Why did Jesus have to die on the Cross?

What does passion of Christ really mean? Some people would say it’s the period of the intense suffering in the life of Jesus Christ from the Garden of Gethsemane to the crucifixion, while some know it through images of grisly punishment represented in the movie of Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. Both these views are reasonably correct, buy there is much more to discover about the passion of Christ.

God’s word to humanity says that all people have sinned against Him by breaking His commandments. Even a single sin committed against God is enough to separate us from Him. But God’s love for us didn’t falter, so He knew that there was only one way to redeem all of mankind to Himself. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to live a sinless life and die on the cross as a sacrifice for the people’s sins. Jesus could have refused to do that for us but He didn’t. The source of His passion was His love for us.

For the sake of bringing back humans to God, Jesus made Himself nothing. He left the glory of heaven and take the human form to live an obedient life of self-sacrifice required for the holiness of God. To know more about Jesus, visit Old St. Mary’s catholic church today.

His Resurrection: Easter Sunday

Christians rejoice and celebrate at the last day of Lent. Easter centers on the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after his death by crucifixion. The word “Easter” is believed to be derived from “Estre”, who is an Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring. All the majors of Christianity celebrate this holiday. Jesus Christ’s resurrection is the centerpiece of the whole Christian faith. Easter is also the oldest Christian holiday. And another special thing about Easter is that all the movable feasts and the entirety of the liturgical year of worship are all centered on Easter.

Religious Observances during Easter Sunday

The common elements that are being observed in most Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant churches during Easter include baptism and the Eucharist. In Roman Catholicism, Easter is celebrated with a vigil that includes “the blessing of the new fire”, a service of lessons, called the prophecies, lighting of the paschal candle, followed by the blessing of the font and ended by baptisms and the mass of Easter.

Another tradition that is associated with Easter is the tradition of finding Easter Eggs. Eggs are connected to the symbol of spring, which means life and rebirth, the same as Easter. However, some Christians do not follow this custom due to its pagan connotations.

As Easter Sunday comes, we should take heed of the significance of the day, and celebrate appropriately according to our own Catholic traditions.

The Story of Palm Sunday

A few more weeks and the whole Christian community will mark the beginning of Holy Week. The sixth and last Sunday of Lent is known as the Palm Sunday. On this special day for the Church, Christians celebrate the triumphant entry of our Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, which happened a week before his death and resurrection. According to the bible, when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the citizens greeted him by waving palm branches and covering his path with the palm branches. This scene was followed by Jesus’s journey to the cross.

The Symbols Surrounding Palm Sunday

One of the symbols associated with Palm Sunday is the part where Jesus rode a donkey that paved his way with palm branches. This signified the fulfillment of prophecy spoken by the prophet Zechariah. In the customs back then, kings and nobles arrived in processions while riding the back of a donkey. The donkey is the representation of peace and those who rode the donkey proclaimed peaceful intentions. The laying of palm branches signified that the king or dignitary was arriving in triumph or victory.

A Pilgrimage of Faith, Devotion, and Passion

The Stations of the Cross play a big part of the Catholic Church’s Holy Week traditions. The devotion is centered on the Passion of Christ where the entire Church recalls the journey of Jesus’ suffering and death. Most churches have the stations displayed within their walls, but on Holy Week the spiritual pilgrimage is sometimes brought to life with actual scenes and can be spread across a town to make the journey more meaningful.

 

The History Behind the Excursion

For years, the faithful have been telling the story if Jesus’s passion, death, and resurrection. When the opportunity arose for the followers of Jesus to visit Jerusalem, they were determined to see the sites where Jesus have been, as these were important holy connections to Him. Not long after, the way of the cross became part of the Catholic Church tradition and replicas have been created all over the world for devotees to share in the pilgrimage.
 

Why Do the Stations of the Cross?

Reliving the journey of Jesus before his death and resurrection is a powerful way to connect with faith and Him. There is a lot of time for reflection and prayer while participating in the Stations of the Cross. It is way of being more open to the love of our Father and His Son. The Stations of the Cross is a tradition that is an honor to take part of during the Holy Week. Join the Catholic Church in honoring and praising the Lord’s sacrifices and blessings this coming Holy Week of 2015.

