Regarding the Resurrection I thought I would do something different for a meditation, rather than commenting, what better meditation can one receive than the full picture from the inerrant Word itself - Holy Scripture and so I have pieced together the Four Gospel accounts to the best of my ability in chronological order from what I could surmise. I believe it is much easier to meditate openly in this manner than flipping back and forth through the various Gospels. This is a great way to get the full written account with the least amount of distractions. The Four Gospel accounts of the Resurrection and aftermath are color coded as follows and taken from the Douay-Rheims Version of the New Testament:

• Christ's words are always in Red

• Matthew is in Black

• Mark is in Green

• Luke is in Brown

• John is in Blue

At the Tomb

    And in the end of the sabbath, when it began to dawn towards the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalen and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre. And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalen and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought sweet spices, that coming, they might anoint Jesus. And on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared. And behold there was a great earthquake. For an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and coming rolled back the stone and sat upon it. And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they come to the sepulchre, the sun being now risen. And they said one to another: Who shall roll us back the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And looking, they saw the stone rolled back. For it was very great. And they found the stone rolled back from the sepulchre. And going in, they found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalen cometh early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre: and she saw the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

    And His countenance was as lightning and His raiment as snow. And for fear of Him, the guards were struck with terror and became as dead men. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed with a white robe: and they were astonished. And it came to pass, as they were astonished in their mind at this, behold, two men stood by them, in shining apparel. And the angel answering, said to the women: Fear not you: for I know that you seek Jesus Who was crucified. He is not here. For He is risen, as He said. Come, and see the place where the Lord was laid. Who saith to them: Be not affrighted. you seek Jesus of Nazareth, Who was crucified. He is risen: He is not here. Behold the place where they laid Him. And as they were afraid and bowed down their countenance towards the ground, they said unto them: Why seek you the living with the dead? He is not here, but is risen. Remember how He spoke unto you, when He was yet in Galilee, Saying: The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and the third day rise again. And they remembered His words.

    And going quickly, tell ye His disciples that He is risen. And behold He will go before you into Galilee. There you shall see Him. Lo, I have foretold it to you. And they went out quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy, running to tell His disciples. But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He goeth before you into Galilee. There you shall see Him, as He told you. But they going out, fled from the sepulchre: for a trembling and fear had seized them. And they said nothing to any man: for they were afraid. And going back from the sepulchre, they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. And it was Mary Magdalen and Joanna and Mary of James and the other women that were with them, who told these things to the apostles. She ran therefore and cometh to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved and saith to them: They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre: and we know not where they have laid Him.

    Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple: and they came to the sepulchre. And they both ran together: and that other disciple did outrun Peter and came first to the sepulchre. And when he stooped down, he saw the linen cloths lying: but yet he went not in. But Peter rising up, ran to the sepulchre and, stooping down, he saw the linen cloths laid by themselves: and went away wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. Then cometh Simon Peter, following him, and went into the sepulchre: and saw the linen cloths lying, And the napkin that had been about His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but apart, wrapped up into one place. Then that other disciple also went in, who came first to the sepulchre: and he saw and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. The disciples therefore departed again to their home.

    But he rising early the first day of the week, appeared first to Mary Magdalen; out of whom he had cast seven devils. She went and told them that had been with him, who were mourning and weeping. But Mary stood at the sepulchre without, weeping. Now as she was weeping, she stooped down and looked into the sepulchre, And she saw two angels in white, sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been laid. They say to her: Woman, why weepest thou? She saith to them: Because they have taken away my Lord: and I know not where they have laid Him. When she had thus said, she turned herself back and saw Jesus standing: and she knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith to her: "Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?: She, thinking that it was the gardener, saith to Him: Sir, if thou hast taken Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him: and I will take him away. Jesus saith to her: "Mary." She turning, saith to him: "Rabboni" (which is to say, Master).

    Jesus saith to her: "Do not touch Me: for I am not yet ascended to My Father. But go to my brethren and say to them: I ascend to My Father and to your Father, to My God and to your God." Mary Magdalen cometh and telleth the disciples: I have seen the Lord; and these things he said to me." And they hearing that He was alive and had been seen by her, did not believe. And these words seemed to them as idle tales: and they did not believe them.

