Christus Vincit

While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened. The chief priests assembled with the elders and took counsel; then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.’ And if this gets to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present day. (Matthew 28: 11-15)

It seems almost incredible, doesn't it? Even in the face of what might be a miraculous action of the God that they serve, the chief priests are willing to perjure themselves in order to protect their--their what? Well, we can't really know. Perhaps they were just afraid. Perhaps they felt their own faith to be threatened. Some of them may have been concerned about their status or their authority. Some may have had noble motives, and some ignoble. We can't really know, but what we can clearly see is that they were willing to do something that they knew was objectively wrong to achieve their ends.

We know that this is business as usual. It could almost be a Netflix drama. These are the enemies of the Truth, and sometimes it seems as though those who have given their lives to the Truth are at a great disadvantage. They can't use any of the weapons that seem to be effective in this world: lies, hatred, vituperation. They can only stand firm and insist on speaking and living the Truth. In the eyes of the world, they seem to be weak, and they seem to be losing, but Our Lord has showed us that there is only one way to triumph in this life, and that is to be willing to lose it.

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I'm not quite through with Giotto yet. I plan to post a couple of things about the history of the Arena Chapel sometime this week.

AMDG

Giotto: Easter Sunday

But Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and what he told her. (John 20:11-18)

Mary Magdalene who, unlike the disciples in the Garden of Olives, has stayed awake with our Lord even after his death, is rewarded for her faithfulness by being the first to see the risen Lord. Giotto portrays her where she is so often found, kneeling at the feet of Jesus.

One thing about this fresco that is really interesting to me is the hand of the angel on the left. 

 

It is pointing to Jesus, but the fingers are held in the position that you see in icons of Jesus and the saints raised in blessing. The hand is always held upright, but in this case, it is not. The following explanation of the hand gesture was found here.

The fingers spell out “IC XC”, a widely used four letter abbreviation of the Greek for Jesus (IHCOYC) Christ (XPICTOC). It is by the name of Jesus that we are saved and receive blessings: “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;” (Phil 2:10). 
 The three fingers of Christ – as well as spelling out “I” and “X” – confess the Tri-unity of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The touching finger and thumb of Jesus not only spell out “C”, but attest to the Incarnation: to the joining of divine and human natures found in the body of Jesus Christ.

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SEQUENCE FOR EASTER

Christians, to the Paschal Victim
Offer your thankful praises!
A Lamb the sheep redeems;
Christ, who only is sinless,
Reconciles sinners to the Father.
Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous:
The Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal.
Speak, Mary, declaring
What you saw, wayfaring.
“The tomb of Christ, who is living,
The glory of Jesus’ resurrection;
bright angels attesting,
The shroud and napkin resting.
Yes, Christ my hope is arisen;
to Galilee he goes before you.”
Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining.
Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!
Amen. Alleluia.

AMDG

Looking Backward~and Forward

I got home later than I expected and that gives me a perfect excuse to wait until tomorrow to write more about the Armadio, which is okay because this is what I really want to post tonight. This is a post from two years ago, and I decided I would just add to it instead of writing a new one on the same topic.

Early this morning the moon was full, which is how we know it's going to be Easter on Sunday, since it's the first full moon since the Spring equinox. My granddaughter took the picture below on Holy Thursday in 2012, on the way home from Mass, and it may have actually been a day early, but close enough. After this, I decided I would take a picture of this full moon every year.

The first full moon after the Vernal Equinox--2012

Ecclesiastical Full Moon

Paschal Full Moon

I took this next one in the early morning hours of Holy Thursday in 2013. It was March 28, and I was on a private retreat in French Camp Mississippi. 

The difference in size has more to do with the fact that I didn't enlarge this one than anything else.

I was excited about taking the picture for the third year, especially because the eclipse was going to make the moon look blood red, but alas, it was completely overcast here. We set the alarm for the middle of the night and my husband got up and looked, but no luck. When I got up a little after four this morning, however, I noticed light coming in the window, and sure enough, most of the clouds were gone,

It was cold last year on March 28, but nowhere near as cold as it was this morning on April 15.  I like this picture pretty well, but my granddaughter completely outdid me. Of course, she has a great camera and was in Arizona where the skies were clear.

And then, she's a much better photographer.

And then there's my Paschal Moon poem.

Computus

How to discern the Sunday on which falls

The feast on which our Saviour rose to life?

An ancient quandary leads us yet to strife

And disagreement unity forestalls.

The full moon past spring day when sun has crossed

The line that separates the south from north

Now causes separation to go forth

‘Til East and West the common feast have lost.

Which Moon is that Ecclesiastical?

