Holy Saturday and Easter Vigil

March 31, 2018

Readings:

      Genesis 1: 1-2: 2 (or 1: 1, 26-31a)

      Ps. 104 (or Ps. 33)

      Genesis 22: 1-18 (or 22: 1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18

      Ps. 16

      Exodus 14: 15-15: 1

      Exodus 15

      Isaiah 54: 5-14

      Ps. 30

      Isaiah 55: 1-11

      Isaiah 12

      Baruch 3: 9-15

      Ps. 19

      Ezekiel 36: 16-17a, 18-28

      Ps. 42 and 43 (or Isaiah 12 or Ps. 51)

      Romans 6: 3-11

      Ps. 118

      Gospel reading according to Mark (16: 1-7)

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Homily:  The Resurrection of Jesus 

It is still early in the morning.  Three women disciples were busy planning what to do and what to buy.  They decided to buy spices to be used for anointing.  They are going to cleanse and anoint the blooded and wounded body of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it was not cleansed properly and anointed for it was Sabbath day.  “When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go and anoint Jesus.  Very early when the sun had risen, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb” (Mar 16: 1-2).  They were in a hurry.  They would like to anoint the dead body of Jesus before it catches microbes that will facilitate its immediate and faster decay and foul smell.  But they forgot to tell some men to accompany them so that they can help them push the stone covering of the tomb open so that they can enter the tomb. “They were saying to one another, ‘Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” (Mark 16: 3).  For it was impossible for these three women to push the stone covering of the tomb open for it was very large and heavy.  But suddenly, upon their arrival to the tomb, they found out that it was already open.  “When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back; it was very large” (Mark 16: 4).  Someone or some persons have opened it. 

Still they entered the tomb, hoping that they can find the dead body and it is still there so that they can perform the rituals of cleansing and anointing for the dead.  They were surprised when they found out that the body was no longer there, but instead they found someone.  “On entering the tomb they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe, and they utterly amazed” (Mark 16: 5).  They were amazed of what they have found and saw.

The young man who was an angle spoke to them.  “He said to them, ‘Do not be amazed!  You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified.  He has been raised; he is not here.  Behold, the place where they laid him.  But go and tell his disciples and Peter.  He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you” (Mark 16: 6-7).   They were told by the angel that Jesus has been raised from the dead and that he is not there.  He told them also to go and tell his disciples, especially Peter, that he is alive and rose from the dead.  Also, the angel said to tell his disciples that he is going to Galilee and there they will see him as what he had told them when he was still alive.

Good Friday

March 30, 2018

Readings:

First Reading – Isaiah 52: 13-53:  12

Psalm 31

Second Reading – Hebrews 4: 14-16, 5: 7-9

Gospel reading according to John (18: 1-19: 42)

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Homily:  The Crucifixion of Jesus 

Who would stand in the cross of dying Jesus?  Who was left behind to witness the agonizing conditions of Jesus?  Who would like to look at the wounded body of Jesus?  Who can sympathize to the crucified Christ? 

Only a mother can bear all the pains and wounds and sufferings of his beloved son.  Only those who loved and still love him.  “Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother [Mary] and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary of Magdala” (John 18: 25).  Only Mary, Jesus’ mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary of Magdala, and John the beloved disciple were left behind.  They were allowed to come closer to Jesus who was hanging on the cross.

“When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son.  Then he said to his disciple, ‘Behold, your mother.’  And from that hour the disciple took her into his home” (John 18: 26-27).  It was said that Mary was already widow to Joseph, no other brothers and sisters, and no other relatives still alive.  As a good and loving son, Jesus did not want Mary to live alone, as he is about to leave, so he entrusted Mary to his beloved disciple – John.  “Woman, behold, your son.”  A mother who is about to lose her son received another son in the person of John whom Jesus trusted and loved.  And John who was losing a Master and Teacher whom he loved also received a mother whom Jesus entrusted to his care. “[John] behold, your mother.”  From now on, you will take care the mother of your and our Lord and Savior, while Mary will love you as her son Jesus loved you so dearly.  When Jesus had given Mary to John, Jesus also is given Mary to the Church as her mother as well.  As a mother, she will protect the Church as she protected Jesus when he was still a young boy up to an adult.  Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us.

Since everything is almost done according to the plan of God, Jesus became thirsty.  “After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I thirst.’  There was a vessel filled with common wine.  So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth.  When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’  And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit” (John 18: 28-30).  After he had taken the wine, it is finished. He fulfilled what was written in the scripture.  Jesus bowed down his head and handed over his spirit to the One who gave it.  Jesus is dead. 

