Commentary on Liturgy and Readings
EASTER VIGIL
INTRODUCTION
Dear friends in Christ,
Good evening and welcome to this liturgical celebration.
In the Christian tradition, this night is the mother of all nights. We have prepared ourselves through 40 days of lent for this night. In the past three days we have accompanied the Lord in His passion and death. We are gathered here to celebrate His resurrection. Tonight is the climax of the history of redemption. It is this celebration that was the first to be celebrated in the early church. The liturgy of Easter vigil is full of symbols; it is a feast to all our senses, and we welcome you to taste it with your hearts.
The liturgy of tonight has four parts:
1. Liturgy of the Light,
2. Liturgy of the Word
3. Liturgy of Blessing of Water and Baptism
4. Liturgy of the Eucharist.
Now the lights in the church will be turned off to signify the […]
Youth Liturgy
Commentary on the Liturgy of Good Friday
Good Friday
Passion of Our Lord – Commentary
Introduction
Dear friends in Christ Jesus, on this day, which is called the Good Friday, we commemorate the passion and death of the Lord. According to the Church’s ancient tradition, the sacraments are not celebrated today or tomorrow. Today’s liturgy calls for silence and contemplation. This special liturgy has three parts:
The Liturgy of the Word
Veneration of the Cross, and
Holy Communion
PART I – LITURGY OF THE WORD
Now we are about to start the first part of our service: The liturgy of the Word. The priest(s) together with the ministers of the altar, wearing red garments, proceed to the altar. The priest will then prostrate in front of the altar to commemorate the hour when Jesus gave up his spirit. We will all kneel in silence during that moment. For now, please stand to welcome the procession.
First Reading: Is 52:13-53:12
The first reading from prophet Isaiah is […]
Via Lucis – 3
Introduction
Reading: Acts 2:14, 22-25, 32-33
Station I – Jesus is Risen!
Reading: Luke 24:1-9
Station II – Peter and John run to the tomb.
Reading: John 20:3-8
Station III – Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene.
Reading: John 20:11-18a
Station IV – Jesus joins the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.
Reading: Luke 24:13-27
Station V – Jesus is recognized in the breaking of bread.
Reading: Luke 24:28-35
Station VI – Jesus appears to a group of the apostles behind closed doors.
Reading: Luke 24:36-43
Station VII – Jesus empowers his disciples to forgive sins.
Reading: John 20:21-23
Station VIII – Jesus confirms the faith of Thomas.
Reading: John 20:24-29
Station IX – Jesus appears on the shore of lake Tiberias.
Reading: John 21:1-14
Station X – Jesus commissions Peter to take care of his flock, the Church.
Reading: John 21:15-17
Station XI – Jesus entrusts his disciples with his mission to the whole world.
Reading: […]
Via Lucis – Version 2
A pious exercise called the Via Lucis has developed and spread to many regions in recent years. Following the model of the Via Crucis, the faithful process while meditating on the various appearances of Jesus – from his Resurrection to his Ascension – in which he showed his glory to the disciples who awaited the coming of the Holy Spirit (cf. John 14, 26; 16, 13-15; Lk 24, 49), strengthened their faith, brought to completion his teaching on the Kingdom and more closely defined the sacramental and hierarchical structure of the Church.
Through the Via Lucis, the faithful recall the central event of the faith – the resurrection of Christ – and their discipleship in virtue of Baptism, the paschal sacrament by which they have passed from the darkness of sin to the bright radiance of the light of grace (cf. Col 1, 13; Eph 5, 8).
For centuries the Via Crucis involved the faithful in […]
An Ugandan Prayer
Lord, We Pray!
Lord,
you give some cows long horns.
To others no horns at all.
You have a plan for every cow.
You have a plan for each one of us too.
Help us to be open to your plan.
That way we can truly be happy.
Lord,
you have the yam and the knife.
We have no yam.
Nor the knife.
We depend on you.
Unless you give us the yam,
we will have none.
So we beg you
provide us with what we need.
Lord,
you give beard to goats.
But to cows no beard.
You know what everyone needs.
You know what we need.
We trust you will give us
what we truly deserve.
Prayers by
Richard Kitimbo, Kamuli, Uganda
Interpreted from Lusoga
By Selvam, SDB