Jamie Dimon and JP Morgan, Arch-Criminals

By Anna Von Reitz

As time has unwound and the deals have gone down, there is one figure among all the others, and seven banks, three securities companies, plus three banking "systems" that stand out as criminals.

Jamie Dimon is a stand-alone Hit Man who has sidelined and misappropriated and "blocked" credit and assets intended for global relief and bank and currency system reform--- and is now trying to "misappropriate" the American gold assets held in Indonesia and the Philippines.

Make no mistake, it was our gold used to buy the Philippine Islands in 1898 and it was our gold that was primarily stored there prior to the 1907 bankruptcy of the Scottish commercial corporation doing business as "The United States of America, Inc."

If JP Morgan thinks it is going to get away with misappropriating American assets owed to the States and People of this country and not go down in flames---- JP Morgan better sit back and think again.

We have all the records. We have the transactions. We have the patents. We have the trademarks. We have the times and the dates and names signed on the dotted lines, too. We have it all. We have all the rats in the whole world, caught red-handed, in their own words, by their own filthy paws, and by the short-hairs of their chinny-chin-chins.

So does anyone want to talk to me? No. They see me coming and they scatter like sheep in front of a tornado, but it won't do them any good.

You can't undo or disavow a hundred and fifty years of financial transactions and public records.

So, listen up and repeat after me: "It isn't going to wash......it isn't going to wash....it isn't going to wash.....it isn't going to wash...."

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Notre Dame - Pope Leo - A Letter to Pope Francis

By Anna Von Reitz

"I will destroy your Church" --- part of the visions of Pope Leo, 1884. "Smoke entered the Church....."

Please, heed the warnings that were given to the Churches.

The Book of the Seven Seals has been opened, and Daniel's Book as well. I have read it.

There can be no doubt that the judgment against the Church is well-begun and advancing at a terrifying rate.

You must take action to separate yourselves from the evils of the Office of the Pontiff, Cede and Company, DTTC, the securitization and bonding of babies and other outrageous evils such as Marriage licenses that reduce the sacred covenant to a commercial Joint Venture.

As God chastised Pharaoh, he will chastise the Church and Curia. The plagues and the burning will descend, as foretold, just as the Flood was foretold to Noah.

Humble yourselves, repent, give back to God what is God's, give back to God's people what is naturally theirs, liquidate the corporations that are causing all this misery, or as Pope Leo clearly foresaw, things will only get worse.

Honor the work that I have begun to free the people of this planet from lies and hypocrisy and violence.

Realize that I am who and what I say I am --- the Fiduciary sent to get an accounting from the Steward. It's right in front of your noses in the Bible.

We could hardly have been more forthright about who was in charge of what. Pay attention. The Grandmother, Mary's Mother, Anna, is the Fiduciary of Jesus's family.

You know how the Hebrew Matriarchy works, whether you like to admit it, or not.

It breaks my heart to see Notre Dame in flames and other Catholic Churches suffering like this.

If correction is not made by the Zionists in Jerusalem and by the Roman Catholic Church, the destruction and suffering will only spread. All those who are smug and who think that they will not be impacted need to think again. [Including Jamie Dimon.]

God honors those who honor Him.

For too many years the Churches and the Synagogues have been run as commercial rackets. For too long too many priests and rabbis have been stuffed up on themselves and not devoted inwardly to what they preach outwardly.

Even to the extent of treating Baptismal Certificates as financial instruments and buying and trading in souls---- Francis, are you all insane? You allow this kind of thing to go on and think that God will not answer you for this? He will. He is.

God has promised that the Levites must be cut off. Who are we to delay the complete reform of the judicial mechanisms? Who thinks that the mere rule of law will replace the Law itself?

The Curia must understand what they are up against. They stand in the Pharaoh's shoes and under demand to let my people go. They are calling down these plagues upon the Church and the whole world by seeking to continue on in the old and crooked way.

If you want help to end this, you know how to contact me. Where two or more are gathered with humble and contrite hearts, praying in the Spirit, there is our Faithful and True Lord and Master, and with him, is Our Father. The Way is not cut off.

Anna Maria
c/o Box 520994
Big Lake, Alaska 99652

    

I'd Like to Help Donald Trump

By Anna Von Reitz

I believe that Donald Trump is making a very good faith effort to keep his promises to the American People, so yes, I would like to help him.

However, I am prevented from doing that, most especially, because of the ongoing misinterpretation of the Territorial 14th Amendment --- who it applies to and who it doesn't apply to.

At the end of the American Civil War, nine million people were disenfranchised. Those who suffered this directly were people living in the Confederate States --- actually, "States of States".

But, again, by process of deceit and mis-identification of our actual political status, the rats in DC have contrived to mis-identify us as "rebels" in a commercial mercenary "war" that actually ended 150 years ago, and to require us to accept their own brand of "United States Citizenship" --- and enfranchisement as chattels belonging to their corporation, as a condition of being able to vote in their elections.

