† Traditional Holy Mass Propers / The Prosession of The Palms, 01 April 2007 Anno Domini †

Traditional Holy Mass Propers
† Commemorating The Holy Procession & Blessing of The Palms †
Dominica in Palmis
Statio ad S. Joannem in Laterano
Missa Judica me
01 April 2007 Anno Domini
"....Art Thou the King of the Jews?...."

"Nothing is so consoling, so piercing, so thrilling, so overcoming, as the Mass, said as it is among us. I could attend Mass forever, and not be tired. It is not a mere form of words; it is a great action. The greatest action that can be on earth. It is. . .the vocation of the Eternal."

-- John Henry Cardinal Newman

"

The Apogee of Lent
by Abbe Dom Prosper Gueranger

The venerated Abbot Dom Prosper Gueranger shares his reflections excerpted from The Liturgical Year ( pages 192-283 of Volume 6 ) for Palm Sunday

We have reached the "apogee" - the very vertex of the penitential season of Lent when the humanity of Jesus Christ takes its toll, coming to the surface in sustaining the most brutal beating one could encounter; thus proving His unyielding, everlasting Love for us by His undertaking for us the burden of our sins and, only through His merits, making it possible that we might someday be in Paradise with Him. It begins on Palm Sunday in the streets of Jerusalem in celebratory anticipation and will climax on those very same streets less than a week later when their "Hero" is no longer fanned with palmfrons and hosannas, but spat upon and held in contempt for He failed to provide the instant gratification the people sought for they saw not with the light of faith, but of futility and fascination in someone they thought could make their lives easier, rid the Romans and call off the letter-of-the-law Sanhedrin. How many that day had regrets, saying: "if only we had known..."? We cannot make such excuses or regrets, for truly we know He was [is] the Son of God!

"In obedience to the wishes of the Church, we have knelt down at those words of the apostle, where he says that every knee should bow at the holy name of Jesus. If there be one time of the year rather than another, when the Son of God has a right to our fervent adorations, it is this week, when we see Him insulted in His Passion. Not only should His sufferings excite us to tender compassion; we should also keenly resent the insults that are heaped upon our Jesus, the God of infinite majesty. Let us strive, by our humble homage, to make Him amends for the indignities He suffered in atonement for our pride. Let us united with the holy angels, who, witnessing what He has gone through for the love of man, prostrate themselves, in profoundest adoration, at the sight of His humiliations."

Palm Sunday
Missa "Domine, ne longe facias auxilium Tuum a me"

Early in the morning of this Day, Jesus sets out for Jerusalem, leaving Mary His Mother, and the two sisters Martha and Mary Magdalene, and Lazarus at Bethania. The Mother of sorrows trembles at seeing her Son thus expose Himself to danger, for His enemies are bent upon His destruction; but it is not death, it is triumph, that Jesus is to receive today in Jerusalem. The Messias, before being nailed to the cross, is to be proclaimed King by the people of the great city; the little children are to make her streets echo with their Hosannas to the Son of David; and this in presence of the soldiers of Rome's emperor, and of the high priests and pharisees: the first standing under the banner of their eagles; the second, dumb with rage.

The prophet Zachary had foretold this triumph which the Son of Man was to receive a few days before His Passion, and which had been prepared for Him from all eternity. 'Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Sion! Shout for joy, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold thy King will come to thee; the Just and the Savior. He is poor and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass.'(1)- {Zach. ix. 9} Jesus, knowing that the hour has come for the fulfillment of this prophecy, singles out two from the rest of His disciples, and bids them lead to Him as ass and her colt, which they would find not far off. He has reached Bethphage, on Mount Olivet. The two disciples lose no time in executing the order given them by their divine Master; and the ass and the colt are soon brought to the place where He stands.

The holy fathers have explained to us the mystery of these two animals. The ass represents the Jewish people, which had been long under the yoke of the Law; the colt, upon which, as the evangelist says, no man yet hath sat,(2)-{ Blessed Apostle Saint Mark. Xi. 2 } is a figure of the Gentile world, which no one had ever yet brought into subjection. The future of these two peoples is to be decided a FEW DAYS hence the Jews will be rejected for having refused to acknowledge Jesus as the Messias; the Gentiles will take their place, to be adopted as God's people, and become docile and faithful.

The disciples spread their garments upon the colt; and our Savior, that the prophetic figure might be fulfilled, sits upon him,(3)-{ Ibid.7, and Blessed Apostle Saint Luke xix. 35 } and advances towards Jerusalem. As soon as it is known that Jesus is near the city, the holy Spirit works in the hearts of those Jews, who have come from all parts to celebrate the feast of the Passover. They go out to meet our Lord, holding palm branches in their hands, and loudly proclaiming Him to be King.(1)-{ Blessed Apostle Saint Luke xix. 38 } They that have accompanied Jesus from Bethania, join the enthusiastic crowd. Whilst some spread their garments on the way, others cut down boughs from the palm trees, and strew them along the road. Hosanna is the triumphant cry, proclaiming to the whole city that Jesus, the Son of David, has made His entrance as her King.

Thus did God, in His power over men's hearts, procure a triumph for His Son, and in the very city which, a few days later, was to clamor for His Blood This day was one of glory to our Jesus, and the holy Church would have us renew, each year, the memory of this triumph of the Man-God. Shortly after the birth of our Emmanuel, we saw the Magi coming from the extreme east, and looking in Jerusalem for the King of the Jews, to whom they intended offering their gifts and their adorations; but it is Jerusalem herself that now goes forth to meet this King. Each of these events is an acknowledgment of the kingship of Jesus; the first, from the Gentiles; the second homage, before He suffered His Passion. The inscription to be put upon the cross, by Pilate's order, will express the kingly character of the Crucified Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. Pilate, the Roman governor, the pagan, the base coward, has been unwittingly the fulfiller of a prophecy; and when the enemies of Jesus insist on the inscription being altered, Pilate will not deign to give them any answer but this: 'What I have written, I have written.' Today, it is the Jews themselves that proclaim Jesus to be their King; they will soon be dispersed, in punishment for their revolt against the Son of David; but Jesus is King, and will be so for ever. Thus were literally verified the words spoken by the Archangel to Mary, when he announced to her the glories of the Child that was to be born of her. 'The Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of David, His father; and He shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever.'(1)- { Blessed Apostle Saint Luke i 32 } Jesus begins His reign upon the earth this very day; and though the first Israel is soon to disclaim His rule, a new Israel, formed from the faithful few of the old, shall rise up in every nation of the earth, and become the kingdom of Christ, a kingdom such as no mere earthly monarch ever coveted in his wildest fancies of ambition.

This is the glorious mystery which ushers in the great week, the week of Dolours. Holy Church would have us give this momentary consolation to our heart, and hail our Jesus as our King. She has so arranged the service of today, that it should express both joy and sorrow; joy, by uniting herself with the loyal hosannas of the city of David; and sorrow, by compassionating the Passion of her divine Spouse...( pages 192-195 ).

...Let us lovingly go forth to meet this our King, our Savior, who comes to visit the daughter of Sion, as the prophet has just told us. He is in our midst; it is to Him that we pay honor with our palms: let us give Him our hearts too. He comes that He may be our King; let us welcome Him as such, and fervently cry out to Him: 'Hosanna to the Son of David!' ( page 199 ).

The Station at Rome is in the basilica of Saint John Lateran, the mother and mistress of all Churches. The papal function, however, now takes place at Saint Peter's; but the usual indulgences are still granted to those who visit the archbasilica. ( page 218 ).

[ Comments on the Palm Sunday's Epistle ] In obedience to the wishes of the Church, we have knelt down at those words of the apostle, where he says that every knee should bow at the holy name of Jesus. If there be one time of the year rather than another, when the Son of God has a right to our fervent adorations, it is this week, when we see Him insulted in His Passion. Not only should His sufferings excite us to tender compassion; we should also keenly resent the insults that are heaped upon our Jesus, the God of infinite majesty. Let us strive, by our humble homage, to make Him amends for the indignities He suffered in atonement for our pride. Let us united with the holy angels, who, witnessing what He has gone through for the love of man, prostrate themselves, in profoundest adoration, at the sight of His humiliations.( pages 219-220 ).

[ Final Comments for Palm Sunday following Solemn Vespers ] Let us now go over in our minds the other events which happened to our divine Lord on this day of His solemn entry into Jerusalem. Blessed Apostle Saint Luke tells us that it was on His approach to the city, that Jesus wept over it, and spoke these touching words: "If thou also hadst known, and that in this thy day, the things that are to thy peace! But now they are hidden from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, and thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and straiten thee on every side, and beat thee flat to the ground, and thy children who are in thee; and they shall not leave in thee a stone upon a stone; because thou hast not known the time of thy visitation." ( 1 )- { Blessed Apostle Saint Luke xix. 42-44 }.

