Tag: MARCH 28

HOLY TRIDUUM

DIVINE MERCY NOVENA: Novena in preparation for DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY. Good Friday is the first day of the Divine Mercy Novena. Novena begins tomorrow, Friday, March 29, 2024 and ends, Saturday, April 6 2024 (Novena Link below)

Greetings beloved family. Happy Maundy Thursday! May God’s grace and mercy be with us all as we begin the Holy Triduum 🙏

Watch “MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER & WASHING OF THE FEET PRESIDED BY POPE FRANCIS” | March 28, 2024 |

Watch “CHRISM MASS PRESIDED BY POPE FRANCIS” | From the Vatican, Rome | March 28, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | March 28, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” | March 28, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | March 28, 2024 |

Pray “Chaplet of the Divine Mercy from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | March 28, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteries VIRTUAL🌹JOYFUL🌹LUMINOUS🌹SORROWFUL🌹GLORIOUS” on YouTube |

Today’s Bible Readings: Thursday, March 28, 2024

CHRISM MASS READINGS (Morning)

1st Reading – Isaiah 61:1-3A, 6A, 8B-9
Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 89:21-22, 25 and 27
2nd Reading – Revelation 1:5-8
Verse Before the Gospel – Isaiah 61:1 (cited in  Luke 4:18)
Gospel – Luke 4:16-21

MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER READINGS (Evening)
1st Reading – Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18
2nd Reading  – First Corinthians 11:23-26
Gospel – John 13:1-15

Novena in preparation for DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY: Good Friday is the first day of the Divine Mercy Novena. Novena Begins Friday, March 29, 2024 and ends, Saturday, April 6 2024. Link ~ https://divinemercy.life/the-divine-mercy-novena

40 Days in the Desert. A Lenten journey with our Lord | Day Thirty-Eight: The Eucharist | Holy Thursday | https://mycatholic.life/books/40-days-in-the-desert-a-lenten-journey-with-our-lord/day-thirty-eight-the-eucharist/

40 Days at the foot of the Cross. A Gaze of Love from the Heart of our Blessed Mother Mary | Day Thirty-Eight – The Soldier’s Lance | https://mycatholic.life/books/40-days-at-the-foot-of-the-cross/day-thirty-eight-the-soldiers-lance/

A PRAYER TO WALK HUMBLY THROUGH LENT: Father, In Micah 6:8, You say, “O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Today we choose to walk humbly with You. We choose to live by Your Holy Spirit and to follow Your lead. Help us to hear You clearly, for we do not want to walk by pride or self-sufficiency, we want to walk with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen 🙏

God of goodness and mercy, hear my prayer as I begin this Lenten journey with you. Let me be honest with myself as I look into my heart and soul, noticing the times I turn away from you. Guide me as I humbly seek to repent and return to your love. May humility guide my efforts to be reconciled with you and live forever in your abundant grace. Transform me this Lent, heavenly Father. Give me the strength to commit myself to grow closer to you each day. Amen🙏

LENTEN FAST AND ABSTINENCE (Lenten Fast and Abstinence regulations from the USCCB): Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.

For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards

Members of the Eastern Catholic Churches are to observe the particular law of their own sui iuris Church. If possible, the fast on Good Friday is continued until the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night) as the “paschal fast” to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, and to prepare ourselves to share more fully and to celebrate more readily His Resurrection.

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF MARCH: MONTH OF SAINT JOSEPH: “His was the title of father of the Son of God, because he was the Spouse of Mary, ever Virgin. He was our Lord’s father, because Jesus ever yielded to him the obedience of a son. He was our Lord’s father, because to him were entrusted, and by him were faithfully fulfilled, the duties of a father, in protecting Him, giving Him a home, sustaining and rearing Him, and providing Him with a trade” 

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH – For the new Martyrs: We pray that those who risk their lives for the Gospel in various parts of the world inflame the Church with their courage and missionary enthusiasm.

During this Liturgical season of Lent, we continue to meditate on the mystery of Jesus’ sufferings which culminated in His death on the Cross for the redemption of mankind.