Catholic Traditions During the Holy Week

For Catholics, the Holy Week is a very special event that is celebrated long before the actual days occur. This year (2015), the commemoration of the Passion of Christ begins on Palm Sunday, which falls on March 29, 2015 and ends on Holy Saturday, which is on April 4, 2015. During this week-long celebration of devotion and faith, there are many traditions the Catholic Church encourages its members to participate in to welcome Easter Sunday.

 

Palms and Processions

A week before Easter the Catholic Church recalls Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem before his crucifixion. During this time, the Jews expressed their praises by throwing cloaks and palm branches on the road. At Palm Sunday Mass, there is a blessing of palms which the devoted and faithful carry as they process into the Church.

Veiled Images

At the start of Palm Sunday, some churches use a purple cloth to cover religious artworks, with the exception of stained glass windows and the Stations of the Cross. It is a somber custom to help devotees concentrate on the essentials of Christ’s work of Redemption.

The Lord’s Supper

A special Mass of the Lord’s Supper is celebrated by the Catholic Church on Holy Thursday. This is a significant moment which occurred the night before the crucifixion of Jesus Christ where he transformed bread and wine into his own Body and Blood.

 

Washing Feet

Following in Christ’s footsteps during the Last Supper where he washed the feet of his 12 Apostles, the priest does the same during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.

Embrace the Cross

On Good Friday, the church celebrates the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion which includes the veneration of the Cross. Here, the faithful process as a priest of deacon holds a wooden crucifix and they revere it with a kiss or a bow. The Holy Week is a time for devotion and honoring the sacrifices of Jesus for His brothers and sister. Join the Catholic Church this 2015 in celebrating our faith and many other customs from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday.

The Bread and Wine of Catholic Faith

The word “Eucharist” means thanksgiving, and that is why the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is the celebration of the Blood and Body of Christ. It is the time where Christians could show their unending gratitude. From the appearance of bread and wine, our Lord Christ is contained, offered, and received. Christ is constantly present in the Holy Eucharist. The Holy Mass is also the time when all the faithful could be with God, to tell Him all of their praise and ask for guidance and help.

The Significance of the Bread and Wine

The Holy Mass is a ritual that is full of metaphors and images that signifies the presence and the Holiness of Christ. The Catholic faith is a faith that relies on representations and images to convey the subliminal and inexpressible Being, and that is God. The Bread and the Wine signifies the Body and Blood of Christ. Through the Holy Eucharist, people will be able to receive the Holy Blood and Body of Christ, to be one with Christ. Receiving the Holy Eucharist also cleans the soul and washes away our sins.

Sacrament of Reconciliation: Healers of Souls

A very unique and a beautiful aspect of Catholicism is the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Jesus Christ created and established the Sacrament of Confession to help us sinners receive forgiveness for our sins and reconcile with God and with the Church. The Sacrament of Confession can be seen as a way of cleansing our soul and washing away the sins that has made our soul heavy and dark. This is the way the God created for us to help us find the path that leads to him. A step in faith, the Catholic Church welcomes you back and calls you to participate in this wonderful sacrament of healing. 

 

Helps You Know Thyself Better

St. Augustine and many other doctors of the Church talk about how important knowing ourselves is. Once we come to know ourselves better, we would see how fallen we are and how lacking we are from God’s grace.

 

Bringer of Peace

Having guilt from all the sins we commit would make us feel heavy-hearted and confused on what to do next. Eventually, you would lose your peace. Once you heard the forgiving words of God through Confession, all the burdens, all the chains that has been chaining you down would vanish and peace would return to your heart.

It’s More Than Just Beads

The rosary is a biblical form of prayer, a devotion in honor of the Virgin Mary, and one of the most symbolic objects to Catholics. Devotees recite the rosary because they believe that it is a powerful intercession through Jesus’ mother, Mary. Thus, they carry the rosary as a reminder that she is with them. 

Praying the rosary has been a tradition in the Catholic Church for a very long time. There are conflicting views about the history of the rosary. According to sacred tradition, the rosary was given to Saint Dominic in a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Monastery of Notre Dame de Prouille in France.

Experience and feel the holy presence of the Lord at the Old St. Mary’s Church in Detroit, Michigan.

Understanding the Spiritual Gift of Giving

In every moment, we are given the opportunity to give, regardless of circumstance. The gift of giving is a pure selfless act. These people enjoy sharing their blessings that God has given them. 

It’s good to know that there are a lot of people who give because they want to help and care for others without conditions; however, there are those who have different interests not aligned to the core mission.

 

Characteristics of a Giver

Someone who has the gift of giving takes delight in discovering needs that are overlooked by most people. A giver chooses stay out of the limelight; he gives anonymously in order to avoid attention or recognition for his gestures. He gives purely for the benefit of others and not for his own.

 

A generous heart, regardless of his economic status, hardly spends more than he makes. He loves to encourage other people to save and to give generously.

Jesus left an example for us that we should follow His steps. He submitted his life as ransom for our sins. Old St Mary’s is the third oldest Roman Catholic Church in Detroit and the first German Church. Understand and develop your spiritual gifts with us as we share the good news and serve those who are poor in spirit and in resources.

Celebrating Christmas as One

Christmas is a time for celebration: we celebrate our faith, we celebrate in the spirit of giving, and we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior. What many remember about the word “celebration” is the connotation of happiness; what many forget is the connotation of togetherness.

God’s Love Is Everywhere

It is easy to dismiss the importance of going to a gathering to celebrate one’s faith. After all, it is said that God is everywhere, so He can hear our prayers wherever and whenever they are uttered. This is true, of course: wherever hands can be folded, heads bowed, and hearts opened, He can hear and listen. 

Church is Home to a Bigger Family

But one’s voice can only carry so far. The meaning behind the celebration does not just lie in the fact that the Lord receives our message; there is also meaning in delivering the message as one. One soul certainly is not insignificant, but many souls speaking as one certainly have a greater weight. And certainly, as one sees how many people share in his or her devotion, that person’s devotion is reinforced and strengthened. Those whose voices waver in loneliness may find themselves shouting louder, emboldened by the knowledge that they are part of a family.

At Old St. Mary’s Church in Detroit, it is our constant mission to ensure that people, wherever they are from, are free to become part of our Catholic church. It is as Saint John Chrysostom said: “You cannot pray at home as a Church, where there is a great multitude, where exclamations are cried out to God as from one great heart, and where there is something more: the union of minds, the accord of souls, the bond of charity.” A Catholic is Catholic wherever he or she is, but every one of them needs a home, something bigger than himself or herself to belong in.

The Heart of Christmas

Once more, we’re coming up to that time of year: Christmas. It is the season of smiles, the season for sharing, and the season for giving. The experience may be totally joyful for many, but for others, it can be a time of worry.

Giving Usually Hurts…

We cannot deny that for many, life can be harsh. Perhaps they are in a place in their lives when they feel that things are out of their control; they are experiencing many misfortunes that takes away what little they have in the way of luxury and pleasure. Bills go before dinners out; work goes before play. And in this kind of situation, it is easy to slip into the trap of thinking that whatever one gives others, however little, takes away from one’s happiness.

…But It Is Usually Worth It

What many fail to consider is the payoff from their sacrifice. Every act of sacrifice is an act of love. You pay your bills to keep your family secure; you work so that your children can play. The happiness you bring them, in effect, is your gift, and being able to give is something from which one can derive immense satisfaction. In the spirit of love that comes with the Christmas season, as well as the spirit of the Catholic Faith, it is important to not lose sight of this.

At Old St. Mary’s, we celebrate the spirit of giving not just during Christmas, but every day. Jesus Christ’s life was a testament to the power of giving. He performed healing miracles; he taught lessons to many, while inviting all to listen; and he died on the cross to cleanse us of our sins. As members of the Catholic Church, we must remember the importance of his example, and follow it always. Everyone is invited to be part of our institution, a home for traditional Catholics to follow the spirit of their beliefs.