The leaders and elders of the Jews in the temple came to Pontius Pilate to hasten the death of those men crucified by breaking their knees and legs because the Sabbath is coming.  It is rest day. They are not supposed to remain on the cross or to embalm the dead on a Sabbath day.  “Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the Sabbath, for the Sabbath day of the week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down.  So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus.  But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out” (John 19: 31-34).  The intentions of the elders and leaders of the Jews were granted, the legs of the two thieves were broken, but Jesus’ legs were not for he was already dead.  But to make sure that he was really dead, one of the soldiers trust a lance into his side, blood and water immediately flowed out.  As the wine mixed with water during the Eucharistic consecration, it turned into Eucharistic Blood of Christ, and the body he offered, as in Eucharistic consecration of the bread became the Eucharistic Body of Christ, for our salvation and eternal life. 

New Marian Feast Starts This Year

March 27, 2018ZENIT StaffMary and Mariology

Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church

 

The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has clarified that the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, must be celebrated by everyone, beginning this year.

A “Notification” from the Church’s Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has clarified that the new Obligatory Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, must be celebrated in the Ordinary form of the Roman Rite beginning this year. The new feast is to be observed on the Monday following Pentecost.

The notification, signed by Cardinal Robert Sarah, the Prefect of the Congregation, notes that an exception still exists, in accordance with the rubrics in the Roman Missal: “Where the Monday or Tuesday after Pentecost are days on which the faithful are obliged or accustomed to attend Mass, the Mass of Pentecost Sunday may be repeated, or a Mass of the Holy Spirit may be said.”

Nevertheless, the document insists, “all else being equal, the Obligatory Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church is to be preferred.”

Because Pentecost is a movable feast, tied to the celebration of Easter, it is possible that the new Memorial could coincide with another Memorial of a Saint or Blessed; and when this happens, the feast of Mary, Mother of the Church, will take precedence.

The new feast was inserted into the Universal Calendar for the Latin Church earlier this year by Pope Francis, in a decree dated February 11, 2018 – the 160^th anniversary of the apparition of Mary at Lourdes. Previously, permission to celebrate a feast of Mary had been extended to Poland and Argentina, as well as St Peter’s Basilica, and several Religious Orders and Congregations.
The title of “Mother of the Church” was famously bestowed on the Blessed Virgin Mary by Blessed Pope Paul VI during the Second Vatican Council. The understanding of Mary’s motherhood has developed in the decades following Vatican II, especially as the Church has reflected on the Council’s teaching about Mary in chapter 8 of the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium).

Here is the full text of  Cardinal Sarah’s Notification

On the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church

Following the inscription of the Obligatory Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church into the Roman Calendar, which must already be celebrated by everyone this year on the Monday after Pentecost, it seemed opportune to offer the following directions.
The rubric found in the Roman Missal after the formularies for the Mass of Pentecost, “Where the Monday or Tuesday after Pentecost are days on which the faithful are obliged or accustomed to attend Mass, the Mass of Pentecost Sunday may be repeated, or a Mass of the Holy Spirit, may be said” (Missale Romanum, p. 448), is still valid because it does not derogate precedence between liturgical days whose celebration are solely regulated by the Table of Liturgical Days (cf. Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the Calendar, n. 59). Likewise, precedence is regulated by the norms on Votive Masses: “Votive Masses are in principle forbidden on the days on which there occurs an Obligatory Memorial, on a weekday of Advent up to and including 16 December, on a weekday of Christmas Time from 2 January, or on a weekday of Easter Time after the Octave of Easter. However, for pastoral reasons, as determined by the rector of the church or the Priest Celebrant himself, an appropriately corresponding Votive Mass may be used in a celebration of Mass with the people” (Missale Romanum, p.1156; cf. General Instruction of the Roman Missal, n. 376).
Nevertheless, all else being equal, the Obligatory Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church is to be preferred. The texts of the Memorial were attached to the Decree along with indications for the readings, which are to be held as proper because they illuminate the mystery of Spiritual Motherhood. In a future edition of the Ordo lectionum Missæ the rubric at n. 572 bis will expressly indicate that the readings are proper and, even though it is a Memorial, are to be adopted in place of the readings of the day, (cf. Lectionary, General Introduction, n. 83).

In the case where this Memorial coincides with another Memorial, the principles of the Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and Calendar are to be followed (cf. Table of Liturgical Days, n. 60). Given that the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church is linked to Pentecost, as the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary is similarly linked to the celebration of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, then, in the case where it coincides with another Memorial of a Saint or Blessed, and following the liturgical tradition of pre-eminence amongst persons, the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary is to prevail.

