FEAST OF SS. PHILIP AND JAMES, APOSTLES, MAY 1

Feast of Ss. Philip and James, Apostles

May 1

Philip, born at Bethsaida, was one of the first followers of Our Lord. After receiving the Holy Ghost he preached the Gospel in Scythia and Phrygia, converting great numbers to the faith, and was finally crucified and then stoned at Hierapolis, in Phrygia.

James, the son of Cleophas, called the Less, and on account of his sanctity surnamed the Just, and for his kinship with Christ known as His brother, was, with his brother Judas Thaddeus, chosen an apostle in the second year of Christ s ministry. St.  James was the first Bishop of Jerusalem. One day, being re quested to preach against Christ, he publicly proclaimed Him to be the Messias, in Whom men were bound to believe, at which the Jewish priests became so enraged that they threw him down from a pinnacle of the temple, cast stones upon him, and finally killed him outright with a fuller's rod.

The Introit of the Mass is as follows : “In the time of their tribulation they cried to Thee, O Lord, and Thou heardest them from heaven. Rejoice in the Lord, ye just ; praise becometh the upright.”  Glory be to the Father, etc.

Prayer.

O God, Who givest us joy by the annual solemnity of Thy apostles Philip and James, grant, we beseech Thee, that we may be instructed by the example of those in whose merits we rejoice.  Through Christ our Lord, etc.

EPISTLE. Wis. v. 1-5.

The just shall stand with great constancy against those that have afflicted them, and taken away their labors. These seeing it, shall be troubled with terrible fear, and shall be amazed at the suddenness of their unexpected salvation, saying within themselves, repenting, and groaning for anguish of spirit : These are they whom we had some time in derision, and for a parable of reproach. We fools esteemed their life madness, and their end without honor. Behold how they are numbered among the children of God, and their lot is among the saints.

GOSPEL. John xiv. 1-13.

At that time Jesus said to His disciples : Let not your .eart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father s house there are many mansions. If not, I would have told you, that I go to prepare a place for you. And if I shall go, and prepare a place for you : I will come again, and will take you to Myself, that where I am, you also may be. And whither I go you know, and the way you know. Thomas saith to Him : Lord, we know not whither Thou goest ; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith to him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father but by Me.  If you had known Me, you would withoat doubt have known My Father also: and from henceforth you shall know Him, and you have seen Him. Philip saith to Him : Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us. Jesus saith to him : So long a time have I been with you, and have you not known Me?  Philip, he that seeth Me seeth the Father also. How sayest thou, show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you, I speak not of Myself. But the Father Who abideth in Me, He doth the works. Believe you not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? Otherwise believe for the very works sake. Amen, arnen, I say to you, he that believeth in Me, the works that I do he also shall do, and greater than these shall he do : because I go to the Father. And whatsoever you shall ask the Father in My name, that will I do.

Why did Jesus say to His disciples,” Let not your heart be troubled”?
He said this in order to console them beforehand, so that they might not be downcast, or waver in their faith, in case the predicted tribulations should actually come upon Him and them.  Thus it is that God never fails to comfort those who suffer persecution for His sake.

What is meant by the words, “ I am the way, the truth, and the life”?
St. Bernard says Christ is the way, in His holy doctrine and example, in following which we cannot go astray. He is the truth, in the fulfilment of the prophecies, in His mysteries, in His promises and threatenings, in His Gospel, and in His Church, for, as God, He cannot err, neither can He lie or deceive.  Finally, He is the life, in that, through His death, He has gained for us the life of grace and glory.

Why did Christ say to Philip, “He that seeth Me seeth the Father also”?
Because, although different from the Father in person, yet in nature and substance He is equal to Him. Christ accordingly adds that He is in the Father, and the Father in Him.

Prayer to St. Philip.

O St. Philip, chosen disciple of the Lord, who brought Na thaniel to Christ, who most zealously preached thy Lord, Jesus Christ, and out of love to Him willingly gave thyself to be nailed to the cross, and put to death, obtain, I beseech thee, for me, and for all men, grace with zeal to bring others to the prac tice of good works, to have a great desire after God and His truths, and, in hope of the eternal blissful contemplation of God, to bear patiently the adversities and miseries of this life. Amen.

Prayer to St. James.

O St. James, who lived so temperately and strictly, who, like thy master, prayed so earnestly and constantly for thy tormentors, I beseech thee that thou wouldst procure us from Jesus grace, after thy example, to live sober and penitential lives, and to worship God in spirit and in truth. Obtain for us, therefore, the spirit with which thou didst write thine epistle, that we may follow thy doctrine, be diligent in good works, and, like thee, love and pray for our enemies. Amen
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Next: Feast of the Finding of the Holy Cross. May 3

FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER

First Sunday after Easter, Called “Dominica in Albis,” or Low Sunday

WHY is this Sunday called “ Dominica in Albis,” (White Sunday)?
Because, in the earlier times, those who had been baptized on Holy Saturday on this day laid aside the white garments which they had then received, and put on their necks an “Agnus Dei” made of white wax, and blessed by the Pope, to remind them continually that they were bound to preserve that innocence unstained. The Church therefore sings, at the Introit of the Mass, “ As new-born babes, alleluia, desire the rational milk without guile, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia (1 Pet. ii. 2). Rejoice to God our helper; sing aloud to the God of Jacob.  Glory be to the Father, “ (Ps. Ixxx. 1).

Prayer.

Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we who have performed the paschal solemnities, may, by Thy grace, preserve them in our life and conduct. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.

EPISTLE, i. John v. 4-10.

Dearly Beloved: Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory which vercometh the world, our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, Jesus Christ : not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit which testifieth, that Christ is the truth. And there are three Who give testimony in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. And these three are one. And there are three that give testimony on earth : the spirit, and the water, and the blood, and these three are one.  If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony of God, which is greater,
because He hath testified of His Son. He that believeth in the Son of God, hath the testimony of God in himself.

Explanation.

By loving faith in Jesus as the Son of God, we can surely overcome the world, because that faith shows us in God, our Father; in the world to come, our true country; in Jesus, our example ; teaching us to love God above all things, to disregard the world, and worldly goods, and to strive for the eternal.  That Jesus is the Son of God, St. John shows: 1. By the threefold testimony on earth, of the water at the baptism in
Jordan, of the blood at the death on the cross, of the spirit in the miraculous effects wrought in those that believed. 2. By the threefold testimony from heaven of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

Aspiration.

O Jesus, I believe in Thee, as the Son of the living God !  Grant that through this faith I may victoriously combat the flesh, the world, the devil, and every inclination to evil, and obtain everlasting life.

GOSPEL. John xx. 19-31.

At that time : When it was late that 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 when He had said this, He showed 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. 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. 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 saith to Thomas :Put in thy finger hither, and see My hands ; and bring hither thy 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.

Why does Jesus so often say,”Peace be to you “
To signify that He had restored peace between God and man; to show how men might know His disciples; and how necessary to salvation the preservation of peace is.

Why did God permit Thomas to disbelieve the appearance of Christ to the other disciples?
That we might thereby be strengthened in faith, for as Christ took away all doubt from Thomas, by appearing again, the resurrection of Christ by that means becomes, as St. Gregory says, so much the more credible and certain.

What is it to believe in God?
To receive as immovably certain what God has revealed to us, although we cannot understand it.
What must we, therefore, believe?
All that God has revealed.

