*** *** *** “And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.'” (Lk 23:34)
The day of solemn and prayerful remembrance — we mourn the suffering, crucifixion, and death of Jesus Christ, Our Savior.
*** *** *** “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (1 Cor 11:24)
— The Sacred Triduum begins with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. The evening Mass commemorates the principal events that took place during the final meal Jesus shared with his disciples prior to his arrest: Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist and the Priesthood, and also gave us the New Commandment.
*** *** *** “Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I deliver him to you?’ And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.” (Mt 26:14-16)
— Spy Wednesday marks the day when Jesus was betrayed by Judas, the “spy” for the chief priests. — Today, some churches offer ‘Tenebrae’ (Latin for darkness): solemn service focusing on the story of Christ’s Passion; psalms and readings are chanted by candlelight. For a live Tenebrae Solemn Service this evening, please visit: www.cantius.org
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“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! […]
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“And he came to her and said, ‘Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!… He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; […]
“When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife.” (Mt 1:24)
— Today we celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary; the highest order of liturgical feast. St. Joseph, so just and humble, was completely obedient to God. As protector of Jesus and Mary, he played an exceptional role in God’s plan of salvation. Saint Joseph is commemorated in the Roman […]
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— Although exact dates of the events in St. Patrick’s life are uncertain, early tradition credits the popular saint with converting a largely pagan society in Ireland to Christianity during the fifth century. Born in Roman Britain, when he was about 16, St. Patrick was captured by pirates and brought to Ireland. He would spend […]
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“The answers to the big questions — Where do we come from? What is our purpose? Where will we go in the end? — form and shape who we are and how we live. The answers can only be found in the love of God, and revealed in the heart of Jesus Christ… I hope […]
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— Perpetua, a young mother of Carthaginian nobility, and Felicity, a slave woman imprisoned with her and pregnant at the time, were martyred during the persecution of Emperor Severus in 203. Along with their Christian companions, they were sent to the public games in the Carthage arena. Although details of early martyrs are often unclear, […]
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— St. Katharine was the founder of the congregation of missionary nuns, dedicated to the welfare of American Indians and African Americans, now named Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Born into a wealthy family in 1858, St. Katharine was influenced by seeing her parents practice charity from their own home; distributing food, clothing, and money […]