A few days ago, we were reading in the holy Gospel how Jesus wept over the tomb of Lazarus; today He shed tears over Jerusalem. At Bethania His weeping was caused by the sight of bodily death, the consequence and punishment of sin; but this death is not irremediable: Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and he that believieth in Him shall never die. (1)-{ Blessed Apostle Saint John xi. 25 } Whereas, the state of the unfaithful Jerusalem is a figure of the death of the soul, and from this there is no resurrection, unless the soul, while time is given to her, return to the Author of life. Hence it is, that the tears shed by Jesus over Jerusalem are so bitter. Amidst the acclamations which greet His entry into the city of David, His heart is sad; for He sees that many of her inhabitants will not profit of the time of her visitation. Let us console the Heart of our Jesus, and be to Him a faithful Jerusalem.

The sacred historians tells us that Jesus, immediately upon His entrance into the city, went to the temple, and cast out all them that sold and bought there.(2)-{St. Matthew xxi 12} This was the second time that He had shown His authority in His Father's house and no one had dared to resist Him. The chief priests and pharisees found fault with Him, and accused Him to His face of causing confusion by His entry into the city; but our Lord confounded them by the reply He made. It is thus that in after ages, when it has pleased God to glorify His Son and the Church of His Son, the enemies of both have given vent to their rage; they protested against the triumph, but they could not stop it. But when God, in the unsearchable ways of His wisdom, allowed persecution and trial to follow these periods of triumph, then did these bitter enemies redouble their efforts to induce the very people that had cried Hosanna to the Son of David, to clamor for His being delivered up and crucified. They succeeded in fomenting persecution, but not in destroying the kingdom of Christ and His Church. The kingdom seemed, at times, to be interrupted in its progress; but the time for another triumph came. Thus will it be to the end; and then, after all these changes from glory to humiliation, and from humiliation to glory, the kingdom of Jesus and of His bride will gain the last and eternal triumph over this world, which would not know the time of its visitation.

We learn from Blessed Apostle Saint Matthew (1)-{ Saint Matthew xxi. 17 } that our Savior spent the remainder of this day at Bethania. His blessed Mother and the house of Lazarus were comforted by His return. There was not a single offer of hospitality made to Him in Jerusalem, at least there is mention in the Gospel of any such offer. We cannot help making the reflection, as we meditate upon this event of our Lord's life:--an enthusiastic reception is given to Him in the morning, He is proclaimed by the people as their King; but when the evening of that day comes on, there is not one of all those thousands to offer Him food or lodging. In the Carmelite monasteries of St. Teresa's reform, there is a custom, which has been suggested by this thought, and is intended as a reparation for this ingratitude shown to our Redeemer. A table is placed in the middle of the refectory; and after the community have finished their dinner, the food which was placed upon that table is distributed among the poor, and Jesus is honored in them. ( pages 238-240 )

Monday in Holy Week
Missa "Judica, Domine"

This morning, also, Jesus goes with His disciples to Jerusalem. He is fasting, for the Gospel, tells us that He was hungry. ( 1 )-{Blessed Apostle Saint Matthew xxi. 18 } He approaches a fig-tree, which is by the way-side; but finds nothing on it, save leaves only. Jesus, wishing to give us an instruction, curses the fig-tree, which immediately withers away. He would hereby teach us what they are to expect, who have nothing but good desires, and never produce in themselves the fruit of a real conversion. Nor is the allusion to Jerusalem less evident. This city is zealous for the exterior of divine worship; but her heart is hard and obstinate, and she is plotting, at this very hour, the death of the Son of God.

The greater portion of the day is spent in the temple, where Jesus holds long conversations with the chief priests and ancients of the people. His language to them is stronger than ever, and triumphs over all their captious questions. It is principally in the Gospel of Blessed Apostle Saint Matthew (2)-{ Saint Matthew xxi. 18 } that we shall find these answers of our Redeemer, which so energetically accuse the Jews of their sin of rejecting the Messias, and so plainly foretell the punishment their sin is to bring after it.

At length Jesus leaves the temple and takes the road that leads to Bethania. Having come as far as Mount Olivet, which commands a view of Jerusalem, He sits down and rests awhile. The disciples take this opportunity of asking Him how soon the chastisements He has been speaking of in the temple will come upon the city. His answer comprises two events: the destruction of Jerusalem, and the final destruction of the world. He thus teaches them that the first is the figure of the second. The time when each is to happen, is to be when the measure of iniquity is filled up. But, with regard to the chastisement that is to befall Jerusalem, He gives this more definite answer: "Amen I say to you: this generation shall not pass till all these things be done." ( 1 )- { Saint Matthew xxiv. 34 } He leaves Mount Olivet, returns to Bethania, and consoles the anxious heart of His most holy Mother...( pages 243-244 ).

[ Comments on the Epistle ] ...The holy angels look on with amazement at the treatment shown by the Jews to Jesus, and falling down, they adore the holy Face, which they see thus bruised and defiled: let us, also, prostrate and ask pardon, for our sins have outraged that same Face.

But let us hearken to the last words of our Epistle: He that hath walked in darkness, and hath no light, let him hope in the name of the Lord and lean upon his God. Who is this but the Gentile, abandoned to sin and idolatry? He knows not what is happening at this very hour in Jerusalem; he knows not that the earth possesses its Savior, and that this Savior is being trampled beneath the feet of His own chosen people; but, in a very short time, the light of the Gospel will shine upon this poor Gentile; he will believe; he will obey; he will love his Redeemer, even to laying down his life for Him. Then will be fulfilled the prophecy of the unworthy pontiff, who prophesied against his will that the death of Jesus would bring salvation to the Gentiles, by gathering into one family the children of God, that hitherto had been dispersed. ( 1 )-{ Saint John xi. 52 } ( page 247 ).

...Judas Iscariot, dares to protest against this waste (of the perfume Magdalene anoints Jesus with), as he calls it. His base avarice deprives him of feeling and respect for his divine Master. His opinion is shared in by several of the other disciples, for they are still carnal-minded. For several reasons Jesus permits Magdalene's generosity to thus blamed. And firstly, He wishes to announce His approaching death, which is mystically expressed by the pouring of this ointment upon His body. Then, too, He would glorify Magdalene; and He therefore tells those who are present, that her tender and ardent love shall be rewarded, and that her name shall be celebrated in every country, wheresoever the Gospel shall be preached. ( 4 )-{ Saint Matthew xxvi. 13 } And lastly, He would console those whose generous love prompts them to be liberal in their gifts to His altars; for what He here says of Magdalene is, in reality, a defense for them, when they are accused of spending too much over the beauty of God's house.

Let us prize each of these divine teachings. Let us love to honor Jesus, both in His own person, and in His poor. Let us honor Magdalene, and imitate her devotion to the Passion and death of our Lord. In fine, let us prepare our perfumes for our divine Master: there must be the myrrh of the Magi, which signifies penance, and the precious spikenard of Magdalene, which is the emblem of generous and compassionating love. ( pages 251-252 )

Tuesday in Holy Week
Missa Nos autem

Today, again, our Savior sets out in the morning for Jerusalem. His intention is to repair to the temple, and continue His yesterday's teachings. It is evident that His mission on earth is fast drawing to its close. He says to His disciples: "You know that after two days shall be the Pasch, and the Son of Man shall be delivered up to be crucified." ( 1 )- { Saint Matthew xxvi. 2 }.

On the road from Bethania to Jerusalem, the disciples are surprised at seeing the fig-tree which their divine Master had yesterday cursed, now dead. Addressing himself to Jesus, Peter says: 'Rabbi, behold, the fig-tree, which Thou didst curse, is withered away.'(2) {St. Mark xi. 21} Jesus replies: "Have the faith of God. Amen I say to you, that whosoever shall say to this mountain: Be thou removed and cast into the sea! and shall not stagger in his heart, but believe that whatsoever he saith shall be done, it shall be done unto him" ( 1 )-{ Saint Mark xi. 22, 23 } ( pages 255-256 ).

...No sooner has He (Jesus) entered the temple, than the chief priests, the scribes, and the ancients of the people, accost Him with these words: 'By what authority dost Thou these things? And who has given Thee this authority, that Thou shouldst do these things?(2)- {Ibid. 28} and who has given Thee this authority, that Thou shouldst do these things?' ( 2 )- { Ibid. 28 } We shall find our Lord's answer given in the Gospel...

