We are currently experiencing Eastertide, a liturgical period that spans 50 days after Easter Sunday, until Pentecost. This time invites us to continue reflecting on the resurrection of Jesus and what it represents in our lives.

The Vice-Postulation of the Cause for Canonization of Blessed Father Eustáquio found in the archives of the Health and Peace Sanctuary a homily by the Blessed Father that speaks about the resurrection of Jesus. Read an excerpt below:

The Resurrection

“"Just yesterday, shrouded in the dark mantle of mourning, of the consternation of grief, the Holy Church bitterly wept for the death of the author of life. With all the funereal pomp of its unparalleled mourning ceremonies, it commemorated the most tragic event ever recorded in the world.".

Today, however, dressed in the most festive finery, its altars adorned with the most brilliant splendor, the Holy Church announces the joy and contentment of the entire universe, at seeing the Author of nature returned from the earth, who, shattering the shackles of death, glorious and triumphant forever, rose from his funereal grave, as he had said.

Surrexit non est hic¹

How beautiful, how sublime is the fulfillment of the wise designs of uncreated wisdom! All the glory, all the greatness and majesty of the potentates of the earth, and poor men seem to ignore it, is buried with them in their tomb, promptly forgotten, whereas it is in the tomb, so to speak, that the glory, the greatness and the majesty of the King of Heaven begin.

The glorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the clear proof, the authentic testimony of his divinity.

In his Passion, Jesus completely lost the four kinds of goods that man can possess on earth: he lost his clothes, even to the point of utter nakedness; he lost his reputation and was subjected to the most abominable contempt; he lost his flourishing health through all sorts of mistreatment; and finally, he lost his most precious life, through the most atrocious death imaginable.

Now, however, coming forth alive from the tomb, He receives with abundant profit all that He had lost. Made poor, behold Him is exceedingly rich and Lord of all the earth! He who called Himself a worm, the reproach of men, behold Him crowned with Glory, seated at the right hand of the Father. He who, a short time before, was the man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, behold Him endowed with new strength, and with immortal and impassible life. Finally, He who had been killed in the most cruel and despicable way, behold Him resurrected by His own power, endowed with subtlety, agility, and clarity, made the firstfruits of all who sleep in the hope of one day also rising again in imitation of the Redeemer.

Christus resurrexit a mortuis primitiae dormientibus²

Let us rejoice in Jesus Christ, but let us also rejoice in ourselves, for His Resurrection is the pledge and model of our own. Yes, the hour will come when we will rise again like Our Lord Jesus Christ, and no Catholic dares to doubt it.

This comforted the holy Job during his time of trial. “I know,” he said, and let us say the same amidst the crosses and tribulations of this present life: I know that my Redeemer lives and that, on the last day, I shall rise from the earth, be clothed again with my skin, and in my own flesh I shall see my God! This hope dwells in my heart.

Indeed, brothers and sisters, our destiny is neither the earth nor the grave, because our destiny, however much poor humanity errs and harbors vain thoughts and illusory ideas, is eternal life, but life with Christ and with the resurrected Christ. Hallelujah!"”

¹Surrexit non est hic (sic) – free translation from Latin: “He has risen, he is not here”
²Christus resurrexit a mortuis primitiae dormientibus (sic) – free translation from Latin: ”Christ rose from the dead”

Text taken from the "Bulletin of the Sacred Hearts Parish," published on January 18, 1948.