History of the Passion - Rev Arthur Devine

--- Page 1 --- I'm --- Page 2 --- history . The Passion . Ferdinand U . Wermot . Dermot , CP. of --- Page 3 --- Gospel Narrative of the Sufferings of Christ London : ( All rights reserved . history . Dolours of Harry , being the and the passionist . DURLIN : M. H. GILL &SON , 50 Upper O'Connell- 1890 . by the THE PASSION : Rev. Arthur limited . of Rev. Arthur Devine , with . Burns & OATES , LIMITED . device , comments . of Burns & Oates , Passion : --- Page 4 --- fereliction joined to the greatest union with God . 7 . The sent to me , wherein was a book rolled up : and he spread it a book written within and without , sealed with seven seals there were written in itlamentations , and canticles , and two of ignoming in the highest Majesty . 6 . The greatest before me , and it was written within and without : and 3 . The foolishness before men of Him who was the Wisdom r. The weakness of Him who was omnipotent . 2 . The rounds of His sacred body . And this book was sealed with all Christian virtues can be read and studied . seven seals , which are thus enumerated and interpreted : book given by commentators , I find one which refers it to ( APOC. v. I ) . This book is the same as that which is mentioned by the our Lord's sacred Passion , that book which was opened and n Whom all treasures are to be found . 5 . The lowest grade Prophet Ezekiel : And I looked , and behold a hand was Amongst the many interpretations of this mysterious intense pain and suffering of Him who was impossible . of the Father . 4 . The greatest poverty in the God of riches , ( Czech . ii. 9 ) . extended when Christ was nailed to the cross , and in which And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne , sorrow and the sadness of Christ's soul-without , in the It was written within and without . Within , in the It was written within and without . Within , in the -without , in the 926 .1 art . PREFACE . --- Page 5 --- special chapter is given on the Last Seven Words ; another , which each of her colours is separately considered . on the Resurrection of Christ ; together with a concluding before the mind as clearly and accurately as possible the in the mystical and internal sense , as in their literal and supplied by the details of the history of the Passion . the Passion in the order in which they happened . A antecedents of the Passion , namely , Christ foretelling His given to explain the meaning of the text , and the various exrection and the manner of visiting the Stations , or the Via troduced into this work , but are left entirely to the disposition useful books on the Passion already published , are not in- chapter on the Seven Dolours of our Blessed Lady , in An Appendix is added , contain instructions on the and devotion of the reader ; my object being to bring sufferings ; the Last Supper , and the Institution of the the four Evangelists . The comments and notes are then historical meaning , and in my treatment of them the subject matter for these reflections and affections , as following method has been observed . circumstances in connection with the events of the The first three chapters are devoted to the immediate The subsequent chapters treat of the various events of At the beginning of each chapter , I give in English the Cruis-that chief devotional exercise in honour of our text of the Gospel narrative , according to the harmony of Saviour's Passion and death . Blessed Sacrament . The pious reflections and affections contained in so many passion . in His bitter Passion . These are considered not so much subscribes . vii . --- Page 6 --- precepts , reads this writing , and , understanding it , makes copies the Passion by suffering patiently and labouring supplied with knowledge derived from history and Scriptural the words of Mgr. Isoard , Bishop of Annecy , a complete of piety and devotion , to study the Passion from a historical full meaning contained in our Saviour's Passion . In this , history of our Saviour's Passion , well studied and explained , are , for the most part , confined to the domain of piety , and does not mean to think of nothing , the mind has to be Christ by faith only , and not in work , is , in a spiritual understood by all ; because he who regards the Passion of of His Passion has been continually read , but not fully prayer , and this knowledge is the foundation on which the progress in virtue ; but he who perseveres to the end in souls ; but I believe it will be equally useful , for the purpose tice of daily meditation ; that to the faithful in general it may prove a signal advantage and a great blessing in and exceptional point of view . Inasmuch as to meditate sense , a child who understands not what he reads ; he who Redeemer more known and better understood ; and that , in exegesis , that it may be able to profit by the time spent in may be the means of making the sufferings of our divine Since the time of Christ's death , this writing in the book every Christian parish into which it may be introduced . as a help to devout souls who are accustomed to the prac- carrying the cross of Christ , will understand perfectly the on that account are most valuable and useful to devout earnestly in the faithful observance of the Christian It is , therefore , my earnest hope that this work may serve whole meditation rests . The numerous works already published on the Passion --- Page 7 --- gelists , and by St. Paul in his first Epistle to the Corinthians - Christ consecrated in unleavened bread-The form of words commemoration of me-The summary of the last discourse of The Holy Eucharist a Sacrifice as well as a Sacrament , and the doctrine of this dogma expressed by Cardinal Wiseman , accord- institution of the new priesthood by the words : Do this for a used-He communicated Himself-Judas receives Communion- ing to the words of Institution - The circumstances in which these chapter III . Jesus to His Apostles . words were spoken - The words as given by the three first Evan- THE INSTITUTION of the Holy Bucharist . The Catholic page . Ambrosian Missal solemnity of Azymes , or Unleavened Bread , and its significance - celebration by our Saviour-A figure of our Pasch-The The Maudatum , or washing of the feet-The order of these Paschal Lamb-The twofold end for which it was offered - The THE LAST-SUPER . The Feast of the Pasch , or Passover - Its events-Hymn from the Greek Liturgy , and Preface from the chapter II . ... death-The Tuesday after Palm Sunday - The Council of the Jews and its composition - The effects of His last prediction on chapter i . Phillippi-After His transfiguration - Ten days before his Christ Foretells His Passion . When in the parts of Cesarea --- Page 8 --- contents . The message of Pilate's wife - The choice made by the Jews : It is not lawful for us to put any man to death - The accusations him a white garment , and treat , Him with derision-Herod St. John the Baptist-Herod questions our Lord-They put on Not this man , but Barabbas - Five times Pilate seeks to rescue brought against Jesus - The colloquy between Pilate and the prisoner-Pilate proposes to the people Christ or Barabbas - scourging - The instruments used in scourging - The number before Hix . The custom of releasing to the people a New Testament-This Herod was he who put to death Roman Governor of Judea-His history - The words of the Jews : of blows-Christ scourged , according to the Roman law - The Christ from the hands of the Jews - He washes his hands - The Jews-Pilate questions Christ about many things - The question : demned Christ to be scourged - The place and manner of sends Him back to Pilate-Herod and Pilate were made friends scene of the scourging , as described in the Scriptures and by CHRIST BEFORE HEROD . " The four Herods mentioned in the Christ a Second time before Pilate-Barabbas preferred nto another-St. Peter's tears and repentance what is truth ? of blood ) - The mystical meaning of the purchase of this field ... 88-90 second and third denials illustrate how a man falls from one sin . cry of the Jews : His blood be upon us and upon our children ... . THE DESPAIR OF JUDAS . The Corbona-Haceldama ( the THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR . The reason why Pilate con- chapter in . which he becomes guilty . The occasion of his first denial - The chapter XII . chapter x . Christ the First Time before Pilate . Pontius Pilate , the 78-88 . ... 115-122 . chapter XI . 90-100 . 100-106 . pages . 106-115 . the Fathers . ... Pontius Pilate , the xii . --- Page 9 --- xiv . Cross-The manner of visiting the Stations - The conditions re- quired for gaining the indulgences attached to this devotion - 5th Dolour-Mary standing at the foot of the cross of the resurrection - The time and hour at which Christ rose The burial of Christ and the winding-sheet - The darkness on 7th Dolour-The burial of Jesus . the face of the earth-The veil of the temple rent in two-The tomb-The descent of the soul of Christ into Limbo-The truth Those that rose from the dead together with Christ ... The gifts and condition of Christ's body after the resurrection - and Dolour-The Flight into Egypt ... . The crucifix to which the indulgences of the Stations of the Cross 1st Dolour-The Prophecy of Simeon ... this devotion . opened with a lace or spear - The taking down from the cross- The breaking of the legs of the two thieves-Christ's side is . # 233-238 earthquake - The year , day , and hour in which our Saviour died 186-196 from the dead-The other circumstances of the resurrection- 6th Dolour-The taking down from the cross ... . 