A Novena for the Traditional Mass (day 4)

Glory to Thee, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
One God over all the world in every age.

In Thy mercy
grant that Thy servants
may once again freely worship Thee
in the unity of the Mass of Ages,
with St. Bernard of Clairvaux,
with St. John of the Cross,
and with St. Catherine of Siena,
whose memory we honor today.

Father in Heaven,
through Christ our Lord, we ask Thee
to pour out the grace of Thy Holy Spirit
on Thy vicar, Pope Benedict XVI,
and on Thy unworthy servants,
to conform our hearts to Thee,
so that, animated by Thy Spirit,
we may serve Thee faithfully in this life
and enter into the joy of Thy kingdom
at the end of our days.

For the Holy Father:
Our Father Who art in heaven...
Hail Mary, full of grace...
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit...

+++

“See, dearest daughter, in what an excellent state is the soul who receives, as she should, this Bread of Life, this Food of the Angels. By receiving this Sacrament she dwells in Me and I in her, as the fish in the sea, and the sea in the fish—thus do I dwell in the soul, and the soul in Me—the Sea Pacific. In that soul grace dwells, for, since she has received this Bread of Life in a state of grace, My grace remains in her, after the accidents of bread have been consumed. I leave you the imprint of grace, as does a seal, which, when lifted from the hot wax upon which it has been impressed, leaves behind its imprint, so the virtue of this Sacrament remains in the soul, that is to say, the heat of My Divine charity, and the clemency of the Holy Spirit. There also remains to you the wisdom of My only-begotten Son, by which the eye of your intellect has been illuminated to see and to know the doctrine of My Truth, and, together with this wisdom, you participate in My strength and power, which strengthen the soul against her sensual self-love, against the Devil, and against the world. You see then that the imprint remains, when the seal has been taken away, that is, when the material accidents of the bread, having been consumed, this True Sun has returned to Its Center, not that it was ever really separated from It, but constantly united to Me. The Abyss of My loving desire for your salvation has given you, through My dispensation and Divine Providence, coming to the help of your needs, the sweet Truth as Food in this life, where you are pilgrims and travelers, so that you may have refreshment, and not forget the benefit of the Blood. See then how straitly you are constrained and obliged to render Me love, because I love you so much, and, being the Supreme and Eternal Goodness, deserve your love.”

- St. Catherine of Siena, A Treatise of Prayer

A Novena for the Traditional Mass (day 3)

Glory to Thee, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
One God over all the world in every age.

In Thy mercy
grant that Thy servants
may once again freely worship Thee
in the unity of the Mass of Ages,
with St. Dominic,
with St. Thomas Aquinas,
and with St. Peter of Verona,
whose memory we honor today.

Father in Heaven,
through Christ our Lord, we ask Thee
to pour out the grace of Thy Holy Spirit
on Thy vicar, Pope Benedict XVI,
and on Thy unworthy servants,
to conform our hearts to Thee,
so that, animated by Thy Spirit,
we may serve Thee faithfully in this life
and enter into the joy of Thy kingdom
at the end of our days.

For the Holy Father:
Our Father Who art in heaven...
Hail Mary, full of grace...
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit...

+++

From today's traditional Mass:

COLLECT.--O God, who to those that go astray dost show the light of Thy truth, that they may return to the path of justice: grant that all who are enrolled in the Christian faith, may both spurn all that is hostile to that name, and follow after what is fitting to it. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God through all ages of ages.

From today's new Mass:

I, John, had a vision of a great multitude,
which no one could count,
from every nation, race, people, and tongue.
They stood before the throne and before the Lamb,
wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.

Then one of the elders said to me,
“These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress;
they have washed their robes
and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

“For this reason they stand before God’s throne
and worship him day and night in his temple.
The one who sits on the throne will shelter them.
They will not hunger or thirst anymore,
nor will the sun or any heat strike them.
For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne
will shepherd them
and lead them to springs of life-giving water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Revelation 7:9, 14b-17

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Keep us faithful and true to Thee, O Lord, through all trials great or small.

A Novena for the Traditional Mass (day 2)

Glory to Thee, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
One God over all the world in every age.

In Thy mercy
grant that Thy servants
may once again freely worship Thee
in the unity of the Mass of Ages,
with St. Louis Mary de Montfort,
with St. Peter Chanel,
and with St. Paul of the Cross,
whose memory we honor today.

Father in Heaven,
through Christ our Lord, we ask Thee
to pour out the grace of Thy Holy Spirit
on Thy vicar, Pope Benedict XVI,
and on Thy unworthy servants,
to conform our hearts to Thee,
so that, animated by Thy Spirit,
we may serve Thee faithfully in this life
and enter into the joy of Thy kingdom
at the end of our days.

For the Holy Father:
Our Father Who art in heaven...
Hail Mary, full of grace...
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit...

+++

"Be constant in practicing every virtue, and especially in imitating the patience of our dear Jesus, for this is the summit of pure love. Live in such a way that all may know that you bear outwardly as well as inwardly the image of Christ crucified, the model of all gentleness and mercy. For if a man is united inwardly with the Son of the living God, he also bears his likeness outwardly by his continual practice of heroic goodness, and especially through a patience reinforced by courage, which does not complain either secretly or in public. Conceal yourselves in Jesus crucified, and hope for nothing except that all men be thoroughly converted to his will."

- Saint Paul of the Cross

A Novena for the Traditional Mass (day 1)

Glory to Thee, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
One God over all the world in every age.

In Thy mercy
grant that Thy servants
may once again freely worship Thee
in the unity of the Mass of Ages,
with St. Frances of Assisi,
with St. Frances de Sales,
and with St. Peter Canisius,
whose memory we honor today.

Father in Heaven,
through Christ our Lord, we ask Thee
to pour out the grace of Thy Holy Spirit
on Thy vicar, Pope Benedict XVI,
and on Thy unworthy servants,
to conform our hearts to Thee,
so that, animated by Thy Spirit,
we may serve Thee faithfully in this life
and enter into the joy of Thy kingdom
at the end of our days.

For the Holy Father:
Our Father Who art in heaven...
Hail Mary, full of grace...
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit...

+++

"It was as if you opened to me the heart in your most sacred body. I seemed to see it directly before my eyes. You told me to drink from this fountain, inviting me, that is, to draw the waters of my salvation from your wellsprings, my Savior. I was most eager that streams of faith, hope, and love should flow into me from that source. I was thirsting for poverty, chastity, obedience. I asked to be made wholly clean by you, to be clothed by you, to be made resplendent by you.

"So, after daring to approach your most loving heart, and to plunge my thirst into it, I received a promise from you of a garment made of three parts: these were to cover my soul in its nakedness, and to belong especially to my religious profession. They were peace, love, and perseverance. Protected by this garment of salvation, I was confident that I would lack nothing but all would succeed and give you glory."

- Saint Peter Canisius

Our Lady of Good Counsel

Devotion to our Lady of Good Counsel began with a reverent woman in an irreverent age. Petruccia Noteria, a pious widow, lived in Renaissance Genazzano, a small walled town near Rome. A Church there, named the Virgin Mother of Good Counsel, had been built a thousand years earlier, but it had been abandoned and was nearly in ruins. Petruccia had a vision that she should rebuild the church, so she dedicated all her modest funds to that purpose. Rather than admiring her efforts, her modern-minded skeptical neighbors treated her with scorn and derision.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

Amen.

According to legend, an image of the Madonna and Child was miraculously transported to the church from its former location in Albania, where it had been threatened by vandalism from Muslim invaders.

Once the image appeared, scores of miracles attributed to the Blessed Virgin were recorded in the next few months, and the church was finally repaired and became a destination for pilgrims.

Dr. Marian Therese Horvat writes: "One of great graces one finds at the feet of Our Lady of Genazzano and from the example of the noble Petruccia is that of confidence. If we have the courage to pray and act with confidence for great or impossible things, great and impossible things will be given us. God never refuses confident prayers, and bestows his gifts in proportion to our confidence."

Today Pope St. Cletus I and Pope St. Marcellinus are also honored by those that follow the traditional calendar. St. Cletus was the third pope after St. Peter and St. Linus. St. Marcellinus wisely provided for large rooms to be constructed in catacombs so that the Roman church could continue to worship even during persecution. Both entered into eternal life as martyrs.