Don't believe it? Read Section 2 of their 14th Amendment.

So, until President Trump recognizes the fact that a large segment of the American populace that was never subject to the 14th Amendment of the Territorial Constitution has been misidentified and improperly denied the right to vote in these elections-- we can't vote for him.

I know that many of my readers are supportive of President Trump and would vote for him, if doing so would not also entrap them and allow false legal presumptions to attach to them.

This, above and beyond all else, is why there is a vast "Silent Majority" in America that doesn't vote. This is also why the Territorial Government can never achieve a valid majority mandate for anything their "democracy" does.

As it is, though not strictly forbidden by any Public Policy of the Territorial Government, it isn't even certain that we can donate to the Trump Campaign or act as volunteers. These are matters that need to be cleared up once and for all.

I am hoping that the Re-election Committee and the President will be sufficiently motivated to get answers for the 55 million people who read my articles---- most of whom would help him drain the swamp, if they can do so without entrapment.

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The Welfare Trap

By Anna Von Reitz

Nearly every day I get calls, emails, letters.... from desperate young mothers and fathers who are faced with losing their children to a  "State of State" organization, families traumatized to the bone by "Child Protective Services" raids, and damaged Third Parties.  

What I mean by "damaged Third Parties" ---- imagine that you are nine months pregnant and you go to your sister's house to stay with her to be closer to the hospital.  While you are there having breakfast with her, the police raid her house and find a stash of drugs belonging to the sister's erstwhile boyfriend.  The police arrest everyone and drug test everyone, including you, and although your forced drug test comes up absolutely clean, they claim you are an unfit Mother just because you were there in a house that contained illegal drugs, and they drag you in front of a judge trying to make you sign away your child before he is even born.   

That's Third Party damage.  The circumstance and the crime or other infraction actually has nothing to do with you, but you get dragged into it.  Such a circumstance is only made possible because all three people in this sad story were on welfare and/or claiming to be "US Citizens".  

Almost invariably, these young people who get into messes like this were beguiled or entrapped into the "Welfare Culture".  They thought, "Hey, all I have to do is fool around with my girlfriend, get her pregnant, have a bunch of kids and the government will pay for everything!  I can be her backdoor man.... and it will all be cool!" 

But when you abdicate your responsibilities, you also give up your rights. 

When you, a young woman, start out your life like this, you are offering yourself as a brood mare for the Hive.  Both you and your children will be enslaved to the British Crown, and your neighbors and friends and family will be the ones taxed to pay for your support.  

As a young man getting into this scenario, the prospects are even worse. The government will find out your identity as the biological father, they will assess child support payments plus interest for every penny you owe (according to them--- which is often a capricious and unrealistic amount), they will endlessly interfere with your life and yes, they will steal your kids.  You get to pay, but you don't get to play. 

I know men in their fifties who are still paying "child support" for kids that are in their thirties---kids that didn't ever get the benefit of a penny of all that money when they were children, and which continues to flow into "State of State" coffers a decade or more after they are all grown up.  Now, you figure it out.  

Everyone would be miles ahead just to support Unwed Mothers privately, but what would be even better is if parents wise up and make the effort to clue in their children from the get-go.  It isn't just about morality.  It's about practicality. 

Drum it into the youngsters that they are responsible for any new life they bring into the world and that failure to honor that responsibility is not really a viable choice. 

If they have kids out of wedlock and turn to welfare, they will be subjects of the government themselves, and they and their children will be enslaved. 

And in many, many cases ---- because it is more profitable for the government, they will lose their children, too.  The Slave Masters can charge the rest of us more money if they take your kids and put them in Foster Care.  So that's what they do. 

Once in Foster Care, the vast majority of children are neglected and abused--- and your flesh and blood, your innocent little children, are suffering and so are you--- and you are all enslaved as chattel to a faceless corporation owned by smug businessmen who are getting rich as middlemen. 

All those "welfare bennies" are like a carrot in a rabbit trap.  They aren't really benefits.  They are bait.  

Just to be sure everyone understands --- "the government" doesn't actually pay for or contribute anything to this welfare system.  They give you nothing, zero, nada.  

What they do is stand in the middle and whip and beat taxes out of other people in your community who are working and being productive to pay for your expenses and the expense of your kids, then, they turn around and lord it over you and your children as if they were the source of all the money and support, and additionally, they cut themselves fat salaries and pensions, etc., --- for providing this "service" on top of it.  

The end result?  You have cured the problem --- unwed mothers and fatherless kids without a means of support, by adding a worse problem --- a bloated, criminal bureaucracy that takes its "cut" and makes things a hundred times worse for everyone concerned. 

The only one who is actually being served are all the public employees standing as the middlemen.  The actual public, you and your community, is being bilked to the tune of billions of dollars and untold suffering throughout America.  

I am just telling you what you already should know, what our Forefathers knew, and what we all need to learn again --- the "government" is an evil.  It may be necessary, but it is still an evil.  Keeping it strictly limited is what is best for everyone concerned and that should be our goal --- keeping the government limited and out of our lives as much as possible. 

