As our Easter Sunday celebration continues, I offer this version of the Saint Michael's Catholic Church (Stillwater, MN) Music Ministry presenting "Jesus Christ is Risen Today":
31 March 2024
The Resurrection of the Lord
Today the Church celebrates the Resurrection of the Lord. The assigned readings for the Mass of Easter Day are Acts 10: 34a, 37-43; Colossians 3:1-4;
and John 20:1-9. The Responsorial Psalm is from Psalm 118 (Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23).
For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:
YouTube: Spirit & Psalm - Easter Sunday, 2024 - Year B - Psalm 118 - Walther
The Gospel reading is as follows:
On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, "They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they put him." So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.
Reflections related to these readings:
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Salesian Sunday Reflections: March 31, 2024 Easter Sunday
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Easter Sunday (March 31, 2024)
Community in Mission: From Fear to Faith on Easter Morning (30 MAR 24)
Benedictine College: This Sunday, On Easter, Say, 'Not Today, Satan. Not Ever. We Know Our Father Now' (28 MAR 24)
Word on Fire: Evidence of the Resurrection (Cycle B * Easter * Easter Octave)
St. John Chrysostom's Easter Sermon
"Are there any who are devout lovers of God?
Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!
"Are there any who are grateful servants?
Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!
"Are there any weary with fasting?
Let them now receive their wages!
"
The Catholic Thing has republished the Easter sermon of Saint John Chrysostom (from approximately 400 A.D.)
To access the post with the complete sermon, please visit:
The Catholic Thing: Life Is Liberated! (31 MAR 24)
Reflection Starter from Psalm 118
"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad." - Psalm118:24
30 March 2024
"I Will Sing Unto The Lord (The Horse And Rider)"
As we continue our observance of Holy Saturday and approach the time of the Easter Vigil I offer this version of the Sacred Heart International School Choir (Marthandam, Tamil Nadu, India) "I Will Sing Unto The Lord (The Horse And Rider)":
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the blessings You are bestowing on the persons receiving sacraments of initiation at Easter Vigil services today.
Holy Saturday
Today the Church celebrates Holy
Saturday, a day reflecting the time Jesus' body lay in the tomb. The day
closes with the Easter Vigil celebration.
Related reflections/commentaries:
Catholic Daily Reflections: Holy Saturday with Mother Mary (7 APR 23)
Word on Fire: Holy Saturday People (8 APR 23)
Dominicana: Awake, O Sleeper! (30 MAR 24)
Fr. Dwight Longenecker: Holy Saturday and Lord of the Rings (3 APR 21)
Finding Hope in Christ’s Resurrection
Death and grief are inevitable parts of all our lives. But Christian hope is grounded in the resurrection of Jesus that we celebrate this Easter Sunday. The belief that we will be reunited with our loved ones in the joy of heaven some day can serve as a light in the darkness of grief. Until then, we can find guidance on how best to deal with life's most difficult moments through the words of Scripture and the example of Christ's followers in this world.
Author and theologian Henri Nouwen, for instance, offers these thoughts: "The resurrection of Jesus is the basis of our faith in the resurrection of our bodies. . . . Our bodies, as Paul says, are temples of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 6:19) and, therefore, sacred. The resurrection of the body means that what we have lived in the body will not go to waste, but will be lifted in our eternal life with God. As Christ bears the marks of His suffering in His risen body, our bodies in the resurrection will bear the marks of our suffering. Our wounds will become signs of glory in the resurrection."
People with mental illness are among those who endure suffering in this world. I recently shared the story of Deacon Ed Shoener, who lost his 29-year-old daughter Katie to suicide due to her bipolar disorder. Deacon Ed co-founded the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers to help other families dealing with this type of loss, as well as to bring acceptance and healing to those with mental illness.
