The Rebel Black Dot Song o' Holy Thursday

The Thursday of Holy Week (Holy Thursday)
Jim Cowan & Tony Melendez, "This Is Jesus" from The Cup of Life (Penitent Mike Papa Whiskey)

Operation ÖSTERREICH: Holy Week | Please Stand By

Please Stand By | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

Weekly Wednesday Weigh-in
Last weigh-in: 330.2 lbs. (12 June 2024)

Bonus! Holy Week Song o' the Day

The Wednesday of Holy Week
John Williams, "Anakin's Betrayal" from Star Wars: Episode III—Revenge of the Sith: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Penitent Mike Papa Whiskey)

Bonus! Holy Week Song o' the Day

The Tuesday of Holy Week
Mike Hilliker & Melanie Rea, "Lord Have Mercy" from Mercy: Songs for Holy Week (Penitent Mike Papa Whiskey)

Bonus! Holy Week Song o' the Day

The Monday of Holy Week
Mike Hilliker, "Father, I Put My Life in Your Hands (Psalm 31)" from Mercy: Songs for Holy Week (Penitent Mike Papa Whiskey)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
The Daughters of Mary, "O Sacred Head Surrounded" from De Profundis (Penitent Mike Papa Whiskey)

Saints + Scripture: Paschal Triduum | Holy Saturday

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Popish Plot
"Triduum: Holy Saturday"

'Tis Holy Saturday, act three of the Paschal Triduum, the Saturday of Holy Week: Holy Saturday-link & Wikipedia-link Holy Saturday, & Wikipedia-link Sacred Triduum; Holy Week-link & Wikipedia-link Holy Week.

Scripture of This Night
Mass Readings—The Resurrection of the Lord at the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter
I. The Book of Genesis, chapter one, verse one thru chapter two, verse two
(or, the Book of Genesis, chapter one, verses one & twenty-six thru thirty-one[a]);
Psalm One Hundred Four, verses one & two; five & six; ten; twelve, thirteen, & fourteen; twenty-four; & thirty-five;
or, Psalm Thirty-three, verses four thru seven, twelve & thirteen, & twenty & twenty-two;
II. The Book of Genesis, chapter twenty-two, verses one thru eighteen
(or, the Book of Genesis, chapter twenty-two, verses one, two, nine[a] thru thirteen, & fifteen thru eighteen);
Psalm Sixteen, verses five, eight, nine& ten, & eleven;
III. The Book of Exodus, chapter fourteen, verse fifteen thru chapter fifteen, verse one;
The Book of Exodus, chapter fifteen, verses one & two, three & four, five & six, & seventeen & eighteen;
IV. The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-four, verses five thru fourteen;
Psalm Thirty, verses two, four, five & six, eleven & twelve, & thirteen;
V. The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-five, verses one thru eleven;
The Book of Isaiah, chapter twelve, verses two & three, four, & five & six;
VI. The Book of Baruch, chapter three, verses nine thru fifteen & thirty-two thru chapter four, verse four;
Psalm Nineteen, verses eight, nine, ten, & eleven;
VII. The Book of Ezekiel, chapter thirty-six, verses sixteen, seventeen(a), & eighteen thru twenty-eight;
Psalm Forty-two, verses three & five & Psalm Forty-three, verses three & four;
or, the Book of Isaiah, chapter twelve, verses two & three, four(b/c/d), & five & six;
or, Psalm Fifty-one, verses twelve & thirteen, fourteen & fifteen, & eighteen & nineteen;
VIII. The Letter to the Romans, chapter six, verses three thru eleven;
Psalm One Hundred Eighteen, verses one & two, sixteen & seventeen, & twenty-two & twenty-three;
IX. The Gospel according to Mark, chapter sixteen, verses one thru seven.

Commentary: Triduum Readings.

Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, how wonderful are the readings for the Easter season! So full of theological depth, so spiritually rich, so marked by joy.

In light of the Resurrection, we know that God’s deepest intention for us is life, and life to the full. He wants death not to have the final word; he wants a renewal of the heavens and the earth.

