HOLY THURSDAY
"This is My Body...
This is My Blood"
 Today is the Solemnity of the Mass of the Lord's Supper marking the institution of the Most Holy Eucharist when Jesus took bread, offered it to His Apostles and said, "Take this, all of you, and eat it: This is My Body." Then, as the priest says at every Mass, "He took the cup, filled with wine. Again He gave You thanks, gave the cup to His disciples, and said: "Take this, all of you, and drink from it: This is the cup of My Blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of Me." These words, repeated at every Mass are the essence of confecting the bread and wine into the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus. Today we focus on "why" the Blessed Sacrament is so special and the vital bread of life. For today's reading, lesson and liturgy, click on LITURGY FOR HOLY THURSDAY.
Can we imagine even an inkling of the suffering Jesus' Blessed Mother must have endured during His Passion and Death?
 In his column today for Holy Week and the Easter Triduum, Pat Ludwa walks with the Blessed Mother, discerning what she must have felt and knew in her heart. It is a vivid reminder that we, too, must be willing to bear all for her Divine Son Jesus so that we, too, can be counted among the victorious on the glorious day of our resurrection. For Pat's column A Mother's Passion, click on VIEW FROM THE PEW
 274 - 273 -
272 and counting and hoping and praying...
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The DAILY WORD "For I have given you an example, that as I have done to you, so you also should do." John 13: 15
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Coming
EASTER SUNDAY
Easter Liturgy
Heart-filled words from Sister Mary Lucy Astuto in her column GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER
Another pertinent editorial in CATHOLIC PewPOINT
Part One of Chapter Six - "He is Risen! Alleluia" from "MY LORD AND MY GOD!"
Day Three of the NOVENA OF DIVINE MERCY
Time Capsules in Church History with MILLENNIUM MILESTONES AND MEMORIES focusing on April 4th.
Short gems from Bishop Fulton J. Sheen in SIMPLY SHEEN
...and much more in our special 65th issue for Easter!
To review past articles in textonly format, click on Archives.
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 For additional religious and secular headlines from around the world, we refer you to our new up-to-the-minute NEWS ticker billboard by clicking on the ARROW
 To print out this issue in TEXT ONLY, click on the porthole For text of this page, click here
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GOOD FRIDAY
There can be no glory without the Cross of Christ!
 No day is reserved for more fasting, abstinence, penance and silence than Good Friday for it is a day of great reverence in commemorating the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. This is the only day of the year that the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is not celebrated, though there is a Communion Service. The altar remains stripped bare just as Christ was stripped. Today we bring you the veneration of the Cross with the Consecration of tahe Cross and the Easter Triduum Novena. We follow that up with the Meditation of His Blessed Mother on Meditative Lesson 22 of "It is Consummated!". For the readings and liturgy of Good Friday, click on GOOD FRIDAY LITURGY.
"Bring Me All Mankind, especially All Sinners and immerse them in the ocean of My Mercy"
 Today we begin the Novena of Divine Mercy which will conclude with DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY next week. This Novena was imparted to Blessed Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun of the 1930's who is known as the "Apostle of Mercy". For this first day of the Novena and Chaplet of Divine Mercy, click on FIRST DAY OF DIVINE MERCY NOVENA
 "Father, Forgive them..." 
Meditative Lessons on the Sorrowful Mysteries
 Today we bring you the final part of Meditative Lesson #22 "IT IS CONSUMATED!" - the climactic chapter of Our Lord's Passion and Death with the Blessed Mother's Meditation on this chapter. Here Our Lady pours out her heart and shows the same compassion and love exhibited by her Divine Son as He hung there expiring on the Cross. These meditative lessons, imparted by Our Lady to the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart during Lent of 1993, are meant to inspire and prompt a greater understanding of the season of Lent, especially on Good Friday to better understand the meaning of His Passion and Death, and ultimately the glorious Resurrection. Click on "IT IS CONSUMMATED!"
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HOLY SATURDAY
"Lumen Christi"
Light of Christ
The anticipation of the Resurrection overflows with the most beautiful liturgy in the Church - the Easter Vigil Mass. Today we bring you the "Significance and Beauty of the Easter Vigil" for from the darkness the Light of Christ shines forth. After centuries of waiting and hoping, all expectations are fulfilled with the opening of the gate of Heaven to all who had been in limbo
 since the time of Adam and Eve. For us it is a day of great joy and celebration, rejoicing at the new catechumens and a renewal of our Baptismal vows. For the moving liturgy, readings and meditation of Holy Saturday, click on HOLY SATURDAY LITURGY.
"Bring Me the Souls of Priests and Religious"
Today we continue with the second day of the Novena of Divine Mercy which will conclude with DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY next week. This Novena was imparted to Blessed Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun of the 1930's who is known as the "Apostle of Mercy". For this second day of the Novena and Chaplet of Divine Mercy, click on SECOND DAY OF DIVINE MERCY NOVENA
 "Come to Me - My Heart is an abyss of Mercy."
 Those words above come from Our Lord on February 18, 1994 in Message #460 to the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart. The words epitomize all that He offers and summarizes what the Easter Triduum is all about as He exhorts His children to stay the course, to keep the faith which is such a precious gift. His Blessed Mother prefaces this in Message #459 two days before on Ash Wednesday when she calls her little ones to pray, fast, do penance and call upon the Holy Spirit to strengthen us. For these two messages, click on "I SOLEMNLY TELL YOU..."
 Once done, it cannot be undone
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but the words of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen have been known to launch a thousand images in one's mind, one of the ways this late luminary did so much to evangelize the faith. Because of the urgency of the times and because few there are today who possess the wisdom, simplicity and insight than the late Archbishop who touched millions, we are bringing you daily gems from his writings. The good bishop makes it so simple that we have dubbed this daily series: "SIMPLY SHEEN".
"Every word that comes to us about the uncomfortable, the homeless, the lepers, is the Son of God passing by. If we let Him pass, He may never be recalled. Graces unused are not often repeated; whispers ignored do not become shouts."
Events this weekend in Church History
Holy Thursday is the 624th anniversary of the occasion that Saint Catherine of Siena received the mystical invisible stigmata while on a pilgrimage to Pisa. It only became visible upon her death. For other events throughout the centuries that are memorable in Church history this weekend, click on MILLENNIUM MILESTONES AND MEMORIES
Medjugorje
Monthly Message for
MARCH 25th
Dear children! I call you to prayer with the heart. In a special way, little children, I call you to pray for conversion of sinners, for those who pierce my heart and the heart of my Son Jesus with the sword of hatred and daily blasphemies. Let us pray, little children, for all those who do not desire to come to know the love of God, even though they are in the Church. Let us pray that they convert, so that the Church may resurrect in love. Only with love and prayer, little children, can you live this time which is given to you for conversion. Place God in the first place, then the risen Jesus will become your friend. Thank you for having responded to my call.
For more on Medjugorje, click on MEDJUGORJE AND MORE
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WORLDWIDE NEWS & VIEWS
Please pray for those embroiled in the war in Kosovo on both sides, especially the innocent civilians
