“Happy Easter…..Again”

“Christ Is Risen”:
“Indeed He Is”;

A Goodly # of The RC Faithful who attend the Tridentine Latin Mass, were planning on heading to what is called “Russian Easter” or “Greek Orthodox Easter.” For Easter on the Old Julian Calendar was late this year. And there are Byzantine Rite Catholic Churches which are on the Old Julian Calendar.
St. George Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Manhattan’s East Village on East 7th Street between The Bowery & 2nd Avenue is where there is a sizeable Ukrainian Population. As many of my Tridentine Latin Mass Compatriots were at the Easter Vigil at St. George or at the Russian Orthodox Cathedral, I decided to head to the Easter Sunday 4PM English Language Divine Liturgy.
The Very Reverend Father Bernard Panczuk OSBM, who is Pastor of St. George, was not feeling up to the 4PM Mass, but the Celebrant was good & it turned out to be The Ukrainian Bishop of the Eparchy of Stamford, CT, His Grace, The Most Reverend Paul Patrick Chomicky, a Canadian from British Columbia & One Time Chartered Accountant. He is from the Order of St. Basil The Great(OSBM or Ordo Sancti Basili Magni).
His Deacon was Fr Peter Shyska, the just retired Principal of St. George Academy High School. He preached the Gospel & Homily.

The Day of No:
This is Good & Holy Friday. It is a Day of Mourning for Christ was led to His Death on The Cross. Churches are barren of all decorations.
Yet, Christ descended to the part of Hades, where the Just were held & He freed the Just to take them to Paradisio(Heaven).
Yet, it is Sad because The Apostles were with Him. And Now The Apostles were Alone & Living In Fear.
This is a Day of No Joy because Christ’s Earthly Existence Had come to an End. And it was a Violent End.
And Maria Semper Virgine pondered on this in Her Heart.

Easter is Yes;
For Christ, in His Glorified Body, is Risen from Death. He conquered Death by Death.
Christ Is Risen!
Indeed He Is!
Yes, there is Joy & Not Sadness.

Deo Gratias! It was a Great Divine Liturgy.

At the End of The Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom, we were invited up to receive a Special Anointing from Bishop Chomicky, as well as the Blessed Bread(Antidoron).

Parts of The Liturgy were chanted in Ukrainian. There is a new Cantor/Lector named Paul. Bravo to him, he did a great job.

In One, Holy, Catholic & Apostolic Church, there are many Paticular Churches, but only One Church, and Founded By Christ, in Perfect Unity. For Christ told his Apostles & Disciples to go forth to All Nations, Baptising them In The Name of The Father, Son & Holy Ghost.
Christ Promised to be with His Church, until The End of The World.

Chris Is Risen, Indeed He Is.

M

The Gospels Over 3 Days

First Friday was Novus Ordo, as was Saturday, which is called Saturday of Our Lady. Today is the 1st Sunday. It is also the Fourth Sunday In Lent, called Laetere Sunday, which is a Lenten Sunday of Joy. It means that Easter(Pesach) is Nigh. And I was at St. Agnes on E43rd Street in Midtown Manhattan.
Friday, March 4th at 8:00AM & The Mass Celebrant was the Most Reverend Paul Sanchez, aided by the Pastor Emeritus of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Brooklyn, Monsignor Fursey O’Toole, Irish Born.
The Gospel was the Greatest Commandments, both of which summarize the 10 Commandments. As Jesus said “Thou Shalt Love The Lord Thy God, With All Thy Heart, With All Thy Soul, With All Thy Mind & With All Thy Strength. The Second Great Commandment is “Thou Shalt Love Thy Neighbour as Thyself.” An Example of “Love Thy Neighbour” was given at The 12:05PM Mass by Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Administrator, Fr Frank Passenant & it was an Excellent Example. We don’t always look at Our Parents as Neighbours, but they are the Neighbours closest to you. Hey, They’re Neighbours by Blood. Pray For Them, both Living & Dead.
First Saturday at the 12:05PM Mass was offered by Fr Frank Passenant. This is the Story in The Gospel of The Pharisee & The Publican. The Pharisees were the Learned Religious Men. They were The Priestly Class of Judaism. But, they were NOT always known for their Humility. Everything was OUTWARD, but not always INTERIOR.
Publican is a Nice Name for The Most Hated of Roman Officials, namely The Tax Collector. Many of these Men were conmen, often taking more than what was due. For the Tax Collector was one who often lived like a Fat Cat. For he was a Private Contractor for the Roman Empire, who often took Liberties beyond what was due. And One of The Original 12 Apostles, Matthew, was originally a Tax Collector. He was also one of The 4 Evangelists in The Writing of The Gospels.
In this Gospel, The Pharisee is, in his Prayer to The Lord, bragging about how good he is, while degrading others such as Publicans. This guy was there to be seen, like close to The Sanctuary, practically telling The Lord that his “Excrement doesn’t have a foul odor.”
What A Schmuck!
Meanwhile, The Sinful Publican, barely able to raise his eyes Heavenward, who was all the way in the rear of The Temple, actually recognized the fact that he was a Sinner, & begged The Lord in this manner, “Lord, Be Merciful To Me For I Am A Sinner.”
The Publican received God’s Mercy. The Pharisee only got the Admiration of Man.
For Today on Lautare Sunday, as this is the Sunday indicating, that The Joy of Easter is Near, hence Vestments in the Bright Colour of Pink, Today’s Gospel for The Tridentine Latin Mass is The Miracle of The Loaves Of Bread & Fish. It was only 5 Loaves of Bread and 2 Fish, yet there was enough left over to fill 12 Baskets. There were 5,000 Men who were fed. This was The Miracle of The Loaves & Fish, and Jesus Multiplied the Loaves & Fish. No one left hungry.
Three Days, Four Masses & The Good News, The Gospel Of The Lord Jesus Christ!

Laus Tibi Christe!

M