So much is going on this week. Yesterday, Friday, the Gospel of the Mass (John 11: 47-54) talks about the sitting of the Sanhedrin, at which Christ's death was decreed. Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead about the time the pilgrims were getting ready to come to Jerusalem for Passover. The Sanhedrin, saying that the Romans (who ruled Judea) would be angry because of the influence of Our Lord, declared that He must die. St. Augustine said, "....(they) feared losing temporal goods and dreamed not of heavenly riches, thus did they themselves become lost, for after the Passion and Resurrection of our Saviour, the Romans assaulted their city, ruined their nation and carried them off into captivity." The Epistle is from the Old Testament, (Jeremias 17: 13-18), in which he expresses sorrow and anguish, which can be applied to Jesus, who feels Himself surrounded by such treacherous enemies. "....Thou are my hope in the day of affliction. let them be confounded that persecute me, and let not me be confounded: let them be afraid and let not me be afraid. Bring upon them the day of affliction, and with a double destruction destroy them, O Lord our God."
March 30 was also a commemoration of the Seven Sorrows of Mary, seven times her heart was pierced by that sword, prophesied by Simeon when Jesus was presented at the Temple as a babe. There are two commemorations of her sorrows, this one in Passiontide to show us her share in the sacrifice of Jesus, and the second during the Pentecost season to tell us of all the compassion which the Mother of Our Lord feels for the Church, in turn crucified, and whose devotion to the Sorrows of Mary increases in calamitous times such as these. The Seven Sorrows are listed as: 1) The Prophecy of Simeon, 2) The Flight into Egypt, 3) The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple, 4) The Meeting of Jesus and Mary on the Way of the Cross, 5) The Crucifixtion, 6) The Taking Down of the Body of Jesus from the Cross, 7) The Burial of Jesus.
When the fourteen Stations of the Cross are prayed, the hymn, Stabat Mater, is sung while walking to each Station. The Stations are listed below with the words to the hymn in English :
1. Jesus is condemned to death. At the cross her station keeping, Stood the mournful Mother weeping, Close to Jesus to the last.
2. Jesus is made to carry the cross. Through her heart, His sorrow sharing, All His bitter anguish bearing, Now at length the sword had pass'd.
3. Jesus falls the first time under the weight of the cross. Oh, how sad and sore distress'd Was that Mother, highly blest Of the sole-begotten One!
4. Jesus is met by His Blessed Mother. Christ above in torment hangs; She beneath beholds the pangs of her dying glorious Son.
5. Simon of Cyrene is made to help carry the cross. Is there one who would not weep Whelm'd in miseries so deep Christ's dear Mother to behold?
6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus. Can the human heart refrain From partaking in her pain, in that Mother's pain untold?
7. Jesus falls a second time. Bruis'd, derided, curs'd, defil'd, She beheld her tender child: All with bloody scourges rent.
8. The women of Jerusalem mourn for our Lord.
For the sins of His own nation, Saw Him hang in desolation, Till His spirit forth He sent.
9. Jesus falls the third time. O thou Mother! fount of love! Touch my spirit from above; Make my heart with thine accord.
10. Jesus is stripped of His garments. Make me feel as thou hast felt; Make my soul to glow and melt With the love of Christ our Lord.
11. Jesus is nailed to the cross. Holy Mother! pierce me through; In my heart each wound renew Of my Saviour crucified.
12. Jesus dies on the cross. Let me share with thee His pain Who for all my sins was slain, Who for me in torments died.
13. Jesus is laid in the arms of His Blessed Mother. Let me mingle tears with thee, Mourning Him who mourn'd for me, All the days that I may live.
14. Jesus is laid in the sepulchre. By the cross with thee to stay, There with thee to weep and pray, Is all I ask of thee to give.
Before each Station is prayed: We adore Thee O Christ and we praise Thee, because by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world. A commemoration of the event or meditation at that Station is recited and a prayer to Jesus, repenting of our sins. The Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be are then said. It is customary for the Stations to be offered in each parish every Friday during Lent.
Today is Saturday, the day before Palm Sunday. Mass today sums up the mysteries which will fill up the coming week. The Gospel (John 12: 10-36) shows us the "King of Israel", met by the people and acclaimed. St. Augustine says, "The branches of palms are the praises and emblems of victory; our Lord must conquer death by dying and triumph by the glory of the cross over the devil, the prince of death. Christ is King of Israel because He rules all souls and conducts to the heavenly kingdom, all those who believe in Him, hope in Him and love Him." A few gentiles ask to see Christ, foreseeing the conversion of nations. Jesus speaks of those who will not follow Him - "and he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth."
In the Epistle (Jeremias 18: 18-23), we hear Christ's voice (through Jeremias) declaring anathema "those who plot against the just. Their children will be delivered up to famine and their husbands put to death, for an unforeseen enemy will fall upon them and exterminate them." This was a prophesy fulfilled during the siege of Jerusalem. Those who did not die of famine died by the sword.
In this Gospel Christ says, "Now is the judgment of the world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to Myself. (Now this He said, signifying what death He should die.)"
Tomorrow, Palm Sunday, the liturgy will express both joy and sadness. It is the beginning of the final days of Christ's earthly life. On Palm Sunday is read the entire Gospel of the Passion according to St. Matthew. On Monday is recalled the visit to Mary and Martha, only six days before Passover, with Judas making an appearance. Tuesday the Passion according to Mark is read, Luke's version on Wednesday, Holy Thursday, of course, celebrates the initiation of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, and Friday the Passion according to St. John is read or sung in all solemnity.
What a week! Pray, sacrifice, concentrate on the biggest event that changed human history and gave Heaven back to the human race.
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