Paschal Mystery

Why Sacred Art is Needed More than Ever

/ chicoinematt / Leave a comment

Editor’s note: Article originally published on August 22, 2019. This article is sponsored by Holyart.com.

Our world is an ugly place. Disease, cancer, war, hunger, greed, murder, abuse, and countless other appalling things have existed throughout human history. Because of the original sin of Adam and Eve, humanity fell out of communion with God. Thankfully, God had a plan. A redemptive plan of salvation. Through the Suffering, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, God provided a pathway for us to return to Him. Two thousand years later, not much has changed with humanity. Human nature is always the same. Self-centered. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to guide the Catholic Church as a harbor and teacher of truth.

Catholic Church

Baptized Christians are called to a life of grace. This is best lived out by participation in the Sacraments. Life on earth is temporary. Our true home is Heaven. St. Therese of Lisieux said it best, “The world’s thy ship and not thy home.” Nothing is wrong with admiring the beauty this world has to offer. It only becomes an issue when the good of the created world is preferred to the good of God.

Continue reading →
Thank you for sharing!

The Dawn That Conquered Death

/ chicoinematt

When darkness held dominion deep,

And stone stood guard o’er death’s repose,

A secret stirred where shadows steep;

The mighty paradox arose.

Not in the blare of trumpets loud,

But in the hush where mourners trod,

The graveclothes folded, death disavowed,

The greatest jest of the laughing God.

For what is this but worlds remade?

The Paschal mystery unfurled:

The debt of ancient Adam paid,

The hinge on which turns all the world.

They sought the dead among the living,

Found emptiness where death should reign;

A gardener stood, His presence giving

Proof that dying was not in vain.

This is no mere remembrance pale,

No dusty legend time erodes;

But present power that cannot fail,

The cornerstone of new abodes.

The Feast of feasts, Solemnity prime,

Where bread and wine bear witness true;

The sacrifice outside of time

Made manifest for me and you.

On Friday’s cross, from sin we’re freed,

In Sunday’s light, new life begins;

This twofold gift is all we need—

The Paschal victory that wins.

What madness this! What wild decree!

That God should die that man might live;

That eyes once blind are made to see

The glory heaven deigns to give.

The world spins on, both old and new,

As men seek rest in towers of stone;

But hearts find home in what is true:

The place where Christ makes all His own.

So stand amazed at break of day,

When death gives way to life’s increase;

The stone that blocked is rolled away,

And thunders forth the word of “Peace.”

In Eastertide, our joy extends

Beyond one day to fifty more;

The season starts; it never ends,

A feast that reaches shore to shore.

For we walk now in newness of life,

Adopted heirs and siblings all;

Beyond the tomb and mortal strife,

Responding to our Father’s call.

The first day of creation’s dawn

Shines brighter than the ancient sun;

The old world died; the new world born:

Heaven and history now are one.

© 2025 Matthew Chicoine

Thank you for sharing!

Finding the Hidden Gems of Holy Week

/ chicoinematt / 2 Comments

Have you ever wondered about the week leading up to Easter? It’s called Holy Week, and it’s packed with traditions, history, and deep spiritual meaning. Even if you’ve been celebrating Easter your whole life, there might be some fascinating aspects of Holy Week you’ve never noticed before. Let’s take a closer look at this important time in the Church calendar and uncover some of its hidden gems.

What Exactly Is Holy Week?

Holy Week is the week right before Easter Sunday. It starts on Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. Think of it as a special time to walk with Jesus through the last days of his life, from his triumphant entry into Jerusalem to his crucifixion and burial. The traditions of Holy Week developed in Jerusalem in the 4th century, when Christians wanted to re-enact the final scenes of Jesus’ life in a liturgical way. Because Holy Week is so important, the celebrations that happen during this time take precedence over any other celebrations.

Palm Sunday: A Day of Triumph and Foreboding

Have you ever experienced a day that starts with joy and ends with sorrow? Palm Sunday is like that. On this day, we remember Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem and his Passion. The crowds waved palm branches to welcome him, which is why we use palm fronds in the liturgy on this day. But the joyful atmosphere quickly changes as we hear the Gospel reading about Jesus’ suffering and crucifixion. It’s a stark reminder that the road to glory passes through the Cross.

Maundy Thursday: A Night of Firsts and Farewells

Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, is a night of significant events. It’s the day we commemorate the Last Supper Jesus had with his Apostles before his death on the Cross. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke all contain narratives of this event. The Gospel of John gives a different account where Jesus washes the feet of his Apostles. During the Mass on Holy Thursday, the priest washes the feet of parishioners as a sign of service.

Institution of the Eucharist and the Priesthood

One of the most important themes of the Holy Thursday Mass is service and the role of the priests. It was at the Last Supper “when the Lord Jesus gave to the Church the gift of the Eucharist, and with it instituted our priesthood”. The priest or deacon washing the feet of the laity recalls Christ’s act of service to Peter and the other Apostles.

The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life.” Those in RCIA might find a special appreciation for Holy Thursday as they have been slowly trekking through the teachings of the Church. The peak is the Eucharist― the gift of Jesus’ body, blood, soul, and divinity.

