Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 9-15-03, Memorial, Our Lady of Sorrows

For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments and discussion.

1 posted on 09/15/2003 8:17:41 AM PDT by Salvation

To: Pyro7480; Cap'n Crunch

2 posted on 09/15/2003 8:20:43 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

To: *Catholic_list; father_elijah; nickcarraway; SMEDLEYBUTLER; Siobhan; Lady In Blue; attagirl; ...

Alleluia Ping!

Please notify me via Freepmail if you would like to be added to or removed from the Alleluia Ping list.

3 posted on 09/15/2003 8:24:14 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

Here's a fitting work of art for this feast day:

Michangelo - Pieta

Here's another:

William Bouguereau's Pieta

5 posted on 09/15/2003 8:44:07 AM PDT by Pyro7480 (“We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid" - Benjamin Franklin)

The participants had a wonderful weekend. They were able to face into the grief they were experience and take steps forward according to their own abilities. Thank you for your prayers!

I suggest that anyone experiencing the loss of a loved one whether by death, separation or divorce absolutely include ,a Beginning Experience weekend in their plan of recovery.

And this would include any of you here on this forum! I think several people are going to attend one according to the Freepmail I have received!

6 posted on 09/15/2003 8:46:10 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

Oh, thank you, Pyro!

7 posted on 09/15/2003 8:46:49 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

Are you able to see the second picture?

8 posted on 09/15/2003 8:48:12 AM PDT by Pyro7480 (“We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid" - Benjamin Franklin)

From: 1 Timothy 2:1-8

God Desires the Salvation of All

[1] First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, [2] for kings and
all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable
life, godly and respectful in every way. [3] This is good, and it is
acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, [4] who desires all men to
be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. [5] For there is
one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ
Jesus, [6] who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to
which was borne at the proper time. [7] For this I was appointed a
preacher and apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a
teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Men at Prayer, Women at Prayer

[8] I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy
hand without anger or quarreling.

Commentary:

1. St Paul here establishes regulations for the public prayer of all
the faithful; it is up to Timothy, as head of the church of Ephesus, to
specify these in detail, and to preside over them. He refers to four
types of prayer; however, since the first three are almost synonymous,
he is probably just stressing the key importance of prayer in the
Christian life. St Augustine uses this text to explain the various
parts of the Mass: "We take as 'supplications' those prayers which are
said in celebrating the Mysteries before beginning to bless (the bread
and wine) that lie on the table of the Lord. We understand 'prayers'
as meaning those prayers that are said when (the offering) is blessed,
consecrated and broken for distribution, and almost the whole Church
closes this prayer with the Lord's prayer [...]. 'Intercessions' are
made when the blessing is being laid on the people [...]. When this
rite is completed and all have received this great Sacrament, the whole
ceremony is brought to an end by 'thanksgiving'--which is also the word
which concludes this passage of the Apostle's" ("Letter 149", 2, 16).

St Paul orders that prayers be said for all, not just for friends and
benefactors and not just for Christians. The Church helps people keep
this command by the Prayers of the Faithful or at Mass when "the people
exercise their priestly function by praying for all mankind" and "pray
for Holy Church, for those in authority, for those oppressed by various
needs, for all mankind, and for the salvation of the entire world"
("General Instruction on the Roman Missal", 45).

2. This desire to lead "a quiet and peaceful life" does not in any way
imply a relaxation of the demands St Paul makes in other letters. He
specifically says that prayers have to be said "for kings and all who
are in high positions" because they are responsible for ensuring that
civil law is in line with the natural law,=A0 and when it is citizens are
able to practise religious and civil virtues (to be "godly and
respectful"). Rulers have a heavy responsibility and therefore deserve
to be prayed for regularly.

St Paul's instruction to pray for kings and others is particularly
interesting if one bears in mind that when he was writing this letter,
Nero was on the throne--the emperor who instigated a bloody persecution
of Christians. St Clement of Rome, one of the first successors of St
Peter at the see of Rome, has left us touching evidence of intercession
for civil authority: "Make us to be obedient to your own almighty and
glorious name and to all who have rule and governance over us on earth
[...]. Grant unto them, O Lord, health and peace, harmony and security,
that they may exercise without offense the dominion you have accorded
them [...]. Vouchsafe so to direct their counsels as may be good and
pleasing in your sight, that in peace and mildness they might put to
godly use the authority you have given them, and so find mercy with
you" ("Letter to the Corinthians", 1, 60-61).

