At the end of the liturgy on Holy Thursday evening, in every Catholic Church around the world, the Blessed Sacrament is removed to the altar of repose, the altar is stripped, the church is bare, empty. Tomb-like. It is a striking and heartbreaking tradition, and I make sure to attend each year, to allow my heart to break, my tears to fall, my spirit to be clouded in gloom and dread, preparing for Good Friday, and Christ’s passion.
My purpose in sharing this video is to encourage those of you who let Easter sneak up on you, without much thought beforehand, to find your own ways to open your heart and experience the pain of Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Perhaps dedicate an hour to prayer and scripture. Go to a church and wait with Jesus during the hours of 12 to 3. Give alms. Go to a Good Friday service. Fast. Cut off the phones, televisions, computers.
Observing these two solemn days of the Christian calendar will make your Easter more meaningful, and enrich your faith.
French President Emmanuel Macron said today he wants to see the fire-ravaged Notre Dame cathedral rebuilt within five years. During a televised address to the nation Macron affirmed “we will rebuild Notre Dame cathedral even more beautiful.” He added “we can do it and once again, we will mobilize” to do so.
.
(more…)
A horrific historic and cultural loss. The 850 year old architectural masterpiece is a central monument to the Catholic faith. A spokesman said the entire wooden frame of the cathedral has come down, and the vault of the edifice could be threatened too. ‘Everything is burning, nothing will remain from the frame,’ Notre Dame spokesman Andre Finot told French media.

The 12th-century cathedral is home to incalculable works of art and is one of the world’s most famous tourist attractions. Pictures showed enormous plumes of smoke billowing into the city’s skyline and flames engulfing large sections of the historic building as firefighters struggled to contain the inferno.
(more…)
GospelLK 19:28-40
Jesus proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.
As he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany
at the place called the Mount of Olives,
he sent two of his disciples.
He said, “Go into the village opposite you,
and as you enter it you will find a colt tethered
on which no one has ever sat.
Untie it and bring it here.
Creepy is too soft a description for the behaviors Ms. Allison Mack attested to in court today. According to her guilty plea Ms. Mack plead to a racketeering conspiracy and direct racketeering. However, her action within the ‘racketeering conspiracy‘ is far worse than the disingenuous legal terminology.
Ms. Mack recruited people into a sex cult, then helped organize blackmail material that forced her recruits to engage in sex cult behavior with Keith Raniere which included the branding of victims as sex slaves. Everything about this is cult activity is deviant in the most extreme.
Ridiculous apologetic phrases like: “I now realize I was wrong“, sound absurd when contrast with this sick and demented behavior.
As if there was ever a possibility at the beginning of an evil collaboration to NOT REALIZE blackmail, sex trafficking, occult branding and forced manipulation of people was wrong. Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot… this type of sociopathic disconnect is really alarming.
NEW YORK – A teary Allison Mack pleaded guilty to two federal counts Monday in the NXIVM sex-cult case.
“I have come to the conclusion that I must take full responsibility for my conduct and that’s why I am pleading guilty today,” said a choked up Mack, who admitted to one count of racketeering conspiracy and one count of racketeering.
GospelJN 8:1-11
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area,
and all the people started coming to him,
and he sat down and taught them.
Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman
who had been caught in adultery
and made her stand in the middle.
With anxiety visible amid the DC crew now contemplating accountability for their failed soft-coup attempt, we enter a dangerous phase. After all, 40 federal law enforcement agents openly participated in the effort; along with more than a dozen members of the Department of Justice. What does that tell us about the fidelity of the FBI and DOJ to their oath of office? What does that tell us about their current intentions?
A security breech at Mar-a-lago. Increased threats from media and politicians hyping anxiety/anger toward President Trump. The ongoing Mueller team sedition effort. Excuses and justifications of violence against Americans wearing red ball caps. Trillions at stake from economic policies antithetical to the multinationals and Big Club lobbyists.
…And today the President’s schedule is a logistical security challenge [SEE HERE] President Trump travels to California (several stops), and Las Vegas Nevada.

“And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” Exodus 14:13-14
GospelLK 15:1-3, 11-32
Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
So to them Jesus addressed this parable:
“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father,
‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’
Earlier today President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at the White House to discuss regional issues and the U.S. support for the nation state of Israel. Included with this visit was an executive proclamation supporting Israel’s right to stable government over the Golan Heights. [Video of remarks]
As the Democrat party showcases even more antisemitism, without overestimation, the bond between the U.S. and Israel is the strongest it has ever been. Quite remarkable.
(more…)