Therefore, we have to stop living in the intellectual and spiritual space of death. We have to stop living intellectually in a world dominated by death and the fear of death. We have to adjust our attitudes in order to respond properly to what God really intends for us and the world.

Though we rarely admit it, we live in a death-haunted space. The fear of death broods over us like a cloud and conditions all of our thoughts and actions. What if we really believed, deep down, that death did not have the final word? Would we live in such fear, in such a cramped spiritual space? Or would we see that the protection of our egos is not the number one concern of our existence?

Video reflection by Monsignor Robert Cannon (U.S.C.C.B.): Triduum Reflection.

Video reflection by Doctor Tim Gray (Augustine Institute/Formed.org): Triduum Reflection.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"The readings in the Paschal Vigil carry us into the mysterious arena where human sin meets God's justice & mercy. There life & death 'have contended,' & there the victory of the risen Christ over death stands out as the source of our salvation & the model of Christian living."
—Pope Saint Paul VI (1897-1978, r. 1963-1978; feast: 29 May)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"The One Who is our very life descended into our world, & bore our death, & slew it with the abundance of His own life. Thundering, He called us to return to Him in heaven."
—Saint Augustine of Hippo, Doctor of the Church (354-430, feast: 28 August)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"The most important part is that we keep the work as His work & that we do not spoil it with any claims."
—Saint Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"Solitude can be very rewarding & full of blessing because in the silence of the inner being, one finds God."
—Venerable Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' Holy Saturday

Holy Saturday
Matt Maher, "The Waiting" from Saints and Sinners (Penitent Mike Papa Whiskey)

Saints + Scripture: Paschal Triduum | Good Friday

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Popish Plot
"Triduum: Good Friday"

'Tis Good Friday, act two of the Paschal Triduum, the Friday of Holy Week: Good Friday-link & Wikipedia-link Good Friday, & Wikipedia-link Sacred Triduum; Holy Week-link & Wikipedia-link Holy Week.

Scripture of the Day
Liturgical Readings—Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord
The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-two, verse thirteen thru chapter fifty-three, verse twelve;
Psalm Thirty-one, verses two & six, twelve & thirteen, fifteen & sixteen, & seventeen & twenty-five
(R/. the Gospel according to Luke, chapter twenty-three, verse forty-six);
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter four, verses fourteen, fifteen, & sixteen & chapter fifteen, verses seven, eight, & nine;
The Gospel according to John, chapter eighteen, verse one thru chapter nineteen, verse forty-two.

Commentary: Triduum Readings.

Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, today’s Gospel is John’s wonderful narrative of Christ’s Passion.

On the cross, Jesus entered into close quarters with sin (because that’s where we sinners are found) and allowed the heat and fury of sin to destroy him, even as he protected us.

We can see, with special clarity, why the first Christians associated the crucified Jesus with the suffering servant of Isaiah. By enduring the pain of the cross, Jesus did indeed bear our sins; by his stripes we were indeed healed.

And this is why the sacrificial death of Jesus is pleasing to the Father. The Father sent his Son into godforsakenness, into the morass of sin and death—not because he delighted in seeing his Son suffer, but rather because he wanted his Son to bring the divine light to the darkest place.

It is not the agony of the Son in itself that pleases his Father, but rather the Son’s willing obedience in offering his body in sacrifice in order to take away the sin of the world. St. Anselm said that the death of the Son reestablished the right relationship between divinity and humanity.

Video reflection by Paul Jarzembowski (U.S.C.C.B.): Triduum Reflection.

