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Holy Thursday |
Good Friday |
Easter Vigil |
Easter Sunday |
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Jesus Washes
the Feet
of the Apostles |
Jesus Dies on
the Cross
Seven Last Words of Christ |
Lumen Christi
The Light of Christ
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He is Risen,
Alleluia, Alleluia |
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He
accepted His Cross
How
can we accept our Cross? By viewing and
adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar;
speak to Him and ask Jesus to allow you to offer up all
your suffering and life's trials. Ask Him to allow you
to extend yourselves together with Him on the Cross.
True love knows no separation of any kind. His afflicted
Mother, Mary, our Mother too, united herself with Him on
the Cross, let us ask her to help us be strong, strong
enough to join Jesus in His supreme suffering on the
Cross. We should pray — Together with you, Our
Blessed and Sorrowful Heart of Mary, we offer ourselves
to the Eternal Father, accepting our own Cross, as we
become one with your Will, with your Love, with your
reparations, with your very heart and with all your
pains.
Jesus
endured suffering on the Cross for the sins of the
world. His suffering would leave anyone speechless. At
the pillar where he was scourged, he wasn't just flogged
but His flesh was ripped open so that every lash of the
whips with hooks at the ends was a hammer-blow that kept
Him reeling. Why was all this necessary? In order to
answer that question we must ask ourselves why the
world, in which we all have a part, has so transgressed
His teachings. Let us pray — My crucified Jesus, we see
you bathed in blood. The souls of all of mankind, from
the very first man to the last yet to be born, we see in
your suffering, in the Blood you shed for the world to
redeem the world. Each act of reparation, of repentance,
atonement, courage and holiness, represents salve upon
your open wounds. My Love, how willingly would I take
your place to spare you so much pain. My Jesus, I fuse
myself in the wounds of your hands, your feet, and your
Heart. Please shield me there from temptation as we,
too, are attacked in our desert on our path of life. Let
my thoughts be ever upon your holy suffering when I'm
attacked so that I may remain resolute in my promise to
be obedient to you and to your Holy Church. My dear
Lord, to relieve and to soothe your pain, we offer you
all of our charitable acts, and the holy works of all
your creatures.
As
your walk to Golgotha, bearing the heavy Cross of our
sin, is completed, you are crucified and I am crucified
in you. Do not permit me to become separated from you.
May I always be at your side, making reparation to you
for everyone, to soothe the pain caused by my sins and
the sins of all throughout the ages. I ask for your
mercy and compassion for everyone in the world. It is
never too late. The good thief on the cross, moments
before his death asked you with sorrow for his sins;
that you have mercy on him. You replied that he would be
with you that day in paradise. Let us remember that it
is never too late. That if we're on our deathbed and
we're not in the State of Grace please give us the
presence of mind to whisper a prayer to you, an
expression of regret for a sinful life, a prayer of
recognition of your Divine Majesty, that you are the
Christ, the Son of God. Then, as you did with the good
thief, please answer that plea for grace, that appeal
for forgiveness.
As we
suffer together with Jesus Christ on the Cross, we'll
learn the true meaning of the Cross and the limitless
power of His love for us. He accepted His Cross for us.
Now we must do the same for Him! |
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The Exultet
Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing choirs of
angels!
Exult, all creation around God's throne!
Jesus Christ, our King is risen!
Sound the trumpet of salvation!
Rejoice, O earth, in shining
splendor,
radiant in the brightness of your King!
Christ has conquered! Glory fills you!
Darkness vanishes for ever!
Rejoice, O Mother Church! Exult in
glory!
The risen Savior shines upon you!
Let this place resound with joy,
echoing the mighty song of all God's people!
My dearest friends,
standing with me in this holy light,
join me in asking God for mercy,
that he may give his unworthy minister
grace to sing his Easter praises.
The
Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our
God.
It is right to give him thanks and praise.
It is truly right that with full
hearts and minds and voices
we should praise the unseen God, the all-powerful Father,
and his only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
For Christ has ransomed us with his
blood,
and paid for us the price of Adam's sin to our eternal Father!
This is our passover feast,
When Christ, the true Lamb, is slain,
whose blood consecrates the homes of all believers.
This is the night,
when first you saved our fathers:
you freed the people of Israel from their
slav'ry,
and led them dry-shod through the sea.
This is the night,
when the pillar of fire destroyed the darkness of sin.
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This is night,
when Christians ev'rywhere,
washed clean of sin and freed from all defilement,
are restored to grace and grow together in holiness.
This is the night,
when Jesus broke the chains of death
and rose triumphant from the grave.
What good would life have been to
us,
had Christ not come as our Redeemer?
Father, how wonderful your care for
us!
How boundless your merciful love!
To ransom a slave you gave away your Son.
O happy fault, O necessary sin of
Adam,
which gained for us so great a Redeemer!
Most blessed of all nights,
chosen by God to see Christ rising from the dead!
Of this night scripture says:
"The night will be as clear as day:
it will become my light, my joy."
The power of this holy night
dispels all evil,
washes guilt away, restores lost innocence,
brings mourners joy;
it casts out hatred, brings us peace,
and humbles earthly pride.
Night truly blessed,
when heaven is wedded to earth
and we are reconciled to God!
Therefore, heavenly Father, in the
joy of this night,
receive our evening sacrifice of praise,
your Church's solemn offering.
Accept this Easter candle,
a flame divided but undimmed,
a pillar of fire that glows to the honor of God.
Let it mingle with the lights of
heaven
and continue bravely burning
to dispel the darkness of this night!
May the Morning Star which never
sets
find this flame still burning:
Christ, that Morning Star,
who came back from the dead,
and shed his peaceful light on all mankind,
your Son, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
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"He said to his mother, Woman,
behold, your son. Then he said to the
disciple, Behold, your mother. And from that
hour the disciple took her into his home.
(John 19:26)
Mary, conceived without sin,
Pray for Us...
The Secular Franciscan Order wishes you a
very 'holy' Holy Week, and a Joyful Easter.
Five Franciscan Martyrs
Region
Divine Mercy Fraternity
Fred
Schaeffer, SFO
Site Owner and Webmaster
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