Pope Francis offers Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on April 9, 2020. Credit: Vatican Media/CNA.

Full Text: Pope Francis’ Holy Thursday Homily

Pope Francis offers Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on April 9, 2020. Credit: Vatican Media/CNA.

SOURCE CNA

Vatican City, Apr 9, 2020 / 02:00 pm  Here is the full text of Pope Francis’ Holy Thursday homily, delivered April 9 at the Basilica of St. Peter.

The Eucharist. Service. Anointing. The reality we live today in this liturgy is the Lord who wants to remain with us in the Eucharist. And we always become tabernacles of the Lord. We bear the Lord with us to the point that he himself tells us that if we do not eat his body and drink his blood, we will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. This is the mystery of the bread and wine of the Lord with us, in us, within us.

The service. That gesture that is a condition for entering the Kingdom of Heaven. Serve, yes, everyone, but the Lord — in that exchange of words he had with Peter — makes him understand that to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, we must let the Lord serve us, that the Servant of God is the servant of us. And this is difficult to understand. If I do not let the Lord be my servant, allow the Lord to wash me, to help me grow, to forgive me, I will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

And the priesthood. Today I would like to be close to priests. All of them — from the most recently ordained to the pope, we are all priests. The bishops, all … We are anointed, anointed by the Lord; anointed to offer the Eucharist, anointed to serve.

Today we did not have the Chrism Mass. I hope we will be able to have it before Pentecost, otherwise we will have to postpone it until next year. But I cannot let this Mass pass without mentioning the priests. Priests who offer their lives for the Lord, priests who are servants. In recent days, more than 60 have died here in Italy, in the care of the sick in hospitals, and also with doctors, nurses … They are “the saints next door,” priests who gave their lives by serving.

And I think of those who are far away. Today I received a letter from a priest, chaplain from a distant prison, in which he tells of how he lives this Holy Week with the prisoners. A Franciscan.

Priests who go far to bring the Gospel and die there. A bishop said that the first thing he did, when he arrived in these mission posts, was to go to the cemetery, to the grave of the priests who lost their lives there, young, by the local plague [local diseases]. They were not prepared, they had no antibodies. No one knows their names. Anonymous priests.

The country parish priests, who are parish priests of four, five, or seven villages in the mountains and go from one to the other, who know the people … Once, one told me that he knew the name of all the people of the villages. “Really?” I said to him. And he said to me: “Even the name of the dogs.” They know all. Priestly closeness.
Well done, good priests. Today I carry you in my heart and I bring you to the altar.

Slandered priests. Many times it happens today. They cannot go out on the street because bad things are said of them, in reference to the drama we have experienced with the discovery of  priests who did ugly things. Some told me that they cannot leave the house with the clergyman because they are insulted, and they continue.

Sinful priests, who together with the bishops and the pope, a sinner, do not forget to ask for forgiveness. And learn to forgive because they know that they need to ask for forgiveness and to forgive. We are all sinners. Priests who suffer from crises, who do not know what to do, who are in the dark … Today all of you, brother priests, are with me on the altar. 

You who are consecrated, I only tell you one thing: Do not be stubborn, like Peter. Allow your feet to be washed. The Lord is your servant. He is close to you to give you strength, to wash your feet.

And so, with this awareness of the need to be washed, to be great forgivers. Forgive. A great heart has generosity in forgiveness. It is the measure by which we will be measured. As you have forgiven, you will be forgiven: the same measure. Do not be afraid to forgive. Sometimes there are doubts … Look at Christ [look at the Crucifix]. There is everyone’s forgiveness.

Be brave, also in taking risks, in forgiving in order to console. And if you cannot give sacramental forgiveness at that moment, at least give the consolation of a brother who accompanies and leaves the door open for [that person] to return.

I thank God for the grace of the priesthood. We all [thank you]. I thank God for you, priests. Jesus loves you! He only asks that you allow him to wash your feet.

Calling for a whole web of prayer warriors - Bp. Pablo Virgilio S. David

The New Way of the Cross

Opening Prayer
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. God come to my assistance. Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and will be for ever. Amen. Opening Prayer: (before the 1st Station) O Jesus, our adorable Saviour, behold us prostrate at your feet, imploring your mercy for ourselves, and for the souls of all the faithful departed. Bestow on us the infinite merits of your passion, on which we are now about to meditate. Grant that while we trace this path of sights and tears, our hearts may be so touched with contrition and repentance, that we may be ready to embrace with joy all the crosses, sufferings, and humiliations of our life and pilgrimage.

1st Station: The Lord’s Supper

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. (Genuflect) Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. While they were eating, Jesus took a piece of bread, gave a prayer of thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples. “Take and eat it,” he said; “this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks to God, and gave it to them. “Drink it, all of you,” he said; “this is my blood, which seals God’s covenant, my blood poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink this wine until the day I drink the new wine with you in my Father’s Kingdom.” (Matthew 26:26-29) Our Father.., Hail Mary.., Glory Be.. Have mercy on us, O Lord. Have mercy on us. Holy Mother, pierce me through! In my heart, each wound renew, Of my Savior crucified. Through her heart, his sorrows sharing, All his bitter anguish bearing, Now at length the sword had passed.