4th Dolour-The meeting Jesus carrying His cross APPENDIX . The manner of erecting the Stations of the Way of the over 227-233 ... 244-250 THE RESURRECTION of CHRIST . The body of Christ in the of the Seven Dolours , and how enumerated ... 222-227 . The Seven Dolours of the Blessed Virgin . ... 238-244 . over 209-211 . over 211-215 . What Happened at the Death of Christ : His burial . chapter xix . are attached , and the conditions required for gaining these in- was 215-221 . chapter xx . chapter xviii . was 250-254 . dulgences . The meaning 255-292 . pages . 3rd Dolour-The three days' loss . 000 197-209 . Practices of devotion to the Seven Dolours-Special fruits of omo . 000 000 oms . 000 Special fruits of 000c. 000 000 000 000 --- Page 10 --- possible in the foot-notes throughout the work . Luke's , and in the 18th and 19th of St. John's . The other ciently well known that that narrative is contained in the And some of the quotations are not taken from original of the New Testament published by the English College at 3 . The harmony of the Gospel narrative of the Passion letters indicating the text are to be understood : ( Mt. ) 14th and 15th of St. Mark's ; in the 22nd and 23rd of St thought it necessary to quote the chapters , as it is suffi- is according to that given by the Rev. Fr. Seraphim , a 2 . The text of the Gospels is according to the translation Rheims , as it is the text commonly used by the faithful , and Ecclesiasticum super Passione Jesu Christi . 26th and 27th chapters of St. Matthew's Gospel ; in the approved by the bishops in England and Ireland . The the meaning of the Father referred to , than his exact words . Scriptural texts are quoted by chapter and verse . St. Matthew ; ( M. ) St. Mark ; ( L. ) St. Luke , Fathers , in some instances , are intended rather to convey sources , - but from different trustworthy authors . I have 4 . I think it necessary to state that the passages from the rorde Jean ( Passionist ) , in a work entitled , Proughtuarium r. In the Scripture narrative of the Passion , I have not Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus , 1890 . notice . St. John . endeavoured to give all the references as ' accurately as St. Joseph's Retreat , endeavoured to give all the references as accurately as se authors . I have --- Page 11 --- And Peter taking him , began to rebuke him , saying : Lord , he is far this he spoke not of himself , but being the High-priest of that year , he Jerusalem with His twelve Apostles , and predicted his Passion should die for the people , and that the whole nation parish not . And and the Pharisees gathered , a Council , and said : What do see , for the mountain , and when they abode together in Galileo , He said to His disciples ( St. Matthew , xvii. x ) : " The Son of man Ephrem , and when the Pasch was drawing near , He went up to me , let him deny himself , and take up his cross and follow me . savourest not the things that are of God , but the things that are of and Chief-priests , and be put to death , and the third day rise again . For what both it profit a man if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul ? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of from thee , this shall not be unto thee . Who , turning , said to Peter : prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation . From that day , there- account of what took place ( xi. 47 ) : The Chief-priests , therefore , being the High-priest that year , said to them : ' You know nothing , to Jerusalem , and suffer many things from the Ancients and Scribes betrayed into the hands of men , they shall kill him , and the third fore , they devised to put him to death . this man both many miracles . But one of them named Criphas , Then , after raising Lazarus from the dead , St. John gives the Neither do you consider that it is expedient for you that one man men . Then Jesus said to his disciples : if any man will come after and the Scribes , retired to the confines of Judea , to the town of his Father with his Angels , and then will be render to every man history of the Passion . His transfiguration on the mount . ' Having descended from Jesus , therefore , knowing the evil intention of the Chief-priests day he shall rise again . according to his works . Go behind me , Satan , thou art a scandal unto me ; because they The second time that Christ foretold His Passion was after From that time Jesus began to show to his disciples that he must go --- Page 12 --- Christ in going to death , and the admiration and fears of His Apostles . He spoke to His Apostles once more on this subject , beginning death-once in the month of July , in the third year of His preach- and Jesus preceded them ; and they were astonished ; and they following His