The Meditation Holy Week A.D. 2016

Transcription

1 The Meditation Holy Week A.D SPECIAL DEVOTIONAL EDITION

2 2. Jesus Christ, The Man of Sorrows Dear Friends: We now enter the most profound week in the Church s year of Grace, Holy Week. It s a time when we should greatly desire to be as close to our Blessed Lord as we can. We would find, in a perfect world, ourselves in Church or some place of holy recollection each day of this week, especially during the three most Sacred Days of the Holy Triduum; Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, & Holy Saturday. I m of the age when I can clearly remember in my home town of Waterville, Maine that on Good Friday, all business and commerce ceased from 12 Noon until 3 p.m., and on that afternoon all the churches in town, no matter the denomination, were filled. To get even a decent place to sit in my parish church of Sacred Heart, our family had to arrive a good hour before services. I could hear more than I could see what was going on in the church, being a little kid, but I knew that it was something mysterious and very sacred. There was a smell in the air and a reverent solemn aura within the church that indicated a great Thing was taking place. It remains etched in my mind s eye, as well as my heart, even today. I have a dear old keepsake from those wonderfully spiritually, impressionable days, a booklet, The Stations of the Cross by St. Alphonsus Ligouri, given to me in 1962, by one of my teachers, a kindly Ursuline nun, Sr. St. George. The beautiful language and striking pictures made the Passion of our Lord become all the more real and personal to me, and in time, became a great personal spiritual treasure of mine. I ve managed to use this booklet as often as I could since those many years ago. It even made a couple of trips to sea when I knew I d be out there during Lent! With the help of Br. Raymond, our photographer and graphic genius, this booklet has been restored to its former grandeur and freshness and is offered to you, our dear readers as a spiritual guide for this year s Holy Week Good Friday journey. We now live in a world that no longer recognizes Good Friday according it the importance of place it once had... and more is the pity, given the overall conditions of our society, our nation, and the world in general. Most people can no longer take the day or even the afternoon off to properly observe and honor the great Sacrifice once given for all mankind on Calvary s Tree. How, as present-day followers and disciples of Christ can we stand by our Lord, when we are scattered by conditions and responsibilities placed upon us by 21 st century life? Well, we hope that this little offering will be of

3 3. some assistance to you, our dear subscribers, whatever circumstances you may be placed in during this years Sacred Triduum. It is our great privilege and pleasure to share with you these meditations, illustrations, and prayers for you to use as you see fit during the latter part of this Holy Week in the year of our Lord This year we feature art work by Carl Heinrich Bloch ( ), a Danish painter who was heavily influenced by the style of Rembrandt. We hope that his magnificent artwork will add to, and bring inspiration to your observances, recollections, and prayers. Please feel free to share this edition if you know of someone who might appreciate this offering. May this be for you, a most profound and soul-stirring Holy Week, as you seek to walk with, and stand by our Blessed Lord in His most Sacred Passion. - Fr. Kevin LaMarre, O.S.B. + Maundy Thursday The Last Supper by Carl Heinrich Bloch Meditation- Jesus, by His peace offering not only saved mankind from its sins, but renewed its alliance with the heavenly Father, and continues to do so every time the Church celebrates the Eucharist. God obliges Himself anew, at every Mass, to accept Christian folk as His privileged children, to forgive them their sins, and fulfill their desires. Each Holy Communion for us, must be a promise of greater fidelity to God and to His commandments, a closer union with Father and Son, and the pledge of eternal life.