Prayer to the Blessed Mother for the Universal Indult

O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church and Mother of the Eucharist, we humbly seek thy intercession. O heavenly Mother, for so long now, many in the Church have long desired for a return to the Traditional Latin Mass. Many have sought a universal indult while others have sought out its complete restoration to the Church. Most tender and compassionate mother look upon thy children in this time of expectation. For so long now, dear Lady, many have expected that thy Son’s Vicar on earth would issue a Motu Proprio for the Traditional Mass. Grant dearest Mother by thy powerful intercession that our Holy Father will issue his decree of a universal indult for the Holy Mass of St. Pius V. Grant to us as well by thy powerful intercession that this universal indult will bring about peace and unity in the Church and will help return those traditionalists which have strayed from the fold. O Mother of the Church may our prayer be granted if such is the Will of God. Amen.

Pray an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be for the Holy Father

Sts. Cletus and Marcellinus, orate pro nobis.

Litany of the Saints

Today is the Feast of St. Mark, author of the gospel and first patriarch of Alexandria.

The Feast of St. Mark was formerly a Rogation day, the "Major Rogation" instituted by Pope St. Gregory the Great as a day of reparation for the fall of Romans back into sin after the holy season of Lent and the celebration of Easter. The Rogation Days were eliminated as part of the "reform" of the Liturgical calendar following Vatican II; their observance is still permitted as a local custom. Like the Romans of the early middle ages, the modern Roman Church has received and squandered great graces. Perhaps the rogation days could be restored; we are in sore need of God's mercy.

The Rogation days typically included a procession through the parish and a recitation of the Litany of the Saints.

The Litany of the Saints

Lord, have mercy on us. (Lord have mercy on us.)
Christ, have mercy on us. (Christ have mercy on us.)
Lord, have mercy on us. (Lord, have mercy on us.)

Christ, hear us. (Christ, hear us.)
Christ, graciously hear us. (Christ, graciously hear us.)

God the Father of heaven, (have mercy on us.)
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, (have mercy on us.)
God the Holy Ghost, (have mercy on us.)
Holy Trinity, one God, (have mercy on us.)

Holy Mary, (pray for us.)
Holy Mother of God, (pray for us.)
Holy Virgin of virgins, (pray for us.)

St. Michael, (pray for us.)
St. Gabriel, (pray for us.)
St. Raphael, (pray for us.)
All ye holy Angels and Archangels, (pray for us.)
All ye holy orders of blessed Spirits, (pray for us.)

St. John the Baptist, (pray for us.)
St. Joseph, (pray for us.)
All ye holy Patriarchs and Prophets, (pray for us.)

St. Peter, (pray for us.)
St. Paul, (pray for us.)
St. Andrew, (pray for us.)
St. James, (pray for us.)
St. John, (pray for us.)
St. Thomas, (pray for us.)
St. James, (pray for us.)
St. Philip, (pray for us.)
St. Bartholomew, (pray for us.)
St. Matthew, (pray for us.)
St. Simon, (pray for us.)
St. Thaddeus, (pray for us.)
St. Matthias, (pray for us.)
St. Barnabas, (pray for us.)
St. Luke, (pray for us.)
St. Mark, (pray for us.)
All ye holy Apostles and Evangelists, (pray for us.)
All ye holy Disciples of the Lord, (pray for us.)

All ye holy Innocents, (pray for us.)
St. Stephen, (pray for us.)
St. Lawrence, (pray for us.)
St. Vincent, (pray for us.)
SS. Fabian and Sebastian, (pray for us.)
SS. John and Paul, (pray for us.)
SS. Cosmas and Damian, (pray for us.)
SS. Gervase and Protase, (pray for us.)
All ye holy Martyrs, (pray for us.)

St. Sylvester, (pray for us.)
St. Gregory, (pray for us.)
St. Ambrose, (pray for us.)
St. Augustine, (pray for us.)
St. Jerome, (pray for us.)
St. Martin, (pray for us.)
St. Nicholas, (pray for us.)
All ye holy Bishops and Confessors, (pray for us.)
All ye holy Doctors, (pray for us.)

