Easter
Feast of the Resurrection The joy and exultation over this greatest of all Christian feasts is evident in the writings of the saints and Fathers from earliest times. Easter is referred to as the “peak (akropolis) of all feasts” and the “Queen of all solemnities.” Saint Gregory of Nazianz (390) wrote, “This highest Feast and […]
Holy Season of Lent
Colin B. Donovan, STL Fast and Abstinence. It is a traditional doctrine of Christian spirituality that a constituent part of repentance, of turning away from sin and back to God, includes some form of penance, without which the Christian is unlikely to remain on the narrow path and be saved (Jer 18:11, 25:5; Ez 18:30, […]
Removing Holy Water Fonts during Lent
CONGREGATION DE CULTU DIVINO ET DISCIPLINA SACRAMENTORUM Prot. N. 569/00/L Dear Father: March 14, 2000 This Congregation for Divine Worship has received your letter sent by fax in which you ask whether it is in accord with liturgical law to remove the Holy Water from the fonts for the duration of the season of Lent. […]
Lenten Traditions within the Home
The Catholic Church has designated the liturgical season of Lent to be a period of 40 days, not including Sundays. It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends with Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday. It is a period of fasting and self-denial, for we imitate Christ’s fasting for 40 days and 40 nights before […]
The Origins of Lent
Fr. William P. Saunders, PhD Lent is a special time of prayer, penance, sacrifice and good works in preparation of the celebration of Easter. In the desire to renew the liturgical practices of the Church, The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of Vatican Council II stated, “The two elements which are especially characteristic of Lent […]
Prayer of petition to live well the holy season of Lent
Lord, during this holy season of Lent, I ask you for your help. You have said: “Be converted to me with all your heart” (Joel 2:12). I hunger to do your will. I long to please you in all that I think and say and do. During Lent I want to grow in my love […]
Meatless Friday.
Victor R. Claveau, MJ Contrary to common misconception, abstinence from meat on Fridays throughout the year has never been abolished from Roman law. It was not abolished by Vatican II. It was not abolished by Pope Paul VI or Pope St. John Paul II. It was not abolished by the 1983 Code of Canon Law. […]
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EASTER DUTY
For ages, Christians did not need to be obliged by an express commandment to confess their sins and receive Holy Communion. It was only in 1216 that the fourth general council held in the church of St. John Lateran in Rome made the annual Easter duty a solemn precept. The decree of the council is […]
Easter Prayer
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again! This is the wonderful message of Easter. You, Lord Jesus, have given your life for me. You have shown yourself to be my friend for “greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) I […]
Treasures from our tradition – Easter Eggs
Over the centuries, the Church has demonstrated a wonderful ability to adopt a culture’s favorite symbols and customs and assign them new meaning. Easter eggs have a very ancient pedigree: nature’s perfect package, emblem of new life, dyed and decorated and given as gifts in ancient Egypt, Rome, China, and Persia. Just as the long […]