Through Sorrow to Beauty

I went to the New Horizons concert yesterday. The conductor, Maryann Flock, dedicated the performance of Nimrod from Elgar's Enigma Variations to your memory [she misses you, too].

It is a work of sweet melancholy, named only incidentally for the Biblical figure; the variation is really named for Augustus Jaeger, Elgar's friend, who encouraged him to not give up, but to make new music, even when his troubles seemed overwhelming.

And that is what you must do, too, meine Freundin. Through all your troubles, in the depths of your heart, offer, if you can, a song of thanksgiving to our Maker for His blessings. If such is now beyond your strength, then wait and endure, sustained by the hidden God Who gives us life, while He helps you to expiate your sins, to grow in charity, and to become perfect, as our heavenly Father is perfect.

At last, Saint Rebecca, when you are worthy of that name, when all the desires of your soul are rightly ordered and you can raise your eyes to our Maker unashamed, then you will make music again joyfully to the honor of His name, and you will know the reason for your gifts, and the purpose for your burdens.

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Today, instead of a set prayer, I offer on your behalf a prayerful reading from Holy Scripture, the twelfth chapter of Saint Paul's Epistle to the Hebrews:

¹ And therefore we also having so great a cloud of witnesses over our head, laying aside every weight and sin which surrounds us, let us run by patience to the fight proposed to us:
² Looking on Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, who having joy set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and now sitteth on the right hand of the throne of God.
³ For think diligently upon him that endured such opposition from sinners against himself; that you be not wearied, fainting in your minds.
⁴ For you have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin:
⁵ And you have forgotten the consolation, which speaketh to you, as unto children, saying: My son, neglect not the discipline of the Lord; neither be thou wearied whilst thou art rebuked by him.
⁶ For whom the Lord loveth, he chastiseth; and he scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
⁷ Persevere under discipline. God dealeth with you as with his sons; for what son is there, whom the father doth not correct?
⁸ But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are made partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons.
⁹ Moreover we have had fathers of our flesh, for instructors, and we reverenced them: shall we not much more obey the Father of spirits, and live?
¹⁰ And they indeed for a few days, according to their own pleasure, instructed us: but he, for our profit, that we might receive his sanctification.
¹¹ Now all chastisement for the present indeed seemeth not to bring with it joy, but sorrow: but afterwards it will yield, to them that are exercised by it, the most peaceable fruit of justice.
¹² Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,
¹³ And make straight steps with your feet: that no one, halting, may go out of the way; but rather be healed.
¹⁴ Follow peace with all men, and holiness: without which no man shall see God.
¹⁵ Looking diligently, lest any man be wanting to the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up do hinder, and by it many be defiled.
¹⁶ Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau; who for one mess, sold his first birthright.
¹⁷ For know ye that afterwards, when he desired to inherit the benediction, he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance, although with tears he had sought it.
¹⁸ For you are not come to a mountain that might be touched, and a burning fire, and a whirlwind, and darkness, and storm,
¹⁹ And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words, which they that heard excused themselves, that the word might not be spoken to them:
²⁰ For they did not endure that which was said: And if so much as a beast shall touch the mount, it shall be stoned.
²¹ And so terrible was that which was seen, Moses said: I am frighted, and tremble.
²² But you are come to mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the company of many thousands of angels,
²³ And to the church of the firstborn, who are written in the heavens, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the just made perfect,
²⁴ And to Jesus the mediator of the new testament, and to the sprinkling of blood which speaketh better than that of Abel.
²⁵ See that you refuse him not that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke upon the earth, much more shall not we, that turn away from him that speaketh to us from heaven.
²⁶ Whose voice then moved the earth; but now he promiseth, saying: Yet once more, and I will move not only the earth, but heaven also.
²⁷ And in that he saith, Yet once more, he signifieth the translation of the moveable things as made, that those things may remain which are immoveable.
²⁸ Therefore receiving an immoveable kingdom, we have grace; whereby let us serve, pleasing God, with fear and reverence.
²⁹ For our God is a consuming fire.

