– Born near Todi, Umbria, and elected Pope in 649, Saint Martin I suffered persecution for his condemnation of “Monothelitism,” a heresy promoted during the seventh century by authorities within the Byzantine Church and empire. This teaching, strongly supported in the East, acknowledged that Christ had two natures – human and divine – but only one will: the divine. Pope Martin disputed this belief, insisting that to refuse to acknowledge that Christ had both a divine and human will, was to deny biblical teaching that Christ was like humanity in everything other than sin.

~ “Grant, almighty God, that we may withstand the trials of this world with invincible firmness of purpose, just as you did not allow your Martyr Pope Saint Martin the First to be daunted by threats or broken by suffering. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~ from the Proper of Saints, Daily Roman Missal

* * *** 25% savings on all Didache Bibles ~ through April 14, 2021

~ please visit: www.theologicalforum.org

“The God who enters into history to redeem us, and through the dramatic events of Good Friday prepares the victory of Easter Sunday, is a God of mercy and forgiveness… The followers of Christ, baptized into his redeeming Death and Resurrection, must always be men and women of mercy and forgiveness.”

~ Saint John Paul II, World Day of Peace, January 2002

* * *** We wish you and your family a Blessed Easter!

~ from all of us at Midwest Theological Forum

* * *** “He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be handed over. Taking the body, Joseph wrapped it in clean linen and laid it in his new tomb that he had hewn in the rock. Then he rolled a huge stone across the entrance to the tomb and departed.” (Mt 27:58-60)

(“The Burial of Christ” by Carl Bloch)

* * *** “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. It 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. ~ “I give you a new commandment: love […]

* * *** thirty pieces of silver…

Spy Wednesday marks the day when Jesus was betrayed by Judas, the spy for the chief priests. ~ “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 […]

* * *** Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphant entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem. The townspeople welcomed Jesus by placing palms and tree branches on the road in front of him, a customary practice reserved for people of great honor and respect.

~ “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 […]

* * *** JESUS CHRIST, Our Savior, Son of the Living God

All that He endured for us… ~ Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, March 28

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