Tree of Life

The blessed season of Easter is the time to reflect all the more on our salvation. This post is to contain the links pertaining to this most joyous season for our edification and will remain pinned to my social media between feast days throughout the season. Each link is relevant for the whole season. The Easter  link is relevant throughout the season and always, as Christians are Easter people. Due to their roots in the Paschal Mystery, Eastertide is also the season of First Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirm, aka “ The Season of Sacraments .” Easter Easter Time With Mary Easter Week Customs Easter Week with St. Gertrude Easter Monday  Divine Mercy Novena  (Prayed from Good Friday- the Saturday after Easter.) Divine Mercy Sunday   (Second Sunday of Easter) Easter and God’s Creation  The prayer known as the Angelus prayed at 6am, 6pm and (most commonly)  Noon is replaced from Easter-Pentecost with the Regina Caeli.  Finally, as Easter (ev...

As the plot against Jesus grows more and more severe as Good Friday draws near Jesus is “anointed” before His burial by the tears of Mary Magdalene. Jesus notes that she is forgiven much because she loves much.  Prayer of Thanksgiving for the Tears of St. Mary Magdalene O most merciful Jesus, I give Thee thanks for that work of piety which the blessed Mary Magdalene wrought on Thee, when she washed Thy feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed them and anointed them with fragrant ointment; whereby she obtained from Thee such signal grace that Thou didst pour into her heart and soul so great a love of Thee, that she could love nothing apart from Thee; beseeching Thee, that by her merits and intercessions Thou wouldst vouchsafe to give me tears of true repentance and pour into my heart Thy Divine love. Amen. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)    “Whoever shall give God thanks for all the tears I shed upon the feet of Jesus, our most merciful G...

Between the emotions of Palm Sunday and Holy Thursday there lies the Monday and Tuesday of Holy Week as well as Spy Wednesday. There are no particular customs for the Monday and Tuesday of this great week but there are important events in the life of Christ leading to His Passion that are worthy of reflection.  The Monday of Holy Week marks the Cleansing of the Temple (pictured above). After Jesus’ entry into the Holy City on Palm Sunday He goes to the temple and is righteously angered about what He witnesses. Although the Gospel reading for the day reflects on an event traditionally attributed to the Tuesday of Holy Week, the Cleansing of the Temple is traditionally commemorated today as well as the cursing of the fig tree. Both events recall corruption and the lack of good fruit amidst those who claim to serve God. This is Jesus’ calling us to true service such as He will show supremely in His Passion. Some depictions of the Cleansing of the Temple shows Jesus releasing the anima...