44. The Soul
This edition of The Soul focuses on Holy Week. We have arrived at the end of Lent and we now look to the Easter Triduum; Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. A time to contemplate the great mystery of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection and what it means for us as individuals and as a community of faith. We explore the theme ‘holy’ and how it relates to the way we live our lives and our everyday interactions with others. We will also share some resources to support your journey through Holy Week and beyond.
We take this opportunity to wish everyone a safe and happy Easter Holiday. May we radiate the joy of the Good News of Christ’s resurrection to everyone we meet.
Anniversary
The Soul is one year old! Check out the first edition from the 30th March, 2020, as the uncertainty of the pandemic was unfolding.
Holy, holy, holy Lord. Why three times holy? In Hebrew when something is said twice, it is done so to signify importance and to encourage people to take note of it. God is more than just important and superlative. It is His most emphasised attribute - He isn’t just twice holy, He is holy, holy holy.
The word holy means set apart for a special purpose by and for God. In this, Catholics understand the holiness of the universal Church to derive from Christ's holiness. Everything that comes from God is holy and if we are of God, we too are holy. The saints give us wonderful examples of lives lived in holiness. But what about us, who aren’t saints yet and who probably will never officially be canonised? How can we get closer to God and be more holy?
The call to holiness is deeply personal and a long road made up of prayer, sacrifice and service to others. Pope Francis says, "To walk toward holiness, you must be free.” - being free to follow God in all things, at all times and in all places.
Holidays are coming up and while there will, hopefully, be time to relax and rejuvenate, there will also be times to test our holiness in the relationships we have with others. When we’re with our families and friends we are at our most authentic and real. Relationships reveal things about ourselves that we didn’t know were true.
Relationships don’t make us selfish, impatient, or ungenerous, they instead reveal to us areas where we need to grow.
Bring these needs to God. Ask God where would you like me to grow this week? What’s one thing that I can do to grow more holy? Can I put the phone down? Can I choose to be generous and avoid being reactive? Small gestures will bring us closer to living holy lives as we bear witness to God’s love in everything we do, wherever we find ourselves.
The Sacred Paschal Triduum
Prepare your heart for the Holy Week Liturgies with this prayer guide. The Guide is a combination of prayers, readings and reflections from the Triduum Liturgy. Find a quiet place, maybe light a candle, and awaken to the Easter mystery.
The Soul attempts to showcase an eclectic selection of worship music to enhance the experience and practice of prayer for our readers. This Holy Week we found it hard to reduce the shortlist. Lifting our hearts and minds to God through the devotion of praise and worship is a gift to God. It is made all the easier as we focus on the lyrics and musicianship of these gifted artists. Pray with this beautiful music and open yourself to the power and love of the Almighty One this Holy Week.
- Wildfire - Everything Video - Our Youth Ministry Officers submitted video clips of how they experienced Jesus in their everyday lives to form this powerful and beautiful digital tapestry.
- Holy Week ceremonies often feature timeless music that speaks to the heart of worship. Reflect this week by praying with this beautiful version of Were You There.
- An Easter Hallelujah - be moved with the spirit by sisters Cassandra and Callahan who dedicate this beautiful and meaningful cover of Jeff Buckley’s Hallelujah to their Nan who is currently ill.
- Let us join Israel and the New Breed in deep worship - How Great - Israel Houghton. (skip to 1.00 min - finish at 13.33)
- Holy, holy, holy Audrey Assad offers a contemporary take on this traditional hymn from the 1800’s that gives praise to the Blessed Holy Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- Holy A Matt Maher song to honour and praise the Holy Trinity and the sacrificial love of Jesus.
Holy
- Holiness- The Bible Project. How will the intensity of God’s holiness transform us? A look at what scripture says about purity and holiness.
- Padre Pio’s Secret to Holiness- Ascension Presents. What is the true sign of sainthood? Fr. Mike Schmitz explains why it’s not the stigmata or the ability to miraculously heal people. Saints like Padre Pio walked a path that is very much within reach for us all.
Holy Week Resources
- The concluding talk in the series on the "Triduum" can be found on the St Mary’s Parish Casino Youtube Channel.
- What the washing of the feet teaches us about Jesus - Fr James Martin. How can the Church continue Jesus’ example, “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (John 13:17)
- Celebrate the Easter Triduum by taking a spiritual pilgrimage to the Holy Land in this beautiful, 30-minute contemplative documentary on Formed.org
- Jesus on the Cross - As we gaze upon Jesus on the cross on Good Friday Sr Hilda Scott encourages us to contemplate what Jesus is saying to us, “I am willing you to live. I am giving you my life.”
Holy Week Songs
- At the foot of the cross - Fr Rob Galea
Easter Season Songs
- Resurrecting- Elevation Worship
- Resurrection Day- Rend Collective
- Christ is Risen- Matt Maher
- Because He Lives (Amen)- Matt Maher
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