Video reflection by Doctor Tim Gray (Augustine Institute/Formed.org): Triduum Reflection.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"The journey also brings sacrifices, but these must not stop us. Jesus is on the Cross: you want to kiss Him? You cannot help bending over the Cross & letting yourself be pricked by some thorns of the crown that is on the Lord's head."
—Pope Blessed John Paul I (1912-1978, r. 1978; feast: 26 August)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"You need a deep freedom to be like Jesus. See, He could have been born in a palace, yet He chose to be poor… Are we so free that we can be completely naked with Jesus there on the cross?"
—Saint Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Jesus took upon Himself the scourging that would have been our due in order to save the creatures He formed & loved."
—Saint Odo of Cluny (880-942, feast: 18 November)

Bonus! Saint Quote o' the Day

"The fruit of this tree is not death but life, not darkness but light. This tree does not cast us out of paradise, but opens the way for our return."
—Saint Theodore the Studite (759-826, feast: 12 November)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"Keep your eyes on the crucifix; for Jesus without the cross is a man without a mission, & the cross without Jesus is a burden without a reliever."
—Venerable Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' Good Friday

Friday of the Passion of the Lord (Good Friday)
Joslin Grove Choral Society, "Were You There?" from the 100 Best Loved Hymns compilation (Penitent Mike Papa Whiskey)

Saints + Scripture: Paschal Triduum | Holy Thursday

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Popish Plot
"Triduum: Holy Thursday"

'Tis Holy Thursday (A.K.A. Maundy Thursday), act one of the Paschal Triduum, the Thursday of Holy Week: Holy Thursday-link & Wikipedia-link Holy Thursday, & Wikipedia-link Sacred Triduum; Holy Week-link & Wikipedia-link Holy Week.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Chrism Mass
The Book of Isaiah, chapter sixty-one, verses one, two, three(a), six(a), eight(b), & nine;
Psalm Eighty-nine (R/. two), verses twenty-one & twenty-two, twenty-five & twenty-seven;
The Book of Revelation, chapter one, verses five thru eight;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter four, verses sixteen thru twenty-one.

Commentary: Chrism Mass Readings.

Mass Readings—Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper
The Book of Exodus, chapter twelve, verses one thru eight & eleven thru fourteen;
Psalm One Hundred Sixteen, verses twelve & thirteen, fifteen & sixteen(b/c), & seventeen & eighteen
(R/. the First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter ten, verse sixteen);
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter eleven, verses twenty-three thru twenty-six;
The Gospel according to John, chapter thirteen, verses one thru fifteen.

Commentary: Triduum Readings.

Commentary: Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus gathers with his chosen Twelve at the climax of his life and does something so strange that we still wonder at it two thousand years later: he takes off his outer garment, puts a towel around his waist, and begins to wash his disciples’ feet.

The nineteenth-century philosopher Hegel said that all human society, to varying degrees, is characterized by the master-slave dynamic. Long before Hegel, the great St. Augustine noticed what he called the libido dominandi, the “lust to dominate,” as the mark of a dysfunctional society. Long before Augustine, the authors of the Old Testament were also interested in this problem, because the central story of the Scriptures is that of slavery and liberation from slavery—the Passover event.

But we see now in John’s Gospel how the distinctive mark of Jesus’ kingdom is precisely the overturning of the master-slave dynamic. Jesus bends down to do the work that was so lowly and frankly gross that only the lowest of the slaves were expected to do it, and he says, “As I have done for you, you should also do.” And what does he do later at the same supper? He gives himself away entirely in the Eucharist: “This is my body, which will be given for you.”

It is into this new dynamic that we are invited by Jesus: the washing of the feet, the giving away of body and blood.

Video reflection by Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers (U.S.C.C.B.): Triduum Reflection.

Video reflection by Doctor Tim Gray (Augustine Institute/Formed.org): Triduum Reflection.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"With the institution of the Eucharist, we enter into the very heart of humanity's drama. Will it be life directed toward death, or life open to eternity!"
—Pope Saint John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, r. 1978-2005; feast: 22 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"I tell you that you have less to suffer in following the cross than in serving the world & its pleasures."
—Saint Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney (1786-1859, feast: 4 August)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"On the Cross, Jesus said, 'I thirst.' He was not asking for something to drink. When they offered Him vinegar He didn't drink it… Very often we offer Jesus a bitter drink too. This bitterness comes from the depths of hearts & wells up in our words. When we give this bitterness to each other, we give it to Jesus."
—Saint Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"Let no one think he can be totally indifferent to God in this life & suddenly develop a capacity for Him at the moment of death."
—Venerable Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' Holy Thursday

