How different it is on this Palm Sunday as compared with last year when we distributed blessed palms as parishioners drove by. While we still live with some restrictions, we are able to come together this year to praise God on this first day of Holy Week.
Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphant arrival of Christ in Jerusalem, days before he was crucified. In the Gospels, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding a young donkey, and to the lavish praise of the townspeople who threw clothes, or possibly palms or small branches, in front of him as a sign of homage. This was a customary practice for people of great respect.
Palm branches are widely recognized as a symbol of peace and victory, hence their use on Palm Sunday. The use of a donkey instead of a horse is highly symbolic, it represents the humble arrival of someone in peace, as opposed to arriving on a steed in war.
The invitation is to follow the King of Glory as he enters Jerusalem and stay with him all the way to Calvary and the empty tomb. Once again, I invite you to join us for the liturgies of this most holy week of the Church year. The schedule for our liturgies is is included below.
“All Glory Laud and Honor” is a hymn that has long been associated with Palm Sunday. Its origins go way back in history.
The text is said to have been composed by Theodulph of Orleans who appears to have been a native of Italy. He was brought to France by Charles the Great, perhaps when Charles returned from Italy in 781. He became Bishop of Orleans about 785, and soon afterwards also Abbot of Fleury. Some time after the death of Charles the Emperor Louis was imprisoned in 818, at Angers, where he seems to have died in 821. On the other hand, the music we use for this text was composed by Melchior Teschner who was born in Fraustadt [now Wschowa, Poland], Silesia, in 1584.
The video shows the hymn being sung as the processional at the beginning of the Mass on Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC in 2019.
We conclude Women’s History Month with a look at another Catholic woman who worked tirelessly to spread the faith. She was an immigrant from France who embraced the native peoples of North America.
St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, R.S.C.J.
Missionary to Native Americans
St. Rose Philippine Duchesne was a passionate young woman with a heart for missionary work. A native of France, she joined the Visitation nuns at the age of 19, but a few years later, convents were shut down during the French Revolution, and Rose was forced to return to life as a lay woman for many years. Ten years later, she was finally able to rejoin a convent, this time as a member of the Society of the Sacred Heart. In 1818, she was sent to the Louisiana Territory as a missionary, facing illness, hardship and hunger to bring Catholicism to the Native Americans. She opened the first free school for girls west of the Mississippi river, as well as the first Catholic school for Native Americans.
She was known among the Pottawatomie Indians as the "Woman Who Prays Always."
To read more about St. Rose Philippine, click below.
St Matthew Passion is a sacred oratorio from the Passions written by Johann Sebastian Bach in 1727 for solo voices, double choir and double orchestra, with libretto by Picander (Christian Friedrich Henrici). It sets chapters 26 and 27 of the Gospel of Matthew (in the German translation of Martin Luther) to music, with interspersed chorales and arias. It is widely regarded as one of the masterpieces of classical sacred music. The original Latin title Passio Domini Nostri J.C. Secundum Evangelistam Matthaeum translates to "The Passion of our Lord J[esus] C[hrist] according to the Evangelist Matthew." Although Bach wrote four (or five) settings of the Passions only two have survived; the other is the St John Passion.
Enjoy this masterpiece but it will take some time. The entire piece takes nearly three hours.
Vaccines Are Morally Acceptable
As a follow up to Bishop McElroy’s letter urging people to be vaccinated against Covid-19, the Diocese has dedicated a special section of its website to address the questions Catholics may have about the moral acceptability of receiving the vaccines. It contains a wealth of information.
Safe Place Community Outreach Team invites parents, guardians, teens, and tweens to a free presentation on Dating in Today’s Digital World: Pitfalls for Teens & Parents at Ascension Parish (11292 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. San Diego 92124) on Wednesday, April 21 at 7:00-8:30pm, outdoor with masks and social distancing practices. Such topics as healthy relationships, digital dangers, teen dating violence, risk factors, and how to access help and resources will all be addressed. Presenters include Diane Doherty, supervising Deputy City Attorney in the Domestic Violence & Sex Crimes Unit and Jani Sepanik, Domestic Violence Education & Prevention Manager at the Community Resource Center. To reserve your place, please RSVP by April 12 with Angela Elfman (angela.elfman@san.rr.com or 858-775-4828).
Easter- Online Giving Reminder
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"Catholic Trivia”... not because they are trivial but because these might be things that not everyone knows. Test your knowledge by reading the five questions, remember your answers (or jot them down), then click the link below to find the answers.
How many of the gospels in the Bible contain a version of the Passion of Jesus Christ?
In which gospel(s) do you find the traditional “seven last words” of Jesus?
In which gospel(s) does the Mother of Jesus stand at the foot of the cross with the Beloved Disciple?
What does Jesus say to his mother and the disciple whom he loves?
In which gospel(s) does Jesus while hanging on the cross forgive those who have crucified him?
If you have other members of your family or your friends who would like to be on our email list, just let me know or write to Mary McLain at mmclain@stpatrickcarlsbad.comWe will be pleased to add them.
We have opened a YouTube channel where we have daily and Sunday Masses as well as Fr. Ron's new Bible Study posted for the parish called St Patrick Church Carlsbad that you can subscribe to.
Jesus enters Jerusalem as the crowds shout, “Hosanna!”
First Reading
Isaiah 50:4-7
The Lord’s servant will stand firm, even when persecuted.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 22:8-9,17-18,19-20,23-24
A cry for help to the Lord in the face of evildoers
Second Reading
Philippians 2:6-11
Christ was obedient even to death, but God has exalted him.
Gospel Reading
Mark 14:1—15:47 (shorter form: Mark 15:1-39)
Jesus is sentenced to death and crucified. The centurion who witnessed his death declared, “This man was the Son of God.”
Background on the Gospel Reading
This Sunday, called Palm or Passion Sunday, is the first day of Holy Week. Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday are called the Triduum—three days that are the highlight of the Church year. There are two Gospels proclaimed at today’s Mass. The first Gospel, proclaimed before the procession with palms, tells of Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. Riding on a borrowed colt, Jesus was hailed by the crowds as they blessed God and shouted “Hosanna!” This event is reported in each of the four Gospels.
At the Liturgy of the Word on Palm Sunday, the events of Jesus’ passion are proclaimed in their entirety. In Lectionary Cycle B, we read the passion of Jesus as found in the Gospel of Mark. We will hear these events proclaimed again when we celebrate the Triduum later in the week. On Good Friday, we will read the passion of Jesus from the Gospel of John.
In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus’ passion and death are presented as the consequence of the tension between the Jewish authorities and Jesus that had been building throughout his public ministry. This tension reached its breaking point when Jesus drove the merchants and moneychangers from the Temple. After this event, the chief priests and scribes began seeking a way to put Jesus to death, and yet, this is only the surface explanation for his death.
When Jesus was arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin—the council of Jewish priests, scribes, and elders—he was charged with blasphemy, citing his threat to the Temple. When he was brought before Pilate, however, the religious authorities presented his crime as a political one, charging that Jesus claimed to be king of the Jews. In continuity with a theme of Mark’s Gospel, the messianic claim of Jesus is widely misunderstood.
In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus’ disciples are rarely models of faith and do little to invoke confidence in their capacity to continue his ministry after his death. They fare no better in Mark’s narrative of Jesus’ passion and death. At the Last Supper, the disciples insisted that none among them would betray Jesus. When Jesus predicted that their faith would be shaken in the events ahead, Peter and the other disciples protested vehemently. Yet in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus returned three times to find them sleeping. Jesus prayed in agony over his impending fate while his disciples slumbered through the night. Just as Jesus predicted, Peter denied Jesus, and the disciples were absent during Jesus’ passion and death. Only the women who had been followers of Jesus in Galilee are said to have been present at the Crucifixion, but they remained at a distance.