On the Road to Emmaus

    And after that He appeared in another shape to two of them walking, as they were going into the country. And behold, two of them went, the same day, to a town which was sixty furlongs from Jerusalem, named Emmaus. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass that while they talked and reasoned with themselves, Jesus Himself also, drawing near, went with them. But their eyes were held, that they should not know Him. And He said to them: "What are these discourses that you hold one with another as you walk and are sad?" And the one of them, whose name was Cleophas, answering, said to him: "Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things that have been done there in these days?" To whom He said: "What things?" And they said: Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, Who was a prophet, mighty in work and word before God and all the people. And how our chief priests and princes delivered Him to be condemned to death and crucified Him. But we hoped that it was He that should have redeemed Israel. And now besides all this, today is the third day since these things were done. Yea and certain women also of our company affrighted us who, before it was light, were at the sepulchre, And not finding His body, came, saying that they had all seen a vision of angels, who say that He is alive. And some of our people went to the sepulchre and found it so as the women had said: but Him they found not."

    Then He said to them: "O foolish and slow of heart to believe in all things, Which the prophets have spoken. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and so, to enter into His glory?" And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded to them in all the scriptures the things that were concerning Him. And they drew nigh to the town whither they were going: and He made as though he would go farther. But they constrained Him, saying: "Stay with us, because it is towards evening and the day is now far spent." And He went in with them. And it came to pass, whilst He was at table with them, He took bread and blessed and brake and gave to them. And their eyes were opened: and they knew Him. And He vanished out of their sight. And they said one to the other: "Was not our heart burning within us, whilst He spoke in the way and opened to us the scriptures?" And they going told it to the rest: neither did they believe them. And rising up, the same hour, they went back to Jerusalem: and they found the eleven gathered together, and those that were with them, Saying: "The Lord is risen indeed and hath appeared to Simon." And they told what things were done in the way: and how they knew Him in the breaking of bread.

The Upper Room Easter Night

    And behold, Jesus met them, saying: "All hail." But they came up and took hold of His feet and adored Him. Who when they were departed, behold, some of the guards came into the city and told the chief priests all things that had been done. And they being assembled together with the ancients, taking counsel, gave a great sum of money to the soldiers, Saying: "Say you, His disciples came by night and stole Him away when we were asleep. And if the governor shall hear of this, we will persuade him and secure you." So they taking the money, did as they were taught: and this word was spread abroad among the Jews even unto this day. And the eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And seeing Him they adored: but some doubted. At length He appeared to the eleven as they were at table: and He upbraided them with their incredulity and hardness of heart, because they did not believe them who had seen Him after He was risen again. Now, whilst they were speaking these things, Jesus stood in the midst of them and saith to them: Peace be to you. It is I: Fear not." Now when it was late the same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst and said to them: "Peace be to you."

    And He said to them: "Go ye into the whole world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall he condemned. And these signs shall follow them that believe: In My name they shall cast out devils. They shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents: and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay their hand upon the sick: and they shall recover." But they being troubled and frightened, supposed that they saw a spirit. And He said to them: Why are you troubled, and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? See My hands and feet, that it is I Myself. Handle, and see: for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as you see Me to have." And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and feet. But while they yet believed not and wondered for joy, He said: "Have you here any thing to eat?" And they offered Him a piece of a broiled fish and a honeycomb. And when He had eaten before them, taking the remains, He gave to them. And He said to them: "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled which are written in the law of Moses and in the prophets and in the psalms, concerning Me." Then He opened their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures. And He said to them: "Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer and to rise again from the dead, the third day: And that penance and remission of sins should be preached in His name, unto all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. And I send the promise of My Father upon you: but stay you in the city till you be endued with power from on high." And when He had said this, He shewed them His hands and His side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. He said therefore to them again: "Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent Me, I also send you." And Jesus coming, spoke to them, saying: "All power is given to Me in Heaven and in earth. Going therefore, teach ye all nations: baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world." When He had said this, He breathed on them; and He said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them: and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained."

The Doubting Thomas

    Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him: We have seen the Lord. But he said to them: "Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the place of the nails and put my hand into His side, I will not believe. And after eight days, again His disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst and said: "Peace be to you." Then He said to Thomas: "Put in thy finger hither and see My hands. And bring hither the hand and put it into My side. And be not faithless, but believing." Thomas answered and said to him: "My Lord and my God." Jesus saith to him: "Because thou hast seen Me, Thomas, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen and have believed." Many other signs also did Jesus in the sight of His disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing, you may have life in His name.