Though Katie is no longer physically present in Deacon Ed's life, his faith affirms his belief that she is still with him in some way. During a Christopher Closeup interview, he told me, "The communion with the saints is not just the saints who are painted on a wall. . . . We all hope to be a saint one day, to live eternally with God. So, our loved ones, we're still in communion with them. And yes, absolutely, I pray to Katie. I pray for Katie all the time, as I do other saints too, and other loved ones. . . . Also, if anyone asks me if they can do anything for me, I always say, 'Have a Mass said for Katie.' . . . I wasn't brought up Catholic. I was raised Protestant, and have come to the faith later in my life. . . . But I think this idea of purgatory is a beautiful teaching of the Church, this idea of purification. And that's what we do when we pray for someone or have a Mass said for someone. We help them during their period of purification."
Deacon Ed has taken the most horrible experience of his life and turned it into a vehicle to help others, all while maintaining a connection to his daughter. It is the light that Jesus's resurrection brought into his life - that Jesus's resurrection brings into all our lives - that allows him to do this.
Pope Francis summed up this state of belief beautifully when he explained, "If Christ is risen, we can look with renewed eyes and hearts on each event in our lives, even the most negative. The moments of darkness, failure and even sin can be transformed and herald a new path forward. When we have reached the bottom of our misery and weakness, the risen Christ gives us the strength to rise again. If we entrust ourselves to Him, His grace saves us. The crucified and risen Lord is the full revelation of mercy, present and at work in history."
This essay is this week's "Light One Candle"
column by Tony Rossi, Director of Communications, The Christophers; it is one of a series of
weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current
events.
Background information:
The Christophers
Reflection Starter
"Holy Saturday reminds us of the importance of silence, of listening and of waiting in faith." Source Unknown
29 March 2024
Pope Francis' Meditations for Via Crucis 2024
"Pope Francis' meditations on the Via Crucis for this Good Friday are a dialogue with Jesus, a face-to-face conversation with Christ, made up of reflections, questions, introspections, confessions, and invocations.
The sufferings of Jesus on the path to Golgotha, the loving gaze of Mary, the women who offer their help, Simon the Cyrene and Joseph of Arimathea: all of these figures provoke an examination of conscience that then becomes prayer, with a final invocation that repeats the name of Jesus fourteen times."
A Vatican New article reported on the Pope's mediation for this Good Friday. To access the report, please visit:
Vatican News: Pope Francis releases meditations ahead of Via Crucis at Colosseum
To access the meditations of Pope Francis, please visit:
Pope Francis: Stations of the Cross 2024: In Prayer with Jesus on the Way of the Cross
"Stabat Mater"
As we continue our observance of Good Friday, I offer this version of "Stabat Mater":
Good Friday of the Lord's Passion
Today the Church celebrates Good Friday of the Lord's Passion. The assigned readings are Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9; and John 18:1-19:42. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 31 (Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-17, 25).
For one version of the Responsorial Psalm, please visit:
YouTube: Responsorial Psalm / Good Friday / CBW#70/ Psalm 31
Reflections on these readings and this day:
National Catholic Register: Blogs: John Grondelski: 5 Things to Know About the Liturgy for Good Friday (29 MAR 24)
Community in Mission: Finding the Good in Good Friday (2 APR 15)
Community in Mission: Why Did Christ Die in Jerusalem? And, Why Outside the City Gate, Not in the Temple (4 APR 23)
The
Deacon's Bench: On Christ's Seven Last Words: "They offer one final
sermon on a mount, a lasting message of forgiveness and mercy" (2 APR
15)
YouTube: Ascension Presents: Good Friday: The Meaning of the Cross
YouTube: Bishop Barron on the Power of the CrossReflection Starter from Rev. Fr. Alkiviadis Calivas
""On the Great and Holy Friday we commemorate the holy, saving and awesome sufferings of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ: the spitting, the striking, the scourging, the cursing, the mockery; the crown of thorns, the purple cloak, the rod, the sponge, the vinegar and gall, the nails, the spear; and above all the cross and the death, which He voluntarily endured for us. Also we commemorate the saving confession of the grateful thief who was crucified with Him". - Rev. Fr. Alkiviadis Calivas, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
28 March 2024
"Pange, Lingua, Gloriosi"
As our celebration of Holy Thursday continues, I offer this version of "Pange, Lingua, Gloriosi":
Holy Thursday
Today the Church celebrates Holy Thursday. The day is celebrated as
the beginning of the priesthood and the institution of the sacrament of
the Holy Eucharist. The assigned readings
for the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper are Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14; 1
Corinthians 11:23-26; and John 13:1-15. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm
116 (Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18).