Throughout this Gospel, Mark challenges the reader to consider the claim with which the Gospel begins: Jesus is the Son of God. When we read Mark’s account of the passion, we begin to comprehend the deeper theological statement being made about Jesus’ death. In Mark’s telling of the passion narrative, Jesus understood his death to have been preordained, and he accepted this death in obedience to God’s will. Jewish Scripture is quoted only once, but there are several references to the fulfillment of the Scriptures. Jesus understood his anointing in Bethany as an anticipation of his burial, and he announced that this story would be told together with the Gospel throughout the world. Jesus predicted his betrayal by Judas as well as Peter’s denial. At his arrest, Jesus acknowledged that the preordained time had arrived. Jesus was both confident and silent before his accusers. After he was sentenced to death, Jesus did not speak again until his final cry from the cross. The bystanders misunderstood and believed that he was calling for Elijah. The Roman centurion, however, affirmed what Mark has presented throughout this Gospel: Jesus is the Son of God. Nowhere was this revealed more fully than in his death on the cross.
During Holy Week, we prayerfully remember the events of Jesus’ passion and death. As we meditate on the cross, we ask again and anew what it means to make the statement of faith that Jesus, in his obedient suffering and dying, revealed himself to us as God’s Son.
Fr. Ron will facilitate a discussion on the Passion Narratives of the four gospels on Monday, March 29, 6:30-7:30 pm on Zoom. The discussion will be based on the presentations that he recorded on our YouTube channel. It would be important for participants to have viewed the three presentations prior to the discussion.
To join the Zoom Meeting on March 29, use the following link:
If you want Fr. Ron to send you an invitation to your email, contact him at rmbagley@yahoo.com.
The Passion Narratives of the Gospels
As we enter Holy Week, our attention becomes more focused on the suffering and death of Jesus. Fr. Ron has recorded a Bible Study and looks more closely at the Passion narratives of the gospels. While they tell the same story of the last days of Jesus, each offers a unique perspective.
This Bible Study is available on our YouTube channel. It consists of three pre recorded presentations, each about an hour long. This “on demand” Bible study can be viewed at your leisure. You can pause and return later. You might want to gather the family to listen together (although it is more suitable for adults and young adults).
The first session looks at the Passion Narratives in the gospels of Matthew and Mark. They can be studied together since they are so similar. The link is here:
St. Luke offers some unique additions to the story that show his particular touch. That video link is here:
The fourth gospel (John) offers the most unique description of the passion and death of the Lord. Much of his material is quite different from the other three gospels. This presentation focuses on his powerful message. the link is here:
Diacono Miguel Enriquez
“Dios mío, Dios mío, ¿porque me has abandonado?”
Que palabras tan fuertes leemos en el Salmo 22. Este mismo texto es el Salmo que escuchamos en la Misa de Domingo de Ramos. Palabras que Jesucristo dice cuando esta clavado en la cruz muriendo por la salvación de toda la creación y humanidad. Hoy, iniciamos la Semana Santa, tomemos el tiempo para reflejar en estas palabras que salen de la boca de Jesús. ¿Por qué le vienen estas palabras a Jesús en este momento? ¿Qué pasa por su mente, su corazón y alma que lo hace mirar hacia arriba y preguntarle a su Padre, ‘porque me has abandonado?’. ¿O se olvidó el Padre de él? En nuestras experiencias personales, ¿podemos identificar esos mementos difíciles que nos hizo sentir de la misma manera de Jesús? Pero hemos aprendido, que Dios no puede olvidarse de nosotros. ¡Dios es Amor! ¡Dios nunca nos deja solos/as! Esta próxima semana nos señala al amor de Dios para nosotros. Oramos para que podamos estar abiertos a su amor y dejar que su amor nos sana y nos libere.
Por favor hagan clic en la reflexión, el video, y el boton del Espacio Sagrado. Espero que les ayude en sus momentos de reflexión.
