Christ Has Risen - In Romanian

Let me start with a caveat: this isn't really a prayer card, but I beg your indulgence dear reader.

I received this card from a friend in Romania some years ago now. What a difference between this and the slushy cards (if any!) to be found in most homes.

"Christ is Risen" the card proclaims as the clouds part, a golden glow is atop Our Lord's head and the Risen Christ is shown in His Glory. Redemption is delivered via The Passion of Christ and now the Prince of Peace has Risen from the grave.

What a powerful message.

The Passion - BBC's Web-Page

The Blessed Virgin Mary had much to suffer.

I was pleasantly surprised yesterday to see this page on the BBC.

Aside from some early typically cowardly BBC get-out-clauses ("many" historians acknowledge Jesus lived - not most or virtually all... but "many"), it goes on to detail much of interest in regards to the Passion of Our Lord.

I found the audio piece on the plants of the Bible particularly interesting, and the experience and evaluation of Saints is included. Of course the bete noir of the media re. Good Friday (anti-Semitism) has its own sub-section, with some pretty wide intepretations of Scripture which absolves the Jewish authorities of all but slight involvement, whilst stating that Good Friday has made Catholics murderers down the centuries (talk of using a wide brush - are Catholics the 'softer' target?).

I'm not saying all the content is "bang on" (eg. thought-for-the-days audios) but a lot of the written content pleasantly surprised me.

Phones 4 U Advert Mocks Jesus Christ in Holy Week

This advert was run, yesterday Thursday the 21st, on the front page of the (London) Metro newspaper, which also has editions in other major UK cities.

It is given out free to commuters in the many thousands.

Phones 4 U are mocking the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ in Holy Week, on Maundy Thursday, the day before Our Lord was tortured, mocked and died a hideous death for all mankind.

Please complain, calmly, lucidly and politely to the Advertising Standards Authority by clicking on this link.

They would not allow an advert mocking Judaism, Islam or homosexuality on their front page; why then allow an advert mocking Christ in Holy Week?

Catholics! Speak out. Defend your Lord and King. Remaining silent is a sin of omission which each one of us, aware of this scandal, will have to answer for.

Tell other Catholics and men of goodwill. Do not let Jesus Christ, who died for the sins of the world, be mocked just so a few phones can be sold.

Speak out. Spread the word. Defend Christ.

Michael Sheen in Port Talbot for The Passion

I'm not a big fan of the cult of Hollywood. However it always makes one happy to read of a media star promoting good things. It can reaffirm ones faith in humankind, that despite all the drugs, all the profanity, all the debauchery (on screen and off), there are those prepared to "do good."

Thus it is with a deep sense of joy I have been following the build-up to Michael Sheen's appearance in The Passion, a theatrical production taking place in Port Talbot over the Easter weekend.

For more info visit the National Theatre of Wales website.

It's funny because I can recall travelling through Port Talbot, as a child in the 70s, and thinking this was a place from hell. The sulphurous plumes, the yellow sky, the stench, and at night you would see the flames from the works. The smell above all else made me wonder who could live in the town, in close proximity to to those horrors. I can still remember looking at the serried ranks of houses with their washing on the lines and wondering if those clothes ever got fresh air to blow them clean, or would they too smell of sulphur and be stained yellow by the clouds belching out to the heavens.

Michael Sheen

That the same town should now be witness to Christ's Passion means that Salvation is possible even for the worst of us (town or human!).

Events like this are ever so important and having seen two Passion plays in recent weeks (one put on by the Clydach Catholic Church's parish members which tour many towns and cities, and one put on by our local junior school), it does remind you (and other members of the community - Catholic and otherwise) of the cost paid by Our Lord, the reason for His Incarnation, and the rejection, suffering, death and Resurrection which are all part of the Easter and Passion story.

An event of this magnitude, starring a 'famous' actor from Hollywood can only bring more attention to the Passion in Holy Week. I know Hollywood stars can rise and fall (witness Mel Gibson), but I'm not blind to the world - we all of us know that many people will be attracted to the message via a famous name, just as more people will go to a Clint Eastwood film than a Barry Dingle film (yes, I made that name up - please don't sue me Mr. Dingle, wherever you are!).

Port Talbot's Steelworks

So bravo to Mr Sheen for taking the plunge. Passion plays (whether sanitised or traditional) are never popular with the 'Islington elite' for various reasons and this all-so Catholic (in every sense) of occasions always strikes me as being the most at variance to the modern demand for inclusivity and false ecumenism (conversely whilst being the story of Redemption that is available to all).

In the week when a man is on the verge of being sacked for displaying a palm cross at work, on the weekend when Christ was cheered into Jerusalem as an all-conquering hero, we are reminded that Christ and His followers have much to suffer and have their crosses to bear, in witness of their Faith, in belonging to the Church that Christ established.

An event like this can only bring Graces to Wales, and help bring more Welsh people to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

That can only be a good thing! Thanks Michael.