Let Freedom Ring: Freedom from SlothMy Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, At a word from You the devil and his minions flee in terror. You are the source of all truth. You are the source of all strength. By the power of your Cross and Resurrection, we beseech You, O Lord To extend Your saving arm and to send Your holy angels To defend us as we do battle with Satan and his demonic forces. Exorcise, we pray, that which oppresses Your Bride, The Church, So that within ourselves, our families, our parishes, our dioceses, and our nation We may turn fully back to You in all fidelity and trust. Lord, we know if You will it, it will be done. Give us the perseverance for this mission, we pray. Amen Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception...pray for us St. Joseph...pray for us St. Michael the Archangel...pray for us (the patron of your parish )... pray for us (your confirmation saint)...pray for us "Freedom from Sloth" by Fr. Bill Peckman Here we are at the end of 40 days of prayer, fasting, and abstinence, asking for God to purge all demonic influences from our lives and lives of the Church. If we have been faithful to the program of prayer and fasting/abstinence, we should have begun a new way of life where we can incorporate such things into our daily routines. Forty days is hardly sufficient to cast all diabolic activity from our lives, our society, and within our Church. What we hope to do is start new and better habits. Fr. Heilman wrote a wonderful column on acedia, the slothfulness we often display to spiritual matters. Certainly, we will experience temptation to backtrack on our renewed spiritual vigor. As I tell my parishioners at the beginning of Lent, "the point of the next 40 days isn't to make yourself uncomfortable and miserable for the sake of making yourself uncomfortable and miserable." Instead, we have committed ourselves to detachment from the diabolical, much the same way an excellent athlete commits to a workout regimen, or the way a scholar commits to their academics. The goal is to become stronger, and through prayer and fasting, holier. However, sloth can be a sneaky demonic presence. It is an unwillingness to exert effort or to work. Sloth sees comfort as an end goal, so it leads us to steal time and energy from our jobs, families, and faith in the interest of self. It can lead us to procrastination and half-heartedly attending to the duties that others count on us doing. The failure to challenge oneself, or to completely abandon one's responsibilities, has spiritual effects that I often liken to its physical and intellectual counterparts. For example, if we are slothful on the physical front, it leads to poor health, loss of muscle mass, and obesity. The body must be taken care of. It must be correctly fed and exercised to stay strong and healthy. Sloth in the physical realm can have a grave cost. If we are slothful in the intellectual realm, not only do we not grow smarter, but we also lose knowledge that we had prior gained. This can have devastating consequences on a person who is in school (ex. grades) or in the workplace. Sloth eats away at any strength or success that might be gained in the physical or intellectual realms. As remarked in the column of acedia, sloth in the spiritual realm leads to a denigration of the spiritual life and breaks down, and distances us in, our relationship with God. Sloth is ultimately another form of selfishness. To fight this deadly sin, we must look to the cardinal virtue of justice. Justice helps us to assume our responsibilities and to give to others what is rightfully due. Justice leads us away from a slavish devotion to comfort and provokes us to use our God-given abilities and talents for a greater good. It encourages us to treat those tools God has blessed us with (body, mind, and soul) in such a way as to be able to fulfill our purpose. It helps us take care of all aspects of ourselves. Justice helps us be wise and steadfast stewards of God's gifts in our lives, and to be diligent in the duties and relationships we are called to live in. The purpose of our exercise in prayer, fasting, and abstinence has been to detach ourselves from worldly comfort, looking to another and higher goal. At the end of these 40 days, let us remember the motto of Bl. Pier Giorgio Frasatti, "verso l'alto" (to the heights), and let the good habits we have engaged in lead us to a greater holiness and life in Christ. Prayer of Reparation My Lord and my God, we have allowed the temptation of the devil to move our hearts to sloth, laziness, and disordered love of ease. We have allowed ourselves to be negligent and unjust to those around us. We have allowed ourselves to squander the great gifts You have given us of our minds, bodies, and souls. We have expected You to turn a blind eye to our sloth and reward our lack of justice. We have, at times, been a source of scandal for those searching through our sinfulness and rebellion to You. In our fear, we have allowed the ancient foe to advance. We turn to You Lord, in our sorrow and guilt, and beg Your forgiveness for sloth in all its forms. We beg for the grace of Your goodness to build up within us what You sought to build up in Your apostles in that tempest-tossed boat. We know Lord, if You will it, it will be done. Trusting in You, we offer our prayer to You who live and reign forever. Amen. Prayer of Exorcism Lord God of heaven and earth, in Your power and goodness, You created all things. You set a path for us to walk on and a way to an eternal relationship. By the strength of Your arm and Word of Your mouth, cast from Your Holy Church every fearful deceit of the devil. Drive from us manifestations of the demonic that oppress us and beckon us to sloth. Still the lying tongue of the devil and his forces so that we may act freely and faithfully to Your will. Send Your holy angels to cast out all influence that the demonic entities in charge of sloth have planted in Your Church. Free us, our families, our parish, our diocese, and our country from all trickery and deceit perpetrated by the devil and his hellish legions. Trusting in Your goodness Lord, we know if You will it, it will be done, in unity with Your Son and the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever. Amen. Litany of the Most Blessed Sacrament Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. R. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy. Christ, hear us. R. Christ, graciously hear us. God the Father of Heaven, R. have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, R. have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit, R. have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, Eternal High Priest of the Eucharistic Sacrifice, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, Divine Victim on the Altar for our salvation, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, hidden under the appearance of bread, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, dwelling in the tabernacles of the world, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, really, truly and substantially present in the Blessed Sacrament, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, abiding in Your fulness, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, Bread of Life, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, Bread of Angels, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, with us always until the end of the world, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, summit and source of all worship and Christian life, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, sign and cause of the unity of the Church, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, adored by countless angels, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, spiritual food, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, Sacrament of love, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, bond of charity, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, greatest aid to holiness, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, gift and glory of the priesthood, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, in which we partake of Christ, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, in which the soul is filled with grace, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, in which we are given a pledge of future glory, R. have mercy on us. Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. For those who do not believe in Your Eucharistic presence, R. have mercy, O Lord. For those who are indifferent to the Sacrament of Your love, R. have mercy on us. For those who have offended You in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar, R. have mercy on us. That we may show fitting reverence when entering Your holy temple, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may make suitable preparation before approaching the Altar, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may receive You frequently in Holy Communion with real devotion and true humility, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may never neglect to thank You for so wonderful a blessing, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may cherish time spent in silent prayer before You, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may grow in knowledge of this Sacrament of sacraments, R. we beseech You, hear us. That all priests may have a profound love of the Holy Eucharist, R. we beseech You, hear us. That they may celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in accordance with its sublime dignity, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may be comforted and sanctified with Holy Viaticum at the hour of our death, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may see You one day face to face in Heaven, R. we beseech You, hear us. Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, O Lord. O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine. Let us pray. Most merciful Father, You continue to draw us to Yourself through the Eucharistic Mystery. Grant us fervent faith in this Sacrament of love, in which Christ the Lord Himself is contained, offered and received. We make this prayer through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. Daily Checklist __ Prayer for Freedom from the Devil __ Daily reflection and prayers __ Litany of the day __ Pray a Rosary __ Divine Mercy Chaplet __ Spiritual or corporal work of mercy __ Fast/abstain (according to level) __ Exercise (according to level/ability) __ Refrain from conventional media (only 1 hr. of social) __ Examination of conscience (confession 1x this week) |
Palm Sunday
John, Chapter 12, verse 14-15:
14 Jesus found an ass and sat
upon it, as is written: 15“FEAR no more, O daughter
Zion; see, your king comes, seated upon an ass’s colt.”
This
verse is referring to our Lord’s entrance into Jerusalem when the people
acknowledged Christ as the Messiah. The daughter of Zion is a term used by the
prophet Zachariah for Jerusalem and according to eastern traditions Kings
traditionally rode on donkeys rather than horses. Another symbol of Christ’s
entrance into Jerusalem is that of the Prince of Peace: He rode in on a donkey
rather than a war horse into a city whose name means peace.
According
to Deut. 17:15 it was forbidden for a King of Israel to acquire horses. Based
on that prohibition, the Israelites didn’t ride horses into battle either, but
were told to rely on the Lord to help them overcome superior enemy forces.
