Category: Christ

CATHOLIC FAITHWATCH: “EASTER VIGIL HOMILY OF THE HOLY FATHER [SAINT] JOHN PAUL II, Holy Saturday, 14 April 2001” – VaticanVa

Catholic, Catholic Faith, Christ, Easter, Headlines, Jesus, Resurrection, Saint Pope John Paul II
Saint Pope John Paul II file photo, adapted from image at archives.gov

“1. ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has Risen’ (Lk 24:5). … the two men dressed ‘in dazzling apparel’ rekindle the hope of the women who … rushed to the tomb …. They … experienced the tragic events culminating in Christ’s crucifixion … the sadness and the confusion. In the hour of trial … they had not abandoned their Lord. They go secretly to the place where Jesus was buried in order to see Him again and embrace Him one last time. … moved by love, that same love that led them to follow him through the byways of Galilee and Judea, all the way to Calvary.  What blessed women! They did not yet know that this was the dawn of the most important day of history. … that they … would be the first witnesses of Jesus’ Resurrection.
 
2. “They found the stone rolled away from the tomb” (Lk 24:2). … ‘… they did not find the Body …’ …. In one brief moment, everything changes. Jesus ‘is not here, but has Risen.’ This announcement … chang[ing] the sadness of these pious women into joy, re-echoes with changeless eloquence throughout the Church in … this Easter Vigil. … the mother of all vigils, during which the whole Church waits at the Tomb of the Messiah, Sacrificed on the Cross. The Church waits and prays, listening again to the Scriptures that retrace the whole of salvation history. … it is not darkness that dominates but the blinding brightness of a sudden light that breaks through with the starling news of the Lord’s Resurrection. Our waiting and our prayer then become a song of joy …. [H]istory is completely turned around: death gives way to life, a life that dies no more. … Christ ‘by dying destroyed our death, by rising restored our life.’ … the Truth that we proclaim with our words … above all with our lives. He whom the women thought was dead is Alive. Their experience becomes our experience. …
 
3. … O Vigil … you disclose the very heart of our Christian existence! … O Christ, how can we fail to thank you for the Ineffable Gift … you lavish upon us? The Mystery of your Death and Resurrection descends into the Baptismal Waters that receive the old, carnal man and make him pure with divine youthfulness. … Jesus lives and we live in Him. For ever. … This Vigil makes us part of a day that knows no end. The day of Christ’s Passover, which for humanity is the beginning of a renewed springtime of hope. …”

Click here for: “EASTER VIGIL HOMILY OF THE HOLY FATHER [SAINT] JOHN PAUL II, Holy Saturday, 14 April 2001” – VaticanVa

View of St. Peter's Basilica at Vatican from River

[featured images are file photos]

, , , , ,

CATHOLIC FAITHLINK: “Seeing and Believing: Scott Hahn Reflects on Easter Sunday” – St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology

Catholic, Catholic Faith, Christ, Easter, Headlines, Resurrection
Jesus and Mary Magdalene After Resurrection, adapted from image at loc.gov

“… We are the children of the apostolic witnesses. That is why we still gather early in the morning on the first day of every week to celebrate this feast of the empty tomb, give thanks for ‘Christ our life,’ as today’s Epistle calls Him. Baptized into His death and Resurrection, we live the heavenly life of the risen Christ, our lives ‘hidden with Christ in God.’ We are now His witnesses, too. But we testify to things we cannot see but only believe; we seek in earthly things what is above. …”

, , , , ,

CATHOLIC FAITHLINK: “Biblical Basics about Mother Mary – A Homily for the Second Sunday of the Year” – Msgr. Charles Pope/ Archdiocese of Washington

Catholic, Catholic Faith, Christ, Faith Links, Headlines, Mary
File Photo of Statue of Mary As Our Lady of Fatima

“In this Sunday’s Gospel passage of the wedding feast at Cana, there is a theological portrait of both Mother Mary and prayer. …”

, , , , , , , ,

[PDF] CATHOLIC FAITHLINK: “[Homily for the] 2nd Sunday of Year – Cycle C” – Fr. Joseph Jensen, Saint Anselm’s Abbey

Catholic, Catholic Faith, Christ, Faith Links, Headlines, Jesus, Miracles
File Photo of Saint Anselm's Abbey in Washington, D.C., adapted from image at wikimedia commons by Farragutful, subject to Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

“… ‘Today the Bridegroom claims his bride, the Church, since Christ has washed her sins away in Jordan’s waters; the Magi hasten with their gifts to the royal wedding; and the wedding guests rejoice, for Christ has changed water into wine, alleluia.’ The full manifestation of our Savior includes also His baptism (last Sunday), which is presented as His acquisition of the Church as His bride. But there was also Jesus first miracle; and John
concludes this account by declaring, “Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.’ It is well worth looking in more detail at this gospel, so closely related to the Epiphany theme and so instructive about Our Lady as intercessor. …”

