Catholic Good News
Receiving the Gospel, Serving God and Neighbor
Passion (Palm) Sunday-First Part of Holy Week
Receiving the Gospel, Serving God and Neighbor
Passion (Palm) Sunday-First Part of Holy Week
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
I plan to put out another mini-weekly for this holiest week of the Church year. I will add parts of the main weekly to each of these.
If you are interested, please find homilies from Palm Sunday and Monday of Holy Week below as well as the readings of Sacred Scripture for Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday of this Holy Week.
Transform your life this week and pray that countless souls will turn from their sins and receive Christ Jesus, beginning with ourselves!
Peace and prayers in Jesus through Mary, loved by Saint Joseph,
Father Robert
P.S. Readings for Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion are here: Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion | USCCB
THOSE UNABLE TO ATTEND MASS MAY MAKE AN ACT OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
An Act of Spiritual Communion - It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion means uniting ourselves in prayer with Christ’s sacrifice and worshiping Him in the consecrated bread and wine which are His Body and Blood. Always remember that the consecrated bread is the Body and Blood of Christ and the consecrated wine is the Body and Blood of Christ, even if you receive the Eucharist only under one species. The most common reason for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend Mass. An act of Spiritual Communion invites Jesus to come anew spiritually into us, increases our desire to receive sacramental Communion and helps us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily.
A Prayer for Spiritual Communion-My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You in my body, my soul, and my whole being. Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally, Come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if you were already there And unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
I plan to put out another mini-weekly for this holiest week of the Church year. I will add parts of the main weekly to each of these.
If you are interested, please find homilies from Palm Sunday and Monday of Holy Week below as well as the readings of Sacred Scripture for Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday of this Holy Week.
Transform your life this week and pray that countless souls will turn from their sins and receive Christ Jesus, beginning with ourselves!
Peace and prayers in Jesus through Mary, loved by Saint Joseph,
Father Robert
P.S. Readings for Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion are here: Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion | USCCB
THOSE UNABLE TO ATTEND MASS MAY MAKE AN ACT OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
An Act of Spiritual Communion - It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion means uniting ourselves in prayer with Christ’s sacrifice and worshiping Him in the consecrated bread and wine which are His Body and Blood. Always remember that the consecrated bread is the Body and Blood of Christ and the consecrated wine is the Body and Blood of Christ, even if you receive the Eucharist only under one species. The most common reason for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend Mass. An act of Spiritual Communion invites Jesus to come anew spiritually into us, increases our desire to receive sacramental Communion and helps us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily.
A Prayer for Spiritual Communion-My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You in my body, my soul, and my whole being. Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally, Come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if you were already there And unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
For Passion (Palm) Sunday’s Homily click here: (it may take a while to load, please be patient) (or cut and paste this website address in your browser address bar):
Passion Palm Sunday
For Monday of Holy Week’s Homily
(it may take a while to load, please be patient)
Readings for:
Monday of Holy Week can be found here: Monday of Holy Week | USCCB
Tuesday of Holy Week can be found here: Tuesday of Holy Week | USCCB
Wednesday of Holy Week can be found here: Wednesday of Holy Week | USCCB
Passion Palm Sunday
For Monday of Holy Week’s Homily
(it may take a while to load, please be patient)
Readings for:
Monday of Holy Week can be found here: Monday of Holy Week | USCCB
Tuesday of Holy Week can be found here: Tuesday of Holy Week | USCCB
Wednesday of Holy Week can be found here: Wednesday of Holy Week | USCCB
"Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom my soul delights. I have endowed him with my spirit that he may bring true justice to the nations. He does not cry out or shout aloud, or make his voice heard in the streets. He does not break the crushed reed, nor quench the wavering flame (Is 42:1-2)."
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MORE ON PASSION (PALM) SUNDAY
PASSION (PALM) SUNDAY
So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!" And Jesus found a young ass and sat upon it; as it is w...ritten, "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on an ass's colt (Jn 12:13-15)!"
Passion (Palm) Sunday commemorates Christ's entry into Jerusalem for the completion of the Paschal Mystery. In the old calendar before the Second Vatican Council, the Church celebrated Passion Sunday two Sundays before Easter, and then Palm Sunday was the beginning of Holy Week. The Church has combined the two to reinforce the solemnity of Holy Week.
The Palm Sunday procession is formed of Christians who, in the "fullness of faith," make their own the gesture of the Jews and endow it with its full significance. Following the Jews' example we proclaim Christ as a Victor... Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord. But by our faith we know, as they did not, all that His triumph stands for. He is the Messiah, the Son of David and the Son of God. He is the sign of contradiction, acclaimed by some and reviled by others. Sent into this world to wrest us from sin and the power of Satan, He underwent His Passion, the punishment for our sins, but issues forth triumphant from the tomb, the victor over death, making our peace with God and taking us with Him into the kingdom of His Father in heaven.
