Holy Thursday marks the institution of the priesthood and the Eucharist. What an incredible gift, and yet how very much it is ignored, or worse. Get to Confession, folks. Sorrowful Mysteries these three days. Blessed Triduum, all. -nvp
“Holy Thursday celebrates especially the institution of the Mass at the Last Supper as the Sacrifice and Sacrament of Christian unity. On this day also, Jesus first shared His priesthood with men by ordaining the Apostles. Then He uttered the command that is the reason for every Mass: “Do this in remembrance of Me.” This is a day to think of the great love Jesus showed in instituting the Eucharist and to return that love by receiving Him in Holy Communion. Through Holy Communion we are united to Christ and to one another.”
THE STRIPPING OF THE ALTARS
During the Stripping of the Altars, the celebrant recites the following antiphon and begins Psalm 21.
They have divided my garments among them, and for my vesture they have cast lots.
Psalm 21: O God my God, look upon me: why hast thou forsaken me? Far from my salvation are the words of my sins. O my God, I shall cry by day, and thou wilt not hear: and by night, and it shall not be reputed as folly in me. But thou dwellest in the holy place, the praise of Israel. In thee have our fathers hoped: they have hoped, and thou hast delivered them. They cried to thee, and they were saved: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded…
They have divided my garments among them, and for my vesture they have cast lots.
Pope St. Leo the Great (d. 461) Sermon 59 (On the Passion, VIII.: on Wednesday in Holy Week.)
I. Christ’s arrest fulfills His own eternal purpose
Having discoursed, dearly beloved, in our last sermon, on the events which preceded the Lord’s arrest, it now remains, by the help of God’s grace, to discuss, as we promised, the details of the Passion itself. When the Lord had made it clear by the words of His sacred prayer that the Divine and the Human Nature was most truly and fully present in Him, showing that the unwillingness to suffer proceeded from the one, and from the other the determination to suffer by the expulsion of all frail fears and the strengthening of His lofty power, then did He return to His eternal purpose, and in the form of a sinless slave encounter the devil who was savagely attacking Him by the hands of the Jews: that He in Whom alone was all men’s nature without fault, might undertake the cause of all. The sins of darkness, therefore, assailed the true Light, and, for all their torches and lanterns , could not escape the night of their own unbelief, because they did not recognize the Fount of Light. They arrest Him, and He is ready to be seized; they lead Him away, and He is willing to be led; for though, if He had willed to resist, their wicked hands could have done Him no harm, yet thereby the world’s redemption would have been impeded, and He, who was to die for all men’ssalvation, would have saved none at all…
IV. Christ bearing His own cross is an eternal lesson to the Church
And so the Lord was handed over to their savage wishes, and in mockery of His kingly state, ordered to be the bearer of His own instrument of death, that what Isaiah the prophet foresaw might be fulfilled, saying, Behold a Child is born, and a Son is given to us whose government is upon His shoulders. When, therefore, the Lord carried the wood of the cross which should turn for Him into the sceptre of power, it was indeed in the eyes of the wicked a mighty mockery, but to the faithful a mighty mystery was set forth, seeing that He, the glorious vanquisher of the Devil, and the strong defeater of the powers that were against Him, was carrying in noble sort the trophy of His triumph, and on the shoulders of His unconquered patience bore into all realms the adorable sign of salvation: as if even then to confirm all His followers by this mere symbol of His work, and say, He that takes not his cross and follows Me, is not worthy of Me Matthew 10:38 .
“Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong is a surgeon who made billions inventing cancer drugs. He says that Covid, and the vaccines that didn’t stop it, are likely causing a global epidemic of terrifyingly aggressive cancers.”
TIMESTAMPS: (0:00) Why Are Cancer Rates Rising in Young People? (6:16) What Is Causing This Cancer Epidemic? (14:52) Is There a Connection Between Covid and Cancer? (25:33) Why Dr. Soon-Shiong Never Got Covid (39:36) How Big Pharma Tried to Undermine Dr. Soon-Shiong (47:35) Dr. Soon-Shiong’s Analysis of RFK Jr. (1:02:47) The Healthcare Industry’s Conflict of Interest (1:05:51) How to Strengthen Your Immune System (1:10:32) What Your Doctor Won’t Tell You About How to Fight Cancer (1:20:58) Why Hasn’t Anyone Faced Consequences for These Crimes? (1:33:59) Why Dr. Soon-Shiong Bought the LA Times
Audio obtained by the GrayZone reveals AIPAC’s executive director bragging that his Zionist lobbying group has influenced several top Trump administration officials.