, , , , , , ,

CATHOLIC FAITHWATCH: “Jesus Does Not Go into the Water Alone; He Takes Us with Him – A Reflection on the Baptism of the Lord” – Msgr. Charles Pope/ Archdiocese of Washington

Baptism of the Lord, Catholic, Catholic Faith, Christ, Faithwatch, Headlines
River Jordan file photo, adapted from image at loc.gov

“… In an extended sense, when Christ is baptized, so are we, for we are members of His Body. As Christ enters the water, He makes Holy the water that will Baptize us. He enters the water and we follow. In these waters, He acquires Gifts to give us. … The Fraternity of Baptism … Even though He never sinned, Jesus identifies with sinners. … Praise God, Jesus is not ashamed to be found in our presence and to share a brotherhood with us. * * * The Foreshadowing of our Baptism – … Jesus does not enter the water alone. He takes us with Him … [as] members of His Body. … [W]e are delivered from the slavery to sin as the column of Christ’s Body leads us through the waters of Baptism. God’s righteousness is His fidelity to His promises. In His Baptism and all it signifies (His death and resurrection), Jesus has come to fulfill all righteousness ….

The Four Gifts of Baptism – … Heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove. … a Voice came from Heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I AM well pleased.’ … when Jesus goes into the water, we go with Him. … He acquires four gifts on our behalf: 1. Access – The heavens are opened. … 2. Anointing – The Spirit of God Descends on Him like a dove. … Jesus acquires the Gift of the Holy Spirit for us. 3. Acknowledgment – You are my beloved Son. Jesus receives this acknowledgment from His Father for the faith of those who heard it and to acquire this gift for us. In our own Baptism we become the children of God. … 4. Approval – With you I am well pleased. Jesus had always pleased His Father, but now He acquires this Gift for us …. Our own Baptism gives us Sanctifying Grace, the grace to be Holy and pleasing to God. …”

Click here for: “Jesus Does Not Go into the Water Alone; He Takes Us with Him – A Reflection on the Baptism of the Lord” – Msgr. Charles Pope/ Archdiocese of Washington

 

, , , , ,

CATHOLIC FAITHLINK: “Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus” – USCCB

Catholic, Catholic Devotions, Catholic Faith, Christ, Faith Links, Headlines, Jesus
Christ the King Historic Image Print For Planned Stained Glass Window, adapted from image at loc.gov