St. Anthony, (pray for us.)
St. Benedict, (pray for us.)
St. Bernard, (pray for us.)
St. Dominic, (pray for us.)
St. Francis, (pray for us.)
All ye holy Priests and Levites, (pray for us.)
All ye holy Monks and Hermits, (pray for us.)

St. Mary Magdalen, (pray for us.)
St. Agatha, (pray for us.)
St. Lucy, (pray for us.)
St. Agnes, (pray for us.)
St. Cecilia, (pray for us.)
St. Catherine, (pray for us.)
St. Anastasia, (pray for us.)
All ye holy Virgins and Widows, (pray for us.)

All ye holy Saints of God, (Make intercession for us.)
Be merciful, (Spare us, O Lord.)
Be merciful, (Graciously hear us, O Lord.)

From all evil, O Lord (deliver us.)
From all sin, (deliver us.)
From Thy wrath, (deliver us.)
From sudden and unlooked for death, (deliver us.)
From the snares of the devil, (deliver us.)
From anger, and hatred, and every evil will, (deliver us.)
From the spirit of fornication, (deliver us.)
From lightning and tempest, (deliver us.)
From the scourge of earthquakes, (deliver us.)
From plague, famine and war, (deliver us.)
From everlasting death, (deliver us.)
Through the mystery of Thy holy Incarnation, (deliver us.)
Through Thy Coming, (deliver us.)
Through Thy Birth, (deliver us.)
Through Thy Baptism and holy Fasting, (deliver us.)
Through Thy Cross and Passion, (deliver us.)
Through Thy Death and Burial, (deliver us.)
Through Thy holy Resurrection, (deliver us.)
Through Thine admirable Ascension, (deliver us.)
Through the coming of the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete. (deliver us.)
In the day of judgment (deliver us.)

We sinners, (we beseech Thee, hear us.)
That Thou wouldst spare us, (we beseech Thee, hear us.)
That Thou wouldst pardon us, (we beseech Thee, hear us.)
That Thou wouldst bring us to true penance, (we beseech Thee, hear us.)
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to govern and preserve Thy holy Church, (we beseech Thee, hear us.)
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to preserve our Apostolic Prelate, and all orders of the Church in holy religion, (we beseech Thee, hear us.)
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to humble the enemies of holy Church, (we beseech Thee, hear us.)
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to give peace and true concord to Christian kings and princes, (we beseech Thee, hear us.)
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant peace and unity to the whole Christian world, (we beseech Thee, hear us.)
That Thou wouldst call back to the unity of the Church all who have strayed from her fold, and to guide all unbelievers into the light of the Gospel (we beseech Thee, hear us.)
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to confirm and preserve us in Thy holy service, (we beseech Thee, hear us.)
That Thou wouldst lift up our minds to heavenly desires, (we beseech Thee, hear us.)
That Thou wouldst render eternal blessings to all our benefactors, (we beseech Thee, hear us.)
That Thou wouldst deliver our souls, and the souls of our brethren, relations, and benefactors, from eternal damnation, (we beseech Thee, hear us.)
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to give and preserve the fruits of the earth, (we beseech Thee, hear us.)
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed, (we beseech Thee, hear us.)
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe graciously to hear us, (we beseech Thee, hear us.)
Son of God, (we beseech Thee, hear us.)

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, (spare us, O Lord.)
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, (graciously hear us, O Lord.)
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, (have mercy on us.)

Christ, (hear us.)
Christ, (graciously hear us.)
Lord, have mercy, (Lord, have mercy.)
Christ, have mercy, (Christ, have mercy.)
Lord, have mercy, (Lord, have mercy.)

[Our Father inaudibly] ...And lead us not into temptation (but deliver us from evil.)

St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen

"I am sent to you to confute, not to embrace your heresy. The Catholic religion is the faith of all ages, I fear not death."

- St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen, to the protestant soldiers who killed him

On this day 385 years ago, St. Fidelis received the crown of martyrdom, the foreseen culmination of a life of faithful service to our Lord in dangerous times. He was beatified by Pope Benedict XIII on the 24th of March, 1729, and canonized on the 29th of June, 1746 by Pope Benedict XIV.