    After this, Jesus shewed Himself to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. And He shewed Himself after this manner. There were together: Simon Peter and Thomas, who is called Didymus, and Nathanael, who was of Cana of Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter saith to them: I go a fishing. They say to him: We also come with thee. And they went forth and entered into the ship: and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was come, Jesus stood on the shore: yet the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

    Jesus therefore said to them: "Children, have you any meat?" They answered Him: "No." He saith to them: "Cast the net on the right side of the ship; and you shall find." They cast therefore: and now they were not able to draw it, for the multitude of fishes. That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved said to Peter: "It is the Lord." Simon Peter, when he heard that it was the Lord, girt his coat about him (for he was naked) and cast himself into the sea. But the other disciples came in the ship (for they were not far from the land, but as it were two hundred cubits) dragging the net with fishes. As soon then as they came to land they saw hot coals lying, and a fish laid thereon, and bread.

    Jesus saith to them: "Bring hither of the fishes which you have now caught." Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, one hundred and fifty-three. And although there were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus saith to them: "Come and dine." And none of them who were at meat, durst ask Him: "Who art thou?" Knowing that it was the Lord. And Jesus cometh and taketh bread and giveth them: and fish in like manner. This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to His disciples, after He was risen from the dead.

"Feed My Sheep"

    When therefore they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter: "Simon, son of John, lovest thou Me more than these?" He saith to Him: "Yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee." He saith to him: "Feed My lambs." He saith to him again: "Simon, son of John, lovest thou Me?" He saith to Him: "yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love Thee." He saith to him: "Feed My lambs." He said to him the third time: "Simon, son of John, lovest thou Me?" Peter was grieved because He had said to him the third time: "Lovest thou Me?" And he said to Him: "Lord, Thou knowest all things: Thou knowest that I love Thee. He said to him: "Feed My sheep. Amen, amen, I say to thee, When thou wast younger, thou didst gird thyself and didst walk where thou wouldst. But when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee and lead thee whither thou wouldst not." And this He said, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when He had said this, He saith to him: "Follow Me." Peter turning about, saw that disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also leaned on His breast at supper and said: "Lord, who is he that shall betray Thee?" Him therefore when Peter had seen, he saith to Jesus: "Lord, and what shall this man do?" Jesus saith to him: So I will have him to remain till I come, what is it to thee? Follow thou Me." This saying therefore went abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die. And Jesus did not say to him: He should not die; but: So I will have him to remain till I come, what is it to thee? This is that disciple who giveth testimony of these things and hath written these things: and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things which Jesus did which, if they were written every one, the world itself. I think, would not be able to contain the books that should be written.

    It is interesting how even after Christ rose from the dead, His disciples were still slow to believe. Also interesting is that Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him. No doubt this was a subtle reminder to the very one Our Lord had appointed as His Vicar on earth for His Church of how Peter denied Him three times.

    That being said I would recommend meditation on Scripture over entertaining yourselves with movies that serve to confuse and mislead in imitation of the beast himself. We should realize how clever satan is and that he could lead us to deny Christ as well, which, if we go to see the blasphemous movie The Da Vinci Code is the very action of denying Him Who at our Baptismal Vows we declared our undying fidelity to the Son of God and to reject satan and all his wiles. I would recommend listening to the Church of the ages on the eternal truths and historical facts rather than those who live to attack the Church that Christ died to give us and then ROSE FROM THE DEAD to prove His credentials. Mary Magdalene remained forever chaste after her conversion and Christ was pure to the last, a man like us in all things except sin! All other ideas are heresies and vile blasphemies. End of discussion.

    In closing, I want to offer a tip of the hat to Dr. Thomas A. Droloskey for his willingness to be completely open to reality regardless of the pleasantness or lack thereof involved in getting to the truth of the situation in the world today. And, from one grateful writer who is an avid reader of your brilliant sensus Catholicus, a hardy thank you for your edifying writings. If more writers and editors expressed the kind of honesty and humility he has expressed in his journey toward truth, the Traditional Catholic movement would be unified to fight the real enemy of Christ's holy Church.

"Catholics who remain faithful to Tradition, even if they are reduced to but a handful, they are THE TRUE CHURCH" Saint Athanasius, "Apostle of Tradition" AD 373

Meditation on the Resurrection