Liturgy for Palm Sunday
The priests and deacons wear red vestments for Mass. There is a special entrance at the beginning of each Mass, either simple or solemn. This includes a blessing of the palms and the gospel reading of the entrance into Jerusalem (Matt 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; John 12:12-16; Luke 19:28-40). The introduction by the priest explains the solemnity of Holy Week, and invites the faithful to take full part in the celebration:
"Dear friends in Christ, for five weeks of Lent we have been preparing, by works of charity and self-sacrifice, for the celebration of our Lord's paschal mystery. Today we come together to begin this solemn celebration in union with the whole Church throughout the world. Christ entered in triumph into his own city, to complete his work as our Messiah: to suffer, to die, and to rise again. Let us remember with devotion this entry which began his saving work and follow him with a lively faith. United with him in his suffering on the cross, may we share his resurrection and new life."
The palms are blessed with the following prayer:
'Almighty God, we pray you bless these branches and make them holy. Today we joyfully acclaim Jesus our Messiah and King. May we reach one day the happiness of the new and everlasting Jerusalem by faithfully following him who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.'
As the faithful, we remember and dramatize Christ's triumphal entrance into Jerusalem on a donkey. In Jesus' time, a huge crowd assembled, put their cloaks or branches on the ground, and waved palm branches, acclaiming Christ as the King of Israel, the Son of David. We now wave our palm branches and sing as the priest enters the church:
Hosanna to the Son of David, the King of Israel.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
These words of praise are echoed every day at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the Sanctus (Holy, Holy).
Our joy is quickly subdued. We are jolted to reality and see the purpose of Christ coming to Jerusalem by the reading of the Passion at the Gospel.
http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MORE ON PASSION (PALM) SUNDAY
PASSION (PALM) SUNDAY
So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!" And Jesus found a young ass and sat upon it; as it is w...ritten, "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on an ass's colt (Jn 12:13-15)!"
Passion (Palm) Sunday commemorates Christ's entry into Jerusalem for the completion of the Paschal Mystery. In the old calendar before the Second Vatican Council, the Church celebrated Passion Sunday two Sundays before Easter, and then Palm Sunday was the beginning of Holy Week. The Church has combined the two to reinforce the solemnity of Holy Week.
The Palm Sunday procession is formed of Christians who, in the "fullness of faith," make their own the gesture of the Jews and endow it with its full significance. Following the Jews' example we proclaim Christ as a Victor... Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord. But by our faith we know, as they did not, all that His triumph stands for. He is the Messiah, the Son of David and the Son of God. He is the sign of contradiction, acclaimed by some and reviled by others. Sent into this world to wrest us from sin and the power of Satan, He underwent His Passion, the punishment for our sins, but issues forth triumphant from the tomb, the victor over death, making our peace with God and taking us with Him into the kingdom of His Father in heaven.
Liturgy for Palm Sunday
The priests and deacons wear red vestments for Mass. There is a special entrance at the beginning of each Mass, either simple or solemn. This includes a blessing of the palms and the gospel reading of the entrance into Jerusalem (Matt 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; John 12:12-16; Luke 19:28-40). The introduction by the priest explains the solemnity of Holy Week, and invites the faithful to take full part in the celebration:
"Dear friends in Christ, for five weeks of Lent we have been preparing, by works of charity and self-sacrifice, for the celebration of our Lord's paschal mystery. Today we come together to begin this solemn celebration in union with the whole Church throughout the world. Christ entered in triumph into his own city, to complete his work as our Messiah: to suffer, to die, and to rise again. Let us remember with devotion this entry which began his saving work and follow him with a lively faith. United with him in his suffering on the cross, may we share his resurrection and new life."
The palms are blessed with the following prayer:
'Almighty God, we pray you bless these branches and make them holy. Today we joyfully acclaim Jesus our Messiah and King. May we reach one day the happiness of the new and everlasting Jerusalem by faithfully following him who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.'
As the faithful, we remember and dramatize Christ's triumphal entrance into Jerusalem on a donkey. In Jesus' time, a huge crowd assembled, put their cloaks or branches on the ground, and waved palm branches, acclaiming Christ as the King of Israel, the Son of David. We now wave our palm branches and sing as the priest enters the church:
Hosanna to the Son of David, the King of Israel.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
These words of praise are echoed every day at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the Sanctus (Holy, Holy).
Our joy is quickly subdued. We are jolted to reality and see the purpose of Christ coming to Jerusalem by the reading of the Passion at the Gospel.
http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar
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HOLY WEEK IN 2 MINUTES
Want to know why Catholics wave palms on Palm Sunday; wash each other’s feet on Holy Thursday; or kiss the cross on Good Friday? Look no further than this two-minute video that describes the final week of Lent we spend preparing for Easter.