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Saint Paul, holy apostle, pray for us, that we may freely lay aside every weight and sin that hinders us from running the race that God has proposed to us.

Saint Venantius, holy martyr, pray for us that we may be freed from envy and malice and all sin, and love God with our whole hearts, and our whole souls, and our whole minds, and our neighbor as ourselves.

Jesus said to her: I am the Resurrection

From the Gospel according to Saint John [chapter 11]:

²¹ Martha therefore said to Jesus: Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

²² But now also I know that whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

²³ Jesus saith to her: Thy brother shall rise again.

²⁴ Martha saith to him: I know that he shall rise again, in the resurrection at the last day.

²⁵ Jesus said to her: I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, although he be dead, shall live:

²⁶ And every one that liveth, and believeth in me, shall not die for ever. Believest thou this?

²⁷ She saith to him: Yea, Lord, I have believed that thou art Christ the Son of the living God, who art come into this world.

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Dearest friend,

You died still hoping in the mercy of God; I pray that your hope will not have been in vain. Our Lord did not grant the cure for which I begged. I pray that you will receive instead a better and more lasting gift.

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O God, Whose property it is ever to have mercy and to spare, we humbly entreat Thee on behalf of the soul of Thy handmaid Rebecca whom Thou hast called out of this world; look upon her with pity and let her be conducted by the holy angels to paradise, her true country. Grant that she who believed in Thee and hoped in Thee may be rescued from eternal death, released from purgatorial fire, and lifted up to eternal comfort and joy. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who with Thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth through all the ages. Amen.

Our Father...
Hail, Mary...

V. Eternal rest give unto Rebecca, 0 Lord;
R. And let perpetual light shine upon her.

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Saint Boniface, please pray for her.

Good Shepherd Sunday

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday, according to the traditional Catholic calendar.

According to today's lesson and gospel, Jesus suffered the sorrows that you suffered [and more, besides] and died as you died, out of love for you, so that you would not die forever, but find life in Him:

Dearly beloved, Christ suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow His steps who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth. Who when He was reviled, did not revile: when He suffered, He threatened not, but delivered Himself to him that judged Him unjustly: who His own self bore our sins in His body upon the tree: that we, being dead to sins, should live to justice; by whose stripes you were healed. For you were as sheep going astray: but you are now converted to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.   1 Peter 2:21-25

At that time Jesus said to the Pharisees: I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd giveth his life for his sheep. But the hireling, and he that is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming and leaveth the sheep and flieth: and the wolf catcheth and scattereth the sheep: and the hireling flieth, because he is a hireling, and he hath no care for the sheep. I am the good Shepherd: and I know Mine, and Mine know Me, as the Father knoweth Me, and I know the Father: and I lay down My life for My sheep. And other sheep I have that are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.   John 10:11-16

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And for you, I pray again the Lord is my Shepherd psalm, in the King James translation you grew up with:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

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God bless you, dear friend. Be happy.

Matthew 9:18-26

(with Haydock commentary)