In today's Mass, the Church reads the history of the Passion according to Blessed Apostle Saint Mark, who wrote his Gospel the next after Blessed Apostle Saint Matthew; hence it is that the second place is assigned to him. His account of the Passion is shorter than Blessed Apostle Saint Matthew's, of which it would often seem to be a summary; and yet certain details peculiar to this evangelist were evidently furnished by an eye-witness. Our readers are aware that Blessed Apostle Saint Mark was disciple of Blessed Apostle Saint Peter, and that his Gospel was written under the very eye of the prince of the apostles. ( page 256 )

[ Comments for the Epistle ] Again we have the plaintive words of Jeremias: he gives us the very words used by his enemies, when they conspired his death. It is evident, however, that the prophet is here the figure of one greater than himself. Let us, say these enemies, put wood upon his bread; that is, let us put poisonous word into what he eats that so we may cause his death. This is the literal sense of these words, as applied to the prophet; but how much more truly were they fulfilled in our Redeemer! He tells us that His divine Flesh is the true Bread that came down from Heaven. This Bread, this Body of the Man-God, is bruised, torn, and wounded; the Jews nail it to the wood; so that, it is, in a manner, made one with the wood, and the wood is all covered with Jesus' Blood. This Lamb of God was immolated on the wood of the cross; it is by His immolation, that we have given to us a Sacrifice which is worthy of God; and it is by this Sacrifice that we participate the Bread of Heaven, the Flesh of the Lamb, our true Pasch. ( pages 258-259 ).

Wednesday in Holy Week
Missa "In nomine Jesu"

The figurative lamb is now to make way for the true one; the Pasch of this year will substitute the reality for the type; and Jesus' Blood, shed by the hands of wicked priests, is soon to flow simultaneously with that of victims which have been hitherto acceptable to God only because they prefigured the Sacrifice of Calvary. The Jewish priesthood is about to be its own executioner, by immolating Him, whose Blood is to abrogate the ancient Alliance, and perpetuate the new one. ( page 274-275 ).

[ Comments on Lesson for the Mass ] ...The Synagogue will seek to stifle the Church in her infancy; but no sooner shall the Church, shaking the dust from her feet, turn from Jerusalem to the Gentiles than the vengeance of Christ will fall on the city which bought, betrayed, and crucified Him. Her citizens will have to pay dearly for these crimes. We learn from the Jewish historian Josephus, who was an eye-witness to the siege, that the fire which was raging in one of the streets was quenched by the torrents of their blood. Thus was fulfilled the threats pronounced by our Lord against this faithless city, as He sat on Mount Olivet, the day after His triumphant entry.

And yet, the destruction of Jerusalem was but a faint image of the terrible destruction which is to befall the world at the last day. Jesus, who is now despised and insulted by sinners, will then appear on the clouds of Heaven, and reparation will be made for these outrages. Now He suffers Himself to be betrayed, scoffed at, and spit upon; but when the day of vengeance is come, happy they that have served Him, and have compassionated with Him in His humiliations and sufferings! Woe to them that have treated Him with contempt! Woe to those who, not content with refusing to bear His yoke, have led others to rebel against Him! For He is King; He came into this world that He might reign over it; and they that despise His mercy shall not escape His justice. ( pages 281-282 )

[ Comment on the Epistle for Wednesday's Mass ] And we, after hearing both the old and new Testament upon the sufferings which Jesus went through for our sins, how shall we sufficiently love this dear Redeemer, who bore our infirmities and carried our sorrows, so as to look as a leper, and as one struck by God and afflicted?

We are healed by His bruises! O heavenly Physician, Who takes upon Himself the sufferings of those He comes to cure! ...

...Let us love and adore this divine silence, which works our salvation. Let us not pass over an iota of the devotedness which Jesus shows us-a devotedness which never could have existed save in the heart of a God. Oh! how much He has loved us, His children, the purchase of His Blood, His seed, as the prophet here calls us. O holy Church! Thou long-lived seed of Jesus, who laid down His life, thou art dear to Him, for He bought thee at a great price. Faithful souls! Give Him love for love. Sinners! Be converted to this your Savior; His Blood will restore you to life, for if we have all gone astray like sheep, remember what is added. The Lord hath laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. There is no sinner, however great may be his crimes, there is no heretic, or infidel, who has not his share in this precious Blood, whose infinite merit is such, that it could redeem a million worlds more guilty even than our own. ( pages 282-283 )

Traditional Holy Mass Propers Commemorating The
† Procession and Blessing Of The Palms †

Dominica in Palmis
Statio ad S. Joannem in Laterano

01 April 2007 Anno Domini

"....Art Thou the King of the Jews?...."

"All whatsoever you do in word or work, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ,
giving thanks to God the Father through Jesus Christ our Lord," --- Blessed Apostle Saint Paul

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday would be in any case a great and holy day, as it commemorates the last triumph of Our Lord Jesus Christ on earth and opens the Holy Week. On this day, the Church celebrates the triumphant entry of Our Lord into Jerusalem, when the multitude, going before and following after Him, cut off branches from the trees and strewed in His way, shouting: "Hosanna [glory and praise] to the Son of David. Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord." It is in commemoration of this triumph that palms are blessed and borne in solemn procession.

The principal ceremonies of the day are the blessing of the palms, the procession, and the Mass with the reading of the Passion. The blessing of the palms follows a ritual similar to that of the Mass, -- having an Epistle, a Gospel, a Preface, and a Sanctus. The Epistle refers to the murmuring of the Israelites in the desert, and their sighing for the flesh-pots of Egypt. The Gospel describes the triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The prayers which follow the Sanctus ask God to "bless the branches of palm . . . that whoever receives them may find protection of soul and body . . . that into whatever place they shall be brought, the inhabitants may obtain His blessing; that the devout faithful may understand the mystical meaning of the ceremony, that is, that the palms represent the triumph over the prince of death . . . and therefore, the issue thereof declares both the greatness of the victory, and the riches of God's mercy."

These ceremonies are the remainder of the early custom of having two Masses on this day: one for the blessing of the palms, the other after the procession. The prayers of the blessing, the Antiphon of the procession and the hymn Gloria laus make this one of the most impressive ceremonies of the Liturgical Year.

A very special 'Thank you' to the Friends of Fatima and Daily Catholic.org for edited commentaries and resourses related to today's Proper. Sources: Saint Andrew Daily Missal and the Marian Missal 1945.

Colors: Violaceus/Purple Vestments

A Semi-Double Observance

Introitus ~ Introit: Psalm 20, 21, 22

Dómine, ne longe fácias auxílium tuum a me: ad defensiónem meam áspice: líbera me de ore leónis, et a córnibus unicornuórum humilitátem meam. Ps. Deus, Deus meus, réspice in me: quare me dereliquísti? longe a salúte mea verba delictórum meórum. Dómine, ne longe fácias auxílium tuum a me: ad defensiónem meam áspice: líbera me de ore leónis, et a córnibus unicornuórum humilitátem meam. v. Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculórum. Amen. Repeat : Dómine, ne longe ....

:

Lord, do not stand at a distance, if Thou wouldst aid me; look to my defence: rescue me from the very mouth of the lion, the very horns of the wild oxen that have brought me thus low. Ps. My God, my God, look upon me: why hast Thou forsaken me? Why cannot my sinful words reach Thee, Who art my salvation? Lord, do not stand at a distance, if Thou wouldst aid me; look to my defence: rescue me from the very mouth of the lion, the very horns of the wild oxen that have brought me thus low. v. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Repeat : Lord do not stand at a distance....

ORATIO ~ COLLECT

Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, qui humáno géneri, ad imitándum humilitátis exémplum, Salvatórem nostrum carnem súmere et crucem subíre fecísti: concéde propítius; ut et patiéntiæ ipsíus habére documénta et resurrectiónis consórtia mereámur. Per eúndem Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus: per ómnia sæcula sæculórum. Amen.

:

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose ordinance our Saviour took flesh and suffered crucifixion to give mankind a pattern of humility, grant us this boon, that, with the lesson of His endurance before us, we may be found worthy to have fellowship in His resurrection: through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who is God, living and reigning with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.

EPISTOLA ~ EPISTLE ¤ Philippénses/Philippians 2:5-11

Léctio Epístolæ beáti Pauli Apóstoli ad Philippénses.

Fratres: Hoc enim sentíte in vobis, quod et in Christo Jesu: qui, cum in forma Dei esset non rapínam arbitrátus est esse se æquálem Deo: sed semetípsum exinanívit, formam servi accípiens, in similitúdinem hóminum factus, et hábitu invéntus ut homo. Humiliávit semetípsum, factus obédiens usque ad mortem, mortem autem crucis. Propter quod et Deus exaltávit illum, et donávit illi nomen, quod est super omne nomen: [ hic genuflectitur ] ut in nómine Jesu omne genu flectátur cæléstium, terréstrium, et infernórum: et omnis lingua confiteátur, quia Dóminus Jesus Christus in glória est Dei Patris..

Lesson from the Epistle of the Blessed Apostle Saint Paul to the Philippians.

Brethren: yours is to be the same mind which Christ Jesus showed. His nature is, from the first, divine, and yet He did not see, in the rank of Godhead, a prize to be coveted; He dispossessed Himself, and took the nature of a slave, fashioned in the likeness of men, and presenting Himself to us in human form; and then He lowered His own dignity, accepted an obedience which brought Him to death, death on a cross. That is why God has raised Him to such a height, given Him that name which is greater than any other name; [ here all kneel] so that everything in heaven and on earth and under the earth must bend the knee before the name of Jesus, and every tongue must confess Jesus Christ as the Lord, dwelling in the glory of God the Father.

