For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments, questions, discussion.

Alleluia Ping!

Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Alleluia Ping List.

A most blessed Easter Sunday and Easter season to all.

Reflections, Prayers, Actions, Questions and Answers for Lent 2006

Kids and Holiness: Making Lent Meaningful to Children

HOMILIES PREACHED BY FATHER ALTIER ON EASTER SUNDAY FROM 2001-2005.

The Resurrection of the Lord (Easter Sunday)

From: Acts 10:34a, 37-43

Peter's Address

[34] And Peter opened his mouth and said, "(You know the) [37] word
which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after
the baptism which John preached; [38] how God anointed Jesus of
Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how He went about doing
good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with
Him. [39] And we are witnesses to all that He did both in the country
of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put Him to death by hanging Him on
a tree; [40] but God raised Him on the third day and made Him manifest;
[41] not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as
witnesses, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.
[42] And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that
He is the one ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead.
[43] To Him all the prophets bear witness that every one who believes
in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name."

Commentary:

34-43. Peter's short address is his first to non-Jews. It begins with
the central idea that God is impartial: He wants all men to be saved
through the proclamation of the Gospel (verses 34-36) and, finally, the
statement (the first time it appears in Acts) that Jesus Christ has
been made Judge of the living and the dead (verse 42). As in all
Christian preaching to Gentiles, proofs from Scripture take a secondary
place (verse 43).

34. This verse refers to 1 Samuel 16:7, where the Lord, in connection
with the anointing of David as king of Israel, tells the prophet, "Do
not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I
have rejected him; for the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the
outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." When God calls
and offers salvation to His elect, He does not judge as men do. With
Him distinctions regarding social class, race, sex or education do not
count.

Here St. Peter proclaims that the Old Testament prophecies about the
Jews and the Gentiles forming one single nation (Isaiah 2:2-4; Joel
2:28; Amos 9:12; Micah 4:1) and Jesus' words calling everyone to enter
His Kingdom (cf. Matthew 8:11; Mark 16:15-16; John 10:16) should be
interpreted literally.

40. Peter's summary of the Gospel of Jesus (verses 37-41) reaches its
climax with his statement that "God raised Him on the third day." This
had become the usual way of referring to our Lord's resurrection (cf.
1 Corinthians 15:4); see note on Acts 4:10.

42. This verse refers to Christ's role as Judge: He has been made
supreme Judge over all mankind and will deliver His judgment at His
second coming (Parousia). "The Sacred Scriptures inform us that there
are two comings of the Son of God: the one when He assumed human flesh
for our salvation in the womb of a virgin; the other when He shall come
at the end of the world to judge all mankind" ("St. Pius V Catechism",
I, 8, 2).

Christ's coming as Judge means that men will appear before Him twice,
to render an account of their lives--of their thoughts, words, deeds
and omissions. The first judgment will take place "when each of us
departs this life; for then He is instantly placed before the
judgment-seat of God, where all that he has ever done or spoken or
thought during his life shall be subjected to the most rigid scrutiny.
This is called the Particular Judgment. The second occurs when on the
same day and in the same place all men shall stand together before the
tribunal of their Judge [...], and this is called the General Judgment"
("Ibid.", I, 8, 3).

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

The Resurrection of the Lord (Easter Sunday)

From: Colossians 3:1-4

Seek the Things That Are Above

[1] If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are
above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Avoid Sin

[2] Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on
earth. [3] For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
[4] When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with
Him in glory.

Commentary:

1-4. The more ethical and exhortatory part of the letter begins at this
point. It is a practical application of the teaching given in the
earlier chapters, designed to suit the circumstances that have arisen in
the Colossian church.

By His death and resurrection the Son of God frees us from the power of
Satan and of death. "By Baptism men are grafted into the paschal
mystery of Christ; they die with him, are buried with Him, and rise with
Him" (Vatican II, "Sacrosanctum Concilium", 6). In other words,
Christians have been raised to a new kind of life, a supernatural life,
whereby they share, even while on earth, in the glorious life of the
risen Jesus. This life is at present spiritual and hidden, but when our
Lord comes again in glory, it will become manifest and glorious.

Two practical consequences flow from this teaching--the need to seek the
"things that are above", that is, the things of God; and the need to
pass unnoticed in one's everyday work and ordinary life, yet to do
everything with a supernatural purpose in mind.

As regards the first of these the Second Vatican Council has said: "In
their pilgrimage to the Heavenly city Christians are to seek and relish
the things that are above (cf. Colossians 3:1-2): this involves not a
lesser, but a greater commitment to working with all men to build a
world that is more human" ("Gaudium Et Spes", 57). Work, family
relationships, social involvements--every aspect of human
affairs--should be approached in a spirit of faith and done perfectly,
out of love: "The true Christian, who acts according to this faith",
Monsignor Escriva comments, "always has his sights set on God. His
outlook is supernatural. He works in this world of ours, which he loves
passionately; he is involved in all its challenges, but all the while
his eyes are fixed on Heaven" ("Friends of God", 206).

Ordinary life, everyday interests, the desire to be better and to serve
others without seeking public recognition of one's merits--all this
makes for holiness if done for love of God. A simple life "hid with
Christ in God" (verse 3) is so important that Jesus Himself chose to
spend the greater part of His life on earth living like an ordinary
person: He was the son of a tradesman. "As we meditate on these truths,
we come to understand better the logic of God. We come to realize that
the supernatural value of our life does not depend on accomplishing
great undertakings suggested to us by our over-active imagination.

Rather it is to be found in the faithful acceptance of God's will, in
welcoming generously the opportunities for small, daily sacrifice"
([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 172).

This means that those who try to seek holiness by imitating Jesus in His
hidden life will be people full of hope; they will be optimistic and
happy people; and after their death they will share in the glory of the
Lord: they will hear Jesus' praise, "Well done, good and faithful
servant; you have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much;
enter into the joy of your Master" (Matthew 25:21).

On the value of the hidden life, see the note on Luke 2:15.

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

The Resurrection of the Lord (Easter Sunday)

From: John 20:1-9

The Empty Tomb

[1] Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb
early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken
away from the tomb. [2] So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the
other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have
taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid
Him." [3 ]Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went
toward the tomb. [4] They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter
and reached the tomb first; [5] and stooping to look in, he saw the
linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. [6] Then Simon Peter
came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths
lying, [7] and the napkin, which had been on His head, not lying with
the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. [8] Then the other
disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and
believed; [9] for as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must
rise from the dead.

Commentary:

1-2. All four Gospels report the first testimonies of the holy women and
the disciples regarding Christ's glorious resurrection, beginning with
the fact of the empty tomb (cf. Matthew 28:1-15; Mark 16:1ff; Luke
24:1-12) and then telling of the various appearances of the risen
Jesus.