18 And he was speaking these things unto them, behold a certain ruler came up, and adored him, saying: Lord, my daughter is even now dead; but come, lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.	A certain ruler. [4] Lit. a prince of a synagogue. He is called Jairus. Mark v. Luke viii. — My daughter is just now dead: or, as the other evangelists express it, is at the point of death; and her father having left her dying, he might think and say she was already dead. Wi. — In effect, news was shortly after brought him that she was dead. It is thus that some commentators explain the apparent difference found in Mark v. 22, and Luke viii. 41. — But come, lay thy hand, &c. Let us admire and imitate the humility and kindness of our Redeemer; no sooner had he heard the request of the ruler, but rising up, he followed him. Though, says S. Chrysostom, he saw his earthly disposition, requesting him to come and lay his hand upon her.
19 And Jesus rising up followed him, with his disciples.
20 And behold a woman who was troubled with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment.	And behold a woman. This woman, according to Eusebius, came from Cæsarea Philippi, who, in honour of her miraculous cure, afterwards erected a brazen monument, descriptive of this event, before the door of her house in Cæsarea Philippi. Euseb.
21 For she said within herself: If I shall touch only his garment, I shall be healed.
22 But Jesus turning and seeing her, said: Be of good heart, daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.	Επιστραφεις και ιδων , turning about and seeing, as if he were ignorant, and wished to see who it was that had touched him, as the other evangelists relate. In S. Mark (v. 29,) we see she was cured on touching the garment; and Jesus only confirms the cure by what he says in verse 34. — But Jesus turning about. Our divine Saviour, fearing lest he might alarm the woman by his words, says immediately to her, Take courage; and at the same time calls her his daughter, because her faith had rendered her such. S. Chrysos.
23 And when Jesus was come into the house of the ruler, and saw the minstrels and the multitude making a rout,	And when Jesus . . . saw the minstrels. It was a custom among the Jews at funerals to hire persons to make some doleful music, and great lamentations. Wi. — Ovid also mentions the lugubrious music attendant on funerals. Cantabat mœstis tibia funeribus. 4. Fast.
24 He said: Give place, for the girl is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.	The girl is not dead. Christ, by saying so, insinuated that she was not dead in such a manner as they imagined; that is, so as to remain dead, but presently to return to life, as if she had been only asleep. Wi. — But sleepeth. In the xi. chapter of S. John, Christ again calls death a sleep. Our friend Lazarus sleepeth. Thus he teaches us to be no longer in dread of death, since it was reduced to the condition of a sleep. If you believe this, why do you vainly weep? why do you afflict yourself? this the Gentiles do, who have not faith. Your child is asleep, not dead, is gone to a place of rest, not to destruction. Therefore the royal prophet says, "Turn, O my soul, into thy rest, for the Lord hath been bountiful to thee." Psalm cxiv. If then it is a kindness, why should you weep? what else could you do at the death of an adversary, an enemy, the object of your greatest aversion? S. Chrysos. hom. xxxii. — Christ here asserts that the girl is only asleep, to shew that it was as easy for him to raise her from death as from sleep. Theophylactus.
25 And when the multitude was put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand. And the maid arose.	He took her by the hand, and as in his hands is the key both of life and death, (Apoc. i. 18,) so he commanded the soul to return and the girl to arise. A. — And when the crowd, &c. That is, if after a sinful and worldly life we wish to rise again, and be cleansed from the miserable condition of moral sin, denoted by the girl who was dead, we must cast out of our minds the great multitude of worldly concerns; for whilst these have possession, the mind is unable to recollect itself and apply seriously to consideration. S. Gregory.
26 And the fame hereof went abroad into all that country.

The gospel reading my friend R and I heard this evening at Mass.

Fullness of Time

Galatians 4:4-6 (Douay Rheims)

⁴ But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent his Son, made of a woman, made under the law:

⁵ That he might redeem them who were under the law: that we might receive the adoption of sons.

⁶ And because you are sons, God hath sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying: Abba, Father.

Show with Haydock Commentary or the Latin Vulgate Bible
Bible passage courtesy of VeritasBible.com

Catholic Answers had a interesting post today speculating on why our Savior came to the world when He did:

Re: Fullness of time

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Quote:

Originally Posted by jpn Why was the fullness of time, a little over 2000 years ago, the fullness of time? Do we know specifically why the incarnation happened at this point in time, say versus 500 hundred years later?

