Posted on 03/15/2008 11:14:07 PM PDT by Salvation
There is no Mass performed on Good Friday, so maybe that’s why. Ans then on Easter it’ s ALL about celebrating the RISEN LORD.
In my church, if I recall right, they were referred to as “criminals.”
In my New American Bible, which is where the lectionary readings are supposed to come from, they are actually referred to by Matthew as revolutionaries. In Mark, they are also revolutionaries. In Luke, they are criminals. In John, they are only referred to as “two others.”
I guess it all depends on the translation.
thank you. The reason I was curious is that my father, who was a devout Catholic, told me that he always felt that if a thief could be by the side of Jesus and be saved that possibly he could somehow find his way to the Lord’s good grace.
He was a Marine that saw combat and from our conversations had difficulties justifying some of his actions.
It just struck me that a thief is more of a common criminal than a “revolutionary”. That Jesus was treated with such disrespect that he was placed with common thieves and not with those of “high crimes” such as treason.
Thanks again for taking the time to respond to my post. I’m a fallen Catholic trying to find my way back to the church and have difficulty controlling my temper when politics is injected into the church’s sermons.
Have a blessed Holy Week.
Matthew 27
38 Then were crucified with him two thieves: one on the right hand, and one on the left.
full version found here:
I am in no way deserving of our Lord’s love and forgiveness. But my spirit is joyous because of His love for all of us.
Q: Last year on Palm Sunday they read two Gospel passages: Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and then the Passion. As a child, I remember only the entry into Jerusalem story being read on Palm Sunday. Did the Church move the Passion account to Sunday to make sure more people heard it?A: There is a Passion account in each Gospel. For centuries, the Gospel of John's account was read on Good Friday and the Gospel of Matthew was read on Palm Sunday (Passion Sunday now). So that all accounts are read, since 1969 the Catholic Church reads on Palm Sunday in rotation: Matthew (Year A—2002), Mark (Year B) and Luke (Year C). The accounts of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem are read in the same rotation.
In fact, in the pre VCII Church, the Passion account was also read on Palm Sunday and we all stood for its reading. My mother always referred to Palm Sunday as having the longest Mass of the year. I notice, however, in the response that the writer refers to Palm Sunday as Passion Sunday. Is that true? Indeed, I did notice the Holy Father vested in red, which would make sense.
Perhaps, as someone commented, there is no Mass on Good Friday in the Latin Church. We have the Liturgy of the Signing of the Chalice in the morning (The Anaphora of the Apostles also known as III Peter and by the Syriac word Sharrar, which the Maronite Church shares in common with the Church of Edessa, is the oldest Anaphora in the Catholic Church).
Yesterday, we celebrated Hosanna (Shaneeneh) Sunday with the blessing of the palms and a procession down the street, singing Hosanna in the Highest! The Church was packed - children were dressed in their finest clothes - little girls in gowns, boys in suits and ties - all carrying candles festooned with flowers and palms. Thursday of the Mysteries is the Liturgy and Washing of the Feet. On Friday evening, we will celebrate Great Friday of the Crucifixion with the Liturgy of the Burial of the Lord in the evening.
These all seem to follow the historical sequence of events. Out of curiosity, I have pinged redhead to understand how the Byzantines celebrated yesterday and Kolokotronis for some insight into how the GOC celebrate Holy Week.
The Eastern churches have some wonderful traditions. There is a Byzantine Catholic church in a nearby town, but I have never looked into it before.
My parents once were on vacation and found a Maronite church. They had to call me on the phone, since I am supposed to be their “church expert.” I told them, yes, they are Catholic, and they’re Lebanese, and Danny Thomas, etc. etc. etc.
My dad’s boss is Lebanese and he described seeing all the old guys walking into church as an interesting experience, since he saw about a hundred or so guys who all looked like his boss walking into church.
I’ve never seen a Maronite liturgy, but for my parents, who are used to what they are familiar with, and happy with their little routine, they were a little bit freaked out.
I’m not answering your original question. My parish always reads one Gospel passage (Jesus’ entry...) before the palm/blessing procession. Then, during the Gospel the Passion is read (standing). I don’t recall it ever being any different. I’ve always thought of Palm Sunday as the longest Mass of the year, other than the Easter Vigil which is different than Easter Sunday Mass.
I like to look at all the examples of people who were very far gone, and came to the church, and in some cases, became saints, like St. Augustine.
Father John Corapi is a more modern example. Which isn’t to say I’m placing him on the same level as Augustine, but he has a powerful speaking voice and also an interesting past. Feel free to check him out on YouTube. He went from being a military man, to a successful businessman, to a man with a lot of money and a drug problem, to broke and homeless, and eventually, a Catholic priest.
My personal belief on the subject is that no one is beyond the reach of God. Even Bobby Fischer had a Catholic burial. My favorite bible quote from St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (which he wrote while in prison) is related to this idea, that we all have the ability to awake and arise from the death of sin, and Christ will give us light. St. Paul himself is an example of someone who was in terrible sin and not only found his way to Christ, but did many great things in His service.
God Bless and have a blessed Holy Week as well.
:-)
Well, you don't describe what they saw, much less where they saw it but I can attest to the fact that the first time I attended a Maronite liturgy, I felt like a fish out of water. The entire liturgy is chanted back and forth between the priest and the congregation. All of the elements are there but there are certain differences in their placement. Take for example, the exchange of peace. The priest touches the gifts and then passes the 'peace' to an acolyte who passes it to two children who serve as peace bearers. They bring the peace to the first person of each pew who passes it on to the next one and so on. What moved me most, however, was the Qadeeshat (Trisgion). This ancient prayer goes back to the origins of the Church and is celebrated at the liturgies of all the Eastern Churches.