If one bears in mind the injustices and brutality of the world in which
Christians lived when St Paul wrote this letter, the tone of his
teaching shows that Christianity has nothing to do with fomenting
political or social unrest. The message of Jesus seeks, rather, to
change men's consciences so that they for their part can change society
from within by working in an upright and noble way. The Church, through
its ordinary magisterium, teaches that "the political and economic
running of society is not a direct part of (the Church's) mission (cf.
"Gaudium Et Spes", 42). But the Lord Jesus has entrusted to her the
word of truth which is capable of enlightening consciences. Divine
love, which is her life, impels her to a true solidarity with everyone
who suffers. If her members remain faithful to this mission, the Holy
Spirit, the source of freedom, will dwell in them, and they will bring
forth fruits of justice and peace in their families and in the places
where they work and live" (SCDF, "Libertatis Conscientia", 61).

3-4. God's desire that all should be saved is a subject which appears
frequently in the Pastoral Epistles (cf. 1 Tim 4:10; Tit 3:4), and so
he is often given the title of "Savior" (cf. note on 1 Tim 1:1-2).
Here it is given special emphasis: pray for all men (v. 1),
particularly those in high positions (v. 2), that all may be saved
(v. 6).

Since God wants all men to be saved, no one is predestined to be damned
(cf. Council of Trent, "De Iustificatione"). "He came on earth because
"omnes homines vult salvos fieri", he wants to redeem the whole world.
While you are at your work, shoulder to shoulder with so many others,
never forget that there is no soul that does not matter to Christ!"
([St] J. Escriva, "The Forge", 865).

God desires man to be free as intensely as he desires his salvation; by
making man free he has made it possible for man to cooperate in
attaining his last end. "God, who created you without you," St
Augustine reminds us, "will not save you without you" ("Sermon", 169,
13).

In order to attain salvation, the Apostle lists as a requirement that
one must "come to the knowledge of the truth". "The truth" is firstly
Jesus (cf. Jn 14:6; 1 Jn 5:20); knowledge of the truth is the same as
knowing the Christian message, the Gospel (cf. Gal 2:5, 14). The human
mind needs to come into play if one is to be saved; for, although
affections, emotions and good will are also involved, it would be wrong
to give them so much importance that the content of the truths of faith
is played down. As the original Greek word suggests, this "knowledge"
is not just an intellectual grasp of truth: it is something which
should have an impact on one's everyday life; knowledge of the faith
involves practice of the faith.

"The Church's essential mission, following that of Christ, is a mission
of evangelization and salvation. She draws her zeal from the divine
love. Evangelization is the proclamation of salvation, which is a gift
of God. Through the word of God and the Sacraments, man is freed in the
first place from the power of sin and the power of the Evil One which
oppress him; and he is brought into a communion of love with God.
Following her Lord who 'came into the world to save sinners' (1 Tim
1:15), the Church desires the salvation of everyone. In this mission,
the Church teaches the way which man must follow in this world in order
to enter the Kingdom of God" (SCDF, "Libertatis Conscientia", 63).

5. Verses 5 and 6 compress a series of statements into the rhythmic
format of a liturgical hymn, a kind of summarized confession of faith
containing the truths one needs to believe in order to be saved (cf.
v. 4).

"One mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus": the Apostle
lays stress on Christ's humanity, not to deny his divinity (which he
explicitly asserts elsewhere: cf. Tit 2: 13) but because it is as man
particularly that Christ is mediator; for if the function of a mediator
is to join or put two sides in touch, in this particular case it is
only as man that he is as it were "distant both from God by nature and
from man by dignity of both grace and glory [...], and that he can
unite men to God, communicating his precepts and gifts to them, and
offering satisfaction and prayers to God for them" ("Summa Theologiae",
III, q. 26, a. 2). Christ is the perfect and only mediator between God
and men, because being true God and true man he has offered a sacrifice
of infinite value (his life) to reconcile men to God.