4 4. Gethsemani by Carl Heinrich Bloch Meditation- The Evangelists use three words in the solitude of the Garden, each stronger than the last, to describe our Lord s emotions: sorrow, anguish, and fear. St. Matthew says, He grew sorrowful ( Matt. C.26, v.37) His aspect changed; He grew pale; His eyes seemed to look upon the disciples through a veil of tears: His robust stature was bent, He trembled as He walked. St. Mark adds: He grew dismayed and distressed. (Mark; C. 14, V. 33). Mankind always seems to cling to the hope that the worst may not happen. Jesus knew with absolute certainty all that awaited Him. He saw with pitiless exactness, all the events of the next few hours, none of which were hidden from Him. His horror of suffering and death was greater than that of any other man, precisely because of the perfection of His human nature, his intellegence, his vivid imagination, His extreme sensitivity. The sight of the sins of the world, all of which He had taken upon Himself added immensely to His suffering. Isiah says, He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him. ( Is.; Ch 53, V. 5). The thought that for many, His Passion would be in vain caused a veritable sea of anguish to overwhelm that divinely fashioned spirit. Disgust and horror amounting to a death-agony, crushed Him down and left Him broken and ready to die with sorrow. O my suffering Master, give me grace never to lose courage in the fight, never to lose sight of You, going before me carrying your Cross. Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith ; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. ( Heb.; Ch. 12, Vs 2).

5 5. Peter s Denial by Carl Heinrich Bloch Meditation - Jesus says to His disciples at the Last Supper; Whither I go, thou canst not now follow me; but thou shalt follow hereafter. Peter asks, Why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thee. Jesus responded, Wilt thou, Peter? Amen, amen, I say to thee: the cock shall not crow, till thou deny me thrice. Peter s declaration of love for Jesus had too much of the human about it, for it was not based on humility. Presumption comes from pride; it almost always results in a fall., God permitted that Peter, who would soon be made the prince among the Apostles, should fall into a most grevious and humiliating sin in order to prepare him for his future ministry of pardon, as well as give us a useful lesson. Christ s gaze met Peter s as He was led away from the Sanhedran, but it was not a look of rebuke that Jesus gave Peter, rather, a look of profound tenderness; for only a look of tenderness could generate the river of tears that began to flow from Peter s eyes. Jesus understood the loving loyalty of His friend. Jesus knew how to accept the misplaced affection and intentions of His Disciple, and He turned to Peter with a look full of loving understanding and sympathy that spoke more eloquently than any words. It was this look of reassurance and kind sympathy that reduced Peter to tears, because while meaning to be loyal and brave, and do his Master a service, Peter had made such a mess of things. We too, often make a mess of things, and at those times we should long for that sympathetic and reassuring gaze that will tell us that we are pardoned, and that all will be well.

6 6. Good Friday and the Via Crucis And when morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people... bound him (and) led him away and delivered him to Pontius Pilate, the governor. - ( Matt.; Ch. 27, Vss. 1 & 2). Ecce Homo Behold the man ( 1871) painting by Antonio Ciseri ( ). Jesus,during this morning, is first brought to and questioned by the Roman govemor Pontius Pilate, who cannot find any fault in Him that is worthy of the death sentence. Pilate learns, during this hearing, that Jesus is a Nazarene, and therefore a subject of Herod s. Pilate sends Jesus to Herod s court. There Jesus is interrogated again. Herod is intrigued at finally meeting this Man who has caused such a stir in his jurisdiction, but he too, can t find any fault in this Man. Jesus is returned to Pilate who tries to arouse sympathy by having Jesus scourged. Presenting the beaten and whipped Jesus to the crowd, they clamor loudly that He be crucified. Pilate finally submits to their wishes when his own loyalty to Caesar is questioned. Pilate attempts to absolve himself of his final judgement. He is perplexed. How does one govern a people such as these? Prayer- My Lord Jesus Christ, Thou hast made this journey to die for me with love unutterable, and I have so many times unworthily abandoned Thee; but now I love Thee with my whole heart, and because I love Thee, I repent sincerely for having ever offended Thee. Pardon me, my God, and permit me to accompany Thee on this journey. Thou goest to die for love of me; I wish also, my beloved Redeemer, to die for love of Thee. My Jesus, I will live and die always united to Thee. Dear Jesus, Thou dost go to die for very love of me; Ah! Let me bear Thee company; I wish to die with Thee.

7 He was oppressed, and sore afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth : he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers, so he opened not his mouth. (Isiah; Ch. 53, Vs. 7) 7.

8 8. If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. - (St. Luke; Ch. 9, Vs. 23)

9 9. The Lord hath laid upon him the iniquity of us all ( Isaiah; Ch. 53, Vs.6.)

10 10. Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me.. ( Lam; Ch. 1, Vs12.)