Why must we believe all this?
Because God, the infallible truth, has revealed it. This belief is as necessary to salvation as it is reasonable in itself.  How can we certainly know what God has or has not revealed, and which this one true faith is?
Through His Church, which is guided by the Holy Ghost to all truth, and in which Jesus Christ dwells till the end of time.

How can we know the Church of Christ?
By this, that, like the truth, she is one, holy, apostolic, and catholic.

Which is this true Church of Christ?
The Roman Catholic, since she alone possesses the above mentioned marks of the true Church. She alone has preserved unity in faith and in the holy sacraments, and is subordinate to one visible head, the Pope. She alone can trace her derivation from the apostles to the present day, and can demonstrate this origin as well by her doctrine, as by the succession of her popes and bishops. She alone has all the means of salvation, and she alone has produced saints. Finally, she alone embraces all ages, and shines, as St. Augustine says, from one end of the world to the other, in the splendor of one and the same faith, inviting all to her bosom, to bring them to Jesus.

What answer should a Catholic make to objections against the Mass, purgatory, and such like?
He should say, I believe these and the like matters of faith, because God, Who is Truth, has revealed them : I believe that He has thus revealed them, because the Roman Catholic Church, which teaches them to me, has all the marks of the true Church of Christ, guided by God, and cannot therefore deceive me.
Is it sufficient for salvation to have the true faith, and to belong to the true Church?
No; we must live according to that faith, that is, we must observe what it commands, avoid what it forbids, and often, particularly in temptation, make an act of faith.
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Next: Second Sunday after Easter

EASTER TUESDAY

Easter Tuesday

To praise and thank God for the mystery of redemption, the Church sings at the Introit of the Mass: “ He hath given them the water of wisdom to drink, alleluia. He shall be made strong in them, and shall not be moved, alleluia. And He shall exalt them forever, alleluia, alleluia (Ecclus. xv. 3). Give glory to the Lord, and call upon His name, declare His deeds among the Gentiles” (Ps. civ. 1). Glory be to the Father, etc.

Prayer.

O God, Who dost ever multiply thy Church by a new progeny, grant to Thy servants that they may retain in their lives the mystery which they have received by faith. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.

EPISTLE. Acts xiii. 26-33.

In those days, Paul rising up, and with his hand bespeaking silence, said: Men, brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you fear God, to you the word of this salvation is sent. For they that inhabited Jerusalem, and the rulers thereof, not knowing Jesus, nor the voices of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, judging Him have fulfilled them.  And finding no cause of death in Him, they desired of Pilate that they might kill Him. And when they had fulfilled all things that were written of Him, taking Him down from the tree they laid Him in a sepulchre. But God raised Him up from the dead the third day : Who was seen for many days by them, who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who to this pres ent are His witnesses to the people. And we declare unto you that the promise which was made to our fathers, this same God hath fulfilled to our children, raising up Jesus Christ our Lord.

Explanation.

Like St. Peter, so St. Paul founds the truth of his doctrine upon the resurrection of Jesus, because Christ had given this as the special proof of the truth of His doctrine. Had He not risen from the dead He would not have been the Son of God, and could not have redeemed mankind. The resurrection is, therefore, the foundation of our belief. On that account He allowed His disciples for a while to doubt, and only to be lieve after He had given them irrefragable proofs of His resurrection by repeatedly appearing to them; that by their doubts and cautious unbelief the wounds of unbelief in our hearts might be healed, and we might know how true is the resurrection, and how firmly founded our faith.

GOSPEL. Luke xxiv. 36-47.

At that time: Jesus stood in the midst of His disciples, and saith to them : Peace be to you : it is I, fear not. But they being troubled and frighted, 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 showed them His hands and feet. But while they yet believed not, and wondered for joy, He said :. Have you here anything 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 under stand the Scriptures. And He said to them : Thus it is written, and thus it behoved 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.

Why does Jesus greet His disciples with the words, “Peace be to you”?

1 . Because He came to restore to men that peace with God, with themselves, with their neighbor, which sin had destroyed.

2.Because peace is a mark of the children of God, as discord is of sinners.

3. Because peace is the greatest of all goods. Therefore it is that He will have His apostles, after His example, give the greeting of peace on entering a house. Finally,

4.Because He desired to encourage His disciples to confidence by His friendliness.

Why did Our Saviour retain the marks of His wounds after His resurrection?

1.    To show that it was the same body which had been wounded during His passion, and to show that He was really risen from the dead.

2. To teach us that we too shall, in like manner, rise with our bodies.

3. To make known to us the greatness of His love, through which He has graven us, as it were, on His hands and feet, and in His heart (Isaias xlix. 16).

4.To impart to us confidence in His endless mercy, and to encourage us to combat against the world, the flesh, and the devil.

5.To prepare a place of refuge, and an inexhaustible fountain of consolation for all the miserable, afflicted, and tempted. 6.  To terrify the impenitent, whom, on the day of judgment, He will show how much He has suffered for them, and that they have been the cause of their own destruction. Oh, let us en deavor to think often on the wounds of Jesus, that we may thereby be encouraged to lead pious lives acceptable to God.

Aspiration.

O Jesus, grant that the precious blood which flowed from Thy wounds for me and all sinners may not be lost.

INSTRUCTION ON WHAT WE OUGHT TO BELIEVE CONCERNING THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

“ He opened their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures” Luke xxiv. 45.

Is it free to every one to read and explain Holy Scripture according to his own opinion?

No; that must be done with submission and conformity to the teaching of the Church. Questions of faith cannot be set tled by appealing to the Holy Scriptures alone, since they them selves are liable to be misunderstood. For this reason the Church has done wisely in making the printing, reading, and explaining of Holy Scripture depend upon the permission of lawful spiritual superiors.

What, therefore, must one do who desires to read the Holy Scriptures?

He must read them,

1. Only with the permission of the ecclesiastical superiors.

 2. With the subjection of his own opinion to the decisions of the Church, and the interpretation of the holy fathers.

3. With suitable preparation, by prayer and fasting, as St. Thomas of Aquinas did, and with devotion and care.
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Next: First Sunday After Easter, Called "Dominica in Albis," Low Sunday.

EASTER MONDAY

Easter Monday

IN  the Introit of the Mass of this day the Church brings before our eyes the entrance of the Israelites into the promised land, which is a type of the kingdom of heaven, under Josue, who is a type of Christ.
“The Lord hath brought you into a land flowing with milk and honey, alleluia : and that the law of the Lord may be ever in your mouth, alleluia, alleluia. Give glory to the Lord and call upon His name, declare His deeds among the gentiles.” Glory be to the Father, etc.

Prayer.

O God, Who hast bestowed remedies on the world in the paschal solemnities, grant to Thy people heavenly gifts, we beseech Thee, that they may both deserve to obtain perfect liberty, and arrive at life everlasting. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.

EPISTLE. Acts x. 37-43.

In those days: Peter standing in the midst of the people, said : Men, brethren, you know the word which hath been published through all Judea: for it began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached, Jesus of Nazareth: how God anointed Him with the Holy Ghost, and with power, Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all things that He did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, Whom they killed, hanging Him upon a tree. Him God raised up the third day, and gave Him to be made manifest, not to all the people, but to witnesses pre-ordained by God, even to us, who did eat and drink with Him after He arose again from the dead: and He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He Who was appointed by God to be judge of the living and of the dead. To Him all the prophets give testimony, that by His name all receive remission of sins, who believe in Him.

Explanation.

Through Jesus sent from God, and through Him alone, forgiveness of sins and salvation are promised to all who truly and firmly believe in Him, and show their belief by deeds.  Have such a lively faith, and thou shalt receive forgiveness of sins and life everlasting.

GOSPEL. Luke xxiv. 13-35.

At that time : two of the disciples of Jesus 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, to-day 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 also 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 broke, 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 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.

Why did Jesus appear as a stranger to the two disciples?  He appeared to them as a stranger, says St. Gregory, be cause He meant to deal with them according to their dispositions, and according to the firmness of their faith. They seemed not to have believed in Him as the Son of God, but to have expected a hero or prince who should deliver them from their subjection to the Romans. Thus Christ was, indeed, yet a stranger in their hearts, and chose to appear to them as such, to free those who loved Him from their false notions, to convince them of the ne cessity of His passion, and to reveal Himself to them, as soon as their understandings should be enlightened, and their hearts filled with desire. Thus God orders the disposal of His graces accord ing to our dispositions ; according to our faith and trust ; accord ing to our love and fidelity.
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Next: Easter Tuesday

EASTER SUNDAY

Easter Sunday

WHAT is the feast of Easter?
The celebration of the day on which Jesus Christ, ac cording to the predictions both of Himself and the prophets, by His almighty power, reunited His body and soul, and arose alive from the grave.

Why is this feast sometimes called Pasch or Passover ?
From the Latin Pascha, and the Hebrew Phase, meaning “the passing over” because the destroyer of the first born in Egypt passed over the houses of the Israelites who had sprinkled the transom and posts of the door with the blood of the paschal lamb ; and because the Jews were in that same night delivered from bondage, passing over through the Red Sea into the land of promise. Now we Christians are by the death and resurrection of Christ redeemed and passed over to the freedom of the children of God, so we call the day of His resurrection Pasch or Passover.

How should we observe the feast of Easter?
In such manner as to confirm our faith in Jesus Christ and in His Church, and to pass over from the death of sin to the new life of grace.

What is the meaning of Alleluia, so often repeated at Easter-time?
“Alleluia” means “Praise God”

In the Introit of the Mass of the day the Church introduces Jesus Christ as risen, addressing His heavenly Father as follows : “I rose up and am still with Thee, alleluia ; Thou hast laid Thy hand upon Me, alleluia. Lord, Thou hast proved Me, and know Me; Thou hast known My sitting down and My rising up” Glory be to the Father, etc.

Prayer.

O God, Who this day didst open to us the approach to eter nity by Thy only Son victorious over death, prosper by Thy grace our vows, which Thou dost anticipate by Thy inspirations.  Through the same Lord, etc.

EPISTLE, i. Cor. v. 7, 8.

Brethren: Purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new paste, as you are unleavened. For Christ, our Pasch, is sacri ficed. Therefore let us feast, not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Explanation.

The Apostle selected the leaven as a type of the moral depravity from which the Christian community and every individual Christian should be free. Let us, therefore, purge out the old leaven of sin by true penance, that we may receive our Paschal Lamb, Jesus, in the Most Holy Eucharist with a pure heart.

GOSPEL. Mark xvi. 1-7.

At that time: Mary Magdalen and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought sweet spices, that coming they might anoint Jesus. And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they came 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 entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed with a white robe : and they were astonished. 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. But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He goeth before you into Galilee : there you shall see Him, as He told you.

Why did the holy women desire to anoint the body of Jesus with sweet spices?
Out of love for Jesus. This love God rewarded by sending to them an angel, who rolled back the great stone from before the mouth of the sepulchre, comforted them, and convinced them that Christ was really risen from the dead. From this we learn that God always consoles those who seek Him. The angel sent the holy women to the disciples to console them for Christ s death, and in order that they might make known His resurrection to the world. St. Peter was specially named not only because he was the head of the apostles, but because he was sadder and more dispirited than the others on account of his denial of Our Saviour.

How did Our Saviour prove that He was really risen from the dead?
By showing Himself first to the holy women, then to His disciples, and finally to five hundred persons at once. His dis ciples not only saw Him, but ate and drank with Him, not once only, but repeatedly, and for forty days.  It was through combat and inexpressible sufferings that Our Saviour gained victory. So also with us. Only by labor, com bat, and sufferings shall we win the crown of eternal life; though redeemed by Christ from the servitude of Satan and sin, we shall not be able to enter the kingdom of Christ unless, after His example and by His grace, we fight till the end against the flesh, the devil, and the world ; for only he that perseveres to the end shall receive the crown (n. Tim. ii. 5).
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Next: Easter Monday

HOLY SATURDAY

Holy Saturday

Prayer.

O GOD ! Who makest this most sacred night illustrious by the glory of the resurrection of Our Lord, preserve in the new offspring of Thy family the spirit of adoption which Thou hast given them ; that, being renewed in body and soul, they may serve Thee with purity of heart, through the same Lord Jesus Christ ... in the unity of the same Holy Ghost.

EPISTLE. Coloss, iii. 1-4.

Brethren : If you be risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God: mind the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth. For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ shall appear, Who is your life, then you also shall appear with Him in glory.

GOSPEL. Matt, xxviii. 1-7.

In the end of the Sabbath, when it began to dawn towards the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre. 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 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 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. 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.

Why is this day called Holy Saturday?
Because Jesus Christ, the Holy of holies, on this day rested in the grave, and because on this day the new fire and the baptismal water are blessed.

What is the new fire?
It is the fire caught from the sparks of a flint, and then blessed by the priest, from which afterwards the candles and lamps in the church are lighted.

Why is this done, and what does it signify?  The fire is first caught from a flint to indicate that Christ, the light of the world, though rejected by the Jews, is the real corner-stone, and, though seemingly extinguished in the grave, arose gloriously and sheds the beams of His blessed light on the world.

What is signified by the three candles, or triple candlestick?  The Most Holy Trinity, one in the divine nature, but three in person.

Why are all the candles of the church lighted from the triple candle?
To signify that all enlightening comes from the Most Holy Trinity.

What does the paschal or Easter candle signify ?  It represents Jesus Christ, Who died, but rose again, and now lives forever, the light of the world, giving light to all, and delivering us from the darkness of sin. The wax signifies His body, the wick His soul, the light His divinity.  The five holes in the Easter candle, in the form of a cross, represent the five holy wounds which Christ retains for our consolation. The five grains of incense inserted therein signify the spices used in embalming the corpse of Our Saviour.

What is the signification of the ceremonies used in blessing the baptismal water?
They signify the different effects of Baptism.

Why does the priest pour out the baptismal water towards each of the four quarters of the globe?
To indicate that as the four streams went forth from paradise to water the earth, so also, according to the command of Christ, shall the stream of grace, through holy Baptism, flow to all parts of the world for the washing away of sin.

What does it mean when the priest breathes three times upon the water?
The breathing upon the water denotes the communication of the Holy Ghost.

What does it mean when the priest dips the Easter candle thrice into the baptismal water?
The immersion and withdrawal of the candle from the water denote that it is sanctified by Christ to be a means through which the baptized are drawn out of the abyss of sin.  What is the meaning of the mixing of the holy oils with the consecrated water?

The holy oils are mixed with the consecrated water partly to indicate the union of Christ with His people, and partly also to denote that the grace of the Holy Ghost, of which the holy oil and chrism are figures, together with faith, hope, and charity, is infused into the heart of the catechumen. No Christian should forget to-day to revisit the holy sepulchre, to thank Jesus for His passion and death, and to venerate the sorrowful Mother Mary.
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Next: Easter Sunday

GOOD FRIDAY

Good Friday

WHAT does the Church commemorate on this day?
The death of Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of the Father, and the Saviour of the world, Who on this day was scourged, crowned with thorns, and most cruelly crucified between two thieves; through which bitter and ignominious passion and death He accomplished the redemption of mankind.

