Easter
-
-
EASTER SEASON 2023
Easter Sunday 9th April - Pentecost Sunday 28th May
-
-
2023 EASTER OCTAVE: Easter Sunday 9th April - Divine Mercy Sunday 16th April
-
CHRIST IS RISEN!
Alleluia!Easter is more than one day.
On Easter Sunday,
we celebrate
the Resurrection of The Lord.
This holy day is the
beginning of the Easter Octave -
a period of eight continuous days of solemnities -
providing the opportunity to contemplate more fully
the mysteries, joys and graces of
Easter -
the greatest feast of the Church.
-
-
-
FEAST OF THE DIVINE MERCY - 2nd SUNDAY OF EASTER - 16th April 2023
DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY CELEBRATION
on Sunday 16th April at 4pm. in St Mary’s Church, Paisley.
You are invited to celebrate this Feast Day with Bishop John Keenan, Monsignor Joe Burke, Fr Michael Kane and
Fr Chido Ezeribe.
There will be a Holy Hour at 4pm. led by Fr Michael Kane.
Confessions will be available during the Holy Hour and then Holy Mass will be celebrated after the Holy Hour
by Bishop John Keenan at 5pm.
In one of the most extraordinary homilies of his pontificate, Pope John Paul II repeated three times that Saint Faustina is "God's gift to our time." She made the message of Divine Mercy the "bridge to the third millennium."
All are welcome.
"Used with permission of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M."
Remember the promise of the Lord,
Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy.
I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners.
On that day, the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon
those souls who approach the fount of My mercy.
Our world needs God's mercy more now than ever before. Amen
"The Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary is a fraternal community of consecrated life in the Roman Catholic Church. In America, the members of the Congregation are perhaps best known for their work promoting the message of Divine Mercy from Stockbridge, Massachusetts. They are also known for their devotion to Mary Immaculate, dedication to praying for the poor souls in Purgatory and active service to the Church."
"Ever since they began ministering to Eastern European refugees during World War II, the Marians have had an impact on the Polish community in the United Kingdom. They are active in parishes and operate a Divine Mercy apostolate and the Association of Marian Helpers in the United Kingdom."
-
-
SYMBOLS ON THE PASCHAL CANDLE
-
*Christ yesterday and today (the priest cuts a vertical line);
*the Beginning and the End (the priest cuts a horizontal line);
*the Alpha (the priest cuts the letter Alpha above the vertical line);
*and the Omega (the priest cuts the letter Omega below the vertical line).
*All time belongs to him (the priest cut the first numeral of the current year in the upper left corner of the cross )
*and all the ages (the priest cuts the second numeral of the current year in the upper right corner of the cross).
*To him be glory and power (the priest cuts the third numeral of the current year in the lower left corner of the cross); *through every age and for ever. Amen (the prieast cuts the fourth numeral of the current year in the lower right corner of the cross).
Wax Candle
According to the Catholic Encyclopaedia, “The pure wax extracted by bees from flowers symbolizes the pure flesh of Christ received from His Virgin Mother, the wick signifies the soul of Christ, and the flame represents His divinity.”
Light
“May the light of Christ rising in glory dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.” (Roman Missal) This connects the Easter candle to Jesus, “light of the world,” as He describes himself in the Gospel of John. From the Easter candle are lit all the other candles in the church, showing how Jesus is the source of our light.
Flame
The flame is reminiscent of the “pillar of fire” that led the people of Israel and protected them as they escaped the slavery of the Egyptians. The Exsultet refers to this symbolism when it states, “This is the night that with a pillar of fire banished the darkness of sin.”
Cross
The cross is the supreme symbol of Jesus and the instrument through which he saved the world from sin and death.
Alpha and Omega
It is common in Christian art to find two Greek letters: the alpha (Α) and omega (Ω). These two letters have an ancient history in Christianity and are rooted in the book of Revelation, where Jesus says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water without price from the fountain of the water of life. He who conquers shall have this heritage, and I will be his God and he shall be my son” (Revelation 21:6-7).
Year
As the priest traces the year on the Easter candle, he prays, “All time belongs to him, and all the ages.” This reminds us that God is here with us today and is constantly guiding all creation to himself.
Grains of incense
Five grains of incense are inserted into the candle on top of the cross, symbolizing the five “holy and glorious wounds” of Jesus Christ.
When the cutting of the cross and of the other signs has been completed, the Priest may insert five grains of incense into the candle in the form of a cross, meanwhile saying:
1. By his holy
2. and glorious wounds,
3. may Christ the Lord
4. guard us
5. and protect us.
Amen.
-