GRADUALE ~ GRADUAL ¤ Psalm 72:24, 1-3

T enuísti manum déxteram meam : et in voluntáte tua deduxísti me : et cum glória assumpsísti me. Quam bonus Israël Deus rectis corde! mei autem pæne moti sunt pedes, pæne effúsi sunt gressus mei : quia zelávi in peccatóribus, pacem peccatórum videns.

Dhou dost hold me by my right hand: Thine to lead me in a way of Thy own choosing, Thine to take me up to Thyself in glory. What bounty God shows to Israel, to all upright hearts! Yet I came near to losing my foothold, and felt the ground sink under my steps, so indignant was I over the good fortune of the sinners that flout His law.

TRACTUS ~ TRACT: ¤ Psalm 21. 2-9, 18, 19, 22, 24, 32

D eus, Deus meus, réspice in me: quare me dereliquísti? Longe a salúte mea verba delictórum meórum. Deus meus, clamábo per diem, nec exáudies: in nocte, et non ad insipiéntiam mihi. Tu autem in sancto hábitas laus Israel. In te speravérunt patres nostri: speravérunt et liberásti eos. Ad te clamavérunt, et salvi facti sunt: in te speravérunt et non sunt confúsi. Ego autem sum vermis, et non homo: oppróbrium hóminum, et abjéctio plebis. Omnes, qui vidébant me, aspernabántur me: locúti sunt lábiis et movérunt caput. Sperávit in Dómino, erípiat eum: salvum fáciat eum, quóniam vult eum. Ipsi vero consideravérunt, et conspexérunt me: divisérunt sibi vestiménta mea, et super vestem meam misérunt sortem. Líbera me de ore leónis: et a córnibus unicórnium humilitátem meam. Qui timétis Dóminum, laudáte eum: univérsum semen Jacob, magnificáte eum. Annuntiábitur Dómino generátio ventúra: et anuntiábunt cæli justítiam ejus. Pópulo, qui nascétur, quem fecit Dóminus.

My God, my God, look upon me; why hast Thou forsaken me? Why cannot my sinful words reach Thee, Who art my salvation? Thou dost not answer, my God, when I cry out to Thee day and night and I am patient still. Thou art there nontheless, dwelling in the holy place Israel's ancient boast. It was in Thee that our fathers trusted, and Thou didst reward their trust by delivering them. They cried to Thee, and rescue came; no need to be ashamed of such trust as theirs. But I, poor worm, have no manhood left; I am a by-word to all, the laughing-stock of the rabble. All those who catch sight of me fall to mocking; mouthing out insults, while they toss their heads in scorn. He committed Himself to the Lord, why does not the Lord come to His rescue and set His favourite free? They stand there watching Me, gazing at Me. They divide My spoils among them, cast lots for My garments. Rescue me from the very mouth of the lion, the very horns of the wild oxen that have brought me thus low. Praise the Lord, all you that are His worshippers; honour to Him, from the sons of Jacob. The Lord will claim for His own a generation that is still to come; heaven itself will make known His faithfulness. To a people yet to be born, a people of the Lord's own founding.

From A Series of 153 Woodcuts by Jerome Nadal, SJ,
published in Evangelicae Historiae Imagines c.1593