Lord, have mercy
Lord, have mercy

Christ, have mercy
Christ, have mercy

Lord, have mercy
Lord, have mercy

God our Father in heaven
have mercy on us

God the Son,
have mercy on us

Redeemer of the world
have mercy on us

God the Holy Spirit
have mercy on us

Holy Trinity, one God
have mercy on us

Jesus, Son of the living God
have mercy on us

Jesus, splendor of the Father
have mercy on us

Jesus, brightness of everlasting light
have mercy on us

Jesus, king of glory
have mercy on us

Jesus, dawn of justice
have mercy on us

Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary
have mercy on us

Jesus, worthy of our love
have mercy on us

Jesus, worthy of our wonder
have mercy on us

Jesus, mighty God
have mercy on us

Jesus, father of the world to come
have mercy on us

Jesus, prince of peace
have mercy on us

Jesus, all-powerful
have mercy on us

Jesus, pattern of patience
have mercy on us

Jesus, model of obedience
have mercy on us

Jesus, gentle and humble of heart
have mercy on us

Jesus, lover of chastity
have mercy on us

Jesus, lover of us all
have mercy on us

Jesus, God of peace
have mercy on us

Jesus, author of life
have mercy on us

Jesus, model of goodness

have mercy on us

Jesus, seeker of souls

have mercy on us

Jesus, our God

have mercy on us

Jesus, our refuge

have mercy on us

Jesus, father of the poor

have mercy on us

Jesus, treasure of the faithful

have mercy on us

Jesus, Good Shepherd

have mercy on us

Jesus, the true light

have mercy on us

Jesus, eternal wisdom

have mercy on us

Jesus, infinite goodness

have mercy on us

Jesus, our way and our life

have mercy on us

Jesus, joy of angels

have mercy on us

Jesus, king of patriarchs

have mercy on us

Jesus, teacher of apostles

have mercy on us

Jesus, master of evangelists

have mercy on us

Jesus, courage of martyrs

have mercy on us

Jesus, light of confessors

have mercy on us

Jesus, purity of virgins

have mercy on us

Jesus, crown of all saints

have mercy on us

Lord, be merciful

Jesus, save your people

From all evil

Jesus, save your people

From every sin

Jesus, save your people

From the snares of the devil

Jesus, save your people

From your anger

Jesus, save your people

From the spirit of infidelity

Jesus, save your people

From everlasting death

Jesus, save your people

From neglect of your Holy Spirit

Jesus, save your people

By the mystery of your incarnation

Jesus, save your people

By your birth

Jesus, save your people

By your childhood

Jesus, save your people

By your hidden life

Jesus, save your people

By your public ministry

Jesus, save your people

By your agony and crucifixion

Jesus, save your people

By your abandonment

Jesus, save your people

By your grief and sorrow

Jesus, save your people

By your death and burial

Jesus, save your people

By your rising to new life

Jesus, save your people

By your return in glory to the Father

Jesus, save your people

By your gift of the holy Eucharist

Jesus, save your people

By your joy and glory

Jesus, save your-people

Christ, hear us

Christ, hear us

Lord Jesus, hear our prayer

Lord Jesus, hear our prayer

Lamb of God, you take away

the sins of the world

have mercy on us

Lamb of God, you take away

the sins of the world

have mercy on us

Lamb of God, you take away

the sins of the world

have mercy on us

, , , , ,

CATHOLIC FAITHLINK: “Midnight Mass Homily 2004 – Saint Pope John Paul II” – VaticanVa

Christ, Christmas, Eucharist, Faith Links, Headlines, Incarnation, Infant Jesus, Jesus, Jesus Christ: God the Son
Saint Pope John Paul II file photo, adapted from image at archives.gov

“… In the Son of the Virgin, ‘wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger’ (Lk 2:12), we acknowledge and adore ‘the Bread which came down from heaven’ (Jn 6:41, 51), the Redeemer who came among us in order to bring life to the world. [] Bethlehem! The city where Jesus was born in fulfilment of the Scriptures, in Hebrew means ‘house of bread.’ It was there that the Messiah was to be born, the One who would say of Himself: ‘I AM the Bread of Life’ (Jn 6:35, 48). In Bethehem was born the One who, under the sign of broken bread, would leave us the memorial of his Pasch. On this Holy Night, adoration of the Child Jesus becomes Eucharistic adoration. …”

, , , , , , , , ,

CATHOLIC FAITHLINK: “Preparing our Hearts for Mystery in Advent” – Archdiocese of Washington/ Msgr. Charles Pope

Advent, Catholic, Catholic Faith, Christ, Faith Links, Headlines, Incarnation
Nativity Scene Statuary at Church

“As we look toward Christmas and ponder the Incarnation, we ought to remember that so profound was truth of the incarnation that the early Church fell to her knees at these words: ‘and He was incarnate by the Holy Spirit, from the virgin Mary, and became man.’ This act of falling to one’s knees at these words is still practiced in the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite; in the ordinary form, we are asked to bow. These gestures acknowledge the profound mystery of the truth of the Incarnation. How does the infinite enter the finite? How does He, whom the very heavens cannot contain, enter the womb of Mary. How can He, who holds all creation together in Himself, be held in Mary’s arms? …”

, , , , ,

CATHOLIC FAITHLINK: “Homily of Saint Pope John Paul II, Eucharistic Celebration for the Feast of Christ The King, Sunday, 23 November 1997” – VaticanVa

Catholic, Catholic Faith, Christ, Christ the King, Faith Links, Headlines
Saint Pope John Paul II file photo, adapted from image at archives.gov

“… He, the obedient Servant, is King because He has ‘the keys of death and Hades’ (Rv 1:18). And, because He is the conqueror of death, hell and Satan, He is “the ruler of kings on earth” (Rv 1:5). In fact, everything on earth is subject to death. Instead, He who has power over death opens the prospect of immortal life to all humanity. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the Fulfilment of all Creation (cf. Rv 1:8), so that every generation can repeat: Blessed is His Kingdom that is coming (cf. Mk 11:10). …”

, , , , , , , , , ,

CATHOLIC FAITHLINK: [PDF] Homily for Solemnity of Christ the King 2015 – Saint Anselm’s Abbey/ Fr. Joseph Jensen

Catholic, Catholic Faith, Christ, Christ the King, Faith Links
Christ the King Historic Image Print For Planned Stained Glass Window, adapted from image at loc.gov

“… rather than being a conclusion to what had gone before, it should rather be a beginning, a beginning of where we go from here. Jesus did not come simply to be crowned king of the universe; He came to establish the kingdom of God. When He said, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand,’ we must understand that ‘at hand’ in terms of God’s Eternity, according to which one day is a thousand years and a thousand years a day. …”

, , , , , , , , ,
1 2 3 … 8