On this special feast day, as we continue our Lenten journey, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to remember our beloved, we pray for the repose of their gentle souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ… Amen 🙏 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

During this season of Lent, please let us all continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in Africa, the Middle East, for an end to the current war in Israel-Palestine, and the Ukraine-Russia conflicts and for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World. Amen 🙏

PRAYER FOR THE DEAD: In your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust our brothers and sisters. In this life, you embraced them with your tender love; deliver them now from every evil, and bid them eternal rest. The old order has passed away: welcome them into paradise, where there will be no sorrow, no weeping or pain, but fullness of peace and joy with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen🙏

A PRAYER FOR PEACE: Lord Jesus Christ, You are the true King of peace. In You alone is found freedom. Please free our world from conflict. Bring unity to troubled nations. Let Your glorious peace reign in every heart. Dispel all darkness and evil. Protect the dignity of every human life. Replace hatred with Your love. Give wisdom to world leaders. Free them from selfish ambition. Eliminate all violence and war. Glorious Virgin Mary, Saint Michael the Archangel, Every Angel and Saint: Please pray for peace. Pray for unity amongst nations. Pray for unity amongst all people. Pray for the most vulnerable. Pray for those suffering. Pray for the fearful. Pray for those most in need. Pray for us all. Jesus, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us. Jesus, hear our prayers. Jesus, I trust in You! Amen 🙏

Prayers for Peace | https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/prayers-for-peace/

HOLY THURSDAY (MAUNDY THURSDAY), MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER: Today is Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday), the first of the last three days of the Holy Week referred to as the Holy Triduum (Paschal or Easter Triduum): Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Holy Thursday is also known as “Maundy Thursday.” The word maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum (commandment) which is the first word of the Gospel acclamation: Mandátum novum do vobis dicit Dóminus, ut diligátis ínvicem, sicut diléxi vos. “I give you a new commandment: Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:34). These are the words spoken by our Lord to His apostles at the Last Supper, after He completed the washing of the feet. We should imitate Christ’s humility in the washing of the feet.

Today, we celebrate the three pillars of the Catholic Church instituted by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper: the institution of priesthood, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and the Holy Eucharist. There are only two Masses allowed on Holy Thursday — the CHRISM MASS and the evening MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER.  In each diocese there is a Chrism Mass or Mass of the Holy Oils, usually said in the morning at the cathedral of the diocese. This is the traditional day when all the priests of the diocese are invited to concelebrate with the bishop, to receive oils blessed by the bishop and to publicly renew their priestly promises. The holy oils to be used throughout the diocese for the following year in the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders and the Sacrament of the Sick are blessed by the bishop at the Chrism Mass. Catholics should make an effort to participate at the Mass at least once in their lives, to experience the communion of priests with their bishop.

In the evening the Church celebrates the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. After this Mass the altar is stripped bare and the Blessed Sacrament is removed from the Tabernacle and processed to a separate altar of repose. Here the Blessed Sacrament is adored until late in the night to commemorate the time Jesus spent in Garden of Gethsemane in agonizing prayer, the start of His Passion. The Blessed Sacrament is then taken away and hidden until the Easter Vigil in memory of Our Lord’s death and burial.

By meditating on the Gospels (cf. Matt 26:1 ff.; Mark 14:1 ff.; Luke 22:1 ff.; John 13:1 ff.), we can recall to mind Jesus’ actions of that day. Father Bernard Strasser summarizes all the events of that first Holy Thursday. They included: (1) the eating of the Easter lamb or the paschal meal; (2) the washing of the disciple’s feet; (3) the institution of the Most Holy Eucharist (the first Mass at which Jesus Christ, the eternal high priest, is the celebrant; the first Communion of the apostles; the first conferring of Holy Orders); (4) the foretelling of Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denials; (5) the farewell discourse and priestly prayer of Jesus; (6) the agony and capture of Jesus in the Garden of Olives.

