Saturday, March 30, 2013

Have a Blessed and Happy Easter!

At daybreak on the first day of the week
the women who had come from Galilee with Jesus
took the spices they had prepared
and went to the tomb.
They found the stone rolled away from the tomb;
but when they entered,
they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
While they were puzzling over this, behold,
two men in dazzling garments appeared to them.
They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground.
They said to them,
"Why do you seek the living one among the dead?
He is not here, but he has been raised.
Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee,
that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners
and be crucified, and rise on the third day."
And they remembered his words.
Then they returned from the tomb
and announced all these things to the eleven
and to all the others.
The women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James;
the others who accompanied them also told this to the apostles,
but their story seemed like nonsense
and they did not believe them.
But Peter got up and ran to the tomb,
bent down, and saw the burial cloths alone;
then he went home amazed at what had happened.

Lk 24:1-12

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Holy Week 2013

This week is the one considered Holy by many with a strong Faith in God. For Christians, it is the observance of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the most pivotal events of human history. The Easter Triduum as observed in the Catholic Church is described here. Today, Pope Francis began Holy Week observances with Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square

This year, it also happens that tomorrow (Monday) night is the start of the Jewish observance of Passover, the celebration of the Jews' passing over to freedom from the bondage of slavery they suffered in Egypt. This event was a historical manifestation of God's power recognized by Jews and Christians alike.

May this week of Holy Days bring blessings and peace to all.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

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Artist unknown, Link by Saints.SQPN.com

Today is March 17, St. Patrick's Day. Be blessed, safe, and happy however you are celebrating Ireland's patron saint.

Catholic Forum provides links to descriptions of St. Patrick here and here.

Saint Patrick's Breastplate

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort me and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

In the spirit of the holiday, check out LiveIreland.com for webcasts of Irish music and other media direct from Ireland.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Habemus Papam! Pope Francis

After the historic retirement of Pope Benedict XVI, the election of Jorge Cardinal Bergoglio of Argentina as Pope Francis was announced on Wednesday. He is the first non-European pope in centuries, the first from the Western Hemisphere and the first from the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).

As Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he was known for his pastoral approach of living simply, serving the poor, and strongly and faithfully speaking out for the Church's teachings on the moral issues of the day, including protection of human life, the definition of marriage, etc. Perhaps most of all, his election confirms the emergence of a proactive approach of Catholic evangelism to spread the Gospel of Christ globally in the face of increasing secularism.

Thanks be to God and may His blessings be on our new Holy Father!

This short video captures the highlights and excitement of the election of Pope Francis.