Blessed counsellor and advocate for the poor, pray for us who have become spiritually poor.
Courageous refuter of heresy, pray that your Church may find again the zeal for truth it once possessed.
Zealous advocate of the Faith of all ages, please pray that your Church may once again freely pray the Mass of ages.
And may it please God that you, who have been honored by two popes named Benedict, will have your prayers answered through the good offices of a third.
We ask this through Christ our Lord, Who, with our Father in Heaven, reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ages of ages until the end of time. Amen.

In Limbo

Re: Catholic Church Buries Limbo After Centuries

---

Quote:

Originally Posted by cor Doctrine means teaching. It was the teaching of Catholic schools and bishops. I don't know if it was ever the teaching of popes ... anyone know?

Speaking of abortion, Pope Sixtus V wrote:
For who would not detest a crime as execrable as this — a crime whose consequence is that not just bodies, but — still worse! — even souls, are, as it were, cast away? The soul of the unborn infant bears the imprint of God's image! It is a soul for whose redemption Christ our Lord shed His precious blood, a soul capable of eternal blessedness and destined for the company of angels! Who, therefore, would not condemn and punish with the utmost severity the desecration committed by one who has excluded such a soul from the blessed vision of God? Such a one has done all he or she could possibly have done to prevent this soul from reaching the place prepared for it in heaven, and has deprived God of the service of this His own creature.
Pope Sixtus V, Effrænatam, 29 October 1588

On the necessity of baptism for salvation, Pope Eugenius IV wrote:
With regard to children, since the danger of death is often present and the only remedy available to them is the sacrament of baptism by which they are snatched away from the dominion of the devil and adopted as children of God, [the holy Roman church] admonishes that sacred baptism is not to be deferred for forty or eighty days or any other period of time in accordance with the usage of some people, but it should be conferred as soon as it conveniently can; and if there is imminent danger of death, the child should be baptized straightaway without any delay, even by a lay man or a woman in the form of the church, if there is no priest, as is contained more fully in the decree on the Armenians.
Pope Eugenius IV, Bull of union with the Copts, 4 February 1442


The souls ... of those who die in mortal sin or with only original sin descend immediately into hell; however, to be punished with different penalties and in different places.
Pope John XXII, "Nequaquam sine delore" (Letter to the Armenians) 1321
[Denzinger, Sources of Catholic Dogma, 493a]


The punishment of original sin is deprivation of the vision of God, but the punishment of actual sin is the torments of everlasting hell.
Innocent III, Letter to the Archbishop of Arles,” 1201
[Denzinger 410]


I don't think any of these statements are meant to define a dogma, however.

__________________

I read about the report on yahoo news here. I notice that the three Catholic commentators they picked comprised two notorious dissenters plus a Jesuit of unknown orthodoxy who was on the commission that produced the report.

Before the report, we knew that Limbo was favored by many theologians of the past thousand years and disfavored by many of the past 40. After the report we know know... exactly the same thing.

Is Archbishop Wuerl doing his job?

HLI Leader Says: "I don't believe Archbishop Wuerl is doing his job"

Washington Archbishop Wuerl Won't Discipline or Deny Communion to Pro-Abortion Speaker Pelosi

By John-Henry Westen

WASHINGTON, DC, January 16, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Perhaps it was a bad omen when at the installation Mass for the new Archbishop of Washington Donald Wuerl last June, pro-abortion Democratic Senator John Kerry was given Holy Communion and caught on camera in the act. During the entrance procession, Archbishop Wuerl shook hands with Kerry and Senator Ted Kennedy (see coverage).

