"Holy Saturday is liturgically a day of deepest mourning, a day which the Church spends at our Lord's sepulcher, meditating on His Sacred Passion and Death." - 1962 Roman Missal 

"Let the faithful be led to understand properly today's special liturgical act, in which the Passion of our Lord is solemnly chanted; prayers offered for the needs of the whole Church and the human race: the Holy Cross, monument of our Redemption, is adored most devoutly by clergy and faithful, the whole family of Christ: finally, as for hundred of years was the practice, all who wish and are duly prepared go forward to receive Communion with this as their chief intention, that by devoutly receiving the Body of the Lord (which He delivered this day for all men) they may enjoy richer fruits of that Redemption/ Let the priest urge the faithful to make this sacred day one of loving recollection, neither should they forget the law of abstinence and fasting." - Extract from General Decree restoring the liturgy of Holy Week

The Lord again presents us today with a timing that causes contemplation. Today being both Holy Thursday and April 1, the month whose devotion is dedicated to the Most Holy Eucharist. The True Presence of Christ in the Most Holy Eucharist is a devotion which swells in our hearts today as we celebrate both the Institution of the Eucharist and the conferral of the Holy Priesthood. 

"The Second Sunday in Passiontide would be in any case a great and holy day as it commemorates the last triumph of Our Lord Jesus Christ on earth and opens Holy Week. On this day, the Church celebrates the triumphant entry of Our Lord into Jerusalem when the multitude, going before and following after Him, cut off branches from the trees and strewed them in His way, shouting: "Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord." It is in commemoration of this triumph that palms are blessed and born in solemn procession. In fact, this Palm Sunday triumph of Our Lord only led to His death. But we know that this death was not a failure. It was through His Passion and Death that He conquered the world and entered into His Kingdom." - 1962 Roman Missal

With the eyes of faith, one sees that nothing is coincidence; everything of God is done with exact purpose, meaning, and love. One sees this reality in God's choosing of a date to become Incarnate. As March 25th often falls during the holy season of Lent, and sometimes even during Holy Week, God provides us with a point of contemplation. The Solemnity of the Annunciation amidst the season of Lent reminds us of the purpose of Our Lord's birth. As we are all born into this world to live, Christ was born to die - to die so that we might have eternal life. ​

St. Joseph as the Model of Religious

It is our great pleasure and privilege to honor our beloved spiritual father, St. Joseph, in this, his month (and his year!). He, with Our Blessed Mother and St. Louis Marie de Montfort, is a principal patron of our community. But surely, it is only right and just that he has a certain pride of place in patronage for any religious house; he is, after all, the “protector of virgins”—as he is acclaimed in his litany. ​

Nearly past the mid-Lent mark, we rejoice with you on this Laetare Sunday of Lent. Our redemption is at hand and God' mercy is endless! 

On this Holy Sunday, we share our second Vespers hymn that we sing: O Jesus Christ, From Thee Began. 

The text contains the sentiments of every Christian soul during this holy season- sentiments of humility, recognition of one's sinfulness, and plea for mercy. The Christian  notes that it is Christ, as in all things, Who first carved the way of the season of Lent - through prayer and fasting in the desert - and also began the redemption of our souls. It is He Who is our Model and Exemplar in the way of reparation. Let us continue to follow Him during Lent, carrying our crosses with Him till the very last day, and only placing them down when we have reached Calvary so that we may mount it with Him.

Let us rejoice, for God has granted us the grace to follow in His footsteps - He Who is our help and salvation!

The hymn we share on this Third Sunday of Lent - chanted for Lauds - calls to mind the Gospel read yesterday: the Prodigal Son. The son reminds us of the attitude we are to have before God: one of complete repentance and acknowledgment of our sins, begging for mercy before the Lord's throne. The father in the parable is meant to remind us of God the Father, Who, when we come to Him with a humble and contrite heart, runs to meet us with open arms , ready to embrace us and pour out His love upon. All we have to do is to return Him completely.