It might seem like the Church is “changing colours,” but it’s actually a long-standing tradition, especially in the Catholic Church and some other Christian denominations.
The colours you see (on the priest’s clothing and in church decorations) follow something called the liturgical calendar, which marks different seasons and celebrations throughout the year. Each colour has a meaning:
White (or gold): Joy and celebration. Used for major feasts like Christmas and Easter
Purple (or violet): Preparation and repentance. Seen during Advent and Lent
Green: Ordinary time (regular weeks of the year) Symbolizes growth and daily faith
Red: Passion, sacrifice, or the Holy Spirit Used on Pentecost and for martyrs
Pink (rose): A lighter, joyful break during serious seasons. Appears briefly during Advent and Lent
So the priest’s outfit (called vestments) changes colour to match the meaning of the season or celebration; it’s like a visual way of telling the story of the Church year.
“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” Luke 1:30–33
Jesus answered the Jews: “My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.” For this reason, they tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God. John 5:17–18
Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, “Is he not the one they are trying to kill? And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ? But we know where he is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.” John 7:25–27
Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said, “This is truly the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But others said, “The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he? Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David’s family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” So a division occurred in the crowd because of him. John 7:40–43
When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping, he became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Sir, come and see.” And Jesus wept. John 11:32–35
“Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” John 8:4–5
“You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world. That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.” John 8:23–24
Sandwiched between the stark drama of Good Friday and the glory of the Easter Vigil, Holy Saturday is often in danger of being skipped over. For many of us, it will be a busy day- perhaps a typical Saturday, or perhaps hectic with preparation for the Easter Vigil. It might feel like a little gap to return to normality in the midst of the Triduum.
But it’s not.
I love Holy Saturday. Not because I enjoy it, exactly, but because it allows me to identify with a certain part of being human which is often overlooked. The part of being human that is about quietly suffering, when you’re all cried-out, when all the energy we had for resisting or complaining has been exhausted, and finally the pain has to become part of everyday life.
Everyone will know an experience in their life where they have lived through something that felt un-liveable, when the trauma and suffering were so acute that you survived on adrenaline until it was all over. Then you went home, closed the door, and all was quiet.
You had to face the grief:
The event itself is over, but the suffering is only just beginning.
I imagine that this is very similar to how the disciples and Mary felt the day after the Crucifixion. Numb, reeling, the pain like a bruise only just beginning to show. Holy Saturday allows us to feel something very human- it goes to the depth of who we are- just as Christ lay in the depths of the earth.
It is important to acknowledge here too that on Holy Saturday, God was dead. Christ didn’t simply pass out, go into a coma, or having a faint heartbeat still ticking away somewhere. To believe that is to negate the Resurrection. He was dead.
We can all face Holy Saturdays in our lives- sometimes they’re borne from dramatic events, other times the slow-burning pain of daily life. They are times when there doesn’t seem to be a resolution to the pain, times when we’re waiting for it to be over, times when we’re struggling to see the point. We can wonder if it will ever be over.
Our Lady can be the key to understanding these times. She trusted God so implicitly that, though she did not understand why her son had to die, she trusted God that everything was in His hands. That doesn’t mean that she felt any less the agony, but it gave her the strength to look into His eyes on the way to Calvary and in turn, give Him strength. It gave her the strength to stand at the foot of the Cross and watch Him die. It gave her the strength to accept His body in her arms. It gave her the strength to accept something she did not fully understand.
So on Holy Saturday, wait with Our Lady, who knew that the story could not end with the events of Good Friday. Holy Saturday did not last forever. After the tomb came the Resurrection. Let us not be too hasty to skip to the glory of the Easter celebration- that will be joyful enough in its own time. Find a moment to sit in a quiet place and accompany Our Lady through the day. In turn, she accompanies us in the Holy Saturdays of our own lives.
Author: Ruth Kennedy Ruth Kennedy (nee Baker) is 30 and lives in England with her husband. She loves running, wild camping and writing, and thinks there is almost nothing better than the feeling of satisfaction after a day out in the mountains. She is a graduate of the University of Wales and holds a First-Class Honours Degree in Creative Writing. Her faith means everything to her.
As a Franciscan Third Order member, Good Friday is a deeply significant part of my spiritual journey. On April 3rd, 2026, I will join Franciscans worldwide in commemorating the Passion and death of Jesus Christ, drawing from the life and spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi.