11 11. Bear ye one another s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Gal; Ch. 6, Vs. 2)

12 12. His visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men. (Isaiah; Ch. 52, Vs. 14)

13 13. Come unto me all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. (Matt.; Ch. 11, Vs. 28)

14 14. Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. (Luke: Ch. 23, Vs. 28.)

15 15. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. - ( Psalm 22; Vs. 14 & 15).

16 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. (Psalm 22; Vs 18). 16.

17 They pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones. (Psalm 22; Vs 16 & 17). 17.

18 18. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. (John Ch. 12, Vs. 32)

19 19. Prayer to Jesus Christ Crucified Behold, O kind and most sweet Jesus, I cast myself on my knees in Thy sight, and with the most fervent desire of my soul, I pray and beg Thee to impress upon my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope, and charity, with true repentance for my sins, and a firm desire of amendment, while with deep affection and grief of soul I ponder within myself and mentally contemplate Thy five most precious Wounds; having before my eyes that which David spoke in prophecy: They have pierced my hands and my feet; I can count all my bones.

20 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened... And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit; and having said that, he gave up the ghost. (St. Luke; Ch. 23, Vss ). Meditation: Jesus yielded up His life to the Father after three hours of hanging upon the Cross. This should be noted about the crucifixion and the hours of waiting before death: that all the earlier sufferings are gathered up and reproduced. The climax on Calvary is reached as the mounting sorrows of the past week find their focus. The Father s will is paramount through all of this. It is accepted perfectly on His terms. It is this that atones for Adam s rebellion and for all the rebellions that have followed Adam in their rejection of the Father s will. This act brings the Old Law to an end, and establishes the new law of love. Greater love than this hath no man. He has shown it by laying down His life for His fellow men. Consummatum est. He has delivered His gospel of love; the work which the Father had given Him to do, He has finished. The world is free once more. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and he became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross. Wherefore God highly hath exaulted him. (Phil.; Ch. 2, Vs 8 & 9).

21 21. What thing shall I liken unto thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? What shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? (Lamentations; Ch. 2, Vs 13.)

22 22. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. (St. John; Ch. 16, Vs. 22.) Maria, Mater Dolorosa; Mary, Mother of Sorrows She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: she hath none to comfort her. ( Lamentations; Ch. 1, Vs. 2).

23 23. The Descent of Christ from the Cross a painting by Jean Joseph Weerts ( ) Heavenly Father, Accept the sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Thy Son. May they obtain from Thy mercy every good for our salvation. Grant this through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth, throughout all ages of ages, world without end. Amen. Night at Golgotha (1869) a painting by Vasili Vasilievich ( )

24 Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (The Acts of the Apostles; Ch. 2, Vs. 27). 24.

25 25. The Burial of Jesus painting by Carl Heinrich Bloch ( ) Meditation: Where was our Lord s soul when His Body lay in the tomb? St. Peter tells us He went and preached to the spirits in prison, declaring unto the patriarchs and prophets the day of their redemption. What a day that was in that abode of shades when the Lord from Heaven had broken the gates of brass and smitten the bars of iron in sunder! This work begun on Holy Saturday, He left us to continue. There are now holy souls waiting to be purified. Pray today, in honor of our Lord s descent into hell, that with the Easter dawn, some soul that none has ever prayed for, may be brought forth into the glory of the Beatific Vision. Bury our sins, O Blessed Savior, in thy grave: and make us to rise up in the life of grace, and abide and advance in it, until we come to the city of light and joy ; where with the Father and Holy Ghost thou livest and reignest, God, world without end. Amen.

26 26. This Holy Week offering has been composed by and is brought to you in the Love of our Blessed Lord, Jesus Christ and His Holy Mother Mary, Ever-Virgin, By the Benedictine community at: Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Priory 4 Shaw Road Raymond, Maine Website: We offer a free weekly on-line Meditation to all who desire to receive it. If you are not on our mailing list, please contact Fr. Prior Kevin LaMarre, O.S.B. at klamarre@maine.rr.com and request to be added to our growing list of subscribers. Good Friday Night - Silence