Según la Asociación Estadounidense de Psiquiatría, los trastornos de ansiedad son los trastornos mentales más comunes y penetrantes en los Estados Unidos y afectan a más de 25 millones de estadounidenses.
Los Trastornos de Ansiedad difieren de los sentimientos normales de nerviosismo o ansiedad e implican miedo o ansiedad excesivos. Para una persona con un trastorno de ansiedad, la ansiedad no desaparece y puede empeorar con el tiempo. Los síntomas pueden interferir con las actividades diarias como el desempeño laboral, el trabajo escolar y las relaciones. La buena noticia es que los trastornos de ansiedad se pueden tratar y hay varios tratamientos eficaces disponibles. La terapia ayuda a la mayoría de las personas a llevar una vida productiva.
¿Qué es la Ansiedad?
La ansiedad es una reacción normal al estrés y puede ser beneficiosa en algunas situaciones. Puede alertarnos sobre peligros y ayudarnos a prepararnos a prestar atención. La ansiedad ocasional se puede esperar en la vida. Es posible que se sienta ansioso cuando se enfrente a un problema en el trabajo, antes de hacer un examen o tomar una decisión importante. Mark Tyrrell, un psicoterapeuta del Reino Unido, dice que la ansiedad es una respuesta de supervivencia, no una enfermedad, pero es una respuesta que a veces puede salir mal hasta el punto de obstaculizar en lugar de ayudar.
Hay varios tipos de trastornos de ansiedad, incluido el trastorno de ansiedad generalizada, el trastorno de pánico y varios trastornos relacionados con las fobias.
Algunos de los criterios para un diagnóstico de ansiedad generalizada y otros trastornos de ansiedad enumerados en el Manual diagnóstico y estadístico de trastornos mentales (DSM-5) son:
Ansiedad excesiva y preocupación por diferentes cosas.
Dificultad para parar o controlar la preocupación.
Se siente inquieto, tenso o nervioso.
Se fatiga fácilmente
Dificultad para concentrarse o enfocarse.
Problemas para relajarse
Se enoja fácilmente o esta irritable.
Alteración del sueño (dificultad para conciliar el sueño o permanecer dormido).
Factores de Riesgo
Los investigadores están descubriendo que tanto los factores genéticos como los ambientales contribuyen al riesgo de desarrollar un trastorno de ansiedad. Aunque los factores de riesgo para cada tipo de trastorno de ansiedad pueden variar, algunos factores de riesgo generales para todos los tipos de trastornos de ansiedad incluyen:
Rasgos temperamentales de timidez o inhibición del comportamiento en la niñez
Exposición a eventos estresantes y negativos de la vida o ambientales a temprana edad o la edad adulta
Antecedentes de ansiedad u otras enfermedades mentales en familiares biológicos.
Algunas condiciones de salud física, como problemas de tiroides o arritmias cardíacas, o cafeína u otras sustancias / medicamentos, pueden producir agravar los síntomas de ansiedad; un examen de salud física ayuda a evaluar un trastorno de ansiedad.
Muchas personas con Ansiedad encuentran alivio en las siguientes Actividades.
Ejercicio aeróbico
Ejercicios de respiración profunda
Grounding Techniques para la ansiedad
Relajación muscular progresiva
Exposición con la naturaleza (recarga del alma)
Desarrollar la resiliencia haciendo cosas positivas y agradables.
Our parish offices are now open, Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 12:30pm and 1:30 to 4:30pm
During this time of inactivity, we will use our parish email system to communicate with parishioners to offer spiritual reflections and make announcements.
In case of an emergency, you can always reach us by phone. We will be checking regularly for messages and respond as soon as possible. If need be, the answering service can get in touch with one of our priests quickly- 760-729-2866.
If you know someone who does not receive our emails, please forward this to them, or have them reply to this message.
To email a priest at St. Patrick Church click the link below:
