3rd Thursday Easter 2020 - Speak

The Ethiopian eunuch struggles to understand the Scriptures, and needs the deacon Philip to help him, showing that the faith is not just a matter of reading, but of encountering the Lord, who reveals the Father to us. Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2W8WhU1 Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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3rd Wednesday Easter 2020 - God's will

What is the Father's will for us? Is it to come to His Son, the Bread of Life, or to do our own will? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2yORcIz Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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3rd Tuesday Easter 2020 - LIfe

Jesus gives the Bread of Life - not extending our natural lives, but giving us eternity. Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2SaHUNx Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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3rd Sunday Easter 2020 - Stay

Jesus Christ appears to Cleopas and his companion, and opens them up to understand that Hos passion and death were necessary. They needed more - they needed Him in the breaking of bread. Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2S6qmT1 Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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St. Mark 2020 - Marked

St. Mark, a follower of St. Peter, who followed Christ, wrote a text to help us know the Lord. Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2Y4XSww Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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2nd Friday Easter 2020

Jesus Christ provides, and He is everlasting. Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2VXCuXm Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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Pester the Priest April 2020

via https://youtu.be/ugveSSqPo8s

Easter Joy - A message to the SMSU students

A little teaching on the nature of the Easter Season
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2nd Thursday Easter 2020 - Obey

What is the balance of obedience between God and government? The apostles and the Gospel tell us - Follow God. Readings are found at https://ift.tt/3bxeSzw Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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2nd Wednesday Easter 2020 - Darkness

Jesus Christ proclaims that God the Father loves us, but that those who do evil hide in darkness. Let us go to the light. Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2Vvc4xn Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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Divine Mercy Sunday 2020 - Mercy

Jesus Christ is mercy - and He gives us what we need to thrive. Are we able to receive Him? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/34NiqLg Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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Divine Mercy Chaplet

On Divine Mercy Sunday, we are encouraged to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
Here's How:
Make the Sign of the Cross
Pray the Opening Prayers The second prayer is repeated three times:"You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us."
"O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You!" (three times)
Pray the Our Father
Pray the Hail Mary
Say the Apostles' Creed
Pray the Prayer "Eternal Father" On the Our Father bead before each decade, pray the following prayer: "Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world. Amen."
Pray the Prayer "For the Sake of His Sorrowful Passion" Ten Times On each of the Hail Mary beads in each decade, pray the following prayer: "For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world."
Repeat Steps 6 and 7 On each of the next four decades of the Chaplet, repeat steps 6 and 7 (pray the Eternal Father, followed by ten "For the Sake of His Sorrowful Passion").
Pray the Concluding Doxology Three Times After you have prayed all five decades of the Chaplet, pray the following prayer, which is repeated three times: "Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world." (three times)
Pray the Closing Prayer After the doxology, pray the following final prayer: "Eternal God, in Whom mercy is endless, and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us, and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments, we might not despair, nor become despondent, but with great confidence, submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy Itself. Amen."
End With the Sign of the Cross

Easter Saturday 2020 - Incredible

The disciples cannot believe Mary Magdalene not Cleopas and his companion, but can only believe the incredible news after their own encounters with the Risen Lord. Readings are found at https://ift.tt/3afCjMd Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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Divine Mercy Novena - Day 9

Prayer for Ninth Day of Divine Mercy Novena 
Most compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love, let these tepid souls who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love, and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power. 
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen.

Easter Friday 2020 - Normal

St. Peter returns to the normal and familiar - fishing - after the Resurrection, but there is no return. Everything has been transformed. Readings are found at https://ift.tt/3aeSWrA Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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Divine Mercy Novena - Day 8

Prayer for Eighth Day of Divine Mercy Novena 
Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet, who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of Purgatory, that there, too, the power of Your mercy may be celebrated.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded: Manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way but only through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion. Amen.