EVANGELIUM ~ GOSPEL - Blessed Apostle Saint Matthew 26:36-75; 27:1-60

† Pássio Dómini nostri Jesu Christi secúndum Matthæum †
I n illo témpore: n illo témpore: Venit Jesus cum discípulis suis in villam, quæ dícitur Gethsémani, et dixit discípulis suis: [+] Sedéte hic donec vadam illuc, et orem. [C.] Et assúmpto Petro, et duóbus fíliis Zebedæi, cæpit contristári et mæstus esse. Tunc ait illis: [+] Tristis est ánima mea usque ad mortem: sustinéte hic, et vigiláte mecum. [C.] Et progréssus pusíllum, prócidit in fáciem suam, orans, et dicens: [+] Pater mi, si possíbile est, tránseat a me calix iste: verúmtamen non sicut ego volo, sed sicut tu. [C.] Et venit ad discípulos suos, et invénit eos dormiéntes, et dicit Petro: [+] Sic non potuístis una hora vigiláre mecum? Vigiláte, et oráte ut non intrétis in tentatiónem. Spíritus quidem promptus est, caro autem infírma. [C.] Iterum secúndo ábiit, et orávit, dicens: [+] Pater mi, si non potest hic calix transíre nisi bibam illum, fiat volúntas tua. [C.] Et venit íterum, et invénit eos dormiéntes: erant enim óculi eórum graváti. Et relíctis illis, íterum ábiit, et orávit tértio, eúndem sermónem dicens. Tunc venit ad discípulos suos, et dicit illis: [+] Dormíte jam, et requiéscite: ecce appropinquávit hora, et Fílius hóminis tradétur in manus peccatórum. Súrgite, eámus: ecce appropinquávit qui me tradet.
[C.] Adhuc eo loquénte, ecce Judas unus de duódecim venit, et cum eo turba multa cum gládiis et fústibus, missi a princípibus sacerdótum, et senióribus pópuli. Qui autem trádidit eum, dedit illis signum, dicens:[S.] Quemcúmque osculátus fúero, ipse est, tenéte eum. [C.] Et conféstim accédens ad Jesum, dixit: [S.] Ave Rabbi. [C.] Et osculátus est eum. Dixítque illi Jesus: [+] Amíce, ad quid venísti? [C.] Tunc accessérunt, et manus injecérunt in Jesum, et tenuérunt eum. Et ecce unus ex his qui erant cum Jesu, exténdens manum, exémit gládium suum, et percútiens servum príncipis sacerdótum amputávit aurículam ejus. Tunc ait illi Jesus: [+] Convérte gládium tuum in locum suum: omnes enim, qui accepérint gládium, gládio períbunt. An putas, quia non possum rogáre Patrem meum, et exhibébit mihi modo plus quam duódecim legiónes Angelórum? Quómodo ergo implebúntur Scriptúræ, quia sic opórtet fíeri?
[C.] In illa hora dixit Jesus turbis: [+] Tamquam ad latrónem exístis cum gládiis et fústibus comprehéndere me: quotídie apud vos sedébam docens in templo, et non me tenuístis. [C.] Hoc autem totum factum est, ut adimpleréntur Scriptúræ prophetárum. Tunc discípuli omnes, relícto eo, fugérunt.
At illi tenéntes Jesum, duxérunt ad Cáipham príncipem sacerdótum, ubi scribæ et senióres convénerant. Petrus autem sequebátur eum a longe, usque in átrium príncipis sacerdótum. Et ingréssus intro, sedébat cum minístris, ut vidéret finem. Príncipes autem sacerdótum, et omne concílium, quærébant falsum testimónium contra Jesum, ut eum morti tráderent: et non invenérunt, cum multi falsi testes accessíssent. Novíssime autem venérunt duo falsi testes, et dixérunt: [S.] Hic dixit: Possum destrúere templum Dei, et post tríduum reædificáre illud. [C.] Et surgens princeps sacerdótum, ait illi: [S.] Nihil respóndes ad ea, quæ isti advérsum te testificántur? [C.] Jesus autem tacébat. Et princeps sacerdótum ait illi: [S.] Adjúro te per Deum vivum, ut dicas nobis si tu es Christus Fílius Dei. [C.] Dicit illi Jesus: [+] Tu dixísti. Verúmtamen dico vobis, ámodo vidébitis Fílium hóminis sedéntem a dextris virtútis Dei, et veniéntem in núbibus cæli. [C.] Tunc princeps sacerdótum scidit vestiménta sua, dicens: [S.] Blasphemávit: quid adhuc egémus téstibus? Ecce nunc audístis blasphémiam: quid vobis vidétur? [C.] At illi respondéntes dixérunt: [S.] Reus est mortis.
[C.] Tunc expuérunt in fáciem ejus, et cólaphis eum cecidérunt, álii autem palmas in fáciem ejus dedérunt, dicéntes: [S.] Prophetíza nobis, Christe, quis est qui te percússit? [C.] Petrus vero sedébat foris in átrio: et accéssit ad eum una ancílla, dicens: [S.] Et tu cum Jesu Galilæo eras. [C.] At ille negávit coram ómnibus, dicens: [S.] Néscio quid dicis. [C.] Exeúnte autem illo jánuam, vidit eum ália ancílla, et ait his, qui erant ibi: [S.] Et hic erat cum Jesu Nazaréno. [C.] Et íterum negávit cum juraménto: Quia non novi hóminem. Et post pusíllum accessérunt qui stabant, et dixérunt Petro: [S.] Vere et tu ex illis es: nam et loquéla tua maniféstum te facit. [C.] Tunc cæpit detestári et juráre quia non novísset hóminem. Et contínuo gallus cantávit. Et recordátus est Petrus verbi Jesu, quod díxerat: Priúsquam gallus cantet, ter me negábis. Et egréssus foras, flevit amáre.
Mane autem facto, consílium iniérunt omnes príncipes sacerdótum et senióres pópuli advérsus Jesum, ut eum morti tráderent. Et vinctum adduxérunt eum, et tradidérunt Póntio Piláto præsidi. Tunc videns Judas, qui eum trádidit, quod damnátus esset, pæniténtia ductus, rétulit trigínta argénteos princípibus sacerdótum, et senióribus, dicens: [S.] Peccávi, tradens sánguinem justum. [C.] At illi dixérunt: [S.] Quid ad nos? Tu víderis. [C.] Et projéctis argénteis in templo, recéssit: et ábiens, láqueo, se suspéndit. Príncipes autem sacerdótum, accéptis argénteis, dixérunt: [S.] Non licet eos míttere in córbonam: quia prétium sánguinis est. [C.] Consílio autem ínito, emérunt ex illis agrum fíguli, in sepultúram, peregrinórum. Propter hoc vocátus est ager ille, Hacéldama, hoc est, ager sánguinis, usque in hodiérnum diem. Tunc implétum est quod dictum est per Jeremíam prophétam, dicéntem: Et accepérunt trigínta argénteos prétium appretiáti, quem appretiavérunt a fíliis Israel: et dedérunt eos in agrum fíguli, sicut constítuit mihi Dóminus.
Jesus autem stetit ante præsidem, et interrogávit eum præses, dicens: [S.] Tu es Rex Judæórum? [C.] Dicit illi Jesus: [+] Tu dicis. [C.] Et cum accusarétur a princípibus sacerdótum et senióribus, nihil respóndit. Tunc dicit illi Pilátus: [S.] Non audis quanta advérsum te dicunt testimónia? [C.] Et non respóndit ei ad ullum verbum, ita ut mirarétur præses veheménter. Per diem autem solémnem consuéverat præses pópulo dimíttere unum vinctum, quem voluíssent: habébat autem tunc vinctum insígnem, qui dicebátur Barábbas. Congregátis ergo illis, dixit Pilátus: [S.] Quem vultis dimíttam vobis: Barábbam, an Jesum, qui dícitur Christus? [C.] Sciébat enim quod per invídiam tradidíssent eum. Sedénte autem illo pro tribunáli, misit ad eum uxor eius, dicens: [S.] Nihil tibi, et justo illi: multa enim passa sunt hódie per visum propter eum. [C.] Príncipes autem sacerdótum et senióres persuasérunt pópulis ut péterent Barábbam, Jesum vero pérderent. Respóndens autem præses, ait illis: [S.] Quem vultis vobis de duóbus dimítti? [C.] At illi dixérunt: [S.] Barábbam. [C.] Dicit illis Pilátus: [S.] Quid ígitur fáciam de Jesu, qui dícitur Christus? [C.] Dicunt omnes: [S.] Crucifigátur. [C.] Ait illis Præses: [S.] Quid enim mali fecit? [C.] At illi Magis clamábant dicéntes: [S.] Crucifigátur. [C.] Videns autem Pilátus quia nihil profíceret, sed magis tumúltus fíeret: accépta aqua, lavit manus coram pópulo, dicens: [S.] Innocens ego sum a sánguine justi hujus: vos vidéritis. [C.] Et respóndens univérsus pópulus, dixit: [S.] Sanguis ejus super nos, et super fílios nostros. [C.] Tunc dimísit illis Barábbam: Jesum autem flagellátum trádidit eis ut crucifigerétur.
Tunc mílites præsidis suscipiéntes Jesum in prætórium, congregavérunt ad eum univérsam cohórtem, et exuéntes eum, chlámydem coccíneam circumdedérunt ei, et plecténtes corónam de spinis, posuérunt super caput eius, et arúndinem in déxtera eius. Et genu flexo ante eum, illudébant ei, dicéntes: [S.] Ave Rex Judæórum. [C.] Et expuéntes in eum, accepérunt arúndinem, et percutiébant caput ejus. Et postquam illusérunt ei, exuérunt eum chlámyde, et induérunt eum vestiméntis ejus, et duxérunt eum ut crucifígerent.
Exeúntes autem invenérunt hóminem Cyrenæum, nómine Simónem: hunc angariavérunt ut tólleret crucem ejus. Et venérunt in locum qui dícitur Gólgotha, quod est Calváriæ locus. Et dedérunt ei vinum bíbere cum felle mixtum. Et cum gustásset, nóluit bíbere. Postquam autem crucifixérunt eum, divisérunt vestiménta eius, sortem mitténtes: ut implerétur quod dictum est per prophétam dicéntem: Divisérunt sibi vestiménta mea, et super vestem meam misérunt sortem. Et sedéntes, servábant eum. Et imposuérunt super caput eius causam ipsíus scriptam: Hic est Jesus Rex Judæórum. Tunc crucifíxi sunt cum eo duo latrónes: unus a dextris, et unus a sinístris. Prætereúntes autem blasphemábant eum movéntes cápita sua, et dicéntes: [S.] Vah qui déstruis templum Dei, et in tríduo illud reædíficas: salva temetípsum: si Fílius Dei es, descénde de cruce. [C.] Simíliter et príncipes sacerdótum illudéntes cum scribis et senióribus dicébant: [S.] Alios salvos fecit, seípsum non potest salvunt facere: si Rex Israel est, descéndat nunc de cruce, et crédimus ei: confídit in Deo: líberet nunc, si vult eum: dixit enim: Quia Fílius Dei sum. [C.] Idípsum autem et latrónes, qui crucifíxi erant eum co, improperábant ei.
A sexta autem hora ténebræ factæ sunt super univérsam terram usque ad horam nonam. Et circa horam nonam clamávit Jesus voce magna, dicens: [+] Eli, Eli, lamma sabactháni? [C.] Hoc est: [+] Deus meus, Deus meus, ut quid dereliquísti me? [C.] Quidam autem illic stantes, et audiéntes, dicébant: [S.] Elíam vocat iste. [C.] Et contínuo, currens unus ex eis, accéptam spóngiam implévit acéto, et impósuit arúndini, et dabat ei bíbere. Cæteri vero dicébant: [S.] Sine, videámus an véniat Elías líberans eum [C.] Jesus autem íterum clamans voce, magna, emísit spíritum.
[Hic genuflectitur, et pausatur aliquantulum.]
Et ecce velum templi scissum est in duas partes a summo, usque deórsum: et terra mota est, et petræ scissæ sunt, et monuménta apérta sunt: et multa córpora sanctórum, qui dormíerant, surrexérunt. Et exeúntes de monuméntis post resurrectiónem ejus, venérunt in sanctam civitátem, et apparuérunt multis. Centúrio autem, et qui cum eo erant, custodiéntes Jesum, viso terræmótu, et his, quæ fiébant, timuérunt valde, dicéntes: [S.] Vere Fílius Dei erat iste.
[C.] Erant autem ibi mulíeres multæ a longe, quæ secútæ erant Jesum a Galilæa, ministrántes ei: inter quas erat María Magdaléne, et María Jacóbi, et Joseph mater, et mater filiórum Zebedæi. Cum autem sero factum esset, venit quidam homo dives ab Arimathæa, nómine Joseph, qui et ipse discípulus erat Jesu: hic accéssit ad Pilátum, et pédit corpus Jesu. Tunc Pilátus jussit reddi corpus. Et accépto córpore, Joseph invólvit illud in síndone munda. Et pósuit illud in monuménto suo novo, quod excíderat in petra. Et advólvit saxum magnum ad óstium monuménti, et ábiit..

