The Chaplet

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is also a wonderful and powerful prayer.

The Seven Last Words of Jesus

Every year at 1:30 on Good Friday the priests and deacons of St. Sebastian Parish lead a series of meditations on the Seven Last Words. You can do it on your own as well.

The Seven Last Words of Jesus

THE FIRST WORD

When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right the other on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father forgive them, they know not what they do."  (Luke 23:33-34)

THE SECOND WORD

Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus saying: "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" The other one, however, rebuking him, said in reply: "Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received ccorresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied to him, " Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." (Luke 23:39-43)

THE THIRD WORD

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and  his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magadala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, 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 19:25-27)

THE FOURTH WORD

At noon darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three o'clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, eloi, lema sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15: 33-34) (Matthew 27:46)

THE FIFTH WORD

After this, Jesus, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said,  "I thirst." (John 19:28)

THE SIXTH WORD

There was a vessel there filled with ccommon wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, "It is finished." And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit. (John 19:29-30)

THE SEVENTH WORD

It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus, cried out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit"; and when he had said this he breathed his last. (Luke 23:44-46)

Tenebrae II

The supression of Tenebrae in the Roman Catholic Divine Office was one of the first liturgical changes to have been made in the years before the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council. That took place when, in the early 1950's Pope Pius XII reformed the Divine Office and the liturgy of Holy Week and the Sacred Triduum. These reforms became mandatory in 1955.

Up till then the Easter Vigil was celebrated on Holy Saturday morning – if you can believe it!

At the same time Pope Pius XII moved the Holy Thursday Mass to the evening and Good Friday services to the afternoon or evening. This effectively ended the celebration of Matins and Lauds together as an anticipated Office on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. That was the end of Tenebrae.

After the Council and the liturgical reforms a joint celebration of the Office of Readings and Morning Prayer in the style of Tenebrae is suggested for the mornings of Good Friday and Holy Saturday.



By the way, St. Sebastian is celebrating the Office of Readings and Morning Prayer in the style of Tenebrae this year for the first time on Good Friday and Holy Saturday. We used to have just Morning Prayer for the Triduum. We also now have the Tenebrae Hearse or fifteen candle triangular candlestand, since snuffing candles is a part of the Tenebrae ritual. The candles for the altar and the hearse are unbleached which will heighten the difference of these two very special days.

On Holy Thursday it’s just Morning Prayer that we will sing together.

Apology

Bishop Zubik's "Service of Apology"  as reported in the local papers. And the full text as it appears on the Pittsburgh Diocesan website.

For Next Year

As the Triduum approaches, it's probably too late for you to consult this 1988 document from the Congregation for Divine Worship called A Circular Letter Concerning the Preparation and Celebration of the Easter Feasts but it might be useful for next year.

Maundy

Lent ends tomorrow morning. The Holy Three Days or Sacred Triduum begins tomorrow evening with the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper. At that Mass we celebrate the institution of the Eucharist and the priesthood and Jesus's great commandment of love in service to each other.

The gospels according to Mark, Matthew, and Luke tell the story of Jesus taking bread, blessing it, and giving it to his disciples saying: "Take it; this is my body." (Mk. 14:22) Later, he takes a cup filled with wine, gives thanks to His Father, and gives it to His disciples with the words: "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many." (Mk. 14:24) These are words like those we hear every time we go to Mass. We call them the "Words of Institution" meaning the words used to institute or establish the Sacrament of the Eucharist. The command "Do this in memory of me" (Lk.22:19) is both the establishment of the priesthood and His desire that all His disciples should be fed with His True Body and True Blood.

St. John's Gospel, the last of the four to be written down and the most theologically complex and beautiful has no account of the breaking of bread and passing of the cup at the Last Supper. The Fourth Gospel tells the story of that last meal of Jesus with His disciples and the focus is on "The Washing of the Feet". The commandment of service in love is so beautifully illustrated by what Jesus did for His disciples when He washed their feet. (Jn. 13:1-15) It is called the Mandatum or Commandment and from that we have the other name for the day, Maundy Thursday.  These are the words:

So when he had washed their feet (and) put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, "Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me 'teacher' and 'master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do. (Jn. 13:12-15) and a little while later He says more explicitly: I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (JN.13:34-35)

A tall order, no?

