Passion Sunday marks an essential turning point in our Lenten journey as we enter Passiontide, the final and most solemn two-week period before Easter. Today, we explored the profound reality of Christ's sacrifice and what it means for our spiritual lives during these sacred days.
At the heart of our meditation lies a stunning theological truth from St. John Vianney: "Our Lord suffered more than was necessary to redeem us, but what would have satisfied the justice of His Father would not have satisfied His love." The blood shed at Christ's circumcision alone would have been sufficient for mankind's redemption—each drop of divine blood carrying infinite redemptive power. Yet Christ chose the full suffering of the Cross not from necessity but from superabundant love. This revelation transforms how we understand the Passion and our own participation in it through Lenten practices.
Drawing from Scripture, particularly Hebrews 9:12, we see how Christ fulfilled and transcended the Old Testament sacrifices. The high priest's annual blood offering foreshadowed Jesus becoming both priest and victim, offering His own blood for our salvation. Padre Pio's words further illuminate our path: "Let us climb generously the slopes of Calvary for love of Him, who was immolated for love of us." With these insights, I offered four practical resolutions to deepen your Passion Tide experience: dedicate time to meditate on God's sacrificial love, unite your daily struggles with Christ's sufferings, honor Crucifixes you encounter, and gaze lovingly at the Crucifix in your home or office. As we approach Holy Week, these practices help us "double down" on our Lenten commitments and finish our spiritual journey with renewed focus and devotion.
Have you placed crucifixes throughout your home and workplace as visible reminders of Christ's sacrifice? Consider how these sacred images might transform your final days of Lenten preparation and draw you deeper into the mystery of God's boundless love.
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Christ is risen! The glorious transformation we've been preparing for through forty days of Lenten sacrifice has arrived, but what happens to our spiritual journey now?
This meditation explores the profound significance of Eastertide—not merely as the end of Lenten disciplines but as the beginning of a new way of living. From the triumphant moment when "light has triumphed over darkness," we are called to understand that Easter isn't about abandoning our spiritual progress, but redirecting it toward a fuller expression of our life in Christ.
As St. Paul reminds us, being "risen with Christ" means elevating our desires toward heaven while detaching from mere earthly satisfactions. For newly baptized Catholics, this season marks their first days in the faith, while for all believers, it offers a time to balance joyful celebration with continued spiritual growth. The Easter octave specifically highlights this transition as we learn to live out the new life received in baptism.
The meditation offers ...
The sacred stillness of Holy Saturday holds a unique place in our spiritual journey - that profound pause between the Crucifixion and Resurrection, where we are invited to contemplate the mystery of Christ's rest in the tomb. Through ancient liturgical texts and thoughtful meditation, we explore this day not as empty waiting, but as fertile ground where the seed of Resurrection quietly germinates.
"Today I am plunged in anguish, but tomorrow I will break my bonds." This powerful antiphon sets the tone for our reflection on what appears as defeat but secretly harbors victory. We join Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus at the hasty burial of Jesus before walking through the profound symbolism of the Easter Vigil ceremonies—the blessing of new fire, the lighting of the Paschal candle representing Christ risen, and the gradual illumination of darkness as this light spreads throughout the congregation.
The beautiful paradox of Holy Saturday emerges as we contemplate both loss and anticipation. "The ...
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A good (long) read by Fr. Z.
The following is a good point to keep in mind:
“ Allow me to go back to my food analogy for liturgy. This might seem a little insulting but it is just intended to make a point about the continuum we are on.
In 99% of a man’s day and activities, it is beneath his dignity to scrunch up his face and make airplane noises while moving a spoon around with his hand. People would think he was nuts. OR… if he is sitting in front of the high-chair of his little son, who can only eat goop and must sometimes be convinced to eat it, then that man is not doing anything beneath his dignity. On the contrary, he is performing a sacrificial act of love for his child. He sacrifices his dignity – becoming more dignified yet – for the sake of his boy’s eating something that will help him to grow out of the need to eat that sort of thing in that sort of way. He helps his boy move up the food and eating continuum to more complicated foods eaten in a more human way....
