Posted on April 1, 2018 View all news
Christus resurrexit! Resurrexit vere! Christus ist auferstanden! Er ist wahrhaft auferstanden! Cristo è risorto! È veramente risorto! Christ is risen! Indeed, He is risen!
On behalf of the Fathers and Brothers of the Cincinnati Oratory, and the staffs of Old St. Mary’s & Sacred Heart parishes, I wish each of you a very blessed Easter. I pray that the Risen Lord extends his abundant blessings upon each you throughout the Easter Season!
I would like to thank all those who helped make Holy Week and Easter Sunday possible. From those who helped with set-up, cleaning, polishing, music, serving, veiling the statues, laundering linens, and so much more. Much goes into preparing for Easter. Thank you to each person who stepped up and assisted.
I would also like to thank all those who helped with Sacred Heart’s Italian Dinner last Sunday. It was a great success. So many volunteers assisted once again! Thank you to each of them. In particular, thank you to Judge Panioto, Marlene Nesi, Jim Santangelo, Mike Vaccariello, & Ed Rubeo, and Sacred Heart staff members Jane Pitocco, Sarge Vogel, & Bob Miller, who helped to coordinate so much. Thank you to all!!
Please meditate upon the following Easter Sermon of St. John Chrysostom!
“If any man be devout and love God, let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast. If any man be a wise servant, let him rejoicing enter into the joy of his Lord. If any have labored long in fasting, let him now receive his recompense. If any have wrought from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward. If any have come at the third hour, let him with thankfulness keep the feast. If any have arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; because he shall in nowise be deprived thereof. If any have delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near, fearing nothing. If any have tarried even until the eleventh hour, let him, also, be not alarmed at his tardiness; for the Lord, who is jealous of his honor, will accept the last even as the first; he gives rest unto him who comes at the eleventh hour, even as unto him who has wrought from the first hour.
And he shows mercy upon the last, and cares for the first; and to the one he gives, and upon the other he bestows gifts. And he both accepts the deeds, and welcomes the intention, and honors the acts and praises the offering. Wherefore, enter you all into the joy of your Lord; and receive your reward, both the first, and likewise the second. You rich and poor together, hold high festival. You sober and you heedless, honor the day. Rejoice today, both you who have fasted and you who have disregarded the fast. The table is full-laden; feast ye all sumptuously. The calf is fatted; let no one go hungry away Enjoy ye all the feast of faith: Receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness. let no one bewail his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one weep for his iniquities, for pardon has shown forth from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Savior’s death has set us free. He that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it. By descending into Hell, He made Hell captive. He embittered it when it tasted of His flesh. And Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry: Hell, said he, was embittered, when it encountered Thee in the lower regions. It was embittered, for it was abolished. It was embittered, for it was mocked. It was embittered, for it was slain. It was embittered, for it was overthrown. It was embittered, for it was fettered in chains. It took a body, and met God face to face. It took earth, and encountered Heaven. It took that which was seen, and fell upon the unseen.
O Death, where is your sting? O Hell, where is your victory? Christ is risen, and you are overthrown. Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen. Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice. Christ is risen, and life reigns. Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave. For Christ, being risen from the dead, is become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages. Amen.” – St. John Chrysostom