THE PLACE TO BE - One Bread, One Body, 05/01/2026

Friday, May 1, 2026, St. Joseph the Worker

Acts 13:26-33
Psalm 2:6-11
John 14:1-6

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THE PLACE TO BE
“I am indeed going to prepare a place for you.” —John 14:3

In building His Church (Mt 16:18), Jesus has prepared a place for each of us. This is the place for which we were created. In this place, our hearts will not be troubled (see Jn 14:1). In our place in the Body of Christ, the Church, we will see the power and the glory of God. In our place, we will, by God’s grace and our faith, do greater things than Jesus did (Jn 14:12). Most of us will serve the Lord and His Church for many years. After being good and faithful servants in our place in His Church (Mt 25:21, 23), we will see Jesus keep His promise to “come back to take” us to our final resting place in heaven (Jn 14:3).

Therefore, love Jesus and His Church (Eph 5:25). Know your part in Christ’s Body in as much detail as possible. “Take your place” in the Church faithfully and fully (Acts 5:20). Rejoice to be who you are in Christ and in His Body. Proclaim that Jesus has prepared a place in His Church for everyone. No one need waste his life by doing his own thing. We don’t have to be “out of place.” Jesus, by His death, Resurrection, Ascension, and gift of the Holy Spirit, has made a place for us. Alleluia!

Prayer: Father, thank You for the uniqueness and perfection of Your plan for me (see Heb 11:40).

Promise: “We ourselves announce to you the good news that what God promised our fathers He has fulfilled for us, their children, in raising up Jesus.” —Acts 13:32-33

Praise: The memorial of St. Joseph the Worker was proclaimed by Pope Pius XII in 1955 to honor the dignity of human labor through the patronage of St. Joseph, who worked for decades to support the Holy Family. Praise God for the humble faithfulness of St. Joseph.

(For a related teaching on Job Performance for Jesus, view, order or download our leaflet on our website.)

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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant the "Nihil Obstat" ("Permission to Publish") for "One Bread, One Body."

"In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from April 1, 2026, through May 31, 2026. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio October 22, 2025"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.

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You can find One Bread, One Body archives, the letter to readers, OBOB eBook edition, and an online donation form at http://www.presentationministries.com/series/obob

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SENT, NOT WENT - One Bread, One Body, 04/30/2026

Thursday, April 30, 2026, Pope St. Pius V

Acts 13:13-25
Psalm 89:2-3, 21-22, 25, 27
John 13:16-20

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SENT, NOT WENT
“I solemnly assure you, he who accepts anyone I send accepts Me, and in accepting Me accepts Him Who sent Me.”—John 13:20

The Father sent the Son to reveal His love for the world (Jn 3:16). In the same way, we are sent to reveal the Father’s love. The Father sent the Son to preach the good news of liberation and restoration to the poor (Lk 4:18). We likewise follow His example (see 1 Pt 2:21).

The Father sent Jesus to do good works and heal “all who were in the grip of the devil” (Acts 10:38). The Father sends us to do the works of Jesus “and greater far than these” (Jn 14:12). The Father sent the Son to die and rise; so we die to ourselves, take up our cross daily (Lk 9:23), and share in Jesus’ resurrection.

Christians don’t do their own thing or go their own way. They go only where they are sent by the Lord. They go to the highways and byways (see Lk 14:23) and “even to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Eventually, the Father sends them to their death and resurrection.

We at Presentation Ministries encourage you to attend Mass frequently, even daily if possible.  The word “Mass” means “sent.”  As you attend Mass, let the Lord send you as He sees fit.

Prayer: Father, “here I am...send me” anywhere (Is 6:8).

Promise: “The favors of the Lord I will sing forever; through all generations my mouth shall proclaim Your faithfulness.”—Ps 89:2

Praise: Pope St. Pius V published a new breviary and a new Missal. Reform of liturgical worship for the glory of God was always near to his heart.

(Set aside some time this summer to grow closer to the Lord. See www.presentationministries.com for our summer schedule of retreats.)

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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant the "Nihil Obstat" ("Permission to Publish") for "One Bread, One Body."

"In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from April 1, 2026, through May 31, 2026. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio October 22, 2025"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.

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You can find One Bread, One Body archives, the letter to readers, OBOB eBook edition, and an online donation form at http://www.presentationministries.com/series/obob

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ALL CHRISTIANS ARE MISSIONARIES - One Bread, One Body, 04/29/2026

Wednesday, April 29, 2026, St. Catherine of Siena

Acts 12:24—13:5
Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6, 8
John 12:44-50

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ALL CHRISTIANS ARE MISSIONARIES
“May the peoples praise You, O God; may all the peoples praise You!” —Psalm 67:6

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He commanded us to “make disciples of all the nations” (Mt 28:19) and to be His witnesses “even to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). When the Holy Spirit spoke to the church of Antioch, He commanded it to set apart Sts. Barnabas and Saul to go on the first missionary journey (Acts 13:2).

