This year’s Holy Week may be marked by a blood-red moon

by Doug Lawrence

And going out, he went, according to his custom, to the Mount of Olives. And his disciples also followed him. And when he was come to the place, he said to them: Pray, lest ye enter into temptation. And he was withdrawn away from them a stone’s cast. And kneeling down, he prayed. Saying: Father, if thou wilt, remove this chalice from me: but yet not my will, but thine be done. And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony, he prayed the longer. And his sweat became as drops of blood, trickling down upon the ground. (Luke 22:39-44)

A lunar eclipse has long been a regular feature of Passover and Easter, as Passover has always been marked by a phase of the lunar cycle.

In the passage above, we read of Jesus’ sweat looking like drops of blood, as they trickled down to the ground.

I’m not one to try to rationalize miracles, but I’ve never been convinced there ever was a miracle here, since drops of sweat, illuminated by the subdued light of a blood-red, fully eclipsed moon, would indeed naturally appear as blood, especially if moonlight provided the only available illumination.

Another interesting thing about a lunar eclipse – you can’t have things both ways. It’s impossible to have a (natural) solar eclipse the day after a (natural) lunar eclipse, since everything in the heavens is totally out of phase. Plus – natural solar eclipses don’t last for three hours – and they’re not visible across the whole earth. That would make the darkness that covered the whole earth from noon to 3 on Good Friday, truly supernatural! 

And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole earth until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying: Eloi, Eloi, lamma sabacthani? Which is, being interpreted: My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken me? (Mark 15:33-34)

This was also a prophetic and very specific fulfillment of Old Testament sacred scripture:

And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord God, that the sun shall go down at midday, and I will make the earth dark in the day of light: And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation: and I will bring up sackcloth upon every back of yours, and baldness upon every head: and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the latter end thereof as a bitter day. (Amos 8:9-10)

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8 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About ‘The Passion of the Christ’ Movie

Upon the 10-year anniversary of its release, here are 8 things you might not know about Gibson’s moving, challenging masterpiece.

1. Some of the source material is controversial, too.
One of the main inspirations for co-screenwriters Mel Gibson and Benedict Fitzgerald was “The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ,” a tale in which poet Clemens Brentano chronicles the (supposed) visions of stigmatic German nun Anne Catherine Emmerich (1774-1824).

While it’s been speculated that Brentano wrote most of the book himself, with a Vatican investigation concluding that “it is absolutely not certain that [Emmerich] ever wrote this,” the book inspired some of the most striking images in the film, including the suspension of Jesus over the bridge after he’s first taken into custody, the torment of Judas by demons, Mary’s wiping up the blood of Jesus from the ground after his scourging and the dislocation of Jesus’ right shoulder so that his hand could reach the hole for the nail on the cross.

7 More

How and why salvation works

Gates: ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ fight was only time Obama showed ‘passion’ for military issues

Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates sharply questions President Obama’s “passion” for military matters in his forthcoming memoir, and claims that practically the only time he saw that in the president was during his push to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

Link

The Seven Last Words of Jesus, On the Cross

Jesus died on the Cross to redeem mankind, to save us from our sins, because he loves us.
He was mocked, scorned, and tortured in the praetorium; carried his cross up the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem to Calvary, nailed to the Cross, hung between two common criminals, and suffered an indescribable end.

One may meditate on the Passion of Christ by contemplating his last Seven Words or through the Way of the Cross.

When religious pilgrimages to the Holy Land were prevented by military occupation of Jerusalem, a popular devotion known as the Way of the Cross arose during Lent, fourteen stations retracing the Passion, Crucifixion, Death, and Burial of Jesus.

The Seven Words are the last seven expressions of Jesus on the Cross as recorded in Scripture.

Some Light Lenten Reading On The Passion of Jesus Christ

(click any graphic to enlarge)

Read “The Passion Behind the Passion”

Reflections on Good Friday and the Passion of Jesus Christ

The coming of the Son of God to die for us, so sins could be forgiven,
is history’s greatest love story.

In that singular event, the Law, free will, good, evil, faith, grace,
and most importantly, God Himself
acted to bring about the salvation of the world.

It happened in a way that most never expected …
that billions still refuse to accept
and many more do not fully understand.

It happened for the benefit of mankind
and for the glory of God …
and it was good!

Novena in Preparation for the Feast of CORPUS CHRISTI

Novena in Preparation for the Feast of CORPUS CHRISTI

I thank Thee, Jesus, my Divine Redeemer, for coming upon this earth for our salvation, and for instituting the august Sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist in order to remain with us until the end of the world.

I thank Thee for hiding beneath the Eucharistic species Thy infinite majesty and beauty, which Thy Angels delight to behold, so that I might have courage to approach the throne of Thy Mercy.

I thank Thee, most loving Jesus, for having made Thyself my food, and for uniting me to Thyself with so much love in this wonderful Sacrament that I may live in Thee.

I thank Thee, my Jesus, for giving Thyself to me in this Most Blessed Sacrament, and so enriching it with the treasures of Thy love that Thou hast no greater gift to give me.