(Deut. 20:1) And Zechariah prophesied that the Messiah-King would enter
Jerusalem on a donkey.[1]
ON KEEPING THE LORDS DAY HOLY[2]
CHAPTER II
DIES CHRISTI
The Day of the Risen Lord
and of the Gift
of the Holy Spirit
The first day of the week
21. It was for this reason that, from
Apostolic times, "the first day after the Sabbath", the first day of
the week, began to shape the rhythm of life for Christ's disciples (cf. 1
Cor 16:2). "The first day after the Sabbath" was also the day
upon which the faithful of Troas were gathered "for the breaking of
bread", when Paul bade them farewell and miraculously restored the young
Eutychus to life (cf. Acts 20:7-12). The Book of Revelation gives evidence
of the practice of calling the first day of the week "the Lord's Day"
(1:10). This would now be a characteristic distinguishing Christians from the
world around them. As early as the beginning of the second century, it was
noted by Pliny the Younger, governor of Bithynia, in his report on the
Christian practice "of gathering together on a set day before sunrise and
singing among themselves a hymn to Christ as to a god".(19) And when
Christians spoke of the "Lord's Day", they did so giving to this term
the full sense of the Easter proclamation: "Jesus Christ is Lord" (Phil
2:11; cf. Acts 2:36; 1 Cor 12:3). Thus Christ was given the same
title which the Septuagint used to translate what in the revelation of the Old
Testament was the unutterable name of God: YHWH.
Palm Sunday[3]
Christ's triumphant entrance into Jerusalem and the account of His Passion according to St. Matthew.
Why is
this day called Palm Sunday?
1. In memory
of the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, when He was received by the
devout people with palms.
2. Because the Church to-day blesses palms, with which a solemn procession is held.
Why are
the palms blessed?
1. To
protect in body and soul those who carry them with devotion.
2. To bless
the dwellings into which the palms are brought.
3. To bring before us how God, by the entrance into Jerusalem with palms, has represented the victory of Jesus over the prince of darkness.
In the Introit of to-day
s Mass the Church reminds us of the sufferings of Our Savior, and says: O Lord,
remove not Thy help to a distance from me, look towards my defense, save me
from the lion’s mouth, and my lowness from the horn of the unicorn. O God, rny
God, look upon me; why hast Thou forsaken me? far from my salvation are the
words of my sin. (Ps. xxi.)
Prayer. O almighty and eternal God, Who
wouldst have Our Savior take flesh and undergo the cross, for man to imitate
the example of His humility, grant, we beseech Thee, that we may both deserve
the instruction of His patience and the fellowship of His resurrection.
EPISTLE. Phil. ii.
5-11.
Brethren:
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who being in the form
of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but emptied Himself,
taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit
found as a man. He humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the
death of the cross. For which cause God also hath exalted Him, and hath given
Him a name which is above all names: that in the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. And
that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of
God the Father.
Instead
of the gospel the passion of Our Lord, taken from the Gospel of St. Matthew
(xxvi., xxvii.), is read during the Mass. At the words, Bowing His head, He
gave up the ghost, the priest and congregation kneel and meditate for a short time
on the mysterious event of the accomplishment of our redemption. At the
blessing of the palms the following gospel is said:
GOSPEL. Matt. xxi.
1-9.
At that time:
When Jesus drew nigh to Jerusalem, and was come to Bethphage, unto Mount
Olivet: then He sent two disciples, saying to them: Go ye into the village that
is over against you, and immediately ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with
her: loose them, and bring them to Me: and if any man shall say anything to
you, say ye that the Lord hath need of them, and forthwith he will let them go.
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the
prophet, saying: Tell ye the daughter of Sion, behold thy King cometh to thee,
meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt, the foal of her that is used to the
yoke. And the disciples going, did as Jesus commanded them. And they brought
the ass and the colt, and laid their garments upon them, and made Him sit
thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way: and
others cut boughs from the trees, and strewed them in the way: and the
multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying: Hosanna to the
Son of David! blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Why did Jesus enter with so much solemnity into Jerusalem?
To present Himself
as the promised Messiah and King of the Jews, whose triumphant entry into
Jerusalem the prophet Zachary had predicted.