Thursday of Holy Week (Holy Thursday)
The Daughters of Mary, "Tantum Ergo" from De Profundis (Penitent Mike Papa Whiskey)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord / Holy Week
Daniel Schmit & Mike Hilliker, "Were You There" from Mercy: Songs for Holy Week (Penitent Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: Heal my broken, divided heart, O Lord, so eager to welcome & hail You as did the crowds in Jerusalem & also like them so quick to betray You. My every sin shouts, "Crucify Him!"

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' Holy Saturday

Holy Saturday
Matt Maher, "The Waiting" from Saints and Sinners (Penitent Mike Papa Whiskey)

Saints + Scripture: Paschal Triduum | Holy Saturday

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Popish Plot
"Holy Saturday: The In-Between"

'Tis Holy Saturday, act three of the Paschal Triduum, the Saturday of Holy Week: Holy Saturday-link & Wikipedia-link Holy Saturday, & Wikipedia-link Sacred Triduum; Holy Week-link & Wikipedia-link Holy Week.

Scripture of This Night
Mass Readings—The Resurrection of the Lord at the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter
I. The Book of Genesis, chapter one, verse one thru chapter two, verse two
(or, the Book of Genesis, chapter one, verses one & twenty-six thru thirty-one[a]);
Psalm One Hundred Four, verses one & two; five & six; ten; twelve, thirteen, & fourteen; twenty-four; & thirty-five;
or, Psalm Thirty-three, verses four thru seven, twelve & thirteen, & twenty & twenty-two;
II. The Book of Genesis, chapter twenty-two, verses one thru eighteen
(or, the Book of Genesis, chapter twenty-two, verses one, two, nine[a] thru thirteen, & fifteen thru eighteen);
Psalm Sixteen, verses five, eight, nine& ten, & eleven;
III. The Book of Exodus, chapter fourteen, verse fifteen thru chapter fifteen, verse one;
The Book of Exodus, chapter fifteen, verses one & two, three & four, five & six, & seventeen & eighteen;
IV. The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-four, verses five thru fourteen;
Psalm Thirty, verses two, four, five & six, eleven & twelve, & thirteen;
V. The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-five, verses one thru eleven;
The Book of Isaiah, chapter twelve, verses two & three, four, & five & six;
VI. The Book of Baruch, chapter three, verses nine thru fifteen & thirty-two thru chapter four, verse four;
Psalm Nineteen, verses eight, nine, ten, & eleven;
VII. The Book of Ezekiel, chapter thirty-six, verses sixteen, seventeen(a), & eighteen thru twenty-eight;
Psalm Forty-two, verses three & five & Psalm Forty-three, verses three & four;
or, the Book of Isaiah, chapter twelve, verses two & three, four(b/c/d), & five & six;
or, Psalm Fifty-one, verses twelve & thirteen, fourteen & fifteen, & eighteen & nineteen;
VIII. The Letter to the Romans, chapter six, verses three thru eleven;
Psalm One Hundred Eighteen, verses one & two, sixteen & seventeen, & twenty-two & twenty-three;
IX. The Gospel according to Mark, chapter sixteen, verses one thru seven.

Commentary: Triduum Readings.

Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, on this Easter Vigil, in our Gospel we hear St. Mark’s account of the Resurrection. The Resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the be-all and end-all of the Christian faith. If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, all bishops, priests, and Christian ministers should go home and get honest jobs, and all the Christian faithful should leave their churches immediately.

As Paul himself put it: “If Christ has not been raised, then empty [too] is our preaching…. We are the most pitiable people of all.” It’s no good, of course, trying to explain the Resurrection away or rationalize it as a myth, a symbol, or an inner subjective experience. None of that does justice to the novelty and sheer strangeness of the biblical message.