We pray for God’s grace and mercy as we continue to reflect on the final journey, the dark moment of Jesus’ passion and death, and then on Holy Saturday night and Easter Sunday morning we celebrate the joyful event of Jesus’ resurrection.🙏

PRAYER MEDITATION FOR HOLY THURSDAY

My Most Precious Lord Jesus, this night You gathered with Your Apostles to share with them Your last meal.  But this was no ordinary meal.  This was the gift of Your most Sacred Body and Blood, soon to be broken and poured out on the Cross for the salvation of the world.  

Allow me, dear Lord, to spend this night in prayer and meditation with You.  After the meal, You invited Your Apostles to join You for one hour, to stay awake and keep vigil as You prepared for Your arrest.  The Apostles fell asleep, leaving You in Your bitter agony alone.

I accept Your gentle invitation of love, dear Lord, to spend this night in vigil with You.  May I enter Your Heart as it faced the coming persecution You were to endure for my sins.  May I console Your Sacred Heart and know the love and Mercy that flowed forth.

Lord, when I face the crosses of my own life, give me Your divine courage and strength to say “Yes” to the Will of the Father.  Your love for me is abundant and is perfect in every way.  Help me to know that love, to embrace it and to allow it into my life.

I make my vigil with You this night, dear Lord.  I love You, help me to love You with all my heart.  Jesus, I trust in You. Amen 🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

Bible Readings for today, Holy Thursday – Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032824-Supper.cfm

Gospel Reading ~ John 13:1–15

Jesus loved them to the end

“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.”

“Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.” For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 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.”

In today’s Gospel reading, at the last supper Jesus gave His disciples the gift of Himself in loving service. He did this in two ways. Firstly, He washed their feet. This was a menial task that servants in a household usually performed. In washing the feet of His disciples, Jesus was showing that He was their servant, our servant. We usually think of Jesus as Lord. ‘Jesus is Lord’ is one of the great Christian confessions. How can a Lord do the work of a servant? This was why Peter objected to what Jesus was doing – ‘you will never wash my feet’. Peter, unlike children, could not receive the gift of Jesus’ service. However, Jesus was showing by this gesture that He exercises His Lordship not by ruling and dominating but by serving, by giving the gift of Himself. It was by giving the gift of Himself to us that He became our Lord. In laying down His garments to wash the feet of His disciples, Jesus was anticipating the greater gift He would give them the following day, when He would lay down His life for them and for us on the cross. The second way that Jesus gave the gift of Himself to His disciples at that last supper was when He gave Himself to them under the form of bread and wine. Taking bread, He blessed it and gave it to them saying, ‘Take and eat’. Taking a cup of wine, He blessed it and gave it to them and said, ‘Take and drink’. Like the washing of their feet, that gift of Himself under the form of bread and wine anticipated the gift of Himself that He would make to them and to all of us the following day on the cross. In allowing Jesus to wash their feet and in taking the bread and the cup, the disciples were receiving the gift of Himself that Jesus would give them from the cross. In receiving that gift they would never be the same again. They would now have to give as they had received.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today on this Holy Thursday, let us all be exemplary in our way of life and resolutely reject sin and all of the wickedness found all around us, as the mark of our obedience and our adherence to the path that the Lord has shown us. If we truly believe in the Lord and have faith in Him, then naturally we should strive our best to be worthy of Him, to do what is right and just in accordance to what He Himself has shown and taught us to do. As Christians, we should not be people of empty or shallow faith, but we must really ‘walk the talk’, in being sincere in loving God and in loving our fellow brothers and sisters, and in doing what God had told us to do. The mandatum or commandment that He has given to us is a reminder that each and every one of us as members of God’s Church have particular responsibilities and calling in our own lives, to do what we can so that we may inspire more and more people to come to believe in God as well, because they have seen God and His truth in us, in our actions and way of living. This is what we are reminded today, on this Holy Thursday evening, as we embark into the Easter Triduum and the culmination of our Lenten exercise and observance. May the Lord, our most loving God and Saviour continue to be with us, guiding us and strengthening us in our journey of faith, so that our every experiences and moments, especially during this Holy Week and Easter Triduum, be most enriching and inspirational, in allowing us to come ever closer to Him and to His salvation. May God be with us always and may He bless our days, our Easter Triduum, the upcoming Easter season and our lives beyond. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us the grace to become a model of the love of Christ for others, giving everything to others, putting their needs before ours, just as our Lord Jesus Christ gave us everything. May He grant us the strength to live faithfully the call to love one another as He has loved us. May He bless our every good efforts and endeavours, and bless our loved ones all around us. Wishing all of us a most blessed Easter Triduum, brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen🙏