Yes, the Roman empire's far reach facilitated the spread of the gospel and eventually the solidification of the Church. Humankind had reached a point where Greek philosophy had reasoned its way to a deity of order independent of religion which confirmed and correlated well with the Christian God, and the influence of Hellenization was very widespread in the Roman Empire. The Jews had centuries of struggling to fulfill the law, to finally arrive at a point where, according to Christianity, at least, we could realize that the Law couldn't justify anyone; it had done it's job serving as a teacher. Mankind was ready for a New Covenant-just barely.

Psalm 8

¹ Unto the end, for the presses: a psalm of David.

² O Lord our Lord, how admirable is thy name in the whole earth! For thy magnificence is elevated above the heavens.

³ Out of the mouth of infants and of sucklings thou hast perfected praise, because of thy enemies, that thou mayst destroy the enemy and the avenger.

⁴ For I will behold thy heavens, the works of thy fingers: the moon and the stars which thou hast founded.

⁵ What is man that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him?

⁶ Thou hast made him a little less than the angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and honour:

⁷ And hast set him over the works of thy hands.

⁸ Thou hast subjected all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen: moreover the beasts also of the fields.

⁹ The birds of the air, and the fishes of the sea, that pass through the paths of the sea.

¹⁰ O Lord our Lord, how admirable is thy name in all the earth!

Show with Haydock Commentary or the Latin Vulgate Bible
Bible passage courtesy of VeritasBible.com

Laetare Sunday

Today's epistle:

Brethren, It is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman and the other by a free woman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh; but he of the free woman was by promise; which things are said by an allegory. For these are the two testaments. The one from Mount Sinai, engendering unto bondage: which is Agar; for Sinai is a mountain in Arabia, which hath affinity to that Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But that Jerusalem which is above is free, which is our mother. For it is written:

“Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not: break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for many are the children of the desolate, more than of her that hath a husband.”

Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born according to the flesh persecuted him that was after the spirit: so also it is now. But what saith the Scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not the children of the bondwoman but of the free: by the freedom wherewith Christ has made us free.

Galatians 4:22-31

Commentary of Saint Thomas Aquinas: 1, 2, 3

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What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who followed not after justice, have attained to justice, even the justice that is of faith. But Israel, by following after the law of justice, is not come unto the law of justice. Why so? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were of works. For they stumbled at the stumblingstone. As it is written: Behold I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and a rock of scandal; and whosoever believeth in him shall not be confounded.

Romans 9:30-33

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And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:3

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May all our works be born out of faith in Christ, performed under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and directed towards the glory of God, the Father Almighty.

Friday of Ember Week in Lent

Today's Gospel:

At that time there was a festival day of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem a pond, called Probatica, which in Hebrew is named Bethsaida, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick, of blind, of lame, of withered; waiting for the moving of the water. And an angel of the Lord descended at certain times into the pond; and the water was moved. And he that went down first into the pond after the motion of the water, was made whole, of whatsoever infirmity he lay under.

And there was a certain man there, that had been eight and thirty years under his infirmity. Him when Jesus had seen lying, and knew that he had been now a long time, he saith to him: Wilt thou be made whole?

The infirm man answered him: Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pond. For whilst I am coming, another goeth down before me.

Jesus saith to him: Arise, take up thy bed, and walk.

And immediately the man was made whole: and he took up his bed, and walked.

And it was the sabbath that day. The Jews therefore said to him that was healed: It is the sabbath; it is not lawful for thee to take up thy bed. He answered them: He that made me whole, he said to me, Take up thy bed, and walk. They asked him therefore: Who is that man who said to thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? But he who was healed, knew not who it was; for Jesus went aside from the multitude standing in the place.

Afterwards, Jesus findeth him in the temple, and saith to him: Behold thou art made whole: sin no more, lest some worse thing happen to thee.

The man went his way, and told the Jews, that it was Jesus who had made him whole. [John 5:1-15]

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Omnipotent and eternal God, the everlasting Salvation of those who
believe, hear us on behalf of Thy sick servant, Rebecca, for whom we beg the aid of Thy pitying mercy, that, with her bodily health restored, she may give thanks to Thee in Thy church.

Through Christ our Lord,

Amen

Septuagesima Sunday

Psalm 50 (Douay Rheims)

¹ Unto the end, a psalm of David,

² When Nathan the prophet came to him after he had sinned with Bethsabee.

³ Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy. And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity.

⁴ Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

⁵ For I know my iniquity, and my sin is always before me.

⁶ To thee only have I sinned, and have done evil before thee: that thou mayst be justified in thy words and mayst overcome when thou art judged.

⁷ For behold I was conceived in iniquities; and in sins did my mother conceive me.

⁸ For behold thou hast loved truth: the uncertain and hidden things of thy wisdom thou hast made manifest to me.

⁹ Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.

¹⁰ To my hearing thou shalt give joy and gladness: and the bones that have been humbled shall rejoice.

¹¹ Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

¹² Create a clean heart in me, O God: and renew a right spirit within my bowels.

¹³ Cast me not away from thy face; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

¹⁴ Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and strengthen me with a perfect spirit.

¹⁵ I will teach the unjust thy ways: and the wicked shall be converted to thee.

¹⁶ Deliver me from blood, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall extol thy justice.

¹⁷ O Lord, thou wilt open my lips: and my mouth shall declare thy praise.

¹⁸ For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would indeed have given it: with burnt offerings thou wilt not be delighted.

¹⁹ A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

²⁰ Deal favourably, O Lord, in thy good will with Sion; that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up.

²¹ Then shalt thou accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations and whole burnt offerings: then shall they lay calves upon thy altar.

Show with Haydock Commentary or the Latin Vulgate Bible
Bible passage courtesy of VeritasBible.com

Behold, now is the acceptable time

The Traditional Mass returns to Sts. Peter and Paul in Naperville this afternoon after an absence of nearly 40 years. Deo gratias!

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A lesson from the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians:

Brethren, we exhort you that you receive not the grace of God in vain. For He saith: In an accepted time have I heard thee, and in the day of salvation have I helped thee. Behold, now is the acceptable time, behold now is the day of salvation. Giving no offense to any man, that our ministry be not blamed: but in all things let us exhibit ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in tribulation, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in prisons, in seditions, in labors, in watchings, in fastings, in chastity, in knowledge, in long-suffering, in sweetness, in the Holy Ghost, in charity unfeigned, in the word of truth, in the power of God, by the armor of justice on the right hand and on the left: by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers and yet true, as unknown and yet known: as dying, and behold we live: as chastised and not killed: as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing: as needy, yet enriching many: as having nothing and possessing all things.

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A prayer from Saint Thomas Aquinas. Thanksgiving After Holy Communion:

I thank You, O holy Lord,
almighty Father, eternal God,
who have deigned, not through any merits of mine,
but out of the condescension of Your goodness,
to satisfy me a sinner, Your unworthy servant,
with the precious Body and Blood of Your Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ.

I pray that this Holy Communion
be not a condemnation to punishment for me,
but a saving plea to forgiveness.

May it be to me the armor of faith
and the shield of a good will.
May it be the emptying out of my vices
and the extinction of all lustful desires;
and increase of charity and patience,
of humility and obedience, and all virtues;
a strong defense against the snares
of all my enemies, visible and invisible;
the perfect quieting of all my evil impulses
of flesh and spirit,
binding me firmly to You, the one true God;
and a happy ending of my life.

I pray too that You will deign to bring me, a sinner,
to that ineffable banquet where You
with Your Son and the Holy Spirit,
are to your Saints true light, fulfillment of desires, eternal joy,
unalloyed gladness, and perfect bliss.

Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

John 14:23-29

Today's Gospel for the New Mass:

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;
yet the word you hear is not mine
but that of the Father who sent me.

“I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give it to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
You heard me tell you,
‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’
If you loved me,
you would rejoice that I am going to the Father;
for the Father is greater than I.
And now I have told you this before it happens,
so that when it happens you may believe.”