I thank Thee not only for becoming my food but also for offering Thyself as a continual sacrifice to Thy Eternal Father for my salvation.

I thank Thee, Divine Priest, for offering Thyself as a Sacrifice daily upon our altars in adoration and homage to the Most Blessed Trinity, and for making amends for our poor and miserable adorations.

I thank Thee for renewing in this daily Sacrifice the actual propitiatory Sacrifice of the Cross offered on Calvary, in which Thou satisfiest Divine justice for us poor sinners.

I thank Thee, dear Jesus, for having become the priceless Victim to merit for me the fullness of Heavenly favors. Awaken in me such confidence in Thee that their fullness may descend ever more fruitfully upon my soul and let me always be worthy of Thee.

I thank Thee for offering Thyself in thanksgiving to God for all His benefits, spiritual and temporal, which He hath bestowed upon me. In union with Thine offering of Thyself to Thy Father in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, I ask for this special favor:

(Mention your petition here)

If it be Thy holy Will, grant my request. Through Thee I also hope to receive the grace of perseverance in Thy love and faithful service, a holy death, and a happy eternity with Thee in Heaven. Amen.

O Lord, Thou hast given us this Sacred Banquet, in which Christ is received, the memory of His Passion is renewed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us who are worthy of Thee. Thou hast given them bread from Heaven. Having all sweetness within.

Let us pray.

God our Father, for Thy glory and our salvation Thou appointed Jesus Christ eternal High Priest. May the souls He gained for Thee by His Blood come to share in the power of His Cross and Resurrection by celebrating His Memorial in this Most Blessed Sacrament, for He liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, forever. Amen.

O Jesus, since Thou hast left us a remembrance of Thy Passion beneath the veils of this Sacrament, grant us, we pray, so to venerate the sacred mysteries of Thy Body and Blood that we may always enjoy the fruits of Thy Redemption through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Submitted by Doria2

Recommended Good Friday Devotion: The Stations of the Cross

The Passion Behind the Passion – Lenten Book Selection

              
The coming of the Son of God to die for us, so sins could be forgiven,
is history’s greatest love story.
    

 In that singular event, the Law, free will, good, evil, faith, grace,
and most importantly, God Himself,
acted to bring about the salvation of the world.
    

It happened in a way that most never expected …
that billions still refuse to accept
 and many more do not fully understand.
    

It happened for the benefit of mankind
 and for the glory of God …
and it was good!   

The Passion Behind the Passion

by Doug Lawrence

“Correlates the Bible and the Catholic catechism with the best in redemption theology, from St. Augustine through the Scholastics, and ties it all together, using popular concepts from the hit movie,
“The Passion of the Christ”.

          

T A B L E   O F  C O N T E N T S

 

1 Larceny In the Garden 

Creation was almost certainly the greatest “Family” Craft Project of all time (our time, not God’s time). As near as we can tell, God the Father served as “design architect”, God the Son, who would, interestingly enough, become a carpenter during His human life on earth, served as “craftsman” (John 1:3 “All things were made by Him”) and the Holy Spirit provided all the necessary “power”.
 

 

2 Living In Sin

One only needs to look around to see that every evil in the world is the result of sin. Despite 21st century advances in science, medicine and technology, sin remains as mankind’s
“public enemy number one”.

 

 

3 Free Will, Faith & Redemption

People ask, “If God is all powerful, why didn’t He simply destroy Satan, forgive Adam and save Himself (and all of us)
a lot of trouble?” 

 

 

4 Fine Points of Redemption

Satan, blinded by pride, made a number of mistakes.  

First, he actually believed that he could overthrow God.  Next, Satan believed that he could cause God to change His “mind” and alter the divine plan that He (God) had ordained for creation. Finally (probably in a desperate effort to avoid hell) Satan thought he could cleverly appropriate for himself, all of man’s God-given gifts … and that he might actually be allowed to keep them. 

 

5 Ushering In The Kingdom

 

The “Kingdom of God” is a state of being which exists any time and any place the Holy Spirit accepts an invitation to take up residence
in a human soul.

   

 

6 Hello God. Nice To Meet Ya!

God has a Holy Name and He wants you to know it.

 

7 Yahweh’s Savior

When Yahweh, (I AM) the Eternal God, who knows the end from the beginning, chose to create all things, He knew that man would sin (separating himself from God). He also knew that, left to our own devices, mankind would never be able to make things right again.

  

 

8 Proof Jesus Is God

For those of us living today, excellent proofs can be found using PROPHECY and HISTORY.

 

9 Jesus Speaks

 

The four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) provide us with an extraordinary, divinely inspired collection of literary “snapshots” of the life of Jesus. From conception, birth and childhood, to public life, death, resurrection and ascension, the life of Jesus is a matter of history and is no longer seriously disputed by anyone. Even our modern calendar is based on the year of His birth.

10 The Spirit of Truth

 

We know the Holy Spirit as the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. He is the “Mighty Wind” who swept across the waters of the young earth, and the “Breath of Life” who introduced
Adam to his soul.