LESSON. Exodus xii. 1-11.

In those days : The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt : This month shall be to you the beginning of months : it shall be the first in the months of the year. Speak ye to the whole assembly of the children of Israel, and say to them : On the tenth day of this month let every man take a lamb by their families and houses. But if the number be less than may suffice to eat the lamb, he shall take unto him his neighbor that joineth to his house, according to the number of souls which may be enough to eat the lamb. And it shall be a lamb without blemish, a male, of one year: according to which rite also you shall take a kid. And you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month : and the whole multitude of the children of Israel shall sacrifice it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood thereof, and put it upon both the side posts, and on the upper door-posts of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh that night roasted at the fire, and unleavened bread with wild lettuce. You shall not eat thereof anything raw, nor boiled in water, but only roasted at the fire : you shall eat the head with the feet and entrails thereof. Neither shall there remain anything of it until morning. If there be anything left, you shall burn it with fire. And thus you shall eat it : you shall gird your reins, and you shall have shoes on your feet, holding staves in your hands, and you shall eat in haste: for it is the Phase (that is the Passage) of the Lord.

After this is read :

THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,

According to St. John xviii. and xix.

At that time Jesus went forth with His disciples over the brook Cedron, where there was a garden into which He entered with His disciples. And Judas also, who betrayed Him, knew the place: because Jesus had often resorted thither together with His disciples. Judas therefore having received a band of soldiers and servants from the chief priests and the Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth and said to them : Whom seek ye? They answered Him: Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith to them: I am He. And Judas also who betrayed Him, stood with Him. As soon therefore as He had said to them: I am He: they went backward, and fell to the ground. Again therefore He asked them: Whom seek ye?  And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered : I have told you, that I am He. If therefore you seek Me, let these go their way. That the word might be fulfilled which He said : Of them whom Thou hast given Me I have not lost any one. Then Simon Peter having a sword, drew it, and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And the name of the servant was Malchus. Jesus therefore said to Peter : Put up thy sword into the scabbard. The chalice which My Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it? Then the band, and the tribune, and the servants of the Jews took Jesus, and bound Him : and they led Him away to Annas first, for he was father-in-law to Caiphas, who was the high priest of that year. Now Caiphas was he who had given the counsel to the Jews: That it was expedient that one man should die for the people. And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. And that disciple was known to the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the court of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door without. The other disciple therefore who was known to the high priest, went out, and spoke to the portress, and brought in Peter. The maid therefore that was portress, saith to Peter: Art not thou also one of this man s disciples? He saith: I am not. Now the servants and ministers stood at a fire of coals, because it was cold, and warmed themselves. And with them was Peter also standing, and warming himself. The high priest therefore asked Jesus of His disciples, and of His doctrine. Jesus answered him : I have spoken openly to the world : I have always taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither all the Jews resort : and in secret I have spoken nothing. Why askest Thou Me? ask them who have heard what I have spoken to them: behold they know what things I have said. And when He had said these things, one of the servants standing by, gave Jesus a blow, saying: Answerest Thou the high priest so?  Jesus answered him : If I have spoken evil, give testimony of the evil: but if well, why strikest thou Me? And Annas sent Him bound to Caiphas the high priest. And Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said there fore to him: Art not thou also one of His disciples? He denied it, and said: I am not One of the servants of the high priest, a kinsman to him whose ear Peter cut off, saith to him: Did not I see thee in the garden with Him? Again therefore Peter denied, and immediately the cock crew. Then they led Jesus from Caiphas to the governor s hall. And it was morning: and they went not into the hall, that they might not be defiled, but that they might eat the pasch. Pilate there fore went out to them, and said: What accusation bring you against this man? They answered and said to him : If He were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered Him up to thee.  Pilate therefore said to them : Take Him you, and judge Him according to your law. The Jews therefore said to him : It is not lawful for us to put any man to death. That the word of Jesus might be fulfilled which He said signifying what death He should die. Pilate therefore went into the hall again, and called Jesus, and said to Him: Art Thou the king of the Jews?  Jesus answered : Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or have others told it Thee of Me? Pilate answered: Am I a Jew? Thy own nation and the chief priests have delivered Thee up to me.  What hast Thou done? Jesus answered: My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would certainly strive that I should not be delivered to the Jews : but now My kingdom is not from hence. Pilate there fore said to Him: Art Thou a king then? Jesus answered: Thou sayest that I am a king. For this was I born, and for this came I into the world, that I should give testimony to the truth. Every one that is of the truth, hearetli My voice.  Pilate said to Him : What is truth ? And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and saith to them : I find no cause in Him. But you have a custom that I should release one unto you at the pasch : will you therefore that I release unto you the king of the Jews? Then cried they all again, saying : Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber. Then, therefore, Pilate took Jesus, and scourged Him. And the soldiers platting a crown of thorns, put it upon His head : and they put on Him a purple garment, and they came to Him, and said : Hail, king of the Jews ! And they gave Him blows.  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. Jesus therefore came forth, bearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. And he saith to them : Be hold the man. When the chief priests, therefore, and the servants had seen Him, they cried out, saying : Crucify Him, crucify Him. Pilate saith to them : Take Him you, and crucify Him ; for I find no cause in Him. The Jews answered him :We have a law ; and according to the law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God. When Pilate there fore had heard this saying, he feared the more. And he entered into the hall again, and he said to Jesus: Whence art Thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore said to Him: Speakest Thou not to me? knowest Thou not that I have power to crucify Thee, and I have power to release Thee?  Jesus answered: Thou shouldst not have any power against Me, unless it were given thee from above. Therefore lie that hath delivered Me to thee, hath the greater sin. And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release Him. But the Jews cried out, saying: If thou release this man, thou art not Caesar’s friend. For whosoever maketh himself a king, speaketh against Caesar. Now when Pilate had heard these words, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment-seat, in the place that is called Lithostrotos, and in Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the parasceve of the pasch, about the sixth hour, and he saith to the Jews : Behold your king. But they cried out : Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him. Pilate saith to them : Shall I crucify your king? The chief priests answered : We have no king but Caesar. Then, therefore, he delivered Him to them for to be crucified.

And they took Jesus, and led Him forth. And bearing His own cross, He went forth to that place which is called Calvary, but in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and with Him two others, one on each side, and Jesus in the midst. And Pilate wrote a title also, and he put it upon the cross. And the writing was, Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews. This title, therefore, many of the Jews did read, because the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city : and it was written in Hebrew, in Greek, and in Latin.  Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate : Write not, The king of the Jews ; but that He said, I am the king of the Jews. Pilate answered : What I have written, I have written.  The soldiers therefore, when they had crucified Him, took His garments (and they made four parts, to every soldier a part), and also His coat. Now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said then one to another : Let us not cut it, but let us cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the Scripture might be fulfilled saying: They have parted My garments among them, and upon My vesture they have cast lots. And the soldiers indeed did these things. Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen. When Jesus therefore had seen His mother, and the disciple standing, whom He loved, He saith to His mother : Woman ! behold thy son. After that, He saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour the disciple took her to his own. Afterwards Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled said: I thirst. Now there was a vessel set there full of vinegar. And they putting a sponge full of vinegar, about hyssop, put it to His mouth. Jesus therefore, when He had taken the vinegar, said : It is consummated. And bowing His head, He gave up the ghost. [Here all kneel, and pause a little, to meditate on the redemption of mankind.]-----------