The fact that Jesus is the only mediator does not prevent those who
have reached heaven from obtaining graces and helping to build up the
Church's holiness (cf. "Lumen Gentium", 49). Angels and saints,
particularly the Blessed Virgin, can be described as mediators by
virtue of their union with Christ: "Mary's function as mother of men
in no way obscures or diminishes this unique mediation of Christ, but
rather shows its power. But the Blessed Virgin's salutary influence on
men originates not in any inner necessity but in the disposition of
God. It flows forth from the superabundance of the merits of Christ"
("Lumen Gentium", 60).

6. "Ransom": in the Old Testament God is said to ransom or redeem his
people particularly when he sets them free from slavery in Egypt and
makes them his own property (cf. Ex 6:6-7; 19:5-6; etc.). The
liberation which God will bring about in the messianic times is also
described as redemption (cf. Is 35:9) and implies, above all,
liberation from sin: "he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities"
(Ps. 130:8). The same idea occurs in this verse: Jesus "gave himself"
in sacrifice to make expiation for our sins, to set us free from sin
and restore to us our lost dignity. "Unceasingly contemplating the
whole of Christ's mystery, the Church knows with all the certainty of
faith that the Redemption that took place through the Cross has
definitively restored his dignity to man and given back meaning to his
life in the world, a meaning that was lost to a considerable extent
because of sin" (John Paul II, "Redemptor Hominis", 10).

"At the proper time": God's plan for man's salvation is eternal, it did
not start at a particular time; however, it unfolds gradually in God's
good time (see the note on Eph 1:10).

8. The raising of the hands at prayer is a custom found among both Jews
(cf. Ex 9:29; Is 1:15; etc.) and pagans; it was also adopted by the
early Christians, as can be seen from murals in the Roman catacombs.

External stances adopted during prayer should reflect one's inner
attitude: "we extend our arms", Tertullian explains, "in imitation of
the Lord on the Cross; and praying we confess Christ" ("De Oratione",
14). St Thomas Aquinas, referring to liturgical rites, comments that
"what we do externally when we pray helps to move us internally.
Genuflections and other gestures of that type are not pleasing to God
in themselves; they please him because they are signs of respect
whereby man humbles himself interiorly; similarly, the raising of the
hands signifies the lifting of the heart" ("Commentary on 1 Tim, ad
loc.").

Everyone should pray regularly (vv. 1-2) and be sure to have the right
dispositions; men need to make sure that they do not approach prayer
with their thoughts full of earthly ambition; and women need to be sure
vanity does not creep in. "Holy hands" refers to the need to pray with
a calm conscience, free from anger and spite. We already have our
Lord's teaching that "if you are offering your gift at the altar, and
there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your
gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your
brother, and then come and offer your gift" (Mt 5:23-24).

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

9 posted on 09/15/2003 8:49:33 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

From: John 19:25-27

The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (Continuation)

[25] So the soldiers did this. But standing by the cross of Jesus were
His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary
Magdalene. [26] When Jesus saw His mother, and the disciple whom He
loved standing near, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!"
[27] Then He said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from
that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

Commentary:

25. Whereas the Apostles, with the exception of St. John, abandon Jesus
in the hour of His humiliation, these pious women, who had followed Him
during His public life (cf. Lk 8:2-3) now stay with their Master as He
dies on the cross (cf. note on Mt 27:55-56).

Pope John Paul II explains that our Lady's faithfulness was shown in
four ways: first, in her generous desire to do all that God wanted of
her (cf. Lk 1:34); second, in her total acceptance of God's will (cf.
Lk 1:38); third, in the consistency between her life and the commitment
of faith which she made; and, finally, in her withstanding this test.
"And only a consistency that lasts throughout the whole of life can be
called faithfulness. Mary's 'fiat' in the Annunciation finds its
fullness in the silent 'fiat' that she repeats at the foot of the Cross"
("Homily in Mexico Cathedral", 26 January 1979).