But, hey, that also requires us to be responsible for our lives so that we can claim our rights and not be subject to these criminals in suits.  Rights come with responsibilities.  

If you want your parental rights and want to keep your children and grandchildren under your control, better get your own ducks in order and reclaim your own birthright political status.  Better join your State Assembly, too. 

Make it your goal to never have to rely on the government for anything.  

Take it all seriously and teach your children, too.  Your rights begin and end with your responsibilities.  If you self-govern, nobody has any right to govern you.  Or your children, either.  Especially not any officious Fat Men working for foreign commercial corporations.

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Be Forewarned

By Anna Von Reitz

The Queen's Government is responding with a propaganda campaign designed to "redefine" the Reconstruction --- an attempt to rewrite history and contracts and treaties using film and a lot of lies and prompted false assumptions to do it.

To answer this you need only observe: (1) the contracts -- the actual Constitutions and Treaties the Queen and the Pope owed us at the time of the Civil War; (2) the results --- they secretively took over our government in gross Breach of Trust, usurped upon the States to create their own foreign States of States on our soil and left us uninformed; (3) the fact that the Reconstruction Acts have never been repealed; (4) the President is still defined by his role as Commander-in-Chief and rules by Executive Order via a military junta instead of working for us and our States of the Union.

These are evils which have been used to usurp and commandeer our lawful government for many decades and represent inexcusable fraud and Breach of Trust on the part of the Queen and the Pope, both.

You will soon be seeing a Ken Burn's style movie about the Reconstruction on PBS. This was rushed forward as a propaganda effort, to try to convince you that everything was completed and done correctly, go back to sleep..... but I and our American researchers are here to tell you to wake up and address the actual history ---- not another British Bunko version of history like you were sold in Public School.

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The Practice of Gratitude

By Anna Von Reitz

Ever feel the hardness of your own heart?  

I have been through so much, seen so much evil, that like most everyone else, I have learned to shield my heart with brick walls and battlements.  I have my moats and my barbed wire.  I have my "I could give a......." and no amount of human failing really surprises me.  

Sins, errors, greed, cowardice, sloth, false witness, betrayal, pettiness, violence, every kind of crime and failure and manipulation --- these are a judge's stock-in-trade.  

So it should come as no surprise that I am a pretty hard-bitten character, fully capable of making hard decisions, and able to walk away.  I don't cry, I don't rage; I just get stone-cold as Josie Wales and my brain sifts through the sludge like a sieve. 

Still, inside -- maybe deep inside -- a living heart remains in me.  I still care. I still battle on.  And I still feel gratitude.  

One of my favorite things is write back to people who write to me and to send thank you notes to those who send donations.  I really treasure the few moments I have to do this, because it connects me back to all of you and to our beloved country.  

This afternoon, I had a whole three hours to just address correspondence, a whole blissful sunny Sunday afternoon to answer letters and officially say "thank you" to people all over this vast and beautiful land.  It is a meditative process and as I write, I am trying to envision each one of you and the places you live: Texas, New York,  Indiana, Rhode Island, California.... it is like a long list of old friends as I think of each State.  

As a kid I memorized all the State Capitols, the land map of each State, the birds, flowers, trees and animals associated with each, the history and famous attractions.  I was in love with America then.  I am still in love with America now.  

My hardened old heart cracks open like an eggshell as I bring the States to mind, one by one, and I write another letter.  There is so much to love.  So much to be grateful for. 

I love America's people, too.  Always have.  Despite all the rats that share the planet with us, and their corrupting influence, there is still something so strong and solid about the people of America.   

I love the fact that we come in all different kinds and colors and sizes, speak in so many different dialects and languages, arise from so many different faiths and nations and ethnic traditions --- because I know how much I benefit from this Melting Pot called America.  

Where else can you eat a French Croissant for breakfast, a New York Deli-Style Pastrami on Jewish Rye with German mustard for lunch, and Chicken Enchiladas for dinner?     It's the same way with everything.  

No other nation on Earth has this kind of diversity within its own cultural heritage. We are Everyone.  We come from Everyplace.  And yet, when push comes to shove, we are all Americans.  

What makes this miracle possible?  The land.  

When you truly realize and feel that this is your country, your land, your heritage, too --- then you know the truth about all peoples and all lands and the truth, too, about yourself.  You're an American.  

Maybe you are a German-American or an Italian-American or an African-American, but you are an American. 

So in this marvelous garden of grace, where we live and breathe and have our being, and have the chance to enjoy our unity amidst our diversity, stop and take a moment as I have today --- just to give thanks for all the fifty States and all the People -- the actual Americans.  

I am ashamed that I have ever been considered a "US Citizen" because it is plain to see how criminal, irresponsible, dishonest, thuggish, self-serving, and deceitful these foreign corporations have become, how they have acted in Gross Breach of Trust against the American States and the American People, how they have sought to profit themselves by war and conquest and spread the seeds of shame and discontent and prejudice and violence and self-seeking for nothing but money, money, money.  

