Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest

Passion Week

The last two weeks of Lent beginning with Passion Sunday and terminating with Easter Sunday, form the   season which is known as Passiontide.  It is really a continuation and the conclusion of Lent.  All crucifixes and sacred images are veiled in violet.  From this day until Maundy Thursday, in Masses of the Season the Psalm Judica me is omitted on Sundays, and ferias, as also the Gloria Patri at the Introit and at the Lavabo; but on feasts they are said as usual.  During this time, and especially throughout Holy Week, the Church is picturing to us the scenes of our Saviour’s Passion and death, and inculcating the lessons which these sorrowful events are intended to teach, while praying that we may have a share in the fruits of the Redemption and the joys of the Resurrection.

St. Thomas Aquinas

On Christ’s Passion on the Cross

First of all, as an example of virtue. For Augustine thus writes: “God’s Wisdom became man to give us an example in righteousness of living. But it is part of righteous living not to stand in fear of things which ought not to be feared.  ...Secondly, because this kind of death was especially suitable in order to atone for the sin of our first parent, which was the plucking of the apple from the forbidden tree against God’s command.  And, so to atone for that sin, it was fitting that Christ should suffer by being fastened to a tree…  The third reason is because as Chrysostom says in a sermon on the Passion:  “He suffered upon a high rood and not under a roof, in order that the nature of the air might be purified: and the earth felt a like benefit, for it was cleansed by the flowing of the blood from His side.”  ...The fourth reason is, because, by dying on it, He prepares for us an ascent into heaven…  The fifth reason is because it is befitting the universal salvation of the entire world.  Hence Gregory of Nyssa observes that “the shape of the cross extending out into four extremes from their  central point of contact denote the power and the providence diffused everywhere of Him who hung upon it.

Your Cross

The everlasting God has in His wisdom foreseen from eternity the cross that He now presents to you as a gift from His inmost Heart.  This cross He now sends you He has considered with His all-knowing eyes,            understood with His Divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with loving arms and weighed with His own hands to see that it be not one inch too large and not one ounce too heavy for you.  He has blessed it with His Holy Name, anointed it with His grace, perfumed it with His consolation, taken one last glance at you and your courage, and then sent it to you from heaven, , a special greeting from God to you, an alms of the all-merciful love of God.                                                                                                         St. Francis de Sales

UPCOMING EVENTS

APRIL 9

Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday)

5:00 PM High Mass

Procession to the Altar of Repose; Stripping of the Altar

APRIL 10

Good Friday

5:00 PM Commemoration of the Passion and Death of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Adoration of the Holy Cross

APRIL 11

Holy Saturday

Easter Vigil

4:00 PM Blessing of the New Fire and Paschal Candle; Procession and Exultet; Blessing of Baptismal Water; Solemn Mass of the Vigil

APRIL 12

Easter Sunday

12:30 PM High Mass

APRIL 16

Holy Hour

Immediately following 6:00 PM Mass

APRIL 24

4th Anniversary of the Coronation of Pope Benedict XVI

Low Mass with organ