Very Intersting Facts about Catholic Customs for Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Vigil

Holy Thursday: Mass of the Lord's Supper
+The Triduum begins with the Mass of the Lord's Supper on the evening of Holy Thursday.
+During the Gloria in Excelsis Deo, all church bells may be rung and the organ played; afterwards, bells and organ are silenced until the Gloria of the Easter Vigil.

+After the homily of the Mass a ritual washing of the feet is envisaged.
+The Mass concludes with a procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the altar of repose.
+Eucharistic adoration is encouraged during this time.
+The liturgical colour for the Mass vestments and other ornaments is white.

Good Friday
+On Good Friday, Catholics recall the Passion and crucifixion of Jesus.
+A cross or crucifix (not necessarily the one which stands on or near the altar on other days of the year) is ceremoniously unveiled.

+The Priest traditionally begin the service prostrate in front of the altar. Mass is not celebrated on Good Friday and the communion distributed at the Celebration of the Lord's Passion is consecrated on Holy Thursday, hence the name Mass of the Pre-sanctified.
+Many times images of saints are either kept or veiled until the Easter Vigil. Votive lights before these images are not lit. Crucifixes that are movable are hidden, while those that are not movable are veiled until the Easter Vigil.
+Only one cross or crucifix per church is unveiled throughout the entire Good Friday service, for the purpose of veneration by the congregation. Regardless of the size of the church or the congregation, it is not permissible to use two crucifixes for the said veneration. The faithful typically venerate the crucifix by kissing the feet of the corpus.
+The priest wears red vestments, symbolic of the Blood of Jesus Christ.

Holy Saturday
+A commemoration of the day that Jesus lay in his tomb.
+In the Catholic Church, daytime Masses are never offered.
+There are no colors seen or used throughout the chapel or on vestments.

Easter Vigil
+Held after nightfall of Holy Saturday in anticipation of the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus.
+The ceremony of darkness and light is held in silence at the beginning of the Mass.
+The paschal candle, representing Jesus's resurrection as the "return of light onto the world," is lit.
+The solemn procession to the altar with the Paschal candle is formed.
+7 readings and 7 psalms, followed by the Epistle. These readings account salvation history, beginning with Creation.
+During the Gloria at the Mass, the organ and church bells are used in the liturgy for the first time in two days.
+If the lights of the Church have been previously left off, they are turned on as the Gloria begins
+The celebrant uses the term "Alleluia" for the first time since the beginning of Lent.
+People desiring to full initiation in the Church who have completed their training are formally initiated as members of the faith the Church through the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, confirmation, and the Holy Eucharist).

Fast Facts: What is the Easter Triduum?

Easter Triduum, or Holy Triduum, is the period of three days from Holy Thursday (seen as beginning with the service of the preceding evening) to Easter Day.
Since the 1955 reform by Pope Pius XII, the Easter Triduum has been more clearly distinguished as a separate liturgical period.
After the Gloria in Excelsis Deo at the Mass of the Lord's Supper all church bells are silenced and the organ is not used until Easter Sunday when once again they are put into service.

For a list of the days and customs in the Triduum, see :
http://www.catholicadventure.com/2010/03/very-intersting-facts-about-catholic.html

Fast Facts about Holy Week

Holy Week in the Catholic Church is the last week of Lent (the week before Easter). It includes Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday)and Good Friday. The week lasts from Palm Sunday and ends at the beginning of Easter Sunday. Easter Sunday then begins a new season which lasts fifty days. Holy week commemorates the last week of the earthly life of Jesus Christ including his crucifixion. Each day is lived-out by Catholics as if each day was happening again during Holy Week. Come back again soon, when I will have further explanation of the individual days of the coming week.

YouTube Catholic Church : The Vatican with the Catholic Kid

If you are looking for information on YouTube about the Vatican, here is a little video that my son and I made for YouTube.

Top 5 Interesting Fun Facts about Easter 2010

1. Easter takes place on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. From year to year this is a different date. Passover, which Jesus’ death and resurrection is strongly connected with, is determined in the same fashion.

2. Priest’s vestments are white and gold for Easter.

3. An Easter procession was a tradition in some Catholic cultures. After Easter morning Mass, the congregation would pray or sing hymns. This tradition has been secularized into what is now known as the Easter parade.

4. The Easter Lily was brought to the United States from Japan in 1882. Although not an ancient tradition, it quickly became an essential part of alter ornamentation during Easter mass.

5. Although many Catholics focus only on Easter Sunday, the Easter Season lasts for 50 days after Easter Sunday. The official end of Easter occurs on Pentecost, when we celebrate the Decent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and Mary.

Explaining the Stations of the Cross - History and Lent Facts on the Stations of the Cross

The Stations of the Cross (also known as the Way of the Cross) is a devotion that was started by St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226). He created the Stations for Catholics who were unable to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land because it was too dangerous. St. Francis placed 14 Stations throughout the church. Each station represented an actual place that a person could stop, pray and contemplate Christ’s Passion in Jerusalem.

The tradition carries on today. Many Catholic Churches will have evening services during the Friday’s of Lent to pray the 14 Stations together. There are a variety of prayers and contemplations that can be used during these services. It has become a tradition for the Pope to write an original work for the Good Friday Stations of the Cross that is conducted at the Coliseum in Rome.

The Stations are:
1. Jesus is condemned to death
2. Jesus is given his cross
3. Jesus falls the first time
4. Jesus meets His Mother
5. Simon of Cyrene carries the cross
6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
7. Jesus falls the second time
8. Jesus meets the daughters of Jerusalem
9. Jesus falls the third time
10. Jesus is stripped of His garments
11. Crucifixion: Jesus is nailed to the cross
12. Jesus dies on the cross
13. Jesus' body is removed from the cross (Deposition or Lamentation)
14. Jesus is laid in the tomb and covered in incense.

Do I Have To Go To Confession During Lent?

In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, precepts are listed as a guide for the minimum “requirements” that a Catholic should follow. The second and third precepts are as stated:

“The second precept ("You shall confess your sins at least once a year") ensures preparation for the Eucharist by the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation, which continues Baptism's work of conversion and forgiveness.

The third precept ("You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season") guarantees as a minimum the reception of the Lord's Body and Blood in connection with the Paschal feasts, the origin and center of the Christian liturgy.”

What does this mean?


There is no solid rule that Catholics have to confess their sins during Lent. Although Catholics do have to go to confession once a year, it could be at any time. While not mandatory, it may be a good idea to receive the sacrament of reconciliation sometime during Lent in keeping with the spirit of the season. It also goes well with having to receive the Eucharist at least once during the Easter Season. This is especially true for those who don’t attend Mass regularly. Remember if a Catholic does not attend Mass every week, it is a mortal sin and needs to be confessed before receiving the Eucharist.

Fast Facts: What is Fat Tuesday?

Fat Tuesday occurs the day before Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of Lent. Fat Tuesday is called “Fat Tuesday” because a good deal of food is consumed on this day. This is due to the fact that the next day starts Lent which is filled with fasting and penance. So Tuesday is the last day to pig-out. Historically, the feasting and partying that happens on Fat Tuesday was a way to get rid of many of the perishable foods that would not be consumed during the forty days of Lent. In particular, meat and dairy products. This is where the word “carnival” from, which means “getting rid of” or “saying good-bye to meat”.
Fat Tuesday, translated in French as Mardi Gras, is widely celebrated throughout the world. Most people associate these colorful parties with cities such as New Orleans, Brazil, Rio de Janeiro and Venice.

Information on Saint Valentine

With Valentine's day right around the corner, here is a clip with facts on the two men who inspired the well known holiday.

Interesting Facts About Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. It is a day when we reflect on our own mortality and the need for repentance because the end can come at any time. The ash cross that we receive on our forehead is a physical reminder that we will someday return back to ash. During this day, Catholics are placed into a proper mindset for the Lenten Season. While preparing for Easter, Catholics purify the body and soul through fasting, abstinence, prayer, confession, and works of mercy. In other words, mortification and penance. The focus on our own mortality during Ash Wednesday sets us up for a good Lent that is then counter balanced by the celebration of Christ’s triumph over death at Easter.

Also see quick overview about Fasting and Abstinence for Lent:
http://www.catholicadventure.com/2010/02/fast-facts-about-lent.html

Facts about Fasting and Abstinence during Lent and Meatless Fridays Throughout the Year

Before Vatican II, every Friday (Lent or not) was a day of abstinence from meat. But today, in most countries, meatless Fridays are only during Lent. This includes the United States. The Catholic Church does still recommend that some sort of penance or work of mercy be performed for the Fridays outside of Lent. This is to show reverence for the day of the week that Jesus died for our sins.
As far as Abstinence and Fasting during Lent see: http://www.catholicadventure.com/2010/02/fast-facts-about-lent.html

Interesting Facts About Lent

1-Lent is a preparation for the celebration of Easter.

2-Lent is the Old English word for spring.

3-There is actually more than 40 days of Lent. Lent runs from Ash Wednesday until the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday.

4-Sundays are part of Lent. Some will say that they are not part of Lent because we celebrate the Mass, therefore Sundays are exempt. It would then follow that we would be allowed to have those things that we give up for Lent on Sundays. In fact, the Sundays of the Lenten Season are called “First Sunday of Lent”, “Second Sunday of Lent”, “Third Sunday of Lent”, and so on. It is clear by these titles that Sundays are part of Lent. But we can still indulge on Sundays, if we want to, because what we give up for Lent is voluntary.

5-Lent is 40 days long because of tradition. Moses stayed on the mountain for 40 days. Nineveh was given 40 days to repent, and most of all Jesus fasted and prayed in the wilderness for 40 days before starting his ministry.

6-During Lent it is customary to give up something that we enjoy or rely upon to help us discipline our will so that we are not slaves to pleasure. In this way, we can better train to detach ourselves from the wants of this world and allow ourselves to become more perfectly in-line with the will of God.

Fast Facts About Lent

Here is a quick reference for when we should fast and abstain during Lent of 2010.

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-All Fridays of Lent: Abstinence

-Feb. 17 (Ash Wednesday): Fast and Abstinence

-April 2 (Good Friday): Fast and Abstinence

Fast=Catholics are allowed to take only one full meal for the day. All adults are bound by the law up till the age of sixty.
Abstinence=No meat (flesh and organs of mammals and fowl) is eaten for those who are age 14 and above.

Catholic Kid: The Vatican

Here is a video that my son and I made about the Vatican.

Helping Bill Maher Understand

Fr. Robert Barron has posted, on YouTube, a well thought-out response to Bill Maher’s ‘Religulous’. In the process, he answers quite a few questions people have asked me. So, I thought this may be helpful in answering those in your life.

Helping Bill Maher Understand

Fr. Robert Barron has posted, on YouTube, a well thought-out response to Bill Maher’s ‘Religulous’. In the process, he answers quite a few questions people have asked me. So, I thought this may be helpful in answering those in your life.

Helping Bill Maher Understand

Fr. Robert Barron has posted, on YouTube, a well thought-out response to Bill Maher’s ‘Religulous’. In the process, he answers quite a few questions people have asked me. So, I thought this may be helpful in answering those in your life.

Still Christmas?

Yes, it is still the Christmas Season. So, ignore the stores that are putting out Valentine's Day decorations and summer attire. We are still in full Christmas mode. Catholics will typically start celebrating the season from the Vigil Mass, on Christmas Eve, to the Epiphany (January 6th). This time is also remembered as the Twelve Days of Christmas (days are counted from December 25th to the Eve of the Epiphany, December 5th). As you probably know, the Epiphany commemorates the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus. This visit also represents the "revealing" of Jesus as the Lord to the rest of the world. The coming of the Three Kings is a sign that God came to save all men-- The Jews and Gentiles alike. So keep up your Nativity Scene and the light up the Christmas tree for a couple more days; there are three more gifts that have yet to be given--gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Still Christmas?

Yes, it is still the Christmas Season. So, ignore the stores that are putting out Valentine's Day decorations and summer attire. We are still in full Christmas mode. Catholics will typically start celebrating the season from the Vigil Mass, on Christmas Eve, to the Epiphany (January 6th). This time is also remembered as the Twelve Days of Christmas (days are counted from December 25th to the Eve of the Epiphany, December 5th). As you probably know, the Epiphany commemorates the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus. This visit also represents the "revealing" of Jesus as the Lord to the rest of the world. The coming of the Three Kings is a sign that God came to save all men-- The Jews and Gentiles alike. So keep up your Nativity Scene and the light up the Christmas tree for a couple more days; there are three more gifts that have yet to be given--gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Still Christmas?

Yes, it is still the Christmas Season. So, ignore the stores that are putting out Valentine's Day decorations and summer attire. We are still in full Christmas mode. Catholics will typically start celebrating the season from the Vigil Mass, on Christmas Eve, to the Epiphany (January 6th). This time is also remembered as the Twelve Days of Christmas (days are counted from December 25th to the Eve of the Epiphany, December 5th). As you probably know, the Epiphany commemorates the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus. This visit also represents the "revealing" of Jesus as the Lord to the rest of the world. The coming of the Three Kings is a sign that God came to save all men-- The Jews and Gentiles alike. So keep up your Nativity Scene and the light up the Christmas tree for a couple more days; there are three more gifts that have yet to be given--gold, frankincense and myrrh.