(LifeSiteNews) — Leaked audio obtained by the GrayZone shows how the Israel lobby exerts enormous power over the Trump administration. In a statement published April 9 alongside the seven-minute recording, GrayZone editor Max Blumenthal wrote:
“The Grayzone obtained leaked audio from AIPAC’s 2025 Congressional Summit in which the organization’s Executive Director Elliot Brandt boasted that his group had groomed several top Trump national security officials and is able to ‘access’ their conversations to ensure they continue adhering to Israel’s agenda.”
In a report covering the release of the leaked audio, Blumenthal says:
“AIPAC’s new CEO, Elliott Brandt” describes in the recording … how his organization has cultivated influence with three top national security officials in the Trump administration – Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Director Mike Waltz, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe – and how it believes it can gain ‘access’ to their internal discussions.”
The secret tape also confirms the sponsorship of American lawmakers in the House of Representatives by the Israel lobby, says Blumenthal:
“Brandt’s comments corroborate Representative Thomas Massie’s claim that each member of Congress is expected to answer to an ‘AIPAC person.’”
And now Jesus arranged His procession. The Apostles He ordered to proceed, two and two, before Him, saying that from this moment and after His death, they should everywhere head the Community (the Church). Peter went first, followed by those that were to bear the Gospel to the most distant regions, while John and James the Less immediately preceded Jesus. All carried palm branches. As soon as the two disciples that were waiting near Bethphage spied the procession coming, they hurried forward to meet it, taking with them the two animals. The she-ass was covered with trappings that hung to its feet, the head and tail alone being visible.
Jesus now put on the beautiful festal robe of fine white wool which one of the disciples had brought with him for that purpose. It was long and flowing with a train. The broad girdle that confined it at the waist bore an inscription in letters. He then put around His neck a wide stole that reached to the knees, on the two ends of which something like shields was embroidered in brown. The two disciples assisted Jesus to mount the cross-seat on the ass. The animal had no bridle, but around its neck was a narrow strip of stuff that hung down loose. I know not whether Jesus rode on the she-ass or on its foal, for they were of the same size. The riderless animal ran by the other’s side. Eliud and Silas walked on either side of the Lord, and Eremenzear behind Him; then followed the disciples most recently received, some of whom He had brought back with Him from His last great journey, and others that had been received still later.
When the procession was ranged in order, the holy women, two and two, brought up the rear. The Blessed Virgin, who up to this time had always stayed in the background, now went at their head. As the procession moved forward, all began to sing, and the people of Bethphage, who had gathered around the two disciples while they were awaiting Jesus’ coming, followed after like a swarm. Jesus reminded the disciples of what He had previously told them to notice, namely, those that would spread their garments in His path, those that would break off branches from the trees, and those that would render Him the double honor, for these last would devote themselves and their worldly goods to His service.
From Bethania to Jerusalem, the traveler in those days met Bethphage to the right and rather more in the direction of Bethlehem. The Mount of Olives separated the two roads. It lay on low, swampy ground, and was a poor little place consisting of only a row of houses on either side of the road. The house near which the asses were grazing stood some distance from the road in a beautiful meadow between Bethphage and Jerusalem. On this side the road ascended, but on the other, it sank into the valley between Mount Olivet and the hills of Jerusalem. Jesus had tarried awhile between Bethania and Bethphage, and it was on the road beyond the latter place that the two disciples were waiting for Him with the ass.
In Jerusalem, the vendors and people whom Eremenzear and Silas had that morning told to clear the Temple because the Lord was coming, began straightaway and most joyfully to adorn the road. They tore up the pavement and planted trees, the top branches of which they bound together to form an arch, and then hung them with all kinds of yellow fruit like very large apples. The disciples that Jesus had sent on to Jerusalem, innumerable friends who had gone up to the city for the approaching feast (the roads were swarming with travelers), and many of the Jews that had been present at Jesus’ last discourse crowded to that side of the city by which He was expected to enter. There were also many strangers in Jerusalem. They had heard of the raising of Lazarus, and they wished to see Jesus. Then when the news spread that He was approaching, they too went out to meet Him.
