Self Help Blog

Many Christians are familiar with Christmas and Easter, but there are many other notable holidays too. While I can’t discuss all of them here, I want to highlight two feasts that fall back to back to one another: Good Friday and Maundy Thursday. Both are major in the Church Catholic because they commemorate two very major events in the life of Christ and realities that affect our salvation. It is not a good idea to brush off these two hallowed and historic holidays. I am asking here, are you pondering Good Friday?

First, let’s discuss Maundy Thursday. It is a feast that falls in the Thursday in Holy Week, which is also the Thursday prior to Easter Sunday. Also known as Holy Thursday, the Catholic Church celebrates the institution of the Eucharist on this day, as well as the establishment of the sacrament of ordination. It was on this night, nearly 2000 years ago, that The Lord celebrated the Last Supper with his followers. On that night, he identified the bread and wine of communion with his holy body and blood, and said “do this in remebrance of me.” He also cleansed his disciples’ feet at that meal, a custom the Catholic Church still uses during its modern Holy Thursday liturgies. Christ also instituted a new commandment, for us to love each other just as he has loved us. This is the “mandate” from which Maundy Thursday is named. Maundy Thursday also inaugurates the period of time called the Triduum, which ends on Easter Sunday. As you are able to observe, this is an major date in the Church, because it celebrates the institution of the sacrament of Jesus’ body and blood, and the sacrament that guarantees the apostolic authority of the apostles of Jesus christ!

Second, let’s remember Good Friday. It falls on the Friday before Easter, and celebrates the last happenings in the life of Christ, his suffering, and death. It was on this Friday that The Lord gave his life for the humanity’s sins. He hung on the cross, surrounded by 2 regular thieves, covered in blood, suffering, and left alone by his dearest disciples.The process by which he moved to his place of death, and his final moments of pain and death are recalled in the devotion of the stations of the cross, often said on Good Friday. This feast is also a fast day within the Church. That signifies that Catholics are required to eat only one full meal, as well as abstain from eating animal flesh and meat based items on this day. This is a fast day because we mirror the suffering of Jesus, and not eating is one way to accomplish this. Basically, Good Friday is important because it is the day of the year that our Lord gave his life for our souls. His painful death for us destroyed death and the grave, and demonstrated to us the way to endure suffering. This is why many Catholics frequently use a crucifix as a devotional tool, because we are reminded not only of what Jesus went through, but his death was where the battle for our salvation occurred. This is why followers of Christ the world over value the death of Jesus so much.

In conclusion, it is a great thing to celebrate Good Friday and Maundy Thursday. Both commemorate significant happenings in the salvation of humankind, and both days are vital to the prayer life of the Church Catholic. So, this Holy Week, don’t forget to observe these two important holidays.

The essayist suggests celebrating the two festivals referred to previously. One way is to visit a worship service on these days.

Have you been wondering about What is Easter and Pentecost? Most have. Well, Easter is the Catholic Christian commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus, and Pentecost is the date of birth of the Catholic church. Both holidays are important, but, it is a bad idea to start at this point, because the chronicle starts before this. Around age 31, Jesus Christ began his public ministry, teaching and pubicly speaking in the countryside of Galilee. His message was about showing love to God and others. His message was sweeping, and he claimed not only was he the Messiah, but he was also God’s Only Begotten Son. These claims did not endear him to the spiritual high-ups and secular authorities at the time period. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people welcomed him like a king, but by the close of the week, he was crucified, and died on the cross, an event commemorated on Good Friday. We aren’t quite to Pentecost Sunday just yet, but be patient!

However, the account did not stop there. The Bible (specifically the four gospels) teaches that Jesus Christ rose form the dead after 3 days, on Easter. The resurrection that occurred on the first Easter was in body, that is Jesus rose from the dead in his same body; it was not some spiritual body. Even though he rose in body, his resurrection was much more than a simple resusitation, and Jesus’ resurrected body had powers and abilities that our bodies don’t have. Mary Magdalene was the 1st witness to this amazing event, and she spread the word to the apostles, that in turn told the entire known world about it. Because the resurrection proved Jesus was the Son of God, and proved right his teachings, the resurrection became the keystone of Christian life.

Thus, Easter is one of the earliest and most major Christian holy days. It was called the “feast of feasts” and is commemorated based on the lunar calendar. It changes each year because of this. In the Church, the color is white, and shouts of “alleluia” are overheard during the season. The season starts on Saturday evening with the great Easter Vigil, in which new converts join into Church and are baptized and/or Confirmed. The service often lasts for manhy hours, and in the early Church lasted from dusk until dawn. Secular traditions include Easter eggs, Easter baskets, and the Easter bunny. A lot of of these traditions are connected to the fact that Easter falls in the spring, as rabbits and eggs are signs of fertility and renewal.

