On Good Friday we have the opportunity to venerate the Cross with the entire community. 
It is the perfect time to learn the:

Prayer before a Crucifix.
Click here to learn this prayer!

NOTE: A plenary indulgence is granted on each Friday of Lent and Passiontide to the faithful, who after Communion piously recite the above prayer before an image of Christ crucified; on other days of the year the indulgence is partial.

For more information on indulgences, click here.

Seven Last Words

For the past several weeks of Lent we've been reviewing our meditations on the Last Seven Words. These are not simply words, but the seven things Jesus said as He was dying on the cross. We encourage you to consider the impact of these words on your life this Holy Week.

This week we'll review:

5. I thirst
6. It is finished
7. Father, into your hands I commend my spirit

These lovely candles are  available for purchase through Wolfe's Baldwin Brass Center Ordering candles from this link  financially supports this site. Thank you!

• Sunday, March 16 use a red candle for Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion.
   
• Monday, March 17 we still use a violet candle, but celebrate the memorial of St. Patrick. We may be used to green beer and leprechauns on this day, but it is important to remember that as a boy Patrick was kidnapped, shipped to Ireland, and sold into slavery. He escaped, but returned years later as a priest and bishop to convert the pagans of Ireland to Christianity. His success was complete, and today he is the patron saint of Ireland. He is well known for explaining the Trinity using the 3-leaf shamrock.
   
• Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week use a violet candle.
   
• For Holy Thursday, March 20, use a white candle to commemorate the Last Supper and the institution of the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
   
• Use a red candle for March 21, Good Friday of the Lord's Passion.
   
• March 22, Holy Saturday, the vigil of Easter, use a white candle.

Looking Forward to Divine Mercy!

We're already preparing for Divine Mercy Sunday, the Sunday after Easter. We'll begin praying the Divine Mercy novena on March 21, 2008 (Good Friday) and continuing through March 29, 2008 in preparation for Divine Mercy Sunday. If you'd like to receive our daily e-mail prayer reminders for this novena, please let us know at admin@cominghomecatholic.com.

If you'd like to learn more about Divine Mercy, click here.

Glory is Assured!

The Mass on Palm Sunday is the most emotion-packed of the year. We begin with a jubilant procession, Matthew's Gospel celebrating Jesus' royalty and divinity. As the priest's red vestments foretell, however, the tide quickly turns. Isaiah's poem reveals the Suffering Servant. Paul tells us Jesus had to completely empty Himself to become exalted. Finally we hear the story of ultimate suffering, Matthew's account of the Passion. We relive the first Eucharist at the Last Supper, the agony in the garden of Gethsemane, Judas' betrayal, the arrest and mock trial, Pilate's blindness to goodness and honor, Peter's denial, the Crucifixion, and, finally, the death and burial of Jesus, the Son of God.

The Liturgy of the Word is turbulent. How could Jesus go so quickly from triumph to complete humiliation and death? Unfortunately it is not too hard to imagine. Extremists command attention. The uninformed go along with the slickest spiel. Those in power take the path of least resistance. Friends become scarce. The scapegoat takes the punishment. It could be happening today.

Where are we in following Christ and carrying the Cross? Do we stay home and ignore important issues? Do we listen only to the secular views of the world and deride the teachings of the Church without even giving them a thoughtful chance? How often are we Judas, Herod or Pilate? When are we Peter, entrenched in fear and denial? Or the women who pretend to be solicitous, but really don't care about the plight of anyone outside their own lives? When do we willingly follow Jesus and accept the role of the scapegoat, humbling ourselves and following God's call?

Once again we have the opportunity to evaluate our own lives compared to the best, the worst, and those in between, during the most important event of human history. We have the opportunity to sincerely evaluate our lives and accept a better path. Are we willing to follow the path of Jesus, the Way of the Cross?

Lectionary readings for Holy Week:

We just could not pick one set of readings as our main focus this week. Every day's reading prepares us, step by step, for the Easter Triduum. We decided not to miss a single one.

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday Isaiah speaks of the Suffering Servant; the promises and prophecies of the Old Testament inspire us as we anticipate their fulfillment in Jesus. Likewise, each day the Gospel tension builds. Monday we hear Jesus reprimand Judas for his insincere financial choices; meanwhile, the authorities are planning to kill Lazarus as well as Jesus to squelch the faith of believers. Tuesday we hear Jesus' prediction of betrayal by His closest friends. Then, on Wednesday, we become witnesses to the betrayal.

Holy Thursday we hear the salvation story, from the first Passover at the time of the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, to the new Passover, the Last Supper of Jesus when He instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist.

Good Friday we hear the triumph of Isaiah's Suffering Servant, followed by the Passion of Our Lord.

Holy Saturday is a day of waiting. It is a time for reflection on the scripture passages we've read all week, and an anticipation of the Easter miracle.

We hope you will take special time each day throughout Holy Week to read and reflect on the last days of the Incarnation.