Deus, in adjutorium meum intende. Domine, ad adjuvandum me festina.
O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Today the Conclave begins. The Cardinals processed into the Sistine Chapel after their Mass to beg God's guidance. The Sistine Choir chanted the Litany of the Saints, to ask the members of the Church Triumphant in Heaven to ask Almighty God to help them, the Church Militant on Earth. The Cardinals chanted the response to each petition, "Ora pro nobis," "Pray for us." They ask for intercession, "Intercedite pro nobis." They ask to be delivered from evils and God's wrath, "Libera nos, Domine." And they ask God to hear their prayers, "Te rogamus, audi nos." The chant is beautiful and solemn.
A prayer that is offered in one of the masses for this fourth week of Lent certainly applies:
"O God, Who dost renew the world by ineffable mysteries: grant, we beseech Thee, that Thy Church may profit by Thine eternal institutions and may not be deprived of temporal help. Through Our Lord...."
Christ suffers excruciating and unimaginable pain as nails pierce his hands and feet. We must think again of our sins and the sins of the whole world for which He offers His Passion and Death. Our Church needs a leader willing to follow Our Lord on this Way. Peter was weak and wanting many times, but did not falter at the end. Bishops of Rome who came after Peter in the centuries of early persecution all suffered martyrdom. There are other kinds of martyrdom, and perhaps we don't know what suffering of spirit, at least, recent Popes have endured. We pray for a holy and strong Pope, willing to walk in the footsteps of St. Peter and Our Lord.
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The Eleventh Station: Jesus is nailed to the cross
We adore Thee, O Christ and we praise Thee,
Because by Thy holy cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Consider that Jesus, after being thrown on the cross, extended His hands, and offered to His eternal Father the sacrifice of His life for our salvation. These barbarians fastened Him with nails, and then, raising the cross, left Him to die with anguish on this infamous gibbet.
My Jesus, loaded with contempt, nail my heart to Thy feet, that it may ever remain there to love Thee and never quit Thee again. I love Thee more than myself; I repent of having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always, and then do with me what Thou wilt.
Our Father....Hail Mary....Glory Be....
Lord Jesus, crucified,
Have mercy on us!
Holy Mother, pierce me through!
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Savior crucified.
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