Mary Magdalene was one of the women who provided for our Lord during
His journeys (Luke 8:1-3); along with the Virgin Mary she bravely
stayed with Him right up to His final moments (John 19:25), and she saw
where His body was laid (Luke 23:55). Now, after the obligatory
Sabbath rest, she goes to visit the tomb. The Gospel points out that
she went "early, when it was still dark": her love and veneration led
her to go without delay, to be with our Lord's body.

4. The Fourth Gospel makes it clear that, although the women, and
specifically Mary Magdalene, were the first to reach the tomb, the
Apostles were the first to enter it and see the evidence that Christ
had risen (the empty tomb, the linen clothes "lying" and the napkin in
a place by itself). Bearing witness to this will be an essential
factor in the mission which Christ will entrust to them: "You shall be
My witnesses in Jerusalem...and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8; cf.
Acts 2:32).

John, who reached the tomb first (perhaps because he was the younger),
did not go in, out of deference to Peter. This is an indication that
Peter was already regarded as leader of the Apostles.

5-7. The words the Evangelist uses to describe what Peter and he saw in
the empty tomb convey with vivid realism the impression it made on
them, etching on their memory details which at first sight seem
irrelevant. The whole scene inside the tomb in some way caused them to
intuit that the Lord had risen. Some of the words contained in the
account need further explanation, so terse is the translation.

"The linen clothes lying there": the Greek participle translated as
"lying there" seems to indicate that the clothes were flattened,
deflated, as if they were emptied when the body of Jesus rose and
disappeared--as if it had come out of the clothes and bandages without
their being unrolled, passing right through them (just as later He
entered the Cenacle when the doors were shut). This would explain the
clothes being "fallen", "flat" "lying", which is how the Greek
literally translates, after Jesus' body--which had filled them--left
them. One can readily understand how this would amaze a witness, how
unforgettable the scene would be.

"The napkin...rolled up in a place by itself": the first point to note
is that the napkin, which had been wrapped round the head, was not on
top of the clothes, but placed on one side. The second, even more
surprising thing is that, like the clothes, it was still rolled up but,
unlike the clothes, it still had a certain volume, like a container,
possibly due to the stiffness given it by the ointments: this is what
the Greek participle, here translated as "rolled", seems to indicate.

From these details concerning the empty tomb one deduces that Jesus'
body must have risen in a heavenly manner, that is, in a way which
transcended the laws of nature. It was not only a matter of the body
being reanimated as happened, for example, in the case of Lazarus, who
had to be unbound before he could walk (cf. John 11:44).

8-10. As Mary Magdalene had told them, the Lord was not in the tomb;
but the two Apostles realized that there was no question of any
robbery, which was what she thought had happened, because they saw the
special way the clothes and napkin were; they know began to understand
what the Master had so often told them about His death and resurrection
(cf. Matthew 16:21; Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22; etc....)

The empty tomb and the other facts were perceptible to the senses; but
the resurrection, even though it had effects that could be tested by
experience, requires faith if it is to be accepted. Christ's
resurrection is a real, historic fact: His body and soul were
re-united. But since His was a glorious resurrection unlike Lazarus',
far beyond our capacity in this life to understand what happened, and
outside the scope of sense experience, a special gift of God is
required--the gift of faith--to know and accept as a certainty this
fact which, while it is historical, is also supernatural. Therefore,
St. Thomas Aquinas can say that "the individual arguments taken alone
are not sufficient proof of Christ's resurrection, but taken together,
in a cumulative way, they manifest it perfectly. Particularly
important in this regard are the spiritual proofs (cf. specially Luke
24:25-27), the angelic testimony (cf. Luke 24:4-7) and Christ's own
post-resurrection word confirmed by miracles (cf. John 3:13; Matthew
16:21; 17:22; 20:18)" (St. Thomas Aquinas, "Summa Theologiae", III, q.
55, a. 6 ad 1).

In addition to Christ's predictions about His passion, death and
resurrection (cf. John 2:19; Matthew 16:21; Mark 9:31; Luke 9:22), the
Old Testament also foretells the glorious victory of the Messiah and,
in some way, His resurrection (cf. Psalm 16:9; Isaiah 52:13; Hosea
6:2). The Apostles begin to grasp the true meaning of Sacred Scripture
after the resurrection, particularly once they receive the Holy Spirit,
who fully enlightens their minds to understand the content of the Word
of God. It is easy to imagine the surprise and elation they all feel
when Peter and John tell them what they have seen in the tomb.

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Office of Readings -- Awakening Prayer

Office of Readings

If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Reading	Exodus 14:15 - 15:1 ©
The Lord said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry to me so? Tell the sons of Israel to march on. For yourself, raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and part it for the sons of Israel to walk through the sea on dry ground. I for my part will make the heart of the Egyptians so stubborn that they will follow them. So shall I win myself glory at the expense of Pharaoh, of all his army, his chariots, his horsemen. And when I have won glory for myself, at the expense of Pharaoh and his chariots and his army, the Egyptians will learn that I am the Lord.’ Then the angel of God, who marched at the front of the army of Israel, changed station and moved to their rear. The pillar of cloud changed station from the front to the rear of them, and remained there. It came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. The cloud was dark, and the night passed without the armies drawing any closer the whole night long. Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove back the sea with a strong easterly wind all night, and he made dry land of the sea. The waters parted and the sons of Israel went on dry ground right into the sea, walls of water to right and to left of them. The Egyptians gave chase: after them they went, right into the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. In the morning watch, the Lord looked down on the army of the Egyptians from the pillar of fire and of cloud, and threw the army into confusion. He so clogged their chariot wheels that they could scarcely make headway. ‘Let us flee from the Israelites,’ the Egyptians cried ‘the Lord is fighting for them against the Egyptians!’ ‘Stretch out your hand over the sea,’ the Lord said to Moses ‘that the waters may flow back on the Egyptians and their chariots and their horsemen.’ Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and, as day broke, the sea returned to its bed. The fleeing Egyptians marched right into it, and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the very middle of the sea. The returning waters overwhelmed the chariots and the horsemen of Pharaoh’s whole army, which had followed the Israelites into the sea; not a single one of them was left. But the sons of Israel had marched through the sea on dry ground, walls of water to right and to left of them. That day, the Lord rescued Israel from the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. Israel witnessed the great act that the Lord had performed against the Egyptians, and the people venerated the Lord; they put their faith in the Lord and in Moses, his servant. It was then that Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song in honour of the Lord:

