Introduction to Lauds for the Memorial of St. Pius V - Pope. (Feastday April 30)

This introduction is based on the Psalter of Week 1 - Tuesday.  
'He shall receive blessings from the Lord
and reward from the God who saves him.
Such are the men who seek him,
seek the face of the God of Jacob'. [Ps. 23 (24) :5-6]Today we celebrate the Memorial of St. Pius V. A man who was ordained a priest at the age of 24 and for 16 years devoted himself to the teaching of philosophy and theology. A man of solid piety and self-discipline. He passed long night hours in prayer and, when travel was necessary, went on foot in silence and without a cloak.

In his personal life as a Pope, he continued the practices of virtue that he had followed as a monk and, notwithstanding his great burden of work, twice daily took time-out for meditation before the Blessed Sacrament. To the poor he distributed generous alms, and the sick received his visits and personal ministrations in the hospitals.
We can be guilty sometime, having Jesus at our block (seminary grounds), churches or at chapels in the form of the Eucharist and we visit Him only at strict visitations. We bargain our time with Him. Pope Pius V recognized the need to seek the face of Jesus. He learned how to drain strength from God by seeking His face in the Blessed Sacrament and from the poor, sick and the needy.

Jesus is in our midst; He is here present in the Blessed Sacrament, in our prayer room, in our classrooms, in our rooms, our workplace. He is very much present in our community. We see His face at mealtime, classes, at games and in all places and situations.

Let us then pray, that like St. Pius V we may seek the face of God in all situations, mainly seek Him in one another.