“The Stones Would Cry Out”
The road from Bethphage to Jerusalem ran through the lower part of the valley of Mount Olivet, which was not so elevated as the plateau upon which the Temple stood. Going up from Bethphage to the Mount of Olives, one could see, through the high hills that bordered the route on either side, the Temple standing opposite. From this point to Jerusalem the road was delightful, full of little gardens and trees.
Crowds came pouring out of the city to meet the Apostles and disciples, who were approaching with songs and canticles. At this juncture, several aged priests in the insignia of their office stepped out into the road and brought the procession to a standstill. The unexpected movement silenced the singing. The priests called upon Jesus to say what He meant by such proceedings on the part of His followers, and why He did not prohibit this noise and excitement. Jesus answered that if His followers were silent, the stones on the road would cry out. At these words, the priests retired.
Then the High Priests took counsel together and ordered to be called before them all the husbands and relatives of the women that had gone out of Jerusalem with the children to meet Jesus. When they made their appearance in answer to the summons, they were all shut up in the great court, and emissaries were sent out to spy what was going on.
Many among the crowd that followed Jesus to the Temple not only broke off branches from the trees and strewed them in the way, but snatched off their mantles and spread them down, singing and shouting all the while. I saw many that had quite despoiled themselves of their upper garments for that purpose. The children had rushed from the schools, and now ran rejoicing with the crowd. Veronica, who had two children by her, threw her own veil in the way and, snatching another from one of the children, spread that down also. She and the other women joined the holy women, who were in the rear of the procession. There were about seventeen of them. The road was so thickly covered with branches, garments, and carpets that the procession moved on quite softly through the numerous triumphal arches that spanned the space between the walls on either side.
Jesus wept, as did the Apostles also, when He told them that many who were now shouting acclamations of joy would soon deride Him, and that a certain one would even betray Him. He looked upon the city, and wept over its approaching destruction. When He entered the gate, the cries of joy became still greater. Many sick of all kinds had been led or carried thither, consequently Jesus frequently halted, dismounted, and cured all without distinction. Many of His enemies had mingled with the crowd, and they now uttered cries with a view to raise an insurrection.
The nearer to the Temple, the more magnificent was the ornamentation of the road. On either side hedges had been put up to form enclosures, in which little animals with long necks, kids, and sheep, all adorned with garlands and wreaths around their neck, were skipping about as if in little gardens. The background of these enclosures was formed of bushes. In this part of the city there were always, and especially toward the Paschal feast, chosen animals for sale, pure and spotless, destined for sacrifice. To move from the city gate to the Temple, although a distance of about half an hour only, the procession took three hours.
Judas’ Dissatisfaction
By this time the Jews had ordered all the houses, as well as the city gate, to be closed, so that when Jesus dismounted before the Temple, and the disciples wanted to take the ass back to where they had found it, they were obliged to wait inside the gate till evening. In the Temple were the holy women and crowds of people. All had to remain the whole day without food, for this part of the city had been barricaded. Magdalen was especially troubled by the thought that Jesus had taken no nourishment.
When toward evening the gate was again opened, the holy women went back to Bethania, and Jesus followed later with the Apostles…
LESSON (Jer. 18:18-23)
In those days, the wicked Jews said: “Come, and let us invent devices against Jeremias: for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet: come, and let us strike him with the tongue, and let us give no heed to all his words.”
“Give heed to me, O Lord, and hear the voice of my adversaries. Shall evil be rendered for good, because they have digged a pit for my soul? Remember that I have stood in thy sight, to speak good for them, and to turn away thy indignation from them. Therefore deliver up their children to famine, and bring them into the hands of the sword: let their wives be bereaved of children and widows: and let their husbands be slain by death: let their young men be stabbed with the sword in battle. Let a cry be heard out of their houses: for thou shalt bring the robber upon them suddenly: because they have digged a pit to take me, and have hid snares for my feet. But thou, O Lord, knowest all their counsel against me unto death: not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from thy sight: let them be overthrown before thy eyes, in the time of thy wrath do thou destroy them, O Lord our God.”