Reading

Exodus 14:15 - 15:1 ©

The Lord said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry to me so? Tell the sons of Israel to march on. For yourself, raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and part it for the sons of Israel to walk through the sea on dry ground. I for my part will make the heart of the Egyptians so stubborn that they will follow them. So shall I win myself glory at the expense of Pharaoh, of all his army, his chariots, his horsemen. And when I have won glory for myself, at the expense of Pharaoh and his chariots and his army, the Egyptians will learn that I am the Lord.’ Then the angel of God, who marched at the front of the army of Israel, changed station and moved to their rear. The pillar of cloud changed station from the front to the rear of them, and remained there. It came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. The cloud was dark, and the night passed without the armies drawing any closer the whole night long. Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove back the sea with a strong easterly wind all night, and he made dry land of the sea. The waters parted and the sons of Israel went on dry ground right into the sea, walls of water to right and to left of them. The Egyptians gave chase: after them they went, right into the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. In the morning watch, the Lord looked down on the army of the Egyptians from the pillar of fire and of cloud, and threw the army into confusion. He so clogged their chariot wheels that they could scarcely make headway. ‘Let us flee from the Israelites,’ the Egyptians cried ‘the Lord is fighting for them against the Egyptians!’ ‘Stretch out your hand over the sea,’ the Lord said to Moses ‘that the waters may flow back on the Egyptians and their chariots and their horsemen.’ Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and, as day broke, the sea returned to its bed. The fleeing Egyptians marched right into it, and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the very middle of the sea. The returning waters overwhelmed the chariots and the horsemen of Pharaoh’s whole army, which had followed the Israelites into the sea; not a single one of them was left. But the sons of Israel had marched through the sea on dry ground, walls of water to right and to left of them. That day, the Lord rescued Israel from the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. Israel witnessed the great act that the Lord had performed against the Egyptians, and the people venerated the Lord; they put their faith in the Lord and in Moses, his servant.
It was then that Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song in honour of the Lord:

Canticle	Exodus 15
Hymn of victory after crossing the Red Sea
I will sing to the Lord, for his triumph is glorious. Horse and rider he has cast into the sea. The Lord is my support and my strength, and he has saved me. This is my God, and I will give him glory This is my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a warrior – Yahweh is his name! Pharaoh’s chariots and army he has thrown into the sea; the finest of his fighters have sunk into the Red Sea. The deeps have covered them; they have sunk to the bottom like a stone. In your strength, Lord, show us the power of your right hand. Your right hand, Lord, struck down the enemy. You will lead your people in and establish them on the mountain that is your inheritance, your solid dwelling-place, which you made, Lord; your sanctuary, Lord, which your hands made firm. The Lord will reign, to eternity and beyond! Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Canticle

Exodus 15

Hymn of victory after crossing the Red Sea

I will sing to the Lord, for his triumph is glorious.
Horse and rider he has cast into the sea.

The Lord is my support and my strength, and he has saved me.
This is my God, and I will give him glory
This is my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

The Lord is a warrior – Yahweh is his name!
Pharaoh’s chariots and army he has thrown into the sea;
the finest of his fighters have sunk into the Red Sea.

The deeps have covered them;
they have sunk to the bottom like a stone.

In your strength, Lord, show us the power of your right hand.
Your right hand, Lord, struck down the enemy.

You will lead your people in and establish them
on the mountain that is your inheritance,
your solid dwelling-place, which you made, Lord;
your sanctuary, Lord, which your hands made firm.

The Lord will reign, to eternity and beyond!

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Reading	Ezekiel 36:16 - 28 ©
The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows: ‘Son of man, the members of the House of Israel used to live in their own land, but they defiled it by their conduct and actions; to me their conduct was as unclean as a woman’s menstruation. I then discharged my fury at them because of the blood they shed in their land and the idols with which they defiled it. I scattered them among the nations and dispersed them in foreign countries. I sentenced them as their conduct and actions deserved. And now they have profaned my holy name among the nations where they have gone, so that people say of them, “These are the people of the Lord; they have been exiled from his land”. But I have been concerned about my holy name, which the House of Israel has profaned among the nations where they have gone. And so, say to the House of Israel, “The Lord says this: I am not doing this for your sake, House of Israel, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. I mean to display the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them. And the nations will learn that I am the Lord–it is the Lord who speaks– when I display my holiness for your sake before their eyes. Then I am going to take you from among the nations and gather you together from all the foreign countries, and bring you home to your own land. I shall pour clean water over you and you will be cleansed; I shall cleanse you of all your defilement and all your idols. I shall give you a new heart, and put a new spirit in you; I shall remove the heart of stone from your bodies and give you a heart of flesh instead. I shall put my spirit in you, and make you keep my laws and sincerely respect my observances. You will live in the land which I gave your ancestors. You shall be my people and I will be your God.

Reading

Ezekiel 36:16 - 28 ©

The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows: ‘Son of man, the members of the House of Israel used to live in their own land, but they defiled it by their conduct and actions; to me their conduct was as unclean as a woman’s menstruation. I then discharged my fury at them because of the blood they shed in their land and the idols with which they defiled it. I scattered them among the nations and dispersed them in foreign countries. I sentenced them as their conduct and actions deserved. And now they have profaned my holy name among the nations where they have gone, so that people say of them, “These are the people of the Lord; they have been exiled from his land”. But I have been concerned about my holy name, which the House of Israel has profaned among the nations where they have gone. And so, say to the House of Israel, “The Lord says this: I am not doing this for your sake, House of Israel, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. I mean to display the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them. And the nations will learn that I am the Lord–it is the Lord who speaks– when I display my holiness for your sake before their eyes. Then I am going to take you from among the nations and gather you together from all the foreign countries, and bring you home to your own land. I shall pour clean water over you and you will be cleansed; I shall cleanse you of all your defilement and all your idols. I shall give you a new heart, and put a new spirit in you; I shall remove the heart of stone from your bodies and give you a heart of flesh instead. I shall put my spirit in you, and make you keep my laws and sincerely respect my observances. You will live in the land which I gave your ancestors. You shall be my people and I will be your God.

Psalm 41 (42)
Longing for the Lord and his temple
Like a deer that longs for springs of water, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God: when shall I come and stand before the face of God? I remember how I went up to your glorious dwelling-place and into the house of God: the memory melts my soul. The sound of joy and thanksgiving, the crowds at the festival. Send forth your light and your truth; let them lead me away, let them lead me up your holy mountain, up to your sanctuary. I shall go in to the altar of God, to the God of my gladness and joy. I will sing out to you on the lyre, O God, my God. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Psalm 41 (42)

Longing for the Lord and his temple

Like a deer that longs for springs of water,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, the living God:
when shall I come and stand before the face of God?

I remember how I went up to your glorious dwelling-place
and into the house of God:
the memory melts my soul.
The sound of joy and thanksgiving,
the crowds at the festival.

Send forth your light and your truth;
let them lead me away,
let them lead me up your holy mountain,
up to your sanctuary.

