"Your work must become a personal prayer, must become a real conversation with Our Father in heaven.”(Saint Josemaría)
Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, who are hidden disciples of Christ, intercede for Him making use of the high positions they hold. In the hour of loneliness, of total abandonment and of scorn..., it is then that they stand up for him audacter, boldly (Mark 15:43)...: heroic courage!
Marvel at Mary's courage: at the foot of the Cross, with the greatest of human sorrows--there is no sorrow like her sorrow--filled with fortitude. And ask her for that same strength, so that you too can remain beside the Cross. (The Way, 508)
We should dwell on those words of Jesus, and make them our own: Desiderio desideravi hoc Pascha manducare vobiscum: I have longed and longed to eat this Passover with you. There is no better way to show how great is our concern and love for the Holy Sacrifice than by taking great care with the least detail of the ceremonies the wisdom of the Church has laid down.
Do you to know how to thank Our Lord for all he has done for us?... With love! There is no other way. Love is with love repaid. But the real proof of affection is given by sacrifice. So, take courage!: deny yourself and take up his Cross. Then you will be sure you are returning him love for Love. (The Way of the Cross, Fifth Station, 1)
The more you belong to Christ, the more grace you will obtain to be effective in this world and to be happy in eternity. But you must make up your mind to follow the way of self surrender: the Cross on your shoulders, with a smile on your lips, and a light in your soul. (The Way of the Cross, Second Station, 3)
Our sins were the cause of the Passion: of that torture which disfigured the most lovable countenance of Jesus, perfectus Deus, perfectus homo. And again it is our wretchedness that impedes us now from contemplating Our Lord, and makes his figure appear dark and distorted. When our sight is blurred, when our eyes are clouded, we need to go to the light.
With our acts of service we can prepare an even greater triumph for the Lord than that of his entry into Jerusalem. For there will be no repetition of the Judas episode, or that of the Garden of Gethsemane, or of that dark night. We will succeed in setting the world alight with the flames of that fire which he came to cast upon the earth. And the light of Truth - which is our Jesus - will enlighten men's minds with a brightness that never fades. (The Forge, 947)
A meditation by Fr Donncha Ó hAodha, Vicar of Opus Dei for Ireland, for the Feast of Palm Sunday (March 27, 2021)
Some resources for drawing as much spiritual fruit as possible from Lent and Holy Week, in preparation for celebrating our Lord's resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz wishes everyone a Happy Easter and encourages us to ask our Lord for a renewed faith that is put into action through charity shown in deeds.
The hymn "Stabat Mater" describing Mary's sorrow at the foot of the Cross has been set to music countless times by composers over the centuries. Their renditions of this moving song can help you to accompany Our Lady on this Holy Saturday.
Transcript and audio recording in English of reflections by Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz on the meaning of Holy Week (fourth in a series of four).