God has made it clear that every Christian by definition is a missionary. Thus, we make ourselves the slaves “of all so as to win over as many as possible” (1 Cor 9:19). We make ourselves “all things to all men in order to save at least some of them” (1 Cor 9:22). In fact, we do all that we “do for the sake of the gospel” (1 Cor 9:23). With Jesus, we “have come to light a fire on the earth. How [we] wish the blaze were ignited!” (Lk 12:49)

Missionary of Jesus Christ, complete your mission. Jesus is waiting for the Good News of His kingdom to “be proclaimed throughout the world” (Mt 24:14). Then He will come back to earth and take His missionaries with Him.

Prayer: Father, give me missionary zeal.

Promise: “I have come to the world as its Light, to keep anyone who believes in Me from remaining in the dark.” —Jn 12:46

Praise: Three Dominican priests were kept busy hearing the confessions of those people whom St. Catherine of Siena had urged to reform their lives.

(To learn more about the Bible and to be a more fruitful missionary, we have several series of audio teachings. To start, consider listening to, downloading, or ordering our audio teachings on the whole book of Matthew, AV 700, 701, 702 and 703 on our website.)

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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant the "Nihil Obstat" ("Permission to Publish") for "One Bread, One Body."

"In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from April 1, 2026, through May 31, 2026. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio October 22, 2025"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.

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You can find One Bread, One Body archives, the letter to readers, OBOB eBook edition, and an online donation form at http://www.presentationministries.com/series/obob

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THE PLAIN TRUTH - One Bread, One Body, 04/28/2026

Tuesday, April 28, 2026, St. Peter Chanel
St. Louis Mary de Montfort

Acts 11:19-26
Psalm 87:1-7
John 10:22-30

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THE PLAIN TRUTH
“ ‘How long are You going to keep us in suspense? If You really are the Messiah, tell us so in plain words.’ Jesus answered: ‘I did tell you, but you did not believe.’ ” —John 10:24-25

There have been skeptics in every age. There have always been people with a “hard and impenitent heart” (Rm 2:5), who “refuse to believe” (Jn 10:26). These people are the rock-hard ground on which God’s Word falls (Mk 4:4, 15). Yet, while walking in the forest, I have often seen large trees growing directly out of huge rocks. Even the hardest hearts can be cracked open by the Word of God, which is “like a hammer shattering rocks” (Jer 23:29).

We only have a short lifetime on this earth in which to believe in Jesus — or not. Moreover, we only have a short time on this earth to bear fruit for the kingdom of God. “The time is short” (1 Cor 7:29). “The world as we know it is passing away” (1 Cor 7:31). Therefore, it is absolutely vital to believe the testimony of Jesus, Who speaks with authority (see Jn 5:31-39).

We who believe in Jesus urgently need to receive His love and then share our testimony of what He has done in our lives. We who believe in Jesus are His voice, His hands, and His feet, as St. Teresa of Avila said.

Let Jesus use you to spread the plain truth, to speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15), even to the fiercest skeptics. “Do whatever He tells you” (Jn 2:5). Then tell whatever He does.

Prayer: Father, I am all Yours. Do whatever You must in me in order to do whatever You will through my life.

Promise: “No one shall snatch [My sheep] out of My hand.”—Jn 10:28

Praise: St. Louis’ greatest work, True Devotion to Mary, lay hidden for over a hundred years after his death. After the persecutions ended, a priest found the manuscript and published it.

(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant the "Nihil Obstat" ("Permission to Publish") for "One Bread, One Body."

"In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from April 1, 2026, through May 31, 2026. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio October 22, 2025"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.

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You can find One Bread, One Body archives, the letter to readers, OBOB eBook edition, and an online donation form at http://www.presentationministries.com/series/obob

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DO YOU HEAR THE SPIRIT? - One Bread, One Body, 04/27/2026

Monday, April 27, 2026,

Acts 11:1-18
Psalm 42:2-3; 43:3-4
John 10:11-18

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DO YOU HEAR THE SPIRIT?
“The Spirit instructed me to accompany them without hesitation.” —Acts 11:12

“The Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go and catch up with that carriage’ ” (Acts 8:29). When the church of Antioch was worshipping and fasting, “the Holy Spirit spoke to them” (Acts 13:2). After a meeting in Jerusalem regarding Gentile Christians, the leaders of the Church concluded: “It is the decision of the Holy Spirit, and ours too” (Acts 15:28). It wasn’t that the first Christians had a “hot line” to the Holy Spirit, because sometimes they missed the messages from the Holy Spirit (see Acts 16:6, 7). Nonetheless, the first Christians lived by the belief that the Holy Spirit was speaking to them and that they were usually listening for and hearing His messages.

How often do you openly say or consciously think that the Holy Spirit is directing you? Are you baptized, immersed in the Spirit? Is the Spirit on your mind, in your heart, and on the tip of your tongue? Are you filled with the Spirit? Do you hear the Spirit better than you did last year? What have you done to improve your spiritual hearing? Do you even hear things from the Holy Spirit that are contrary to what you would naturally want to hear?

The Spirit is our Teacher (Jn 14:26), Guide (Jn 16:13), and God. Therefore, we must let Him help us hear Him.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, break through my spiritual deafness. “Let him who has ears heed the Spirit’s word to the churches!” (Rv 2:7)

Promise: “There shall be one flock then, one Shepherd.”—Jn 10:16

Praise: The Holy Spirit put a desire in Patricia’s heart to regularly read the Bible.

