35 Passion Sunday

On What Does the Veil Descend?

DVRodriguez2026-03-29T13:53:18-04:00

Passiontide begins. Everything is somber. The Church is veiled. This is the most intense phase of Lent. The gospels of the week indicate why Our Lord is hiding. He has healed a blind man and raised Lazarus from the dead. Those who oppose Him refuse to believe He is God. We can fall into the same deception, especially when we see the power of evil in our world. We are tempted to distrust Our Lord, to veil our minds and our hearts. Do not be discouraged. Rather, blind your mind and heart to the world. In the midst of the evils [...]

On What Does the Veil Descend?DVRodriguez2026-03-29T13:53:18-04:00

Give Testimony of Christ Crucified

DVRodriguez2025-05-29T12:44:51-04:00

The Church calls us to mourn the sufferings and death of Our Savior, especially because our sins caused His passion and because we show Him such ingratitude. Do not flee from the Cross but welcome it. Make the effort to die to yourself. Everyone must experience suffering; how we face it determines our eternity, As St. Paul teaches, to be Christ’s disciple –to be Catholic– means to walk faithfully and constantly on the path of the Cross. Look to the example of Simon of Cyrene.

Give Testimony of Christ CrucifiedDVRodriguez2025-05-29T12:44:51-04:00

Passion Sunday Prayer

DVR Fatima2025-04-06T00:24:54-04:00

The prayer from the sermon 'Passiontide and the Mass' given on April 7, 2019 Good and merciful Jesus —my blessed Savior!— what marvelous virtue Thou dost display in the flood of sorrows, sufferings, and humiliations, which overwhelmed Thy Sacred Heart in Thy passion from Gethsemane to Calvary! What humility, what meekness, what resignation to the divine will, what patience, what charity! Thou dost pray for those who outrage Thee. Thou offerest Thy sufferings for those who persecute and afflict Thee. How unlike I am to Thee, my divine Model! How great is the change that must be effected in me, if [...]

Passion Sunday PrayerDVR Fatima2025-04-06T00:24:54-04:00

Christ’s Passion and Our Lady

DVRodriguez2024-04-01T10:24:02-04:00

Christ's Passion and Death is what saves us. These final two weeks of Lent – Passiontide – are privileged weeks. The Church calls us to reflect upon Our Lord's Passion and the unique role fulfilled by the Holy Mother of God. No exercise is more profitable for our sanctification. St. Bonaventure, St. John Eudes, St. Bridget of Sweden, Ven. Maria of Agreda and the benedictine monk John Lydgate serve as helpful guides.

Christ’s Passion and Our LadyDVRodriguez2024-04-01T10:24:02-04:00

Good Friday Prayer for the Jews

DVR Fatima2024-03-25T11:19:24-04:00

Let us pray also for the perfidious Jews: that our God and Lord would remove the veil from their hearts; that they also may acknowledge our Lord Jesus Christ. 'Amen' is not responded, nor is said 'Let us Pray', or 'Let us kneel', or 'Arise', but immediately is said: AImighty and everlasting God, who drivest not away from Thy mercy even the perfidious Jews: hear our prayers, which we offer for the blindness of that people; that, acknowledging the light of Thy truth, which is Christ, they may be rescued from their darkness. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Our [...]

Good Friday Prayer for the JewsDVR Fatima2024-03-25T11:19:24-04:00

Spiritual Communion

DVRodriguez2024-03-22T15:52:33-04:00

My Jesus, I firmly believe that Thou art present — Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity — in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. Lord, increase my faith. [pause] I love Thee above all things and desire Thee in my soul. Yet my love is weak and inconstant, strengthen my love evermore. [pause] Since I cannot now receive Thee under the sacramental veil, I beseech Thee, with a heart full of love and longing, to come spiritually into my soul. [pause] As though Thou wert already there, I embrace Thee and unite myself wholly to Thee; [...]

Spiritual CommunionDVRodriguez2024-03-22T15:52:33-04:00

My Crucified Jesus

DVR Fatima2024-03-08T10:32:08-05:00

From a sermon given on Passion Sunday My Crucified Jesus, I devoutly kiss and adore the most holy Wound of Thy right hand, and pray Thee to bless my soul, and after death to open to me the gates of Heaven. Glory be to the Father . .. My Crucified Jesus, I devoutly kiss and adore the most holy Wound of Thy left hand, and pray Thee to deliver me from all evil, whether of the body or of the soul, and most especially from the unhappy fate of the wicked who shall stand at The left hand at the Day [...]

My Crucified JesusDVR Fatima2024-03-08T10:32:08-05:00

Knowing Jesus Christ Crucified

DVRodriguez2023-04-27T10:30:47-04:00

Passiontide is a time of mourning. All our statues, save the Stations, are veiled in purple. These are the two great weeks of our salvation. St. Philip Neri converted Rome by turning eyes onto the Passion of Christ. St. Paul of the Cross reminds us" "The greatest most stupendous overwhelming work of God's love is the passion and death of our Savior Jesus Christ; and so we have that always before us." Strive to meditate on His passion, at least a few minutes, every day. And pray for grace to suffer for the love of Jesus.

Knowing Jesus Christ CrucifiedDVRodriguez2023-04-27T10:30:47-04:00

When Is It Asking Too Much

DVRodriguez2023-04-03T14:37:27-04:00

Things are now different in Passiontide. The Church covers up her saints? Why? She is merely following the spirit of her Master, who now covers up His glory. If Christ has nothing to give you, will you still follow Him? What are the limits of your love for Him? All that really matters is that we fall in love with Christ. This is the Catholic Faith. These two weeks define us as Catholics, how will you respond?

When Is It Asking Too MuchDVRodriguez2023-04-03T14:37:27-04:00

Why We Veil During Passiontide

DVRodriguez2021-03-24T15:16:36-04:00

At the start of Passiontide we cover the cross and statues inside our churches and the relics are hidden. Veiling teaches many lessons. Our Lord hides from those who wish to kill Him until His hour arrives. Theologically, the Church too follows the Lord in His Passion. Liturgically, we veil that which is sacred and contains great power. Morally, veiling calls to mind the importance of modesty. Psychologically, veiling reminds us that many things remain hidden to us at present. It signals us to mortify our disordered curiosity and unhealthy suspicions, abandoning ourselves to Divine Providence. Anagogically, this practice foreshadows Christ [...]

Why We Veil During PassiontideDVRodriguez2021-03-24T15:16:36-04:00