 

11 Mary, Universal Mom

The Blessed Virgin Mary came from a good family. Her father (Joachim) was a descendent of King David, and her mother (Anna) was descended from Aaron, the line of priests. Jesus then, possesses a human lineage that is completely appropriate for Messiah.

Even as a man, Jesus is both priest and king.

 

 

12 The One True Church

The Catholic Church is the one and only Church that was founded by Jesus Christ, the Eternal Word, the Lamb of God, and the second Person of the Holy Trinity. It was founded to replace the religious system of the Old Covenant and its’ reliance on animal sacrifice and keeping the Mosaic Law, with a better system, the New Covenant, which relies solely on the merits of the perfect, sacrificial death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and the faith of his church.

 

13 Jesus, God Man

The Apostle John, known as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”, became the last of the Apostles, the sole survivor, elder “churchman” and the world’s only remaining eyewitness for Christ.  

He spoke of his closest friend, a marvelous, Spirit-filled man who was God Himself, come down from heaven in the flesh, to save mankind: Jesus, the Lamb, the risen Christ. John spoke also of their mother, Mary. After all, it was Jesus himself, who, moments before He died, entrusted His mother to John’s care …

 

14 Apostles and Priests

In the Gospels we meet the Disciples (followers) of Jesus, ordinary people from every walk of life who, by the grace of God, were able to recognize the divinity in Him. Jesus certainly was a very unusual man, fearlessly speaking out with power and authority against the corruption and evils of those days, never failing to condemn sin while quickly forgiving repentant sinners.

 

15 The Pope

One of the hallmarks of the Catholic faith is our belief that the Pope is God’s designated and true representative on earth. Firmly rooted in Scripture and confirmed from the earliest times by Apostolic Tradition, the primacy of Simon Peter, “the Rock”, whose office and authority lives on today in our current Pope, remains the solid earthly foundation on which the Catholic Church is built.

 

16 End Times

Revelation 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded the trumpet: and there were great voices in heaven, saying: The kingdom of this world is become our Lord’s and his Christ’s, and he shall reign
forever and ever.

 

17 Scriptures for the End

Psalm 58:3-58:8 The wicked are alienated from the womb; they have gone astray from the womb: they have spoken false things. Their madness is according to the likeness of a serpent: like the deaf asp that stoppeth her ears: Which will not hear the voice of the charmers; nor of the wizard that charmeth wisely. God shall break in pieces their teeth in their mouth: the Lord shall break the grinders of the lions. They shall come to nothing, like water running down; he hath bent his bow till they be weakened. Like wax that melteth they shall be taken away: fire hath fallen on them, and they shall not see the sun.

 

18 What Do We Do Now?

Based on the totality of Tradition, Scripture, and the constant teaching of the Church, from the earliest days, I can conclude that there is only one way to salvation.

 

…………………………..

Inspired by the movie The Passion of the Christ directed by Mel Gibson,
which was adapted for the screen from the original work
of the Venerable Anne Catherine Emmerich.

Book Selection: “The Passion Behind the Passion”

Book Selection: “The Passion Behind the Passion”

By: Doug Lawrence, 2004

A thoroughly Catholic study of “The Peculiar Theology of Redemption”.

Inspired by the movie, “The Passion of the Christ”.

The amazing, true story of the supernatural love behind the Passion and death of Christ, including an in-depth reexamination of the foundations of our faith. 

In an effort to understand precisely how Christ’s death on the cross, at the hands of men, actually served to redeem mankind, to determine precisely why it was necessary for Jesus to so grieviously suffer, and to discover the reason(s) why only the Son of God could do the job, the author pulls together 2000 years of authentic Christian theology, along with the writings of St. Augustine, St. Anselm, St. Thomas Aquinas, and others. Then, he painstakingly correlates all the information with the Gospels, and with the Catholic Catechism, adds a host of interesting, little known Bible facts and commentary, and illustrates it all with classic 19th century Bible art.

An easy read. A great, and absolutely true story.  For all ages. 241 pages. Letter size, loose leaf format. Available from AskMeAboutGod.Org for $20.00.   

The reader should come away with a fresh and more practical perspective on the Christian faith, and a greater appreciation for the Church, the Priesthood, the Mass, the Holy Eucharist, and for God, whose total self-giving for our salvation, made it all possible.

Key concepts: 

Why we all need redemption. Exactly how it works.

How can God’s own death, at our hands, pay a debt we owe to Him?

The surprising role of the Church.

Why our children continue to be born with original sin.

Where is it written? By whom? When?

How this present world age will come to an end, some day.

Special Screening: “The Passion of the Christ” – Palm Sunday afternoon

On March 16, Palm Sunday afternoon, at 4 PM in the church hall,
ACT … the Youth Ministry at Our Lady of Peace, in Darien, will be showing “The Passion of the Christ”.

Our Lady of Peace is located about 1/2 mile east of the intersection of Plainfield Road and 75th street, at 701 W. Plainfield Road, Darien, Illinois, 60551.  

Admission is free. All are welcome.

Join us for 7:00 PM Mass, after the movie.