Easter Joy - A message to the SMSU students

via https://youtu.be/KP1CPa2Q7MU

Easter Thursday 2020 - Proof

Jesus appears to the disciples and gives them what they need, most of all proof of His resurrection. He is willing to price Himself to us, if we are willing to receive Him. Readings are found at https://ift.tt/3cgrLhg Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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Divine Mercy Novena - Day 7

Prayer for Seventh Day of Divine Mercy Novena 
Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident of Your mercy; and united to You, O Jesus, they carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life. 
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute, that of Your fathomless mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of deeds of mercy, and their hearts, overflowing with joy, sing a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High! I beg You O God: Show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be accomplished in them the promise of Jesus, who said to them that during their life, but especially at the hour of death, the souls who will venerate this fathomless mercy of His, He, Himself, will defend as His glory. Amen.

Easter Wednesday 2020 - Recognized

Christ appears to two disciples, going home after the events of the first Easter Sunday, and they only recognize Him in the breaking of the bread. Do we recognize His presence with us? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/3er9jVk Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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Divine Mercy Novena - Day 6

Prayer for Sixth Day of Divine Mercy Novena 
Most Merciful Jesus, You yourself have said, "Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart." Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy and they are the heavenly Father's favorites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy. 
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls, and upon little children who are enfolded in the abode which is the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight You take in them: Bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen

Easter Tuesday 2020 - Holding On

Mary Magdalene encounters the Risen Lord, but doesn’t recognize Him until He speaks her name, and us holding on to Him so that He can’t complete His mission. Do we hold on to the Lord too right? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2XERY5j Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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Divine Mercy Novena - Day 5

Prayer for Fifth Day of Divine Mercy Novena
Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Church. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Son's Church, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces by obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in His Most Compassionate Heart. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages. Amen.

Divine Mercy Novena - Day 4

Prayer for Fourth Day of Divine Mercy Novena
Most compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who do not believe in God and of those who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who do not believe in You, and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.

Easter 2020 - Dare To Hope

Christ is Risen. Do we dare to hope? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/3a6gOgF Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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Divine Mercy Novena - Day 3

Prayer for Third Day of Divine Mercy Novena 
Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy, You impart Your graces in great abundance to each and all. Receive us into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and never let us escape from It. We beg this grace of You by that most wondrous love for the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely. 
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lose the treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of Angels and Saints, may they glorify Your boundless mercy for endless ages. Amen.

Exult!!!

Exult, let them exult, the hosts of heaven, exult, let Angel ministers of God exult, let the trumpet of salvation sound aloud our mighty King's triumph! Be glad, let earth be glad, as glory floods her, ablaze with light from her eternal King, let all corners of the earth be glad, knowing an end to gloom and darkness. Rejoice, let Mother Church also rejoice, arrayed with the lightning of his glory, let this holy building shake with joy, filled with the mighty voices of the peoples. (Therefore, dearest friends, standing in the awesome glory of this holy light, invoke with me, I ask you, the mercy of God almighty, that he, who has been pleased to number me, though unworthy, among the Levites, may pour into me his light unshadowed, that I may sing this candle's perfect praises). (Deacon: The Lord be with you. People: And with your spirit.) Deacon: Lift up your hearts. People: We lift them up to the Lord. Deacon: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People: It is right and just. It is truly right and just, with ardent love of mind and heart and with devoted service of our voice, to acclaim our God invisible, the almighty Father, and Jesus Christ, our Lord, his Son, his Only Begotten. Who for our sake paid Adam's debt to the eternal Father, and, pouring out his own dear Blood, wiped clean the record of our ancient sinfulness. These, then, are the feasts of Passover, in which is slain the Lamb, the one true Lamb, whose Blood anoints the doorposts of believers. This is the night, when once you led our forebears, Israel's children, from slavery in Egypt and made them pass dry-shod through the Red Sea. This is the night that with a pillar of fire banished the darkness of sin. This is the night that even now throughout the world, sets Christian believers apart from worldly vices and from the gloom of sin, leading them to grace and joining them to his holy ones. This is the night when Christ broke the prison-bars of death and rose victorious from the underworld. Our birth would have been no gain, had we not been redeemed. O wonder of your humble care for us! O love, O charity beyond all telling, to ransom a slave you gave away your Son! O truly necessary sin of Adam, destroyed completely by the Death of Christ! O happy fault that earned for us so great, so glorious a Redeemer! O truly blessed night, worthy alone to know the time and hour when Christ rose from the underworld! This is the night of which it is written: The night shall be as bright as day, dazzling is the night for me, and full of gladness. The sanctifying power of this night dispels wickedness, washes faults away, restores innocence to the fallen, and joy to mourners, drives out hatred, fosters concord, and brings down the mighty. On this, your night of grace, O holy Father, accept this candle, a solemn offering, the work of bees and of your servants' hands, an evening sacrifice of praise, this gift from your most holy Church. But now we know the praises of this pillar, a flame divided but undimmed, which glowing fire ignites for God's honour, a fire into many flames divided, yet never dimmed by sharing of its light, for it is fed by melting wax, drawn out by mother bees to build a torch so precious. O truly blessed night, when things of heaven are wed to those of earth, and divine to the human. Therefore, O Lord, we pray you that this candle, hallowed to the honour of your name, may persevere undimmed, to overcome the darkness of this night. Receive it as a pleasing fragrance, and let it mingle with the lights of heaven. May this flame be found still burning by the Morning Star: the one Morning Star who never sets, Christ your Son, who, coming back from death's domain, has shed his peaceful light on humanity, and lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Divine Mercy Novena - Day 2

