PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION April 5, 2020 THE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE LORD’S PASSION APRIL 5, 2020

“Christ’s Entry Into ” by Hippolyte Flandrin

“Behold, your king comes to you meek and riding on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.”

Matthew 21 PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION April 5, 2020

Daily Readings

Monday: IS 42:1-7, JN 12:1-11

Tuesday: IS 49:1-6, JN 13:21-33, 36-38

Wednesday: IS 50:4-9A, MT 26:14-25

Thursday: EX 12:1-8, 11-14; 1 COR 11:23-26; JN 13:1-15 Catholic websites to visit during the Friday: IS 52:13—53:12; HEB 4:14-16, 5:7-9; Coronavirus crisis. Here is a list. JN 18:1—19:42 Immaculate-Conception-Sandiego.org Saturday: GN 1:1—2:2; GN 22:1-18; EX 14:15—15:1; Sunday Mass, 8:30 a.m. IS 55:1-11; MT 28:1-10

Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego www.sdcatholic.org PRAYER TO MARY

Sunday Mass VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Here is a CNS translation Daily Mass of the prayer Pope Francis recited by video Covid-19 Response March 11 for a special Mass and act of prayer Upcoming Events asking Mary to protect Italy and the world during of the coronavirus pandemic. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops www.usccb.org O Mary, Online Masses you always shine on our path Prayer Resources as a sign of salvation and of hope. Spiritual Reading We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who at the cross took part in ' pain, The Holy See keeping your faith firm. w2.vatican.va You, Salvation of the Roman People, know what we need, and we are sure you will provide Deacon Robert Fitzmorris so that, as in Cana of Galilee, Parish Administrator we may return to joy and to feasting after this time of trial. Fr. Garrett Galvin, OFM, Liaison to the Parish Help us, Mother of Divine Love, Fr,. Joseph Chinnici, OFM, in residence to conform to the will of the Father Fr. Anthony Garibaldi, OFM, Mission San Luis Rey and to do as we are told by Jesus, Parish email: who has taken upon himself our sufferings [email protected] and carried our sorrows to lead us, through the cross, Note to parishioners: to the joy of the resurrection. Amen. We encourage you to continue to provide support to Under your protection, we seek refuge, Holy the parish. If your financial situation allows, please Mother of God. Do not disdain the entreaties of mail your weekly donation to the parish. Our address we who are in trial, but deliver us from every is 2540 San Diego Avenue, San Diego CA 92110. danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.

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East, this was among the highest honors, often reserved for royalty. All four of the Gospels speak of Jesus receiving this honor as he entered triumphantly into Jerusalem, days before his execution. In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the crowds are said to have laid their cloaks in the street, as well as cut rushed. Only John’s Gospel specifically mentions palm fronds.

It’s the custom in Catholic churches to give people palms that are blessed at the beginning of the liturgy and carried in procession at the start of the Mass. It As we celebrate Palm Sunday of the Lord’s is many people’s private custom to weave these palms Passion, we are reminded that is coming to a into crosses or other shapes during the liturgy. I close and the Resurrection is nearing. What have you would like to believe that they’re not doing this learned abut yourself this Lent? What have you during my homily, but experience tells me they are. learned about your relationship with God? Ultimately, the celebration of this day isn’t about the Palm vs. Passion palms, any more than the celebration of Christmas is By Father Larry Rice about decorated evergreen trees. As the prayers and scripture readings make clear, the liturgy is really Each year at around this time, as Lent draws to a about Christ’s passion—his willingness to suffer for close, and Easter nears, Catholic everywhere look at our salvation and the forgiveness of our sins. By the their parish bulletins, missalettes, and publications, end of the reading of the passion narrative, the palms and wonder why the last Sunday in Lent I called seem sad and ironic, as the crowds who welcomed “Passion Sunday” and not “Palm Sunday.” Jesus into Jerusalem would be transformed into the crowd shouting, “Crucify him!” during his trial. The formal designation changed in 1970; still, many Human fickleness and frailty are contrasted with people are much more accustomed to calling it “Palm Jesus’ integrity and courage. Sunday.” So it makes sense to call it “Passion Sunday.” Still, old The palms, of course, are a commemoration of the customs and old terminology don’t change easily. ancient custom of covering the path of an honored person as he passed by. In many parts of the Near

PALM SUNDAY: CELEBRATE AT HOME On the morning of Sunday, April 5, put a branch on the front door or window of your home. It does not necessarily have to be a palm branch; any green branch can represent the palm branches that heralded Jesus’ return to Jerusalem.

