BIG C CATHOLICS

[Jesus said] And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. — John 17:22-23 Today's collect for Easter Thursday may also be recited as a prayer for Christian unity. O God, who have united the many nations in confessing your name, grant that those reborn in the font of Baptism may be one in the faith of their hearts and the homage of their deeds. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

The Divine Mercy Image. Jesus, I trust in you. Today is the seventh day of the Divine Mercy Novena. We pray that these Divine Mercy prayers will strengthen us as we celebrate the Octave of Easter. We also pray that we will grow closer to our Lord's Passion through saying this Novena. You may post your prayer intentions here . The novena prayers are from St. Maria Faustina's diary in which she wrote about her encounters with Jesus. Christ specifically asked her to create a novena of Chaplets to be said leading up to Divine Mercy Sunday, beginning on Good Friday. She wrote that Jesus said to her, "By this novena, I will grant every possible grace to souls." Jesus gave St. Faustina an intention for each day of the novena. Each intention is that we would pray for a different group of souls each day, asking for God's mercy for them. Click to sign up for daily reminders to pray the Divine Mercy Novena . Divine Mercy Novena Prayers Seventh Day o

How should we prepare for this great Feast of Mercy? Jesus told St. Faustina that this Feast of Mercy would be a very special day when "all the divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened." (Diary 699) Our Lord made a great promise to all those souls who would go to Confession and then receive Him in Holy Communion on the Feast of Mercy, on the Sunday after Easter, which is now called Divine Mercy Sunday throughout the Catholic Church. Jesus promised that "The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain the complete forgiveness of sins and punishment." (Diary 699) He went on to say "I want to grant a complete pardon to the souls that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion on the Feast of My Mercy." (Diary 1109) We want to encourage everyone to take advantage of this incredible promise and the additional Plenary Indulgence on this great Feast of Mercy "Divine Mercy Sunday". We want you to

Whether you're fluent in Latin or a neophyte, ChurchPop has a most excellent quiz. The quiz starts easy and gets progressively harder. 1. " Dóminus vobíscum ." Lord, have mercy. The Lord be with you. May the Lord be with you. May the Lord be praised. 2. " Laus tibi, Christe ." Praise God, you Christian. Praise to you, Christ. Have mercy on us, Christ. You praised God, St. Christopher. 3. " Sursum corda ." Give thanks in your heart. Let us pray. Hosanna in the highest. Lift up your hearts. 4. " Orémus ." Let us pray. God be praised. The Mass is over. And with your spirit. 5. " Et cum spíritu tuo ." It is just and right. And with the Holy Spirit. And with your spirit. And also with you. 6. " Hoc est enim corpus meum ." For this is a symbol of my body. This is our holy prayer. For this is my blood. For this is my body. [ ... ] See ChurchPop for more questions and the answers

The Divine Mercy Image. Jesus, I trust in you. Today is the sixth day of the Divine Mercy Novena. We pray that these Divine Mercy prayers will strengthen us as we celebrate the Octave of Easter. We also pray that we will grow closer to our Lord's Passion through saying this Novena. You may post your prayer intentions here . The novena prayers are from St. Maria Faustina's diary in which she wrote about her encounters with Jesus. Christ specifically asked her to create a novena of Chaplets to be said leading up to Divine Mercy Sunday, beginning on Good Friday. She wrote that Jesus said to her, "By this novena, I will grant every possible grace to souls." Jesus gave St. Faustina an intention for each day of the novena. Each intention is that we would pray for a different group of souls each day, asking for God's mercy for them. Click to sign up for daily reminders to pray the Divine Mercy Novena . Divine Mercy Novena Prayers Sixth Day of th

Please remember the Holy Father Pope Francis' intentions in prayer through the month of April: General Intention : Small Farmers That small farmers may receive a just reward for their precious labor. Evangelization: African Christians That Christians in Africa may give witness to love and faith in Jesus Christ amid political-religious conflicts.