Prayer for Second Day of Divine Mercy Novena 
Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in men and women consecrated to Your service, that they may perform worthy works of mercy; and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven. 
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company of chosen ones in Your vineyard—upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end. Amen.

Great Silence

From the Office of Readings for Holy Saturday: Something strange is happening—there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear. He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and the son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory. At the sight of him Adam, the first man he had created, struck his breast in terror and cried out to everyone: ‘My Lord be with you all.’ Christ answered him: ‘And with your spirit.’ He took him by the hand and raised him up, saying: ‘Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.’ I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. Out of love for you and for your descendants I now by my own authority command all who are held in bondage to come forth, all who are in darkness to be enlightened, all who are sleeping to arise. I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be held a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead. Rise up, work of my hands, you who were created in my image. Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in me and I am in you; together we form only one person and we cannot be separated. For your sake I, your God, became your son; I, the Lord, took the form of a slave; I, whose home is above the heavens, descended to the earth and beneath the earth. For your sake, for the sake of man, I became like a man without help, free among the dead. For the sake of you, who left a garden, I was betrayed to the Jews in a garden, and I was crucified in a garden. See on my face the spittle I received in order to restore to you the life I once breathed into you. See there the marks of the blows I received in order to refashion your warped nature in my image. On my back see the marks of the scourging I endured to remove the burden of sin that weighs upon your back. See my hands, nailed firmly to a tree, for you who once wickedly stretched out your hand to a tree. I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side for you who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side has healed the pain in yours. My sleep will rouse you from your sleep in hell. The sword that pierced me has sheathed the sword that was turned against you. Rise, let us leave this place. The enemy led you out of the earthly paradise. I will not restore you to that paradise, but I will enthrone you in heaven. I forbade you the tree that was only a symbol of life, but see, I who am life itself am now one with you. I appointed cherubim to guard you as slaves are guarded, but now I make them worship you as God. The throne formed by cherubim awaits you, its bearers swift and eager. The bridal chamber is adorned, the banquet is ready, the eternal dwelling places are prepared, the treasure houses of all good things lie open. The kingdom of heaven has been prepared for you from all eternity.

Good Friday 2020 - The Cross

Jesus's death on the cross is proof of His love for us and the answer to the evil in this world. Readings are found at https://ift.tt/3e3Lbro Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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A beautiful Hymn from the Roman Missal for Good Friday