Now, Archbishop Wuerl, who replaced Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, has said publicly that he would not discipline or direct priests to deny communion to pro-abortion Catholic politician Nancy Pelosi who was just made speaker of the House of Representatives. [rest of article here]

~~~

Is it too much to expect our bishops to oppose the slaughter of innocents and support the worthy reception of Holy Communion?

I just read this story from three months ago, when the Democrats took control of the United States Congress. I wish I could hope that Abp Wuerl had repented by now of his sin of permitting and even supporting such scandalous, sacrilegious communions.

Financial Incentives for Apostasy

The muslims for centuries had the jizya, a special tax enacted on non-muslims. The Anglicans enacted penal laws which included financial penalties to Catholics for practicing the Faith. The natural tendency over the years was for people to abandon the Church founded by Christ and and adopt their oppressors' religion as a way to escape second-class status or worse.

This persecution of Christ's Church was reprehensible, but at least it is understandable that her enemies would act in this way. What is less understandable is why Christians would do this to themselves. For several years now, Germany has had the same kind of policy, providing a financial incentive for people to abandon their faith.

I guess the Devil has found a strategy that seems to work, and is sticking with it.

New ICEL Translation in South Africa

According to this British pastor, the new Mass translation is now commonly available in South Africa, and is scheduled to be introduced into general usage in that country in December. Some places there have begun to use a recent draft already.

Comments by Fr. Z on bits of the new translation:
the creed
the confiteor
Lord, I am not worthy
2nd Eucharistic prayer
the Roman Canon (aka 1st Eucharistic prayer)

All good news, however one commentator notes that the draft approved by the American bishops has alterations, for example changing “dew” to “the outpouring of your spirit,” so in the United States we may have to settle for a slightly simplified version of the new translation.

La métamorphose d'un autel

Here's a video recommended by Fr. Zuhlsdorf. It shows the transformation of an inoffensive but plain modern table-style altar into a more beautiful altar, more traditional in appearance, for an indult Mass in France.

La métamorphose d'un autel
Uploaded by CHRIST-REDEMPTEUR

After sorrow, joy

Put off, O Jerusalem, the garment of thy mourning, and affliction: and put on the beauty, and honor of that everlasting glory which thou hast from God.

God will clothe thee with the double garment of justice, and will set a crown on thy head of everlasting honor.

For God will shew his brightness in thee, to every one under heaven.

For thy name shall be named to thee by God for ever: the peace of justice, and honor of piety.

Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high: and look about towards the east, and behold thy children gathered together from the rising to the setting sun, by the word of the Holy One rejoicing in the remembrance of God.

For they went out from thee on foot, led by the enemies: but the Lord will bring them to thee exalted with honor as children of the kingdom.

For God hath appointed to bring down every high mountain, and the everlasting rocks, and to fill up the valleys to make them even with the ground: that Israel may walk diligently to the honor of God.

Moreover the woods, and every sweet-smelling tree have overshadowed Israel by the commandment of God.

For God will bring Israel with joy in the light of his majesty, with mercy, and justice, that cometh from him.

The Prophecy of Baruch, Chapter 5

John 11:25

The Lord is risen indeed
and hath appeared to Simon.

Luke 24:34

Christ is Risen, and you, O death, are annihilated!
Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!
Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead;
for Christ having risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!

From St. John Chrysostom's homily on the Resurrection

Awake, Sleeper

The Lord's descent into hell

What is happening? Today there is a great silence over the earth, a great silence, and stillness, a great silence because the King sleeps; the earth was in terror and was still, because God slept in the flesh and raised up those who were sleeping from the ages. God has died in the flesh, and the underworld has trembled.

Truly he goes to seek out our first parent like a lost sheep; he wishes to visit those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. He goes to free the prisoner Adam and his fellow-prisoner Eve from their pains, he who is God, and Adam's son.

The Lord goes in to them holding his victorious weapon, his cross. When Adam, the first created man, sees him, he strikes his breast in terror and calls out to all: ‘My Lord be with you all.’ And Christ in reply says to Adam: ‘And with your spirit.’ And grasping his hand he raises him up, saying: ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.

