function getOrthodoxEaster($date)
{
/*
Takes any Gregorian date and returns the Gregorian
date of Orthodox Easter for that year.
*/
$year = date("Y", $date);
$r1 = $year % 19;
$r2 = $year % 4;
$r3 = $year % 7;
$ra = 19 * $r1 + 16;
$r4 = $ra % 30;
$rb = 2 * $r2 + 4 * $r3 + 6 * $r4;
$r5 = $rb % 7;
$rc = $r4 + $r5;
//Orthodox Easter for this year will fall $rc days after April 3
return strtotime("3 April $year + $rc days");
}
?>
Make a Daily Offering for the Pope's Intention: For new martyrs (Watch video) (Read Reflection) "Let us pray that those who risk their lives for the Gospel in various parts of the world might imbue the Church with their courage and missionary drive."
Last Quarter
24 Sunday
red
Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion.
Mass of Palm Sunday. Commemoration of Lord's Entrance into Jerusalem, Creed, Preface of Palm Sunday.
[38] Isa 50:4-7; Ps 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24; Phil 2:6-11; Mark 14:1-15:47 or 15:1-39.
At the procession: [37] Mk 11:1-10 or Jn 12:12-16.
Hours of Palm Sunday.
The Commemoration of the Lord's Entrance may take one of three forms, as described in the Missal: Blessing and Procession, Solemn Entrance, or Simple Entrance. The processional cross should be suitably decorated. The blessing of palms may not be celebrated without the following procession and Mass. The blessing and solemn entrance, but not the procession, may be celebrated at a second Mass if many of the faithful are present.
The Passion may be read by three deacons, or lay readers with the priest taking the part of Christ, without candles, incense, greeting, signs of the cross or acclamation. At the mention of the Lord's death, all pause and kneel. Where pastoral reasons require it, one or both of the readings before the Passion may be omitted.
At the end of the Passion, The Gospel of the Lord, is said, but the book is not kissed.
Blessed palms remaining are kept, to be burnt for next year's ashes.
Birthday:
43rd birthday of D. Ricardo Sebastian NOGUEIRO (born this day in 1981).
On this day in our Jesuit history...
1578
At Lisbon, Rodolf Acquaviva and 13 companions embarked for India. Among the companions were Matthew Ricci and Michael Ruggieri.
1582
Pope Gregory XIII signed the papal bull for the reform of the calendar. Fr. Christopher Clavius, the Jesuit astronomer and mathematician, contributed greatly to the fashioning of the new Gregorian calendar.
1603
At Richmond, in Surrey, died Queen Elizabeth, after a long reign of 45 years, during which many Jesuits and others suffered martyrdom for their faith.
1657
The last of the Provincial Letters of Paschal is published.
1980
Archbishop Oscar Romero is assassinated while celebrating Mass in El Salvador. Jesuit alumnus and friend.