This symbolic act can help us to celebrate this important occasion despite our requirement to maintain social distancing. This process also can help to connect us with one another as we enter into the Holiest of Weeks. We may be physically isolated, but we are not spiritually separated. We are united as the body of Christ. We are the Church.

The palms/branches are blessed with the following prayer: “Almighty God, we pray you bless these + branches and make them holy. Today we joyfully acclaim Jesus our Messiah and King. May we reach one day the happiness of the new and everlasting Jerusalem by faithfully following him who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.”

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10 Pointers for Prayer The baby’s crying, the dog is whining, and you need to leave for work in five minutes. Finding time for prayer can seem impossible. Amid the busyness of family life, how can one respond to God’s ongoing invitation to speak with and listen to Him? Here are ten pointers to help you do just that. Pray as you can, not as you can’t. God calls most to an active life in the world, with family, work and community responsibilities. Such a call, while holy, does not usually allow for long periods of prayer and reflection. Lay people can become discouraged when they try to pray like a cloistered contemplative. Be realistic about what’s possible. Take ten — or twenty. If a half hour for prayer isn’t possible, how about ten minutes, or twenty? Choose a good time of day and stick with it. Designate a special site for prayer so that spot become holy. Spouses can help by minding children during respective quiet times. Pray as a family. Build upon rituals such as grace before meals. In addition to the usual “Bless us, O Lord…,” encourage family members to offer thanks for the blessings of the day, as well as prayers for those in need. Couples can deepen their spiritual relationship by taking a few minutes, perhaps before bedtime, to commend to God the joys and sorrows of the day. Decorate your domestic church. When we enter our parish church, the statues and pictures focus our minds on Jesus, Mary and the saints. We can create an atmosphere for prayer in our home- the domestic church- by displaying a , icons, the Bible and other holy objects. Take the children to a religious goods store and let them choose a picture or statue for their rooms. Short prayers count, too. When you’re stopped at a long light or put on hold, consider it as God’s invitation to turn your heart and mind to him, if only for a few seconds. Find God at work. Connecting with God in the workplace takes effort. Try to cultivate a few simple habits. For example, offer the day to God as you turn on your computer, or pray for the person you’re about to call or wait upon. Jump start your prayer life. Sooner or later almost everyone experiences dryness in prayer. God seems far away and prayer becomes a burden. Praying with Scripture, perhaps the daily Mass readings, can help us focus. So, too, can an inspirational book, especially one of the spiritual classics. A good choice is St. Francis de Sales’ Introduction to the Devout Life, written specifically for lay people who are striving for holiness. Ask your Mother for help. The Blessed Virgin Mary, our spiritual mother, understands our needs and offers profound comfort. One family, gathered around the bedside of their dying husband and father, found peace and healing through the recitation of the rosary. The rosary is ideal for the family since children can be taught the simple prayers at an early age. Check out instructions on how to pray the rosary. Read a good story. Children and adults alike enjoy an inspiring story, and few stories are more compelling than those of the saints. Whether it’s the little way of Therese of Lisieux or the heroism of , their stories offer something for everyone. Consider the particular virtue that a saint demonstrates and pray for help to emulate it. Perhaps it’s the humility of St. Francis of Assisi, the patience of St. Monica, or the courageous witness of St. Thomas More. Walk with a spiritual friend. Prayer can lead to new thoughts and questions. Who better to share them with than a spiritual friend? A friend can help us to work through the concerns that inevitably arise in prayer. Good friends will hold each other accountable for their prayer life, making sure that prayer has not been neglected in the busyness of life. For married couples a spouse is often this spiritual friend, but God will also put wise and holy people in our path when we need them. They can be the answer to prayer. This article first appeared on USCCB’s For Your Marriage website, www.ForYourMarriage.org.

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Copyright America Magazine, March 30, 2020 Issue

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