Yes, I am ashamed of what "United States Citizens" and "Citizens of the United States" have done in our names  and I am ashamed for them for all that they have done in the name of greed and self-seeking to harm their own country, their own friends, neighbors and family members -- but never once have I been anything but proud and grateful to be an American.  

Take that, Michele Obama. 

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The Real Story about Schaeffer Cox and the Rogue FBI

Found Here: https://freeschaeffer.com/family-kidnapped-by-fbi-informant/

FBI Informant Kidnaps Family!

In an apparent effort to cause yet another false flag event, under-cover FBI provocateurs tried to convince then 27 year old Schaeffer Cox to do a mass shooting in his home town of Fairbanks, Alaska.

Schaeffer Cox, a well known 2nd Amendment lobbyist who had won 38% of the vote in a State House election, became the subject of an intense FBI investigation after he angered State and Federal authorities by openly accusing them of drug trafficking and child prostitution.

Oil pipeline service company executive, Bill Allen, who had been spared prosecution on multiple counts of sexual abuse of minors in exchange for his 2008 testimony against pro-2nd Amendment Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, was among those implicated. The State Wide Drug Taskforce supplied children for sex to a number of state and federal officials in exchange for those official’s cooperation in concealing the ongoing illicit drug trafficking activities of the State Wide Drug Taskforce, Schaeffer Cox said.

Not long after these public statements, the same departments that Schaeffer Cox accused of corruption sent in numerous provocateurs to try to switch his efforts off of exposing corruption and on to violent vigilante-type actions. Schaeffer cox, who believes in non-aggression and voluntarism, can be heard on multiple undercover recordings telling the provocateurs “No, I’m going to pull a Ghandi, NOT a Rambo” and “if we turn violent, people will see us as the bad guys.”

In what some have called a deviation from accepted investigative techniques, the FBI responded to Schaeffer Cox’s rejection of their violent proposals by creating a threat to his children that could serve as a motivator.

Working with the Office of Child Services, the FBI filed a child neglect complaint regarding Schaeffer and his wife Marti’s 1 and 1/2 year old son. Because they do not require probable cause, child neglect complaints are an attractive tool for investigators who wish to enter a home, but lack any evidence to support a warrant.

Once Schaeffer Cox was made aware of the “writ of assistance” issued for the seizure of his young son, the FBI dispatch undercover provocateur Bill Fulton to again try to convince Schaeffer Cox to go on a shooting spree in response to these new developments. Bill Fulton, acting under the supervision of FBI Special Agent Sandra Klein, pointed out that the child neglect complaint was obviously the corrupt work of Schaeffer Cox’s political adversaries in the government, and urged him to go kill all officials involved.

When Schaeffer Cox and his friend, Les Zerbe, refused Fulton’s violent suggestions a second time, Fulton flew into a rage, held a hunting knife to Les Zerbe’s throat, and told him he would “slit his throat open and bleed him out at his feet” if he and Cox didn’t agree to the proposed mass shooting. Cox and Zerbe refused, and escaped never to see Fulton again.

Suspecting foul play by the FBI and local police, and fearing for their lives from Fulton, Schaeffer Cox and his wife went to the military police station on Ft. Wainwright for help. Officers there advised Schaeffer Cox that Federal agents had come into the station and bragged of how they planned to “fix the Schaeffer Cox problem” by “going into his home to take out his kid, then just shoot Schaeffer Cox in the process.” The MP’s gave Schaeffer Cox’s attorney affidavits to this effect and would later testify to the same under oath.

At the FBI Special Agent Klein’s direction, Fulton made a third attempt to get Schaeffer Cox to do a mass shooting. Fulton did this by issuing a death threat ultimatum and promising to kill Schaeffer Cox himself if he refused the proposal violence again.

Fearing for their lives, the Cox family packed up and headed for Canada. But the FBI sent another undercover provocateur, RJ Olson, after them, court documents say. Olson, a self described “drug wholesaler” working under the supervision of FBI Special Agent Richard Southerland, held the whole Cox family, including a 2 year old boy and a 3 week old baby girl, hostage, against their will in the attic for 21 days after sabotaging their vehicle, then using death threats from Fulton and a made up story about a truck driver to keep them from leaving.

The government does not dispute the fact that the actions of the provocateurs working under the FBI’s supervision did in fact meet the legal definition of 1st degree kidnapping, said Robert John, the Fairbanks attorney who got all related State charges against Cox thrown out.

On March 10th, 2011 Schaeffer Cox was taken from the attic to a deserted industrial lot in Fairbanks where he believed he would meet the “truck driver” Olson had promised. No such truck driver existed. Instead there was a FBI ambush of out of town Agents who did not know Schaeffer Cox was a well respected local political voice with popular support. The Agent’s, who had been instructed to shoot Schaeffer Cox on site if he had a weapon, were not advised by the local FBI case agent of Cox’s repeated statements about being like Ghandi not Rambo.