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: MARCH 28, 2024 | MEMORIAL OF SAINT CONON OF NASO, ABBOT; SAINT STEPHEN HARDING, ABBOT AND SAINT GONTRAN, KING AND CONFESSOR

Today, as we begin the Holy Triduum, we continue to reflect on the final journey of our Lord Jesus Christ, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Conon of Naso, Abbot; Saint Stephen Harding, Abbot and Saint Gontran, King and Confessor. St. Gontran is a perfect example of God’s mercy and forgiveness and he is the patron saint of divorced people, guardians, and repentant murderers. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the conversion of sinners and for all Christians during this season of Lent. Amen🙏

SAINT CONON OF NASO, ABBOT: St. Conon of Naso (1139–1236) was born on June 3, 1139 at Naso, Sicily. He was a wealthy nobleman, the son of a Count, from Naso, Italy. He was a devout young man, and at the age of 15 become a monk. He lived as a hermit until being called to serve the local monastery as its abbot. Upon the death of his parents he distributed his inheritance to the poor. While on pilgrimage to Jerusalem he had a vision of a priest he knew being choked by a snake. St. Conon raced to the priest to warn him of the danger. The priest’s heart was convicted by the truth of the vision and confessed that he was hoarding money and neglecting the poor. Under St.  Conon’s direction the priest gave his excessive savings to the poor and recommitted his life to serving others. Another tale tells of how  St. Conon healed a Sicilian boy of his apoplexy.

St. Conon died on March 28, 1236 at Naso, Sicily, Italy. After his death, St. Conon was hailed as a miracle worker. In 1571, Naso  was in the midst of a dire famine. The people of the city prayed for the intercession of St. Conon, their Patron Saint. The city of Naso experienced a series of terrible storms which destroyed crops and disrupted the shipping trade, and the city ran out of grain and other food supplies. When the famine became severe, St. Conon appeared in a vision to a ship captain who was preparing to transport a load of grain. St. Conon told the captain to change course and take the grain to Naso. The captain obeyed the vision and arrived in Naso with food to relieve the famine, thus the people of Naso survived the famine.

Saint Conon of Naso, Abbot ~ Pray for us🙏

SAINT STEPHEN HARDING, ABBOT: St. Stephen Harding (1050-1134) was an English-born monk and abbot, who was one of the founders of the Cistercian Order. He was born at Dorset, England, in 1050, early in the second half of the 11th century and was educated at the Sherborne Abbey. As a young man he traveled abroad and grew into a person of great charm and first-rate scholar. Eventually, he became a monk at the Abbey of Molesme in Burgundy, where he came under the influence of the Abbot, St. Robert, and his zeal for reform. In 1098, together with St. Robert, St. Alberic, and some twenty other monks of Molesme, St. Stephen founded a new monastery at Citeaux. Here they lived a life that was simple and austere, in accord with the letter of the Rule of St. Benedict. Upon St. Alberic’s death in 1108, St. Stephen became the third Abbot of Citeaus and built up the community—undergoing many hardships because of his high ideals.

In 1112, St. Bernard arrived there with thirty of his followers, and the fortunes of the monastery took an upward turn. During the next eight years alone, a dozen Cistercian houses had to be erected to hold those who flocked to the ideals of the new community, and many more followed. In 1119, St. Stephen drew up the “Charta of Charity,” which defined the spirit of the Cistercian Abbeys and provided their unity, and has become a most important document in the history of Western monasticism. The Cistercian life is an accurate barometer of St. Stephen’s character; its high ideals, careful organization, austerity, and simplicity mirror the traits of this great Saint who ruled the community for twenty-five years. In 1133, he resigned his office because of near-blindness and advancing age, and on March 28, 1134, he passed on to his heavenly reward. He was canonized in 1623.

