17 March 2023 · 2023-03 newsletter
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad”.
At the beginning of April, we will celebrate Holy Week with the Good Friday ceremonies of the Lord’s Passion (7th April) and the celebration of the resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday (9th April)
The following is an extract from a sermon that Father Kentenich gave on Easter Sunday 29th March 1964. In that sermon he said:
“He has risen, Alleluia, alleluia! That means not only that he has risen from the dead but that through his resurrection and all he suffered in connection with the resurrection, he has obtained for us the grace that one day our bodies will also rise again and that our souls will have life everlasting. Therefore, be not afraid. It would be more appropriate to say, ’Rejoice! Rejoice!’ Why? Because the Lord has risen. Rejoice, because the Lord has risen and thereby assured us that we too shall rise gain, not only our souls but also our bodies.
My dear listeners, am I then correct when I say: If we also believe as the Mother of God did, then we may rejoice with the Church at Easter. We may take part in her rejoicing. In this spirit we wish each other a blessed and joyful Easter. That means, we wish each other first and foremost a growth of an all-embracing and living faith.
Once more, if we really have tried and continue to try, to the best of our ability, to give our hearts to Our Lord, so too we shall take part in the joy of Easter. Therefore, when we wish each other a happy and joyful Easter it means we wish each other a greater love towards Our Saviour.
Christ has risen! What does it mean to us? It answers all our questions. Christ has risen! I, too, shall rise again and consequently I shall master life with all its problems and draw nearer to heaven, until one day I shall take an everlasting part in the transfigured life of Christ.
Deo Gratias
A childlike courageous ‘yes’ to my way of the Cross.
A childlike joyful ‘yes’ – gives the Father the greatest joy.
My ‘yes’ should not just be a “Fiat” –
but also a ‘Deo gratias’ (‘Thank be to God’).
We must remember that behind the cross
is always the Father’s love
and God never sends us more than we can handle.”(From: Childlikeness before God – Fr. J. Kentenich, p.60)
May the blessings and joys of the Easter Season be with you and your family.
Christ is Risen, Alleluia!
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