Then the Jews (because it was the Parasceve), that the bodies might not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath-day (for that was a great Sabbath-day), besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. The soldiers, therefore, came : and they broke the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with Him. But after they were come to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers with a spear opened His side, and immediately there came out blood and water. And he that saw it hath given testimony, and his testimony is true. And he knoweth that he saith true, that you also may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture might be fulfilled: You shall not break a bone of Him. And again another Scripture saith: Him Whom They shall look on they pierced. And after these things, Joseph Of Anmathea (because he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly lor fear of the Jews) besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate gave leave. He came therefore and took away the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus also came, he who at the first came to Jesus by night, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. They took therefore the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now there was in the place where He was crucified a garden: and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein no man yet had been laid. There, therefore, because of the Parasceve of the Jews, they laid Jesus; because the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

When the passion is finished, the priest prays first: 1. For the Church; 2, for the pope; 8, for the bishops, priests, deacons and the body of the faithful; 4, for the civil rulers the catechumens; 5, for preservation from famine and sickness; 6, for heretics and schismatics; 7, for Jews and heathen.

After the prayers the priest, from the epistle side of the altar, extends towards the people the veiled crucifix, uncovered at the top, and sings with a loud voice, Behold the wood of the cross, whereon hung the Saviour of the world. This elevation of the crucifix refers to Jesus, Who delivers us from everlasting death. After the response of the choir the priest advances to the corner of the altar, uncovers the right arm of the crucifix, and sings in a higher tone than before, “Behold the wood of the cross” The choir again answers. Then at the middle of the altar he uncovers the whole crucifix, and, elevating it, sings in a still higher tone,
“Behold the wood of the cross”  to which the answer is given as at first. The covering of the crucifix signifies that the crucified Saviour was at first unknown and despised by the world ; the gradual uncovering of it represents the gradual propagation of the knowledge and adoration of Jesus among mankind.
The uncovered crucifix is then laid upon a cushion in front of the altar, and the priest puts off his shoes and proceeds to kiss the cross, kneeling three times to remind the faithful that Christ crucified, the Fountain of life, the Centre of the Church, is in her midst, and will remain with her to the end of time.  When the adoration is ended, the cross is replaced on the middle of the altar, the candles are lighted, and the Blessed Sacrament is brought in procession from the place where it was deposited the day before.

There is no Mass said to-day. For there is no consecration either of bread or wine, but the priest receives one of the hosts consecrated the day before.

Why is there no Mass said ?
Because to-day the Church directs her attention exclusively to the bloody sacrifice.
During the day do for the love of Jesus all the good you can ; for example, to the poor, to the sick, to prisoners, to un fortunate but worthy debtors, make the Way of the Cross, visit the holy sepulchre, and meditate upon the passion of Christ.  The passion of Christ gives us unusual strength in combat with temptation. On this point St. Augustine says, “In all my adversities I have not found any remedies so powerful as the passion and wounds of Jesus. In them I sleep securely, and rest without fear.”

To meditate rightly on the passion of Christ consider what Jesus suffered from the Jews, the gentiles, and even His own disciples, who all forsook Him. Then earnestly reflect that He, the Son of God, holiness and innocence itself, suffered not for His own sake, but to deliver mankind from sin, death, and hell, to free them of guilt and punishment, and to convert them from being children of the devil to be children of God. He came into the world, suffered, and died that we might have life.  The man who seriously ponders these things must have a heart of stone if he be not moved to hatred of sin and to love of Jesus.

But this is not the perfect fruit of meditation on the passion of Jesus. By contemplating His passion we ought to become like Him.

As often, therefore, as you think on the passion of Christ, whether in making the Stations of the Cross, or in reciting the Rosary, or before an image of the suffering Redeemer, endeavor not only to have pity for His sufferings, not only to give Him assurance of your love, but also to impress upon your heart the virtues practised by Him in His passion, and to imitate them.
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Next: Holy Saturday

HOLY THURSDAY, MAUNDY THURSDAY

 

Holy Thursday, or Maundy Thursday

ON this day the Church commemorates the institution of the holy sacrifice of the Mass and of the Blessed Eucharist, or the Sacrament of the Altar. The Introit of the Mass of the day is as follows: “ We ought to glory in the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in Whom is our salvation, life, and resurrection, by Whom we have been saved and delivered. May God have mercy on us and bless us ; may He cause the light of His countenance to shine upon us, and may He have mercy on us.”

Prayer.

O God, from Whom Judas received the punishment of his guilt, and the good thief the reward of his confession, grant us the effect of Thy mercy, that as Our Lord Jesus Christ, in His passion, gave to each different retribution, according to his deserts, so He would take from us our old errors, and grant us the grace of His resurrection. Who liveth and reigneth, etc.

EPISTLE, i. Cor. xi. 20-32.

Brethren : When you come together into one place, it is not now to eat the Lord s supper. For every one taketh before his own supper to eat. And one indeed is hungry, and another is drunk. What! have you not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the Church of God, and put them to shame that have not? What shall I say to you? Do I praise you? In this I praise you not. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you: that the Lord Jesus, the same night ill which He was betrayed, took bread, and giving thanks, broke, and said : Take ye, and eat : this is My body, which shall be delivered for you : this do for the commemoration of Me. In like manner, also, the chalice, after He had supped, saying: This chalice is the New Testament in My blood : this do ye, as often as you shall drink, for the commemoration of Me. For as often as you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall show the death of the Lord, until He come. Therefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink the chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and of the blood of the Lord. But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of the chalice. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord. Therefore are there many infirm and weak among you, and many sleep. But if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But whilst we are judged, we are chastised by the Lord, that we be not condemned with this world.

GOSPEL. John xiii. 1-15.

Before the festival-day of the Pasch, Jesus knowing that His hour was come, that He should pass out of this world to the Father : having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them unto the end. And when supper was done (the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him), knowing that the Father had given Him all things into His hands, and that He came from God, and goeth to God : He riseth from supper, and layeth aside His garments, and having taken a towel, girded Himself. After that, He putteth water into a basin, and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded. He cometh therefore to Simon Peter. And Peter saith to Him : Lord, dost Thou wash my feet? Jesus answered, and said to him : What I do, thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith to Him : Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him: If I wash thee not, thou shalt have no part with Me. Simon Peter saith to Him: Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him : He that is washed, needeth not but to wash his feet, but is clean wholly. And you are clean, but not all.  For He knew who he was that would betray Him; therefore He said: You are not all clean. Then after He had washed their feet and taken His garments, being sat down again, He said to them: Know you what I have done to you? You call Me Master, and Lord ; and you say well, for so I am. If then I, being your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another s feet; for I have given you an example, that as I have done to you, so you do also.

 Why did Jesus wash His disciples feet?  To show His humility and love, and to teach them how pure they should be in approaching the Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Hence arose the pious custom that spiritual superiors and temporal rulers should on this day wash the feet of some of their subjects, usually of twelve poor persons, and afterwards serve them at table, or at least make them presents.

Why is it that only one priest in each church says Mass to-day, while the rest go to communion ; and why is the Blessed Sacrament carried to the repository?
To imitate the example of Jesus Christ, Who on this day gave to His apostles His flesh to eat and His blood to drink.  In like manner, all should to-day receive communion from one.  The priests appear to-day in their stoles, the emblem of the spiritual dignity and power which were on this day given to the apostles, and through them to their successors. The removal of the Most Holy Sacrament to the repository signifies Jesus s going to Mount Olivet, where His Godhead concealed itself.

