L S F (Laudetur Sacra Familia) April 2003

"My Mother’s heart was drowned in sorrow. We both gave our all for soul - and you?" (MFG p. 10)

HOLY WEEK – Foundational week of faith, hope and love.

The Holy Week is the week of all weeks. It is the basis of Christian life and activity.

Week of conflicts and confrontation.

Week of war and peace.

Week of victory and defeat: a victory over sin is achieved through suffering unto death, death on a Cross. Evil, sin and selfishness are defeated only through suffering love, sacrifice and penance. Here the whole person must be involved: body, mind, soul and strength as we suffer physically, psychologically and morally.

We express our solidarity with Jesus in his anguish, sorrow and agony. "Anguish with Jesus in anguish, sorrow with Jesus in sorrow, shame, pain and confusion…"

The week of profound and positive contemplation on the Christian meaning and significance of human suffering and pain. The place of the Cross in the life of a Christian and how to make daily crosses holy like the saints and martyrs did. In other words, baptizing our daily suffering and trials and recycling them (see Lenten letter 2003).

Holy week is a week of profound and positive silence:

all days in the holy week except Passion Sunday and Holy Thursday, we shall sacrifice our recreation and dedicate that time to prepare well the liturgy of the week, so that whoever comes to participate in it may have a profound experience of God’s invincible love and tender care.

It is a week of sacrifices of our own will…we all try to live not only the vows, but also practice the virtues of Chastity, poverty, obedience and charity.

"In the days when Christ Jesus was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Son though he was he learnt obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him."(Heb 5, 7-9)

It is a week of penance according to one’s own choice and discretion. However Tuesday in Holy Week is Church fast and Good Friday is complete fast and abstinence. On Good Friday our guests will have only some soup and bread, except for the sick and elderly people.

It is a week of prayerful reading and study of the passion of our Lord (Lectio Divina):

READINGS: Mt: 26 and 27; Mk: 14 and 15; Lk: 22 and 23; Jn: 18 and 19

Besides, we may read and study our Constitutions.

It is a week to prepare ourselves well and live the liturgy. Jesus is our center and our all.

Unless told otherwise, from Friday 11 April we will have classes for all in the refectory, soon after our Divine mercy Chaplet.

Happy and Holy Easter. Fr. Sebastian M. C.