The final week of Jesus' life, a chronology

As the Church prepares to enter into Holy Week, we do well to consider the final week of Jesus’ life, from Friday to Friday. In a later post, we will look at the last twenty-four hours (from the Last Supper to the death of Jesus on the Cross) in greater detail.

It will be helpful to review the Gospel accounts given by Sts. Mark and John, the two who offer the most explicit chronology of Holy Week. See Mark 11:1 – 15:37 and also John 11:54 – 19:30.

When a priest refuses communion to a public sinner, it is not to protect the Eucharist

The recent controversy over the withholding of communion by Fr. Guarnizo has sparked numerous canonical and pastoral discussions in the Catholic blogosphere. Dr. Ed Peters (to my mind) has summed up well the canonical questions in numerous articles [here] – though, to be sure, some questions still remain as to what constitutes a “public” sinner [here].

However, rather than entering immediately into the debated case of Fr. Guarnizo and Ms. Johnson, it may be good to step back and consider the question of unworthy communion in general and then turn to the first case of sacrilegious communion which occurred when Judas took the Eucharist at the Last Supper.

Making the Total Consecration

St. Louis de Montfort tells us:

“At the end of these three weeks they should go to confession and Holy Communion with the intention of consecrating themselves to Jesus through Mary as slaves of love. When receiving Holy Communion they could follow the method given later on. They then recite the act of consecration which is given at the end of this book. If they do not have a printed copy of the act, they should write it out or have it copied and then sign it on the very day they make it.

If Christ knew all things, why was his soul troubled?

5^th Sunday of Lent, John 12:20-33

Jesus said, “I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour?’ But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour.”

In both options for the Gospel this Sunday (whether from year B, on the Son of Man being glorified and raised up on the Cross so as to draw all men to himself; or from year A for RCIA, on the raising of Lazarus from the dead), Christ is deeply troubled and intensely sorrowful.

Our Savior truly suffered not only in his body but in his soul. Our Lord was profoundly acquainted with grief. Both the thought of his own death and also of the death of his friend Lazarus make our Lord to offer prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears (Hebrews 5:7).

But, if Christ’s soul was troubled, how can the Church claim that our Savior knew all things?

Why do Catholics abstain from meat?

It’s not because meat tastes better than fish. It’s not because meat is (or ever was) a delicacy. It’s not because the apostles were fishermen. It’s not even because Christ offered his flesh upon the Cross on a Friday (at least, that isn’t the first reason).

Christians fast from meat in order to overcome the passions of the flesh. We have always believed that flesh-meat causes an increase in temptations to lust and anger, and this is why we abstain from meat rather than from fish, wine, or other foods.

No matter what anyone may tell you, a full plate at the Friday Fish Fry is in no way contrary to the true spirit of Lenten abstinence (though gluttony should, of course, be avoided).

The Place of St. Joseph in Marian Devotion

March 19^th, Solemnity of St. Joseph the Spouse of Mary

A careful reader will notice that St. Louis-Marie de Montfort makes no mention whatsoever of St. Joseph in either the “True Devotion to Mary” or the “Secret of Mary”. Indeed, it is quite common that books of Marian devotion have very little to say about the Spouse of the Blessed Virgin and Foster-father of our Savior.

In this little post, I intend to give a few indications of the place of St. Joseph in Marian devotion, and specifically in the Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary. Further, I will offer one explanation as to why he so often seems to be left-out.

The Third Week of the preparation for the Total Consecration (19 - 25 March)

Theme of Week Three: Knowledge of Christ

"During this period we shall apply ourselves to the study of Jesus Christ. What is to be studied in Christ? First the God-Man, His grace and glory; then His rights to sovereign dominion over us; since, after having renounced Satan and the world, we have taken Jesus Christ for our Lord. What next shall be the object of our study? His exterior actions and also His interior life; namely, the virtues and acts of His Sacred Heart; His association with Mary in the mysteries of the Annunciation and Incarnation, during His infancy and hidden life, at the feast of Cana and on Calvary."

From the Preparation for the Total Consecration published by the Montfort Fathers.