Why is it that the bells are not rung until Saturday, but pieces of wood used instead; and why are the altars denuded?  So that the Church may express her deep grief for the sufferings and death of Jesus, and remind us to mourn in silence, and in a spiritual manner to die to the world and to self; she also further indicates thereby the silence of the apostles, who out of fear at this time were dumb. The removal of decorations from the altars signifies how Jesus, through His passion, lost His form and beauty, and was stripped of His garments, on which account the twenty-first psalm, in which all this is predicted, is said while the altars are denuded. It is also a call to sorrow and penance.
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Next: Good Friday

WEDNESDAY IN HOLY WEEK

Wednesday in Holy Week

Prayer.

GRANT, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we, who are continually afflicted through our excesses, may be delivered by the passion of Thy only- begotten Son. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.

EPISTLE. Isaias Ixii. 11, 12; Ixiii. 1-7

Thus saith the Lord God : Tell the daughter of Sion: Behold thy Saviour cometh : behold His reward is with Him, and His work before Him. An 1 they shall call them, The holy people, the redeemed of the Lord. But thou shalt be called: A city sought after, and not forsaken. Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bosra, this beautiful one in His robe, walking in the greatness of His strength? I, that speak justice, and am a defender to save. Why then is thy apparel red, and thy garments like theirs that tread in the wine press? I have trodden the wine- press alone, and of the gentiles, there is not a man with Me : I have trampled on them in My indignation, and have trodden them down in My wrath, and their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, and I have stained all My apparel. For the day of vengeance is in My heart, the year of My redemption is come. I looked about, and there was none to help : I sought, and there was none to give aid : and My own arm hath saved for Me, and My indignation itself hath helped Me. And I have trodden down the peoples in My wrath, and have made them drunk in My indignation, and have brought down their strength to the earth. I will remember the tender mercies of the Lord, the praise of the Lord for all the things that the Lord our God hath bestowed upon us.

Instead of the gospel the Church reads to-day :

THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,
According to St. Luke xxii. and xxiii.

At that time: The feast of unleavened bread, which is called the Pasch, was at hand. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might put Jesus to death : but they feared the people. And Satan entered into Judas who was surnamed Iscariot, one of the twelve. And he went and discoursed with the chief priests and the magistrates, how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. And he promised. And he sought opportunity to be tray Him in the absence of the multitude. And the day of the unleavened bread came, on which it was necessary that the Pasch should be killed. And He sent Peter and John, saying: Go and prepare for us the Pasch, that we rnay eat. But they said-Where wilt Thou that we prepare? And He said to them: Behold, as you go into the city, there shall meet you a man carrying a pitcher of water: follow him into the house where he entereth in : and you shall say to the goodman of the house : The Master saith to thee: Where is the guest-chamber, where I may eat the Pasch with My disciples? And he will show you a large dining-room furnished: and there prepare. And they going, found as He had said to them, and made ready the Pusch.  And when the hour was come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. And He said to them : With desire I have desired to eat this Pasch with you before I suffer. For I say to you, that from this time I will not eat it, till it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And having taken the chalice He gave thanks, and said:  Take, and divide it among you. For I say to you, that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, till the kingdom of God come. And taking bread, He gave thanks, and brake : and gave to them, saying : This is My body which is given for you. Do this for a commemoration of Me. In like manner the chalice also, after He had supped, saying : This is the chalice, the New Testament in My blood, which shall be shed for you.  But yet behold, the hand of him that betrayeth Me is with Me on the table. And the Son of man indeed goeth, according to that which is determined : but yet wo to that man by whom He shall be betrayed. And they began to inquire among themselves which of them it was that should do this thing. And there was also a strife amongst them, which of them should seem to be greater. And He said to them : The kings of the gentiles lord it over them : and they that have power over them, are called beneficent. But you not BO : but he that is the greater among you, let him become as the younger : and he that is the leader, as he that serveth. For which is greater, he that sitteth at table, or he that serveth? Is not he that sitteth at table? but I am in the midst of you, as He that serveth : and you are they who have continued with Me in My temptations : and I dispose to you, as My Father hath disposed to Me, a kingdom: that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom : and may sit upon thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And the Lord said: Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not: and thou being once converted, confirm thy brethren. Who said to Him : Lord, I am ready to go with Thee both into prison and to death. And He said : I say to thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, till thou thrice deniest that thou knowest Me. And He said to them : When I sent you without purse and scrip and shoes, did you want any thing? But they said: Nothing. Then said He unto them: But now he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise a scrip : and he that hath not, let him sell his coat, and buy a sword.  For I say to you, that this that is written, must yet be ful filled in Me : And with the wicked was He reckoned. For the things concerning Me have an end. But they said : Lord, be hold here are two swords. And He said to them : It is enough.  And going out He went according to His custom to the Mount of Olives. And His disciples also followed Him. And when He was come to the place, He said to them : Pray, lest ye enter into temptation. And He was withdrawn away from them a stone s cast: and kneeling down He prayed: saying: Father, if Thou wilt, remove this chalice from Me: but yet not My will, but Thine be done. And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven strengthening Him. And being in an agony, He prayed the longer. And His sweat became as drops of blood trickling down upon the ground. And when He rose up from prayer, and was come to His disciples, He found them sleeping for sorrow. And He said to them: Why sleep you? arise, pray, lest you enter into temptation. As He was yet speaking, behold a multitude : and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near to Jesus for to kiss Him. And Jesus said to him : Judas, dost thou betray the Son of man with a kiss? And they that were about Him, seeing what would follow, said to Him: Lord, shall we strike with the sword?  And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answering, said: Suffer ye thus far. And when He had touched his ear, He healed him. And Jesus said to the chief priests, and magistrates of the temple, and the ancients that were come unto Him : Are you come out, as it were against a thief, with swords and clubs? When I was daily with you in the temple, you did not stretch forth your hands against Me : but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. And apprehending Him, they led Him to the high priest s house. But Peter followed afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were sitting about it, Peter was in the midst of them. Whom when a certain servant maid had seen him sitting at the light, and had earnestly beheld him, she said : This man also was with Him.  But he denied Him, saying: Woman, I know Him not. And after a little while another seeing him, said: Thou also art one of them. But Peter said : O man, I am not. And after the space as it were of one hour, another certain man affirmed, saying: Of a truth this man was also with Him: for he is also a Galilean. And Peter said : Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately as he was yet speaking, the cock crew. And the Lord turning looked on Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, as He had said : Be fore the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice. And Peter going out wept bitterly. And the men that held Him, mocked Him, and struck Him. And they blindfolded Him, and smote His face. And they asked Him, saying: Prophesy, who is it that struck Thee? And blaspheming, many other things they said against Him. And as soon as it was day, the ancients of the people, and the chief priests, and scribes came together, and they brought Him into their council, saying : If Thou be the Christ, tell us. And He said to them : If I shall tell you, you will not believe Me. And if I shall also ask you, you will not answer Me, nor let Me go. But hereafter the Son of man shall be sitting on the right hand of the power of God. Then said they all : Art Thou then the Son of God? Who said : You say that I am. And they said : What need we any farther testimony? For we ourselves have heard it from His own mouth.  And the whole multitude of them rising up, led Him to Pilate. And they began to accuse Him, saying : We have found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cesar, and saying that He is Christ the King. And Pilate asked Him, saying : Art Thou the King of the Jews? But He answering, said: Thou sayest it. And Pilate said to the chief priests and to the multitudes: I find no cause in this man. But they were more earnest, saying: He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place. But Pilate hearing Galilee, asked if the man were of Galilee. And when he understood that He was of Herod's jurisdiction he sent Him away to Herod, who was also himself at Jerusalem in those days. And Herod seeing Jesus was very glad, for he was desirous of a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things of Him : and he hoped to see some sign wrought by Him. And he questioned Him in many words.  But He answered him nothing. And the chief priests and the scribes stood by, earnestly accusing Him. And Herod with his army set Him at naught : and mocked Him, putting on Him a white garment, and sent Him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate were made friends that same day:  for before they were enemies one to another. And Pilate calling together the chief priests, and the magistrates, and the people, said to them : You have presented unto me this man, as one that perverteth the people, and behold I, having examined Him before you, find no cause in this man in those things wherein you accuse Him. No, for Herod neither. For I sent you to him, and be hold, nothing worthy of death is done to Him. I will chastise Him therefore, and release Him. Now of necessity he was to release unto them one upon the feast-day. But the whole multi tude together cried out, saying : Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas, who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for a murder, was cast into prison. And Pilate again spoke to them, desiring to release Jesus. But they cried again, saying: Crucify Him, crucify Him. And he said to them the third time : Why, what evil hath this man done? I find no cause of death in Him : I will chastise Him therefore, and let Him go.  But they were instant with loud voices requiring that He might be crucified : and their voices prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. And he released unto them him who for murder and sedition had been cast into prison, whom they had desired : but Jesus he delivered up to their will. And as they led Him away, they laid hold of one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country : and they laid the cross on him to carry after Jesus. And there followed Him a great multitude of people, and of women who bewailed and lamented Him. But Jesus turning to them, said : Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not over Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold the day shall come wherein they will say : Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not borne, and the paps that have not given suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall upon us : and to the hills, Cover us. For if in the green wood they do these things, what shall be done in the dry? And there were also two other malefactors led with Him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, they crucified Him there : and the robbers, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. And Jesus said: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. But they dividing His garments, cast lots.  And the people stood beholding, and the rulers with them de rided Him, saying: He saved others, let Him save Himself, if He be Christ, the elect of God. And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming to Him, and offering Him vinegar, and saying: If Thou be the King of the Jews, save Thyself. And there was also a superscription written over Him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew: THIS is THE KING OF THE JEWS.  And one of these robbers who were hanged, blasphemed Him, saying: If Thou be Christ, save Thyself, and us. But the other answering, rebuked him, saying: Neither dost thou fear God, seeing thou art under the same condemnation?  And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds : but this man hath done no evil. And he said to Jesus : Lord, remember me when Thou shalt come into Thy kingdom.  And Jesus said to him : Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with Me in paradise. And it was almost the sixth hour: and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.  And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And Jesus crying with a loud voice, said : Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit. And saying this, He gave up the ghost. [All kneel]. Now the centurion seeing what was done, glorified God, saying : Indeed this was a just man.  And all the multitude of them that were come together to that sight, and saw the things that were done, returned striking their breasts. And all His acquaintance, and the women that had followed Him from Galilee, stood afar off beholding these things.  And behold there was a man named Joseph, who was a counsellor, a good and a just man (the same had not consented to their counsel and doings), of Arimathea, a city of Judea, who also himself looked for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And taking Him down, he wrapped Him in fine linen, and laid Him in a sepulchre that was hewed in stone, wherein never yet any man had been laid.

