* * *** “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): a 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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— All that He endured for us… Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, April 10

* * *** “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; and of his kingdom there will be no end.'” (Lk 1:28,32-33)

— The Solemnity of the Annunciation is celebrated as one of the highest ranking liturgical feasts. Mary’s consent to God’s Word, that she would be Mother of the Incarnate Son of God, played a crucial role in the redemptive work of her Son, Jesus Christ, for all of humanity.

“When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife.” (Mt 1:24)

— Tomorrow 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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“He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter said in reply, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus said to him in reply, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And […]

* * *** “… for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” (Lk 2:30-32)

— “The presentation of Jesus in the temple shows him to be the firstborn Son who belongs to the Lord. With Simeon and Anna, all Israel awaits its encounter with the Savior… Jesus is recognized as the long-expected Messiah, the ‘light to the nations’ and the ‘glory of Israel.’” (CCC 529)

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“On that journey as I drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from the sky suddenly shone around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ I replied, ‘Who are you, sir?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus the […]

* * *** “After the Lord was baptized, the heavens were opened, and the Spirit descended upon him like a dove, and the voice of the Father thundered: This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Entrance Antiphon ~ Cf. Mt 3:16-17, Daily Roman Missal)

— The Spirit whom Jesus possessed in fullness from his conception comes to “rest on him”. Jesus will be the source of the Spirit for all mankind. At his baptism “the heavens were opened”… (CCC 536)

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