I shall go in to the altar of God,
to the God of my gladness and joy.
I will sing out to you on the lyre,
O God, my God.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Reading	Romans 6:3 - 11 ©
You have been taught that when we were baptised in Christ Jesus we were baptised in his death; in other words, when we were baptised we went into the tomb with him and joined him in death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the Father’s glory, we too might live a new life. If in union with Christ we have imitated his death, we shall also imitate him in his resurrection. We must realise that our former selves have been crucified with him to destroy this sinful body and to free us from the slavery of sin. When a Christian dies, of course, he has finished with sin. But we believe that having died with Christ we shall return to life with him: Christ, as we know, having been raised from the dead will never die again. Death has no power over him any more. When he died, he died, once for all, to sin, so his life now is life with God; and in that way, you too must consider yourselves to be dead to sin but alive for God in Christ Jesus.

Reading

Romans 6:3 - 11 ©

You have been taught that when we were baptised in Christ Jesus we were baptised in his death; in other words, when we were baptised we went into the tomb with him and joined him in death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the Father’s glory, we too might live a new life.
If in union with Christ we have imitated his death, we shall also imitate him in his resurrection. We must realise that our former selves have been crucified with him to destroy this sinful body and to free us from the slavery of sin. When a Christian dies, of course, he has finished with sin.
But we believe that having died with Christ we shall return to life with him: Christ, as we know, having been raised from the dead will never die again. Death has no power over him any more. When he died, he died, once for all, to sin, so his life now is life with God; and in that way, you too must consider yourselves to be dead to sin but alive for God in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 117 (118)
A cry of rejoicing and triumph
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, and his kindness is for ever. Now let Israel say, he is good and his kindness is for ever. “The Lord’s right hand has triumphed! The Lord’s right hand has raised me up. I shall not die, but live, and tell of the works of the Lord”. The stone that the builders rejected has become the corner-stone. It was the Lord who did this – it is marvellous to behold. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Psalm 117 (118)

A cry of rejoicing and triumph

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
and his kindness is for ever.
Now let Israel say, he is good
and his kindness is for ever.

“The Lord’s right hand has triumphed!
The Lord’s right hand has raised me up.

I shall not die, but live,
and tell of the works of the Lord”.

The stone that the builders rejected
has become the corner-stone.
It was the Lord who did this –
it is marvellous to behold.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Reading	Matthew 28:1 - 10 ©
After the sabbath, and towards dawn on the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary went to visit the sepulchre. And all at once there was a violent earthquake, for the angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled away the stone and sat on it. His face was like lightning, his robe white as snow. The guards were so shaken, so frightened of him, that they were like dead men. But the angel spoke; and he said to the women, ‘There is no need for you to be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said he would. Come and see the place where he lay, then go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has risen from the dead and now he is going before you to Galilee; it is there you will see him”. Now I have told you.’ Filled with awe and great joy the women came quickly away from the tomb and ran to tell the disciples. And there, coming to meet them, was Jesus. ‘Greetings’ he said. And the women came up to him and, falling down before him, clasped his feet. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers that they must leave for Galilee; they will see me there’.

Reading

Matthew 28:1 - 10 ©

After the sabbath, and towards dawn on the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary went to visit the sepulchre. And all at once there was a violent earthquake, for the angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled away the stone and sat on it. His face was like lightning, his robe white as snow. The guards were so shaken, so frightened of him, that they were like dead men. But the angel spoke; and he said to the women, ‘There is no need for you to be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said he would. Come and see the place where he lay, then go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has risen from the dead and now he is going before you to Galilee; it is there you will see him”. Now I have told you.’ Filled with awe and great joy the women came quickly away from the tomb and ran to tell the disciples.
And there, coming to meet them, was Jesus. ‘Greetings’ he said. And the women came up to him and, falling down before him, clasped his feet. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers that they must leave for Galilee; they will see me there’.

Canticle	Te Deum
God, we praise you; Lord, we proclaim you! You, the Father, the eternal – all the earth venerates you. All the angels, all the heavens, every power – The cherubim, the seraphim – unceasingly, they cry: “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts: heaven and earth are full of the majesty of your glory!” The glorious choir of Apostles – The noble ranks of prophets – The shining army of martyrs – all praise you. Throughout the world your holy Church proclaims you. – Father of immeasurable majesty, – True Son, only-begotten, worthy of worship, – Holy Spirit, our Advocate. You, Christ: – You are the king of glory. – You are the Father’s eternal Son. – You, to free mankind, did not disdain a Virgin’s womb. – You defeated the sharp spear of Death, and opened the kingdom of heaven to those who believe in you. – You sit at God’s right hand, in the glory of the Father. – You will come, so we believe, as our Judge. And so we ask of you: give help to your servants, whom you set free at the price of your precious blood. Number them among your chosen ones in eternal glory. Bring your people to safety, Lord, and bless those who are your inheritance. Rule them and lift them high for ever. Day by day we bless you, Lord: we praise you for ever and for ever. Of your goodness, Lord, keep us without sin for today. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us. Let your pity, Lord, be upon us, as much as we trust in you. In you, Lord, I trust: let me never be put to shame. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Canticle

Te Deum

God, we praise you; Lord, we proclaim you!
You, the Father, the eternal –
all the earth venerates you.
All the angels, all the heavens, every power –
The cherubim, the seraphim –
unceasingly, they cry:
“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts:
heaven and earth are full of the majesty of your glory!”

The glorious choir of Apostles –
The noble ranks of prophets –
The shining army of martyrs –
all praise you.
Throughout the world your holy Church proclaims you.
– Father of immeasurable majesty,
– True Son, only-begotten, worthy of worship,
– Holy Spirit, our Advocate.

You, Christ:
– You are the king of glory.
– You are the Father’s eternal Son.
– You, to free mankind, did not disdain a Virgin’s womb.
– You defeated the sharp spear of Death, and opened the kingdom of heaven to those who believe in you.
– You sit at God’s right hand, in the glory of the Father.
– You will come, so we believe, as our Judge.

And so we ask of you: give help to your servants, whom you set free at the price of your precious blood.
Number them among your chosen ones in eternal glory.
Bring your people to safety, Lord, and bless those who are your inheritance.
Rule them and lift them high for ever.

Day by day we bless you, Lord: we praise you for ever and for ever.
Of your goodness, Lord, keep us without sin for today.
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us.
Let your pity, Lord, be upon us, as much as we trust in you.
In you, Lord, I trust: let me never be put to shame.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

A concluding prayer may follow here.

Sunday, April 16, 2006
Easter Sunday (Solemnity)

First Reading:
Psalm:
Second Reading:
Gospel:

Acts 10:34, 37-43
Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23
Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6-8
John 20:1-9

Let your old age be childlike, and your childhood like old age; that is,so that neither may your wisdom be with pride, nor your humility without wisdom.

