on August 15, 1981, many felt there would be little demand for a Catholic network. Now, in its 33rd year, EWTN has become the largest religious media network in the world, transmitting programming 24 hours a day to more than 230 million homes in 144 countries and territories on more than 4,800 cable systems, wireless cable, Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), low power TV and individual satellite users.

 

EWTN Global Catholic Network airs family and religious programming from a Catholic point of view in English and Spanish. Providing more than 80% original programming, EWTN offers inspiring talk shows, entertaining children's animation, exclusive teaching series, live coverage of Church events, and thought-provoking documentaries.

 

Beyond the broadcast vision, however, first and foremost, the spiritual heart of the EWTN mission is to bring the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, to all. The religious centers of the network are visited daily by pilgrims who travel to Irondale to worship in the chapel or visit the breathtakingly beautiful Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama. Visitors of all faiths are invited to "come away by yourself to a quiet place, and rest awhile" (Mark 6:31) and to pray before the Most Blessed Sacrament, adored and loved perpetually by the cloistered nuns now living at Our Lady of Angels Monastery in Hanceville or by the faithful in Irondale.

 

Without making plans for the future, Mother Angelica, relying completely on Divine Providence, believes in going "where God opens the door." It is that deep and constant faith in the Lord, which has called Mother Angelica to act on God's invitation to do the impossible, through Him, who accomplishes the miraculous.

Interview with Paul MacAree excerpted from the main programme podcast HERE.

 

Links:

• EWTN USA
• EWTN Ireland
• EWTN on Facebook

Gospel - Luke 24:46-53 - Ascension of the Lord

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer

and rise from the dead on the third day

and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins,

would be preached in his name

to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

You are witnesses of these things.

And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you;

but stay in the city

until you are clothed with power from on high.”

 

Then he led them out as far as Bethany,

raised his hands, and blessed them.

As he blessed them he parted from them

and was taken up to heaven.

They did him homage

and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy,

and they were continually in the temple praising God.

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
English Dominicans
Centre for Liturgy
Sunday Reflections

Pope St. Leo the Great:

“Since the Ascension of Christ is our elevation, and since, where the glory of the Head has preceded its, there hope for the body is also invited, let us exult, dearly beloved, with worthy joy and be glad with a holy thanksgiving. Today we are estab­lished not only as possessors of Paradise, but we have even pen­etrated the heights of the heavens in Christ, prepared more fully for it through the indescribable grace of Christ which we had lost through the ill will of the devil.”

 

• Thinking Faith - Articles from their archive on the Ascension
• Crux - Ascension isn’t Jesus ‘on sabbatical’ until Second Coming
• WoF - Bishop Barron on Why the Ascension of Jesus Matters
• Up From the Footprint of God: Ascension Thoughts - Christ, raised and glorified, has gone to his Father to watch for us, wait for us and welcome us. But the saga is not over
• We Are Sent – The Ascension of the Lord
• Vatican Radio - Musical meditation focused on the second mystery of the Rosary - The Ascension of the Lord

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours - psalter week 3; 7th week of Easter

Saints of the Week
May 9th - Saint Sanctan of Kill-da-Les
May 10th - St Comgall
May 11th - Blessed John Rochester
May 12th - St Nerues and St Achilleus
May 13th - Our Lady of Fatima
May 14th - St Matthias
May 15th - Saint Isidore the Farmer