† The Gospel of the Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ recorded by Blessed Apostle Saint Matthew

At that time. Jesus came with His disciples to a country place called Gethsemani, and He said to His disciples, [+] "Sit down here, while I go over yonder and pray." [C.] And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be saddened and exceedingly troubled. Then He said to them, [+] "My soul is sad, even unto death. Wait here and watch with Me." [C.] And going forward a little, He fell on His face, and prayed, saying, [+] "Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou willest." [C.] Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And He said to Peter, [+] "Could you not then watch one hour with Me? Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." [C.] Again a second time He went away and prayed, saying, [+] "My Father, if this cup cannot pass away unless I drink it, Thy will be done." [C.] And He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. And leaving them He went back again, and prayed a third time, saying the same words over. Then He came to His disciples, and said to them, [+] "Sleep on now, and take your rest. Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go. Behold, he who betrays Me is at hand."
[C.] And while He was yet speaking, behold Judas, one of the Twelve, came and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, [S.] "Whomever I kiss, that is He; lay hold of Him." [C.] And he went straight up to Jesus and said, [S.] "Hail, Rabbi!" [C.] and kissed Him. And Jesus said to him, [+] "Friend, for what purpose hast thou come?" [C.] Then they came forward and set hands on Jesus and took Him. And behold, one of those who was with Jesus, stretching forth his hand, drew his sword, and striking the servant of the high priest, cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, [+] "Put back thy sword into its place; for all those who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or dost thou suppose that I cannot entreat My Father, and He will even now furnish Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then are the Scriptures to be fulfilled, that thus it must happen?"
[C.] In that hour Jesus said to the crowds, [+] "As against a robber you have come out, with swords and clubs to seize Me. I sat daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not lay hands on Me." [C.] Now all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples left Him and fled.
Now those who had taken Jesus led Him away to Caiphas the high priest, where the Scribes and the elders had gathered together. But Peter was following Him at a distance, even to the courtyard of the high priest, and he went in and sat with the attendants to see the end. Now the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin were seeking false witness against Jesus, that they might put Him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. But last of all there came forward two false witnesses, and they said, [S.] "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it after three days.'" [C.] Then the high priest, standing up, said to Him, [S.] "Dost Thou make no answer to the things that these men prefer against Thee?" [C.] But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, [S.] "I adjure Thee by the living God that Thou tell us whether Thou art the Christ, the Son of God." [C.] Jesus said to him, [+] "Thou hast said it. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power of God and coming upon the clouds of heaven." [C.] Then the high priest tore his garments, saying, [S.] "He has blasphemed; what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" [C.] And they answered and said, [S.] "He is liable to death."
[C.] Then they spat in His face and buffeted Him; while others struck His face with the palms of their hands, saying, [S.] "Prophesy to us, O Christ! who is it that struck Thee?" [C.] Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard; and a maidservant came up to him and said, [S.] "Thou also wast with Jesus the Galilean." [C.] But he denied before them all, saying, [S.] "I do not know what thou art saying." [C.] And when he had gone out to the gateway, another maid saw him, and said to those who were there, [S.] "This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth." [C.] And again he denied with an oath, "I do not know the Man!" And after a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, [S.] "Surely thou also art one of them, for even thy speech betrays thee." [C.] Then he began to curse and to swear that he did not know the Man. And at that moment the cock crowed. And Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said, "Before the cock crows, thou wilt deny Me thrice." And he went out and wept bitterly.
Now when morning came all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel together against Jesus in order to put Him to death. And they bound Him and led Him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the procurator. Then Judas, who betrayed Him, when he saw that He was condemned, repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, [S.] "I have sinned in betraying innocent blood." [C.] But they said, [S.] "What is that to us? See to it thyself." [C.] And he flung the pieces of silver into the temple, and withdrew; and went away and hanged himself with a halter. And the chief priests took the pieces of silver, and said, [S.] "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, seeing that it is the price of blood." [C.] And after they had consulted together, they bought with them the potter's field, as a burial place for strangers. For this reason that field has been called even to this day, Haceldama, that is, the Field of Blood. Then was fulfilled what was spoken through Jeremias the prophet, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him Who was prized, upon whom the children of Israel set a price; and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me."
Now Jesus stood before the procurator; and the procurator asked Him, saying, [S.] "Art Thou the King of the Jews?" [C.] Jesus said to him [+] "Thou sayest it." [C.] And when He was accused by the chief priests and the elders, He made no answer. Then Pilate said to Him, [S.] "Dost Thou not hear how many things they prefer against Thee?" [C.] But He did not answer him a single word, so that the procurator wondered exceedingly. Now at festival time the procurator used to release to the crowd a prisoner, whomever they would. Now he had at that time a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said, [S.] "Whom do you wish that I release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus Who is called Christ?" [C.] For he knew that they had delivered Him up out of envy. Now, as he was sitting on the judgment-seat, his wife sent to him, saying, [S.] "Have nothing to do with that Just Man, for I have suffered many things in a dream today because of Him." [C.] But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to destroy Jesus. But the procurator addressed them, and said to them, [S.] "Which of the two do you wish that I release to you?" [C.] And they said, [S.] "Barabbas." [C.] Pilate said to them, [S.] "What then am I to do with Jesus Who is called Christ?" [C.] They all said, [S.] "Let him be crucified!" [C.] The procurator said to them, [S.] "Why, what evil has He done?" [C.] But they kept crying out the more, saying, [S.] "Let Him be crucified!" [C.] Now Pilate, seeing that he was doing no good, but rather that a riot was breaking out, took water and washed his hands in sight of the crowd, saying, [S.] "I am innocent of the blood of this Just Man; see to it yourselves." [C.] And all the people answered and said, [S.] "His blood be on us and on our children." [C.] Then he released to them Barabbas; but Jesus he scourged and delivered to them to be crucified.
Then the soldiers of the procurator took Jesus into the praetorium, and gathered together about Him the whole cohort. And they stripped Him and put on Him a scarlet cloak; and plaiting a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed into His right hand; and bending the knee before Him they mocked Him, saying, [S.] "Hail, King of the Jews!" [C.] And they spat on Him, and took the reed and kept striking Him on the head. And when they had mocked Him, they took the cloak off Him and put on Him His own garments, and led Him away to crucify Him.
Now as they went out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon; him they forced to take up His cross. And they came to the place called Golgotha, that is, the Place of the Skull. And they gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall; but when He had tasted it, He would not drink. And after they had crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots, to fulfill that which was spoken through the prophets, saying, "They divided My garments among them, and upon My vesture they cast lots." And sitting down they kept watch over Him. And they put above His head the charge against Him, written This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.
Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on His right hand and one on His left. Now the passers-by were jeering at Him, shaking their heads, and saying, [S.] "Thou Who destroyest the temple, and in three days buildest it up again, save Thyself! If Thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross!" [C.] In like manner, the chief priests with the Scribes and the elders, mocking, said, [S.] "He saved others, Himself He cannot save! If He is the King of Israel, let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He wants Him; for He said, "I am the Son of God."' [C.] And the robbers also, who were crucified with Him, reproached Him in the same way.
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. But about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, [+] "Eli, Eli, lama sabacthani." [C.] That is, [+] "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"' [C.] And some of the bystanders on hearing this said, [S.] "This man is calling Elias." [C.] And immediately one of them ran and, taking a sponge, soaked it in common wine, put it on a reed and offered it to Him to drink. But the rest said, [S.] "Wait, let us see whether Elias is coming to save Him." [C.] But Jesus again cried out with a loud voice, and gave up His spirit.
[Here all kneel, and pause a little while.]
And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were rent, and the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep arose; and coming forth out of the tombs after His resurrection, they came into the holy city, and appeared to many. Now when the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, they were very much afraid, and they said, [S.] "Truly He was the Son of God."
[C.] And many women were there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. Now when it was evening, there came a certain rich man of Arimathea, Joseph by name, who also himself was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered the body to be given up. And Joseph taking the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock. Then he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb, and departed.

OFFERTORIUM / OFFERTORY ¤ Psalm 68:21-22

Impropérium exspectávit cor meum, et misériam: et sustínui qui simul mecum contristarétur, et non fuit: consolántem me quæsívi, et non invéni: et dedérunt in escam meam fel, et in siti mea potavérunt me acéto.

N aught else but shame and misery does My heart forbode. I look around for pity, where pity is none; for comfort, where there is no comfort to be found: they gave Me gall to eat, and when I was thirsty they gave Me vinegar to drink.

SECRETA ~ SECRET

Concéde, quæsumus, Dómine: ut óculos tuæ majestátis munus oblátum, et grátiam nobis devotiónis obtíneat, et efféctum beátæ perennitátis acquírat. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sæcula sæculórum. Amen.

Grant, we pray Thee, Lord, that the gift we set before Thy majesty may obtain for us the grace of devotion, and ensure us an eternity of bliss. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

PREFACE FOR LENT

Vere dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper, et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater Omnipotens, aeterne Deus. Qui corporali jejunio vitia comprimis, mentem elevas, virtutem largiris et praemia : per Christum Dominum nostrum. Per quem majestatem tuam laudant Angeli, adorant Dominationes, tremunt Potestates. Coeli, caelorumque Virtutes, ac beata Seraphim, socia exsultatione concelebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces, ut admitti jubeas deprecamur, supplici confessione dicentes: SANCTUS, SANCTUS, SANCTUS....

It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father Almighty, Ever-lasting God: Who by this bodily fast, dost curb our vices, dost lift up our minds and bestow on us strength and rewards; through Christ our Lord. Through whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, the Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with these we entreat Thee that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted while we say with lowly praise: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY...

COMMUNIO ~ COMMUNION ¤ Blessed Apostle Saint Matthæum/Matthew 26:42

Pater, si non potest hic calix transíre nisi bibam illum, fiat volúntas tua.

