Easter Sunday

The tomb is found empty, except for a cloth folded up inside. One of Jesus’s followers asks to keep it. Centuries go by and the cloth is found and examined, and found to have certain stain marks. Could this actually be the burial cloth of Jesus?

A photograph was taken, and remarkably the negative image appears as a positive image on the film. Facial features can more easily be seen. The positions of blood stains map to the positions described during the crucifixion, such as the crown of thorns, scourge marks, the stab wound in the side, except for the position of the nails being in the wrist instead of the palms. This seems to make sense because the small bones of the hand would probably not be able to support the weight of a body without tearing out, while the larger bones at the wrist could be a better support. Further examination showed pollen particles within the fibers that are from the same types of plants found in Israel during that time. The cloth itself was made from materials used during that time.

Skeptics claim this cloth was an elaborate fake, but there is no evidence of paint being used on it. Carbon dating at first indicated the wrong time period, but the piece of cloth used for the carbon dating was a corner piece partially burned by a fire that almost destroyed it, so the carbon dating process was invalidated. Since scientists cannot figure out how the image got onto the cloth, it seems plausible that this cloth was irradiated at the moment of resurrection, especially since the image seems to have the 3 dimensional effect of darker areas of the image closer to the cloth. The evidence seems overwhelming that this Shroud Of Turin is authentic. Do skeptics really think that anyone knew what a negative image was in the days before cameras were invented, especially 3D effects? Of course not, so this is not likely to be a fake, it is likely to be hard evidence that the Crucifixion and Resurrection took place just as described in The Bible.

Holy Saturday

Are our souls really worth this much? What can we possibly give Him in return?

Meanwhile, while we are grieving, His spirit is busy opening the gates of Heaven, which had been closed since the Original Sin of Adam and Eve. He visits Limbo and sets those souls free at long last.

The gates of Heaven have finally been opened, and now the rest of us have a chance to pass through those gates as well.

But at this point, nobody on earth is convinced of this, so tomorrow’s event will bring the convincing.

Good Friday

(From the lyrics of Michael W. Smith)
Crucified, laid behind a stone
You lived to die rejected and alone
Like a rose trampled on the ground
You took the fall, and thought of me, above all

(From the Pieta)Be it known that the number of soldiers were 150 Those who trailed Him while He was bound were 23 The executioners of justice were 83 The blows received on His head were 150 Blows on the stomach were 108 Kicks on the shoulders were 80 He was led, bound with cords by the hair 24 times Spits in the face were 180 He was beaten on the body 6666 times Beaten on the head 110 times He was roughly pushed, and at 12 o'clock was lifted up by the hair Pricked with thorns and pulled by the beard 23 times He received 20 wounds on the head Thorns of marine junks were 72 Pricks of thorns in the head were 110 Mortal thorns in the forehead were 3 He was afterwards flogged and dressed as a mocked king Wounds in the body were 1000 The solders who led Him to Calvary were 608 Those who watched Him were 3 Those who mocked Him were 1008 The drops of blood He lost were 28,430

Holy Thursday

Jesus knows the end is near. He introduces the Eucharist at the Last Supper and then goes by Himself to a garden to ponder. The thoughts and anticipation of the horrible torture that was about to happen to Him caused Him such stress that His sweat becomes blood.

Think about it. There are few things in life as painful as being hit repeatedly with a barbed whip which rips the skin. We scream with pain when we get one thorn pierce the finger, imagine the pain of having dozens of thorns pressed down on the head. After that would come the nails being driven through the hands and feet and the legs broken, being left to hang there while being stabbed with a sword.

But there was another thing more painful. (From The Pieta) St. Bernard asked Our Lord which was His greatest unrecorded suffering, and Our Lord answered: "I had on My Shoulder, while I bore My Cross on the Way of Sorrows, a grievous Wound, which was more painful than the others, and which is not recorded by men. Honor this wound with thy devotion, and I will grant thee whatsoever thou dost ask through its virtue and merit. And in regard to all those who shall venerate this Wound, I will remit to them all their venial sins, and will no longer remember their mortal sins."

Wednesday of Holy Week

My favorite Bible passage is Matthew 25:14-30 because it tells us what is expected of us. It is interesting how the word Talent represented a form of money, but today we see that same word as a measure of our abilities, and it seems to me this was not just a coincidence for this passage…and here it is…

For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted them to his property; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, and I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, and I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! …you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. …And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.’

This should give us some idea of what Judgment Day is going to be like. If you want to know more details about Judgment Day, keep reading Matthew 25 where this left off, which is verse 31.

