Easter Monday 2025

 

"The Word Was the True Light"

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"In the Beginning was the Word:

the Word was with God

and the Word was God.

He was with God in the beginning.

Through him all things came to be,

not one thing had its being but through him.

All that came to be had life in him

and that life was the light of men,

a light that shines in the dark,

a light that darkness could not overpower.

A man came, sent by God

His name was John.

He came as a witness,

as a witness to speak for the light,

so that everyone might believe through him.

He was not the light,

only a witness to speak for the light. 

The Word was the true light

that enlightens all men;

and he was coming into the world.

He was in the world

that had its being through him,

and the world did not know him.

He came to his own domain

and his own people did not accept him.

But to all who did accept him

he gave power to become children of God,

to all who believe in the name of him

who was born not out of human stock

or urge of the flesh

or will of man

but of God himself.

The Word was made flesh,

he lived among us,

and we saw his glory,

the glory that is his as the only Son of the Father,

full of grace and truth."

Note: Scripture passage is from John 1:1-15 from the  Jerusalem Bible copyright 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd and Doubleday & Company, Inc. Garden City, New York,

Easter Sunday 2025

 

Jesus Has Risen!

"The body of Jesus Christ was two days in the tomb.  On the morning of the third, the guards were startled by an earthquake, that shook the ground, and the sudden appearance of an angel, that rolled back the stone from the mouth of the sepulcher.  Their wonder knew no bounds when they saw Jesus coming forth from the tomb, His face shining as the sun.  For the moment, in terror, they fell to the ground; then, rising, fled into Jerusalem. "

Mary Magdalene Mistook Jesus For a Gardener

"Early in the morning of the third day, Mary Magdalene, and Mary, the mother of James,  and Salome, came to the tomb, that they might embalm the body of Jesus.  On the way, they began to consider how they would roll back the stone that closed  up the door of the sepulcher.  No wonder when they arrived and found, not only the stone rolled back, but the tomb empty, they were overcome with astonishment. "

"As soon as Mary Magdalene saw how matters stood, she hastened back and told the Apostles, but the other women remained.  Stooping down, to look into the tomb, they saw an angel, who bade them fear not, for Jesus was risen, and had gone before them into Galilee, where they would see Him.  The angel told them also to hasten to the apostles and more particularly to Peter, and tell them the news."

"These pious women had hardly left the place, when Peter and John came.  They had doubted Mary Magdalene's word, and came to see for themselves. John arrived first, but Peter entered first.  Finding nothing but the linens in which the body had been wrapped, they hastened back to tell the others" 

"Scarce had Peter and John left the sepulcher, when Mary Magdalene arrived (for the second time).  Overwhelmed with sorrow at the loss of the body of her Master, she entered the sepulcher.  Here she met an angel, who asked why she wept.  She answered: 'They have taken away the body of my Lord, and I know not where they have laid it' "

"When she had said this, not knowing it was an angel to whom she spoke, she left the sepulcher.  As she came out, she met Jesus, but did not know Him.  Thinking He was the gardener, she asked Him where the body was.  But Jesus simply said, 'Mary,' when she recognized Him, and threw herself at His feet. "

Note: The exact text above and (originally black and white) drawings are from "Bible History" having an 1881 copyright by Benziger Brothers, Printers to the Holy Apostolic See, New  York, Cincinati and Chicago.  Humble Blogger added color to the drawing using tools in the free online  lunapic.com photo editor.  Bible descriptions of Jesus' Resurrection are found in the four Gospels: Matthew 28:1-20, Mark 16:1-20, Luke 24:1-43 and John 20:1-49

Good Friday

 

Jesus dies on the Cross along with two Thieves

"About noon of the day on which Christ was crucified, the whole earth was covered with darkness.  This continued for three hours.  In the midst of this general goom and as life was ebbing away, Jesus, seeing that God had withdrawn His consolations from Him, cried out: 'My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?'