Judas was still there for that, remember. How must the fact that Jesus had washed his feet just moments before the betrayal added to his dispair.

It was night.

This is a nice commentary on today's Gospel.

Three great scenes:

St. John resting his head on Jesus' chest.

The sentence "It was night."

Peter's denial foretold.

The Blessing of the Sun

An interesting website. As Passover begins tomorrow evening for our Jewish brothers and sisters, they will celebrate a 28 year event tomorrow morning.

You may wish to recite these two prayers of blessing tomorrow morning when you wake up.

Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, who re-enacts the work of creation.

Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.


Update: The prayers are to be offered when you actually see the sun tomorrow.

Shriven

Yesterday was 'Reconciliation Monday' in the Diocese of Brooklyn. The Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Rockville Centre also had a similar opportunity for the faithful to receive the Sacrament of Penance. At St. Sebastian we started at 3 PM and finished at 9 PM and there was a steady stream of penitents, totaling probably 500 or so. One priest was available at all times but there were four of us for about two hours and two for about two hours. It was a great mix - young and old, English and Spanish speaking(some other languages as well), some regular in their use of the Sacrament and others returning after many, many years.

Hearing confessions is a humbling experience for a priest, realizing that you are the channel of God's mercy and healing forgiveness and love.

Burial

The Fourteenth Station - The Body of Jesus is Laid in the Tomb

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise you

R. Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

"...And now we come to the last farewell. There is sadness in parting, but we take comfort in the hope that one day we shall see our brother again and enjoy his friendship. Although this congregation will disperse in sorrow, the mercy of God will gather us together again in the joy of his kingdom. Therefore let us console one another in the faith of Jesus Christ." These words come from the Final Commendation in the Order of Christian Funerals. John and the Blessed Mother look on as Joseph of Arimathea places the body of Jesus in a new tomb in the garden. Sin had entered the world in a garden; new life will come to the world from a garden.

The Deposition

The Thirteenth Station - Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise you

R. Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Two women. Mary the Mother and Mary of Magdala. The Crucified One is dead. See how the cross is now decorated as the throne of His glory, the place of His greatest triumph! In the Garden of Eden the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil became the source of sin. There is a legend that a seed from that tree was planted and became the ancestor of the tree that provided the wood for the cross of Jesus. The Cross is the Tree of Life for us who believe.

10,000 Souls

St. Sebastian is arguably the largest Catholic parish in the Diocese of Brooklyn, Queens and Kings Counties in New York City. On most Sundays we have approximately 6,000 people at Mass. Today, Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion, we had at least 10,000 people so far, with one Mass to go tonight at 6 PM.

I celebrated the Noon Mass in Spanish in the church, Father Sabino Estrada celebrated the "overflow" Mass at 12:15 in the school auditorium. The church and the auditorium were both completely filled. The chapel was also filled and we 'piped' the audio from the church into the chapel. Between the two Masses we easily had 3,000 people.

My only regret is that I didn't have pictures taken. I will next year, though!

As a priest, it is such a moving experience to celebrate Mass with all those people! I am so glad for Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday, since they bring so many people out for church; if we're welcoming, maybe some of them will stay with us. I pray so.

Palms

H/T to Pat McNamara. I had forgotten this gem.

The Donkey

a poem by

G.K.Chesterton

When fishes flew and forests walked
And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood
Then surely I was born.

With monstrous head and sickening cry
And ears like errant wings,
The devil's walking parody
On all four-footed things.

The tattered outlaw of the earth,
Of ancient crooked will;
Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,
I keep my secret still.

Fools! For I also had my hour;
One far fierce hour and sweet:
There was a shout about my ears,
And palms before my feet.

Death

The Twelfth Station - Jesus Dies on the Cross

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise you

R. Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.