FBI Special Agent Richard Southerland supplied JR Olson with an unregistered, nontraceable pistol and instructed him to “put it in Schaeffer’s lap then get under the truck so there will be some thick metal between you and him when the shooting starts.” The FBI’s plan was interrupted when the owner of the industrial lot happened upon the scene and started asking questions about why men with masks and machine guns were hiding around the corner.

Schaeffer Cox was arrested and put on trial for “conspiracy against the government.” The prosecution was led by Steve Skrocki and Joseph Botini, the same people that were held in contempt of court for hiding evidence in several related trials of Alaska political personalities. The audio recording of Schaeffer Cox repeatedly rejecting violence were hidden from the jury, but are now being made available to the public by Schaeffer Cox’s supporters via youtube and other means.

Steve Skrocki, who has publically attacked Schaeffer Cox for his belief in Moral Higher Law, built his case primarily on the testimony of Fulton and Olson. But recently released audio recording and email between Steve Skrocki and his boss, US Attorney Karen Loeffler, now show that Skrocki coached his witnesses to lie, then vouched for those lies in his closing arguments to the jury.

Still others have taken issue with Skrocki’s entire theory of the case. “The importance of this case is significant to the whole of humanity” says Larry Pratt, president of Gun Owners of America. He points out that the prosecution conceded that Cox had no actual plans for violence, but convicted him anyway based on Cox’s belief that ‘We The People’ may someday have to stand down an out of control government.

Schaeffer Cox, who has been in prison since 2011 agrees. “This amounts to sending people to prison for simply believing in the original meaning of the 2nd Amendment” he says. “If we don’t reverse my conviction, it will set a sweeping new precedent allowing for the wholesale round up of those who have not committed any crimes.”

Rudy Davis
972-839-9848
www.YearofJubile.com
LoneStar1776.com

Palm Sunday

Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine's
The Church's Year

Why is this day called Palm Sunday?

In memory of our Saviour's triumphant entry into Jerusalem, when the multitude strewed palm branches before Him, for which reason the Church, on this day, blesses palms, and carries them in procession.

Why are palms blessed?

That those who carry them with devotion, or keep them in their houses, may receive protection of soul and body, as prayed for in the blessing; that those who carry the palms may, by means of the prayers of the Church, adorn their souls with good works and thus, in spirit, meet the Saviour; that, through Christ whose members we are, we may conquer the kingdom of death and darkness, and be made worthy to share in His glorious resurrection and triumphant entrance into heaven. St. Augustine writes of the palms: “They are the emblem of praise, and sign of victory, because the Lord by death conquered death, and with the sign of victory, the cross, overcame the devil, the prince of death." Therefore, preceded by the cross, we go in procession around the church singing hymns of praise; when we come to the church door, we find it locked; the priest knocks at it with the cross. Heaven was closed to us by the sin of Adam, and it is opened to us by reconciliation through Jesus on the cross.

To move us to compassion for the suffering Redeemer, the Church, in the person of Christ, cries in lamenting tones at the Introit:

INTROIT O Lord, remove not Thy help to a distance from me, look towards my defence: save me from the lion's mouth, and my lowness from the horns of the unicorns. O God, my God! look on me, why hast Thou forsaken me? Far from my salvation are the words of my sins. O Lord! Remove not, &c. (Ps. XXI.)

COLLECT Almighty and everlasting God! who didst vouchsafe to send Thy Son, our Saviour, to take upon Him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, to give mankind an example of humility; mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of His patience, and be made partakers of His Resurrection. Through the same &c.

EPISTLE (Philip. II. 5-11.) Brethren, let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery himself to be equal to God; but debased himself, taking the form of a servant, being made to the likeness of men, and in shape found as a man. He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore, God also hath exalted him, and hath given him a name, which is above every name: that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth; and that every tongue should confess, that the Lord, Jesus Christ, is in the glory of God, the Father.

INSTRUCTION In this epistle, the apostle urges us in a special manner to humility by which we are made like to Christ, our Lord, who putting off the majesty of His divinity, became man, and humbled Himself in obedience to the ignominious death of the cross. "Would that all might hear," exclaims St. Gregory, "that God resists the proud, and gives His grace to the humble! Would that all might hear: Thou dust and ashes, why dost thou exalt thyself? Would that all might hear the words of the Lord: Learn of me, because I am humble of heart. The only-begotten Son of God assumed the form of our weakness, suffered mockery, insult and torments for the purpose that the humble God might teach man not to be proud."

ASPIRATION  Ah, that my sentiments were as Throe, O my Lord, Jesus! who so humbled Thyself and was obedient to the most ignominious death of the cross. Grant me, I beseech Thee, O my Redeemer, the grace diligently to follow Thee in humility.

