Easter Sunday is the third day of the Sacred Paschal Triduum and also the first Sunday of the Easter season. The very first Christian centuries had no liturgical celebration on this day, except the Easter vigil, which only would reach …
Read MoreMonth: February 2024
MEANING OF THE FOOD BLESSING
The blessing of food on Easter probably has its roots in the 3rd century. A cup with milk and honey would be blessed during the liturgy for the newly baptized and distributed between receiving bread …
Read MoreGOOD FRIDAY
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND
Good Friday is the day of the crucifixion and death of Jesus. Jesus is first arrested, interrogated in front of the Sanhedrin, handed over to Pilat, ridiculed and condemned to death, led to Golgotha, and crucified. …
Read MoreBIBLICAL BACKGROUND
All three synoptic gospels mention a solemn meal held by Jesus with his disciples in the evening before his death. Matthew, Mark, and Luke cast it as Passover meal, celebrated during the night from 14th to 15th of …
Read MoreTHE HEART OF THE LITURGICAL YEAR
The liturgy of Easter Night used to be considered the most significant celebration of all. In the course of the Middle Ages, it was gradually moved earlier in the day (anticipated), until it was …
Read MoreHoly Saturday has an a-liturgical character. The Church abstains from the Sacrifice of Mass, with the sacred table left bare, until after the solemn Vigil, that is, the anticipation of the night of Resurrection, when the time comes for paschal …
Read MoreVEILING OF THE CROSS
With the Fifth Sunday of Lent, the focus of our Lenten observance shifts.
The first part of the Lenten season, starting with Ash Wednesday, invites us to reflect on repentance and baptism, so that both …
Read MorePALMS SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD
On this day the Church recalls the entrance of Christ the Lord into Jerusalem to accomplish his Paschal Mystery. The memorial of this entrance takes place by means of the Procession or …
Read MoreSOLEMNITY
The first traces of veneration of Saint Joseph can be found in the 8/9th century in Egypt, with a commemoration on July 20. His feast on March 19 is attested since the 11/12th century and it spread especially under …
Read MoreFEASTDAY
This feast, attested as early as the 4th century Rome, has its roots in the ancient custom of commemorating dead relatives during the period of February 13-22 (parentalia). As a part of this commemoration, the deceased relative …
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