Holy OneThe priest and congregation face the Tabernacle as they chant this prayer 3 times. If it sounds familiar to you, that is because our Lord asked St. Faustina to include it at the conclusion of the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Essentially, all traces of this ancient prayer had disappeared in the Latin Church. Our Lord must love this prayer in order to have made such a request of St. Faustina, don't you think?
Holy Mighty One
Holy Immortal OneResponse: Have mercy on us!
The following is a description of the Maronite Divine Liturgy.
The Maronite Liturgy is called Service of the Holy Mysteries and derives from the Syriac :.ministering at the altar". Liturgy, Qourbono and other words are used.
The entire liturgy (prayers, gestures, music, art, and architecture) reflects from beginning to end, glory to God for His loving mercy and the call of the worshipper to forgiveness and rebirth.
The attitude of the Maronite worshiper is unworthiness of and readiness for the second coming of the Lord Jesus. "Blessed is he who has come and will come in the name of the Lord" (Maronite Liturgy).
The believer is likened to a ship opening its sails to the Holy Spirit and making its maiden voyage home to the harbor of safety.
The Holy Spirit is the principal minister in the liturgy. He is the beginning, the end and the perfection of all things.
The Service of the Holy Mysteries develops three themes: 1) humanity's creation in God's image; 2)deep awareness of God's mercy toward sinful people; 3) joyful praise of the Trinity.
The tone of the service is simple and direct in the monastic spirit of its founder, St. Maron. A balance is achieved between the hiddenness and presence of God in Jesus.
The worshiper becomes involves in a human-divine drama which unfolds before and within him and makes once a sharer in the Kingdom. The Mysteries/Sacraments become the meeting point for the believer and God.
The communal aspect of worship is emphasized by the fact that the community is absorbed in a continuous dialogue with the celebrant who mediates on behalf of Christ the High Priest, and the deacon who serves an instructing and coordinating role.
When you have the chance, take some time to visit the above liturgy link. You can then share that information with your parents.
The Eastern churches have some wonderful traditions. There is a Byzantine Catholic church in a nearby town, but I have never looked into it before.
You should read up on the Byzantine Tradition and visit this Church, at least once. The Vatican II Council declared that "all should realize it is of supreme importance to understand, venerate, preserve, and foster the exceedingly rich liturgical and spiritual heritage of the Eastern churches, in order faithfully to preserve the fullness of Christian tradition" (Unitatis Redintegrato, 15).
Bottom line is this. If you are happy and well catechized at your local RC parish, then you should remain where you are. If there are issues with liturgical abuse, as some of us have discovered, then the Eastern Catholic Churches are definitely worth exploring as an alternative. There you will experience the very rich heritage of the Catholic Church but from an eastern spirituality. In the Maronite and Chaldean Churches, one hears the words of Consecration chanted in the language of our Lord and Savior; it is like being at the Last Supper. The Maronite Church is monastic in origin and the priestly vestments are simple; versus the Byzantine Church with its heavily decorated vestments, vessels and iconostasis.
Ultimately, the objective of any search is to find the best means to worship our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
I attended the Maronite Church in South Philly often. A few friends (Lebonese Catholics, RC not Maronites, attended at times so I went with them).
It was a little different but easy to follow (but would probably be more difficult for those who are older). My friends’ dad is a palestinian catholic and a couple of the kids attended the Eastern Rite or Greek Orthodox (sorry, not sure of the correct words) and attended a few times with them. It was a bit more difficult to follow than the Maronite.
You “guys” make me feel so much better.
I have a bad case if the pouty lip “weebies.” cause I got called into work yesterday, and I’m scheduled on Easter Sunday.
I feel like I’m looking in through the window to the Holy Week candy store. :o(
Thank you.
It sounds like you have the opportunity then to attend the Easter Vigil.
I love the Easter Vigil, with its extra readings. It also reminds me of the story from before I was born when my dad and grandfather once both gave up beer for Lent the same year. They attended the Easter Vigil, stopped at a party store on the way home, and split a 12 pack that same night after Mass. Makes me kinda laugh thinking about it.
This month, I am on usher duty at my church, for the 8:00 AM mass, so I don’t think the Easter Vigil is part of my plans. However, our parish has the honor of having Bishop Carlson celebrating mass on Easter Sunday, so I’m really looking forward to that.
Believe it or not, it has already been announced that there would be no Mass on Saturday nor Sunday night, but you got my gears grinding...our parish is a small one and I'll bet one of the bigger ones will have a celebration I can attend
Thanks!
I know what you are saying. My priest actually says mass at two nearby parishes because there is a shortage of priests. So while my church will have the Easter Vigil, the two nearby churches will not. However, they will both have masses on Sunday.
It is sadly, a common occurance these days.
There is so much information on this thread about Palm Sunday that I am “forced” to ping all of you to it. (LOL!)
Enjoy — and have a blessed Holy Week!
After Mass we had an Easter egg hunt for the children.
A few of us put out the eggs about an hour before Mass.
After Mass we gathered the children together and looking out of the field found that squirrels had been busy opening up the plastic eggs and eating the treats.
They got into at least two dozen of them.
Today's went about one hour 45 minutes.
The Vigil Mass is indeed the longest Mass of the year for us. It runs between 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
I want to make sure I get my rest in, earlier this week because we really decorate our Church and we can not even begin until after Good Friday services which do not begin until 8PM.
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