-- St. Augustine

Catholic Culture

Collect:
Almighty and eternal God, you created all things in wonderful beauty and order. Help us now to perceive how still more wonderful is the new creation by which in the fullness of time you redeemed your people through the sacrifice of our Passover, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Recipes:

Activities:

Prayers:

April 16, 2006

Easter Sunday

Easter is the feast of feasts, the unalloyed joy and gladness of all Christians.

In the very center of the Mass, the great prayer of thanksgiving, from the first words of the Preface, expresses the unrivalled motive for this joy: if it is right to praise You, Lord, at all times, how much more so should we not glorify You on this day when Christ our Passover was sacrificed, for He is the true Lamb who took away the sins of the world, who by His Death destroyed our death and by His Resurrection restored our life. Easter means, then, Redemption obtained — sin destroyed, death overcome, divine life brought back to us, the resurrection of our body which is promised immortality. With such a certitude, we should banish all trace of sadness.

Haec dies quam fecit Dominus: "This is the day which the Lord has made." Throughout the octave we shall sing of the unequalled joy which throws open eternity to us. Every Sunday will furnish a reminder of it, and from Sunday to Sunday, from year to year, the Easters of this earth will lead us to that blessed day on which Christ has promised that He will come again with glory to take us with Him into the kingdom of His Father.

The Station is at St. Mary Major, the principal church of all those that are dedicated to the Mother of God in the holy city. This is to associate with the Paschal solemnity the memory of her, who, more than all other creatures, had merited its joys, not only because of the exceptional share she had had in all the sufferings of Jesus, but also because of the unshaken faith wherewith, during those long and cruel hours of his lying in the tomb, she had awaited his Resurrection.

Meditation - He is Risen!

"I rose up and am still with Thee". After His labors and His humiliations, Christ finds rest with His Father. "I am still with Thee." This is perfect beatitude. Through His cross He entered into the possession of eternal glory. Christ has gained the crown of victory; through Christ men also win their crowns of victory. Humanity was under a curse and subject to the wrath of God. Now that they have risen with Christ, their guilt has been destroyed. "I rose up and am still with Thee." The liturgy places these words in the mouth of the Church that she may pray them with Christ.

"The earth trembled and was still when God arose in judgment". The resurrection of Christ is the judgment and condemnation of those who have turned away from God. This judgment was prefigured by the angel who passed through the land of Egypt destroying the first-born of the Egyptians. The Israelites marked the doors of their houses with the blood of the paschal lamb. We are the new Israel, and "Christ our Pasch is sacrificed". We mark ourselves with His blood, which we enjoy in the Holy Eucharist. We have been pardoned, we are saved, we shall live.

"He is risen." The resurrection of Christ is a pledge of our own resurrection. It is the foundation upon which our faith rests. It is the guarantee of our redemption and God's assurance that our sins are forgiven and that we are called to eternal life. "This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us be glad and rejoice therein. Give praise to the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever. Alleluia". "Christ our Pasch is sacrificed. . . . The Lamb redeems the sheep. Christ, the innocent One, hath reconciled sinners to the Father". — Excerpted from The Light of the World by Benedict Baur, O.S.B.

Day 3 of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy

Divine Mercy Novena Begins on Good Friday

The Message of Divine Mercy

Divine Mercy

Chaplet of Divine Mercy

Divine Mercy Devotion and Novena

Lauds -- Morning Prayer

Morning Prayer (Lauds)

If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 62 (63)
Thirsting for God
O God, you are my God, I wait for you from the dawn. My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you. I came to your sanctuary, as one in a parched and waterless land, so that I could see your might and your glory. My lips will praise you, for your mercy is better than life itself. Thus I will bless you throughout my life, and raise my hands in prayer to your name; my soul will be filled as if by rich food, and my mouth will sing your praises and rejoice. I will remember you as I lie in bed, I will think of you in the morning, for you have been my helper, and I will take joy in the protection of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand raises me up. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Psalm 62 (63)

Thirsting for God

O God, you are my God, I wait for you from the dawn.
My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you.
I came to your sanctuary,
as one in a parched and waterless land,
so that I could see your might and your glory.
My lips will praise you, for your mercy is better than life itself.

Thus I will bless you throughout my life,
and raise my hands in prayer to your name;
my soul will be filled as if by rich food,
and my mouth will sing your praises and rejoice.
I will remember you as I lie in bed,
I will think of you in the morning,
for you have been my helper,
and I will take joy in the protection of your wings.

My soul clings to you; your right hand raises me up.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Canticle	Daniel 3
All creatures, bless the Lord
Bless the Lord, all his works, praise and exalt him for ever. Bless the Lord, you heavens; all his angels, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, you waters above the heavens; all his powers, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, sun and moon; all stars of the sky, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, rain and dew; all you winds, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, fire and heat; cold and warmth, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, dew and frost; ice and cold, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, ice and snow; day and night, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, light and darkness; lightning and storm-clouds, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, all the earth, praise and exalt him for ever. Bless the Lord, mountains and hills; all growing things, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, seas and rivers; springs and fountains, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, whales and fish; birds of the air, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, wild beasts and tame; sons of men, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, O Israel, praise and exalt him for ever. Bless the Lord, his priests; all his servants, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, spirits of the just; all who are holy and humble, bless the Lord. Ananias, Azarias, Mishael, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him for ever. Let us bless Father, Son and Holy Spirit, praise and exalt them for ever. Bless the Lord in the firmament of heaven, praise and glorify him for ever.

Canticle

Daniel 3

All creatures, bless the Lord

Bless the Lord, all his works, praise and exalt him for ever.

Bless the Lord, you heavens; all his angels, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, you waters above the heavens; all his powers, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, sun and moon; all stars of the sky, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, rain and dew; all you winds, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, fire and heat; cold and warmth, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, dew and frost; ice and cold, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, ice and snow; day and night, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, light and darkness; lightning and storm-clouds, bless the Lord.

Bless the Lord, all the earth, praise and exalt him for ever.

Bless the Lord, mountains and hills; all growing things, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, seas and rivers; springs and fountains, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, whales and fish; birds of the air, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, wild beasts and tame; sons of men, bless the Lord.

Bless the Lord, O Israel, praise and exalt him for ever.

Bless the Lord, his priests; all his servants, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, spirits of the just; all who are holy and humble, bless the Lord.

Ananias, Azarias, Mishael, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him for ever.

Let us bless Father, Son and Holy Spirit, praise and exalt them for ever.
Bless the Lord in the firmament of heaven, praise and glorify him for ever.