INSTRUCTIONS ON “TENEBRAE”

The prayers and chants sung by the choir on the evenings of Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week are called "Tenebrae " The Church thereby expresses her grief over the passion and death of Our Saviour, and over the sins which were the cause thereof, in order to move the sinner to return to God.

Why are these matins called “Tenebree “ ?  
Because they are usually said in the evening, and because, also, they are mournful, and call us to sorrow. 

Why is this service held at night?
In memory: 1. Of the evening when Christ was by force taken prisoner, like a murderer. 2. Of the darkness which lasted three hours at His crucifixion. 3. Of the spiritual dark ness, confusion, and grief which prevailed in the minds of His disciples during Our Saviour s passion. 4. Of the darkness which overspread mankind while Jesus was suffering for them.  What is meant by extinguishing, one after another, the twelve lights on the triangular candlestick, and finally all the rest?
The twelve lights signify the twelve apostles, and the extinguishing of them is to represent how, one after another, they deserted Jesus. The putting out of all the lights reminds us of the darkness which prevailed upon the earth at the death of Jesus, of the blindness of the Jews, and of the gradual extinguishment of belief in Him.

What is the meaning of the last light which is hidden for awhile, and then brought forth again when all is ended?  It signifies Christ, Whose body was buried in the grave, from which He soon after arose by His own power, and thereby showed Himself more clearly than before to be the Light of the world.

What is signified by the noise made at the end of “Tenebrae” while the last light is hidden?
It signifies the earthquake at the death of Jesus.
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Next: Holy Thursday, or Maundy Thursday

TUESDAY IN HOLY WEEK

Tuesday in Holy Week

Prayer.

O ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, grant us so to celebrate the mysteries of Our Lord s passion that we may deserve to obtain pardon. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.

EPISTLE. Jeremias xi. 18-20.

In those days Jeremias said : Thou, O Lord, hast showed me, and I have known: then Thou sliowedst me their doings.  And I was as a meek lamb that is carried to be a victim : and I knew not that they had devised counsels against me, saying : Let us put wood on his bread, and cut him off from the land of the living, and let his name be remembered no more. But Thou, O Lord of sabaoth, Who judgest justly, and triest the reins the hearts, let me see Thy revenge on them : for to Thee have I revealed my cause, O Lord my God.
Instead of the gospel the Church reads to-day :

THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,

According to St. Mark xiv. and xv.