The Church has always recognized the dignity of women and their important
role in salvation history. It is enough to recall the veneration which
from the earliest times the Christian people have had for the Mother of
Christ, the Woman "par excellence" and the most sublime and most
privileged creature ever to come from the hands of God. Addressing a
special message to women, the Second Vatican Council said, among other
things: "Women in trial, who stand upright at the foot of the cross like
Mary, you who so often in history have given to men the strength to
battle unto the very end and to give witness to the point of martyrdom,
aid them now still once more to retain courage in their great
undertakings, while at the same time maintaining patience and an esteem
for humble beginnings" (Vatican II, "Message To Women", 8 December 1965).

26-27. "The spotless purity of John's whole life makes him strong before
the Cross. The other apostles fly from Golgotha: he, with the Mother of
Christ, remains. Don't forget that purity strengthens and invigorates
the character" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 144).

Our Lord's gesture in entrusting His Blessed Mother to the disciple's
care, has a dual meaning (see p. 19 above and pp. 35ff). For one thing
it expresses His filial love for the Virgin Mary. St Augustine sees it
as a lesson Jesus gives us on how to keep the fourth commandment: "Here
is a lesson in morals. He is doing what He tells us to do and, like a
good Teacher, He instructs His own by example, that it is the duty of
good children to take care of their parents; as though the wood on which
His dying members were fixed were also the chair of the teaching Master"
(St Augustine, "In Ioann. Evang.", 119, 2).

Our Lord's words also declare that Mary is our Mother: "The Blessed
Virgin also advanced in her pilgrimage of faith, and faithfully
persevered in her union with her Son unto the cross, where she stood, in
keeping with the divine plan, enduring with her only begotten Son the
intensity of His suffering, associating herself with His sacrifice in her
mother's heart, and lovingly consenting to the immolation of this victim
who was born of her. Finally, she was given by the same Christ Jesus
dying on the cross as a mother to His disciple" (Vatican II, "Lumen
Gentium", 58).

All Christians, who are represented in the person of John, are children
of Mary. By giving us His Mother to be our Mother, Christ demonstrates
His love for His own to the end (cf. Jn 13:1). Our Lady's acceptance of
John as her son show her motherly care for us: "the Son of God, and your
Son, from the Cross indicated a man to you, Mary, and said: 'Behold, your
son' (Jn 19:26). And in that man He entrusted to you every person, He
entrusted everyone to you. And you, who at the moment of the
Annunciation, concentrated the whole program of your life in those simple
words: 'Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according
to your word' (Lk 1:38): embrace everyone, draw close to everyone, seek
everyone out with motherly care. Thus is accomplished what the last
Council said about your presence in the mystery of Christ and the Church.
In a wonderful way you are always found in the mystery of Christ, your
only Son, because you are present wherever men and women, His brothers
and sisters, are present, wherever the Church is present" (John Paul II,
"Homily in the Basilica of Guadalupe", 27 January 1979).

"John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, brought Mary into his home, into
his life. Spiritual writers have seen these words of the Gospel as an
invitation to all Christians to bring Mary into their lives. Mary
certainly wants us to invoke her, to approach her confidently, to appeal
to her as our mother, asking her to 'show that you are our mother'" ([St] J.
Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 140).

John Paul II constantly treats our Lady as his Mother. In bidding
farewell to the Virgin of Czestochowa he prayed in this way: "Our Lady of
the Bright Mountain, Mother of the Church! Once more I consecrate myself
to you 'in your maternal slavery of love'. 'Totus tuus!' I am yours! I
consecrate to you the whole Church--everyone to the ends of the earth! I
consecrate to you humanity; I consecrate to you all men and women, my
brothers and sisters. All peoples and all nations. I consecrate to you
Europe and all the continents. I consecrate to you Rome and Poland,
united, through your servant, by a fresh bond of love. Mother, accept
us! Mother, do not abandon us! Mother, be our guide!" ("Farewell
Address" at Jasna Gora Shrine, 6 June 1979).