The Divine Mercy Image. Jesus, I trust in you. Today is the fifth day of the Divine Mercy Novena. We pray that these Divine Mercy prayers will strengthen us as we celebrate the Octave of Easter. We also pray that we will grow closer to our Lord's Passion through saying this Novena. You may post your prayer intentions here . The novena prayers are from St. Maria Faustina's diary in which she wrote about her encounters with Jesus. Christ specifically asked her to create a novena of Chaplets to be said leading up to Divine Mercy Sunday, beginning on Good Friday. She wrote that Jesus said to her, "By this novena, I will grant every possible grace to souls." Jesus gave St. Faustina an intention for each day of the novena. Each intention is that we would pray for a different group of souls each day, asking for God's mercy for them. Click to sign up for daily reminders to pray the Divine Mercy Novena . Divine Mercy Novena Prayers Fifth Day of th

We published these articles in the wake of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia's death. Antonin Scalia was a devout Catholic and a strict constructionist. He was also a staunch defender of religious freedom.  Although no one made comments [in the comments section] several readers weighed in using the contact function to disagree. Here are the articles in the order of their publication. What do you think? Father Paul Scalia’s Eulogy Shows the Extent to Which Our Religious Liberty is in Jeopardy Father Paul Scalia, the son of Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, delivered a heartfelt and inspiring eulogy at the funeral Mass for his father at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday. In his remarks, Fr. Scalia celebrated his late father’s commitment to family, public service and the Law, as well as his dedication to truth, justice, the intellectually rigorous defense of liberty, personal virtue, and the sanctity of persons at ever

The Divine Mercy Image. Jesus, I trust in you. Today is the fourth day of the Divine Mercy Novena. We pray that these Divine Mercy prayers will strengthen us as we observe the Octave of Easter. We also pray that we will grow closer to our Lord's Passion through saying this Novena. You may post your prayer intentions here . The novena prayers are from St. Maria Faustina's diary in which she wrote about her encounters with Jesus. Christ specifically asked her to create a novena of Chaplets to be said leading up to Divine Mercy Sunday, beginning on Good Friday. She wrote that Jesus said to her, "By this novena, I will grant every possible grace to souls." Jesus gave St. Faustina an intention for each day of the novena. Each intention is that we would pray for a different group of souls each day, asking for God's mercy for them. Click to sign up for daily reminders to pray the Divine Mercy Novena . Divine Mercy Novena Prayers Fourth Day of th

Resurrection of Christ and Women at the Tomb, Fra Angelico , c. 1440-1442. O God, who on this day, through your Only Begotten Son, has conquered death and unlocked for us the path to eternity, grant, we pray, that we who keep the solemnity of the Lord's Resurrection may, through the renewal brought by your Spirit, rise up in the light of life.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. May the blessings of Easter be with you and yours; now and always. 

Fr. Charles Irvin Senior Priest Diocese of Lansing ( Click here for today’s readings ) We have come here to this sacred place, in this holy time, both of which are set apart from the rest of the world around us, in order to hear what God is saying to us. We are here, hopefully, to respond to God’s call, to surrender to God’s love, and to receive the Bread of Life Jesus won for us on His Cross. May you, and I with you, now yield to God’s love and respond to the gift He offers us here in this the most important celebration in our Church. As Catholics, we hold a sacred trust. It is our calling to remain integral with the Church of the eyewitnesses of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As Catholics, our integration with the Church of the Apostles is something that we hold precious. May we receive and always treasure what they have handed on to us. More people come to Mass on Easter than on any other Sunday of the year, some making the effort only this one time

May the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds. — From the Easter Vigil Liturgy On Holy Saturday the Church waits at the Lord's tomb, meditating on his suffering and death. The altar is left bare, and the sacrifice of the Mass is not celebrated. Only after the solemn vigil during the night, held in anticipation of the resurrection, does the Easter celebration begin, with a spirit of joy that overflows into the following period of fifty days. O God, who make this most sacred night radiant with the glory of the Lord's Resurrection, stir up in your Church a spirit of adoption, so that, renewed in body and mind, we may render you undivided service. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

The Divine Mercy Image. Jesus, I trust in you. Today is the second day of the Divine Mercy Novena. We pray that these Divine Mercy prayers will strengthen us as we fast and do penance on Holy Saturday. We also pray that we will grow closer to our Lord's Passion through saying this Novena. You may post your prayer intentions here . The novena prayers are from St. Maria Faustina's diary in which she wrote about her encounters with Jesus. Christ specifically asked her to create a novena of Chaplets to be said leading up to Divine Mercy Sunday, beginning on Good Friday. She wrote that Jesus said to her, "By this novena, I will grant every possible grace to souls." Jesus gave St. Faustina an intention for each day of the novena. Each intention is that we would pray for a different group of souls each day, asking for God's mercy for them. Click to sign up for daily reminders to pray the Divine Mercy Novena . Divine Mercy Novena Prayers Second D