PRAYER: Lord, amid the things of this world, let us be wholeheartedly committed to heavenly things in imitation of the example of evangelical perfection which You have given us in St. Stephen the Abbot. Amen. Saint Stephen Harding, Abbot ~ Pray for us🙏

SAINT GONTRAN, KING AND CONFESSOR: St. Gontran (532-592) was born in 532 in Soissons, the son of King Clotaire and grandson of Clovis I and Saint Clotildis. When Clotaire died in 561, his domains were divided among his four sons. While Gontran’s brother Caribert reigned at Paris, Sigebert in Metz, and Chilperic in Soissons, he was crowned king of Orleans and Burgundy in 561. He reigned as king from 561 – 592.  He then made Chalons-sur-Saone his capital. When compelled to take up arms against his ambitious brothers and the Lombards, he made no other use of his victories, gained under the conduct of a brave general called Mommol, than to give peace to his dominions. The crimes in which the barbarous habits of his nation involved him, he effaced by tears of repentance. The prosperity of his reign, both in peace and war, condemns those who suppose that human policy cannot be determined by the maxims of the Gospel, whereas the truth is just the contrary: no others can render a government so efficacious and prosperous.

Saint Gontran always treated the pastors of the Church with respect and veneration. He was the protector of the oppressed, and the tender parent of his subjects. He gave the greatest attention to the care of the sick. He fasted, prayed, wept, and offered himself to God night and day as a victim ready to be sacrificed on the altar of His justice, to avert His indignation, which Saint Gontran believed he himself provoked and drew down upon his innocent people. He was a severe punisher of crimes in his officers and others, and by many wholesome regulations he restrained the barbarous licentiousness of his troops, but no man was ever more ready to forgive offenses against his own person. With royal magnificence, he built and endowed many churches and monasteries. This good king, St. Gontran died on March 28, 592 in Chalon-sur-Saône at the age of 60, having reigned thirty-one years. He’s the Patron Saint of  Divorced people, guardians, and repentant murderers.

Saint Gontran, King and Confessor ~ Pray for us🙏

PRAYER INTENTIONS: We thank God for blessing us all with the gift of His precious son, may we be saved by the name of our Savior Jesus Christ! May the Lord grant us His grace as we continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth and as we begin the Lenten Season. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the sick and dying. We particularly pray for sick children, those who are sick with convulsive disorder, mental illness, strokes, heart diseases, and those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. May God restore them to good health and grant them His Divine healing and intervention. May our Mother Mary comfort them, may the Angels and Saints watch over them and may the Holy Spirit guide them in peace and comfort during this challenging time. We pray for the safety and well-being of us all and our families, for peace, love and unity in our families, our marriages and our divided and conflicted world. Every life is a gift. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the gentle souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in peace with our Lord Jesus Christ Amen. For all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy and all those who preach the Gospel. For vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for the Church, for persecuted Christians, for all the innocent who suffer violence due to political or religious unrest, for the conversion of sinners and Christians all over the world. Amen🙏

Let us pray:

My Sacrificial Lamb, You came to earth to set us free from the oppression of the evil one and from the disorders of our fallen human nature. Please feed me today and always with Your Sacred Body and Precious Blood. By the strength of this Food from Heaven, continue to lead me to the Promised Land of Heaven.

My Sacrificial Lord, this night You instituted the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in which Your saving Sacrifice became a permanent Memorial in which we are invited to share. Please open my eyes to the reality of the Mass and help me to always participate in it with deep faith, reverence and love. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Saint Conon of Naso, Saint Stephen Harding and Saint Gontran ~ Pray for us 🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day and praying for us all during this final days of the Holy week, may God, our Crucified Christ, Our most loving Saviour, be with us all as we journey through this Holy Week, that we may come to share ever more deeply in the mysteries of His Passion, His suffering, death and Resurrection… Amen. Have a blessed, safe and grace-filled Holy Triduum🙏

Blessings and Love always, Philomena💖