From the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 24 March 2018.

Robert Cardinal Sarah
Prefect

+ Arthur Roche
Archbishop Secretary

Understanding Marian Devotion Through Scripture, Theology and Daily Meditations

March 26, 2018ZENIT StaffPope and Holy See

 

A clear and beautiful exposition of what the Catholic Church believes and teaches about Mary

The Catholic understanding of Mary, the mother of Jesus, is sometimes misunderstood and dismissed. Who is Mary? Why do Catholics honor her? What are the foundational Marian doctrines? How can she help us grow closer to Jesus in our daily lives? What does the Bible show us about Mary? These questions and more are answered in three new products from Ignatius Press: a DVD, The Woman, and two books, Cause of Our Joy: Walking Day by Day with Our Lady and Mary in the Bible and Our Lives. 

The Woman

In the Gospels we hear Jesus refer to his mother Mary as “Woman”. This reference should draw our attention to the woman mentioned in Genesis, as well as in the book of Revelation. But who is this “Woman”, and why is she so central in the history of Salvation? This powerful film, The Woman, was filmed in England and presents the beautiful Catholic teaching about Mary, the mother of Jesus, and her important role in the Church and in the lives of Christians today. Combining many gorgeous images from classic sacred art with a lovely soundtrack, the dogmas of the Mother of God, Immaculate Conception, Perpetual Virginity, and Assumption are explained, along with other traditional beliefs and devotions to Mary. Insightful commentary is provided by Fr. Marcus Holden, Fr. Andrew Pinsent, Sister Mary of the Trinity, Fr. Jeff Steel, and Joanna Bogle, along with a number of young people speaking about their faith and love of Our Blessed Lady.

Cause of Our Joy: Walking Day by Day with Our Lady

This beautiful book, Cause of Our Joy: Walking Day by Day with Our Lady, features meditations on Our Lady based on the Litany of the Blessed Virgin and on her Magnificat prayer. It also contains reflections for all the major feasts and solemnities of Mary, as well as poetry centered on the Mother of God. These meditations come from the profound prayer of a holy contemplative nun, which gives a unique unction to her reflections because they are inspired by the Holy Spirit. 

The great St. Bernard of Clairvaux said, “Of Mary there is never enough”, and in the spiritually and morally challenging times that we live, these powerful Marian meditations will give us the wisdom, love, hope and strength we need to pick up our daily crosses and win the battle of life. Acclaimed spiritual writer Mother Mary Francis speaks with an intimate familiarity of the Mother of God, and you will feel that same closeness to Mary after reading these soul stirring reflections. This Poor Clare abbess, gifted with a brilliant intellect and a poet’s heart, lived in abiding relationship with Our Lord and Our Lady during a monastic life spanning 63 years. In these pages you will discover the wondrous secret that walking with Our Lady day by day is the unending cause of our joy.

Mother Dolores Hart, O.S.B., explains, “The writings of Mother Mary Francis are a sharing of a lifetime of spiritual wisdom of an abbess, and the richness of her many years leading her community. She teaches us how to pray well.”

Mary in the Bible and In Our Lives

This book is a clear and beautiful exposition of what the Catholic Church believes and teaches about Mary. Not a history or a compendium, it is written by a theologian and Carmelite monk who dedicated his life in pondering the mysteries conveyed through Mary. Such a presentation that comes from the deep life of prayer and meditation of the author, and includes the more challenging beliefs about Our Lady for non-Catholics, can be very helpful in conveying the essential teachings to those who may have difficulties with Catholic Marian beliefs and devotion.

The Mariology of the Church cannot be distilled only from statements in the Bible, but has matured through centuries of contemplation of the mystery of the Incarnation in its totality.

Fr. Wilfred Stinissen shows how Mariology corrects any attempt to minimize the gospel of God who became man so that man should become like God. As Christ is God-with-man, so Mary is man-with-God, revealing the astonishing truth that God has engaged in intimate communion with man. In a world today that strives in many ways to reduce and humiliate the dignity of man, the Church shows in Mary the infinitely high value of man in the eyes of God, and God’s wondrous love and plan for each one of us.

Edward Sri, the author of Who Am I to Judge?, explains that in this book, “an acclaimed spiritual writer and holy monk presents the beautiful Catholic beliefs about Mary that he has meditated on throughout his whole priestly life. Fr. Stinissen draws from both Sacred Scripture and the long tradition of the Church’s beliefs about Mary.”