Instead of the gospel of the Passion, that is, the history of the sufferings of our Lord according to St. Matthew, (Chaps. XXVI. XXVII.) is read in this day's Mass, and neither incense, nor lights are used, nor is the Dominus vobiscum said, thus signifying that Jesus, the Light of the world, was taken away by death, and that the faith and devotion of the apostles was shaken, and became almost extinct. When reading the History of the Passion at the words: and bowing his head, he gave up the ghost, the priest with all the congregation kneel and meditate for a short time on the great mystery of the death of Jesus, by which our redemption was effected.

At the blessing of the palms, the priest reads the following

GOSPEL (Matt. XXI. 1-9.) At that time, when Jesus drew nigh to Jerusalem, and was come to Bethphage, unto Mount Olivet; then he sent two disciples, saying to them: Go ye into the village that is over against you, and immediately ye will find an ass tied, and a colt with her; loose them, and bring them to me; and if any man shall say any thing to you, say ye that the Lord bath need of them, and forthwith he will let them go. Now all this was done, that the word might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the prophet, saying: Tell ye the daughter of Sion, behold thy king cometh to thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt, the foal of her that is used to the yoke. And the disciples going, did as Jesus commanded them. And they brought the ass and the colt, and laid their garments upon them, and made him sit thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; and others cut down boughs from the trees, and strewed them in the way; and the multitudes that went before and that followed, cried, saying: Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Why did Jesus enter Jerusalem so solemnly and yet so humbly?

To show that He was the promised Messiah and King of the Jews, as foretold by the Prophet Zacharias, (IX 9.) and that He had come to conquer the world, the flesh and the devil, for which He used the weapons of meekness, humility, and poverty and therefore came seated not on a proud steed but like a poor person on the weak colt of an ass, entering Jerusalem in all humility, thus teaching us that meekness and indifference to earthly goods are our best weapons to gain victory over our enemies. Jesus entered Jerusalem so humbly to perfect the type of the Paschal lamb, for on this day the lambs which were to be sacrificed in the temple on the following Friday, were solemnly led into the city. Thus Jesus like a meek lamb, entered the city of Jerusalem to be sacrificed for us.

Why did the people meet Christ with palm branches?

This happened by the inspiration of God, to indicate that Christ, the conqueror of death, hell and the devil, would reconcile man with God, and open the heavenly Jerusalem to him, for the palm is the emblem of victory and peace. By this we learn also the inconsistency and mutability of the world; for the very people who on this day met Christ with palm branches exclaiming: "Hosanna to the Son of David," a few days later shouted: "Crucify him! Crucify him!" - Learn from this to despise the praise of the world, and be careful not to imitate the inconsistency of this people by crucifying Him again by sin (Heb. VI. 6.) after having received Him with joy in holy Communion.

How should we take part in the procession on this day?

With the pious intention of meeting Christ in spirit, with the devout people of Jerusalem, adoring Him, saying: "Hosanna to the Son of David, Hosanna to Him who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna to the Highest!" and with the heart-felt prayer to Jesus for His grace, that with Him we may conquer the world, the flesh and the devil, and thus merit to be received into the heavenly Jerusalem.

PETITION  O Jesus, Tree of Life! ever fresh and fruitful, grant that we may by love be like palms ever green, and by the practice of, good works blossom and bring forth fruit.

THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW, CHAP. XXVI., XXVII.

At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: You know that after two days shall be the Pasch, and the Son of Man shall be delivered up to be crucified. Then were gathered together the chief priests and the ancients of the people into the palace of the high-priest, who was called Caiphas. And they consulted together, that, by subtlety, they might apprehend Jesus and put him to death. But they said: Not on the festival day, lest there should be a tumult among the people. And when Jesus was in Bethania, in the house of Simon the leper, there came to him a woman having an alabaster box of precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he was at table. And the disciples seeing it, had indignation, saying: To what purpose is this waste? For this might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. And Jesus knowing it, said to them: Why do you trouble this woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For the poor you have always with you: but me you have not always. For she, in pouring this ointment upon my body, hath done it for my burial. Amen, I say to you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, that also which she hath done, shall be told for a memory of her.

Then went one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, to the chief priests, and said to them: What will you give me, and I will deliver him unto you? But they appointed for him thirty pieces of silver. And from thenceforth he sought opportunity to betray him.

And on the first day of the Azymes, the disciples came to Jesus, saying: Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the Pasch? But Jesus said: Go ye into the city to a certain man, and say to him: The master saith: my time is near at hand, I will keep the Pasch at thy house with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them, and they prepared the Pasch. Now when it was evening, he sat down with his twelve disciples. And whilst they were eating, he said: Amen, I say to you, that one of you is about to betray me. And they being very much troubled, began everyone to say: Is it I, Lord? But he answering, said: He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of Man indeed goeth as it is written of him; but woe to that man, by whom the Son of Man shall be betrayed: it were better for that man, if he had not been born. And Judas that betrayed him, answering, said: Is it I, Rabbi? He said to him: Thou hast said it. And whilst they were at supper, Jesus took bread, and blessed and broke, and gave to his disciples, and said: Take ye and eat: This is my body. And taking the chalice he gave thanks: and gave to them, saying: Drink ye all of this. For this is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many for the remission of sins. And I say to you, I will not drink from henceforth of the fruit of the vine, until that day, when I shall drink it new with you in the kingdom of my Father. And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to Mount Olivet.