Why did the people go to meet Jesus with palms in
their hands? It
was done by a divine inspiration, to show that Jesus, as the victor over death,
Satan, and hell, would gain for us the palm of peace with God, our neighbor,
and ourselves, and that He would open to us the heavenly Jerusalem. And yet
these same people, five days later, desired His death, crying out, Crucify Him!
Learn, therefore, to confide in God alone, and not in man; for he who is with
you to-day may be against you tomorrow. Be cautious, therefore, and watchful,
lest, imitating the changeableness of the people, you at Easter receive your Savior
with joy, and then after a little by new sins crucify Him again (Heb. vi. 6).
THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS
CHRIST
According to Matt. xxvi. and xxvii.
At that time
Jesus said to His disciples: You know that after two days shall be the Pasch,
and the Son of man shall be delivered up to be crucified. Then were gathered
together the chief priests and ancients of the people into the court of the
high priest, who was called Caiphas: and they consulted together, that by
subtilty they might apprehend Jesus and put Him to death. But they said: Not on
the festival-day, lest perhaps there should be a tumult among the people. And
when Jesus was in Bethania, in the house of Simon the leper, there came to Him
a woman having an alabaster box of precious ointment, and poured it on His head
as He was at table. And the disciples seeing it, had indignation, saying: To
what purpose is this waste? for this might have been sold for much, and given
to the poor. And Jesus, knowing it, said to them: Why do you trouble this
woman?
For she hath
wrought a good work upon Me. For the poor you have always with you: but Me you
have not always. For she, in pouring this ointment upon My body, hath done it
for My burial. Amen I say to you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in
the whole world, that also which she hath done shall be told for a memory of
her. Then went one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, to the chief priests.
And said to them: What will you give me, and I will deliver Him unto you?
But they
appointed him thirty pieces of silver. And from thenceforth he sought
opportunity to betray Him. And on the first day of the Azymes the disciples
came to Jesus, saying: Where wilt Thou that we prepare for Thee to eat the
Pasch?
But Jesus said:
Go ye into the city to a certain man, and say to him: The Master saith: My time
is near at hand, with thee I make the Pasch with My disciples. And the
disciples did as Jesus appointed to them, and they prepared the Pasch. But when
it was evening, He sat down with His twelve disciples. And whilst they were
eating, He said: Amen I say to you, that one of you is about to betray Me. And they
being very much troubled, began everyone to say: Is it I, Lord?
But He is
answering, said: He that dippeth his hand with Me in the dish, he shall betray
Me. The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of Him: but wo to that man by
whom the Son of man shall be betrayed: it were better for him if that man had
not been born. And Judas that betrayed Him, answering, said: Is it I, Rabbi?
He saith to him:
Thou hast said it. And whilst they were at supper, Jesus took bread, and
blessed, and broke: and gave to His disciples, and said: Take ye and eat this
is My body. And taking the chalice He gave thanks: and gave to them, saying:
Drink ye all of this. For this is My blood of the New Testament, which shall be
shed for many unto remission of sins. And I say to you I will not drink from
henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I shall drink it with
you in the kingdom of My Father. And a hymn being said, they went out unto
Mount Olivet. Then Jesus saith to them: All you shall be scandalized in Me this
night. For it is written I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock
shall be dispersed. But after I shall be risen again, I will go before you into
Galilee. And Peter answering, said to Him: Although all shall be scandalized in
Thee, I will never be scandalized. Jesus said to him: Amen I say to thee, that
in this night before the cock crow, thou wilt deny Me thrice. Peter saith to
Him: Yea, though I should die with Thee, I will not deny Thee. And in like
manner said all the disciples. Then Jesus came with them into a country place
which is called Gethsemane, and He said to His disciples: Sit you here, till I
go yonder and pray. And taking with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He
began to grow sorrowful and to be sad. Then He saith to them: My soul is
sorrowful even unto death: stay you here and watch with Me. And going a little
further, He fell upon His face, praying and saying: My Father, if it be possible,
let this chalice pass from Me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt.
And He cometh to His disciples, and findeth them asleep, and He saith to Peter:
What! could you not watch one hour with Me?