10 posted on 09/15/2003 8:50:26 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

FEAST OF THE DAY

The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows remembers the sorrowful events in
the life of the Blessed Mother. It reminds us that even though Mary
was born without original sin she still experienced pain and anguish
that are part of every person's life. When we look at Mary's life
through the time line of the rosary, we see God poured out his Grace
upon her and out of her sorrow came the glory of Heaven.

The sufferings that Mary experienced are all connected to her love of
Jesus. Traditionally there are seven events throughout Mary's life of
great suffering. Three of these times are connected with the
beginning of Jesus' life, they were when Simeon warned her of the
suffering to come, when the Holy Family was forced to flee to Egypt,
when Mary lost Jesus in the temple. The other four Sorrows are
connected with the end of Jesus' life, these happened when Jesus
was scourged and crowned with thorns, when Jesus' was crucified,
when his body was placed in her arms, and when his body was
entombed.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Prayer ought to be humble, fervent, resigned, persevering, and
accompanied with great reverence. One should consider that he
stands in the presence of a God, and speaks with a Lord before
whom the angels tremble from awe and fear. -St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi

TODAY IN HISTORY

1159 Coronation of Alexander III as Pope
1644 Death of Pope Urban VIII

TODAY'S TIDBIT

The Stabat Mater, the hymn that is encouraged to be sung today
with the celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours is a Marian hymn
based on the seven sorrows she experienced in her life. This song is
the same as "At the Cross Her Station Keeping"

INTENTION FOR THE DAY

Please pray, through the intercession of Our Lady of Sorrows, for
those who are dealing with sorrow and tragedy in their lives.

11 posted on 09/15/2003 8:52:30 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

The Word Among Us

Monday, September 15, 2003

Meditation
John 19:25-27

Our Lady of Sorrows

What pain coursed through Mary as she watched her son—flesh of her flesh—go through his horrible execution! She could only look on in anguish as he suffered, unable to wipe the blood from his face as his body sagged against the nails, his muscles cramping in hard spasms. Yet through those hours of agony, Mary stood resolute.

Just as Simeon had foretold, Mary’s heart was pierced with a sword of suffering (Luke 2:35). Yet her unconditional fiat—her “yes,” first given when she united her will to the Father’s and the Word became flesh in her—had prepared her to trust God without question. The years since then of repeatedly embracing God’s ways didn’t lessen the sharpness of her pain, but because she was steeped in her consent, she was able to accept the price to be paid in God’s plan of salvation.

We may wonder if Mary had a glimpse of insight into the resurrection to come. With motherly intuition, had she understood something of her son’s words as he predicted his sufferings and foretold that he would be raised on the third day (Luke 9:22)? In prayer, did she receive glimpses of his risen splendor? Perhaps in heaven we’ll find out.

Until then, Mary stands as a model for us in her repeated “yes” to God, repeated in times of suffering as well as joy. At Golgotha she showed us how we too can stand faithfully by the cross of Jesus (John 19:25). And so, with Pope John Paul II, we can pray:

“O Mary, as you walked the way of the cross with your son, your mother’s heart was torn by grief. But you were mindful of your fiat and fully confident that he to whom nothing is impossible would be able to fulfill his promises. Implore for us, Mary, and for the generations yet to come, the grace of surrender to God’s love. Help us, in the face of suffering, rejection, and trials—however prolonged and severe—never to doubt his love. To Jesus, your son, honor and glory forever and ever.”

12 posted on 09/15/2003 8:56:43 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

Here it is again:

William Bouguereau's Pieta

13 posted on 09/15/2003 8:58:09 AM PDT by Pyro7480 (“We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid" - Benjamin Franklin)

To: All; Lady In Blue

14 posted on 09/15/2003 9:02:42 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

One Bread, One Body

<< Monday, September 15, 2003 >>

Our Lady of Sorrows

Hebrews 5:7-9

Psalm 31

John 19:25-27 or
Luke 2:33-35

View Readings

EVER CLOSER TO THE CROSS

“Near the cross of Jesus there stood His mother.” —John 19:25

The cross, because it was an instrument of executing criminals, is naturally repulsive to us. Nevertheless, Jesus wants us near His cross. He even wants us to live our whole lives in the shadow of the cross by taking up our daily cross (Lk 9:23). He wants us to come to the point that we will boast of nothing but Jesus’ cross and sharing in it (see Gal 6:14).

Jesus has given His mother Mary to all His disciples to help overcome our revulsion of the cross and to keep us near the cross. We naturally want to distance ourselves from the rejection we risk in reaching out to others, the persecution suffered as we stand up for our faith, the pain of forgiving our enemies, the stress of faithfulness in our vocations, and the sacrifice of serving others. Yet the Lord graces us to stay near these crosses. He calls us to take our mother Mary’s hand as she gathers her children around her at the foot of the cross. There we follow Jesus, learn the deep meaning of love, and enter into the mystery of God’s plan of salvation. With Mary, stay near the cross.

Prayer: Father, may I pray from my heart with St. Francis of Assisi: “We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You because by Your holy cross You have redeemed the world.”

Promise: “Son though He was, He learned obedience from what He suffered; and when perfected, He became the Source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him.” —Heb 5:8-9

Praise: Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows, appears only twice in John’s gospel and is associated with Jesus and miraculous water each time (Jn 2:3ff; Jn 19:25, 34). Praise You, Jesus, for Your mother’s sorrowful tears which mingled with Your miraculous water poured out for our healing.

15 posted on 09/15/2003 9:06:32 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows, appears only twice in John’s gospel and is associated with Jesus and miraculous water each time (Jn 2:3ff; Jn 19:25, 34). Praise You, Jesus, for Your mother’s sorrowful tears which mingled with Your miraculous water poured out for our healing.

16 posted on 09/15/2003 9:07:18 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

Here's another by Bouguereau, titled "Regina Angelorum" (Queen of Angels)

17 posted on 09/15/2003 9:24:41 AM PDT by Pyro7480 (“We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid" - Benjamin Franklin)

I didn't even realize it, but I just visited EWTN's website, and they are using the same painting on their home page!

18 posted on 09/15/2003 10:04:48 AM PDT by Pyro7480 (“We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid" - Benjamin Franklin)

I was getting ready to post the picture from EWTN, when, Lo and Behold!, you had posted it. I was happy because what you posted didn't have their insignia on it. Beautiful painting! Did you read about the significance of the water, water jar in one of the posts?

19 posted on 09/15/2003 11:15:29 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

To: Pyro7480; Salvation

William Bouguereau's Pieta

Love that painting!! EWTN is using it on their homepage today. Such a great artist; my other favorite of his is "The Virgin With Angels".

Bouguereau lost his fourth-born child in 1872. His 16 year old son soon followed in 1875, which inspired him to paint his Pietà of 1876. In 1877 tragedy hit hard with the loss of his wife and infant son. Virgin of Consolation was painted in response to his grief over the loss. His beloved mother, whom he had been very close to and financially supported much of his life, left him in 1896, and yet again he lost another son, 32 years old, in 1900.

Bouguereau died himself in 1905 "When the grand old man felt his last hour had come, he gathered his family around him, dictated his last will and testament, and spoke to them. Then he said, "Tell the priest to come now." To the priest he said:

"I'm going to meet my God. What shall I tell him? That I have sinned? Yes, and throughout a long life. What shall he answer?" "That he has forgiven you," replied the minister of God, "for by the tears in your eyes, I can see you have repented." "Then give your absolution to the prodigal son who has returned so late but comes back sincerely to his God. Mark on my body the sign of divine forgiveness." And proffering his trembling hands to the holy oil, he said: "I repent for the sins these hands have committed, for the world and its vanities." The priest anointed him with the holy oil, and the dying man cried out in a trembling voice, "Amen." He repeated the word as his feet were anointed, asking forgiveness for all the wrong steps they had taken, even on the path to glory. He repeated the word again, closing the eyes that had so often known visions of genius and that also had to be forgiven for looking upon sinful things. "Amen!" he cried, "Amen!"

20 posted on 09/15/2003 11:58:50 AM PDT by NYer (Catholic and living it.)

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