"After this, Jesus said: 'I thirst" A soldier dipped a sponge in vinegar, and putting it on a reed, gave Him to drink.  When Jesus had tasted the vinegar, He said 'It is consummated,' and, bowing down His head, died."

"At the moment Christ died, nature shook to her centre; the earth trembled, the rocks were split, the graves were opened, and the dead arose;  the vail of the if the temple was rent from the top to the bottom. When the centurion and the guard of soldiers that stood round the cross saw this, they cried out: 'Indeed, this was the Son of God.' The multitude returned to Jerusalem, striking their breasts, and wondering at what they had seen. "

Note: The exact text above and (originally black and white) drawing are from "Bible History" having an 1881 copyright by Benziger Brothers, Printers to the Holy Apostolic See, New  York, Cincinati and Chicago.  Humble Blogger added color to the drawing using tools in the free online  lunapic.com photo editor.  Bible descriptions of Jesus' death on the cross are found in the four Gospels: Matthew 27:32-56, Mark 15:23-39, Luke 23:33-46 and John 19:17-37. 

Holy Thursday 2025

 

Jesus Celebrates A Last Supper with His Disciples 

"After the washing of the Apostles' feet, came that sacred and solemn moment Christ had so long desired.  He was about to enter on His passion, and must fulfill that promise He had before made, that 'He would give His body to eat, and His blood to drink.' "

"Therefore, while they were all sitting at the table, Jesus took of the bread that was before Him, and holding it in His sacred hands, lifted up His eyes to heaven; then He gave thanks and, blessing the bread, gave it to His disciples saying: 'Take ye and eat; THIS is MY BODY which is given for you.' "

" Then he took the chalice, in which was a part of the wine thad been used at the supper, and, giving thanks, blessed it, and gave it also to His disciples, saying: 'Drink ye all of this, FOR THIS IS MY BLOOD of the new testament, which shall be shed for many for the remission of sins.  Do this for a commeration of me."

"By these words Jesus changed the wine into His blood; and by the words, 'Do this for a commemoration of me'   He ordained the Apostles priests, and Instituted for all time the august Sacrement of the altar."

An angel comforts Jesus while he prays in the Garden of Gethsemane

" When Jesus has finished His prayer (at the Last Supper) , He went with His disciples to the garden of Gethsemani (e), near Mount Olivet....Leaving the three Apostles, He went  forward a little distance, and, falling flat on the ground, prayed thus: 'O My Father! if it is possible, let this chalice pass from Me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt.'  (Meanwhile, the Apostles were sleeping).  When Jesus had finished His prayer, and for the third time had submitted Himself to the will of His Father, He began His agony.  Oppressed with the load of sin that was placed upon Him, and overwhelmed with grief, His sweat became as drops of blood trickling on the ground.  His Father sent an Angel to comfort  Him.  

When His agony was over, Jesus rose and coming to his disciples, said: 'Arise; let us go; he that shall betray Me is at hand. ' "

Note: The exact text above and (originally black and white) drawings are from "Bible History" having an 1881 copyright by Benziger Brothers, Printers to the Holy Apostolic See, New  York, Cincinati and Chicago.  Humble Blogger added color to the drawings using tools in the free online lunapic.com photo editor.  Bible descriptions of  Jesus' Last Supper and agony in the Garden  are found in the four Gospels: Matthew 26:17-46, Mark 14:12-42, Luke 22:1-46 and John 6:51 and  13:1 to 18:26. 

Palm Sunday 2025

Jesus enters Jerusalem for the Last Time

"Six days after the resurredction of Lazarus, Jesus said to His apostles: "We are about to go up to Jerusalem, and I shall be betrayed and condemned to death; then I shall be scourged, and at last crucified; but I shall rise again on the third day." This remarkable prophecy was fulfilled to the letter in the passion and death of Christ.  