John 14:23-29

Veni, Sancte Spíritus, et emítte cælitus lucis tuæ rádium.

Come, Holy Spirit, and from heaven send forth a ray of Thy light.

Woe to the Shepherds of Israel

And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: Son of man, prophesy concerning the shepherds of Israel: prophesy, and say to the shepherds:

Thus saith the Lord God: Woe to the shepherds of Israel, that fed themselves: should not the flocks be fed by the shepherds? You ate the milk, and you clothed yourselves with the wool, and you killed that which was fat: but my flock you did not feed. The weak you have not strengthened, and that which was sick you have not healed, that which was broken you have not bound up, and that which was driven away you have not brought again, neither have you sought that which was lost: but you ruled over them with rigour, and with a high hand.

And my sheep were scattered, because there was no shepherd: and they became the prey of all the beasts of the field, and were scattered. My sheep have wandered in every mountain, and in every high hill: and my flocks mere scattered upon the face of the earth, and there was none that sought them, there was none, I say, that sought them.

Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As I live, saith the Lord God, forasmuch as my flocks have been made a spoil, and my sheep are become a prey to all the beasts of the field, because there was no shepherd: for my shepherds did not seek after my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flocks: Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I myself come upon the shepherds, I will require my flock at their hand, and I will cause them to cease from feeding the flock any more, neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more: and I will deliver my flock from their mouth, and it shall no more be meat for them.

Ezechiel 34:1-10

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

Woe to the pastors

Woe to the pastors, that destroy and tear the sheep of my pasture, saith the Lord.
Therefore thus saith the Lord the God of Israel to the pastors that feed my people: You have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold I will visit upon you for the evil of your doings, saith the Lord.
And I will gather together the remnant of my flock, out of all the lands into which I have cast them out: and I will make them return to their own fields, and they shall increase and be multiplied.
And I will set up pastors over them, and they shall feed them: they shall fear no more, and they shall not be dismayed: and none shall be wanting of their number, saith the Lord.

Jeremias 23:1-4

It seems to me this could be read as a warning to many of the priests and princes of the Church of recent years. (See also Jeremias 10:21).

Called to Freedom

For you were called to freedom, brethren;
only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh,
but through love be servants of one another.
For the whole law is fulfilled in one word,
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
But if you bite and devour one another,
take heed that you are not consumed by one another.
But I say, walk by the Spirit,
and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.
For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit,
and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh;
for these are opposed to each other,
to prevent you from doing what you would.
But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are plain:
fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery,
enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit,
envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like.
I warn you, as I warned you before,
that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;
against such there is no law.
And those who belong to Christ Jesus
have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Let us have no self-conceit,
no provoking of one another,
no envy of one another.

Galatians 5:13-26

+++

If you totally fulfil the command to love your neighbour, you will feel no bitterness or resentment against him whatever he does. If this is not the case, then the reason why you fight against your brother is clearly because you seek after transitory things and prefer them to the commandment of love.

St. Maximos the Confessor

whoever wishes to be great

from today's gospel:

But Jesus summoned them and said,
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and the great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 20:25-28

Quinquagesima: Shrove Sunday

Today is Quinquagesima Sunday. Today, tomorrow and Tuesday are days when Catholics traditionally make a point of getting to Confession, to prepare for Lent which starts this week on Ash Wednesday (for Latin Rite Catholics).
[Break the name Quinquagesima apart syllable-by-syllable, and it is not hard to pronounce].