The Divine Mercy Image. Jesus, I trust in you. Today is the first day of the Divine Mercy Novena. We pray that these Divine Mercy prayers will strengthen us as we fast and do penance on Good Friday. We also pray that we will grow closer to our Lord's Passion through saying this Novena. You may post your prayer intentions here . The novena prayers are from St. Maria Faustina's diary in which she wrote about her encounters with Jesus. Christ specifically asked her to create a novena of Chaplets to be said leading up to Divine Mercy Sunday, beginning on Good Friday. She wrote that Jesus said to her, "By this novena, I will grant every possible grace to souls." Jesus gave St. Faustina an intention for each day of the novena. Each intention is that we would pray for a different group of souls each day, asking for God's mercy for them. Click to sign up for daily reminders to pray the Divine Mercy Novena . Divine Mercy Novena Prayers First Day o

[Jesus said] " It is accomplished. " Bowing his head, He gave up his spirit. — John 19:30 Remember your mercies, O Lord, and with your most eternal protection sanctify your servants for whom Christ your Son, by the shedding of his Blood, established the Paschal Mystery.  Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen Today the whole Church mourns the death of our Savior. This is a day of sadness, spent in fasting and prayer. The title for this day varies in different parts of the world: "Holy Friday" for Latin nations, Slavs and Hungarians call it "Great Friday", in Germany it is "Friday of Mourning," In Norway, it is "Long Friday". Some view the term "Good Friday" [used in English and Dutch] as a corruption of the term "God's Friday". This is an obligatory day of fasting and abstinence. In Ireland, the "black fast" is practiced, which is to consume nothing but black tea and water.

1. Jesus addresses the Father. Then Jesus said, " Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. " [Luke 23:34] This first saying of Christ on the cross is traditionally called "The Word of Forgiveness". It is theologically understood as Christ’s prayer for forgiveness for those who were crucifying him: the Roman soldiers and all others involved in his torture and death. By virtue of Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection, forgiveness is possible, the gates of Heaven are opened, and sin is forever conquered. 2. Jesus speaks to Dismas.  And he said to him, " Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise. " [Luke 23:43] This saying is called "The Word of Salvation."  In Luke's Gospel, Christ was crucified between two thieves (Dismas, the good criminal, and Gestas), Dismas supports Jesus' innocence and asks him to remember him when he comes into his kingdom. Jesus replies, "Truly, I say to you...&q

The Divine Mercy Image At three o'clock on Good Friday we solemnly remember Christ's death on the cross. In that moment, the redeeming ministry of our Savior culminated in the sacrificial offering of the Lamb of God for our sins. Three o'clock on Friday is, therefore, an hour of abundant grace and mercy, especially for sinners. Christ told Saint Faustina that: At three o'clock implore My mercy, especially for sinners; and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great mercy for the whole world. I will allow you to enter into My mortal sorrow. In this hour, I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion... (Diary 1320). The Lord asked Sister Faustina to pray especially for sinners at three o'clock in the afternoon, the moment of His death on the cross. This is the hour of great mercy for the world, and can be a moment of reflecti

I give you a new commandment: Love one another as I have loved you. — John 13:34 These are the words spoken by our Lord to His apostles at the Last Supper, after he completed the washing of the feet. We should emulate Christ's humility in living our lives in the imitation of His. O God, who have called us to participate in this most sacred Supper, in which your Only Begotten Son, when about to hand himself over to death, entrusted to the Church a sacrifice new for all eternity, the banquet of his love, grant, we pray, that we may draw from so great a mystery, the fullness of charity and of life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

There are several plenary indulgences that may be obtained during the Easter Triduum — from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday. An indulgence may be either partial or plenary. It is partial if it removes part of the temporal punishment due to sin, or plenary if it removes all punishment. A plenary indulgence may only be obtained once per day. The following prayers/professions will merit a plenary indulgence — provided the conditions for a plenary indulgence are met. (See below.) Plenary Indulgences Available During the Easter Triduum ◗ Every Friday of Lent: Recitation of O Good and Sweetest Jesus after reception of the Eucharist before an image of the crucified Christ . ◗ Holy Thursday: Praying the Tantum Ergo after the Mass of the Last Supper. ◗ Good Friday: Participating in the Veneration of the Cross. ◗ Holy Saturday: Renewing your baptismal vows at the Easter Vigil Mass (renewing your baptismal vows on the anniversary of your baptism may also