Tuesday of Holy Week

Do you know how many heartbeats you might have left before judgment day? How about maybe only ONE? There is no guarantee that your heart will continue to beat any further, and if it does, be thankful that a heart that continues to beat automatically is only a part of the miraculous gift of life.

The point is this. Waiting too long to make peace with The Lord is a dangerous attitude because nobody’s heart beats forever.

This is explained in Matthew 25:1-13: Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. Afterward the other maidens came also, saying ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.’

Monday of Holy Week

(From The Pieta) Our Lord told St. Gertrude that the following prayer would release 1000 souls from Purgatory each time it is said. The prayer was extended to include living sinners as well:

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the most precious blood of Thy Divine Son Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.

This would be a good one to say whenever you are stuck in traffic, or otherwise waiting around for something to begin, for example if you arrive early for Mass or other appointments.

Lent Day 40 - Palm Sunday

The Lenten season of 40 days leads up to Holy Week where our salvation came to be.

Here are promises Our Lord revealed to Brother Estanislao in the early 1900's, for those who have devotion to The Way Of The Cross (The Stations):

Granting all that is asked in faith
Eternal life
I will follow them everywhere in life, and help them especially at the hour of death.
All sins erased, no matter how many, but this does not eliminate the obligation for Confession
Special glory in Heaven
Deliverance from Purgatory if needed
Blessings to follow you everywhere on earth and after death in Heaven for all Eternity
The devil will not be permitted to tempt them at the hour of death, they will repose in tranquillity.
When this is prayed with true love, they become a living Ciborium in which I will pour My grace.
I will fix my eyes on them, My hands will always be open to protect them
I will be with those who honor Me as I am nailed to the Cross
They will never be able to separate themselves from Me, for I will give them the grace never again to commit a Mortal sin.
At the hour of death I will console them with My Presence and we will go together to Heaven.
Death will be sweet to all those who have honored Me during their lives
My Soul will be a protective shield for them, and will always help them, whenever they have recourse.

Day 39

God’s Yellow Pages – passages for every situation

if this link does not work, just copy and paste it into the top URL box:


http://www.divinepeace.com/yellow

This is not a Catholic site, but it is pretty good.

Lent Day 38

(From The Pieta) Why pray The Rosary?

Mothers can be very persuasive. If you want to ask God for something, it might be a good idea to start with the Mother of God on your side.

The word Rosary means crown of roses. The rose is the queen of flowers and Mary is the Queen of Heaven. Each Hail Mary is giving her another beautiful rose, and each complete Rosary makes a crown of roses for Mary. It is a summary of the important events in the lives of Jesus and Mary. Here are some of the promises Mary made to Christians who recite the Rosary:

Special protection Powerful armor against hell
Destroys vice Decreases sin Defeats heresies
Causes virtue and good works to flourish
Fights misfortune
Favors you at the moment of death
Aids those who need necessities
It is the scourge of the devil
It touches the heart of Jesus who so loves His mother

Lent Day 37

(From The Pieta) Why go to Mass?
It is the highest form of prayer.
It pleases God.
Prayers are strongest at the Consecration when the Host and Chalice are raised.
Mass is a powerful atonement for sins, negligences and omissions.
Masses you have heard are a consolation in your favor at the hour of death and at judgment.
Power of Satan over you is diminished.
Unconfessed venial sins are forgiven.
Purgatory time is shortened.
Every Mass wins you a higher degree of glory in Heaven When heard devoutly, a saint is sent to comfort us at death.
It means you are doing your best to follow the 3rd Commandment.
Dedicating a Mass to a live person is far more valuable to dedicating a Mass to a dead person.
More reasons can be found in the Pieta prayerbook pages 23-24

Lent Day 36

Tithing

We count our blessings if we have plenty of food, shelter, clothing, all the basic necessities of life, and also several of the niceties of life like our choice of entertainment, gadgets, personal luxuries, and money to use as we choose.

We also are grateful for good health, the use of our all our senses, and mobility to appreciate the wonders of life. Other less fortunate people are not able to enjoy these things.

To properly thank The Lord for whatever money might be left over, if we were to ask Him what would be enough to show our gratitude and give back, how should we split it, how many dollars out of every ten?

Here’s how the conversation might go… Lord, you have been good to me, for every 10 dollars left over, how about we split it 5 and 5?

Nope, just one.

Lord do you mean you get 9 and I get one?

Nope, you keep 9 and just give me 1.

Lord are you sure? You have already given us so much. It would only be fair if we gave you more.

Nope, 1 would be just fine.

There have been stories about people who do this ten percent rule, and by doing so they find somehow all their needs get taken care of, sometimes mysteriously.

Yet most of us still do not quite trust that enough.