Traditional Epistle: I Corinthians 13:1-13
Traditional Gospel: Luke 18:31-43

New First Reading: I Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23
New Second Reading: I Corinthians 15:45-49
New Gospel: Luke 6:27-38

In the first reading, David says that he would not harm the Lord's annointed. This was merciful and righteous. In the traditional Gospel, our Lord Jesus Christ [Christ means "annointed one"] goes to Jerusalem, knowing that His unrighteous enemies will kill Him there. But even with that dread time approaching, He is merciful to one who has faith and asks for His help: He opens the eyes of a blind man. The heart of Jesus is love and mercy. In the new Gospel, our Lord says to love every man, even our enemies, and to love with more than abstract good wishes, but to love with a charity made manifest in actions. In the traditional Epistle, our Lord says that this love is essential, and without it we have nothing. Such a supernatural love seems impossible, but with God all things are possible, and in the second reading we hear that we shall bear the image of the new Adam, the man of heaven, who calls us now to turn away from sin and follow Him.

Ask for the old paths

Thus saith the Lord: Stand ye on the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, which is the good way, and walk ye in it: and you shall find refreshment for your souls.

Jeremias 6:16

Septuagesima Sunday

(Using the traditional Catholic calendar) today is Septuagesima Sunday, the start of the pre-Lenten season, a time of voluntary fasting and abstinence for some, a time of increased self-indulgence for others, all with an eye to the approach of the penitential season of Lent.

The Masses start to take a more sorrowful tone; starting today, "Alleluia" will no longer be said during Mass until the Easter Vigil.

Quadragesima Sunday occurs 40 days before Good Friday. Quinquagesima Sunday occurs 50 days before Easter, if you count both the Sunday and Easter. So Sexagesima (60) and Septuagesima (70) could just be an extension of the sequence, used to name the Sundays leading up to Lent in a consistent way.

But Septuagesima has an appeal as a name for the start of the season. The number occurs several times in the Bible, and could have symbolic value. (Today is actually only 63 days until Easter). Dom Gueranger particularly points to the Babylonian Captivity, which lasted 70 years (Jeremiah 25:8-12; Jeremiah 29:10; Daniel 9:2, 2 Chronicles 36:14-23). Israel was in captivity, and we are in captivity, but with the hope of one day returning to our true home.

Besides the Babylonian exile, there are other occurrences of the number 70 which can be read symbolically. Seventy members of Jacob's family went to Egypt (Genesis 46:26). Ezekiel saw 70 elders adoring idols (Ezekiel 8). According to Jewish tradition, the 70 descendants of Noah through Shem, Ham, and Japheth named in Genesis 10 became the fathers of 70 nations after the fall of the tower of Babel, and the confusion of languages (Genesis 11). Jerusalem fell in AD 70. The Egyptians mourned the death of Israel for seventy days (Genesis 50:3). Seventy years is the ordinary length of life in the Bible (Psalm 90:10). When the chosen people began longing for the fleshpots of Egypt, Moses took seventy elders of Israel up the mountain with him, and the Holy Spirit came down upon them (Numbers 11:24-25, Exodus 24:9). Jesus said to forgive seventy times seven times (Matthew 18:21-22). Jacob fathered 70 children (Exodus 1:5) The oasis that sheltered the chosen people in the desert had 70 palm trees (Exodus 15:27). Jesus chose 70 disciples (Luke 10:1-17). In a prophecy in Daniel, seventy weeks, or "weeks of years", are given for people to repent and atone for sin, in preparation for the last days of the present world.

There are a wealth of images in the Bible associating the number 70 with sin, punishment, mourning, repentance and blessing, which serve to turn our minds and hearts towards our Creator, Who wills to make us in His own spotless image, so that we might live with Him forever in Paradise.

Persevere in running the race

Today's reading:

Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him Jesus endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God. Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.

The Letter to the Hebrews continues:

And you have forgotten the exhortation which addresses you as sons? —

‘My son,
do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
or lose heart when you are punished by Him;
for the Lord disciplines him whom He loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.’

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers to discipline us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time at their pleasure, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant; later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with all men, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fail to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" spring up and cause trouble, and by it the many become defiled.

In this long wait for the restoration of the Traditional Mass, grant us, O Lord, patient and peaceful hearts.