Christ's Passion and Death is what saves us. These final two weeks of Lent – Passiontide – are privileged weeks. The Church calls us to reflect upon Our Lord's Passion and the unique role fulfilled by the Holy Mother of God. No exercise is more profitable for our sanctification. St. Bonaventure, St. John Eudes, St. Bridget of Sweden, Ven. Maria of Agreda and the benedictine monk John Lydgate serve as helpful guides.
Let us pray also for the perfidious Jews: that our God and Lord would remove the veil from their hearts; that they also may acknowledge our Lord Jesus Christ. 'Amen' is not responded, nor is said 'Let us Pray', or 'Let us kneel', or 'Arise', but immediately is said: AImighty and everlasting God, who drivest not away from Thy mercy even the perfidious Jews: hear our prayers, which we offer for the blindness of that people; that, acknowledging the light of Thy truth, which is Christ, they may be rescued from their darkness. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Our [...]
My Jesus, I firmly believe that Thou art present — Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity — in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. Lord, increase my faith. [pause] I love Thee above all things and desire Thee in my soul. Yet my love is weak and inconstant, strengthen my love evermore. [pause] Since I cannot now receive Thee under the sacramental veil, I beseech Thee, with a heart full of love and longing, to come spiritually into my soul. [pause] As though Thou wert already there, I embrace Thee and unite myself wholly to Thee; [...]
From a sermon given on Passion Sunday My Crucified Jesus, I devoutly kiss and adore the most holy Wound of Thy right hand, and pray Thee to bless my soul, and after death to open to me the gates of Heaven. Glory be to the Father . .. My Crucified Jesus, I devoutly kiss and adore the most holy Wound of Thy left hand, and pray Thee to deliver me from all evil, whether of the body or of the soul, and most especially from the unhappy fate of the wicked who shall stand at The left hand at the Day [...]
Passiontide is a time of mourning. All our statues, save the Stations, are veiled in purple. These are the two great weeks of our salvation. St. Philip Neri converted Rome by turning eyes onto the Passion of Christ. St. Paul of the Cross reminds us" "The greatest most stupendous overwhelming work of God's love is the passion and death of our Savior Jesus Christ; and so we have that always before us." Strive to meditate on His passion, at least a few minutes, every day. And pray for grace to suffer for the love of Jesus.
Things are now different in Passiontide. The Church covers up her saints? Why? She is merely following the spirit of her Master, who now covers up His glory. If Christ has nothing to give you, will you still follow Him? What are the limits of your love for Him? All that really matters is that we fall in love with Christ. This is the Catholic Faith. These two weeks define us as Catholics, how will you respond?
At the start of Passiontide we cover the cross and statues inside our churches and the relics are hidden. Veiling teaches many lessons. Our Lord hides from those who wish to kill Him until His hour arrives. Theologically, the Church too follows the Lord in His Passion. Liturgically, we veil that which is sacred and contains great power. Morally, veiling calls to mind the importance of modesty. Psychologically, veiling reminds us that many things remain hidden to us at present. It signals us to mortify our disordered curiosity and unhealthy suspicions, abandoning ourselves to Divine Providence. Anagogically, this practice foreshadows Christ [...]
How do we keep Christ's words? Do we seek to use them simply to justify ourselves and serve our cause? If so, we glorify ourselves. Yet if speak with meekness, bless, and give good words - for our salvation and our neighbor's advantage - then we glorify God. When one is unable to speak thus, silence is best, lest one mimic the devil's tongue uttering curses, insults, deceit and envy. In such an event we are worse than devils, because we use that very same tongue to also taste the Flesh of the Savior. We know it is hard to remain [...]
Passiontide is upon us and and we enter the two holiest weeks of the year. At this time, Christ calls His Church, each and every member, to be focussed on His Passion. His Passion is the font of all grace and mercy, of all life and salvation; the means whereby He conquered death and opened the gates of Heaven. The statues are now veiled, calling us to mourn and meditate constantly on His Passion. The saints teach there is no exercise more profitable for the salvation of the soul and to advance in virtue and grace. We have many ways by [...]