Watch ye, and
pray that ye enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the
flesh weak. Again, the second time He went and prayed, saying: My Father, if
this chalice may not pass away, but I must drink it. Thy will be done. And He
cometh again, and findeth them sleeping for their eyes were heavy. And leaving
them, He went again: and He prayed the third time, saying the self-same word.
Then He cometh to His disciples and saith to them: Sleep ye now and take your
rest: behold the hour is at hand, and the Son of man shall be betrayed into the
hands of sinners. Rise, let us go behold he is at hand that will betray Me. As
He yet spoke, behold Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great
multitude with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the ancients
of the people. And he that betrayed Him gave them a sign, saying: Whomsoever I
shall kiss, that is He, hold Him fast. And forthwith coming to Jesus, he said:
Hail, Rabbi. And he kissed Him. And Jesus said to him: Friend, whereto art thou
come?
Then they came up
and laid hands on Jesus, and held Him. And behold one of them that were with
Jesus, stretching forth his hand, drew out his sword, and striking the servant
of the high priest, cut off his ear. Then Jesus saith to him: Put up again thy
sword into its place: for all that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Thinkest thou that I cannot ask My Father, and He will give Me presently more
than twelve legions of angels? How then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that
so it must be done?
In that same hour
Jesus said to the multitude: You are come out as it were to a robber with
swords and clubs to apprehend Me. I sat daily with you teaching in the Temple,
and you laid not hands on Me. Now all this was done, that the Scriptures of the
prophets might be fulfilled. Then the disciples all leaving Him, fled. But they
holding Jesus led Him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the
ancients were assembled. And Peter followed Him afar off, even to the court of
the high priest. And going in he sat with the servants, that he might see the
end. And the chief priests and the whole council sought false witness against
Jesus that they might put Him to death: and they found not, whereas many false
witnesses had come in. And last of all there came two false witnesses, and they
said: This man saith, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and after three
days to rebuild it. And the high priest rising up, said to Him: Answereth Thou
nothing to the things which these witness against Thee?
But Jesus held
His peace. And the high priest said to Him: I adjure Thee by the living God,
that Thou tell us if Thou be the Christ the Son of God. Jesus saith to him:
Thou hast said it; nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you shall see the Son
of man sitting on the right hand of the power of God, and coming in the clouds
of heaven. Then the high priest rent his garments, saying: He hath blasphemed:
what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now you have heard the
blasphemy: what think you?
But they
answering, said: He is guilty of death. Then did they spit in His face, and
buffeted Him, and others struck His face with the palms of their hands, saying:
Prophesy unto us, O Christ, who is he that struck Thee?
But Peter sat
without in the court: and there came to him a servant maid, saying: Thou also
wast with Jesus the Galilean. But he denied before them all, saying I know not
what thou sayest. And as he went out of the gate another maid saw him, and she
sayeth to them that were there: This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth. And
again, he denied with an oath: That I know not the man. And after a little
while they came that stood by, and said to Peter: Surely, thou also art one of
them: for even thy speech doth discover thee. Then he began to curse and to
swear that he knew not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter
remembered the word of Jesus which He had said: Before the cock crow, thou wilt
deny Me thrice. And going forth he wept bitterly. And when morning was come,
all the chief priests and ancients of the people took counsel against Jesus,
that they might put Him to death. And they brought Him bound and delivered Him
to Pontius Pilate the governor. Then Judas who betrayed Him, seeing that He was
condemned, repenting himself, brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the
chief priests and ancients, saying: I have sinned in betraying innocent blood.
But they said: What is that to us? look thou to it. And casting down the pieces
of silver in the temple he departed: and went and hanged himself with a halter.
But the chief priests having taken the pieces of silver, said: It is not lawful
to put them into the corbona, because it is the price of blood. And after they
had consulted together, they bought with them the potter s field to be a
burying- place for strangers. For this cause that field was called Haceldama,
that is, the field of blood, even to this day. Then was fulfilled that which
was spoken by Jeremias the prophet, saying: And they took the thirty pieces of
silver, the price of Him that was prized, Whom they prized of the children of
Israel: and they gave them unto the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed to
me. And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked Him, saying:
Art Thou the King of the Jews?