Psalm 149
The saints rejoice
Sing a new song to the Lord, his praise in the assembly of the faithful. Let Israel rejoice in its maker, and the sons of Sion delight in their king. Let them praise his name with dancing, sing to him with timbrel and lyre, for the Lord’s favour is upon his people, and he will honour the humble with victory. Let the faithful celebrate his glory, rejoice even in their beds, the praise of God in their throats; and swords ready in their hands, to exact vengeance upon the nations, impose punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings in fetters and their nobles in manacles of iron, to carry out the sentence that has been passed: this is the glory prepared for all his faithful. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Psalm 149

The saints rejoice

Sing a new song to the Lord, his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its maker, and the sons of Sion delight in their king.
Let them praise his name with dancing, sing to him with timbrel and lyre,
for the Lord’s favour is upon his people, and he will honour the humble with victory.

Let the faithful celebrate his glory, rejoice even in their beds,
the praise of God in their throats; and swords ready in their hands,
to exact vengeance upon the nations, impose punishment on the peoples,
to bind their kings in fetters and their nobles in manacles of iron,
to carry out the sentence that has been passed: this is the glory prepared for all his faithful.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

A short Bible reading and responsory may follow here.

Canticle	Benedictus
The Messiah and his forerunner
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption. He has raised up the sign of salvation in the house of his servant David, as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones, his prophets through the ages: to rescue us from our enemies and all who hate us, to take pity on our fathers, to remember his holy covenant and the oath he swore to Abraham our father, that he would give himself to us, that we could serve him without fear – freed from the hands of our enemies – in uprightness and holiness before him, for all of our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High: for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path, to let his people know their salvation, so that their sins may be forgiven. Through the bottomless mercy of our God, one born on high will visit us to give light to those who walk in darkness, who live in the shadow of death; to lead our feet in the path of peace. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Canticle

Benedictus

The Messiah and his forerunner

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption.
He has raised up the sign of salvation in the house of his servant David,
as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones, his prophets through the ages:
to rescue us from our enemies and all who hate us, to take pity on our fathers,
to remember his holy covenant and the oath he swore to Abraham our father,
that he would give himself to us, that we could serve him without fear – freed from the hands of our enemies –
in uprightness and holiness before him, for all of our days.

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High: for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path,
to let his people know their salvation, so that their sins may be forgiven.
Through the bottomless mercy of our God, one born on high will visit us
to give light to those who walk in darkness, who live in the shadow of death;
to lead our feet in the path of peace.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Some short prayers may follow here, to offer up the day's work to God.

Our Father, who art in Heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

A concluding prayer may follow here.

May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.

A M E N

Regnum Christi

He Has Truly Risen!
April 16, 2006

Happy is the man who does not live life for himself but gives

Easter Sunday
Father Michael Sliney, LC

John 20:1-9
On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.

Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, what a wonderful day to have a heart-to-heart conversation with you -- the day of your resurrection from the dead! Please accompany me during this time of prayer, and help me to be a more effective instrument in your hands. My only desire is to please you. Lord, please flood my heart with your grace so that I may fully accomplish your will in my life.

Petition: Lord Jesus, help me to better understand this great mystery of the Resurrection. Never allow me to forget that you are always watching over me and looking after my greater interests. More importantly, please help me to know and love you more, so that I can put this love into practice in my daily life.

1. Do Not Be Afraid of Death. “We are all called to face the enigma of death and therefore with the question of how to live well, how to find happiness. [Psalm 112] answers: happy is the man who gives; happy is the man who does not live life for himself but gives; happy is the man who is merciful, generous and just; happy is the man who lives in the love of God and neighbor. In this way we live well and have no reason to fear death because we experience the everlasting happiness that comes from God” (Pope Benedict XVI, Audience, Nov. 2, 2005). If we are living as true and authentic Christians, we have no reason to fear death. On the contrary, we should look forward to that day when we can see Christ as he is, face-to-face, and enjoy the warmth of his loving presence for all eternity.

2. The Meaning of Life. Why so much suffering? Why so much pain and anguish? Physical pain, psychological pain, emotional pain …. Why? The answer to these questions lies in the Paschal Mystery. The Resurrection sheds a clear and defining light on these questions. We are called to be mirrors of God’s love, and we are called to imitate Christ in the joyful and loving acceptance of the will of God, who in is his infinite wisdom and love is always looking for our greatest good. Our true home is not here on earth. We are mere pilgrims, passing through this “valley of tears,” waiting for the day when, like Christ, we too will enter into our true and eternal homeland. We need to keep our eyes focused on heaven, and our hearts focused on all the souls entrusted to us. We should never “count the cost.”

3. Cultivating Christ’s Presence in Our Daily Life. Christ is our traveling companion, friend, older brother, king and God. He is with us, thinking about us all the time. We can talk to him anytime and anywhere. Although the preferred place of dialogue will always be before him in the Blessed Sacrament, we should not be prevented from having a heart-to-heart conversation with him wherever we might be: in the car, in a parking lot, on a boat or plane. He is always ready, anxious and willing to strike up a conversation with one of his friends. The cross and suffering have to be there, but Christ’s presence can ease this burden as he gently reminds us of the beauty and gift of the cross. Christ has truly risen, and he has pledged his company until our last days on earth: “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

Dialogue with Christ: Thank you Christ for reminding me of the great mystery of the Resurrection. You are my friend, traveling companion and ideal. I know that by dying with you, someday I will also rise with you in glory. Please stay close to my heart and mind today!

Resolution: I will make a practical commitment to increase both the quality and the quantity of my Eucharistic life.

The Work of God

Year B

- Easter Sunday

He must rise from the dead

John 20:1-9

20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.
2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."
3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb.
4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in.
6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there,
7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.
8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;
9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus

The resurrection from the dead was an incredible matter for everyone until my resurrection. To come back to life after death was something unattainable since everyone was destined to die, and no one knew what was next.

I am the only one with the power of life, because I am the life, therefore I laid down my own life and by my own power was able to come back into life again. I am the resurrection and the life, whoever believes in me even if he dies will live again forever.

Even my own apostles had difficulty understanding this revelation about the resurrection. I told them at the temple that if they destroyed this temple (I was referring to my body), I would raise it up in three days. I also told them after the transfiguration that I was destined to suffer and die, and that I would rise from the dead. I also told them that unless I went to the Father, they would not receive the Paraclete, the gift of the Holy Spirit which is my presence of light.

Through my birth, life, death and resurrection I demonstrated the kind of life that is found in me, a complete transformation of the mortal body of a man into the immortal state of a Son of God.

My sufferings and my death were very real, they were extremely painful beyond human understanding, I was a real man even though I was God. I died in my human nature to dignify humanity with my divinity, to empower men with the Holy Spirit, to embellish the soul with my wisdom and to give it wings to soar to heavenly heights where it will take permanent residence after death.

For this reason I ask you my little soul to pay attention to my words and to live a life worthy of the call that I have made to you. It is the Lord who speaks: repent of your sins, die to the filth of the world and live a life of holiness, love everyone, practice charity, do not cling to your earthly possessions, respect my commandments, overcome the world, the devil and the flesh and live to share my victory.

Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary

He Has Truly Risen!

by Fr. James Farfaglia

Other Articles by Fr. James Farfaglia
Contact this Author

He Has Truly Risen!

04/15/06

Jesus has risen from the dead with a glorified body. The barriers of time and space no longer apply to Him. The Lord appears and disappears with shocking suddenness. He continually demonstrates His physical reality. The Apostles and the disciples see Him, hear Him, and eat with Him. Thomas is told to touch His wounds.


The stone rolled away from the entrance of the empty tomb directs our attention to the physical. The carefully folded burial cloths direct us to comprehend that Jesus is physically alive. He has truly risen — bodily risen. The disbelief and uncertainty evidenced by those who saw Him testify to an apparent strangeness in the appearance of the newly risen Christ. Slowly they came to recognize Him, but they still struggled with doubt. We are accustomed to an annual celebration of Easter. However, for the first disciples of Jesus, resurrection was totally new. The concept of someone coming back to life, they knew. There were such accounts in the Old Testament. Jesus Himself had brought back to life the son of the widow of Nain, Jairus' daughter, and His friend Lazarus. But none of them continued their lives with a glorified body. Although the risen Jesus is the same Jesus Who died on Calvary, His physical reality is now different from before. The body of the risen Lord is indeed His physical body, but it now moves about according to the manner of a glorified body. This is a new reality and it is a new hope: each of us will have a glorified body also at the resurrection of the dead if we persevere and are faithful. But the newness of it made it difficult for the disciples to grasp what had happened to Jesus. Over and over again the Gospels stress that something extraordinary has occurred. The Lord is tangible, but He has been transformed. His life is different from what it once was. Because His glorified body transcends the limitations of time and space, He can pass through the closed door of the Upper Room, and appear and disappear as He desires. At times His disciples cannot recognize Him precisely because their physical reality moves within time and space, and the Lord's physical reality is no longer subject to time and space, although He is present with them in time and space. His crucified body has been transformed, glorified. But why, then we may wonder, would Jesus rise from the dead with wounds? What lesson is He teaching us by keeping His wounds intact? We can answer this question by turning to our own wounds. What are our wounds? First, we all experience the large wound caused by original sin. Although we are baptized and original sin has been cleansed from our soul, our human nature has been wounded. Our sinful condition manifests itself in different ways and we struggle with sensuality and pride. And then there are the other smaller wounds. We have wounds caused by sickness and the wounds that are caused by problems, adversities, challenges and the disappointments of life. All of us are wounded. Even Jesus is wounded. By retaining the wounds of His Passion, the glorified Jesus is showing us that we can find hope and strength by taking our wounds and uniting them to His wounds. His five wounds are an eternal reminder that when our wounds are united to His wounds we will find true peace. Many times we are surprised and even discouraged that our commitment to follow the Risen Lord consists in a continual personal struggle with our predominant faults. We become dismayed when manifestations of our predominant faults constantly show themselves in our daily activities. Most of us have been profoundly affected by dysfunctional families, a dysfunctional society, and even a dysfunctional Church. Perhaps some of our predominant faults have been caused by these dysfunctions or at least they provide the ammunition that pushes our buttons, especially when we experience anger and discouragement. However, when we honestly acknowledge our weaknesses and sinful tendencies, and take responsibility for all of our actions, our struggles can be the very agents that cause us to receive the graces that we need to overcome our weaknesses and sins. Our wounds become the source by which personal transformation takes place. Did you ever stop to think what your glorified body will look like? The only glorified body that we know is the glorified body of our Lord, Jesus Christ. His glorified body still carries the five wounds of Calvary. Perhaps our glorified bodies will bear our own personal wounds. Maybe the wounds caused by the death of a loved one, a family tragedy, a life-long struggle with sin, or a long battle with a chronic illness will be seen as personal trophies because they have been the very agents that caused us to gain eternal salvation, In Wounds that Heal, Keith A. Fournier supposed: Maybe when the last trumpet sounds, millions upon millions of glorified bodies will come forth from their tombs adorned with glorified wounds — wounds that, when joined with the five wounds of the Son of God, are seen as the very agents that made possible their owner’s earthly transformation. Whatever our predominant faults or “buttons” may be, some of them may be then worn with gratitude because they broke us of the greatest impediment to contentment, false pride.” (p. 102) So my dear friends, leave aside your sadness and discouragement. The Lord has truly risen, wounds and all. © Copyright 2006 Catholic Exchange Father James Farfaglia is Pastor of St. Helena of the True Cross of Jesus Catholic Church in Corpus Christi, Texas. Originally from Ridgefield, Connecticut, Father has founded and developed apostolates for the Catholic Church in Spain, Italy, Mexico, Canada and throughout the United States.

Dear Freepers in Christ,

A Blessed and Holy Easter to one and all.

Here is an awesome Homily in my opinion for "Easter Sunday" published by "The Catholic Doors Ministry".

http://www.catholicdoors.com/homilies/2006/060416.htm

Sunday: Resurrection of the Lord, Easter Sunday
Date: April 16, 2006
Year: B
The readings: [Acts 10:34, 36-43]
[Col. 3:1-4] or [1 Cor. 5:6-8]
[Jn. 20:1-18] or [Lk. 24:13-35 (afternoon/evening)]
The message: Jesus is the Lord of all.
Prepared by: CATHOLIC DOORS MINISTRY
Total words: 1282

My brothers and sisters, today's message from the First Reading [Acts 10:34, 36-43] of the Word of God is presented to us by our first Pope, Peter the First. Often, we do not think of Peter as the First Pope. Rather, we think of him as St. Peter. But in reality, it is he who received the Keys to the Kingdom of God and he was in fact the first Pontiff of the Holy Catholic Church. As the spiritual leader of the Church of Jesus Christ that was being established on earth, Saint Peter took his place of authority and began to speak to those who had assembled in the house of Cornelius.

St. Peter said, "You know the message of God sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ - he is Lord of all." For centuries, the people of God had awaited for the coming Messiah who would bring peace to the world to reconcile man with God. Peter affirmed that this had come to pass through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Lord of all! Through Jesus, God the Father had fulfilled all His promises that are found in the Old Testament.

In the presence of all, Peter affirmed that he and the disciples of the Lord were witnesses to all what Jesus had done in Judea and in Jerusalem. What was said about Jesus was not fabricated stories. It was the truth. The disciples of Christ lived alongside Him and witnessed everything that He had done and said.

Peter testified that Jesus was indeed crucified and that He had died on the Holy Cross. But God raised Him from the dead on the third day. And, after His glorious resurrection, Jesus appeared to many of the disciples who were chosen by God as witnesses. In all, it is estimated that Jesus appeared to approximately 500 different persons during the days that followed His resurrection.

