Father Paul's Gardens

21/04/2025

Pope Francis died on Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta.

May he rest in peace.

Pope Francis died on Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta.

31/08/2024

16/06/2024

June 16, 2024
𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲

To all Fathers - biological, foster, spiritual, living and deceased - 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲! May God bless you for all the love and sacrifices you do.

Missing my dad on this day.

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God our Father,
in your wisdom and love
you made all things.
Bless these men,
that they may be strengthened
as Christian fathers.
Let the example of their faith and love shine forth.
Grant that we,
their sons and daughters,
may honor them always
with a spirit of profound respect.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

30/03/2024

Happy Easter!

Here is the meaning of each symbol of the Paschal Candle: 🕯️

Since the early centuries of Christianity, the Paschal Candle has been one of the most expressive symbols of the Easter Vigil and the entire Easter Season. On the night of Holy Saturday, the priests celebrating the Vigil Mass light it as a symbol of the Risen Christ.

Light: Represents the risen Christ, who is the "true light that enlightens everyone who comes into the world" and who dispels the darkness caused by sin and its consequences.

Flame or Fire: The gesture of the priest sharing the flame of the Paschal Candle with the faithful at the Easter Vigil symbolizes the faith that we all receive and share.

Cross: Always the central symbol. It represents the path we must take to reach the Father, as Christ taught us.

Nails: There are five grains of incense, usually red in color, embedded in the candle representing the five wounds of Jesus: the three nails that pierced his hands and feet, the spear thrust into his right side, and the thorns on his head.

Alpha and Omega: The letters A (alpha) and Ω (omega), the first and last of the Greek alphabet, indicate that Christ's Passover, the beginning and end of time and eternity, is an occasion to receive that ever-new strength that comes from God, in the specific year we are living.

Year: The current year symbolizes God in the present, as the Master and Lord of all eternity.

Lamb: Christ is represented by the figure of a lamb, a symbol of meekness. God rules the universe, but does so with mercy. That is why His justice is truly capable of saving. His power lies in love.

30/03/2024

March 31, 2024
𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝

On Easter Sunday, we reach the culmination of Holy Week. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important event of the Christian faith. The very foundation of all Christian doctrine hinges on the truth of this account.

Early Sunday morning, several women (Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Salome, and Mary the mother of James) went to the tomb and discovered that the large stone covering the entrance had been rolled away. An angel announced:
"𝐷𝑜𝑛'𝑡 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑑! 𝐼 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐽𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑠, 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑐𝑟𝑢𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑑. 𝐻𝑒 𝑖𝑠𝑛'𝑡 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒! 𝐻𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒𝑛 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑑, 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑎𝑠 ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑖𝑑 𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑛." (Matthew 28:5-6, NLT)

On the day of his resurrection, Jesus Christ made at least five appearances. Mark's Gospel says the first person to see him was Mary Magdalene, and in Matthew’s Gospel, he also appeared to the other women. Jesus also appeared to Peter, to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and later that day to all of the disciples except Thomas, while they were gathered in a house for prayer.

The eyewitness accounts in the Gospels provide what Christians believe to be undeniable evidence that the resurrection of Jesus Christ did indeed happen.

Sunday's events are recorded in Matthew 28:1-13, Mark 16:1-14, Luke 24:1-49, and John 20:1-23.

29/03/2024

March 30, 2024
𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲

Jesus' body lay in its tomb, where it was guarded by Roman soldiers throughout the day on Saturday, which was the Sabbath. When the Sabbath ended at 6 p.m., Christ's body was ceremonially treated for burial with spices purchased by Nicodemus:

“𝑁𝑖𝑐𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑚𝑢𝑠, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑜 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑖𝑚 𝑎𝑡 𝑛𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡, 𝑎𝑙𝑠𝑜 𝑐𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎 𝑚𝑖𝑥𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑦𝑟𝑟ℎ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑜𝑛𝑒 ℎ𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑠. 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑡𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝐽𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑏𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑠 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑒𝑠, 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐽𝑒𝑤𝑖𝑠ℎ 𝑏𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑚.” (John 19: 39-40 NABRE)

Nicodemus, like Joseph of Arimathea, was a member of the Sanhedrin, the court that had condemned Jesus Christ to death. For a time, both men had lived as secret followers of Jesus, afraid to make a public profession of faith because of their prominent positions in the Jewish community.

Similarly, both were deeply affected by Christ's death. They boldly came out of hiding, risking their reputations and their lives because they had come to realize that Jesus was, indeed, the long-awaited Messiah. Together they cared for Jesus' body and prepared it for burial.

While his physical body lay in the tomb, Jesus Christ paid the penalty for sin by offering the perfect, spotless sacrifice. He conquered death, both spiritually and physically, securing our eternal salvation:

"For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God." (1 Peter 1:18-19, NABRE)

Saturday's events are recorded in Matthew 27:62-66, Mark 16:1, Luke 23:56, and John 19:40.

28/03/2024

March 29, 2024
𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲'𝐬 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

Before the religious leaders could put Jesus to death, they needed Rome to approve of their death sentence. Jesus was taken to Pontius Pilate who found no reason to charge him. Pilate had Jesus sent to Herod who was in Jerusalem at the time. Jesus refused to answer Herod's questions, so Herod sent him back to Pilate. Although Pilate found Jesus innocent, he feared the crowds and sentenced him to death. Jesus was beaten, mocked, stripped naked, and given a crown of thorns. He was made to carry his own cross and led away to Calvary.

