“When faced with choices in life, do you tend to pursue what is most noble – what will form you in excellence and benefit others most? Or do you tend to shy away from things that may push you out of your comfort zone – even if they are good for you – either because you fear failure or because you tend to avoid doing what is difficult and challenging?…”
Read more of Dr. Edward Sri’s article on the Virtue of Magnanimity!
Looking for a great do-it-yourself retreat?
Check out Fr. Michael Gaitley’s 33 Days to Morning Glory, a preparation for Marian Consecration.
“From Fr. Michael E. Gaitley, MIC, author of the bestselling book Consoling the Heart of Jesus, comes an extraordinary 33-day journey to Marian consecration with four giants of Marian spirituality: St. Louis de Montfort, St. Maximilian Kolbe, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, and Blessed John Paul II. Fr. Michael masterfully summarizes their teaching, making it easy to grasp and simple enough to put into practice. More specifically, he weaves their thought into a user-friendly, do-it-yourself retreat that will bless even the busiest of people. So, if you’ve been thinking about entrusting yourself to Mary for the first time or if you’re simply looking to deepen and renew your devotion to her, 33 Days to Morning Glory is the right book to read and the perfect retreat to make.” (Amazon.com)
Do you have the strength to pursue your faith despite ridicule from others?
Do you have a devotion to Our Blessed Mother?
Take a few minutes to learn more about this wonderful saint, Bernadetter Soubirous of Lourdes. Her example of faith and love of Our Lady is truly a model for us to follow.
St. Bernadette, pray for us!
Easter Exsultet
Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing, choirs of angels!
Exult, all creation around God’s throne!
Jesus Christ, our King, is risen!
Sound the trumpet of salvation!
Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendor,
radiant in the brightness of your King!
Christ has conquered! Glory fills you!
Darkness vanishes for ever!
Rejoice, O Mother Church! Exult in glory!
The risen Savior shines upon you!
Let this place resound with joy,
echoing the mighty song of all God’s people!
My dearest friends,
standing with me in this holy light,
join me in asking God for mercy,
that he may give his unworthy minister
grace to sing his Easter praises.
Deacon: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Deacon: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Deacon: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.
It is truly right that with full hearts and minds and voices
we should praise the unseen God, the all-powerful Father,
and his only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
For Christ has ransomed us with his blood,
and paid for us the price of Adam’s sin to our eternal Father!
This is our passover feast,
when Christ, the true Lamb, is slain,
whose blood consecrates the homes of all believers.
This is the night
when first you saved our fathers:
you freed the people of Israel from their slavery
and led them dry-shod through the sea.
This is the night
when the pillar of fire destroyed the darkness of sin!
This is the night
when Christians everywhere,
washed clean of sin and freed from all defilement,
are restored to grace and grow together in holiness.
This is the night
when Jesus Christ broke the chains of death
and rose triumphant from the grave.
What good would life have been to us,
had Christ not come as our Redeemer?
Father, how wonderful your care for us!
How boundless your merciful love!
To ransom a slave you gave away your Son.
O happy fault,
O necessary sin of Adam,
which gained for us so great a Redeemer!
Most blessed of all nights,
chosen by God to see Christ rising from the dead!
Of this night scripture says:
“The night will be as clear as day:
it will become my light, my joy.”
The power of this holy night dispels all evil,
washes guilt away, restores lost innocence,
brings mourners joy;
it casts out hatred, brings us peace,
and humbles earthly pride.
Night truly blessed when heaven is wedded to earth
and man is reconciled with God!
Therefore, heavenly Father,
in the joy of this night,
receive our evening sacrifice of praise,
your Church’s solemn offering.
Accept this Easter candle,
a flame divided but undimmed,
a pillar of fire that glows to the honor of God.
Let it mingle with the lights of heaven
and continue bravely burning
to dispel the darkness of this night!
May the Morning Star which never sets
find this flame still burning:
Christ, that Morning Star,
who came back from the dead,
and shed his peaceful light on all mankind,
your Son, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Amen.
CCH Theological Advisory Board Member Dr. Peter Kreeft writes about Jesus’ concept of happiness:
To our desire for wealth, Christ says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” To our desire for painlessness, he says, “Blessed are those who mourn.” To our desire for conquest, he says, “Blessed are the meek.” To our desire for contentment with ourselves, he says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” To our desire for justice, he says, “Blessed are the merciful.” To our desire for sex, he says, “Blessed are the pure in heart.” To our desire for conquest, he says, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” To our desire for acceptance, he says, “Blessed are the persecuted.” And to our desire for more life, he offers the Cross. And now this man carrying his cross to Calvary even dares to tell us, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Read more of his article.
How are you striving for the kind of happiness Christ wants for you?
It’s the Lenten Season, and with it comes special devotions…like the Stations of the Cross.
Do you know the origin of the Stations? Learn more about it here.
Perhaps you can make a commitment to praying the Stations of the Cross this Lent. Check with your local parish too, as many churches pray the Stations of the Cross together on Fridays!
Looking to grow in the knowledge of your Catholic faith this Lent?
Check out Catholic Answers Live podcasts! You will learn so much about how to defend your faith by listening to the apologetic topics. The Catholic Answers Live program helps you stay informed of Catholic news and ways to grow in your spirituality.
Listen online and share with friends!
Why does the Catholic Church believe in Purgatory?
Find the answer here!
Refer your friends to our website, CatholicsComeHome.org, to find more answers to their questions about the Catholic faith!
“I have told you these things so that you will have peace in Me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage! I have conquered the world.” John 16:33
What troubles are you facing in life right now? Are you letting those worries and trials keep you from maintaining your interior peace? God is bigger than those burdens…He has conquered them! Do not allow yourself to lose peace, for the devil knows that you are at your weakest when he has caused you to lose the interior peace you have in Christ. God promises us he has everything under His control. Trust in that.
Challenge: What concrete things can you do this week to cultivate peace in your life?
Find the answer here.
“The Church recognizes herself to be bound by this choice made by the Lord himself. For this reason the ordination of women is not possible” (CCC 1577).