Sunday's homily is usually published well in advance of the Sabbath. Due to the solemnity of Holy Week — and its remembrance of the final acts of Christ's earthly ministry; culminating with His Passion and Death — we will publish Father Charles Irvin's Easter homily on Holy Saturday. May this Holy Week draw you closer to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Robert Gidley This article is disturbing; there is nothing pleasant about crucifixion. However, having an understanding of crucifixion helps us understand what Jesus went through on the day of his death. This article is based on various articles written by medical doctors, including a study by the Mayo Clinic published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1989. Crucifixion probably started first with the Persians (what is modern day Iran). Initially, the victim was suspended to keep their feet from touching holy ground. The Phoenicians, traders to many lands, seem to have also acquired the practice and probably spread it to other cultures, including the Greeks. Alexander the Great (a Greek) introduced the practice to Carthage, where it was picked up by the Romans. The Romans started using it around the time Jesus was born. The Romans perfected crucifixion as a punishment designed to maximize pain and suffering. It wasn't about killing somebody — it was a

So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!" And Jesus found a young ass and sat upon it; as it is written, "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on an ass's colt!" — John 12:13-15 Almighty ever-living God, who as an example of humility for the human race to follow caused our Savior to take flesh and submit to the Cross, graciously grant that we may heed his lesson of patient suffering and so merit a share in his Resurrection. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Fr. Charles Irvin Senior Priest Diocese of Lansing Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  ( Click here for today’s readings ) Once again the Book of Life is opened and the Liturgy calls us to recognize ourselves and recognize our God. Once again the Church places the Passion of our Lord before our eyes. In it we can see ourselves and see God’s only begotten Son in our humanity, this time in man’s inhumanity toward man. The same roles are there; the same actors, the same forces at work in our world just as they were in the year 33A.D. First there are the indifferent, the easy-going, those who simply drift uncaring through life, those who give consent to the Passion by silence. There are millions and millions in this majority. They wash their hands of the whole thing. They never budge as long as the blows of life fall on the backs of others. They have no opinions to voice, no stand to take. They simply let events take their course. These silent ones let the sufferings

[This prayer may be recited individually or as a family before an image of Christ crucified on Palm Sunday and throughout Holy Week. It is taken from the words of Pope Pius XII On the Sacred Liturgy .] "Dearly beloved, in Holy Week, when the most bitter sufferings of Jesus Christ are put before us by the liturgy, the Church invites us to come to Calvary and follow in the blood-stained footsteps of the Divine Redeemer, to carry the Cross willingly with Him, to reproduce in our hearts His spirit of expiation and atonement, and to die together with Him." V/ We ought to glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ R/ in whom is our salvation, life and resurrection. V/ Let us pray. All-powerful, eternal God, You have chosen to give mankind a model of humility; our Savior took on our flesh, and subjected Himself to the Cross. Grant us the grace to preserve faithfully the lessons He has given us in his Passion and to have a share in His Resurrection. This we ask of You

Saint Joseph, the spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the foster-father of Jesus, was probably born in Bethlehem and probably died in Nazareth. His important mission in God's plan of salvation was "to legally insert Jesus Christ into the line of David from whom, according to the prophets, the Messiah would be born, and to act as his father and guardian" ( Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy ). Most of our information about St. Joseph comes from the opening chapters of Matthew's Gospel. No words of his are recorded in Sacred Scripture. Devotion to St. Joseph in the early Church was nonexistent. It was the will of God that the Virgin Birth of Our Lord be first firmly impressed upon the minds of the faithful. St. Joseph was later venerated by the saints of the Middle Ages. Pius IX declared him patron and protector of the universal Church in 1870. Adapted excerpt from Catholic Culture.org and the Catholic Encyclopedia . The Life of St. Joseph St. Josep

There are several plenary indulgences that may be obtained during the Easter Triduum — from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday. An indulgence may be either partial or plenary. It is partial if it removes part of the temporal punishment due to sin, or plenary if it removes all punishment. A plenary indulgence may only be obtained once per day. The following prayers/professions will merit a plenary indulgence — provided the conditions for a plenary indulgence are met. (See below.) Plenary Indulgence Opportunities During the Easter Triduum ◗ Every Friday of Lent: Recitation of O Good and Sweetest Jesus after reception of the Eucharist before an image of the crucified Christ . ◗ Holy Thursday: Praying the Tantum Ergo after the Mass of the Last Supper. ◗ Good Friday: Participating in the Veneration of the Cross. ◗ Holy Saturday: Renewing your baptismal vows at the Easter Vigil Mass (renewing your baptismal vows on the anniversary of your baptism may a