Wounds of Christ -- 5,480 [The Fifteen Prayers of St. Bridget of Sweden}

Monks of Adoration.org ^ | March 29, 1992 | Brother John Raymond

[Dajjal]

Bumpus ad summum

[Mr. Thorne]

One more thought:

A talk radio host recently dinged it. He said he didn't like it; he couldn't sympathize with Jesus (one eye, apparently, is not enough window to the soul for some).

I think he's on the same path as the 'it's anti-semitic' crowd (including, most recently, Bill Safire; the NYT's tame conservative).

To put it bluntly: I don't think we're supposed to take the place of Christ, I think we're meant to be the crowd!

We're not supposed to blame the Chief Priests; scripture and the film make it clear - "No man takes my life from me... I give it up freely."

But some do, and I think it's because they want an easy answer. There is none. WE weren't tortured that day, HE was. For us. WE deserved to be, but he did not. The chief priests didn't cause him to be crucified, WE did.

But the critics are looking. They're looking for Christianity-lite, with it's 'oh, yeah, I'm saved,' mentality. They're looking for guilt-free existance. 'It wasn't ME who caused this, it was the mob/the priests/Pilate, had I been there, I would have been on the side of righteousness.'

Horsefeathers. You know who I connected with first? Peter. Because I know, that in the middle of a mob, staring at a Roman prison, or crucifixion, for NO GOOD REASON... yeah, I probably would have chickened out, too.

I sympathized with the Magdalene. And John. And Mary. WANTING to help, wanting to get closer, but the world (the crowd, and fear of death) prevents it. Until he falls. And Mary, with a mother's love, fears death less than her son's pain, and goes to him.

I sympathized with Simon. What have I done to deserve this cross?

I even sympathized with A roman. The soldier on the Via Dolorosa, who sees the blood of the Son on the face of the Mother, and (it seems), KNOWS. And cannot take his eyes from her face...

So fine. Find blame, critics. Blame Gibson; tell him to pluck that mote from his eye, before he falls again. Blame the Catholic Church, for she is an institution of men, not saints, and not Gods.

Go watch an art film. Maybe you can find something that disparages Catholics, or Evangelicals, since that's still fair game.

The people who ignored the critics, and walked out of that theatre on Saturday night (packed, by the way), were sad, with no screams of 'kill the Jews,' they were talking, not about who was to blame, but about the magnificent imagery, the adherance to scripture, how Christ-like Caviezel looked.

It was amazing. It is amazing.

[Viva Christo Rey]

Thanks for the "heads up"!

Can you post a link to the unedited words?

Found them!

The original and unedited Fifteen Prayers Concerning His Passion Revealed By Our Lord to Saint Bridget of Sweden

[Salvation]

Thanks for that link.

[Salvation]

American Catholic’s Saint of the Day

July 23, 2007

St. Bridget

(1303?-1373)

From age seven on, Bridget had visions of Christ crucified. Her visions formed the basis for her activity—always with the emphasis on charity rather than spiritual favors.

She lived her married life in the court of the Swedish king Magnus II. Mother of eight children (the second eldest was St. Catherine of Sweden), she lived the strict life of a penitent after her husband’s death.

Bridget constantly strove to exert her good influence over Magnus; while never fully reforming, he did give her land and buildings to found a monastery for men and women. This group eventually expanded into an Order known as the Bridgetines (still in existence).

In 1350, a year of jubilee, Bridget braved a plague-stricken Europe to make a pilgrimage to Rome. Although she never returned to Sweden, her years in Rome were far from happy, being hounded by debts and by opposition to her work against Church abuses.

A final pilgrimage to the Holy Land, marred by shipwreck and the death of her son, Charles, eventually led to her death in 1373. In 1999, she, Saints Catherine of Siena and Edith Stein were named co-patronesses of Europe.

Comment:

Bridget’s visions, rather than isolating her from the affairs of the world, involved her in many contemporary issues, whether they be royal policy or the Avignon papacy. She saw no contradiction between mystical experience and secular activity, and her life is a testimony to the possibility of a holy life in the market place.

Quote:

Despite the hardships of life and wayward children (not all became saints), Margery Kempe of Lynn says Bridget was “kind and meek to every creature” and “she had a laughing face.”

[Salvation]

St. Bridget of Sweden

Saint Bridget of Sweden, Religious
Optional Memorial
July 23rd

 
St. Bridget of Sweden, Revelationes. Ghotan: Lübeck, 1492

History
St. Bridget of Sweden was born June 14, 1303 to Birger Persson, a governor, judge and wealthy land owner and Ingeborg Bengtsdotter, a deeply pious woman.

She married Prince Ulf Gudmarsson a noble and pious man. They had eight children including St. Catherine of Sweden. When her husband died in 1344 she devoted herself to religious life. In 1346 she founded the Order of the Most Holy Savior.

St. Bridget is known for the revelations she received on the wounds and passion of Jesus, known as the 15 Prayers of St. Bridget.

She died July 23, 1373 and was canonized on October 7, 1391.

Collect:
Lord our God,
you revealed the secrets of heaven to St. Bridget
as she meditated on the suffering and death of your Son.
May your people rejoice in the revelation of your glory.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading: Galatians 2: 19-20
For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Gospel Reading: John 15:1-8
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples.

[Salvation]

 

Prayer of St. Bridget of Sweden

O Lord, make haste and illumine the night.
Say to my soul
that nothing happens without Your permitting it,
and that nothing of what You permit is without comfort.
O Jesus, Son of God,
You Who were silent in the presence of Your accusers,
restrain my tongue
until I find what should say and how to say it.
Show me the way and make me ready to follow it.
It is dangerous to delay, yet perilous to go forward.
Answer my petition and show me the way.
I come to You as the wounded go to the doctor in search of aid.
Give peace, O Lord, to my heart.