Jesus saith to
him: Thou sayest it. And when He was accused by the chief priests and ancients,
He answered nothing. Then Pilate saith to Him: Dost not Thou hear how great
testimonies they allege against Thee?
And He answered
him to never a word: so that the governor wondered exceedingly. Now upon the
solemn day the governor was accustomed to release to the people one prisoner,
whom they would; and he had then a notorious prisoner that was called Barabbas.
They therefore being gathered together, Pilate said: Whom will you that I
release to you, Barabbas or Jesus that is called Christ?
For he knew that
for envy they had delivered Him. And as he was sitting in the place of judgment
his wife sent to him, saying: Have thou nothing to do with that just man; for I
have suffered many things this day in a dream because of Him. But the chief
priests and ancients persuaded the people that they should ask Barabbas, and
make Jesus away. And the governor answering said to them: Whether will you of
the two to be released unto you? But they said, Barabbas. Pilate saith to them:
What shall I do then with Jesus that is called Christ? They say all: Let Him be
crucified. The governor said to them: Why, what evil hath He done?
But they cried
out the more, saying: Let Him be crucified. And Pilate seeing that he prevailed
nothing, but that rather a tumult was made taking water, washed his hands
before the people, saying I am innocent of the blood of this just man; look you
to it. And the whole people answering, said: His blood be upon us and upon our
children. Then he released to them Barabbas: and having scourged Jesus,
delivered Him unto them to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor
taking Jesus into the hall, gathered together unto Him the whole band: and
stripping Him, they put a scarlet cloak about Him. And platting a crown of
thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand. And bowing the
knee before Him, they mocked Him, saying: Hail King of the Jews. And spitting
upon Him, they took the reed and struck His head. And after they had mocked Him,
they took off the cloak from Him, and put on Him His own garments, and led Him
away to crucify Him. And going out they found a man of Gyrene, named Simon: him
they forced to take up His cross. And they came to the place that is called
Golgotha, which is the place of Calvary. And they gave Him wine to drink
mingled with gall. And when He had tasted, He would not drink. And after they
had crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots: that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: They divided My garments
among them, and upon My vesture they cast lots. And they sat and watched Him.
And they put over His head His cause, written: THIS is JESUS THE KING OF THE
JEWS. Then were crucified with Him two thieves: one on the right hand, and one
on the left. And they that passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads, and
saying: Yah, Thou that destroyest the temple of God, and in three days dost
rebuild it: save Thy own self: if Thou be the Son of God, come down from the
cross. In like manner also the chief priests with the scribes and ancients
mocking, said: He saved others, Himself He cannot save: if He be the King of
Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He
trusted in God: let Him now deliver Him if He will have Him: for He said I am
the Son of God. And the self-same thing the thieves also, that were crucified
with Him, reproached Him with. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over
the whole earth, until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried
with a loud voice, saying: Eli, Eli, lamina sabacthaiii? that is, My God, My
God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?
And some that
stood there and heard, said: This man calleth Elias. And immediately one of
them running took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed,
and gave Him to drink. And the others said: Let be, let us see whether Elias
will come to deliver Him. And Jesus again crying with a loud voice, yielded up
the ghost. And behold the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top even
to the bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were rent. And the graves
were opened: and many bodies of the saints that had slept, arose, and coming
out of the tombs after His resurrection, came into the holy city, and appeared
unto many. Now the centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus,
having seen the earthquake and the things that were done, were sore afraid,
saying: Indeed, this was the Son of God. And there were many women afar off,
who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto Him: among whom was Mary
Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons
of Zebedee. And when it was evening, there came a certain rich man of
Arimathea, named Joseph; who also himself was a disciple of Jesus; he went to
Pilate and asked the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded that the body should
be delivered. And Joseph taking the body, wrapped it up in a clean linen cloth;
and laid it in his own new monument, which he had hewed out in a rock. And he
rolled a great stone to the door of the monument and went his way. And there
was there Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary sitting over against the
sepulcher. And the next day, which followed the day of preparation, the chief
priests and Pharisees came together to Pilate, saying: Sir, we have remembered
that that seducer said, while He was yet alive: After three days I will rise
again. Command therefore the sepulcher to be guarded until the third day: lest
perhaps His disciples come and steal Him away, and say to the people: He is risen
from the dead: and the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said to
them: You have a guard: go guard it as you know. And they departing, made the
sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, and setting guards.
