The Seven Sorrows of Our Blessed Mother

On the 1962 liturgical calendar, we have the Seven Sorrows of Our Blessed Mother. For an excellent meditation on Our Lady's Sorrows, go here.

Polish Painting Masterpieces
"Our Lady of Sorrows", tempera on wood, beginning of the sixteenth century, Franciscan church in Cracow

Rogier van der Weyden

Crucifixion Altarpiece, c. 1445

by Rogier van der WEYDEN
From Web Gallery of Art:

The Crucifixion Triptych, like the Seven Sacraments Altarpiece, is impressive in its composition. The two are linked not only by the use of a painted golden frame structure in the picture (not found, or not yet found, in any other surviving works by Rogier), but also in the style of the underdrawing. Both works may have been created at roughly the same time, and the dating of the triptych to around 1445, on dendrochronological evidence, would support that theory. Certainly the designs of both pictures derive from Rogier himself, but his assistants seem to have been involved in the execution, and perhaps did some of the preparatory underdrawing as well. The figures of the triptych are executed to a very high standard.

Crucifixion Triptych (central panel)

Crucifixion Triptych
(left wing)

Crucifixion Triptych (right wing)

Meditation on the Annunciation

Bartolomo Esteban Murillo. Annunciation.
c.1660-65. Oil on canvas. Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain. (Source)

A nice meditation on today's feast over at America Needs Fatima blog . . .
and also at Happy Catholic.

Luke 1: 26-35

26 And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.

31 Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. 33 And of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man? 35 And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Words of Wisdom - Archbishop Burke

Archbishop Raymond Burke, prefect of the Vatican’s highest court, says canon law requires that Communion be denied to pro-abortion politicians.

In a March 2 interview with Operation Rescue founder Randall Terry that was made public this morning, Archbishop Burke said Canon 915 specifies bishops, priests and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion must withhold Communion when a pro-abortion politician presents himself or herself for reception of the sacrament.

Said Archbishop Burke, “The Canon is completely clear, it is not subject in my judgment to any other interpretations. When someone is publicly and obstinately in grave sin we may not administer Holy Communion to the person.”

Read more here at Lifesite News.

Abortion Chain Owner's Family Dies in MT Plane Crash

Abortion chain owner's family died in MT cemetery plane crash - near Tomb of the Unborn
Read more here.

As I live, says the Lord, I swear I take no pleasure in the death of the sinner, but rather in the sinner’s conversion, that he may live.

Ezek. 33:11

Ecce Homo

Antonio Ciseri (1821-91)

"Behold the man,"
The Governor, Pontius Pilate. (John 19.5)

The scene - The Praetorium, Jerusalem, 30CE

John 19

1 Then therefore, Pilate took Jesus, and scourged him. 2 And the soldiers platting a crown of thorns, put it upon his head; and they put on him a purple garment. 3 And they came to him, and said: Hail, king of the Jews; and they gave him blows. 4 Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith to them: Behold, I bring him forth unto you, that you may know that I find no cause in him. 5 (Jesus therefore came forth, bearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment.) And he saith to them: Behold the Man.

Alan Keyes in Full Force

See a man with passion . . . for truth, morals, and America.