For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:
YouTube: Thursday of the Lord's Supper (feat. Reymar Felias) (Psalm 116)
The Gospel reading is as follows:
Before
the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from
this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved
them to the end. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the
Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the
Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God
and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer
garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured
water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them
with the towel around his waist.
He came to Simon
Peter, who said to him, "Master, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus
answered and said to him, "What I am doing, you do not understand now,
but you will understand later."
Peter said to him, "You
will never wash my feet."
Jesus answered him, "Unless I wash you, you
will have no inheritance with me."
Simon Peter said to him, "Master,
then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well."
Jesus
said to him, "Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet
washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all." For
he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, "Not all of you
are clean."
So when he had washed their feet and put
his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, "Do
you realize what I have done for you? You call me 'teacher' and
'master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master
and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's
feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for
you, you should also do."
Reflections related to this celebration:
Catholic News Agency: The significance of Holy Thursday
Community in Mission: Passiontide Chronology: Holy Thursday (17 APR 19)
Community in Mission: The Seating Plan at the Last Supper (4 APR 12)
Crossroads Initiative: Holy Thursday - Eucharist, The Body of Christ
National Catholic Register: Holy Thursday and Divine Mercy (18 APR 19)
On Benefits and Risks Related to Standardizing an Apparatus Fleet
"When I had the privilege of being appointed fire chief of my community nearly 12 years ago, I was faced with a significant challenge right from the start. Our fire department had a fleet of fire pumpers and ladder trucks from six different manufacturers.
"Just before my appointment, my fire department, like many others, was challenged with the impacts of a national recession, during which time we made purchases on an as-needed basis, primarily based on cost or urgent need without much concern as to the challenges of maintaining and operating a mixed fleet. . . .
"Perhaps more so today than at any point in the history of the fire service, fire chiefs are being tasked with developing a comprehensive fleet replacement plan. This responsibility can be a challenging one as many fire departments across North America are challenged with increasing demands for service, tightening budgets, and the challenges that come from the extreme apparatus build times we are now experiencing. As part of developing a comprehensive fleet replacement plan, it is important for fire chiefs to determine if their long-term intentions are to use a standardized or mixed apparatus fleet in terms of manufacturers. As every fire chief who has been involved in at least one apparatus purchase knows, the choice of manufacturer for even one piece of apparatus often includes a robust and often passionate debate among the department’s apparatus committee members. Anticipating sticking with a single manufacturer as part of a long-term replacement plan obviously can add an additional dimension to those discussions. It is important that fire chiefs have a good understanding of both the positives and negatives of maintaining a standardized fleet when discussing it with their committees."
A recent Fire Apparatus and Emergency Equipment article explored some of factors to consider when deciding whether or not to standardize a fleet with one manufacturer.
To access the complete report, please visit:
Fr. Thomas Dailey, OSFS, on The Last Supper
"The Last Supper is the most revolutionary meal in human history!
"In the Gospel story for Holy Thursday (John 13:1-15), the term 'revolution' does not appear. But that's exactly what Jesus brings about. In dramatic fashion, He turns upside down the way we are to relate to one another . . . and thereby defines the existential key to being Christian."
In
a recent
commentary, Father Thomas Dailey, OSFS, reflected on the self-giving aspects of the Last Supper and what they mean for us.
To access Fr. Dailey's complete reflection, please visit:
De Sales Weekly: Salesian Reflection: Far More Than a Yearly Ritual (28 MAR 24)
Reflection Starter from Bl. Frederic Ozanam
"Since you know the means of getting better, in the name of God, make use of them. Do not take on anything beyond your strength, do not be anxious, do not take things too much to heart, go gently, do not work too long or too hard." - Blessed Frederic Ozanam (founder of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society)
26 March 2024
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of those who come to our assistance when we are frustrated and unsure how to proceed with what we need to do next.
