Holy Saturday 2015

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EXULTET  the Easter Proclaimation  (video)

"... And it was NIGHT."

These chilling words are found in John's gospel, Chp. 13:vs. 30. We heard these voices.

• Jesus: “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”
• Peter to John: “Ask him which one he means.”
• John:  “Lord, who is it?”
• Jesus:  “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.”
• Jesus: “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 

• As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him … he went out ... AND IT WAS NIGHT

 It is in this "Night" that the Easter Vigil begins.

After the blessing of the new fire, one of the ministers brings the paschal candle to the Priest,

who cuts a cross into the candle with a stylus. Then he makes the Greek letter Alpha above

the cross, the letter Omega below, and the four numerals of the current year between the

arms of the cross, saying meanwhile:

1. Christ yesterday and today (he cuts a vertical line);
2. the Beginning and the End (he cuts a horizontal line);
3. the Alpha (he cuts the letter Alpha above the vertical line);
4. and the Omega (he cuts the letter Omega below the vertical line).
5. All time belongs to him (he cuts the first numeral of the current year in the upper left corner of the cross);
6. and all the ages (he cuts the second numeral of the current year in the upper right corner of the cross).
7. To him be glory and power (he cuts the third numeral of the current year in the lower left corner of the cross);
8. through every age and for ever. Amen. (he cuts the fourth numeral of the current year in the lower right corner of the cross).

When the cutting of the cross and of the other signs has been completed, the Priest may insert five grains of incense into the candle in the form of a cross, meanwhile saying:

1. By his holy
2. and glorious wounds,
3. may Christ the Lord
4. guard us
5. and protect us. Amen.

The Easter Candle is lighted with these words: "May the light of Christ rising in glory dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds." With this, the Night is about to end. Our chains of bondage are broken. The Light of Christ dispels the darkness. The Exultet is sung.

Good Friday 2015

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The Voice of Guilt is one of the most powerful influences the human mind and heart we can ever experience. True Guilt arises when we realize that what is said of us, our wrong doing, is both fact and belonging to what is evil. Our accusers can be others who know of our actions, or just ourselves when we measure our deeds against what is truth. 

But there is one Accuser who's voice can lock up our hearts with unbreakable chains of guilt, it is Satan. Satan knows what deeds belong to evil, for he is the father of evil. He also knows the intimate details and motives of our actions. With the full force of an attorney for the prosecution, he lays out his case for our guilt with the full wait of irrefutable evidence. We may employ the services of psychology to explain away your actions but we are no celestial attorneys and no match for Satan.

Our sentence is inescapable, banishment to utter desolation. As the shackles of guilt are fasten tightly around our soul, the darkness of despair engulfs us, our sentence is pronounced. 

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Messiah have now come, because the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown out: the one who accuses them before our God day and night. Rev. 12:10

FORGIVEN! Satan's case against us has been thrown out. "I forgive you. Go in peace."  It is God's plan that we should abide in truth and experience the peace that flows from it. Evil wars against that plan and its weapons are sin and guilt. Our only hope is not our self-righteousness, rather, it rests solely in forgiveness. The Roman cross was the ultimate sentence of punishment and death. Satan used it to destroy God's only Son, and thus bring down God's wrath on all humanity. But from the cross His Voice is heard. "Father, forgive them." 

 St Ignatius described a soul in the grip of darkness as one in "Desolation," He defined it as the "darkness of the soul, turmoil of the mind, inclination to low and earthly things, restlessness resulting from many disturbances and temptations which lead to loss of faith, loss of hope, and loss of love. It is also desolation when a soul finds itself completely apathetic, tepid, sad, and separated as it were, from its Creator and Lord" (Spiritual Exercises, p. 130). 

When we are overtaken by such desolation, cling to the Cross, confess your sin and let Forgiveness set you free.