It comes down finally to this: if Jesus was not raised from death, Christianity is a fraud and a joke. But if he did rise from death, then Christianity is the fullness of God’s revelation, and Jesus must be the absolute center of our lives. There is no third option.

Video reflection by Paul Jarzembowski (U.S.C.C.B.): Triduum Reflection.

Video reflection by Doctor Tim Gray (Augustine Institute/Formed.org): Triduum Reflection.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"The readings in the Paschal Vigil carry us into the mysterious arena where human sin meets God's justice & mercy. There life & death 'have contended,' & there the victory of the risen Christ over death stands out as the source of our salvation & the model of Christian living."
—Pope Saint Paul VI (1897-1978, r. 1963-1978; feast: 29 May)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"The One Who is our very life descended into our world, & bore our death, & slew it with the abundance of His own life. Thundering, He called us to return to Him in heaven."
—Saint Augustine of Hippo, Doctor of the Church (354-430, feast: 28 August)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"The most important part is that we keep the work as His work & that we do not spoil it with any claims."
—Saint Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"Solitude can be very rewarding & full of blessing because in the silence of the inner being, one finds God."
—Venerable Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

Saints + Scripture: Paschal Triduum | Good Friday

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Popish Plot
"Good Friday: 'Jesus, Remember Me'"

'Tis Good Friday, act two of the Paschal Triduum, the Friday of Holy Week: Good Friday-link & Wikipedia-link Good Friday, & Wikipedia-link Sacred Triduum; Holy Week-link & Wikipedia-link Holy Week.

Scripture of the Day
Liturgical Readings—Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord
The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-two, verse thirteen thru chapter fifty-three, verse twelve;
Psalm Thirty-one, verses two & six, twelve & thirteen, fifteen & sixteen, & seventeen & twenty-five
(R/. the Gospel according to Luke, chapter twenty-three, verse forty-six);
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter four, verses fourteen, fifteen, & sixteen & chapter fifteen, verses seven, eight, & nine;
The Gospel according to John, chapter eighteen, verse one thru chapter nineteen, verse forty-two.

Commentary: Triduum Readings.

Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, today’s Gospel is John’s wonderful narrative of Christ’s Passion. On the cross, Jesus entered into close quarters with sin (because that’s where we sinners are found) and allowed the heat and fury of sin to destroy him, even as he protected us.

We can see, with special clarity, why the first Christians associated the crucified Jesus with the suffering servant of Isaiah. By enduring the pain of the cross, Jesus did indeed bear our sins; by his stripes we were indeed healed.

And this is why the sacrificial death of Jesus is pleasing to the Father. The Father sent his Son into godforsakenness, into the morass of sin and death, not because he delighted in seeing his Son suffer, but rather because he wanted his Son to bring the divine light to the darkest place.

It is not the agony of the Son in itself that pleases his Father, but rather the Son’s willing obedience in offering his body in sacrifice in order to take away the sin of the world. St. Anselm said that the death of the Son reestablished the right relationship between divinity and humanity.

Video reflection by Father John M. McKenzie (U.S.C.C.B.): Triduum Reflection.

Video reflection by Doctor Tim Gray (Augustine Institute/Formed.org): Triduum Reflection.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"The journey also brings sacrifices, but these must not stop us. Jesus is on the Cross: you want to kiss Him? You cannot help bending over the Cross & letting yourself be pricked by some thorns of the crown that is on the Lord's head."
—Pope Blessed John Paul I (1912-1978, r. 1978; feast: 26 August)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"You need a deep freedom to be like Jesus. See, He could have been born in a palace, yet He chose to be poor… Are we so free that we can be completely naked with Jesus there on the cross?"
—Saint Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Jesus took upon Himself the scourging that would have been our due in order to save the creatures He formed & loved."
—Saint Odo of Cluny (880-942, feast: 18 November)

