Byzantine Catholic Mission
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Holy Resurrection Byzantine Catholic Mission |
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O ye incorporeal angels who stand before the throne of God, luminous with the brilliance thereof and everlastingly shining with radiance. As secondary luminaries, entreat Christ, that He grant unto our souls peace and great mercy. O immortal messengers of the truly incorruptible Life, ye most blessed ones who received life from the first Life, ye have become holy beholders of the eternal Wisdom, full of light, and reflecting lamps shown forth as is meet. O ye archangels and angels, principalities, thrones, dominions, six-winged seraphim, and divine, many-eyed cherubim, instruments of wisdom, virtues and powers most divine. Pray ye to Christ, that He grant our souls peace and great mercy. Archives:
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HOLY RESURRECTION BYZANTINE CATHOLIC MISSION
GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST! GLORY FOREVER!
DIVINE LITURGY BEGINS AT 4 P.M. EVERY SUNDAY
April 4, 2004 — Pussy Willow / Palm Sunday
Welcome, Visitors!
— To those who are family, relatives, friends, to those inquiring about the Byzantine Catholic faith, to those who have
been away:
— Know that our Byzantine Mission of the Eastern Catholic Church can be your home. Here you will find that special
church that has maintained an unbroken link with the Apostolic Church. Here in the Eastern Tradition of the Byzantine Catholic
Church, in union with the Holy Father Pope John Paul II, you will find the fullness of truth and eternal life with God,
Our Creator, through Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son.
— You are always welcome.
Divine Liturgy Intention:
Our Offerings Blessing of the Paschal Food will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 10, here at the church.
Palm Sunday
Our Lord climaxed His mission on earth with two memorable events: the resurrection of Lazarus and His triumphal entry into
Jerusalem. These two events, witnessed by great crowds of people, gave a clear and convincing testimony of Christ’s
mission and His divinity. These two illustrious events also raised the curtain on the last act of Christ’s life: His
passion and death. Since the first centuries of Christianity, the Eastern Church has celebrated the memory of Christ’s
triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the Sunday before His glorious Resurrection. From the earliest times, Palm Sunday has been a
great feast of our Lord and included in the 12 principal feasts of the liturgical year.
The Icon of the Entry of Christ into Jerusalem
The Gospel presents Christ’s entry into Jerusalem as a celebration of triumph. Our church brings us to this moment of
glory. Coming at the close of the Great Fast, the feast gives us a taste of Paschal joy.
According to the Gospel of St. John, people took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Christ, who sat on a young
donkey. The disciples followed Him, and the crowd welcomed Him at the Jerusalem Gate. In the icon of the Entry into Jerusalem,
our attention is drawn to Christ seated sideways on the donkey, with His head turned toward the disciples following Him and
His right hand raised in blessing.
Traditionally, children play a prominent role in icon. One is shown cutting palm branches high in a tree. Another spreads his
cloak along Christ’s path. Though the Gospels do not specify the presence of children, our church sees them as the
fulfillment of Psalm 8: “Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings you have fashioned praise.” The call of Palm
Sunday vespers is similar: “Wherefore, like babes, rejoice, carrying branches in your hands, praise Him, and sing
‘Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He who comes! The King of Israel!’”
While this icon portrays Christ’s willing journey to His passion and death, it also gives us a glimpse of His coming
glory, as He establishes the Kingdom of the New Jerusalem with His victory over Death.
—God with Us Icon Study
Having suffered the Passion for us, Take a look at www.hrbcc.org today!
Pastoral Ponderings: Human Suffering Is Simply Divine
Twenty-five years ago, Archbishop Romero preached the following to the church in El Salvador:
For the church, the many abuses of human life, liberty and dignity are a heartfelt suffering. The church, entrusted with the
earth’s glory, believes that in each person is the Creator’s image and that everyone who tramples it offends God.
As the holy defender of God’s rights and of God’s images, the church must cry out. The church takes as spittle in
its face, as lashes on its back, as the cross in its passion, all that human beings suffer, even though they be unbelievers.
They suffer as God’s images. There is no dichotomy between humans and God’s image. Whoever tortures a human being,
whoever abuses a human being, whoever outrages a human being abuses God’s image, and the church takes as its own that
cross, that martyrdom.
As the church, we are all members of the Body of Christ. When Christ suffers, we suffer. When one of us suffers, we all
suffer. And when any of us suffer, Christ suffers along with us. Let us dwell on this thought as we, side by side with Christ,
shoulder our crosses to Calvary this Good Friday.
—Father O’Connell
Last updated: 8-Apr-2004 |