For Franciscans, Good Friday is approached with humility, reflection, and a desire to follow Christ’s path. Our traditions connect us to centuries of devotion and personally invite us to embrace Christ’s sacrifice and live the values of compassion and service.
Below, I share an overview of how Franciscans honour Good Friday, highlighting the practices and traditions that shape this sacred day.
Franciscans and Good Friday: Key Practices
The Franciscans, as a Catholic religious order, place special significance on Good Friday. Their observances highlight deep devotion and humility, drawing on the spirituality of their founder, St. Francis of Assisi.
Key Practices of Franciscans on Good Friday:
Liturgy of the Passion: Franciscans participate in the universal Catholic “Celebration of the Lord’s Passion” on Good Friday. This includes the reading of the Passion narrative from the Gospel of John, solemn prayers, veneration of the cross, and Holy Communion (though no Mass is celebrated that day).
Veneration of the Cross: A central part of Franciscan Good Friday observance is the veneration of the cross, often done with profound reverence and sometimes accompanied by Franciscan hymns or prayers, reflecting St. Francis’s own devotion to the crucified Christ.
Stations of the Cross: The Franciscans are closely associated with the popularization of the Stations of the Cross (Via Crucis), a devotional practice walking with Christ through the events of His Passion. Many Franciscan communities lead public Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, sometimes outdoors or even through the streets.
Silence and Fasting: Franciscans, like many Catholics, observe fasting and a spirit of silence and contemplation on Good Friday, meditating on the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus. The atmosphere in Franciscan churches and friaries is typically subdued and reflective.
Custodianship of the Holy Places: The Franciscans have been the official custodians of many Christian holy sites in the Holy Land for centuries, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. On Good Friday, Franciscans in Jerusalem lead the traditional “Way of the Cross” along the Via Dolorosa, retracing Jesus’ path to Calvary, often joined by pilgrims from around the world.
Special Prayers and Franciscan Devotions: Franciscans may add their own prayers and devotions inspired by St. Francis, such as meditating on the wounds of Christ or reflecting on themes of humility and penance.
In summary:
On Good Friday, Franciscans express their spirituality by focusing on Christ’s Passion through ceremonies such as the liturgy, veneration of the cross, Stations of the Cross, silence, fasting, and prayer. These practices embody humility, compassion, and a deep connection to the sacrifice of Jesus, in keeping with Franciscan tradition.
This post is to inform you that we have merged our three sites into one. As a result, we have integrated French pages. Here is a list of some new pages and updated others.
Sites Merged:
tiers-ordrefranciscain.ca
franciscanseucharist.ca
franciscanseucharist.com
Here are the main pages that were added or changed, because there are too many to list them all. I invite you to explore the site.
Title: Lent: Journeying with John, the Baptism of Christ, and the Temptation in the Wilderness
As Lent begins, Christians around the world enter a period of reflection, repentance, and spiritual renewal. Lent is a time to journey with Jesus, to examine our hearts, and to prepare for the joy of Easter. Central to this journey are three powerful biblical moments: John the Baptist’s proclamation, the Baptism of Christ, and Jesus’ Temptation in the wilderness.
John Preaching in the Wilderness
John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus by calling people to repentance and a new way of living. His voice in the wilderness was both a challenge and an invitation—“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 3:2). During Lent, we are invited to heed John’s call, turning away from old habits and opening ourselves to God’s transforming grace.
The Baptism of Christ
Jesus’ baptism by John in the Jordan River marks the beginning of his public ministry. In this moment, the heavens open, the Holy Spirit descends like a dove, and the voice of God declares, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Lent invites us to remember our own baptism and identity as beloved children of God, called to follow Christ’s example.
The Temptation in the Wilderness
Immediately after his baptism, Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he faces temptation for forty days. He resists the devil’s enticements with faithfulness to God’s word. This story reminds us that Lent is also a season of testing and self-examination, a time to confront our own temptations and to rely on God’s strength.
A Lenten Reflection
As we walk through Lent, let us remember John’s bold preaching, Jesus’ affirmation at his baptism, and his victory over temptation. May these stories inspire us to repent, embrace our identity in Christ, and trust in God’s power to overcome the challenges we face. In doing so, we prepare our hearts for the resurrection joy that awaits us at Easter.