2nd Station: Jesus’ Agony at Gethsemani

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. (Genuflect) Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Jesus left the city and went, as he usually did, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples went with him. When he arrived at the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” Then he went off from them about the distance of a stone’s throw and knelt down and prayed. “Father,” he said, “if you will, take this cup of suffering away from me. Not my will, however, but your will be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. (Luke 22:39-43) Our Father.., Hail Mary.., Glory Be.. Have mercy on us, O Lord. Have mercy on us. Holy Mother, pierce me through! In my heart, each wound renew, Of my Savior crucified. Oh, how sad and sore distressed Was that Mother highly blessed, Of the sole-begotten one.

3rd Station: Jesus Before the Sanhedrin

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. (Genuflect) Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. The High Priest stood up in front of them all and questioned Jesus, “Have you no answer to the accusation they bring against you?” But Jesus kept quiet and would not say a word. Again the High Priest questioned him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed God?” Jesus answered: “I am, and you will all see the Son of Man seated on the right of the Almighty and coming with the clouds of heaven!” The High Priest tore his robes and said, “We don’t need any more witnesses! You heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” They all voted against him: he was guilty and should be put to death. (Mark 14:55-64) Our Father.., Hail Mary.., Glory Be.. Have mercy on us, O Lord. Have mercy on us. Holy Mother, pierce me through! In my heart, each wound renew, Of my Savior crucified. Christ above in torment hangs, She beneath beholds the pangs, Of her dying glorious Son.

4th Station: The Crowning with Thorns

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. (Genuflect) Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Then Pilate’s soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s palace, and the whole company gathered round him. They stripped off his clothes and put a scarlet robe on him. Then they made a crown out of thorny branches and placed it on his head, and put a stick in his right hand; then they knelt before him and mocked him. “Long live the King of the Jews!” they said. They spat on him, and took the stick and hit him over the head. When they had finished mocking him, they took the robe off and put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him out to crucify him. (Matthew 27:27-31) Our Father.., Hail Mary.., Glory Be.. Have mercy on us, O Lord. Have mercy on us. Holy Mother, pierce me through! In my heart, each wound renew, Of my Savior crucified. Is there one who would not weep, Whelmed in miseries so deep, Christ’s dear Mother to behold?

5th Station: The Carrying of the Cross

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. (Genuflect) Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. When they had finished mocking him, they took the robe off and put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him out to crucify him. (Matthew 27:31) Our Father.., Hail Mary.., Glory Be.. Have mercy on us, O Lord. Have mercy on us. Holy Mother, pierce me through! In my heart, each wound renew, Of my Savior crucified. Can the human heart refrain From partaking in her pain, In that Mother’s pain untold.

6th Station: The Falling of Jesus

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. (Genuflect) Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. He was pierced for our offences, crushed for our sins. Upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way. But the Lord laid upon him the guilt of us all. Though he was harshly treated, he submitted, and opened not his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, he was silent and opened not his mouth. (Isaiah 52:5-7) Our Father.., Hail Mary.., Glory Be.. Have mercy on us, O Lord. Have mercy on us. Holy Mother, pierce me through! In my heart, each wound renew, Of my Savior crucified. For the sins of his own nation, She saw him hang in desolation, Till his spirit forth he sent.

7th Station: Simon of Cyrene

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. (Genuflect) Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene named Simon, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. (Matthew 27:32) Our Father.., Hail Mary.., Glory Be.. Have mercy on us, O Lord. Have mercy on us. Holy Mother, pierce me through! In my heart, each wound renew, Of my Savior crucified. O my Mother, found of love, Touch my spirit from above, Make my heart with yours accord.

8th Station: The Women of Jerusalem

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. (Genuflect) Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. A large crowd of people followed him; among them were some women who were weeping and wailing for him. Jesus turned to them and said, “Women of Jerusalem! Don’t cry for me, but for yourselves and your children. For the days are coming when people will say, ‘How lucky are the women who never had children, who never bore babies, who never nursed them!’ That will be the time when people will say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Hide us!’ For if such things as these are done when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” (Luke 23:27-31) Our Father.., Hail Mary.., Glory Be.. Have mercy on us, O Lord. Have mercy on us. Holy Mother, pierce me through! In my heart, each wound renew, Of my Savior crucified. Make me feel as you have felt, Make my soul to glow and melt, With the love of Christ, my Lord.

9th Station: Jesus is Nailed to the Cross

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. (Genuflect) Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. When they came to the place called “The Skull,” they crucified Jesus there, and the two criminals, one on his right and the other on his left. Jesus said, “Forgive them, Father! They don’t know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:32-34) Our Father.., Hail Mary.., Glory Be.. Have mercy on us, O Lord. Have mercy on us. Holy Mother, pierce me through! In my heart, each wound renew, Of my Savior crucified. Holy Mother, pierce me through! In my heart, each wound renew, Of my Savior crucified.

