A word from Paradise

“Do not fear, do not fear; the Lord will fight for us. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! The devil trembles at the Alleluia, a word come from paradise.”

[From the letter of St. Paul of the Cross to Fr. John Mary Cioni of St. Ignatius, 4th March 1757]

Go in the peace of Christ, alleluia!!

Let us pray that the risen Christ will raise us up and renew our lives:  God our Father, by raising Christ your Son you conquered the power of death and opened for us the way to eternal life. Let our celebration raise us up and renew our lives by the Spirit that is within us. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Good Friday

We worship you, Lord,  we venerate your cross, we praise your resurrection. Through the cross you brought joy to the world. [Songs at the Veneration of the Cross, Good Friday Liturgy.]

Chrism Mass St. Mary’s Cathedral Sydney

BLESSING OF THE OIL OF THE SICK – Send the power of your Holy Spirit, the Comforter, into this precious oil, this soothing ointment, this rich gift,  this fruit of the earth. Bless this oil and sanctify it for our use.

BLESSING OF THE OIL OF CATECHUMENS – Bless this oil and give wisdom and strength to all who are anointed with it in preparation for their baptism.

CONSECRATION OF THE CHRISM – Bless this oil so that all who are anointed with it may be inwardly transformed and come to share in eternal salvation.

“Tonight we begin the Triduum where we will celebrate the costly and difficult progress of Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first born of the dead, the Ruler of the Kings of the earth from Gethsemane, to Calvary and the Resurrection.  May God continue to be with us and our people especially at this time.” [Conclusion of the Homily of Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney]

Passionist Contemplative Life

The novices at the Passionist Nuns, St. Joseph’s Monastery Owensboro (USA) recently created a brochure about Passionist contemplative life. It is geared toward making cloistered contemplative life more understood and appreciated. 

Visit the Passionist Nuns website and see the cartoons from the brochure  here