Then Jesus saith to them: All you shall be scandalized in me this night. For it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be dispersed. But after I shall be risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. And Peter answering, said to him: Though all shall be scandalized in thee, I will never be scandalized. Jesus said to him: Amen, I say to thee, that in this night, before the cock crow, thou wilt deny me thrice. Peter saith to him: Though I should die with thee, I will not deny thee. And in like manner said all the disciples. Then Jesus came with them to a country place which is called Gethsemani, and he said to his disciples: Sit you here, till I go yonder, and pray. And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to grow sorrowful and to be sad.

Then he saith to them: My soul is sorrowful even unto death; stay you here, and watch with me. And going a little further he fell upon his face, praying, and saying: O my Father! if it is possible, let this chalice pass from me. Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh to his disciples, and findeth them asleep; and he saith to Peter: What! could you not watch one hour with me? Watch ye, and pray that ye enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Again he went the second time, and prayed, saying: O my Father! if this chalice cannot pass away except I drink it, thy will be done. And he cometh again, and findeth them asleep; for their eyes were heavy. And leaving them, he went away again, and he prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then he cometh to his disciples, and with to them: Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man shall be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go; behold, he is at hand that will betray me.

As he yet spoke, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the ancients of the people. And he that betrayed him, gave them a sign, saying: Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he: hold him fast. And forthwith coming to Jesus, he said: Hail, rabbi! And he kissed him. And Jesus said to him: Friend! whereto art thou come? Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus, and held him. And behold one of them that were with Jesus, stretching forth his hand, drew out his sword; and striking the servant of the high-priest, cut off his ear. Then Jesus saith to him: Put up again thy sword into its place for all that take the sword shall perish by the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot ask my Father, and he will give me presently more than twelve legions of Angels? How then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that so it must be done? In that same hour Jesus said to the multitude: You are come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to apprehend me. I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and you laid not hands on me. Now all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then the disciples all leaving him, fled away.

But they holding Jesus, led him to Caiphas, the high-priest, where the scribes and the ancients were assembled. But Peter followed him afar off to the high-priest's palace. And going in, he sat with the servants, to see the end. Now the chief priests and whole council sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death: and they found not, though many false witnesses had come in. And last of all, there came two false witnesses. And they said: This man said: I am able to destroy the temple of God, and in three days to rebuild it. And the high-priest rising up, said to him: Answerest thou nothing to the things which these witness against thee? But Jesus held his peace. And the high-priest said to him: I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us if thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith to him: Thou hast said it. Nevertheless I say to you, hereafter you shall see the Son of Man, sitting on the right hand of the power of God, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high-priest rent his garments, saying: He hath blasphemed, what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now you have heard the blasphemy. What think you? But they answering, said: He is guilty of death.

Then they spit in his face, and buffetted him, and others struck his face with the palms of their hands, saying: Prophesy unto us, O Christ! who is he that struck thee? But Peter sat without in the palace, and there came to him a servant maid, saying: Thou also wast with Jesus the Galilean. But he denied before them all, saying: I know not what thou sayest. And as he went out of the gate, another maid saw him, and she saith to them that were there: This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath: I do not know the man. And after a little while, they that stood by came and said to Peter: Surely thou also art one of them: for even thy speech doth discover thee. Then he began to curse and to swear that he knew not the man.

And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus which he had said: Before the cock crow, thou wilt deny me thrice. And going forth, he wept bitterly.

And when the morning was come, all the chief priests and ancients of the people held a council against Jesus, to put him to death. And they brought him bound, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate, the governor.

Then Judas, who betrayed him, seeing that he was condemned, repenting himself, brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the ancients, saying: I have sinned, in betraying innocent blood. But they said: What is that to us? look thou to it.

And casting down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed: and went and hanged himself with a halter. But the chief priests having taken the pieces of silver, said: It is not lawful to put them into the corbona, because it is the price of blood. And having consulted together, they bought with them the potter's field, to be a burying-place for strangers. Wherefore that field was called Haceldama, that is the field of blood, even to this day.

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet, saying: And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they prized of the children of Israel. And they gave them unto the potter's field, as the Lord appointed to me.

And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, saying: Art thou the king of the Jews? Jesus saith to him: Thou sayest it. And when he was accused by the chief priests and ancients, he answered nothing. Then Pilate saith to him: Dost thou not hear how great testimonies they allege against thee?

And he answered him not to any word: so that the governor wondered exceedingly.

