Sunday Inspiration - Passiontide

As I was preparing to compose this week's Sunday Inspiration post, I came across a post on another blog about the time in the liturgical year known as Passiontide. This period of time lasts from the 5th Sunday in Lent until the Easter Vigil. The post I am referring to contains an excellent explanation of how the liturgy during the Lenten season prepares us for the resurrection on Easter. So for today's inspiration, I recommend reading this post and thinking about how we can make the liturgy of the Church part of our daily lives and thus experience this death and resurrection in our own lives.

Whom do you serve?

“Men often speak as if the perfection of human happiness lay in our being free to do or not to do, to choose and to reject. Now we are indeed thus free, as far as this – that if we do not choose to be Christ’s servants, we can go back to that old bondage from which He rescued us, and be slaves again to the powers of evil. But though we are free to make our situation worse, we are not free to be without service or post of any kind. It is not in man’s nature to be out of all service and to be self-dependent. We may choose our master, but God or mammon we must serve. We cannot possibly be in a neutral or intermediate state. Such a state does not exist. If we will not be Christ’s servants, we are forthwith Satan’s; and Christ sets us free from Satan only by making us His servants.”

-Blessed John Henry Newman, “The Strictness of the Law of Christ”

The Most Disturbing Story of the Week

The award goes to PETA. Read the story here.

New Catholic Films

Recently there have been a number of films coming out with Catholic themes that actually seem to be portraying the Church in positive ways. The latest film that I have seen about the Church was The Rite, which in my opinion was pretty decent. Below are trailers for three new films that are about the Church. While I have not actually yet seen any of the films mentioned below, I have heard good things about all of them.

First, there is There Be Dragons, a film set in Spain during the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s. The film includes a portrayal of St. Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei.

(Speaking of Spain, here is a good article by George Weigel about current issues regarding the Church in Spain)

Then, there is Cristiada, the story of the Cristero War that occurred in Mexico in the 1920’s. This war was a result of the government's attempt at secularizing Mexican society and enforcing anti-Catholic policies.


Finally, there is Of Gods and Men, a film about a group of Cistercian monks facing the threat of violence in Algeria in the 1990s.


From the previews, I definitely think these films are worth watching. If anyone has seen any of them yet, I'd love to hear your thoughts on them.

Sunday Inspiration - Half-way There

St. Ambrose on the 4th Sunday of Lent:

“Give thanks, Brethren to the Divine Mercy Which has brought you safely half-way through the season of Lent. For this favour they give praise to God, thankfully and with devotion, who in these days have striven to live in the manner in which they were instructed at the beginning of Lent; that is, those who, coming with eagerness to the Church, have sought with sighs and tears, in daily fasting and almsdeeds, to obtain the forgiveness of their sins.”

Laetare Sunday

“Rejoice, O Jerusalem, and come together all you who lover her”

From the Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs by Francis X. Weiser:

“The fourth Sunday in Lent (Mid-Lent) derives its Latin name from the first word of the Mass text, Laetare Jerusalem (Rejoice, O Jerusalem). It is a day of joy within the mourning season. The altars may be decorated with flowers, organ playing is permitted, and rose-colored vestments may be worn instead of purple ones.

"The historical background of this sudden joyful note during the penitential season lies in the ancient practice of the traditio symboli ('handing over' of the symbolum, the Apostolic Creed). The catechumens received the sacred text for the first time on Wednesday after the fourth Sunday in Lent. Soon afterward, the 'Our Father' was also given to them. These ceremonies formed the last and decisive step toward baptism for those who had successfully stood the tests and scrutinies and proved themselves worthy to be admitted into the Church. Thus already at the beginning of the week (Laetare Sunday) the exultation of Mother Church over the approaching increase of her children (through baptism) manifested itself in the above-mentioned liturgical expression of joy.

"The Station of the fourth Sunday was held at the church of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme (called simply 'Hierusalem' in ancient books). Hence the repeated mention of Jerusalem in the liturgical texts. The holy city is taken as a type of the New Testament 'Jerusalem,' the Church, who is our Mother (Galatians 4, 26), giving supernatural birth to us in baptism.

"In later centuries, when the original practice of the traditio on Wednesday in Mid-Lent had been discontinued (being connected with the baptismal ceremony into one rite), the true reason for the Sunday's liturgical character of joy was forgotten, and other reasons were often given. Thus Pope Innocent III (1216) said in one of his sermons:

'On this Sunday, which marks the middle of Lent, a measure of consoling relaxation is provided so that the faithful may not break down under the severe strain of Lenten fast but may continue to bear the restrictions with a refreshed and easier heart.'"