Faithful Cross the Saints rely on,
Noble tree beyond compare!Never was there such a scion,Never leaf or flower so rare.Sweet the timber, sweet the iron,Sweet the burden that they bear!
Cantors:Sing, my tongue, in exultationOf our banner and device!Make a solemn proclamationOf a triumph and its price:How the Savior of creationConquered by his sacrifice!
All:Faithful Cross the Saints rely on,Noble tree beyond compare!Never was there such a scion,Never leaf or flower so rare.
Cantors:For, when Adam first offended,Eating that forbidden fruit,Not all hopes of glory endedWith the serpent at the root:Broken nature would be mendedBy a second tree and shoot.
All:Sweet the timber, sweet the iron,Sweet the burden that they bear!
Cantors:Thus the tempter was outwittedBy a wisdom deeper still:Remedy and ailment fitted,Means to cure and means to kill;That the world might be acquitted,Christ would do his Father’s will.
All:Faithful Cross the Saints rely on,Noble tree beyond compare!Never was there such a scion,Never leaf or flower so rare.
Cantors:So the Father, out of pityFor our self-inflicted doom,Sent him from the heavenly cityWhen the holy time had come:He, the Son and the Almighty,Took our flesh in Mary’s womb.
All:Sweet the timber, sweet the iron,Sweet the burden that they bear!
Cantors:Hear a tiny baby crying,Founder of the seas and strands;See his virgin Mother tyingCloth around his feet and hands;Find him in a manger lyingTightly wrapped in swaddling-bands!
All:Faithful Cross the Saints rely on,Noble tree beyond compare!Never was there such a scion,Never leaf or flower so rare.
Cantors:So he came, the long-expected,Not in glory, not to reign;Only born to be rejected,Choosing hunger, toil and pain,Till the scaffold was erectedAnd the Paschal Lamb was slain.
All:Sweet the timber, sweet the iron,Sweet the burden that they bear!
Cantors:No disgrace was too abhorrent:Nailed and mocked and parched he died;Blood and water, double warrant,Issue from his wounded side,Washing in a mighty torrentEarth and stars and oceantide.
All:Faithful Cross the Saints rely on,Noble tree beyond compare!Never was there such a scion,Never leaf or flower so rare.
Cantors:Lofty timber, smooth your roughness,Flex your boughs for blossoming;Let your fibers lose their toughness,Gently let your tendrils cling;Lay aside your native gruffness,Clasp the body of your King!
All:Sweet the timber, sweet the iron,Sweet the burden that they bear!
Cantors:Noblest tree of all created,Richly jeweled and embossed:Post by Lamb’s blood consecrated;Spar that saves the tempest-tossed;Scaffold-beam which, elevated,Carries what the world has cost!
All:Faithful Cross the Saints rely on,Noble tree beyond compare!Never was there such a scion,Never leaf or flower so rare.
All:Wisdom, power, and adorationTo the blessed TrinityFor redemption and salvationThrough the Paschal Mystery,Now, in every generation,And for all eternity. Amen.

The Reproaches

As we are commemorating our Lord's Passion while under 'stay at home' orders, one thing we might do as a family is pray the Reproaches. These are the liturgical text the Church asks to be prayed during the veneration of the Cross, and perhaps even more powerful this year as we experience a pandemic that the Lord might be using to bring deeper conversion.

The Reproaches (Improperia) 

Antiphon 1 and 2:
We worship you, Lord,
we venerate your cross,
we praise your resurrection.
1: Through the cross
you brought joy to the world. 

1: (Psalm 66:2)
May God be gracious and bless us;
and let his face shed its light upon us. 

Repeat Antiphon by 1 and 2: 

The Reproaches: 

I. 

1 and 2: My people, what have I done to you
How have I offended you? Answer me! 

1: I led you out of Egypt,
from slavery to freedom,
but you led your Savior to the cross. 

2: My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you? Answer me! 

1: Holy is God! 
2: Holy and strong! 
1: Holy immortal One, have mercy on us! 

1 and 2: For forty years I led you
safely through the desert.
I fed you with manna from heaven,
and brought you to a land of plenty; but you led your Savior to the cross. 

Repeat "Holy is God..." 

1 and 2: What more could I have done for you.
I planted you as my fairest vine,
but you yielded only bitterness:
when I was thirsty you gave me vinegar to drink,
and you pierced your Savior with a lance. 

Repeat "Holy is God..." 

II. 

1: For your sake I scourged your captors
and their firstborn sons,
but you brought your scourges down on me. 

(Repeated throughout by Choir 2)
2: My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you? Answer me! 