‘I am your God, who for your sake became your son, who for you and your descendants now speak and command with authority those in prison: Come forth, and those in darkness: Have light, and those who sleep: Rise.

‘I command you: Awake, sleeper, I have not made you to be held a prisoner in the underworld. Arise from the dead; I am the life of the dead. Arise, O man, work of my hands, arise, you who were fashioned in my image. Rise, let us go hence; for you in me and I in you, together we are one undivided person.

‘For you, I your God became your son; for you, I the Master took on your form; that of slave; for you, I who am above the heavens came on earth and under the earth; for you, man, I became as a man without help, free among the dead; for you, who left a garden, I was handed over to Jews from a garden and crucified in a garden.

‘Look at the spittle on my face, which I received because of you, in order to restore you to that first divine inbreathing at creation. See the blows on my cheeks, which I accepted in order to refashion your distorted form to my own image.

‘See the scourging of my back, which I accepted in order to disperse the load of your sins which was laid upon your back. See my hands nailed to the tree for a good purpose, for you, who stretched out your hand to the tree for an evil one.

‘I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side, for you, who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side healed the pain of your side; my sleep will release you from your sleep in Hades; my sword has checked the sword which was turned against you.

‘But arise, let us go hence. The enemy brought you out of the land of paradise; I will reinstate you, no longer in paradise, but on the throne of heaven. I denied you the tree of life, which was a figure, but now I myself am united to you, I who am life. I posted the cherubim to guard you as they would slaves; now I make the cherubim worship you as they would God.

‘The cherubim throne has been prepared, the bearers are ready and waiting, the bridal chamber is in order, the food is provided, the everlasting houses and rooms are in readiness; the treasures of good things have been opened; the kingdom of heaven has been prepared before the ages.’

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Here are two images of the harrowing of hell from 16th century German printmaker Albrecht Dürer. In this woodcut, Adam is pictured holding the Cross as Christ pulls a soul from the abyss.

The engraving below shows Adam and Eve standing in the gateway of hell, the doors broken, with Moses behind them while our Lord frees John the Baptist. As in the other image, devils futilely threaten the rescued souls.

Good Friday

Our King

Adoro Te Devote

by St. Thomas Aquinas
(as translated by Gerard Manley Hopkins)

Hidden God, devoutly I adore Thee,
Truly present underneath these veils:
All my heart subdues itself before Thee,
Since it all before Thee faints and fails.

Not to sight, or taste, or touch be credit,
Hearing only do we trust secure;
I believe, for God the Son has said it-
Word of truth that ever shall endure.

On the cross was veiled Thy Godhead's splendor,
Here Thy manhood lies hidden too;
Unto both alike my faith I render,
And, as sued the contrite thief, I sue.

Though I look not on Thy wounds with Thomas,
Thee, my Lord, and Thee, my God, I call:
Make me more and more believe Thy promise,
Hope in Thee, and love Thee over all.

O memorial of my Savior dying,
Living Bread, that gives life to man;
Make my soul, its life from Thee supplying,
Taste Thy sweetness, as on earth it can.

Deign, O Jesus, Pelican of heaven,
Me, a sinner, in Thy Blood to lave,
To a single drop of which is given
All the world from all its sin to save.

Contemplating, Lord, Thy hidden presence,
Grant me what I thirst for and implore,
In the revelation of Thy essence
To behold Thy glory evermore.

Amen.

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Adoro te devote, latens Deitas,
Que sub his figuris vere latitas:
Tibi se cor meum totum subjicit,
Quia te contemplans, totum deficit.

Visus, tactus, gustus in te fallitur,
Sed auditu solo tuto creditur:
Credo quidquid dixit Dei Filius,
Nil hoc verbo Veritatis verius.

In cruce latebat sola Deitas,
At hic latet simul et humanitas:
Ambo tamen credens, atque confitens,
Peto quod petivit latro poenitens.

Plagas, sicut Thomas, non intueor,
Deum tamen meum te confiteor:
Fac me tibi semper magis credere,
In te spem habere, te diligere.

O memoriale mortis Domini,
Panis vivus vitam praestans homini:
Praesta meae menti de te vivere,
Et te illi semper dulce sapere.

Pie pellicane, Jesu domine,
Me immundum munda tuo sanguine:
Cujus una stilla salvum facere
Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere.

Jesu, quem velatum nunc aspicio,
Oro, fiat illud, quod tam sitio:
Ut te revelata cernens facie,
Visu sim beatus tuae gloriae.

Amen.

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Today is Holy Thursday, the Day of the Last Supper and the beginning of our Lord's passion.

Palm Sunday was on April First this Year...

... especially at the Alive and Young blog.

A Sneer

A sneer is an outward distortion of the face that reflects an inward distortion of the soul.