At that time : The feast of the Pasch, and of the Azymes was after two days : and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might by some wile lay hold on Him, and kill Him. But they said : Not on the festival- day, lest there should be a tumult among the people. And when He was in Bethania in the house of Simon the leper, and was at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of precious spikenard : and breaking the alabaster box she poured it out upon His head. Now there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said: Why was this waste of the ointment made? For this ointment might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and given to the poor. And they murmured against her. But Jesus said: Let her alone, why do you molest her? She hath wrought a good work upon Me. For the poor you have always with you : and whensoever you will, you may do them good ; but Me you have not always. What she had, she hath done : she is come beforehand to anoint My body for the burial.  Amen I say to you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, that also which she hath done, shall be told for a memorial of her. And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. Who hearing it were glad : and they promised him they would give him money.  And he sought how he might conveniently betray Him. Now on the first day of the unleavened bread when they sacrificed the Pasch, the disciples say to Him : Whither wilt Thou that we go, and prepare for Thee to eat the Pasch? And He sendeth two of His disciples, and saith to them : Go ye into the city ; and there shall meet you a man carrying a pitcher of water, follow him ; and whithersoever he shall go in, say to the master of the house, The Master saith, Where is My refectory, where I may eat the Pasch with My disciples? And he will show you a large dining-room furnished ; and there prepare ye for us. And His disciples went their way, and came into the city ; and they found as He had told them, and they prepared the Pasch. And  when evening was come, He cometh with the twelve. And when they were at table and eating, Jesus saith : Amen I say to you, one of you that eateth with Me shall betray Me. But they began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him one by one : Is it I ?  Who saith to them : One of the twelve, who dippeth with Me his hand in the dish. And the Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of Him : but woe to that man by whom the Son of man shall be betrayed. It were better for him, if that man had not been born. And whilst they were eating, Jesus took bread : and blessing broke, and gave to them, and said : Take ye, this is My body. And having taken the chalice, giving thanks He gave it to them. And they all drank of it. And He said to them : This is My blood of the New Testament, which shall be shed for many. Amen I say to you, that I will drink no more of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I shall drink it new in the kingdom of God. And when they had said a hymn, they went forth to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus saith to them : You will all be scandalized in My regard this night ; for it is written, I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep shall be dispersed.  But after I shall be risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.  But Peter saith to Him : Although all shall be scandalized in Thee, yet not I. And Jesus saith to him : Amen I say to thee, to-day even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny Me thrice. But he spoke the more vehemently : Although I should die together with Thee, I will not deny Thee. And in like manner also said they all. And they come to a farm called Gethsemani. And He saith to His disciples: Sit you here, while I pray. And He taketh Peter and James and John with Him ; and He began to fear and to be heavy. And He saith to them : My soul is sorrowful even unto death ; stay you here, and watch. And when He was gone forward a little He fell flat on the ground ; and He prayed that if it might be, the hour might pass from Him : and He saith : Abba, Father, all things are possible to Thee, remove this chalice from Me, but not what I will, but what Thou wilt. And He cometh, and findeth them sleeping. And He saith to Peter: Simon, sleepest thou?  couldst thou not watch one hour? Watch ye, and pray that you enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. And going away again, He prayed, saying the same words. And when he returned He found TUESDAY HOLY WEEK. 181 them again asleep (for their eyes were heavy) and they knew not what to answer Him. And He cometh the third time, and saith to them: Sleep ye now, and take your rest. It is enough: the hour is come: behold the Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Else up, let us go. Behold, he that will betray Me, is at hand. And while He was yet speaking, cometh Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the ancients. And he that betrayed Him had given them a sign, saying: Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is He, lay hold on Him, and lead Him away carefully. And when he was come, immediately going up to Him, he saith : Hail, Rabbi : and he kissed Him. But they laid hands on Him, and held Him. And one of them that stood by drawing a sword, struck a servant of the chief priest, and cut off his ear.  And Jesus answering, said to them : Are you come out as to a robber with swords and staves to apprehend Me? I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not lay hands on Me. But that the Scriptures may be fulfilled. Then His disciples leaving Him all fled away. And a certain young man followed Him having a linen cloth cast about his naked body : and they laid hold on him. But he, casting off the linen cloth, fled from them naked. And they brought Jesus to the high priest: and all the priests and the scribes and the ancients assembled together. And Peter followed Him afar off, even into the court of the high priest : and he sat with the servants at the fire, and warmed himself. And the chief priests and all the council sought for evidence against Jesus that they might put Him to death, and found none. For many bore false witness against Him, and their evidences were not agreeing. And some rising up, bore false witness against Him, saying: We heard Him say, I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another, not made with hands. And their witness did not agree. And the high priest rising up in the midst, asked Jesus, saying : Answerest Thou nothing to the things that are laid to Thy charge by these men? But He held His peace and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, and said to Him : Art Thou the Christ, the Son of the blessed God? And Jesus said to him : I am. And you shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of the power of God, and coming with the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rending his garments saith : What need we any farther witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What think you? Who all condemned Him to be guilty of death. And some began to spit on Him, and to cover His face, and to buffet Him, and to say unto Him : Prophesy : and the servants struck Him with the palms of their hands. Now when Peter was in the court below, there cometh one of the maid-servants of the high priest. And when she had seen Peter warming himself, looking on him she saith : Thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. But he denied, saying: I neither know nor understand what thou sayest. And he went forth before the court ; and the cock crew. And again a maid servant seeing him, began to s&j to the standers-by : This is one of them. But he denied again. And after awhile they that stood by said again to Peter : Surely thou art one of them : for thou art also a Galilean. But he began to curse and to swear, saying : I know not this man of Whom you speak. And imme diately the cock crew again. And Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said unto him : Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt thrice deny Me. And he began to weep. And straightway in the morning the chief priests holding a consultation with the ancients and the scribes and the whole council, binding Jesus, led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate. And Pilate asked Him: Art Thou the King of the Jews? But He answering, saith to him : Thou sayest it. And the chief priests accused Him in many things. And Pilate again asked Him, saying: Answerest Thou nothing? behold in how many things they accuse Thee. But Jesus still answered nothing: so that Pilate wondered. Now on the festival-day he was wont to release unto them one of the prisoners, whomsoever they de manded. And there was one called Barabbas, who was put in prison with some seditious men, who in, the sedition had com mitted murder. And when the multitude was come up, they began to desire that he would do, as he had ever done unto them.  And Pilate answered them, and said : Will you that I release to you the King of the Jews? For he knew that the chief priests had delivered Him up out of envy. But the chief priests moved the people, that lie should rather release Barabbas to them. And  Pilate again answering, saith to them : What will you then that I do to the King of the Jews? But they again cried out: Crucify Him. And Pilate saith to them : Why, what evil hath He done? But they cried out the more: Crucify Him. And so Pilate being willing to satisfy the people, released to them Barabbas, and delivered up Jesus, when he had scourged Him, to be crucified. And the soldiers led Him into the court of the palace, and they call together the whole band : and they clothe Him with purple, and platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon Him. And they began to salute Him: Hail, King of the Jews. And they struck His head with a reed : and they did spit on Him. And bowing their knees, they adored Him. And after they had mocked Him, they took off the purple from Him, and put His own garments on Him, and they led Him out to crucify Him. And they forced one Simon a Cyrenian who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and of Rufus, to take up His cross. And they bring Him into the place called Golgotha, which being interpreted is, the place of Calvary. And they gave Him to drink wine mingled with myrrh : but He took it not. And crucifying Him, they divided His garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. And it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.  And the inscription of His cause was written over,  And with Him they crucify two thieves, the one on His right hand, and the other on His left. And the Scrip ture was fulfilled which saith : And with the wicked He was reputed. And they that passed by, blasphemed Him, wagging their heads, and saying : Yah, Thou that destroyest the temple of God, and in three days buildest it up again, save Thyself, coming down from the cross. In like manner also the chief priests mocking, said with the scribes one to another: He saved others, Himself He cannot save. Let Christ the King of Israel come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.  And they that were crucified with Him, reviled Him. And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole earth until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with aloud voice, saying: Eloi, Eloi, lamma sabacthani ?  Which is, being interpreted, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? And some of the standers-by hearing, said: Be hold He calleth Elias. And one running and filling a sponge with vinegar, and putting it upon a reed, gave Him to drink, saying : Stay, let us see if Elias come to take Him down. And Jesus having cried out with a loud voice gave up the ghost.  [Here all kneel.] And the veil of the temple was rent in two, from the top to the bottom. And the centurion who stood over against Him, seeing that crying out in this manner He had i iven up the ghost, said: Indeed this man was the Son of God.  And there were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joseph, and Salome: who also when He was in Galilee, followed Him, and ministered to Him, and many other women that came up with Him to Jerusalem. And when evening was now come (because it was the Parasceve, that is, the day before the Sabbath), Joseph of Arimathea, a noble counsellor, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, came and went in boldly to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. But Pilate wondered that He should be already dead.  And sending for the centurion, he asked him if He were already dead. And when he had understood it by the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. And Joseph buying tine linen and taking Him down, wrapped Him up in the fine linen, and laid Him in a sepulchre which was hewed out of a rock. And he rolled a stone to the door of the sepulchre.
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Next: Wednesday in Holy Week