1: I led you from slavery to freedom
and drowned your captors in the sea,
but you handed me over to your high priests.
2: "My people...." 

1: I opened the sea before you,
but you opened my side with a spear.
2: "My people...." 

1: I led you on your way in a pillar of cloud,
but you led me to Pilate's court.
2: "My people...." 

1: I bore you up with manna in the desert,
but you struck me down and scourged me.
2: "My people...." 

1: I gave you saving water from the rock,
but you gave me gall and vinegar to drink.
2: "My people...." 

1: For you I struck down the kings of Canaan.
but you struck my head with a reed.
2: "My people...." 

1: I gave you a royal scepter,
but you gave me a crown of thorns.
2: "My people...." 

1: I raised you to the height of majesty,
but you have raised me high on a cross.
2: "My people...."

First Day of Divine Mercy Novena (Good Friday)

Prayer for First Day of Divine Mercy Novena 
Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit. 
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy for ever and ever. Amen.

Communion by Desire

Minnesota, and many of the states, have extended ‘stay at home’ orders. Gathering with various others of all sizes, especially those over 10, are discouraged.
This puts a spin on life as normal for me as a priest, of course. We are not allowed to have public Masses, and especially as we are about to start the Sacred Triduum and Easter, this is hard. Harder still is the fasting from the Eucharist that the Faithful will need to extend.
I hear of the frustration. I hear, too, of the grasping at straws, the desire for parking lot Masses (which present a number of challenges to the sanctity of the Mass) or the desire for multiplication of Masses beyond the priests’ ability to meet and yet keep everyone safe and compliant. I hear of the request that we distribute the Eucharist in a hygienic way through using disposable items that could still pass on this virus or collect fragments of the Blessed Sacrament (and would need respectful treatment).
We have to remember that this novel corona virus is unique. While many who are exposed to it may have little to mild symptoms, some will have severe symptoms. While underlying health concerns are an aggravating matter, this is not always the case. It seems that this virus is a little fickle. On top of that, as we have heard, someone might be contagious before, if ever, being symptomatic. This means that they might pass on this virus without ever getting sick or even knowing they are contagious. Perhaps even the celebrant might be contagious, and we are touching the Eucharist at distribution, and then passing on the virus to others. We do not know (yet) who is contagious or who already has had it and now immune, or who is vulnerable to the severe symptoms. As a result, the best course of action seems to be the stay at home orders for the general population to give time for our hospitals to prepare. Hopefully, by the end of April, there will be antibody tests that will allow an easing of the restrictions except for perhaps those most vulnerable.
So we are required, at this time, to maintain this stay at home order. We may look back and say that what we did was difficult. At this point, without these restrictions, from what we understand, we are putting vulnerable lives at risk. We may never know how many lives we have saved by doing nothing… by staying home… by maintaining social distances. May we never find out that we were the cause of unnecessary exposure and perhaps even death by not taking the doctors and epidemiologists at their word.
As Catholics, we are required to attend Mass (yes, that is the requirement, not reception of the Blessed Sacrament). But there are conditions in which that obligation is lifted, mainly when we are putting ourselves or others at risk either because of difficult travel conditions or illness. While those that are contagious may not be ill, they could pass this virus on to the more vulnerable, therefore, Bishop LeVoir and many other bishops have dispensed from the obligation to attend Mass.
At the same time, we live in a wonderful time — we have resources that our ancestors would never have imagined. How many priests and bishops have their Masses live-streamed or recorded for playback! Certainly, it is not the same. As one who is in a parish with the capability to live-stream, it is difficult for me as a priest-celebrant to offer Mass with only the minimal people needed to live-stream it. But it is better than nothing. Here, Mass is still being offered in the place best.
Reception of the Eucharist is important. This Holy Thursday evening, we will mark the giving of the Eucharist as the memorial of Christ’s death and resurrection. As we receive His Body and Blood, we receive communion with Him. But this communion is not automatic, nor is it the only means of communion. We have to remember that Judas was at the Last Supper. He received from Christ Himself the first Eucharist. Yet he did not have communion. St. Peter, and nine other apostles for that matter, also received, but St. Peter would deny even knowing Jesus within hours and the others would run and hide. Only St. John remained at the foot of the cross. Only he experienced an immediate communion with the Lord. Certainly, after the Resurrection, when the sign of the Eucharist was fulfilled, though not fully understood, did the apostles experience a deeper communion, one that lead to their bold preaching and eventual martyrdom. Ironically, only St. John was spared death from martyrdom, though they tried. But he had a spiritual martyrdom — he desired union with the Lord in all things, even the Lord’s death.