Father, if this chalice may not pass me by, but I must drink it, then Thy will be done.

POSTCOMMUNIO ~ POSTCOMMUNION

Per hujus, Dómine, operatiónem mystérii, et vítia nostra purgéntur, et justa desidéria compleántur. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sæcula sæculórum. Amen.

By the working of this sacrament, Lord, may our sins be purged away, and our just desires fulfilled. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

† - Holy Queen of Heaven and Earth, pray for us. - †

PRAYER FOR HOLY PRIESTS

O my Jesus, I thank Thee, that Thou art truly, actually, and substantially, human and divine,
present here in the mystery of the Sacrament of the Altar.

Thou hast said, "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you."
See, Lord, I come and knock. I ask Thee:
Send us holy priests!

O my Jesus, Thou hast said: "Whatever you ask the Father in MY Name, it shall be granted you."
See, Lord, in Thy Name I ask Thy Father the grace:
Send us holy priests!

O my Jesus, Thou hast said: "Heaven and earth shall pass away but My Word shall not pass away."
See, Lord, in trust of the infallibility of Thy Word, I ask Thee:
Send us holy priests!

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in Thee!
Please bless Thy priests!

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, it is not possible for Thee to have no sympathy for us wretches.
Have mercy on us sinners, and grant us through the threefold full of grace, beautiful, and
Immaculate Heart of Mary, Thy Mother and ours, the grace to which we pray to Thee. Amen.

O Mary, Queen of the clergy, pray for us:
obtain for us many holy priests.

O Lord, grant unto Thy Church saintly priests and fervent religious.

Send forth, O Lord, laborers into Thy harvest.

O Lord, grant us priests!
O Lord, grant us holy priests!
O Lord, grant us many holy priests!
O Lord, grant us many holy religious vocations!

Pope Saint Pius X, pray for us.

Prayer for the Universal Church

Pray for those who have been wandering and wondering in the conciliar desert for lo over 40 years. Pray for the conversion of the Novus Ordo hierarchy from the highest to the lowest echelons of the clergy, who, in the same manner as the Arian bishops, have apostasized from the True Church which Jesus Christ established on the Rock of Peter. Pray that they will wake from their devastating slumber, cast off their lukewarmness, and demand the unadulterated dogmatic Faith with no novelties, no ecumenism, no modernism, no anything but truly Catholic, embodied by true shepherds who will mandate the only possible Catholic worship - the true and continual sacrifice: the Traditional Latin Mass, set in stone for all time by Pope Saint Pius V.

O God, our refuge and our strength, smite those failing to lead Thy Holy Church,
by and through the intercession of Saint Michael the Archangel; the Immaculate Virgin Mother Mary; Beloved Saint Joseph; Thy blessed apostles Peter and Paul; and all the saints.
Hear our fervent prayers for more holy priests consecrated according to Thy will;
Provide Your Church leadership with the courage to convert all heretics, pagans, false idolaters and false god worshipers, and especially non-Catholics who refuse to accept the One True Church founded by Your Son and our Redeemer, Christ Jesus;
We pray for a sacred reformation of our Holy Mother Church - according to Your servant, Pope Pius XII in his Apostolic Constitution Sacramentum Ordinis.
We pray for these intercessions through the mercy and grace of Your Son, our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus.
Amen.

P r a y e r for H e r e t i c s

Orémus et pro hæréticis: ut Deus et Dóminus noster éruat eos ab erróribus univérsis; et ad sanctam matrem Ecclésiam Cathólicam, atque Apostólicam revocáre dignétur. Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, qui salvas omnes, et néminem vis períre réspice ad ánimas diabólica fraude decéptas; ut omni hærética pravitáte depósita, errántium corda resipíscant, et ad veritátis tuæ rédeant unitátem. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Let us pray for pagans and heretics, that our Most Holy Trinity may deliver them from all their errors, and vouchsafe to guide their endangered souls to their holy Mother, the Catholic and Apostolic Church. Almighty, eternal God, Who dost save all, and willest not that any should perish, look upon the souls deceived by diabolical fraud, false idols and earthly temptations that, abandoning all heretical and pagan depravity, the hearts of the erring may turn to their one and only hope for eternal salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

CALENDAR of the SAINTS

25 March 2007 Anno Domini

Saints Caidoc and Fricor

7th century; they had four feast days at Centula: January 24, March 31, April 1, and May 30. The Irishmen Caidoc and Fricor evangelized the country of the Morini in Picardy, northern France, beginning about 622. Among the souls they won for Christ was the nobleman Riquier ( Saint Ricarius ), who intervened when some locals to offense to their preaching and took them into his home. Riquier became a fervent Roman Rite Catholic, who engaged in penitential austerities and eventually was ordained. In 625, Riquier founded Centula based on the Rule of Columbanus, another Irishman. Their relics are still venerated at the parish church of Saint Riquier in the diocese of Amiens, although they rested in Centula until the 17th century. Saints Caidoc and Fricor joined Riquier's community and remained there until they were buried in Saint Riquier's church.

Saint Catherine Tomás

Saint Catherine of Palma

Beatified : 1792 ; Canonized : 1930

Orphan who lived an unhappy childhood in the home of her paternal uncle. Felt a call to the religious life at age 15, but her confessor convinced her to wait a little. Domestic servant in Palma where she learned to read and write. Joined the Canonesses of Saint Augustine at Saint Mary Magdalen convent at Palma. Subjected to many strange phenomena and mystical experiences including visits from angels, Saint Anthony of Padua and Saint Catherine. Had the gifts of visions and prophecy. Assaulted spiritually and physically by dark powers, she sometimes went into ecstatic trances for days at a time; her wounds from this abuse were treated by Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian. During her last years she was almost continually in ecstasy. Foretold the date of her death.

Saint Cellach

Saint Celsus of Armagh

Benedictine monk. May have been a monk at Glastonbury. Teacher at Oxford, England. Last hereditary archbishop of Armagh, Ireland in 1106. Built a reputation as a reformer and able administrator. Travelled throughout Ireland, preaching reform and ensuring discipline. Helped preside at the Synod of Rath Bresail in 1111, which helped align the Irish church administration with the rest of Europe. Rebuilt the Armagh cathedral. Peacemaker between warring Irish kings and chieftains. Worked with, and ordained his friend of Saint Malachy O'More. From his deathbed, he appointed Malachy as Archbishop of Armagh, transferring the tradition of hereditary succession to the Holy See.

Saint Dodolinus of Vienne

Saint Fricor

Saint Gerard

Blessed Gerard of Sassoferrato

Saint Gilbert of Caithness

Saint Gilbert de Moray

Saint Hugh of Bonnevaux

Nephew of Saint Hugh of Grenoble. Cistercian Bendictine monk at Mezieres. Abbot of Leoncel in 1163. Monk at Bonnevaux in 1169. Noted for powers of divination, and as an exorcist. Mediated the conflict between Alexander III and Barbarossa in 1177.

Saint Hugh of Grenoble

Saint Irenaeus

An Armenian, he was martyred with Saint Quintian. Nothing else is known of him.

Saint Jacqueline
A Roman orphan, Jacqueline lived in a hut in Greece and passed herself off as a monk. Later she continued her life as a recluse in Sicily, where she lived in a tree. She is known for her reprimand of Pope Innocent III.

Saint Leuconus

Saint Ludovico Pavoni

Saint Macarius the Wonder Worker

"To you, O Master, who loves all mankind
I hasten on rising from sleep.
By your mercy I go out to do your work
and I make my prayer to you.
Help me at all times and in all things.
Deliver me from every evil thing of this world
and from pursuit by the devil.
Save me and bring me to your eternal kingdom,
For you are my Creator,
You inspire all good thoughts in me.
In you is all my hope and to you I give glory,
now and forever." --Saint Macarius

A model monk, he was chosen abbot of the monastery of Pelekete, he soon became famous for his miracles and healing. Crowds flocked to Pelekete to be cured of diseases both of body and mind.

Saint Macarius was ordained by Patriarch Tarasius of Constantinople, and was imprisoned and tortured for his opposition to the iconoclasm proclaimed by Emperor Leo the Armenian. Released by Leo's successor, Emperor Michael the Stammerer. When he refused Michael's demands that he support the iconoclastic heresy, he was banished to the island of Aphusia off the coast of Bithynia and died there.

Saint Marcella

A little shepherdess of the Auvergne. No further information has been retained about this holy saint.

Saint Maria Aegyptica

Beautiful, spoiled, cynical, disenchanted, rich child who was the center of her family's pride, and repaid them by running away at age 12. Ran to Alexandria, Egypt where she worked as a dancer, singer, and prostitute for 17 years. Took ship on a pilgrimage to Palestine, hoping to ply her trade among the pilgrims, and then in Jerusalem.