Click here:
https://vimeo.com/42361791
HOLY WEEK IN 2 MINUTES
Want to know why Catholics wave palms on Palm Sunday; wash each other’s feet on Holy Thursday; or kiss the cross on Good Friday? Look no further than this two-minute video that describes the final week of Lent we spend preparing for Easter.
Click here:
https://vimeo.com/42361791
A bit of humor…
-Diet Day #1 - I removed all the fattening food from my house. It was delicious.
-My email password has been hacked. That's the third time I've had to rename the cat.
-Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited until you try to sit in their pews.
Whom Gave It Away?
When my coworker answered his phone, the confused woman on the other end asked, “Who is this?”
“This is Steve. With whom did you wish to speak?”
After a pause: “Did you just say whom?”
“Yes, I did.”
The woman replied, “I have the wrong number,” and hung up.
A Trashy Career“Has your son decided what he wants to be when he grows up?” I asked my friend.
“He wants to be a garbageman,” he replied.
“That’s an unusual ambition to have at such a young age.”
“Not really. He thinks that garbagemen work only on Tuesdays.”
Holding Out
A judge tells the defendant, “You’re charged with hitting your boss with a magazine.”
“What!” yells a voice from the back of the courtroom.
“You’re also charged with hitting a waiter with a magazine,” says the judge.
“WHATTTT! How dare you!” bellows the same man.
“Sir,” says the judge, “one more outburst, and I’ll charge you with contempt.”
“I’m sorry, Your Honor,” says the man. “But I’ve been this defendant’s neighbor for ten years, and every time I asked to borrow a magazine for reading material, he said he didn’t have one.”
The Three Sisters
Three sisters, ages 92, 94 and 95 years old, were all living together.
The 95 year old went upstairs one evening to bathe. As she was
getting in the tub, she called down to her sisters, "Am I getting in
the tub or out of the tub?"
The 94-year-old decided to go upstairs to help.
She got to the third step and stopped, then called out, "Was I going
up the stairs or down?"
The 92 year old sitting at the kitchen table having tea, listening to
her sisters shook her head and said, "I sure hope I never get as
forgetful as my sisters," and knocked on wood for good measure.
Then she yelled, "I'll come up and help both of you as soon as I see
who's at the door."
-Diet Day #1 - I removed all the fattening food from my house. It was delicious.
-My email password has been hacked. That's the third time I've had to rename the cat.
-Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited until you try to sit in their pews.
Whom Gave It Away?
When my coworker answered his phone, the confused woman on the other end asked, “Who is this?”
“This is Steve. With whom did you wish to speak?”
After a pause: “Did you just say whom?”
“Yes, I did.”
The woman replied, “I have the wrong number,” and hung up.
A Trashy Career“Has your son decided what he wants to be when he grows up?” I asked my friend.
“He wants to be a garbageman,” he replied.
“That’s an unusual ambition to have at such a young age.”
“Not really. He thinks that garbagemen work only on Tuesdays.”
Holding Out
A judge tells the defendant, “You’re charged with hitting your boss with a magazine.”
“What!” yells a voice from the back of the courtroom.
“You’re also charged with hitting a waiter with a magazine,” says the judge.
“WHATTTT! How dare you!” bellows the same man.
“Sir,” says the judge, “one more outburst, and I’ll charge you with contempt.”
“I’m sorry, Your Honor,” says the man. “But I’ve been this defendant’s neighbor for ten years, and every time I asked to borrow a magazine for reading material, he said he didn’t have one.”
The Three Sisters
Three sisters, ages 92, 94 and 95 years old, were all living together.
The 95 year old went upstairs one evening to bathe. As she was
getting in the tub, she called down to her sisters, "Am I getting in
the tub or out of the tub?"
The 94-year-old decided to go upstairs to help.
She got to the third step and stopped, then called out, "Was I going
up the stairs or down?"
The 92 year old sitting at the kitchen table having tea, listening to
her sisters shook her head and said, "I sure hope I never get as
forgetful as my sisters," and knocked on wood for good measure.
Then she yelled, "I'll come up and help both of you as soon as I see
who's at the door."
"Pause before the tabernacle by yourself, for no special reason, even without saying a thing,
simply remaining in His presence, contemplating the supreme gestures of love contained in the consecrated Bread. Learn to remain with Him, to be able to love like Him"
(Pope St. John Paul II).
simply remaining in His presence, contemplating the supreme gestures of love contained in the consecrated Bread. Learn to remain with Him, to be able to love like Him"
(Pope St. John Paul II).