10th Station: The Good Criminal

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. (Genuflect) Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. One of the criminals hanging there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” The other one, however, rebuked him, saying, “Don’t you fear God? You received the same sentence he did. Ours, however, is only right, because we are getting what we deserve for what we did; but he has done no wrong.” And he said to Jesus, “Remember me, Jesus, when you come as King!” Jesus said to him, “I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me.” (Luke 23:39-43) Our Father.., Hail Mary.., Glory Be.. Have mercy on us, O Lord. Have mercy on us. Holy Mother, pierce me through! In my heart, each wound renew, Of my Savior crucified. Let me share with you his pain, Who for all my sins was slain, Who for me in torment died.

11th Station: Mary and John

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. (Genuflect) Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Standing close to Jesus’ cross were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing there; so he said to his mother, “He is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “She is your mother.” From that time the disciple took her to live in his home. (John 19:25-27) Our Father.., Hail Mary.., Glory Be.. Have mercy on us, O Lord. Have mercy on us. Holy Mother, pierce me through! In my heart, each wound renew, Of my Savior crucified. Let me mingle tears with you, Mourning him who mourned for me, All the days that I may live.

12th Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. (Genuflect) Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Jesus knew that by now everything had been completed; and in order to make the scripture come true, he said, “I am thirsty.” A bowl was there, full of cheap wine; so a sponge was soaked in the wine, put on a stalk of hyssop, and lifted up to his lips. Jesus drank the wine and said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and died. (John 19:28-30) Our Father.., Hail Mary.., Glory Be.. Have mercy on us, O Lord. Have mercy on us. Holy Mother, pierce me through! In my heart, each wound renew, Of my Savior crucified. By the cross with you to stay, There with you to weep and pray, Is all I ask of you to give.

13th Station: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. (Genuflect) Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. When it was evening, a rich man from Arimathea arrived; his name was Joseph, and he also was a disciple of Jesus. He went into the presence of Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate gave orders for the body to be given to Joseph. So Joseph took it, wrapped it in a new linen sheet, and placed it in his own tomb, which he had just recently dug out of solid rock. Then he rolled a large stone across the entrance to the tomb and went away. (Matthew 27:57-60) Our Father.., Hail Mary.., Glory Be.. Have mercy on us, O Lord. Have mercy on us. Holy Mother, pierce me through! In my heart, each wound renew, Of my Savior crucified. While my body here decays, May soul your goodness praise, Safe in paradise with you.

14th Station: The Resurrection

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. (Genuflect) Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, carrying the spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the entrance to the tomb, so they went in; but they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. They stood there puzzled about this, when suddenly two men in bright shining clothes stood by them. Full of fear, the women bowed down to the ground, as the men said to them, “Why are you looking among the dead for one who is alive? He is not here; he has been raised. Remember what he said to you while he was in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, be crucified, and three days later rise to life.’” (Luke 24:1-6) Our Father.., Hail Mary.., Glory Be.. Have mercy on us, O Lord. Have mercy on us. Holy Mother, pierce me through! In my heart, each wound renew, Of my Savior crucified. Jesus risen be our lover, In your food and in our brother, Lead us home to paradise.

Final Prayer: (after the 14th Station) O Lord Jesus Christ, help me to see in the cross the lengths to which man’s sin will go. Help me to see in the cross that sin is enmity to you, that sin is the destroyer of all beauty, and the enemy of all loveliness. Help me to see in the cross the lengths to which your love will go, that you did love us so much that you kept nothing back. Help me to see in the cross the horror of sin, and to depart for ever from it. Help me to see in the cross the wonder of your love and to surrender forever to it. I ask you this through your sorrowful mother. Amen. May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
6 Ways to Make your Lenten Season Really Holy by Father Jerry Orbos

WATCH: 6 Ways to Make your Lenten Season Really Holy by Father Jerry Orbos

Ash Wednesday is one of the most popular and important holy days in the liturgical calendar. Ash Wednesday opens Lent, a season of fasting and prayer.

Ash Wednesday takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday, and is chiefly observed by Catholics, although many other Christians observe it too.

Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head. The ashes symbolize the dust from which God made us. As the priest applies the ashes to a person’s forehead, he speaks the words: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Alternatively, the priest may speak the words, “Repent and believe in the Gospel.”

Ashes also symbolize grief, in this case, grief that we have sinned and caused division from God.

Writings from the Second-century Church refer to the wearing of ashes as a sign of penance.

Priests administer ashes during Mass and all are invited to accept the ashes as a visible symbol of penance. Even non-Christians and the excommunicated are welcome to receive the ashes. The ashes are made from blessed palm branches, taken from the previous year’s palm Sunday Mass.

6 Ways to Make your Lenten Season Really Holy by Father Jerry Orbos