(For a related teaching on Hearing God, view, download or order our leaflet or listen to, download or order AV 45-1 or V 45.)

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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant the "Nihil Obstat" ("Permission to Publish") for "One Bread, One Body."

"In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from April 1, 2026, through May 31, 2026. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio October 22, 2025"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.

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You can find One Bread, One Body archives, the letter to readers, OBOB eBook edition, and an online donation form at http://www.presentationministries.com/series/obob

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VOICE RECOGNITION - One Bread, One Body, 04/26/2026

Sunday, April 26, 2026, Fourth Sunday of Easter

Acts 2:14, 36-41
1 Peter 2:20-25
Psalm 23:1-6
John 10:1-10
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VOICE RECOGNITION
“They recognize His voice.” —John 10:4

Before most phones had caller ID, you couldn’t know who was calling until you heard the caller’s voice. If the caller was your mother, you only needed a few seconds to be certain she was the person speaking to you; that recognition came from the relationship you had with her. You learned the sound of her voice by spending time with her.

Similarly, you must spend time listening to Jesus to be able to “recognize His voice” (Jn 10:4). How do you do this?

• Repent of all sin. Sin blocks our hearing. Repentance, and especially the Sacrament of Confession, opens up our ears.
• Turn off the voices of the world, many of which are “a stranger’s voice” (Jn 10:5). Practice regular silence. God speaks in the silence (see 1 Kgs 19:12ff). Each day, pray: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” (see 1 Sm 3:10).
• Read the Bible daily, especially the Gospels. “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 133).
• Go to Mass as often as possible, even daily. At every Mass, a reading from the Gospel is proclaimed. This is a prime way to learn Jesus’ voice.
• Stay in the sheepfold, the Church. In that safety, you’ll hear His voice better (see Jn 10:3).
• Set aside a regular time and place to intentionally listen to the Lord. For many, morning is a primary time to listen for the voice of the Shepherd (see Is 50:4). Be quiet and listen (see Ps 46:10, RSV-CE). Persevere. He’ll do the rest.

Prayer: Lord, open my ears that I may hear You (Ps 40:7).

Promise: “By His wounds you were healed.” —1 Pt 2:24

Praise: All praise and glory to You, risen Jesus, Good Shepherd. Be exalted and glorified forever.

(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant the "Nihil Obstat" ("Permission to Publish") for "One Bread, One Body."

"In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from April 1, 2026, through May 31, 2026. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio October 22, 2025"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.

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You can find One Bread, One Body archives, the letter to readers, OBOB eBook edition, and an online donation form at http://www.presentationministries.com/series/obob

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FROM RUNNING AWAY TO RUNNING OVER (Ps 23:5) - One Bread, One Body, 04/25/2026

Saturday, April 25, 2026, St. Mark

1 Peter 5:5-14
Psalm 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17
Mark 16:15-20

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FROM RUNNING AWAY TO RUNNING OVER (Ps 23:5)
“Mark my son…” —1 Peter 5:13

St. Mark has been traditionally identified with the scared young disciple in the garden of Gethsemane who ran off naked when the guards tried to arrest him: “With that, all deserted [Jesus] and fled. There was a young man following Him who was covered by nothing but a linen cloth. As they seized him he left the cloth behind and ran off naked” (Mk 14:50-52). Additionally, St. Mark has been identified with John Mark, who ran off from the first missionary journey and returned to Jerusalem (Acts 12:25; 13:13). St. Paul even considered Mark “not fit” for another missionary journey since “he had deserted them” during the first missionary journey (Acts 15:37-39). Can you imagine bearing such a tainted reputation that a leader would consider you unfit for ministry?

Mark also may not have had much fathering, possibly indicated by only his mother being mentioned in the Bible (Acts 12:12). However, St. Barnabas, Mark’s cousin (Col 4:10), provided “fathering” for Mark. Barnabas stood up for Mark so strongly that he and Paul separated (Acts 15:38-39). Barnabas took Mark on a separate missionary journey (Acts 15:39). Mark also was fathered by St. Peter, who called Mark “my son” (1 Pt 5:13). Eventually, Mark proved his worth even to St. Paul, who said that the matured Mark “can be of great service to me” (2 Tm 4:11).

Do you have a past filled with fearfully running away from problems? Did you lack godly fathering? Be encouraged by the life of St. Mark. He rose above his problems, trusted in God, and became a mighty evangelist.

Prayer: Father, “when I begin to fear, in You will I trust” (Ps 56:4).

Promise: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the good news to all creation.” —Mk 16:15

Praise: Tradition holds that St. Mark was martyred for his faith by being dragged through the streets. St. Mark, pray for us.

(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant the "Nihil Obstat" ("Permission to Publish") for "One Bread, One Body."

"In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from April 1, 2026, through May 31, 2026. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio October 22, 2025"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.

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You can find One Bread, One Body archives, the letter to readers, OBOB eBook edition, and an online donation form at http://www.presentationministries.com/series/obob

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