THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 18, 2018 IS PASSION SUNDAY! ONLY FOR THE EF THOUGH! YOURS TRULY THE CELEBRANT FOR THE CATHEDRAL'S EF MASS AT 1 PM IN DOWNTOWN SAVANNAH! BE THERE OR BE SQUARE, LAFAYETTE SQUARE THAT IS--AND THE DAY OF SAINT PATRICK'S DAY

In Savannah, we are in what is called the "Season of Saint Patrick." The secular press is calling it that and it is true. Lent always takes a backseat to the drinking, gluttony and partying of the Season of  Saint Patrick. Sigh!

Thus Passion Sunday on March 18th, the Octave of the Solemnity of Saint Patrick in the Season of Saint Patrick is Savannah is ironic. Will we or won't we return to the Season of Passiontide that begins on March 18th? Time will tell.

In my OF parish, our statues have been covered this week in anticipation of Passiontide which the OF Roman Missal gives a nod, but they aren't sure why. We are allowed to cover cruxifix and statues, but we don't have the EF's Gospel for the First Sunday of Passiontide to have a reason to do so.

The OF Roman Missal also has two proper prefaces for the Passiontide two weeks. But no reason it given and it isn't called passiontide. Sad and Sigh!

Do you know the reason? It is from St. John's Gospel for the First Sunday of Passiontide:

 "They took up stones therefore to cast at Him: but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple."

DOES YOUR OF PARISH AND LITURGY HAVE COVERED CROSSES AND STATUES? 

Traditional Propers for Passion Sunday

Vestments:  Violet

INTROIT Psalm 42: 1,2 Judge me, O God, and distinguish my cause from the nation that is not holy: deliver me from the unjust and deceitful man: for Thou art my God and my strength. -- (Ps. 42. 3). Send forth Thy light, and Thy truth: they have conducted me, and brought me unto Thy holy hill, and into thy tabernacles. . . . -- Judge me, O God, and distinguish my cause . . .

COLLECT - We beseech Thee, O almighty God, look mercifully upon Thy family: that, by Thy bounty, it may be governed in body, and by Thy keeping be guarded in mind. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee . . .

EPISTLE Hebrews 9: 11-15 Brethren, Christ being come, as High Priest of the good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is, not of this creation: neither by the blood of goats or of calves, but by His own Blood, entered once into the Holies, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and of oxen and the ashes of a heifer, being sprinkled, sanctify such as are defiled, to the cleaning of the flesh: how much more shall the Blood of Christ, who, by the Holy Ghost, offered Himself unspotted unto God, cleanse our conscience from dead works, to serve the living God? And therefore He is the Mediator of the new Testament: that by means of His death, for the redemption of those transgressions which were under the former Testament, they that are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

GRADUAL Psalm 142: 9, 10 Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies: teach me to do Thy will. V.: (Ps. 17, 48, 49). Thou art my deliverer, O Lord, from the angry nations: Thou wilt lift me up above them that rise up against me: from the unjust man Thou wilt deliver me.

TRACT Psalm 128: 1, 4 Often have they fought against me from my youth. V.: Let Israel now say: often have they fought against me from my youth. V.: But they could not prevail over me: the wicked have wrought upon my back. V.: They have lengthened their iniquities: the Lord who is just will cut the necks of sinners.

GOSPEL John 8: 46-59

At that time Jesus said to the multitudes of the Jews: Which of you shall convince Me of sin? If I say the truth to you, why do you not believe Me? He that is of God heareth the words of God. Therefore you hear them not, because you are not of God. The Jews therefore answered and said to Him: Do not we say well, that Thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? Jesus answered: I have not a devil: but I honor My Father, and you have dishonored Me. But I seek not My own glory: there is One that seeketh and judgeth. Amen, amen, I say to you: If any man keep My word, he shall not see death for ever. The Jews therefore said: Now we know that Thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the Prophets: and Thou sayest: If any man keep My word, he shall not taste death for ever. Art Thou greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? and the prophets are dead. Whom dost Thou make Thyself? Jesus answered: If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing: it is My Father that glorifieth Me, of whom you say that He is your God, and you have not known Him: but I know Him: and if I shall say that I know Him not, I shall be like to you, a liar. But I do know Him, and do keep His word. Abraham your father rejoiced that he might see My day: he saw it and was glad. The Jews therefore said to Him: Thou art not yet fifty years old: and hast Thou seen Abraham? Jesus said to them: Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham was made, I am. They took up stones therefore to cast at Him: but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple.

OFFERTORY Psalm 118: 17, 107 I will confess to Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart: render to Thy servant: I shall live and keep Thy words: enliven me according to Thy word, O Lord.

SECRET - May these gifts, we beseech Thee, O Lord, both loose us from the bonds of our wickedness, and win for us the gifts of Thy mercy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost . . . . .

PREFACE (Preface of the Holy Cross) -It it truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; Who didst establish the salvation of mankind on the tree of the Cross; that whence death came, thence also life might arise again, and that he, who overcame by the tree, by the tree also might be overcome: Through Christ our Lord. Through whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, the Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with these we entreat Thee that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted while we say with lowly praise:

COMMUNION I Corinthians 11: 24, 25 This is My Body which shall be delivered for you: this chalice is the new Testament in My Blood, saith the Lord: do this, as often as you receive it, in commemoration of Me.

POST COMMUNION - Remain with us, O Lord, our God, and defend with Thy continual support those whom Thou hast renewed by Thy Mysteries. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost . . .