It is Easter Sunday!
First off, I would like to wish everyone who is celebrating a Happy Easter and may you have a wonderful day.
Okay, now let's get down to business, shall we?
Last Sunday was Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday is the day when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, one week before Easter. The people met at the gates of the city and laid palm branches out in the street where Jesus and his twelve disciples were entering. The people raised their palm fronds high in the air proclaiming, "Hosanna! Hosanna!" In church, we usually celebrate this holy day by raising our own palms in church. We read from the Gospel the Passion of Christ. The Gospel is the book in the Bible that tells about Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.
As the week goes on, we also celebrate Holy Thursday. Holy Thursday is the day when Jesus and his disciples had the Last Supper. The Last Supper is the last meal Jesus shared with his disciples before he died the next day, Good Friday. The Last Supper is the foundation of our church ceremonies. Mass is the celebration of the Eucharist.
At the night before He died, Jesus broke the bread, which we call the Eucharist, saying:
"Take this, all of you, and eat it. This is my body, the body of the new and everlasting covenant. Do this is in memory of me."
The he took the the cup of wine saying:
"Take this, all of you, and drink it. This is my blood of the new and everlasting covenant, that will be shed for you and for all, so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me."
We believe that the bread and wine were turned into the body and blood of Jesus Christ, and we consume it every Sunday, reciting the prayer above.
On Holy Thursday, Jesus also told the men that one of them, who dipped the bread in wine with Him, would betray Him. That person would hand Him over to the sinners. Immediately, the twelve asked Jesus who it was. It turns out that later that night, while Jesus was praying in the garden, Judas, a disciple, showed up with a party of soldiers with swords. They took Jesus away to Pilate's Palace, where he was eventually sentenced to death.
The next day is Good Friday. On this day, Jesus was nailed and died on the cross. It is the day when all of the Stations of the Cross become alive. We remember Jesus' suffering and we usually spend a lot of time in silence. Jesus said these seven phrases before he died:
1) "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" - Matthew 27:46 (Book of Matthew-Chapter 27-Verse46)
This means "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
2) "Father, forgive them. For they not know what they do." - Luke 23:34
The ones who crucified Jesus did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah like the Catholics do.
3) "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." - Luke 23-43
With Jesus, there were two other criminals that were also accused of charges that were untrue. Jesus was in the middle, and a "criminal" on each side of Him. Jesus is telling the two that they will die today and are promised everlasting life with Him in heaven.
4) "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." - Luke 23:46
Here, Jesus is talking to God, telling Him that He is ready to die.
5) "Dear Woman, here is your son!" and "Here is your mother!" - John 19:26:27
This is what Jesus proclaimed when He saw His mother and the Apostle John standing by.
6) "I am thirsty." - John 19:28
Jesus was prompting the guards that stood by to give him vinegar which he said in the Psalms that vinegar can quench thirst. It is also customary at a crucifixion to have vinegar. Here, Jesus fulfilled the prophecy.
And finally, the last words of Jesus Christ, the redeemer of the whole world!
7) "It is finished!" - John 19-30
Jesus was dead. The debt of sin was paid.
After, Holy Saturday arrives. This is the day before Easter when Jesus was placed in the tomb. It also marks the end of Holy Week.
EASTER!
It had been three days since Jesus died on the cross and He rose from the dead on Easter Sunday. The stone, where they had placed the body, was rolled away from the tomb and the Son of Man lives! As said in a previous article, a customary game played by Catholics is an Egg Hunt. The egg symbolizes new life as lived by Jesus Christ.
There is one more week of "For The Catholics". I would like to take this chance to share with you how thrilled I am to be writing this series for the Whyville Times and how overjoyed I am to be sharing with you something that is really important to me, my Catholic faith.
Once again, Happy Easter and have a very blessed day . . . No matter what religion you are!
-Dalygirl
"We live in preparation. We live for us. We live for each other. We live for God. This is the Catholic foundation."
Author's Note: I apologize for not having my article in last week! There was a bit of a delay in my series. Please see that article, "For the Catholics: The 10 Commandments", also in this week's issue.
