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Gospel in Art: Good Friday - The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ

Diptych with Scenes from Christ's Passion of Christ, French (possibly Paris),1350-75 AD © Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Gospel of 29 March 2024 John 18:1-19:42 Key: N. Narrator. J. Jesus. O. Other single speaker. C. Crowd, or more than one speaker. N. Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kedron valley. There was a garden there, and he went into it with his disciples. Judas the traitor knew the place well, since Jesus had often met his disciples there, and he brought the cohort to this place together with a... Read More


Pope celebrates Holy Thursday Mass with women prisoners

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Pope Francis celebrated the Mass of the Lord's Supper in the women's section of the Rebibbia correctional facility in Rome on Holy Thursday afternoon. After the Mass there were touching scenes as the wheelchair-bound Holy Father washed the feet of twelve prisoners, gathered in an outdoor area of the prison with guards, chaplains and officials. In his brief off-the-cuff homily, the Pope focused on... Read More


Pope at Chrism Mass: Dear priests, let sorrow sanctify you

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At 9.30 this morning, Holy Thursday, in the Vatican Basilica, Pope Francis presided over the Chrism Mass, attended by hundreds of priests. During this liturgy, celebrated on this day in all Cathedral Churches around the world, priests renewed the vows they made at the moment of their Holy Ordination. This was followed by the blessing of the oil for the sick, the oil of catechumens, and the Chrism.... Read More


Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem: Homily for Holy Thursday

Image: Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, gave this Homily tonight, for Holy Thursday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem. Dear Brothers and Sisters, From many a place and many a person, I have been told in these past few days: "you are preparing for a difficult Easter!" This clearly references the terrible months which we are living here in the Holy Land as w... Read More

We cannot be silent: A statement from the Jesuits on Gaza

Photo by Emad El Byed on Unsplash

In a strong gesture of protest, the Jesuits issued the following statement in Rome, today, 28 March, in which they say they "cannot be silent" in the face of the killing, famine and spread of disease in Gaza as Israel continues its bombardment. Almost six months of war in Gaza, and the guns have not fallen silent. We, the members of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), like so many other Catholics, Ch... Read More


Cardinal: Jesus's humility in service can be our hallmark too

Image: M Mazur CBCEW

In his homily for the Mass of the Lord's Supper in Westminster Cathedral this evening, Cardinal Vincent Nichols reminded us that "our true selves will be revealed in the service that we give to others." "Only in sacrificial service, will disputes and divisive arguments be overcome," said the Cardinal. "Sin throws us apart. It divides us. Only the grace and example of Jesus can save us, so eloquent... Read More


Holy Week 2024 - Reflection from Pax Christi

The Cross in the Rubble - Lutheran Christmas Church, Bethlehem

'We cannot live a day without saying yes or no to death or to life, to war or to peace. The choice is ours. There is no compromise in this matter. To postpone or evade decision is to decide, to hide is to decide, to compromise is to decide. There is no escape; this is our challenge.' Jean Zaru, Palestinian Quaker Theologian As we journey through Holy Week this year, we can more than ever rela... Read More


India: Attacks against Christians on the rise

Mass in Simdega Diocese, India © ACN

The lives of Christians are under threat in 19 states in India, with the upcoming general elections raising further concerns about religious intolerance, according to a fresh report. A total of 161 incidents of anti-Christian discrimination and persecution have been reported in the first 75 days of 2024 in India, as stated in a document by the United Christian Forum for Human Rights (UCF), an Indi... Read More


Letter of Pope Francis to Catholics in Holy Land

Church of the Holy Family

Pope Francis wrote this letter to Catholics in the Holy Land on the eve of the Triduum. Dear brothers and sisters, For some time, you have daily been in my thoughts and prayers. Now, on the eve of this Easter that for you is so overshadowed by the Passion and, as yet, so little by the Resurrection, I feel the desire to write to you and to tell you how close you are to my heart. I embrace all of yo... Read More


Gospel in Art: Maundy Thursday - At the moment you do not know what I am doing

No. 301 (Reds & Violet over Red/Red & Blue over Red), Mark Rothko, 1959 © Alamy Images / MOCA Gallery, LA California

Gospel of 28 March 2024 John 13:1-15 It was before the festival of the Passover, and Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to pass from this world to the Father. He had always loved those who were his in the world, but now he showed how perfect his love was. They were at supper, and the devil had already put it into the mind of Judas Iscariot son of Simon, to betray him. Jesus knew that the Fa... Read More


Palestinian musicians join London band in new Easter single

Dying Son Artwork b.png

Palestinian multi-instrumentalists Charlie Rishmawi and Miguel Khair have joined forces with London band Ooberfuse in this poignant musical lament: Dying Son, highlighting one mother's devastating grief at the loss of her child. More than 13,000 children have been killed in Gaza in the past five months - thousands more are missing under the rubble or suffering from starvation. Hal St John, from... Read More


BBC series follows celebrity pilgrims across North Wales

Bishop Brignall with celebrity pilgrims

On Good Friday, 29 March, the BBC screens the first of three hour-long episodes of its series 'Pilgrimage' following seven celebrity pilgrims, of differing faiths and beliefs, on a spiritual journey across North Wales. This, the sixth series of BBC Two's 'Pilgrimage', takes the well-known personalities along the North Wales Pilgrim's Way. The route celebrates Celtic early Christian saints, and con... Read More


Pope writes meditations for Good Friday Way of the Cross

Pope Francis in prayer during Via Crucis at the Colosseum  image: Vatican Media

This year, Pope Francis is writing his own Via Crucis' meditations for the Way of the Cross this Good Friday at Rome's iconic Colosseum, the Holy See press office announced yesterday. Each year for the annual tradition of the Via Crucis, presided over by Pope Francis in Rome's Colosseum on the evening of Good Friday, different people are entrusted with writing the meditations. This year however, ... Read More


Book: The Hopeful Activist

The modern world can be an overwhelming place to live - everywhere we look, it seems like a new issue needs our attention. The good news is that many people want to do their part in addressing these issues to make the world a better place. But how? The Hopeful Activist is a guide for all those who feel called to create positive change in their society but aren't quite sure where to start. Featurin... Read More

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