Catholic Mission on Campus
The University of Notre Dame is a Catholic academic community of higher learning, animated from its origins by the Congregation of Holy Cross. As such, it is committed to scholarship and service that benefits the Church and society. As University President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., ’76, ’78 M.A. has said, Notre Dame seeks to …
Second Sunday of Easter
AUDIO MEDITATION: Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610), The Incredulity of St. Thomas. Public domain. FULL TEXT: Thomas refused to believe his friends had seen the risen Lord until he felt Jesus’ wounds. When Jesus appeared to him, he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put …
Easter Saturday
AUDIO MEDITATION: Nikolai Ge (Russian, 1831-1894), Harbingers of the Resurrection. Public domain. FULL TEXT: When Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene early on that first Easter Sunday, she “went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping.” This image captures Mary running with good news towards people in darkness. At this point, she is the …
Easter Friday
AUDIO MEDITATION: James Tissot (French, 1836-1902), St. Peter Alerted by St. John to the Presence of the Lord Casts Himself into the Water. Public domain. FULL TEXT: The disciples, confused at what is happening, return to what they know best: fishing. When they are returning to shore, one of them recognizes the Lord waiting for …
Easter Thursday
AUDIO MEDITATION: Bramantino (Italian, 1456-1530), The Risen Christ, 1490, © Fundación Colección Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid. FULL TEXT: When the risen Lord appeared to the disciples, they were terrified because they thought they were seeing a ghost. Jesus said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands …
Easter Wednesday
AUDIO MEDITATION: Henry Ossawa Tanner (American, 1859-1937), The Pilgrims of Emmaus. Public domain. FULL TEXT: The story of Emmaus in today’s Gospel is well-known—we hear how the two disciples encounter the risen Lord as they walk but don’t recognize him until he breaks bread with them. This painting captures that moment of recognition. The scene …
Easter Tuesday
AUDIO MEDITATION: Edward Burne-Jones (British, 1833-1898), The Morning of the Resurrection. Public domain. FULL TEXT: Mary Magdalene stood outside of the tomb, weeping. When she went in, she met two angels in white. They asked her why she is crying and she said, “They have taken my Lord.” Then she turned around and saw Jesus, …
Easter Monday
AUDIO MEDITATION: Noël Coypel (French, 1628–1707), Resurrection of Christ, ca. 1700, oil on canvas. Snite Museum of Art, University of Notre Dame: Gift of Mrs. J.C. Bowes, 1957.062. FULL TEXT: In today’s Gospel, we hear how the two Marys ran from the tomb to share the good news of the resurrection. The guards who were …
Easter Sunday
AUDIO MEDITATION: Gold altar from the studios of Gian Lorenzo Bernini (Italian, 1598-1680), Basilica of the Sacred Heart, University of Notre Dame. Photo by Matt Cashore. FULL TEXT: When the women came to Jesus’ tomb, expecting to anoint his body, they encountered instead an angel, who shared incredible news: “Do not be amazed!” the angel …
Holy Saturday
AUDIO MEDITATION: Ivan Meštrović (Croatian, 1883–1962), Pieta, 1942-46, marble, 11 feet high, Basilica of the Sacred Heart, University of Notre Dame. Gift of the artist. Photo by Matt Cashore. FULL TEXT: Today is a day of silence. The Lord has finished his saving work on the cross. His body has been removed and placed in …
Good Friday
AUDIO MEDITATION: Luigi Gregori (Italian, 1819-1896), Station XII, ca. 1874-1877, oil on canvas, Basilica of the Sacred Heart, University of Notre Dame. Photo by Matt Cashore. FULL TEXT: Hanging on the cross, at the very end of his life, having given all he had to offer, Jesus said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, …
Holy Thursday
AUDIO MEDITATION: Eustache Le Sueur (French, 1616-1655), Saint Louis Washing the Feet of the Sick, ca. 1654, black and white chalk on brown laid paper, laid down on beige card. Snite Museum of Art, University of Notre Dame: Gift of John D. Reilly ’63, 2014.061.193. FULL TEXT: The Gospel for Holy Thursday is enacted in …
Wednesday of Holy Week
