He is risen, alleluia, rejoice! I’ve got a few things to share with you on this Easter Sunday. Mostly I want to share my hopes that you and yours will be kept safe and showered with many blessings in the Easter season and beyond.

I don’t know if Christ really did appear to His mother after His Resurrection, but I’d like to think that He did, and apparently some artists (or their patrons) have liked the thought, too. In the beginning (and a few times in other spots) of the video below you’ll see a painting by Juan de Flandes called Christ Appearing to His Mother, a copy of one by Rogier van der Weyden, for Queen Isabella of Castile. The song is the Regina Caeli, the Marian antiphon for the season of Easter. 

And I learned that the Vatican has released a decree on special indulgences granted to the faithful during this time of suffering and need. (Scroll down for more on that. Also see the notes and links at the end of this post.)

Video: Regina Caeli 

From the new decree from the Vatican:

The gift of special Indulgences is granted to the faithful suffering from COVID-19 disease, commonly known as Coronavirus, as well as to health care workers, family members and all those who in any capacity, including through prayer, care for them…

Read the full Vatican document.

In closing I want to share with you the prayer from the closing of the Decree:

“May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and of the Church, Health of the Sick and Help of Christians, our Advocate, help suffering humanity, saving us from the evil of this pandemic and obtaining for us every good necessary for our salvation and sanctification.”

Thank you for visiting and reading. Until next time, whoever and wherever you are, please stay safe and well, and may the Lord bless and keep you and yours, and may His PEACE and JOY be always with you. 

He is risen! Alleluia! +JMJ+

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Notes and Links

• Image: Christ Appearing to His Mother, by Juan de Flandes, ca. 1496, Netherlandish. See the large image and notes at The Met Museum. “Working Title/Artist: Juan de Flandes Department: European Paintings Culture/Period/Location: HB/TOA Date Code: Working Date: photography by mma, DT2648.tif touched by film and media (jnc) 10_9_08.”
• About the Regina Caeli antiphon or hymn. At EWTN (very brief). At Wikipedia (much more detail).
• From Sublime Chant: The Art of Gregorian, Ambrosian & Gallican Chant: CD or MP3 album (Amazon afiliate links).
• Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary on the granting of special Indulgences to the faithful in the current pandemic.

Join me on Fridays Live on Twitter at 8pm ET, 7pm CT to pray for all those affected by the Coronavirus, to cultivate a culture of Life and Love, and to end the culture of death. “The Rosary is the ‘weapon’ for these times.” — Padre Pio

Join me to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for everyone affected by the #Coronavirus, live on Twitter @ 3pm EDT, 2pm CDT, daily until Divine Mercy Sunday. Possibly beyond that, too. TBA. Jesus, King of Mercy, we trust in You.

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