And that concept of martyrdom by desire might help us understand the other point — the Eucharist is not the only means to communion. St. John experienced a spiritual martyrdom — he deeply desired to give witness to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ through his own death — but that was not God’s will. The Church teaches of the importance of Baptism. Baptism is the means in which we enter the Sacramental life of the Church. But it is possible to be saved, in ways known to God alone, without receiving this sacrament. Someone who is not yet baptized but dies in witness to Jesus Christ, therefore a martyr, is said to have experienced a baptism by blood. Their faith in Christ lead them to die for Him, and the Lord will save them. But there is another means: Someone who is preparing for Baptism, say in an RCIA program, who dies before the sacrament, might be saved in what the Church calls baptism by desire. Their desire for the sacrament is so great that, despite circumstances beyond their control, receive the graces that that sacrament imparts. See, God binds Himself to the Sacraments, but is not bound by them. He guarantees that they impart grace on those capable of receiving that grace, but that is not the only way He can give it.
The Lord has bound Himself to the Eucharist. He imparts the grace of communion with Himself (and all the saints, for that matter) in the reception of the Eucharist. But He can, and does give that grace through other means too. Again, that grace is not automatic — we must desire Him, union with Him, communion with Him and all in union with Him. We cannot continue to see the Eucharist as a commodity — a ‘something' I need. Rather, we need to see the Eucharist as He is - Christ who humbles Himself for us and our salvation. A Gift from Christ of Himself that we may have the grace of union with Him. Instead of seeing it as the only means of communion, we perhaps can see it as the primary means, the privileged means of communion. Perhaps, during this Great Fast, now extended into May, we can continue to grow in our desire the Eucharist for who He is — our Lord and Savior, and remember that while the majority of Catholics cannot receive Him Sacramentally, we can receive Him spiritually by deeply desiring Him. He will not allow His people to starve in their desire for communion. He will nourish them in ways mysterious.
I know that this is a difficult time. I know people are afraid, frustrated, and angry. But I also know that it does not have to be so. We can choose to let Christ reign in our hearts. The stone of His tomb could not stop His resurrection, nor can this virus. In fact, there is only one thing that can stop Jesus Christ from having power in our lives — us. Only when we desire He have no authority over us, that we have no communion with Him, is He thwarted from working in our lives and having communion with Him. Yes, - I desire Him in the Eucharist. But more importantly, I NEED Him.
When we are returned to the practice of public Mass (and we will), we may have a renewed joy to not only be in the presence of Christ and the congregation, but to be able to receive Him sacramentally, the most full sign that we have prepared our hearts by our communion by desire.
My Jesus,
I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.

Spy Wednesday 2020 - Who Is He?

Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, not knowing who Jesus truly was. How do we fail to recognized Jesus? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/3e3NxGS Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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Holy Tuesday 2020 - Night

Judas receives a morsel from our Lord, and Satan enters, and St. John records it was night- why? Because Judas didn’t understand what he received. https://ift.tt/3e2r5Or Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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Passion Sunday 2020 (10 am) - Relation

St. Peter and Judas display two different relationships with the Lord, and St. will give a third type. The type of relationship we have with the Lord will factor into how we accept Him. Readings are found at https://ift.tt/3bYxcl3 Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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Passion Sunday 2020 - Grasp

We grasp on to false things, but Jesus did not. During this Holy Week, can we grasp on to Jesus? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/3bYxcl3 Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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5th Wednesday Lent 2020 - Free

The three men are free in the furnace, and the pharisees were slaves. Where is our freedom? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/344XD5B Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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