On the following day, Jesus came to Jerusalem, but before entering, stopped at Mount Olivet, just outside the walls of the city. From there He sent His disciples to Bethpage, a little town close by, and bade them bring th ass, which they would find tied by the way.

The disciples did as He commanded, and, bringing the ass, put their garments on it; then they placed Jesus thereon and led Him into Jerusalem.  On the way great multitudes of the people met Him.  Some spread their garments on the ground, some cut down branches from the palm-trees, and strewed them before Him, whilst all cried: "Hosanna to the Son of David! blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord!"

Note: The exact text above and (orininally black and white) drawing are from "Bible History" having an 1881 copyright by Benziger Brothers, Printers to the Holy Apostolic See, New  York, Cincinati and Chicago.  Humble Blogger added color to the drawing using tools in the free online  lunapic.com photo editor.  Bible descriptions of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem are found in the four Gospels: Matthew 21:1-9, Mark 11:1-10, Luke 19:28-38 and John 12:12-19. 

Ash Wednesday 2025

 

ID 363363856 | Ash Wednesday © Jimbophotoart | Dreamstime.com

 Ash Wednesday begins today in the Western Catholic and other Christian churches. It is a time of fasting, prayer and good works and ends with Easter Sunday April 20, 2025. The ashes in the  image above are used to draw a cross on the forehead of parishoners attending Ash Wednesday Services at local churches.  The significance of the ashes is taken from Genesis Chapter 3, in the Garden Eden after Adam and Eve had sinned: 

"To the man He said: 'Cursed is the earth in thy work: thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and in the sweat of thy brow thou shalt eat thy bread, until thou return to the earth from whence thou camest: for dust thou art and unto dust thou shalt return'"  (Ref: See Note Below)

The ashes are obtained by burning last year's palm branches given out on previous Palm Sundays and returned for burning before Ash Wednesday.  There are also religious store suppliers of the ashes.  

From Wikipedia: "The Catholic Church and the Methodist Church say that the ashes should be those of palm branches blessed at the previous year's Palm Sunday service, while a Church of England publication says they "may be made" from the burnt palm crosses of the previous year. These sources do not speak of adding anything to the ashes other than, for the Catholic liturgy, a sprinkling with holy water when blessing them. An Anglican website speaks of mixing the ashes with a small amount of holy water or olive oil as a fixative.

Where ashes are placed on the head by smudging the forehead with a sign of the cross, many Christians choose to keep the mark visible throughout the day. The churches have not imposed this as an obligatory rule, and the ashes may even be wiped off immediately after receiving them;  but some Christian leaders, such as Lutheran pastor Richard P. Bucher and Catholic bishop Kieran Conry, recommend keeping the ashes on the forehead for the rest of the day as a public profession of the Christian faith. Morgan Guyton, a Methodist pastor, and leader in the Red-Letter Christian movement, encourages Christians to wear their ashed cross throughout the day as an exercise of religious freedom."

Note: This Genesis, Chapter 3 passage above comes from "Bible History" having an 1881 copyright by Benziger Brothers, Printers to the Holy Apostolic See, New  York, Cincinati and Chicago. 

This book was intended "For the use of the Catholic schools in the United States"  In the book's Preface  "It professes to be a translation of a Bible history published by Benziger Brothers, and now extensively used in the schools of Europe, having been already translated into six different languages; but there have been so many changes made, and the whole form of the book so altered, that, in some sense, it might be called new. Shortness in the chapters, pithiness in the sentences, and great condensation of matter, marked the original.  These have been retained.  The illustrations and presswork speak for themselves.  The work is sent forth with considerable confidence in its merits" 

This book was found among the possession of my Uncle Martin Kubiatowicz, who was born in 1878 in Poland, and imigrated to the United States some years later with his parents Joseph Kubiatowicz and  Josephine Larokowski .  Martin died in Owatonna, Minnesota in 1967.

Click on the image below to see a larger version of the book's Title page. 

Christmas 2024

 

Merry Christmas and a very Blessed and Happy 2025!

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