In 1816, William Roscoe — a Liverpudlian banker with an eye for art — wrote to Thomas William Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester, in awe. The men had history. Forty years before, Coke inherited the library at Holkham Hall, which had been assembled, a century earlier, by his grand uncle Thomas Coke (1697–1759), whose family sent him abroad at fifteen to break a nasty cockfighting habit. It worked. By the time this elder Coke was twenty-one, he had plundered Padua, Lyons, Berlin, and most places in between, buying “enough manuscripts and early printed books to form one of the finest private libraries in England”. After inheriting the library in 1776, Thomas Coke found it in a sorry state, with priceless books mildewed and pockmarked by worms.…
EWTN Foundress Mother Angelica (1923–2016) had a deep love for the Eucharist and envisioned a world where people could grow in love of the Blessed Sacrament—even if they couldn’t attend Mass in person. That’s why it was important to Mother Angelica to broadcast daily Mass. She wanted everyone—including the sick, elderly, and homebound—to have access to the readings, inspirational homilies, and beautiful hymns.
FIRST READING Isaiah 55:10–11 10 For, as the rain and the snow come down from the sky and do not return before having watered the earth, fertilizing it and making it germinate to provide seed for the sower and food to eat, 11 so it is with the word that goes from my mouth: it will not return to me unfulfilled or before having carried out my good pleasure and having achieved what it was sent to do.
RESPONSE Psalm 34:18b
17 They cry in anguish and Yahweh hears,
and rescues them from all their troubles.
PSALM Psalm 34:4–7, 16–19
3 Proclaim with me the greatness of Yahweh,
let us acclaim his name together.
4 I seek Yahweh and he answers me,
frees me from all my fears.
5 Fix your gaze on Yahweh and your face will grow bright,
you will never hang your head in shame.
6 A pauper calls out and Yahweh hears,
saves him from all his troubles.
15 The eyes of Yahweh are on the upright,
his ear turned to their cry.
16 But Yahweh’s face is set against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 They cry in anguish and Yahweh hears,
and rescues them from all their troubles.
18 Yahweh is near to the broken-hearted,
he helps those whose spirit is crushed.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Matthew 4:4b
4 But he replied, ‘Scripture says:
Human beings live not on bread alone
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’
GOSPEL Matthew 6:7–15
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Aumôniers communautaires pour animaux, y compris le soutien à la perte « Pet Grief », des services commémoratifs pour animaux ou blessés, réconforter les membres de familles endeuillées, tenir par la main lors d’une chirurgie ou de l’euthanasie de votre animal dans une clinique vétérinaire ou un hôpital pour animaux, et effectuer des cérémonies qui sont propres aux animaux et une compassion pour les propriétaires d’animaux qui, parfois, peuvent faire face à des situations difficiles.
L’aumônier pour animaux offre compassion, empathie, réconfort et gentillesse aux humains et à leurs animaux domestiques durant les périodes de perte, de maladie, de transition et de deuil. Les aumôniers pour animaux sont sous le patronage de saint François d’Assise.
Les Prières Les prières pour animaux de compagnie sont un petit groupe (mais croissant) de personnes qui aiment nos animaux de compagnie et croient en Dieu et en la puissance de la prière. Nous nous sommes réunis grâce à notre intérêt commun pour le flux constant des animaux de compagnie bien-aimés qui sont malades, blessés, perdus ou dans tout autre type de problème. Il a commencé par un groupe de l’aumônier pour animaux (pet chaplain). Nos prières ne sont limitent pas aux chats et aux chiens, ou même à tous les animaux, mais s’étendent aussi à leurs maîtres. Nous prions régulièrement avec plaisir pour toute situation qui est portée à notre attention, qu’elle soit liée ou non à un animal.
Les demandes de prière sont reçues par courriel et modérées, mais peuvent être lourdes à certains moments.
S’il vous plaît, visitez notre page Prayer Request, une demande de prière pour les animaux et ceux qui les aiment.
Des choses incroyables peuvent se produire quand les gens entrent en accord.
Les ministères Eric Michel Int’l sont dédiés à prier dans unité avec les gens, tout comme vous, qui désirez voir la puissance de la prière.
Nos prières pour tous les animaux continuent de faire le tour de la Terre à élever la conscience de l’humanité et pour bénir les animaux eux-mêmes Merci de vous joindre aux gens partout dans le monde qui prient avec ces prières réciter dans de nombreuses langues Mais tous avec le même amour.
Réf: “A prayer a day for animals” www.circleofcompassion.org
St. Peter’s marks 400 years with newly opened areas and digital access
The Vatican will open new parts of St. Peter’s — including the full terrace — and roll out a “SmartPass” digital entry system as it marks the basilica’s 400th anniversary
