MARCH 25, 2024 – MONDAY IN HOLY WEEK.
- St. Dismas (33). Patron or Patroness. Male convicted criminals. (Historical) The Good Thief (for he stole Heaven)
- St. Margaret Clitherow (1586). Martyr. (Historical)
- The Annunciation is moved to April 8. (Current, Traditional)
The meditation for today will appear on the translated date of April 8 (the first day outside of Easter).
This is an excerpt of Fr. Hardon discussion St. Peter Julian Eymard and a note of St. Dismas, whose feast used to be celebrated today.
When Peter Julian Eymard said what he did, he was in effect saying without the Eucharist the world would spiritually die. In fact, he was really saying that except for the Eucharist, the world would long ago have merely died. He was saying that if the modern world is to be saved from its suicidal pride and lust and greed, it will be only, only, only through the Eucharist, which means only through Jesus Christ. For our purpose, this means through the daily reception of Holy Communion by believing Catholics.
But we must be believing Catholics. We must believe that when we receive the Eucharist, we receive the same identical Jesus Christ who was conceived by the Virgin Mary at Nazareth. We must believe that in the Eucharist we receive the same Jesus who worked the miracles of raising a naturally dead Lazarus back to physical life, and a supernaturally dead Dismas back to the spiritual life on Calvary. We must believe that daily communion is not a luxury, but a necessity. Why? Because Jesus told us, without me you can do nothing. What a safe statement. We need Jesus every day. That is the first meaning of the petition of the Lord’s Prayer, give us this day our daily bread. Saint Pius X made this plain when he told us in his decree on frequent communion at the turn of the present century, Catholics must receive Holy Communion every day.
WORD OF THE DAY
INDIFFERENCE. The state of not being determined to act or not act, to act in one way rather than another. Among persons, active indifference is the ability to determine oneself to a given course of action; passive indifference is the capacity to be moved or determined by someone else. In ascetical theology, indifference is the state of being freed from inordinate attachments or desires that would keep a person from total dedication to God. It is internal liberty that enables the soul to give itself unreservedly to follow Christ.
Modern Catholic Dictionary, Fr. John Hardon SJ (Get the real one at Eternal Life — don’t accept an abridged or edited version of this masterpiece!)
HOLY WEEK MEDITATIONS
Special meditations focused on Holy Week: MONDAY IN HOLY WEEK
LENT MEDITATION DAY 41
Enjoy daily meditations this lent from Fr. Richard Clarke, SJ. Short and powerful, written in 1880 for busy lay people to reap rewards through lent. (includes audio): Lent Day 41: Monday in Holy Week — The Dereliction of Jesus on the Cross.
March is the Month of St. Joseph
Daily devotional meditations on Saint Joseph: March 25th — St. Joseph’s Strong Faith.
This article, MARCH 25, 2024 – MONDAY IN HOLY WEEK. is a post from The Bellarmine Forum.
https://bellarmineforum.org/march-25-2024-monday-in-holy-week/
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