Practice our Catholic Faith, on our journey to Heaven

I am working through a great study of Salvation History….class taught by Jeff Cavins, and I highly recommend it!! Really enjoying it. All materials can be found at thegreatadventureonline.

Lent is coming to a close as we enter Holy Week. Today is Palm Sunday, where we all get palm branches and remember Jesus as he entered Jerusalem, greeted by the crowd proclaiming him King and waving the palm branches. There was much joy, however, by the end of the readings, with the reading of the Passion, or the events leading up to the death of Christ. Tonight we will leave in silence as we prepare for Holy Week.

Holy Thursday…we remember the Last Supper, and the events in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Good Friday…marks the death and burial of Christ. Often the Stations of the Cross are prayed, and there is a lot of quiet and reflection. At home we traditionally plant something in silence that will later grow and produce fruit or blooms.

All these events lead up to the huge finale of the liturgical year….Holy Saturday….at Easter Vigil, which is my all time favorite Mass. Our Mass here is 4 hours long. It starts with the outdoor bonfire and lighting of the new year’s candle, and we process into darkness with our candles lit from the main candle’s flame. The readings take you through Salvation History, starting with the Creation Story, and ending with the life of Christ. It is here too that baptisms will also take place, in our parish, full immersion baptisms of adults and babies coming into the Church. There is much song and rejoicing, and it is here that we can again say “Alleluia”!

Easter morning is a continuation of that celebration, and represents the new dawn and hope for humankind!

This past year I have done a poor job at making the Holy Days of Obligation. Most of the time it is like “whoops” missed it again. This coming year, starting with Jan 1, I hope to make all the days of Obligation. They’re there for a reason. Here they are.

Mary, Mother of God – Tuesday, January 1, 2008 (Holy Day of Obligation)

Ash Wednesday – Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Holy Saturday – Saturday, March 22, 2008 (Civil twilight ends at 7:06 pm CST)

Easter – Sunday, March 23, 2008

Ascension Sunday – Sunday, May 4, 2008

Pentecost – Sunday, May 11, 2008

Assumption of Mary – Friday, August 15, 2008 (Holy Day of Obligation)

All Saints Day – Saturday, November 1, 2008 (Holy Day Obligation is abrogated)

2008/2009 – Cycle B, Year I

Advent – Sunday, November 30, 2008

Immaculate Conception – Monday, December 8, 2008 (Holy Day of Obligation)

Christmas Day – Thursday, December 25, 2008 (Holy Day of Obligation)