Things to
Do:[4]
- The
palms distributed at Mass are blessed, so are sacramentals. Read Blessed
Palms in the Home.
- Read
Pope
Francis' Homily for Palm Sunday 2014. Also read the History
of Palm Sunday by Fr. Francis X. Weiser
- This
is also known as "Carling Sunday" after carling peas. Pea’s
porridge would be an appropriate dish for today. See recipes for
suggestions and history behind this tradition.
- This
is also known as "Fig Sunday" due to the tradition that Christ
ate figs after his entry into Jerusalem. Adding some type of figs to your
meal would be a nice touch.
- Read
the short passages from Directory
on Popular Piety concerning Holy Week and Palm Sunday.
Holy Week[5]
·
WHY is
this week called holy week? It is because during this week we celebrate the
most important mysteries of our religion with touching and holy ceremonies.
·
How should we spend this week? According to the
intention of the Church, by meditating on the sufferings and death of Our
Savior, by fasting more strictly, by praying often and devoutly, and leading a
holy life.
Timeline of Holy Week[6]
·
Sunday:
Palm/Passion Sunday Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Mt 21:1-9; Mk
11:1-10; Lk 19:28-38; Jn12:12-18)
·
Fulfills
the prophecies of Isaiah 62:11 and Zechariah 9:9
· Jesus weeps over seeing Jerusalem and predicts its destruction. (Lk 19:39-44)
On
the Sunday[7]
before his death,
Jesus began his trip to Jerusalem, knowing that soon he would lay down his life
for our sins. Nearing the village of Bethphage, he sent two of his disciples
ahead, telling them to look for a donkey and its unbroken colt. The
disciples were instructed to untie the animals and bring them to him. Then
Jesus sat on the young donkey and slowly, humbly, made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, fulfilling the ancient prophecy in
Zechariah 9:9:
"Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of
Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and
having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a
donkey."
The
crowds welcomed him by waving palm branches in the air and shouting,
"Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" On
Palm Sunday, Jesus and his disciples spent the night in Bethany, a town about
two miles east of Jerusalem. This is where Lazarus,
whom Jesus had raised from the dead, and his two sisters, Mary and Martha lived. They were close friends of Jesus, and
probably hosted Him and His disciples during their final days in Jerusalem.
Something on A Stick
Day[8]
No, we are not talking about mops or
brooms (although we are very thankful for them, of course!) but Something
on A Stick Day is all about celebrating foods we love to eat – that
just happen to come on a stick! Who doesn’t love relaxed finger food that you
can pick up by the stick and eat? So, whether it’s a toffee apple, camp-fire
sausage, cheese cubes on a toothpick, ice cream bar, lollipop or other lovely
treats, feel free to indulge in them on this day! Or why not try the favorite
American food on a stick if you can – the famous corn dog? What about planning
an entire meal of a starter, main course and dessert all on sticks? Easy,
informal, and fun – and very little cleaning up to do afterwards! What a great
theme for a dinner party to have on Something on a Stick Day!
Shaslik[9]
Is a traditional seasoned
grilled meat on a stick for the Feast of St. Bart. While stationed in Belgium
many years ago with my young daughter Nicole there were none of the American
fast food places in close vicinity, but there were frites stands. Nicole loved
Belgium frites, which are “French Fries” with an attitude. We used to joke that
someday we will open our own Frite stand and on the placard we would proudly
proclaim the name of our stand, “DICK AND NIC’S FRITES AND SHASLIKS”.
Full Worm Moon
According
to the almanac we are having a Full Worm Moon-plan to take your family or
grandchildren fishing! Hummingbirds are migrating North now; look for them.
Daily Devotions
·
Today in honor of the
Holy Trinity do the Divine Office giving your day to God. To honor God REST: no
shopping after 6 pm Saturday till Monday. Don’t forget the internet.
·
Devotion
of the Seven Sundays: St Joseph-9th Sunday
·
Manhood of
the Master-week 6 day 5
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
·
Rosary
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