Palm Sunday( The beginning of Holy Week)

QUICK FACTS on PALM SUNDAY

Palm Sunday or the "Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem", marks the beginning of the Holy Week. From Jericho to Jerusalem,Jesus"goes up" with the people who will celebrate the Feast.Jesus was sent by God for all people,but above all he came as Saviour of the Jewish people.He came precisely when this people needed to be saved, because things were not working out well for them.The prophets had announced a king who would visit his people on a donkey as peaceful people did,not on a horse, like the generals of that time.The symbolism of the donkey may refer to as an animal of peace. A king would have come riding on a horse when he was bent on war and riding upon a donkey when he wanted to point out he was coming in peace.That was why Jesus wanted to enter Jerusalem this way.

The Jews did not think that their Saviour would be so meek and humble. Throughout their history,God saved them from oppression,hunger,and irresponsibility of their famous leaders. This time he came in person,to show them the real path to salvation through pardon and mercy and non-violence but they did not recognize him.The people of Galilee who spontaneously mounted a triumphant entrance for Jesus hoping for a political announcement from him would later deny him.

"Life is a precious gift, but we realize this only when we give it to others." – Pope Francis

The Donkey Jesus Rode On...

Palm Sunday

Quote of Saint on Palm Sunday:

"God in His infinite goodness sometimes sees fit to test our courage and love by depriving us of the things which it seems to us would be advantageous to our souls; and if He finds us earnest in their pursuit, yet humble, tranquil and resigned to do without them if He wishes us to, He will give us more blessings than we should have had in the possession of what we craved." — St. Philip Neri

Feast Day of Saints Perpetua & Felicity

IMPORTANT FACTS:

Perpetua was a kind hearted girl.Loved learning the Catholic Faith and was in love with Jesus.She lived her life with Jesus and praised Him in the rain and in the sun but one day was arrested along with 4 other Catechumens, including Felicity, her slave woman, who was about to give birth to a child.That day too,she praised Jesus and thanked Him in her heart.In prison,Perpetua and the rest prayed daily and increased in love for Jesus.

Perpetua had a vision too,in which she saw herself ascending a ladder leading to green meadows, where a flock of sheep was browsing, assured her of her approaching martyrdom.She saw Jesus and was consoled about the day of her martyrdom.Jesus promised her the 'MARTYR'S CROWN'

She was so happy that she shared this vision with the rest and they rejoiced with her and praised Jesus for His goodness.After this vision,she did have another vision and in that vision Perpetua saw her brother Dinocrates, who had died at the early age of  7,at first seeming to be sorrowful and in pain.She was sad and was assured by Jesus that through her prayers,her brother will be in Heaven.Shortly thereafter,she dreamt of him and he was happy and healthy in Heaven. 

Another day,she had another vision in which she saw herself fighting with a savage Ethiopian,whom she conquered,Jesus made it clear to her that she would not have to battle with wild beasts but with the Devil.She prayed more daily and though afraid,she asked Jesus for comfort.While they were awaiting death,Perpetua and her companions were baptized. That day,they were overjoyed and praised Jesus again! 

On 7 March,the day of their execution, the martyrs left their prison “joyfully as though they were on their way to heaven” and entered the arena, where they were killed before the cheering crowd. Perpetua and Felicity were then put to the sword; the others were killed by wild beasts.

Perpetua love little children with her heart.That is why it was difficult for her to leave her infant son.Felicity on the other hand,was a brave mother and she was not worried about leaving her child because she knew the Lord will take care of her child.She prayed daily to deliver as soon before her martyrdom and her prayer was heard!They both became the darlings of Jesus for their great love for Jesus.

"If people come to me and are not ready to abandon their fathers,mothers,wives,children,
brothers,and sisters as well as their own lives,they cannot be my disciples" (Luke 14:26)

The Martyrdom of Perpetua & Felicity

Quote of Saint Perpetua:

• “We were in the hands of our persecutors, when my father, out of the affection he bore me, made new efforts to shake my resolution. I said to him: ‘Can that vessel, which you see, change its name?’ He said: ‘No.’ I replied: ‘Nor can I call myself any other than I am, that is to say, a Christian.’” 

PRAYER TO SAINT PERPETUA AND FELICITY:
O Holy Martyrs,Perpetua and Felicity,intercede for us poor sinners.Obtain for us the grace to keep faithful to Jesus all the days of our life.Help us to obtain a first degree of perfection in Heaven like how you both did during your stay on earth.Saint Perpetua and Felicity,guide us in our life until we arrive at the Golden Stairs of Heaven to meet you both,together with all the Angels and Saints in Heaven.Amen.
Saint Perpetua and Felicity,lead us to Heavenly Glory!