The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all that dwell therein.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Jaroslawa Prodywus. 

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed through the Mercy of God rest in peace.

Jaroslawa belonged to Assumption Ukranian Catholic Church. Her visitation begins today at 4 pm at the Vinton Street Chapel. There will be a Panachyda service at 7 pm. The ceremonies will resume at 9:30 am Saturday morning followed by the Funeral Liturgy at 10 am at Assumption Ukranian Catholic Church with burial at Hillcrest Memorial Park.

For all the Roman Catholics in Omaha, it would be a great work of mercy to pray for the repose of our faithful departed sister, as well as a great sign of solidarity with our Eastern Catholic brethren. Assumption parish is certainly a small community, but one that is certainly welcoming to Latin Rite Catholics. I encourage you, first, to pray for her soul, but, if you are able, attend the liturgies and behold the beauty of the Eastern Rites. In my experience, the Eastern Rites have deepened my Roman identity and liturgical practice.

Contrary to modern ideas, the expressions of both East and West in their liturgical practices has a lot more in common than we have been led to believe. The differences only highlight the complementarity and dignity of each Rite.

Take the text of the Stikera of the Last Kiss from the Funeral Liturgy, while you pray for the repose of Jaroslawa:

Beholding me voiceless and deprived of breath, weep for me, O brethren and friends, kinsmen and acquaintances. For yesterday I conversed with you, and suddenly the dread hour of death came upon me. But come, all you that love me, and kiss me with the last kiss. For no more will I walk with you or converse with you. For I depart unto the Judge with Whom there is no respect of persons. For slave and master stand together before Him, king and warrior, rich and poor, in equal worthiness; for each, according to his deeds, is glorified or put to shame. But I beg and entreat you all, that you pray without ceasing unto Christ God for me, that I not be brought down unto the place of torment according to my sins, but that He will appoint me to the place where is the light of life.*

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*More can be found here: http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2008/12/funeral-orders-and-offices-of-byzantine.html#.VbuKxfnzNyE

Feast of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ: the start of Our Lady's Lent

Today begins Our Lady's Lent. I have been trying to find the origin of this practice for the past 3 years to no avail. A Franciscan friend, however, shared with me that St. Francis of Assisi kept this Lenten Fast from the Feast of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ to the Feast of the Assumption. He also suggested that St. Peter Damian, an Umbrian, might have brought this practice about with the reform of clergy and religious during the 11th century in Italy. Another Umbrian kept this fast, as well, one of my favorites Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows. It was from his life I first learned of this period of penance. He would abstain from fruits, his favorite, during these summer months. 

How fitting it is for the Feast to fall on a Wednesday this year. The Lent begins without the mark of Ashes. Most will not keep this Lent. It will be a hidden Lent, a humble Lent, in imitation of Our Lady of Humility. Join me if you are able. We have much to pray for. In these turbulent times, let us focus primarily on our friendship with Christ! We don't want to knock and hear, "I know thee not!"

Hymn from Lauds of the Feast of the Most Precious Blood

Hail, holy wounds of Jesus, hail,
Sweet pledges of the saving rood,
Whence flow the streams that never fail,
The purple streams of his dear blood.

Brighter than brightest stars ye show,
Than sweetest rose your scent more rare,
No Indian gem may match your glow,
No honey's taste with yours compare.

Portals ye are to that dear home
Wherein our wearied souls may hide,
Whereto no angry foe can come,
The heart of Jesus crucified.

What countless stripes our Jesus bore,
All naked left in Pilate's hall!
From his torn flesh how red a shower
Did round his sacred person fall!

His beauteous brow, oh, shame and grief,
By the sharp thorny crown is riven;
Through hands and feet, without relief,
The cruel nails are rudely driven.

But when for our poor sakes he died,
A willing priest by love subdued,
The soldier's lance transfixed his side,
Forth flowed the water and the blood.

In full atonement of our guilt,
Careless of self, the Saviour trod—
E'en till his heart's best blood was spilt—
The wine-press of the wrath of God.

Come, bathe you in the healing flood,
All ye who mourn, by sin opprest;
Your only hope is Jesus' blood,
His sacred heart your only rest.

All praise to him, the Eternal Son,
At God's right hand enthroned above,
Whose blood our full redemption won,
Whose Spirit seals the gift of love.
Amen.

V. Being justified by the Blood of Christ.
R. We shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Poor freezing soul, from the cold breath of the world, 

come warm up near the Heart of Jesus 

(Image Source: holycardheaven.blogspot.com.br)