Jesus went up to the Father forty days after Easter, and the Apostles were puzzled and disheartened. For the next nine days they prayed with fervor, and on the fiftieth day after Jesus’ resurrection, the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles. The Bible said languages of fire landed upon them, and their speeches were overheard by all people present in each individual’s native tongue. The Apostles were so filled with the Holy Spirit on this first Pentecost that scoffers believed the apostles were inebriated. It was on this date that the Church began. All of this is outlined in the Book of Acts.

The Church commemorates Pentecost fifty days after Easter. The liturgical color is red, symbolic of the fire that rested upon the Apostles. The mutiple themes of the Holy Spirit and the Church are celebrated, because of the original theme of the holy day. It was one of the established periods of baptism in the Church, and is frequently called Whitsunday in many English-speaking churches.

The essayist suggests learning more about Easter and Pentecost as a way to deepen your faith.

There are a lot of methods to declare I love you. You have most likely been told the phrase, or even been messaged the similar “I love u” myriad times throughout your life. (Yes, I have received love texts back in the day). You want to love, and make friends, go out on a date, and experience romance. In fact you may have even searched the following saying, I love you, online, looking for its meaning. However, every so often saying “I love you” isn’t enough. The sad fact is that countless people overuse the phrase, and will say it, but not truly impact someone else by showing it. It is worth understanding how to better show and tell individuals “I love you.” Below are three easy ways to show and declare your true feelings, whether in person or by sending an love text message.

#1. Show it in the language of your body

Did you know that your body language is powerful? You can show love by doing some major things. Whether in your marriage, to your boyfriend, or with your friends, body language says “I love you” in a way that words are not able to. One basic way to show more love to somebody is to smile. don’t give a colossal, goofy smile. A nice, warm smile will do. Also, demonstrate you care through touch. A gentle touch on the arm or shoulder shows interest. You can show someone you are interested by touching them in a loving and non-aggressive way. Just keep it appropriate because you do not want to end up rotting in prison.

#2. Be a cool and flexible friend

When a companion says the phrase, they mean that they consider you somebody they are able to trust, relate to, and have fun with. Generally, females tell their friends “I love you” much more than men tell each other that, because females tylically view love as a thing more than just romance. When a woman says “I love you” to a female friend, she by and large means nothing sexual by it. When referring to a male friend, she may mean it only in a less than romantic sense. Sadly, a female may tell it to a guy friend, and the dude will get tingly and happy, but all she truly means is “I love you as a sibling or a stuffed animal.” This is not what men desire to hear. Some men will sometimes declare their love to their buddies, as long as it is clearly understood to be platonic (i.e. as a friend). Usually guys have to say it as a farce. If a male expresses his interest for a companion, he generally means he gets along with him well and finds him funny and awesome. A guy can demonstrate he likes another guy simply by being cool, but do not ever try to express your love too much, or you might get punched.

However, you do not have to text I love u to demonstrate it to your friends. By simply being an awesome, relaxed, and flexible person, you will demonstrate your love. For instance, if a friend does something that annoys you, and you are sure that they did not intend to hurt or aggravate you, give them a break. You would hope that they do the same thing. See, you can show you care simply by being flexible. The more you are flexible, the more individuals will want to be close to you, and the more buddies, dates, boyfriends, and girlfriends you will attract to you.

#3. Be More Confident

When a dating interest says “I love you” it can mean many things. These words project sexual interest, attraction, commitment, and the desire to hang out. Sometimes teens will say “I like you” or simply send a love text as a way of expressing deep affection without actually saying the real words. It is common for teens and pre-teens to express romantic intentions to each other, in part to act like grown-ups, but most all of these relationships won’t last, but are we to deny that their affection is not authentic? They certainly feel real, even if their infatuation is derived from a super-charged broth of teenage hormonal insanity.

However, like you know, just saying I love u doesn’t mean you are showing anything. One way to demonstrate love (and to get it back), is to be assured. Individuals find confidence attractive and will admire you. Remember that friend you have who is so shy he can’t stand up for himself? Does he ever show you love? Probably not much, because he is too busy getting picked on to show anybody anything.

If you are confident, you stand up for other people and make other people’s days better. You can show you love others by being assured.

Yes, many ways are out there to say those awesome words. Make sure however, that when you think of ways to say “I love you” (or text “I love u,” if that is your preference!) make sure you find ways to show it also!

The essayist is a contributor to various online relationship sites, a parent and spouse, and an expert on the subject of love.