The cross - instrument of torture and death and glorious throne for Our King. The cross is always beyond our grasp and yet it is the center of our lives. This moment is the center of time and eternity. John's head is hung down; he cannot look at his Friend. Mary's eyes are fixed on her Son.

Just over a day ago at supper, John rested his head on Jesus' chest. He heard His heart beat. In moments, it will stop beating. His Friend will die, and John will take care of His Mother.

Mary looked at Jesus' eyes bright with joy in Bethlehem, in Nazareth, at Cana, and in so many other places. Now His eyes are not bright and the breath of life will soon leave Him.

"Look at the Man!"

Wood and Nails for the Carpenter

The Eleventh Station - Jesus is Nailed to the Cross

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise you

R. Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.


Not through the palms of the hands, but at the wrists the nails were driven; spikes, really. Then, through the feet; four wounds, a fifth comes later. The wood touches his body as it had so many times in life. The wood of the manger, of the cradle, in the carpenter's shop, in the boats that were such a part of His friends lives and His own. Wood had always been a 'friend' to Him. The wood of the cross can be a 'friend' to us as well. Read the verse and response above again; it says a lot about what that cross is.

Words of Mary

Bishop Fulton J. Sheen wrote a wonderful book that you might find interesting, Seven Words of Jesus and Mary: Lessons on Cana and Calvary. These are the words of Mary presented by the Evangelists St. Luke and St. John.

The Seven Words of Mary in Scripture

1. But Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no relations with a man?" (Luke 1:34)

2. Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord." (Luke 1:38)



3. [Mary said:] "May it be to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:38)





4. And Mary said:
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.
For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness;
behold,  from now on will all ages call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
His mercy is from age to age, to those who fear him.
He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.
He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones, but lifted up the lowly.
The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy,
according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendents forever. (Luke 1:46-55)

5. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety." (Lk 2:48)

6. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." (John 2:3)

7. His mother said to the servers, "Do whatever he tells you". (John 2:5)

Stripped

The Tenth Station - Jesus is Stripped of His Garments


V. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise you

R. Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Our sense of decorum and respect means that the Crucified One is always shown with a loincloth. More than likely, he was naked. The loincloth makes the crucifixion 'easier on the eyes' for us. It almost says, it wasn't that bad. The Stations of the Cross are meant to focus our attention on the crucifixion of Our Lord as something that was filled with suffering, and not just on the part of Jesus.

Pilate and his wife suffered. Jesus' mother suffered. Simon suffered.  Veronica suffered. The women of Jerusalem suffered. His disciples suffered. His friends suffered.

We suffer too!

Scholarships

Scholarship Champion Challenge

Please join me in assisting the Futures in Education Foundation by providing much needed scholarship assistance to low income families and their children. Help make the dream of Catholic education a reality for these families by joining in the first Futures in Education Scholarship Champion Challenge. We hope to raise $250,000 in new scholarship support. Thanks to the generosity of the Children’s Scholarship Fund of NYC, all donations made will be matched 2:1.

If you want to help click Futures and join my team.

Fallen Man

The Ninth Station - Jesus Falls a Third Time

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise you

R. Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Again! What thoughts went through the minds of the soldiers? Was there a place for pity? How did they see Jesus? What did they feel for him? Were they proud of their part in the execution of this 'criminal'? Could they see a difference between Jesus  and the two thieves crucified alongside Him? Or, did they think nothing at all, just get Him up to get it over with and go back to the barracks.

What do I think as I see Him fall again? How do I feel?

Are we hoping that Lent will be over soon so that we can go back to whatever it was we 'gave up'? Or are we still involved in the real 'work' that Lent involves, as we strive to purify ourselves of those things that make us fall? We fall, we rise; we sin, ask, and receive pardon!

The Baby and the Woman

The Eighth Station - Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem

V. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise you

R. Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

The depiction of this station at St. Sebastian is unusual. Instead of "women", it has a woman with an infant child in her arms. The words of Jesus echo in our ears: "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children, for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, 'Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.' At that time people will say to the mountains, 'Fall upon us!' and to the hills, over us!' for if these things are done when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?"