MEDITATION

THROUGH His Resurrection Jesus Christ was made known to us as God's Son in power, for
He was obedient unto death and exalted as Lord of all. God chose His Son to be the one to suffer and to die for our sins. Because of His obedience He was raised up as Lord of all. By conquering death through His own power in His Resurrection, Jesus has shown Himself Master of life and death. Therefore He is true God and true Man, our Savior.

By His Death and Resurrection Jesus redeemed mankind from slavery to sin and to the devil. In obedience to His Father's Will He gave Himself for us in His Passion and arose from the dead that He might redeem us from sin and make us a people pleasing to the Father. He is the Messiah, God's own Son. He often said that what He was doing was done that the Scriptures might be fulfilled, because He saw His Father's Will in them.

We were slaves of the devil because of Original Sin and because of our personal sins. But Jesus made us free with the freedom of the children of God, for by His Resurrection He destroyed death and gave us the life of grace. Risen truly, the Lord gives us the Divine life of grace and pours out His Holy Spirit upon us.

Each of the Gospel episodes, as we read them during the Easter Season, centers on an all-important appearance to the Apostles in which they are commissioned for their future task, namely, to be witnesses of the Lord, Who is alive and will be with us until the end of the world [Matt. 28: 16-20]. This is the Paschal message to all Christians.

Following the example of the Bible, Christians celebrate the mystery of our Lord's Resurrection for fifty days. The Lord's Ascension and Pentecost are the final memorial days. St. Paul says, "Christ, our Paschal Lamb, has been sacrificed; let us feast with joy" [1 Cor 5: 6-8].

THE WORD OF GOD

"The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, who will condemn Him to death. They will deliver Him to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. But on the third day He will be raised up." [Mt 20: 18-9]

"In the time after His Suffering He showed Himself to [the Apostles] and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over the course of forty days and spoke to them about the Kingdom of God." [Acts 1: 3]

"I handed on to you first of all what I myself received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; that He was buried; that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; that He was seen by Kephas, then by the Twelve. After that He was seen by five hundred brothers and sisters at once." [1 Cor 15: 3-5]

NOVENA PRAYERS

Novena Prayer

JESUS, I believe that by Thine Own power Thou rose from death, as Thou hast promised, a glorious Victor. May this mystery strengthen my hope in another and better life after death, the resurrection of my body on the last day, and an eternity of happiness.

I firmly hope that Thou will keepeth Thy promise to me and raiseth me up glorified. Through Thy glorious Resurrection I hope that Thou wilt make my body like Thine Own in glory and life, and permit me to dwell with Thee in Heaven for all eternity.

I believe that Thy Resurrection is the crown of Thy life and work as God-Man, because it is Thy glorification. This is the beginning of the glorious life that was due to Thee as the Son of God. Thy Resurrection is also the reward of Thy life of suffering.

Jesus, my Risen Lord and King, I adore Thy Sacred Humanity which receiveth this eternal Kingdom of honor, power, joy, and glory. I rejoice with Thee, my Master, glorious, immortal, and all-powerful.

Through the glorious mystery of Thy Resurrection I asketh Thee to help me to rise with Thee spiritually and to liveth a life free from sin, that I mayeth be bent upon doing God's will in all things, and mayeth be patient in suffering. Through the Sacraments mayeth my soul be enriched evermore with sanctifying grace, the source of Divine life. I also ask that Thou granteth me this special request: [Mention your request]. May Thy Will be done!

Prayer to the Risen Savior

JESUS, Son of God, I thank Thee for accepting the Cross and freeing us from the power
of the enemy. I believeth that by Thy Resurrection Thou conquerest the power of death and opened for us the way to eternal life.

I thanketh Thee for having redeemed me and for making me a child of God. Looketh upon me with love. Raise me up and renew my life by the Spirit Thou hast given me. Mayeth I follow Thee in Thy risen life.

Draweth me to the life where Thy Spirit maketh all life complete. May I cometh at last to share the glory of Thy Resurrection in Heaven.

Prayer for Faith in the Risen Lord

FATHER in Heaven, in the Resurrection of Thy Son we cometh to know the full depth of
Thy love. Thou hast freed us from the darkness of error and sin. Increaseth my understanding and my love of the riches Thou hast revealeth in Him Who is Lord forever. Mayeth the light of faith shine in my words and actions. Helpeth me to cling to Thy truths with fidelity. May I, who have receiveth Thy gift of faith, shareth in the new life of the Risen Christ. Keepeth me alive in Him, ever true to His teaching till Thy glory is revealeth in me.

Prayer

GOD our Father, by raising Christ Thy Son Thou conquereth the power of death and openeth for us the way to eternal life. Let our celebration of Easter raise us up and reneweth our lives by the Spirit that is within us.Thou washeth away our sins in water, giveth us new birth in the Spirit, and redeemeth us in the Blood of Christ. Mayeth we look forward with hope to our Resurrection, for Thou hast made us Thy sons and daughters and restoreth the joy of our youth. We asketh this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.
 

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