Spiritual

April 16, 2022 The culmination: The Great Easter Vigil Tonight, “when heaven joins with earth”, we celebrate the greatest liturgy of the whole year—The Great Easter Vigil. There is nothing to compare with this liturgy! St. Augustine called this Vigil, “The Mother of all Vigils”, and he should know because he was a convert, and […]

April 16, 2022 There is no Mass today until sundown. We continue to wait and pray and ponder. On this day, we should take several moments to rest in the tomb with our Lord. If we have had a good Lent, then we have died to harsh words, quick temper, selfish behavior, cigarettes, alcohol, or

April 15, 2022 Good Friday Several times in the Gospels, Jesus tells his disciples about his death. He warns them that he will suffer torture, be abandoned, and put to death. Today we remember the day his prophecies came true. Today is the only day of the Church’s calendar on which no Mass is celebrated.

April 14, 2022 The season of Lent ends with the setting of the sun and we begin the Triduum with Holy Thursday. The readings for today are the same every year. We celebrate the dual meaning of today—Eucharist and Service. First, we read from the Book of Exodus about the Passover—how the Israelites readied themselves

April 13, 2022 As the tone turns darker still, we are given yet another excerpt from the Suffering Servant Songs of the prophet Isaiah. The servant uses his “well-trained tongue” “to speak a word” that will rouse the people. For this he will be tortured. The psalmist calls out in torment because he has become

April 12, 2022 “The Lord called me from birth, from my mother’s womb” announces the prophet Isaiah in another excerpt from his Suffering Servant Songs in today’s reading. The Psalmist declares, “On You I depend from birth, from my mother’s womb You are my strength.” We know from the Infancy narratives of Matthew and Luke,

April 11, 2022 The wheels are in motion. Today’s readings are propelling us toward Good Friday. Isaiah’s Suffering Servant Song is the first reading. This servant is so concerned about all including even those with the smallest amount of faith. He will encourage that faith as one shelters a smoldering wick and treasures a bruised

Palm Sunday April 10, 2022 Today we enter into the most sacred week of our year—Holy Week. Palm Sunday is the first of many solemn liturgies that will follow Jesus’ final days leading up to his crucifixion and resurrection. We begin today with Luke’s account of how Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem as a king.

April 9, 2022 God makes the wonderful promise again today in the Book of Ezekiel that he will be our God and we will be his people. Another promise is made that a single shepherd will lead God’s people, keeping them safe from temptation by other gods. In today’s canticle, we are not presented with