On the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross she moved with the crowds to the church, looking for customers. At the church door she found herself repelled, unable to open the door; she was overcome with remorse for her life and exclusion from the Church. She repented, and asked for Our Lady's guidance; a voice told that to find rest, she should cross the Jordan River. The next day she crossed the river, wandered into the desert, and took up the life of a hermit for nearly 50 years as penance.
She lived on herbs, berries, and whatever came to hand. She met Saint Zosimus of Palestine. She once told him to come back exactly one year from that day; when he did, he found Saint Maria Aegypticahad had died.Hhe dug her grave with the help of a lion. Saint Zosimus later wrote a biography of her, and her life was a popular story in the Middle Ages.

Saint Melitina

Saint Melito of Sardis

Bishop Melito of Sardis, Lydia, was an ecclesiastical writer of the period of the apologists. There are some writings attributed him that are now believed to have been composed by an unknown writer. Nevertheless, he was endowed with a powerful gift of prophecy, which led to the surname of "the Prophet," as attested by Saints Jerome and Eusebius.

Blessed Nicholas of Neti
A Cistercian monk of the community of Santa Maria dell'Arcu near Neti, Sicily; he died c. 1220.

Palm Sunday

Sunday before Easter, the sixth and last of Lent, and the beginning of Holy Week, commemorating Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem when olive and palm branches were strewn in His path. Before the Mass of the day the Palms are to be solemnly blessed. In connection with this blessing a procession is prescribed. The palms which have just been blessed are carried in the hands of the participants in the procession. It leaves the church proper, and should move entirely about the outer circumference of the church, where this is feasible. Before re-entering the church two chanters enter, and behind closed doors sing or chant the Gloria laus et honor, awaiting the answer from those still outside the door. The Cross-bearer strikes the door with the foot of the Cross, whereupon the door is opened and the procession enters. According to Almar this procession was already in vogue in the 9th century. There is no trace of it in Rome so early. However, in the Middle Ages it was quite common everywhere. In the 16th century the procession was often dramatic in its arrangements; it was almost a pageant in severai places in Germany, and many of the processions went from one church to another at some distance. The way was often strewn with cloths of rare texture in imitation of what was done on the first Palm Sunday. Other bits of pageantry were the figure of the Christ riding on an ass. The palms, when burned, supply the ashes for distribution on Ash Wednesday of the next year. Palm Sunday is also called Flower, Olive, Branch, Sallow, Willow, Yew, Blossom, and Fig Sunday.

Saint Quintian
An Armenian, he was martyred with Saint Irenaeus. Nothing else is known of him.

Saint Stephen

Saint Theodora of Rome

Died 132. According to the Acta of Pope Alexander I, Theodora buried Saint Hermes, her brother, after assisting him in prison where he was tortured for his faith in Jesus Christ as the True God. She was herself martyred for the same reason some months later. Both the brother and sister are buried side by side.

Saint Tewdric the Hermit

Also known as Theodoric. 5th to 6th century; feast day is sometimes listed as January 3. Saint Tewdric, prince of Glamorgan, is discussed in the Book of Llan Dav, written much later. According to this source, in his later years he resigned his position in favor of his son Meurig in order to become a hermit at Tintern. During an invasion of the Saxons, he placed himself at the head of his people. In the ensuing battle, he was mortally wounded by a lance. Tewdric was buried at Mathern, near Chepstow, formerly called Merthyr Tewdrig, where the church still bears his name. He is the reputed founder of the churches at Bedwas Llandow and Merthyr Tydfil. In the early 17th century, Bishop Francis Godwin of Llandaff found the saints bones, including a badly fractured skull in the church at Mathern.

Saint Venantius of Spalato

Saints Victor and Stephen

Egyptian martyrs. Nothing else is known of him.

Saint Valéry Born in Auvergne, France; died in Leucone, Picardy, France, on December 12, c. 622; feast of his translation is December 12.

Also known as Walericus.

Saint Valéry discovered Benedictine life at Issoire, developed it at Auxerre, fructified it at Luxeuil under Saint Columbanus, and multiplied it with missionary work at Leuconnais (Leuconay), in the Somme region of northern France.

Born into a peasant family in the Auvergne, Valéry tended his father's sheep in his childhood, which gave him plenty of time to develop his prayer life. Out of an ardent desire to grow in spiritual knowledge, he learned to read at an early age and memorized the Psalter. Dissatisfied with his life as a shepherd, he took the monastic habit in the neighboring monastery of St. Antony's at Autumo.

His fervor from the first day of monastic life led him to live the rule perfectly. Sincere humility permitted him to meekly and cheerfully subjected himself to everyone. Seeking a stricter rule, he migrated to the more austere monastery of Saint Germanus, where he was received by Bishop Saint Anacharius of Auxerre. He was drawn to Luxeuil by the reputation of the penitential lives of its monks and the spiritual wisdom of Saint Columbanus. There he spent many years, always esteeming himself an unprofitable servant and a slothful monk, who stood in need of the severest and harshest rules and superiors. Next to sin, he dreaded nothing so much as the applause of men or a reputation of sanctity. At Luxeuil he also distinguished himself as a horticulturalist--the preservation of his fruit and vegetables against the ravages of insects that destroyed most other crops was considered miraculous.

When Saint Columbanus was banished from Luxeuil by King Theodoric, the monastery was placed in Saint Valéry's hands until he was sent by Saint Eustasius with his fellow-monk Waldolanus to preach the Gospel in Neustria. There King Clotaire II gave them the territory of Leucone in Picardy, near the mouth of the river Somme. In 611, with the permission of Bishop Bertard of Amiens, they built a chapel and two cells. Saint Valéry by his preaching and the example of his virtue, converted many and attracted fervent disciples with whom he laid the foundation of a monastery.

His fasts he sometimes prolonged for six days, eating only on the Sunday; and he used no other bed than twigs laid on the floor. His time was entirely occupied with preaching, prayer, reading, and manual labor. By this he earned something for the relief of the poor, and he often repeated to others, "The more cheerfully we give to those who are in distress, the more readily will God give us what we ask of him."

When Saint Valéry died, cures were claimed at his tomb and a cultus developed, which eventually spread to England during the Norman Conquest. William the Conqueror exposed Valéry's relics for public veneration. He was invoked for a favorable wind for the expedition in 1066, which sailed from Saint-Valéry.

Saint Valéry is honored at Chester Abbey in England and in France, where a famous monastery arose from his cells. His vita was carefully written in 660, by Raimbert, second abbot of Leucone after him.

King Richard the Lion Hearted had his relics restored to Saint-Valéry-en-Caux; however, his original abbey later recovered them. Two towns in the Somme district are called Saint- Valéry after him, and there are several dedications to him in England as well.

Petitions

Our Lady of La Salette, pray for us.

Precious Martyrs conceived in His image and likeness,
but denied your right to a full and blessed life - as He intended,
please forgive us.

Terri Schindler-Schiavo, please forgive us.

Saint Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church and Protector of the Faithful,
pray for us.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, comforter to the many who seek your healing grace,
pray for us.
Saints Peter and Paul, pray for us.
Saint Jerome, pray for us.
Pope Saint Gregory the Great, pray for us.
Pope Saint Pius V, pray for us.
Pope Saint Leo the Great, pray for us.
Pope Saint Pius X, pray for us.
Saint Padre Pio, pray for us.
Saint Athanasius, fierce fighter of the Arians, pray for us.
Saint Clare, the great apostle of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, pray for us.
Sister Maria Lucia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart, pray for us
Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, pray for us.
Father Gommar DePauw, pray for us.
Father Paul Wickens, pray for us.
Saint Michael the Archangel, protect the faithful from the snares of the disciples of Lucifer in disguise, and
bring ruin to those who intimidate, oppress, imprison, torture, and murder His faithful servants
throughout the world.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

March is dedicated to
The Holy Ghost

The month of April is dedicated to The Holy Spirit. The first week of the month falls during the season of Lent and is represented by the liturgical color purple — a symbol of penance, mortification and the sorrow of a contrite heart.

The remaining three weeks of April falls in the Easter season in which white, the color of light, a symbol of joy, purity, and innocence, is the liturgical color.

Hic est enim Calix Sanguinis Mei, Novi et Aeterni Testamenti; Mysterium Fidei; Qui pro multis effundetur in remissionem peccatorum.

All glory to our Lord and Savior;
In the presence of the many;
During every Holy Mass.
Amen.

Final Blessing For
The Traditional Holy Latin Mass

BENEDÍCAT vos omnípotens Deus, Pater. et Filíus et Spiritus Sanctus. Amen.

May Almighty God the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost; the One True God, bless you. Amen.

Robert, your threads are truly a work of art. You put such effort and hard work into them. We are ever grateful. Thank you! : )

I will read the thread in it's entirety tomorrow, when I have more time.

Thanks RD; a Blessed Holy Week to you!

do you know where that picture of the Holy Mass was taken? And who is in the picture?

ping