Bonus! Saint Quote o' the Day

"The fruit of this tree is not death but life, not darkness but light. This tree does not cast us out of paradise, but opens the way for our return."
—Saint Theodore the Studite (759-826, feast: 12 November)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"Keep your eyes on the crucifix; for Jesus without the cross is a man without a mission, & the cross without Jesus is a burden without a reliever."
—Venerable Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' Good Friday

Friday of the Passion of the Lord (Good Friday)
Taizé, "Jesus, Remember Me" from Laudate Omnes Gentes (Penitent Mike Papa Whiskey)

Saints + Scripture: Paschal Triduum | Holy Thursday

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Popish Plot
"Holy Thursday: Silver & Roosters"

'Tis Holy Thursday (A.K.A. Maundy Thursday), act one of the Paschal Triduum, the Thursday of Holy Week: Holy Thursday-link & Wikipedia-link Holy Thursday, & Wikipedia-link Sacred Triduum; Holy Week-link & Wikipedia-link Holy Week.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Chrism Mass
The Book of Isaiah, chapter sixty-one, verses one, two, three(a), six(a), eight(b), & nine;
Psalm Eighty-nine (R/. two), verses twenty-one & twenty-two, twenty-five & twenty-seven;
The Book of Revelation, chapter one, verses five thru eight;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter four, verses sixteen thru twenty-one.

Commentary: Chrism Mass Readings.

Mass Readings—Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper
The Book of Exodus, chapter twelve, verses one thru eight & eleven thru fourteen;
Psalm One Hundred Sixteen, verses twelve & thirteen, fifteen & sixteen(b/c), & seventeen & eighteen
(R/. the First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter ten, verse sixteen);
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter eleven, verses twenty-three thru twenty-six;
The Gospel according to John, chapter thirteen, verses one thru fifteen.

Commentary: Triduum Readings.

Commentary: Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus washes the disciples’ feet. He is giving them a visual proclamation of his new commandment: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.”

When we accept this commandment, we walk the path of joy. When we internalize this law, we become happy. And so the paradox: happiness is never a function of filling oneself up; it is a wonderful function of giving oneself away.

When the divine grace enters one’s life (and everything we have is the result of divine grace), the task is to contrive a way to make it a gift. In a sense, the divine life—which exists only in gift form—can be “had” only on the fly.

Notice please that we are to love with a properly divine love: “I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.” Radical, radical, radical. Complete, excessive, over-the-top.

Video reflection by Deacon Bernard Nojadera (U.S.C.C.B.): Triduum Reflection.

Video reflection by Doctor Tim Gray (Augustine Institute/Formed.org): Triduum Reflection.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"With the institution of the Eucharist, we enter into the very heart of humanity's drama. Will it be life directed toward death, or life open to eternity!"
—Pope Saint John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, r. 1978-2005; feast: 22 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"I tell you that you have less to suffer in following the cross than in serving the world & its pleasures."
—Saint Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney (1786-1859, feast: 4 August)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"On the Cross, Jesus said, 'I thirst.' He was not asking for something to drink. When they offered Him vinegar He didn't drink it… Very often we offer Jesus a bitter drink too. This bitterness comes from the depths of hearts & wells up in our words. When we give this bitterness to each other, we give it to Jesus."
—Saint Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"Let no one think he can be totally indifferent to God in this life & suddenly develop a capacity for Him at the moment of death."
—Venerable Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' Holy Thursday

Thursday of Holy Week (Holy Thursday)
Jim Cowan & Tony Melendez, "This Is Jesus" from The Cup of Life (Penitent Mike Papa Whiskey)

Operation ÖSTERREICH: Holy Week Edition

Weekly Wednesday Weigh-in
Last weigh-in: 338.8 lbs.
This weigh-in: 337.1 lbs.
Difference: -1.7 lbs.

The goal is to lose two pounds per week (2 lbs./week). In the last week, I did not achieve that goal.

Bonus! Lied von ÖSTERREICH!
The Aquabats!, "Pizza Day!" from Myths, Legends, and Other Amazing Adventures, Vol. 2 (Captain Thumbs Up!)