Holy Thursday

March 29, 2018

Readings:

First Reading – Exodus 12: 1-8

Psalm 116

Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26

Gospel reading according to John (13: 1-15)

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Homily:  The Lord Supper and the Washing of his Disciples’ Feet

It is time for Jesus to offer up himself to the Father; he knows the hour has come to pass in this world.  “Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father” (John 13: 1).  Even though he loved all those living in the world and still he loves them until the end of his life, “He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end” (John 13: 1), but one person escaped from his love, Judas.  He has no more control to his fate for Satan already entered to him.  “The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over” (John 13: 2).  And Judas under the control of Satan was already decided to sell out Jesus, his Master and Teacher

“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” (John 13: 3-5).  He started washing his disciples’ feet and dried it with towel on his waist.  When he came to Peter to wash his feet Peter reacted.  “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 my 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” (John 13: 6-11).  Peter did not want to be washed by his Master and Teacher but after he was told by Jesus that he has no inheritance from him, he wanted to be bathing from head to toes.  Really, Peter was so funny and aggressive and sometimes dramatic.

Maundy (from the Vulgate mandatum meaning "command"), or the Washing of the Feet is taken from the Latin form of the commandment of Christ that we should imitate His loving humility in the washing of the feet (John 13:14–17). The term mandatum (maundy), therefore, was applied to the rite of foot-washing on this day of the Christian Holy Week called Maundy Thursday  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot_washing).  John recounted Jesus' performance of this washing of feet and its meaning.   He instructs his disciples as well as we: “So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said, ‘Did 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” (John 13: 12-15).  To wash one another’s feet is to obey Jesus’ command, and to follow what he has done as our model and shown not only to his disciples but even to us his followers.

Wednesday of Holy Week

March 28, 2018

Readings:

First Reading – Isaiah 50: 4-9a

Psalm 69

Second Reading –

Gospel reading according to Matthew (26: 14-25)

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Homily:  Betrayal by Judas for 30 pieces of silver

After Judas ate his meal, he went out and went to the chief priests selling out Jesus and hand him over to them.  “One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?’  They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time one he looked for an opportunity to hand him over” (Matthew 26: 14-16).  He sold Jesus, his Master and Teacher, for only 30 pieces of silver.  

In Zechariah 11:12–13, 30 pieces of silver is the price he received for his labor.  He took the coins and threw them "to the potter."  In Exodus 21:32, 30 pieces of silver was the price of a slave, so while Zechariah called the amount a "handsome price" (Zechariah 11:13), this could be sarcasm. When the chief priests decided to buy a field with the returned money, Matthew says that this fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet.  Namely, "They took the thirty silver coins, the price set on him by the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me" (Matthew 27:9–10).  Matthew is telling his readers that, "like Jeremiah and Zechariah, Jesus attempts to lead his people with a prophetic and pastoral ministry, but instead he ends up suffering innocently at their hands."  Matthew may also be saying that "Jesus' death is a ransom, the price paid to secure a slave's freedom," and that the use of the blood money to buy a burial ground for foreigners (Matthew 27:7) may hint at the idea that "Jesus' death makes salvation possible for all the peoples of the world, including the Gentiles." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_pieces_of_silver).

“On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, ‘Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover’?”  (Matthew 26: 17).  Jesus already contacted the person who would lend them a place for them to celebrate the Passover.  “He said, ‘Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, The Teacher says, ‘My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.’  The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover” (Matthew 26: 18-19).  Everything was already set.  It was evening, and darkness hovering around the area.  Satan was there waiting to whom would bite his charm.  “When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve.  And while they were eating, he said, ‘Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.’  Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, ‘Surely it is not I, Lord.’  He said in reply, ‘He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me’.” (Matthew 26: 20-23).  Jesus was deeply distressed not because of his coming death but because one soul will be lose.  He cannot save all, not because of his will and power, but because that one chose different path, he chose different master and teacher and he sold his soul to Satan by his free will.  Jesus is losing one sheep in his fold. 

“The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed.  It would be better for that man if he had never been born” (Matthew 26: 24).  Jesus knew his forthcoming death.  What he distressed about was Judas, for he knew that Judas was the one who would betray him.  “Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, ‘Surely it is not I, Rabbi?’  He answered, ‘You have said so’.” (Matthew 26: 25).   

Note:

Judas' 30 Pieces of Silver 

Tyre, Phoenicia, 111 - 110 B.C., Judas' 30 Pieces of Silver
  "Then one of the 12, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, 'What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you?' And they covenanted with him for 30 pieces of silver." Matthew 26:14-15. Shekels of Tyre were the only currency accepted at the Jerusalem Temple and are the most likely coinage with which Judas was paid for the betrayal of Christ.