The Chrism Mass

On the morning of Holy Thursday (in some dioceses it may be another morning during Holy Week), the bishop and the priests of his diocese celebrate a “Chrism Mass,” in which the oils used in the sacraments are consecrated.

Stripping of the Altar

After the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, the altar is stripped, the Eucharist is processed to a place of repose, and a period of silent Eucharistic adoration is held.

Good Friday: A Day of Sacrifice and Silence

Good Friday is a day of solemn remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross. Mass is not celebrated on this day. Instead, a Communion service is held. This consists of a liturgy of the word, the veneration of the cross, and the distribution of holy Communion. During the Crucifixion, “from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour” — that is, from about noon to about 3 p.m. — at which point Jesus died.

Ven. Fulton Sheen reminds us, “Unless there is a Good Friday in your life, there can be no Easter Sunday.”

Holy Saturday: Waiting in Hope

Holy Saturday is a day of waiting and anticipation. During the daytime hours, Mass is not celebrated, and holy Communion is given only to the dying. However, after nightfall, a vigil Mass commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter is celebrated. It is also customary for catechumens to be baptized and, in many places, for already baptized candidates to be received into the Church. They are also confirmed and receive their first holy Communion, completing the sacraments of Christian initiation.

St. Catherine of Siena encourages us: “He will provide the way and the means, such as you could never have imagined. Leave it all to Him, let go of yourself. Lose yourself on the Cross, and you will find yourself entirely.”

Easter Sunday: The Dawn of New Life

Easter Sunday is the day we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. In the Gospels, the disciples first learned of the Resurrection after the women went to the tomb and met angels, who revealed that it was empty. The Gospel reading is from John 20:1-9, which records the discovery of the empty tomb by Mary Magdalen and how Peter and the beloved disciple ran to the site and found her report was true.

Embrace the Journey

Holy Week is a journey through the final days of Jesus’ life, from his triumphant entry into Jerusalem to his glorious Resurrection on Easter Sunday. It’s a time to reflect on the meaning of Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection for our lives. As St. Bruno said, “While the world changes, the Cross stands firm.”

Thank you for sharing!

Why Catholics Must Have Bible A.D.D. Part 4― Jesus as the New Passover Lamb

/ chicoinematt

jesus the passover lamb

 

 

 

 

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on April 16, 2017.

A common title Christians give Jesus is the Lamb of God. Without a solid understanding of the scriptures one may not notice the significance of this title. My goal for today’s post is to briefly detail the connections between the Old Testament Passover and Jesus’ Passion and Death in the New Testament as the New Passover. I present you four specific ways Jesus is appropriately called the New Passover Lamb.

timing is everything

 

Timing is Everything

Traditionally, Christians celebrate Good Friday and connect it to the Jewish Passover sacrifice. To give a quick overview of the importance of the Passover feast, in the Book of Exodus God saved the Israelite firstborns if they sacrificed their finest lamb [a firstborn sheep] and spread the blood on the wooden doorposts.

In the Gospel of John, the evangelist makes a point to mention the Passover sacrifice at least three times. John specifically states the time of day Jesus’ execution occurred .He wrote, “It was the Preparation Day for Passover, and the hour was about noon” (John 19:14).

The priests began slaughtering the Passover Lambs in the temple at noontime. I don’t believe this timing was a coincidence on John’s part.

Innocent Victim and Firstborn

Like the innocent lamb slain during Passover, Jesus was innocent of any crime and is the firstborn [and only] Son of God. Pilate repeatedly tries to give Jesus an escape from this sentence because in his heart the Roman governor did not view Jesus as guilty (see John 19:4; 19:12; 19:15).

jesus thirsts on the cross

Hyssop

I always found John 19:28-29 perplexing.  John writes, “Jesus, realizing that everything was now finished, said to fulfill the Scripture, ‘I am thirsty.’ There was a jar there, full of common wine. They stuck a sponge soaked in this wine on some hyssop and raised it to his lips.” Interestingly enough, Exodus 12:22 also refers to the usage of hyssop. Hyssop was the same plant used to spread the blood of the Passover Lamb on the wooden doorpost of the Israelite households.

John desires his readers to see Jesus as the New Passover Lamb. His blood is smeared on the wood of the Cross. This time instead of saving Israelite homes Jesus’ sacrifice was for everyone.

What’s in a Number?

There’s 206 bones in the human body. None of Jesus’ bones were broken. The evangelist states the reason for this as to fulfill the Scripture promise, “Break none of his bones” (John 19:31-36). Likewise, the Passover Lamb was slain in a similar manner. According to Exodus 12:46, “It [Passover Lamb] must be eaten in one and the same house; you may not take any of its flesh outside the house. You shall not break any of its bones.”

chris pratt mind blown gif

While there are many more connections between the Jewish Passover celebration and Jesus’ Passion and Death, I will leave you to ponder the points I made above. Read and reflect on Exodus 12 and John 19. The more I flip back and forth between the Old and New Testaments the greater appreciation I have for my Catholic faith.

Do you want to receive  more insightful and informative content about the unity of the Bible?

Become an email subscriber (enter your email address in the Subscribe to Blog Via Email box and hit the Subscribe button. It’s that easy! Soon you will be receiving  bible blessings in your inbox.

Thank you for reading and hope you have a blessed day!

 

Thank you for sharing!