Br. Clement Greenspan, O.P., on Looking for the Lord during This Holy Week
"Why is this night different from every other night?
Every year, I recited this question as the youngest child at our
family's Passover Seder. This privileged role was a blessing for me when
the Jewish side of the family gathered for the holidays. This question
is the first in a short litany of questions
that are traditionally chanted or read by the youngest at the seder
table. Over the centuries, the number of questions has changed, yet each
question seeks in a different way an answer to the childlike wonder of
the first. This same wonder can help us enter more deeply into the
mysteries of these Christian high holy days."
In a recent commentary, Brother Clement Greenspan, O.P.,
reflected on what we might look for on the Tuesday of Holy Week.
To access Br. Clement's complete post, please visit:
Dominicana: Enter In Like Children (26 MAR 24)
Reflection Starter from Dietrich Bonhoeffer
"The cross is not the suffering tied to natural existence, but the suffering tied to being Christians. The cross is never simply a matter of suffering, but a matter of suffering and rejection for the sake of Jesus Christ, not for the sake of some other arbitrary behavior or confession." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
25 March 2024
Birthday Blessings, Valerie!!!
Birthday greetings to Valerie Baldizon-Gonzalez, wife of nephew Christopher Gonzalez, whose birthday is today!!! May this day, and each day of the upcoming year, be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!
Birthday Blessings, Adam!!!
Birthday greetings to son Adam, whose birthday is today!!! May this day, and each day of the upcoming year, be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!
Bishop Henning on the Way of the Lord
"In the New Testament, the title used by the text for the Christian community was 'the way,' or 'the road.' The term Christian would come later and was first applied to the community as a mocking term by the opponents of the Church. That earliest terminology of 'the way' recalled Old Testament and Jewish language where the analogy of walking is applied to the life of faith and the summons to live in accord with the commandments. In the New Testament, where the Lord's own journey to the cross becomes both the foundation of faith and the model for discipleship, this language of 'the way' reflected the Lord’s own command to 'take up your cross and follow me.'
"The Church's liturgical and devotional traditions for Lent and Holy Week cite this same imagery, seeing our participation as a kind of journey or pilgrimage of faith. . . ."
In a recent commentary, Bishop Richard G. Henning, the bishop of the Diocese of Providence (RI), reflected on opportunities to walk with the Lord during Holy Week.
To access Bishop Henning's complete essay, please visit:
The State of Hope: The Way of the Lord (21 MAR 24)
24 March 2024
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
Today the Church celebrates Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion. The assigned readings are Isaiah 50:4-7, Philippians 2:6-11,
and Mark 14:1-15:47. The Responsorial Psalm is from Psalm 22 (Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24).
For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:
YouTube: My God My God why have you forsaken me - Responsorial psalm for Palm Sunday
The Gospel reading for the procession with the palms (Mark 11:1-10) is as follows:
When Jesus and his disciples drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately on entering it, you will find a colt tethered on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone should say to you, 'Why are you doing this?' reply, 'The Master has need of it and will send it back here at once.'" So they went off and found a colt tethered at a gate outside on the street, and they untied it. Some of the bystanders said to them, "What are you doing, untying the colt?" They answered them just as Jesus had told them to, and they permitted them to do it. So they brought the colt to Jesus and put their cloaks over it. And he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. Those preceding him as well as those following kept crying out: "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come! Hosanna in the highest!"
Reflections related to these readings:
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Salesian Sunday Reflections: March 24, 2024 Passion/Palm Sunday
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Palm Sunday Passion of the Lord (March 24, 2024)
Community in Mission: See What the End Shall Be - A Homily for Palm Sunday (23 MAR 24)
Benedictine College: This Sunday, Jesus Reigns, From the Donkey to the Cross to Today (21 MAR 24)
Word on Fire: Put Yourself in the Passion Narrative (Cycle B * Lent * Holy Week)
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