The Israel which God blesses is not that of the Zionist state, but the Catholic Church, the bride of Christ
Introductory note from LifeSiteNews co-founder Steve Jalsevac: Jewish teachings most prominently come from the Torah and the Talmud, but the definitions of both can be very complicated, with many different interpretations from various Jewish scholars, rabbis, and sects.
That makes understanding the details and various forms of today’s Judaism quite difficult and requires this long but very interesting article to explain it. Most readers will be shocked by what they will learn from the article, as we have been from researching it.
LifeSiteNews has found that shockingly few Catholics and other Christians have even the most basic true understanding of Zionism, founded by many atheists, and how it has used Judaism to give itself false credibility. Before the Hamas invasion of October 7, few LifeSiteNews staff understood these issues.
Even fewer Christians have any concept of the significant role the much later written Talmud has played in legitimizing among certain Jews chronic lying, stealing property and land belonging to others, extreme immorality, and the deliberate killing and massacres of innocent non-Jews – from newborn babies to feeble elderly persons. As Rabbi Weiss emphasizes, Zionism, which incorporates many of the worst Talmudic teachings, is “satanic.”
At the foot of the Cross, the Mother of God became Our Mother. Remember, Mary was more holy at the moment of her birth than all the saints combined at the moment of their deaths. Yet she only grew in holiness. This happened in many ways throughout her life, but most especially by her Son allowing her to participate in His Passion. Her participation is the only time “compassion” literally took place in the history of the universe. This was an act of love, in both directions.
She is our model, and Our Mother.
She is our model, because she is the epitome of bearing suffering well, ordering suffering towards its rightful object, uniting our suffering to the Cross, participating in our own redemption through the grace of suffering. It is even possible to experience joy through suffering while yet in this life. There is no escaping suffering, because it is for our own good. If you haven’t really experienced it yet, believe me, it’s coming. Get prepared.
She is Our Mother, precisely because her suffering entailed the participation in Christ’s Passion in a real way. Meaning, she suffered with Him every sin ever committed. She knows you, and she wants you to ask for her help. You are never given a burden heavier than you can manage, provided you work with the graces being offered. And guess who mediates all those graces? Yep, your Mother does that.
Pray the Rosary every day.
Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us.
Stabat Mater sequence, literal translation:
1. The grieving Mother stood weeping
beside the cross where her Son was hanging
2. Through her weeping soul,
compassionate and grieving, a sword passed.
3. O how sad and afflicted
was that blessed Mother of the Only-begotten!
4. Who mourned and grieved, the pious Mother,
looking at the torment of her glorious Child
5. Who is the person who would not weep
seeing the Mother of Christ in such agony?
6. Who would not be able to feel compassion
on beholding Christ’s Mother suffering with her Son?
7. For the sins of his people
she saw Jesus in torment and subjected to the scourge.
8. She saw her sweet offspring dying,
forsaken, while He gave up his spirit
9. O Mother, fountain of love, make me feel
the power of sorrow, that I may grieve with you
10. Grant that my heart may burn in the love
of Christ my Lord, that I may greatly please Him
11. Holy Mother, grant that the wounds
of the Crucified drive deep into my heart.
12. That of your wounded Son, who so deigned
to suffer for me, I may share the pain
13. Let me sincerely weep with you,
bemoan the Crucified, for as long as I live
14. To stand beside the cross with you,
and to join you in your weeping, this I desire
15. Chosen Virgin of virgins,
be not bitter with me, let me weep with thee
16. Grant that I may bear the death of Christ,
share his Passion, and commemorate His wounds
17. Let me be wounded with his wounds,
let me be inebriated by the cross and your Son’s blood
18. Lest I be set afire by flames of death, Virgin,
may I be defended by you, on the day of judgement
19. Christ, when it is time to pass away, grant that
through your Mother I may come to the palm of victory
20. When my body dies, grant that to my soul
is given the glory of paradise. Amen
The Vires Law Group (VLG), with the support of the Former Feds Group Freedom Foundation, announces the filing of a request to Arizona Attorney General, Kris Mayes, for a criminal investigation of Dr. Anthony Fauci and other officials for alleged crimes committed against citizens of Arizona prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The filing is specific to Arizona state criminal statutes and contains information of thirty-six (36) victims to include letters from nine (9) of the families of these victims. Similar filings have been submitted on behalf of their respective constituents to the Attorneys General and District Attorneys of Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.