Now Rome will look to Gregory to learn

The answer while the Orthodox will turn

To Julius to discern when this Moon’s full.

The Moon herself oblivious to blame

Reveals her face and does not feel the shame.

JTC

Photo credit: My granddaughter, Tessa Love, took the top picture from a moving car on the way home from church, and the bottom picture, also.

Gone Fishing

Jesus showed himself again to the disciples. It was by the Sea of Tiberias, and it happened like this: Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee and two more of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said, ‘I’m going fishing.’ They replied, ‘We’ll come with you.’ They went out and got into the boat but caught nothing that night.

It was light by now and there stood Jesus on the shore, though the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus called out, ‘Have you caught anything, friends?’ And when they answered, ‘No’, he said, ‘Throw the net out to starboard and you’ll find something.’ So they dropped the net, and there were so many fish that they could not haul it in. The disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord.’ At these words ‘It is the Lord’, Simon Peter, who had practically nothing on, wrapped his cloak round him and jumped into the water. The other disciples came on in the boat, towing the net and the fish; they were only about a hundred yards from land.

As soon as they came ashore they saw that there was some bread there, and a charcoal fire with fish cooking on it. Jesus said, ‘Bring some of the fish you have just caught.’ Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore, full of big fish, one hundred and fifty-three of them; and in spite of there being so many the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ None of the disciples was bold enough to ask, ‘Who are you?’; they knew quite well it was the Lord. Jesus then stepped forward, took the bread and gave it to them, and the same with the fish. This was the third time that Jesus showed himself to the disciples after rising from the dead.

John 21:1-14

When I heard this gospel read at Mass yesterday, there were a few things that struck me as though I had never heard them before. One thing was that 153. As Father said yesterday, "It doesn't say 'hundreds,' or 'about 150,' or 'purt near a hunnerd and fifty-fahve,' (I assure you that this is not Father's usual accent.) but 153. Well, it must mean something, but there seem to have been many interpretations over the centuries. You can see some of them if you go here and scroll down. I seem to remember hearing sometime or other that it symbolized all the nations of the world, and that seems to be as good a guess as any, but I guess it will have to remain a mystery. If I had written this gospel, one might perhaps assume that I had been thinking, "Hmm. If I put a precise number there instead of rounding it off, people will puzzle over it for all time," but John doesn't seem to have been a whimsical sort of guy.

The most arresting passage was that which spoke of the exuberance of Peter, who on hearing John say that it was the Lord, jumped immediately into the water. He didn't worry about what the other disciples were doing. He didn't worry about the fish. All he cared about was getting to Jesus as fast as could. Like Mary, he chose the better part. And this was the man that Jesus chose to feed His sheep, the one who was heedless of all save his Lord.

When I was thinking about this earlier today, I remembered how I had almost had to be compelled to go to Mass yesterday. The only time that I can go is during my lunch hour, and it makes lunch a very rushed affair. I kept the car so that I could go--maybe--if things worked out. I went back and forth in my mind all morning long, and in the end went rather reluctantly. The only thing that got me there at all was this persistent thought that I ought to go. One wonders why the Lord would even want me under those conditions, but apparently He did. How different from Peter's enthusiasm.

Another thing I realized was that although this was the third time that they had seen Jesus since His resurrection, they still did not recognize Him until He performed the miracle. I think I must have always had some kind of hazy notion that once He appeared to them, He was around them pretty much for all of the 40 days, but apparently this is not so. They never seemed to really know if they would see Him again, and they were surprised when they did. It must have been nerve-wracking for the apostles. It makes their experience during this time much more like ours. I can imagine Peter, after waiting anxiously for Jesus to show up again, saying, "I can't bear this anymore. I'm going fishing."

And finally, there is that lovely invitation, "Come and have breakfast."

AMDG

Awake, Arise, Lift Up Your Voice

This video is going around Facebook. I don't usually have time to look at the videos that people post, but I'm really glad I saw this one. It starts off slowly, but I think you will be glad if you stick with it--and in a way it continues the Resurrection theme.

I'm still really busy at work and we're going out tonight, so this might be it for today.

AMDG

Another Kind of Resurrection

Heather King writes in Shirt of Flame: A Year with St. Therese of Lisieux:

All along I had thought that the Attachment, or midlife crisis, or dark night of the soul, or whatever my experience had been, was a terrible stumbling block, a sign of shameful weakness, evidence of some core, incurable insanity: in short, The Problem. Now I knew that, in some very difficult, mysterious way, it had actually been The Solution. My struggle went way beyond any relationship with, or way of seeing, a mere human being. All along, I had thought my error lay in failing to find the formula to love correctly, unselfishly, when the very idea of trying to perfect myself, with respect to human relationships--or any other way--was the real problem.

