Archive for the ‘holy days, holidays & feast days’ Category:
Divine Mercy Novena- Day 6
Sixth Day
“Today bring to Me The Meek and Humble Souls and the Souls of Little Children and immerse them in My mercy. These souls most closely resemble My Heart. They strengthened Me during My bitter agony. I saw them as earthly Angels who will keep vigil at My altars. I pour out upon them whole torrents of grace. Only the humble soul is capable of receiving My grace I favor humble souls with My confidence.”
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 of 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.
Subscribe to the comments for this postThe Annunciation
I’ve been asked twice why we didn’t celebrate the Annunciation yesterday. The simple answer is “because it’s Easter.” Yes, normally the Annunciation is celebrated on March 25th but because it is the Octave of Easter that trumps everything else (just like Holy Week trumped St. Patrick’s Day and the Solemnity of St. Joseph).
The Vatican announced last year that the Annunciation would be moved to March 31st for 2008. It’s a Solemnity so it just can’t be skipped but rather gets transfered. Keep in mind that if it falls on a Sunday it gets transferred too.
Does it really matter? It should if you are Catholic. The liturgical year is the life of Christ lived out again in liturgical time —in the time and in the memory of His Church.
If a certain saint’s feast day falls on a Sunday it is not celebrated on that day. You can certainly celebrate on another day but it’s just not proper to celebrate it on a Sunday because that’s our high holy day. This isn’t unfair, it’s only right. Sundays we recall Easter and no Saint would wish us to put them before that.
“The Church celebrates the paschal mystery on the first day of the week, known as the Lord’s Day or Sunday. This follows a tradition handed down from the apostles and having its origin from the day of Christ’s resurrection. Thus Sunday must be ranked as the first holyday of all. ”
“Because of its special importance, the Sunday celebration gives way only to solemnities or feasts of the Lord. The Sundays of the seasons of Advent, Lent, and Easter, however, take precedence over all solemnities and feasts of the Lord. Solemnities occuring on these Sundays are observed on the Saturdays preceding.”
“By its nature, Sunday excludes any other celebration’s being permanently assigned to that day, with these exceptions:
Sunday within the octave of Christmas is the feast of the Holy Family;
Sunday following 6 January is the feast of the Baptism of the Lord;
Sunday after Pentecost is the solemnity of the Holy Trinity;
the last Sunday in Ordinary Time is the solemnity of Christ the King.”General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar
issue date: 14 February 1969
Hey I didn’t know this either until I started making Catholic planners and for the first couple of years I made the planner, I actually listed saints on Sundays. I am sorry if I caused confusion.
Now you know.
Divine Mercy Novena- Day 5
Fifth Day
“Today bring to Me the Souls of those who have separated themselves from My Church and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. During My bitter Passion they tore at My Body and Heart, that is My Church. As they return to unity with the Church My wounds heal and in this way they alleviate My Passion.”
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 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
Fourth Day
“Today bring to Me Those Who Do Not Believe In God and Those Who Do Not Yet Know Me. I was thinking also of them during My bitter Passion, and their future zeal comforted My heart. Immerse them in the ocean of My mercy.“
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.
Reflections on the Easter Vigil
I wish I had written this last night when the memory was fresher and the excitement still palatable. Today will have to do.
The Easter vigil is the highlight of the liturgical year for Catholics. For an RCIA director maybe even more so. All went well and it wasn’t until the end that I realized how tense and nervous I was. Tim and I had begun the day at a graveside in Philadelphia, burying his mother’s ashes and paying tribute to her memory. Lunch and fellowship with his siblings and a stop at the store for some last minute items found us arriving home just half an hour before needing to leave for the vigil.
Mass itself was beyond description. Truly beautiful. I love how the Easter vigil mass is such a big deal –because it IS a big deal. A VERY big deal! What’s not to love about a two and a half hour mass with all the smells and bells?
We decided that we would bring all the children with us and made sure the baby had a late nap. She did really well and spent most of the time on my lap. She sang, she swayed to the music, she looked at her books and spent a great deal of time placing candles in and out of their holders. When she noticed there was a sleeping baby in a car seat in the row in front of us she began yelling “ba-ba” louder and louder and her death grip on the pew made it difficult to quickly remove her from the situation. Thankfully she did not wake the baby and one of her brother’s was able to swiftly escort her to the vestibule for a mid mass stroll.
Matthew the 3 yr. old also did well though he was clearly tired since he wouldn’t take a nap earlier as Maria had. He asked me after the lights came up if Jesus had come back to life and I told him yes. When he asked me where He was I told him that Jesus comes to us in the Eucharist. “Oh” he said. “He’s our food!” Yes indeed my dear son. He most certainly is.
I was privileged to be sponsor to two candidates. Two beautiful women who had heard the Lord’s call on their lives and answered. What faith, what dedication! I am without a doubt, very proud of all the candidates and elect who were received into full communion at the Easter vigil. Perhaps it’s the mom in me but I cannot help but feel like a bit of a mother hen towards each of them. Most of all I feel so blessed to have been able to share in the journey with them. There was such a tangible joy. Smiles and laughs. Sighs of relief and tears of pure joy.
I had warned them that Fr. Leo was liberal with the chrism. I don’t think they believed me until they felt it rolling down their backs and sliding down the sides of their faces. We laughed about it afterwards and I ended up smelling quite nice myself after the many hugs of congratulations.
We had a huge party in the cafeteria following mass and the largest crowd we’ve ever managed to get down there for an RCIA reception. We had tons of food and it was all gone!
We got home around midnight and quickly got the little children changed and ready for bed. A good night kiss and hug from 3 yr. old Matthew and 6 yr. old Peter turned into an all out snuggle that felt like the perfect ending to the day. I joyfully, peacefully drifted off to sleep sometime past 1:00 with the smell of chrism lingering in the air.
Unfortunately I woke up about half an hour later and simply couldn’t get back to sleep. I was exhausted but my mind was still racing and I spent the night tossing and turning. Morning finally found me snoozing soundly and my sweet and loving husband left me there until I woke up at a scandalously late hour.
We enjoyed an early dinner with extended family and finished the day snuggled up on the couch watching a family movie.
I hope this first day of Easter was beautiful and blessed for you too –and I hope the other 49 are every bit as special!
Don’t forget to feast!