This effort to investigate Dr. Fauci and other accused persons is supported by donations from individuals and organizations such as the Diamond Mind Foundation and the Fight Like A Flynn PAC run by former National Security Advisor, retired Lieutenant General Mike Flynn.
Families of the victims request investigation into the deaths of their loved ones under Covid hospital protocols, intentional COVID-19 infection mismanagement, and suppression and denial of life-saving treatments in Arizona hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities. Thanks to the efforts of victims around the country, there are currently two open criminal investigations by county prosecutors in two states at the time of this press release. Some of the alleged violations of Arizona criminal statues include:
– Trafficking of Persons for Forced Labor or Services
– Kidnapping
In addition to Anthony Fauci, the following individuals and officers are subjects of the requested investigation:
– Cliff Lane, Deputy Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
– Francis Collins, ex-Director, National Institutes of Health
– Deborah Birx, ex-White House COVID Response Coordinator & former Director of DOD HIV Research at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
– Rochelle Walensky, ex-Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
– Stephen Hahn, ex-Commissioner, Federal Drug Administration
– Janet Woodcock, Principal Deputy Commissioner, Federal Drug Administration
– Peter Hotez, Dean for the National School of Tropical Medicine & Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine
– Robert Redfield, ex-Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
– Peter Daszak, President, Eco-Health Alliance
– Ralph Baric, Professor, University of North Carolina
– Rick Bright, Former Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority
– The Administrators and Healthcare Providers of several hospital systems and facilities providing care to patients in Arizona
The VLG attorneys who extensively researched and compiled the filing, along with many other concerned citizens, believe that it is essential that the Arizona Attorney General and her staff conduct a thorough investigation to determine if the evidence contained in the submission, together with further evidence to be uncovered, substantiates indictment and prosecution of the identified suspects for the alleged crimes. If the evidence provides probable cause that crimes have been committed, then it is expected that the State of Arizona will prosecute the accused to the fullest extent of the law.
Calls for accountability are coming from all over the nation and even the halls of Congress as expressed by Senators Ron Johnson, Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, and many others. Based on the current legal landscape, if these culpable federal officers and former officers are ever to be held accountable and punished for their COVID-related crimes, such justice must be delivered by a state or county level criminal process. We urge the people of Arizona to stand with these victims and their families and support the District Attorneys and Attorney General in bringing to light the truth of the victims’ suffering and death, and the suffering of their families, and in bringing justice against these egregious crimes.
If you would like to donate to support this effort, you may make a tax-deductible gift at https://formerfedsgroup.org/donate/ and designate it for “AG Action”.
Today is the 160th anniversary of the Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse.
It was Palm Sunday.
General Lee had abandoned Richmond a week earlier, followed by Petersburg four days later. Retreating west, attempting to meet supply lines and reinforcements, his men starving, Lee sent a letter to Grant to request peace terms. Grant replied, with generosity.
Unlike the unarmed protesters of J6, the entire Army of Northern Virginia were not imprisoned, not one man, not for one day. Not only that, every man was allowed to keep his sidearms and horses. Their lands were not confiscated. Lincoln would never have allowed for this, nor Sherman, but Grant wanted the healing to begin straight away.
If you grew up in the North, and you think you know the history and causes of the Civil War, think again. Start with the fact that Lincoln was dead set on war from the outset. Look into the reasons for secession, and you will find that the breaking point for many states was Lincoln’s forced conscription of their citizenry to fight their own countrymen. That proved to be too much for the various governors and legislatures. Search and read their written responses to this executive tyranny.
“I have always thought it appropriate that the national nightmare we call the Civil War ended during Holy Week 1865. Two remarkably decent men, Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant, began the process of healing so desperately needed for America on Palm Sunday, April 9, 1865 at Appomattox. We take their decency for granted, but it is the exception and not the rule for the aftermath of civil wars in history. The usual course would have been unremitting vengeance by the victors, and sullen rage by the defeated, perhaps eventually breaking out in guerilla war. The end of the Civil War could so very easily have been the beginning of a cycle of unending war between north and south. Instead, both Grant and Lee acted to make certain as far as they could that the fratricidal war that had just concluded would not be repeated. All Americans owe those two men a large debt for their actions at Appomattox.”