Now, when Jesus appeared to the disciples, it was not in a dream or in a vision. Nor was it the Spirit of Jesus who appeared to the disciples because a spirit cannot eat or drink. It was the Lord Jesus Himself, He had resurrected from the dead. In His resurrected physical body, Jesus ate and drank with the disciples.

When Jesus came to the disciples, He gave them a command. Jesus commanded the disciples to preach to the people and to testify to all that He was the One sent by God to judge the living and the dead. Jesus was the promised Messiah in fulfillment of the Scriptures.

In today's first reading, Peter finished by stating that all the prophets of the Old Testament spoke about the coming of Jesus. In their inspired writings, they testified that those who would believe in Jesus would receive the forgiveness of sin through His Most Holy Name. As the Holy Bible tells us elsewhere, Jesus gave the authority to forgive sins in His Name to His disciples. "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." [Jn. 20:23]

During today's Second Reading that was taken from the Letter of Paul to the Colossians, [Col. 3:1-4] we heard that if we have been raised with Christ, we should seek the things that are from above where Christ dwells in Heaven. We should set our minds on spiritual things, not on worldly things.

Having been born again through the Church Sacrament of Baptism, we are obligated to God to feed our souls with spiritual things. We are called to spiritually grow in shining virtues and in the fruit of the Holy Spirit so that we may gradually be transformed by the grace of God the Father to become more in the likeness of His Son Jesus Christ.

For many, their participation in the celebration of the Holy Mass on Easter Day is a stepping stone towards returning to their living faith. It is a sincere resolution... but it must not end there.

Jesus is the Lord of all! And we all need Him! On a regular basis, we need to receive the Sacrament of Confession that Jesus has instituted on earth through the apostles for the forgiveness of our sins. We need to receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist that Jesus has instituted on earth through the apostles as our assurance of salvation and eternal life in the Kingdom of God. The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is the Living Bread that feeds our souls once we have been reinstated in a state of grace after having received the Sacrament of Confession.

During today's reading of the Holy Gospel, [Jn. 10:1-18] we heard how Mary Magdalene needed Jesus. She wept when she realized that His body was gone, believing that someone had stolen it. She wept because she missed the Divine presence of Jesus. She missed that inner burning desire to be near the living body of Jesus, to follow Him, to hear Him, to feel loved, to be understood and to be forgiven of sins.

Mary Magdalene was not the only one to have these feelings. All the disciples of Jesus felt that way. That is why they reacted the way they did when they heard some saying that Jesus was no longer in His tomb, that He had resurrected, or that He was appearing here and there to different disciples.

The word, "Jesus is alive!" or "I have seen the Lord!" were enough to instantly create a great spiritual hunger in the soul of the disciples of Jesus where emptiness existed because of His death. The worldly minds of the disciples suddenly became alerted to the truth. Through these words, there was a new hope. Faith was being reinstated in the Words that Jesus had spoken while He lived on earth.

Jesus is the Lord of all! It is the will of God that we all experience spiritual hunger for the Divine presence of the Lord Jesus. It is the will of God that Jesus feed our spiritual hunger so like Mary Magdalene and the disciples, we will never want to leave His Divine presence.

When we set our minds on Jesus, we do what is spiritual. While we are in this world, we are not of this world. Through faith in Jesus and the Sacrament of Baptism, we have become new creations of the godly seed, called to obey and serve the Lord Jesus in all righteousness.

When you go home today, think of the words, "Jesus is alive!" Think of the words, "Jesus is the Lord of all!" He is your Lord as much as He is my Lord and the Lord of all the others, those who are present and those who are not. Remember that spiritual hunger that you experienced so many times in your life, during those moments when you desired that the Lord Jesus could be so close to you... (pause) and He came close to you. You felt His warmth, His joy and His peace.

Awaken your spirits so you may relive those moments, not only for a day or two, but for every day of your life until you appear before the Lord Jesus in person. While you are in this world, be of above. For Jesus is the Lord of all and by the grace of God the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit, He can once more ignite your hearts with a burning hunger that will draw you to Him.

Christ is risen!

Alleluia!
Alleluia!

Homily of the Day

Homily of the Day

Title:	What's Next? Jesus Knows!
Author:	Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.
Date:	Sunday, April 16, 2006

Acts 10:34a, 37-43 / Col 3:1-4 or 1 Cor 5:6b-8 / Jn 20:1-9

Long ago there was an exceedingly clever court jester at the court of the Caliph of Baghdad. For YEARS he'd never failed to amuse the court whenever they called him. But one day, in a split second of carelessness, he offended the caliph who ordered him put to death. "However," said the caliph, "in consideration of your many years of fine and faithful service, I'll let you choose how you wish to die."

"Oh mighty Caliph," replied the jester. "I thank you for your great kindness. I choose death....by old age."

+ + +

Wouldn't we all! But that just delays the big question: Then what? What comes after you finally die at the age of 110 on the tennis court?

Only Jesus has the answer. He says, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, even though he die, will live with me forever." It sounds good. But Jesus knew - as we know -that talk is cheap.

So instead of just talking, he gave us a sign, something very tangible: Nothing less than his own dying, being buried in the ground for three days, and then being raised from the dead.

He gave us this as the guarantee that his promise can be trusted. And that's what we're celebrating this morning: That Jesus IS risen, and that those of us who believe in him and who reshape our lives in his image will rise with him and be with him for all eternity.

That's why we're so very glad on Easter day! And that's why we pray from the bottom of our hearts, "Thank-you, Lord! Thank-you for the whole eternity we're going to spend with you!"

Pray for

A Voice in the Desert

Divine Mercy Novena ~ April 14 thru April 22 Let us beg for God's mercy. Novena Prayers Divine Mercy Chaplet

Fidelity Green Light Award for Excellence in Catholic Fidelity given by CatholicCulture.org in February 2006

The Archbishop's Response - with a commentary

Response of Fr. Altier and Fr. Welzbacher, pastor

Is this the reason Father Altier was silenced?

Father Altier innocent of any impropriety

About Father Altier and the Desert Voice Website

A Statement from the Webmaster at Desert Voice

Letters from the Desert - your response


I, the Lord, am with you always until the end of the world. ~ Matthew 28:20

email@desertvoice.org

In obedient compliance with the expressed written request of
Most Reverend Harry J. Flynn
Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Father Altier’s homilies and spiritual presentations
can no longer be published on www.desertvoice.org
or broadcast on Relevant Radio.
This action of the Archbishop is not related to any scandal
or sexual misconduct on the part of Father Robert Altier.
We regret any inconvenience and humbly ask for your prayers.

All concerns should be directed in a spirit of charity to:
Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Most Reverend Harry J. Flynn
226 Summit Avenue
Saint Paul, MN, USA 55102
(651) 291-4400

communications@archspm.org