The Red Vineyard Vincent van Gogh [Web Gallery of Art] Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel  John 15:1-8  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine dresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of th ..read more

The Good Shepherd Early Italian Christian Painter [Web Gallery of Art] Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel  John 10:11-18  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.&n ..read more

Supper at Emmaus, c.1629 Rembrandt [Web Gallery of Art] Then the two disciples told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread (Luke 24:35; Gospel).   Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel  Luke 24:35-48  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) Then [the two disciples] told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. As they were talking about these th ..read more

  The Incredulity of St Thomas Caravaggio [Web Galleryof Art] My Lord and my God! (John 20:28; Gospel) Second Sunday of Easter Divine Mercy Sunday  Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel  John 20:19-31  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”&nbs ..read more

  Every year in Malagá in the morning of Holy Thursday there is a ceremony known as El Traslado del Cristo de Mena (The Transfer of the Christ of Mena) where members of the Spanish Foreign Legion carry El Cristo de la Buena Muerte (The Christ of a Good Death). They sing El Novio de la Muerte (Death’s Bridegroom; lyrics in Spanish and English here) while carrying the very large and heavy crucifix. This is not a hymn but a song written in 1921 by Fidel Prado Duque (lyrics) and Juan Costa Casals (music). It tells of the death of a soldier in battle ..read more

  The Resurrection of Christ Rembrandt [Web Gallery of Art] The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) At the Mass during the Day Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel  John 20:1-9  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the ..read more

Entry into Jerusalem (scene 1) Duccio di Buoninsegna [Web Gallery of Art] And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! (Mark 11:9). Palm Sunday, Year B The Commemoration of the Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem Mark 11:1-10. (English Standard Version, Anglicised) Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesussent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied ..read more

The Coronation of the Virgin Blessed Fra Angelico [Web Gallery of Art] Compline, the official Night Prayer of the Church ends with an anthem  of antiphon to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In monasteries this is sung. In the traditional liturgical calendar there are four of these, all in Latin. Alma Redemptoris Mater is sung from Saturday before the 1st Sunday of Advent through February 1. The anthem from 2 February, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, through Wednesday of Holy Week is Ave, Regina caelorum. Regina coeli is the Easter anthem, sung from Easter Sunday through Frida ..read more

  Sheaves of Wheat Vincent van Gogh [Web Gallery of Art] Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit (John 12:24). In Ireland the Solemnity of St Patrick is celebrated this Sunday, with everything from the Mass for that feast including the Gloria. However, the readings are those of the Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year B. Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel John 12:20-33 (Engl ..read more

Entombment Blessed Fra Angelico [Web Gallery of Art] Nicodemus is supporting the body of Jesus in the painting. Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) https://www.universalis.com/20240310/mass.htm Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel John 3:14-21 (English Standard Version Anglicised, India) Jesus said to Nicodemus:  As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the worl ..read more