Now upon the solemn day the governor was accustomed to release to the people one prisoner, whom they would. And he had then a notorious prisoner, that was called Barabbas. They, therefore, being gathered together, Pilate said: Whom will you that I release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ? For he knew that through envy they had delivered him up. And as he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying. Have thou nothing to do with that just man. For I have suffered many things this day in a dream on account of him. But the chief priests and ancients persuaded the people, that they should ask Barabbas, and make Jesus away. And the governor answering, said to them: Which will you have of the two to be released unto you? But they said: Barabbas. Pilate saith to them: What shall I do then with Jesus that is called Christ? They all say: Let him be crucified. The governor said to them: Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying: Let him be crucified. And Pilate seeing that he prevailed nothing, but that rather a tumult was made; having taken water, washed his hands before the people, saying: I am innocent of the blood of this just man: look you to it. And all the people answering, said: His blood be upon us, and upon our children. Then he released to them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to them to be crucified.

Then the soldiers of the governor, taking Jesus into the hall, gathered together unto him the whole band. And stripping him, they put a scarlet cloak about him. And platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand. And bowing the knee before him, they mocked him, saying: Hail, king of the Jews!

And spitting upon him, they took the reed, and struck his head. And after they had mocked him, they took off the cloak from him, and put on him his own garments, and led him away to crucify him.

And going out, they found a man of Cyrene, named Simon; him they forced to take up his cross. And they came to the place that is called Golgotha, which is, the place of Calvary. And they gave him wine to drink mingled with gall. And when he had tasted, he would not drink. And after they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots; that the word might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: They divided my garments among them; and upon my vesture they cast lots. And they sat down, and watched him. And they put over his head his cause written: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. Then were there crucified with him two thieves; the one on the right hand, and the other on the left. And they that passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads, and saying: Vah, thou who destroyest the temple of God, and in three days buildest it up again, save thy own self: if thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. In like manner also, the chief priests with the scribes and ancients, mocking, said: He saved others; himself he cannot save: if he be the king of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God, let him deliver him now if he will save him: for he said: I am the Son of God.

And the self-same thing the thieves also, that were crucified with him, reproached him with. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the earth, until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying: Eli, Eli, lamma sabacthani? that is: My God! my God! why hast thou forsaken me? And some of them that stood there and heard, said: This man calleth for Elias. And immediately one of them, running; took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar; and put it on a reed and gave him to drink. And the others said: Stay, let us see whether Elias will come to deliver him. And Jesus again crying with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

And behold the veil of the temple was rent in two, from the top even to the bottom, and the earth quaked, and the rocks were rent; and the graves were opened: and many bodies of the saints that had slept arose: and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, came into the holy city, and appeared to many. Now the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, having seen the earthquake and the things that were done, were greatly afraid, saying: Indeed this was the Son of God. And there were there many women afar off, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him; among whom was Mary Magdalen, and Mary, the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. And when it was evening, there came a certain rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded that the body should be delivered. And Joseph taking the body, wrapped it up in a clean linen cloth. And laid it in his own new monument, which he had hewed out in a rock; and he rolled a great stone to the door of the monument, and went his way. And there was Mary Magdalen, and the other Mary sitting over against the sepulchre.

And the next day, which followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees came together to Pilate, saying: Sir, we have remembered that seducer said, while he was yet alive: After three days I will rise again. “Command, therefore, the sepulchre to be guarded until the third day; lest his disciples come and steal him away, and say to the people: He is risen from the dead. So the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said to them: You have a guard, go guard it as you know. And they departing, made the sepulchre sure, with guards, sealing the stone.

INSTRUCTION ON HOLY WEEK

Why is this week called Holy Week?

This week is called Holy Week because during it we celebrate the most holy mysteries of our religion, and in all her offices and ceremonies the Church refers in quiet mournfulness to the passion and death of our Redeemer.

What remarkable things did Christ do during the first four days of this week?

After He had entered the temple at Jerusalem on Palm Sunday amidst the greatest rejoicings of the people, and was saluted by the children with that cry of joy: "Hosanna to the Son of David," He drove the buyers and sellers out of the temple, and when He had spent the entire day in preaching and healing the sick, He went in the evening to Bethania, where He remained over night in Lazarus' house, because in Jerusalem no one wished to receive Him for fear of His enemies. The three following days He spent in Jerusalem, teaching in the temple, and passing the night in prayer on Mount Olivet. In His sermons during these days He strove especially to convince the Jewish priests, the Doctors of the Law and the Pharisees, that He was really the Messiah, and that they would commit a terrible sin by putting Him to death; that they would bring themselves and the whole Jewish nation to destruction. This ruin of the people He illustrated most plainly causing the fig tree to wither under His curse, and by foretelling the destruction of the city and the temple of Jerusalem. He disputed with them, and confounded them, and brought them publicly to shame by parables, so that out of anger and hatred they with one mind determined to kill Him. The impious Judas aided the most in the execution of their design; through avarice he sold Him for thirty pieces of silver (about eighteen dollars in our money) to the chief priests, and the next day, Thursday, became His betrayer and delivered Him over into their hands.