SHROUD OF TURIN the Face of Jesus (video link)

The VOICE of Jesus from the Cross

 Of the many voices we hear on Good Friday, the Seven Last Words of Jesus, spoken from the Cross, enter most deeply into our hearts. Here is a link to an inspirational reflection on these words. LINK

Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday) 2015

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TEXTS and PRAYERS FROM THE SACRED LITURGY Collect O God, who have called us to participate in this most sacred Supper, in which your Only Begotten Son, when about to hand himself over to death, entrusted to the Church a sacrifice new for all eternity, the banquet of his love, grant, we pray, that we may draw from so great a mystery, the fullness of charity and of life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. The Liturgy of the Eucharist At the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist, there may be a procession of the faithful in which gifts for the poor may be presented with the bread and wine while the following, chant is sung. Ant. Where true charity is dwelling, God is present there. V. By the love of Christ we have been brought together: V. let us find in him our gladness and our pleasure; V. may we love him and revere him, God the living, V. and in love respect each other with sincere hearts. Ant. Where true charity is dwelling, God is present there. V. So when we as one are gathered all together, V. let us strive to keep our minds free of division; V. may there be an end to malice, strife and quarrels, V. and let Christ our God be dwelling here among us. Ant. Where true charity is dwelling, God is present there. V. May your face thus be our vision, bright in glory, V. Christ our God, with all the blessed Saints in heaven: V. such delight is pure and faultless, joy unbounded, V. which endures through countless ages world without end. Amen. Prayer over the Offerings Grant us, O Lord, we pray, that we may participate worthily in these mysteries, for whenever the memorial of this sacrifice is celebrated the work of our redemption is accomplished. Through Christ our Lord. Prayer after Communion Grant, almighty God, that, just as we are renewed by the Supper of your Son in this present age, so we may enjoy his banquet for all eternity. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever

Holy Wednesday (Spy Wednesday) 2015

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Word AMONG Us has the following guide to preparing for the sacrament of confession. LINK

Holy Tuesday 2015

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THE PRAYER OF EXAMINE

Holy Week is a valuable time to begin or expand your practice of the “Prayer of Examine”. This prayer approach to self-examination of the state of one’s heart and soul comes from St. Ignatius.

Step 1: BECOME AWARE OF GOD'S PRESENCE

First, ‘become aware of God’s presence’ - take some time to remember that God is present with us in our everyday lives. He has been near to you and with you throughout the events of your day. Perhaps take an icon or a cross or image to remind you of His presence with you.

Step 2: REVIEW THE DAY WITH GRATITUDE

Second, out of this awareness of God having been present with you, ‘review the day with gratitude’. What are you thankful for? What were the gifts of the day? What did you receive from others? What did you give to others? How has God been at work? Where was God? In conversations? In the actions of others? in the events of the day? In nature? Was He speaking? Perhaps He was shouting out His goodness in the morning sunrise? Or perhaps you saw Him in the kind actions of a friend?

Step 3: PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR EMOTIONS

After reviewing your day and noticing where God was at work with gratitude, ‘pay attention to your emotions’ St. Ignatius emphasised how through the movements of our emotions we can detect the presence of God. Reflect upon the emotions you felt throughout the day: anger? jealousy? compassion? boredom? joy? What might God be saying to you through these emotions? 

Perhaps there’s an area where you need to seek forgiveness. Maybe you were you frustrated by an unwanted interruption? or responded in anger? perhaps you resisted God’s nudging to offer someone help. Is there a way you could reach out to that person today?

Step 4: CHOOSE ONE THING TO PRAY FOR

Next ‘Choose one feature from the day and pray for it’. Maybe there’s something that particularly stands out to you? It may be a particular conversation or event, or an emotion you felt. Pray about it.

Step 5: LOOK TO TOMORROW

Lastly, 'look forward to tomorrow’. How do you want to live differently? How can you become more aware of God’s presence and promptings and the gifts of the day. Perhaps carry something with you throughout the day to remind you of God’s presence with you.

Holy Monday (Fig Monday) 2015

Postings for Holy Week will contain links to various resources to support your prayer and meditation. Click on the title for the link.

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From a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop

The passion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the hope of glory and a lesson in patience.

What may not the hearts of believers promise themselves as the gift of God’s grace, when for their sake God’s only Son, co-eternal with the Father, was not content only to be born as man from human stock but even died at the hands of the men he had created?

It is a great thing that we are promised by the Lord, but far greater is what has already been done for us, and which we now commemorate. Where were the sinners, what were they, when Christ died for them? When Christ has already given us the gift of his death, who is to doubt that he will give the saints the gift of his own life? Why does our human frailty hesitate to believe that mankind will one day live with God?

Who is Christ if not the Word of God: in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God? This Word of God was made flesh and dwelt among us. He had no power of himself to die for us: he had to take from us our mortal flesh. This was the way in which, though immortal, he was able to die; the way in which he chose to give life to mortal men: he would first share with us, and then enable us to share with him. Of ourselves we had no power to live, nor did he of himself have the power to die.

Accordingly, he effected a wonderful exchange with us, through mutual sharing: we gave him the power to die, he will give us the power to live.

The death of the Lord our God should not be a cause of shame for us; rather, it should be our greatest hope, our greatest glory. In taking upon himself the death that he found in us, he has most faithfully promised to give us life in him, such as we cannot have of ourselves.

He loved us so much that, sinless himself, he suffered for us sinners the punishment we deserved for our sins. How then can he fail to give us the reward we deserve for our righteousness, for he is the source of righteousness? How can he, whose promises are true, fail to reward the saints when he bore the punishment of sinners, though without sin himself?

Brethren, let us then fearlessly acknowledge, and even openly proclaim, that Christ was crucified for us; let us confess it, not in fear but in joy, not in shame but in glory.

The apostle Paul saw Christ, and extolled his claim to glory. He had many great and inspired things to say about Christ, but he did not say that he boasted in Christ’s wonderful works: in creating the world, since he was God with the Father, or in ruling the world, though he was also a man like us. Rather, he said: Let me not boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Chrism Mass Readings

Palm Sunday - (Passion) 2015

Postings for Holy Week will contain links to various resources to support your prayer and meditation. Click on title for the link.

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Prayers from Mass

Collect

Almighty ever-living God,

who as an example of humility for the human race to follow

caused our Savior to take flesh and submit to the Cross,

graciously grant that we may heed his lesson of patient suffering

and so merit a share in his Resurrection.

Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Prayer after Communion

Nourished with these sacred gifts,

we humbly beseech you, O Lord,

that, just as through the death of your Son

you have brought us to hope for what we believe,

so by his Resurrection

you may lead us to where you call.

Through Christ our Lord.

FROM THE OFFICE OF READINGS

 From a sermon by Saint Andrew of Crete, bishop

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the king of Israel

Let us go together to meet Christ on the Mount of Olives. Today he returns from Bethany and proceeds of his own free will toward his holy and blessed passion, to consummate the mystery of our salvation. He who came down from heaven to raise us from the depths of sin, to raise us with himself, we are told in Scripture, above every sovereignty, authority and power, and every other name that can be named, now comes of his own free will to make his journey to Jerusalem. He comes without pomp or ostentation. As the psalmist says: He will not dispute or raise his voice to make it heard in the streets. He will be meek and humble, and he will make his entry in simplicity.

Let us run to accompany him as he hastens toward his passion, and imitate those who met him then, not by covering his path with garments, olive branches or palms, but by doing all we can to prostrate ourselves before him by being humble and by trying to live as he would wish. Then we shall be able to receive the Word at his coming, and God, whom no limits can contain, will be within us.

In his humility Christ entered the dark regions of our fallen world and he is glad that he became so humble for our sake, glad that he came and lived among us and shared in our nature in order to raise us up again to himself. And even though we are told that he has now ascended above the highest heavens—the proof, surely, of his power and godhead—his love for man will never rest until he has raised our earthbound nature from glory to glory, and made it one with his own in heaven.

So let us spread before his feet, not garments or soulless olive branches, which delight the eye for a few hours and then wither, but ourselves, clothed in his grace, or rather, clothed completely in him. We who have been baptized into Christ must ourselves be the garments that we spread before him. Now that the crimson stains of our sins have been washed away in the saving waters of baptism and we have become white as pure wool, let us present the conqueror of death, not with mere branches of palms but with the real rewards of his victory. Let our souls take the place of the welcoming branches as we join today in the children’s holy song: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the king of Israel.