This Week:
Monday 30th March
Station at St. Chrysogonus. Penance is emphasised in the Mass as taking the example of Nineveh to illustrate how penance can obtain, even for the Gentiles, God’s Mercy. Might this not be a good day for bishops to declare a day of public penance to stem the tide of the Coronavirus? Mass is of the Monday in Passion Week.
Tuesday 31st March
Station is at St. Cyriacus. Mass is of Tuesday in Passion Week. Epistle relates Daniel in the lion’s Den showing God’s Mercy toward His Church. The Gospel shows how the common people loved Our Lord but were frightened by His enemies. Enemies of Our Lord regarded Him in their rhetoric as a seducer, somebody who made promises, to bring over the people from the Temple. As so often happens, the leaders of the state mis-use their authority to promote their own agenda by using calumny as a weapon.
Wednesday 1st April
Station is at St. Marcellus. Originally, the church was home to the holy matron, Lucina, which she donated to become a church that was consecrated by Pope St. Marcellus in 306, wherein his body resides. Mass of Wednesday in Passion Week. Catechumens in the Epistle are in-structed as to the Commandments of God which forms the basis for Chris-tians as opposed to the lack of rules for pagans and unbelievers. The Gospel shows how the Jews refused to examine the teachings of Jesus and charged Him with blasphemy. Our Lord denied such charges and asserted His Divine nature.
Thursday 2nd April
Today Votive Mass of Our Lord Jesus Christ High and Eternal Priest may be celebrated, where devotions for the sanctification of priests are made, with commemoration of St, Francis of Paula C. of the XVI Century, known for his humility and devotion to the sufferings of Christ. Commemoration of the Thursday in Passion Week is made. Station is at St. Apollinaris honouring St. Apollinaris, Patron of Ravena, Capital of Rome after the fall of Rome to barbarians. In the Epistle Azarius mourns the fate of his nation but has confidence in God’s Mercy to those who seek it. The Gospel relates the forgiveness of Mary Magda-lene.
First Friday 3rd April
Today is a special day in that two Masses of the Most Sacred Heart of Je-sus may be celebrated in churches and oratories where Devotions in honour of His Most Sacred heart are made. Two Votive Masses in honour of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary may also be celebrated with Gloria, Sequence and Preface of the Blessed Virgin. In both Votive Masses commemoration is made of the Friday in Passion Week. Station is at St. Stephen on the Coellian Hill, the First Martyr, whose relics reside within the church. The Lessons of the Mass tell how Jeremias, a high priest in Jerusalem, was unjustly persecuted by his own people and how the just man turns to God for help and recovery of his reputation. The Gospel shows the intentions of the Jewish leaders to put Our Lord to death.
First Saturday 4th April
Votive Mass of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin may be celebrated today if Devotions of Reparation are made. Commemoration of St. Isidore E. C. D. of the VII Century, Bishop of Seville, would be made in the Votive Mass as well as commemoration of the Saturday in Passion Week. Duties of a Bishop are laid out clearly in the Mass of the Saint. Station is at St. John the Evangelist Before the Latin Gate, honouring the Saint who was in Rome about 77 A.D. and was saved from death miraculously after being plunged into a vat of boiling oil. In ancient times there was no Mass for this day in order that the catechumens could prepare for ceremonies the next day. The Gospel of the Mass describes Our Lord’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem.