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The Easter Cycle
undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.” “If I your Lord and Master have washed
your feet, how much more ought you to wash one another’s feet. Hear these things, all ye
nations; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world. If I your Lord and Master have washed your
feet, how much more ought you to wash one another’s feet.” “By this shall all men know that
you are My disciples, if you have love one for another.” The Holy Eucharist is a gift of love.
Love becomes an obligation: “A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another
as I have loved you.” Let us examine ourselves to see if we really keep this commandment to
love one another always.
“Where charity and love are, there God is.” The love of Christ has brought us together. Let
us exult and be joyful in Him. Let us fear and love the living God, and love one another with
sincerity. Where charity and love are, there God is. Having assembled here to worship God,
let us beware of divisions among ourselves. Let malicious upbraidings cease; let there be no
wrangling. And may Christ our God be in our midst; for where charity and love are, there God
is. “Together with the blessed may we also see Thy face in glory, O Christ God. . . . Through
endless ages. Amen” (Antiphon at the washing of the feet).
The Holy Eucharist is the fruit of the cross. The more closely we press to the cross, the
more fully we shall profit by the reception of Holy Communion. “It behooves us to glory in
the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Introit). But probably we flee from the cross and seek to
escape it whenever we can. We chafe under the cross that has been laid on our shoulders. What
Christians we are! As long as we have this spirit, the mystery of the cross will ever remain a
mystery for us. We shall never have the perfect love which we should have for the Eucharist.
“In whom is our salvation, life, and resurrection” (Introit). Our salvation is in Him who
dwells in the tabernacle, who prays for us and offers Himself for us daily. “Blessed are they that
dwell in Thy house, O Lord” (Ps 83:5).
Prayer
O God, who in this wonderful sacrament has left us a memorial of Thy passion; grant us, we
beseech Thee, so to venerate the sacred mysteries of Thy body and blood that we may ever
feel within us the fruit of Thy redemption. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
(Collect for Corpus Christi.)
Good Friday
This is a day of mourning for the Church and for the faithful. The cross occupies the most
prominent place in the liturgy of the day. It was on the cross that the Lord carried out the will
of the Father to its last detail by giving up His life for our sins. He “loved me and delivered
Himself for me” (Gal 2:20).
“And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, they crucified Him there; and
the robbers, one on the right hand and the other on the left. And Jesus said: Father, forgive
them, for they know not what they do. But they, dividing His garments, cast lots. And the people
stood beholding, and the rulers with them derided Him saying: He saved others; let Him save
Himself, if He be Christ, the elect of God. And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming to Him
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