[Salvation]

Interior and exterior of St. John Lateran -- continues

Day XL. Passion Sunday, Holy Week.

"My God, my God, why have you abandoned me" (Responsorial Psalm for today - Ps 22:2).

San Giovanni in Laterano. Today we return to the Cathedral of Rome. Across the street are the Scala Santa or Holy Steps. These were from Pontius Pilate's palace and were used by Christ. Saint Helen brought them here from Jerusalem in the early 4th century. The faithful climb up them on their knees. In fact, they had to be covered with wood lest they be eroded away from the thousands who prayerfully ascend them each day. At the bottom are beautiful statues to help the pilgrim prepare for the ascent (see photo). Then as you go up the stairs, you are drawn into prayer through the beautiful frescos, especially of the crucifix which is suspended on the knees of God our Father (see photo). At the top is a chapel called the Sancta Sanctorum or Holy of Holies in which an icon of the Christ, the Acheiropoeton, which is said to have not been painted by human hands.

Day 40,  continued....next page

 

Day XL. Passion Sunday, Holy Week.

Day 40 continued....

It was begun by Saint Luke but finished by an angel. Outside is this beautiful mosaic of Christ commissioning the apostles to go and baptize the nations in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. On the left, Jesus gives the keys to Peter and blesses Constantine. On the right, Saint Peter hands the keys to Pope Leo III (795-816) and blesses Charlemagne.

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Day XL. Passion Sunday, Holy Week. continued...Day 40   Photo:   Scala Santa or Holy Steps At the bottom are beautiful statues to help the pilgrim prepare for the ascent         Day 40, continued...next page

 

Day XL. Passion Sunday, Holy Week.

I thought you might be interested in the Palm/Passion Sunday celebration with the Holy Father, John Paul II, in the piazza of Saint Peters. We gathered an hour before, everyone bringing their own palms or olive branches with them from home. The Liturgy began with a tremendous procession of lay people from every nation, hundreds of priests, bishops, cardinals, honored concelebrants, and then the Holy Father. We gathered around the obelisk which is crowned with a true relic of the Holy Cross of Christ, the same obelisk which stood sentinel over the execution of Saint Peter a few yards from here.

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Day XL. Passion Sunday, Holy Week.

continued...Day 40

We listened to the deacon intone the Gospel of the triumphant entry into Jerusalem (Lk 19:28-40) and then sang songs of praise as the procession started the climb up to the holy altar. One of the songs was “Christus vincit! Christus regnat! Christus, imperat!” These words engraved on the oblelisk: Christ conquers! Christ reigns! Christ rules! (and continues: Christus ab omni malo plebem suam defendat! – Christ will defend his people from every evil!).

Day 40, continued....next page >

Day XL. Passion Sunday, Holy Week. continued...Day 40 Gathered around the altar, we listened to the proclamation of the Passion. It was very moving. Just as we came to the part of the crucifixion, dark ominous clouds covered the piazza. A few drops fell and the crowds scattered, just as they did 2000 years ago. It is amazing how little tolerance we have for adversity. The clouds cleared at the close of the Gospel and we gathered in sunshine around the altar to celebrate the Most Holy Eucharist. After Mass, the Holy Father presided over the handing over the World Youth Day cross from the Italian youth to the Canadian youth. He also proclaimed its theme: “You are the Salt of the Earth! You are the Light of the World! World Youth Day will be in Toronto July 2002. I can’t wait! (end of Day 40!)

[Salvation]

from St. Cantius

PALM SUNDAY
Station—The Archbasilica of St. John Lateran

Today, begins the greatest and holiest week of the year, a week opening with triumph and closing with triumph; a week commencing with the Hosanna, continuing with the Cross and terminating in the Alleluia.
This week is a picture of our Christian life, which began with the "Hosanna to our King" on that day when, at the font, Christ our Redeemer took possession of the city of our soul. At that blessed spot He made us His disciples and gave us the Cross. "If thou will be My disciple, take Thy cross upon thyself and follow Me." He, the divine Cross-bearer, shows us the way, strengthens us while on the way, and leads us to final victory, the eternal Easter with its never-ending Alleluia!
One of the main purposes of this week is to renew the first life—i.e., the Christ-life we received in Holy Baptism—and to prepare us for the second life—the everlasting triumph with Christ, our glorious Head.
In the hustle and bustle of material things we are so apt to forget "the things that are above." Little conscious we are of the sacred mark printed indelibly upon our soul, the character of Baptism and Confirmation, the sign, which neither time nor eternity can efface, and by which we became partakers in the priesthood of the immortal Christ.
The Church needs "Palm-Sunday men and women," who with "the angels in heaven and with the children of Israel, will sing their Hosanna to the conqueror of death.
Let us pray: Grant, O Lord, that what thy people this day bodily do in Thy honor, they may perfect spiritually with complete submission, by gaining a victory over the enemy and ardently loving the work of Thy mercy. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen. "Hosanna to the Son of David."