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Day XXXIII. Sunday, Week V

"Strengthen in faith and love your pilgrim Church on earth; your servant (and my bishop) Pope John Paul II, and all the bishops, with the clergy, and the entire people your son has gained for you" (Eucharistic Prayer III).

San Pietro in Vaticano. Today used to be called Passion Sunday. As we continue our journey to the Easter mysteries it is good to reflect upon the cross, the instrument of our salvation. As a seminarian recently told me, the cross was light just enough for a man to carry and just strong enough to carry a man. Indeed it carried the Savior of the world! As one approaches Saint Peter's, in the midst of Bernini's colonnade, stands the pyramid which once stood watch in the median of Nero's circus (near the present day sacristy) over the crucifixion of Saint Peter. It is crowned with a relic of the true cross and now casts its shadow over us. On the base we read, "Ecce crux Domini fugit partes adversae. Vicit Leo de tribu Iuda." ("Behold the cross of the Lord from which the
adversarial parties flee. The Lion of the tribe of Judea is victorious!")

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Day XXXIII. Sunday, Week V

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As we leave Saint Peter's, we read, "Christus vincit. Christus regnat. Christus imperat. Christus ab omni malo plebem suam defendat." ("Christ is victorious. Christ reigns. Christ commands. Christ defends his people from all evil.") Today's pictures are of the first vicar of Christ and his successor.

from St. Cantius

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT
PASSION SUNDAY
Station—St. Peter in the Vatican
Passion Sunday!

The Cross of Christ is veiled, so that we may seek it, and Him who died on it, all the more. The holiest season of the year is at hand, so holy, that "all other seasons of the year prepare us for keeping this one duly and worthily. These present days call for special fidelity seeing that they bring us so near to that sublime mystery of the Divine Mercy, the blessed Passion of Jesus Christ." (from the Divine Office)
With an open mind and a willing heart let us approach the altar to celebrate the Passion Sunday Sacrifice with our High Priest, so that His "body, which shall be delivered for us, and His blood that shall be shed for us" may bestow upon us the promise of eternal inheritance in Christ Jesus Our Lord.
Let us pray: Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies. Teach me to do Thy will. Through Christ, Our Lord.
Amen.