AUDIO MEDITATION: Ivan Meštrović (Croatian, 1883–1962), The Last Supper, 1957, wood, 71×148 inches, North Dining Hall, University of Notre Dame. Photo by Matt Cashore. FULL TEXT: The Gospel today keeps us at table in the Last Supper with Matthew’s telling of the same scene from yesterday. Jesus reveals his betrayer, Judas, by dipping bread in …
Tuesday of Holy Week
AUDIO MEDITATION: Ilya Repin (Russian, 1844-1930), Judas. Public domain. FULL TEXT: Today’s Gospel takes us to the Last Supper, where Jesus identifies his betrayer by saying, “It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it.” He dipped the morsel and handed it to Judas. The Gospel reports that Judas …
Monday of Holy Week
AUDIO MEDITATION: Pierre Subleyras (French, 1699-1749), The Feast in the House of Simon. Public domain. View full-sized image here. FULL TEXT: During Holy Week, a lot happens on our march to the cross with Jesus, so each day’s work of art will reflect the Gospel for that day—a departure from what we have been doing to spend each …
Palm Sunday
AUDIO MEDITATION: Mihály Munkácsy (Hungarian, 1844-1900), Ecce Homo! Public domain. View full-sized image here. FULL TEXT: The crowds gathered around Pontius Pilate, who had Jesus scourged. He said to the crowds, “What do you want me to do with the man you call the king of the Jews?” They shouted, “Crucify him!” The crowds that …
Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent
AUDIO MEDITATION: Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch, 1606–1669), The Denial of Peter. Public domain. FULL TEXT: After Jesus is arrested and taken before the high priest, Peter gathers with others in the courtyard. One of the high priest’s maids came along, looked at Peter, and said, “You too were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” But Peter denied …
Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent
AUDIO MEDITATION: Arkhip Kuindzhi (Russian, 1842-1910), Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. Public domain. FULL TEXT: After the Last Supper, Jesus took his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane, where he left them to pray, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Take this cup away from me, but not what I will but …
Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent
AUDIO MEDITATION: Jacopo Tintoretto (Italian, 1518-1594), Last Supper, detail. Public domain. FULL TEXT: On Sunday, after we process with Jesus holding palms and singing praises, we will hear the reading of his passion, which unfolds over the course of the Jewish feast of Unleavened Bread, or Passover. On the night he was arrested, Jesus gathered …
Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
AUDIO MEDITATION: Jean-Hippolyte Flandrin (French, 1809-1864), Christ’s Entry into Jerusalem. Public domain. FULL TEXT: Jesus rode on the colt into Jerusalem and many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. The crowds are here to welcome Jesus as their king, but their divided …
Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
AUDIO MEDITATION: Anthony van Dyck (Flemish, 1599-1641), Entry of Christ into Jerusalem. Public domain. FULL TEXT: As the feast of Passover approaches, Jesus can anticipate what will happen when he goes to Jerusalem, and he has made arrangements. He tells his followers, “Go into the village… and you will find a colt… Untie it and …
Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent
AUDIO MEDITATION: Aert Mytens (Flemish, 1541-1602), Christ Crowned with Thorns, ca. 1590–1600, oil on canvas. Snite Museum of Art, University of Notre Dame: P. Reilly, J. McCrindle, N. Cummings, P. Mannheim Purchase Funds, 1981.013. FULL TEXT: We are headed into Palm Sunday, the beginning of the final phase of Jesus’ public ministry, which will culminate …
Fifth Sunday of Lent
AUDIO MEDITATION: Gerard Douffet (Flemish, 1564-1660), The Raising of Lazarus. Public domain. FULL TEXT: In his words and deeds, Jesus tells us, “I am the resurrection and the life.” It is only through him that we receive eternal life and move towards union with God. In this painting, Lazarus has one foot in the tomb …
Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent
AUDIO MEDITATION: Alessandro Magnasco (Italian, 1667-1749), The Raising of Lazarus. Public domain. FULL TEXT: Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.” …