Forget trying to achieve your own holiness, Therese seemed to be saying: you are infinitely too feeble, weak, and misguided to accomplish anything on your own. You're like a bleating lamb, wandering blindly around with your divided, wayward heart. You're like a lost sheep, trying to get spiritual good marks by denying your humanity. You're like a straying member of the flock, off in a corner trying to heal your own wounds and relieve your own obsessions. Stop struggling, and the kingdom of God will be accomplished through you. Sit down on the floor, like a baby, and Christ will bend down and lift you up.

I'm in a bit of a rush today. I hope to write more later, but I'm not sure I'll get time.

AMDG

Pre Raphaelite Easter

Morning of the Resurrection-Edward Burne-Jones

A Better Resurrection

I have no wit, no words, no tears;

My heart within me like a stone

Is numb'd too much for hopes or fears;

Look right, loot left, I dwell alone;

I lift mine eyes, but dimm'd with grief

No everlasting hills I see;

My life is in the falling leaf:

O Jesus, quicken me.

My life is like a faded leaf,

My harvest dwindled to a husk:

Truly my life is void and brief

And tedious in the barren dusk;

My life is like a frozen thing,

No bud nor greenness can I see:

Yet rise it shall--the sap of Spring;

O Jesus, rise in me.

My life is like a broken bowl,

A broken bowl that cannot hold

One drop of water for my soul

Or cordial in the searching cold;

Cast in the fire the perish'd thing;

Melt and remould it, till it be

A royal cup for Him, my King:

O Jesus, drink of me.

Christina Rosetti

Not particularly joyful, but then Pre Raphaelites weren't. It's hard to be haunted and cheery.

AMDG

Queen of Heaven Rejoice, Alleluia

One reason that I am posting this is that every year I forget to switch from the Angelus to the Regina Coeli until we are two or three weeks into the Easter season. This way I'll be sure to remember.

Queen of Heaven Rejoice, Alleluia.

For He Whom thou didst merit to bear, Alleluia.

Has risen as he said, Alleluia.

Pray for us to God, Alleluia.

Rejoice and be glad, O, Virgin Mary, Alleluia

Because the Lord is truly risen, Alleluia.

Let us pray,

O God, Who through the Resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, has vouchsafed to make glad the whole world, grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, his Mother, we may attain to the joys of eternal life. Through this same Christ our Lord. Amen.

This is the way I say it. Apparently, nobody on the internet says it exactly the same way as I do, but then, everybody seems to have a slightly different translation. So, to be entirely accurate, I will give you the original version.

Regina coeli, laetare, alleluia: Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia.

Resurrexit sicut dixit, alleluia. Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

V. Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, Alleluia,

R. Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia.

Oremus: Deus qui per resurrectionem Filii tui, Domini nostri Iesu Christi, mundum laetificare dignatus es: praesta, quaesumus, ut per eius Genetricem Virginem Mariam, perpetuae capiamus gaudia vitae. Per eundem Christum dominum nostrum.

Amen.

And if you want to learn how to chant it, you can do so here.

Thanks to Craig for finding these chants.

AMDG

Alleluia!

Are there any who are devout lovers of God?

Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!

Are there any who are grateful servants?

Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!

Are there any weary with fasting?

Let them now receive their wages!

If any have toiled from the first hour,

let them receive their due reward;

If any have come after the third hour,

let him with gratitude join in the Feast!

And he that arrived after the sixth hour,

let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss.

And if any delayed until the ninth hour,

let him not hesitate; but let him come too.

And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour,

let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.

For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.

He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour,

as well as to him that toiled from the first.

To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows.

He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor.

The deed He honors and the intention He commends.

Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!

First and last alike receive your reward;

rich and poor, rejoice together!

Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!

You that have kept the fast, and you that have not,

rejoice today for the Table is richly laden!

Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one.

Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith.

Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!

Let no one grieve at his poverty,

for the universal kingdom has been revealed.

Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;

for forgiveness has risen from the grave.

Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.

He has destroyed it by enduring it.

He destroyed Hell when He descended into it.

He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh.

Isaiah foretold this when he said,

"You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below."

Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.

It was in an uproar because it is mocked.

It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.

It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.

It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.

Hell took a body, and discovered God.

It took earth, and encountered Heaven.

It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.

O death, where is thy sting?

O Hell, where is thy victory?

Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!

Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!

Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!

Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!

Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead;

for Christ having risen from the dead,

is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!

St. John Chrysostom, Easter Homily