𝟔:𝟎𝟎 𝐀𝐌
* Jesus Stands Trial Before Pilate - Matthew 27:11-14; Mark 15:2-5; Luke 23:1-5; John 18:28-37
* Jesus Sent to Herod - Luke 23:6-12

𝟕:𝟎𝟎 𝐀𝐌
* Jesus Returned to Pilate - Luke 23:11
* Jesus Is Sentenced to Death - Matthew 27:26; Mark 15:15; Luke 23:23-24; John 19:16

𝟖:𝟎𝟎 𝐀𝐌
* Jesus Is Led Away to Calvary - Matthew 27:32-34; Mark 15:21-24; Luke 23:26-31; John 19:16-17

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐱𝐢𝐨𝐧
Soldiers drove stake-like nails through Jesus' wrists and ankles, fixing him to the cross. An inscription was placed over his head that read, "The King of the Jews." Jesus hung on the cross for approximately six hours until he took his final breath. While he was on the cross, soldiers cast lots for Jesus' clothing. Onlookers shouted insults and jeered. Two criminals were crucified at the same time.

At one point Jesus spoke to Mary and John. After that darkness covered the land. As Jesus gave up his spirit, an earthquake shook the ground and caused the temple curtain to rip in half from top to bottom.

𝟗:𝟎𝟎 𝐀𝐌 - "𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐫"
* Jesus Is Crucified - Mark 15: 25
* Father, Forgive Them - Luke 23:34
* The Soldiers Cast Lots for Jesus' Clothing - Mark 15:24

𝟏𝟎:𝟎𝟎 𝐀𝐌
* Jesus Is Insulted and Mocked - Matthew 27:39-40
*
𝟏𝟏:𝟎𝟎𝐀𝐌
* Jesus and the Criminal - Luke 23:40-43
* Jesus Speaks to Mary and John - John 19:26-27

𝟏𝟐:𝟎𝟎 𝐍𝐎𝐎𝐍 - "𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐱𝐭𝐡 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐫"
* Darkness Covers the Land - Mark 15:33

𝟏:𝟎𝟎 𝐏𝐌
* Jesus Cries Out to the Father - Matthew 27:46
* Jesus Is Thirsty - John 19:28-29

𝟑:𝟎𝟎𝐏𝐌
* “𝐸𝑙𝑖, 𝐸𝑙𝑖, 𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑎 𝑠𝑎𝑏𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑖?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” - Matthew 27:46
* It Is Finished - John 19:30a
* Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit - Luke 23:46

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬' 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡
* The Earthquake and the Temple Veil Is Torn in Two - Matthew 27:51-52
* The Centurion - "Surely he was the Son of God!" - Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:47

𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧
* The Soldiers Break the Thieves' Legs - John 19:31-33
* The Soldier Pierces Jesus Side - John 19:34
* Jesus is Laid in the Tomb - Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42

28/03/2024

March 27,2024
𝐌𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲

"𝐌𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐲" is thought to be a Middle English derivation taken from a Latin anthem sung in Roman Catholic churches on Holy Thursday: “𝑀𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑚 𝑛𝑜𝑣𝑢𝑚 𝑑𝑜 𝑣𝑜𝑏𝑖𝑠…” ("I give you a new commandment…). These were the words of Jesus to his disciples: “𝐼 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑎 𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡: 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟. 𝐴𝑠 𝐼 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢, 𝑠𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑙𝑠𝑜 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟.” (John 13:34)

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From Bethany, Jesus sent Peter and John ahead to the Upper Room in Jerusalem to make the preparations for the Passover Feast. That evening after sunset, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples as they prepared to share in the Passover. By performing this humble act of service, Jesus demonstrated by example how believers should love one another. Today, many churches practice foot-washing ceremonies as a part of their Maundy Thursday services.

Then, Jesus shared the feast of Passover with his disciples, saying:
“𝐼 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑒𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑟𝑙𝑦 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑃𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑏𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝐼 𝑠𝑢𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟, 𝑓𝑜𝑟, 𝐼 𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑦𝑜𝑢, 𝐼 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑡 [𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛] 𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑑𝑜𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝐺𝑜𝑑.” (Luke 22:15-16)

As the Lamb of God, Jesus was about to fulfill the meaning of Passover by giving his body to be broken and his blood to be shed in sacrifice, freeing us from sin and death. During this Last Supper, Jesus instituted the Eucharist and gave us his physical presence for eternity when he said:

“𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑚𝑦 𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦, 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢; 𝑑𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑒.” 𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑢𝑝 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑛, 𝑠𝑎𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔, “𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑢𝑝 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑐𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑑, 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢.” (Luke 22:19-20)

Later, Jesus and the disciples left the Upper Room and went to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed in agony to God the Father. Luke's Gospel says that "𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑" (Luke 22:44).

Late that evening in Gethsemane, Jesus was betrayed with a kiss by Judas Iscariot and arrested by the Sanhedrin. He was taken to the home of Caiaphas, the High Priest, where the whole council had gathered to begin making their case against Jesus.

Meanwhile, in the early morning hours, as Jesus' trial was getting underway, Peter denied knowing his Master three times before the rooster crowed.

𝑇ℎ𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑑𝑎𝑦'𝑠 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑀𝑎𝑡𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑤 26:17–75, 𝑀𝑎𝑟𝑘 14:12-72, 𝐿𝑢𝑘𝑒 22:7-62, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐽𝑜ℎ𝑛 13:1-38.