death . He had already twice spoken to His Apostles of His ten days of his death , when going up to Jerusalem for the last time , ing , and again in the month of August following ; and now , within nised Him as their King and as the promised Messiah ; and yet with the words : # Behold we go up to Jerusalem , and all things shall it was decided that He should be put to death . man . St. Mark tells us that they were on their way up to Jerusalem ; It was also immediately after He had worked a miracle , by curing until the twelve Apostles came up to Him , and then taking them As Jesus was making the journey in this manner , He waited him were afraid . By which is shown the ability and willingness of be accomplished which were written by the prophets concerning the Son of the Chief priests and Scribes , retired to the confines of Judea , to As stated in the narrative , Jesus knowing the evil intentions of sufferings and death . tion of Lazarus and the meeting of the Council of the Jews , when they were ignorant of the nature of that Kingdom and the manner The third time he predicted His Passion was after the resuscita- the town of Ephrem , where He remained until within ten days of and troubled at hearing this prophecy . in which it was to be established . They were , therefore , perplexed of the wondrous works which they were every day witnessing . apart , each one separately it would appear , he told them of His forth our compassion . one possessed by the evil spirit . They knew now that Christ was the Son of God . They recog- history of the passion . The revelation of His Passion at such a time made a deep im- list , exceedingly troubled . Their ignorance and frailty must call pression on His Apostles . They were , according to the Evange- His Apostles . They were , according to the Evange- list , exceedingly troubled . --- Page 13 --- three courts or houses , the Sepherim , or Teachers of the Law ; the College of the High-priests , and the house of the Elders . The necessarily the High-priest . In Numbers , xi. r6 , we read , be delivered up to the Chief-priests and Scribes and Ancients . of it sat the High-priest , and it was made up of the heads of the president , or head of the Council , bore the title of Nazi , and was not of His Passion . He says in the Gospel of St. Mark , that He will These were the persons who composed the Supreme Council of the Jews , the Sanhedrim . This Council of the Jews , as described by Province , their power was taken from them , and all those cases Romans conquered Palestine , and converted Judea into a Roman had originally supreme power of life and death . But when the twenty-four priestly families , and of the heads of the department former occasions , but He enters more minutely into the particulars which had been tried in the Court of the Lawyers were heard by commanded Moses to call together 70 of the Elders , and to put his priest became the virtual head of the Jewish Council . to do , the Sceptre was taken from it , and its lawyer was directed The third House was that of the Elders ( Ancients ) , and was full activity after the abrogation of the first , and thus the High- spirit upon them . made up of the representatives of the great Jewish families and The first , or Upper House , was the House of the Lawyers , and it a recent author , was composed of 7 1 persons . It consisted of This House , accordingly , practically dissolved . It had nothing the title of " Chief-priests " ( apwepes ) . They decided in all history of the Passion . the Roman Praetor . The second House was that of the Chief priests . At the head spiritual matters as to faith and heresy . This House remained in of all power . connected with the ministry of the Temple . The members all bore The details of this prophecy are substantially the same as on Baring Gould . connected with the ministry of the Temple . --- Page 14 --- aside his garments , and having taken a towel , girded himself . After the Legal Supper of the Paschal lamb , Christ said to His Apos- tes : ( L. ) With desire I have desired to eat this Pasch with you before I suffer . And whilst they were eating , Jesus said to them : ( Mt. ) Go ye into the city to a certain man , and say to him : The master betrayed him , answering , said : Is it , Rabbit the faith to him : Those but rose to that man by whom the Son of man shall be betrayed ; it before the other Apostles into the city , that they might make the saith , ' my time is near at hand ; with the I make the Pasch with my where several persons formed the company , was partaken of after were better for him if that man had not been born . And Judas that the Legal Supper , Christ rose from the table , as related by St. Amen , I say to you , that one of you is about to betray me . And they disciples . And the disciples did as Jesus appointed them , and they superhad commenced , which , in large families and at assemblies , down with his twelve disciples . And on beginning what was called he answering , said : He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish , he shall betray me . The Son of man goeth as it is written of him ; It was the first day of the Azymes , and He said to them : " Mr. ) necessary preparations for the Supper of the Paschal lamb . directly to Judas . prepared the Pasch . When the Legal or ceremonial Supper was finished and the usual On the Thursday after Palm Sunday , Christ sent Peter and John being very much troubled , began every one to say : Is it I , Lord ? But Christ , with the ten others , follows the two disciples , and when hast said it . The Apostles did not attend to these words addressed He had come to the place where the Pasch was prepared , He sat John : - And when supper was done , he riseth from supper and layeth history of the passion . The Last Supper . chapter II . The Son of man goeth as it is written of him ; --- Page 15 --- sixish to him : Lord , not only my feet , but also my hands and my head . Jesus loved . Simon Peter , therefore , reckoned , and said to him : Who disciples , and to wipe them with the travel where with he was girded . feet , but is clean wholly , and you are clean , but not all . ' This was The Apostles did not understand the meaning of these words ; Jesus said to him : He that is smashed , needeth not but to reach his your feet , you also ought to wash one another's feet . For I have you , one of you shall betray me . The disciples , therefore , looked upon If I wash thee not , thou shall have no part with me . Simon Peter the second reference made by our Saviour , at the Last Supper , whom was Judas , Christ resumed His garments , and , repeating Himself , said to them : ( J. ) Know you what I have done to you ! : : If I , being your Lord and Master , have rushed sailh to him : Thou shall never swash my feet ; Jesus answered him : Judas , saying : - He that eateth bread with me , shall lift up his heel What I do , thou knowest not now , but then shall know hereafter . Peter Lord , does those wash my feet ? Jesus answered , and said to him . ruhom I shall reach bread dipped . And when he had dipped the is it of whom he speaketh ? He , therefore , leaving on the breast of given you an example , that as I have done to you , so you do also . troubled in spirit ; and he testified and said : Amen , aren , I say to to the traitor Judas . After the washing of the Apostles , amongst Now , there was leaning on Jesus bosom one of his disciples , whom which thou dust , do quickly . The servant is not greater than his master , . In his discourse , Christ speaks a third time of the traitor Jesus , said to him : Lord , who is it ? Jesus answered : He it is to History of the Passion . that he putteth water into a basin , and began to wash the feet of his bread , he gave it to Judas Iscariot , the son of Simon . And after inst me . ... When Jesus had said these things , he was one another , doubling of whom he spoke . the moral , Satan entered into him . And Jesus said to him : That When Jesus had said these things , he was He cameth , therefore , to Simon Peter . And Peter said to him . And Peter said to him : # 2 . --- Page 16 --- year of His age . Second , in St. John ( vii. ro ) : Then ( their souls from all sin in the tribunal of penance ; in the Jewish the salemn day of the Pasch . There is , however , express mention towards the end of ages to His heavenly Father ; by the Jewish of three times when our Saviour was present at this feast . First , hood , and they use in proof of this the text of St. Luke (ii. 41 ) where it is said : And his parents went every year to Jerusalem at ( xxvi. 18 ) , in the 33rd year of His age , on which occasion He Jesus went up to Jerusalem , Eve . This was probably in the 3 1st His disciples to prepare the Pasch . Some conclude a fourth servitude of sin , as the Jewish Pasch was a memorial of their 3 and year ) he also went up to the feast . Third , in St. Matthew Ezechias ( 2 Par. xx. 1 ) . 6th. Under Esdras , history of the passion . hold that He celebrated the Pasch regularly even from His child- Jerusalem , under King Josias ( 4 Kings , xiii. 2x ) . 5th in St. John ( ii. 13 ) : And the Pasch of the Jews was at hand our Pasch , and the following points of similarity are noted be- of Babylon , in the sixth year of Darius . liberation from the servitude of Egypt . Pasch from St. John ( v. 1 , or vi. 4 ) , when He The Pasch of the Jews was a figure and representation of Pasch , the lamb , without stain or spot , was offered to God towards celebrations of the Pasch . Many of the Fathers of the Church passing the Jordan on the plains of Jericho ( Jos. v. ro ) . 4th. 3 . By our Pasch , Christ , innocent , without stain or sin , is offered by Christians , as their was celebrated only by the Jews . 2 . By our Pasch we are reminded of our liberation from the the end or close of the day . According to the Gospel narrative , we find our Saviour at three 4 . In our Pasch , Christ is received after Christians have cleaned r. Our Pasch , like theirs , is celebrated once a year , and only miraculous multiplication of bread . tween them : 15 --- Page 17 --- lamb the Hebrews were liberated from the bondage of Pharao , particulars of this celebration , are also given : The first month , solemnity kept for seven days , during which it was not lawful tion ; for , as the immolation and aspersion of the blood of the assembly of Israel ( Exod. xii. 18 and 19 ) . And the fifteenth day manded thee in the time of the new corn ; for in the month of the chal lamb was a special rite , in a special place , at a special time , the fourteenth day of the month at evening , is the Phase of the Lord of His Blood on the Cross , are saved from the bondage and slavery and with a special intention , so it is in regard to the celebration God to Moses in memory of the going out of Egypt : " There ing Angel ; so we , by the immolation of Christ , and the suspension spring time thou canest out from Egypt ( Exod.xxxiv. 18 ) . Further houses ; he that shall eat learned bread , his soul shall perish out of the when the first-born of the Egyptians were slain throughout the land , and the slavery of Egypt , and the first-born saved from the destroy- mankind , according to the words of St. Paul ( v. Cor. v. 7 ) offer sacrifice in fire to the Lord seven days . And the seventh day and the Hebrew children saved through the blood of the lamb . shalt keep the feast of the unleavened bread . " as I com- Secondly , as a figure of Christ immolated for the salvation of the same month is the solemnity of the unleavened bread of the Lord . " ... The first day shall be most solemn unto you . But you shall of Satan and the death of sin . Likewise , as the eating of the Pas- and reception of the Holy Eupharist ( A. Lapide ) . our Pasch , is immolated . Which figure is evident in its significa- to eat bread other than unleavened . Seven days shall thou eat unleavened bread ( Exod. xxxiv. 18 ) . This law was given evening . Seven days there shall not be found any leaven in your " " until the one and twentieth day of the same month in the memory of the benefit of the liberation out of Egypt , on the night The Selemnity of Aaymes , or Unleavened Bread . This was a shall be more solemn and more holy ( Lev. xxiii. 6-8 ) . history of the passion . --- Page 18 --- Neither was there anything religious in the Eastern or Hebrew disciples reduced , He began to reach their feet , which were laid on he sat at meat in the Pharisee's house , brought an alabaster boss of behold a woman that was in the city , a singer , when she knew that ointment . And standing behind at his feet , she began to wash his were sure to be soiled , but in this there was nothing religious . custom of washing the feet . The Orientals used to wash the feet poureth water into a basin , and , going round the beds whereon the wash the feet signifies to purify from earthly and carnal affections . stand the history of our Lord's washing His disciples' feet . He passages of the Gospel , as , for example , St. Luke , vii. 27 : table with Jesus when Mary anointed the feet of Jesus . It also Supper in the following manner : - There was a three-fold supper . is said that Lazarus was one of them who were or inclined at appears how justly John might be said to be leaning on Jesus' bosom The same applies to the text of St. John , xii. 2 and 3 , where it the external edge of the couch , and to wipe them with the travel of strangers who came after a journey , because they commonly nonly performed by servants and slaves . In a moral sense , to the hands , because from the usual manner of eating , the fingers rashing into a symbolical action , signifying the cleansing of the Our Saviour , at His Last Supper , gave His last lesson of humility " kissed his feet , and anointed them with the ointment . soul from the stairs of sin . feet , with tears , and wiped them with the hairs of her head , and by washing His disciples' feet , thus raising this customary kind of history of the passion . ruherewith he was grided , Eric . Assisted , as Cabinet says , by these ideas , we may better under- at the supper-table . walked barefoot , wearing only sandals . This office was com- From this description we may the better understand some As to the washing itself ; after meals it was customary to wash We may , therefore , arrange the order of events at the Last 19 . --- Page 19 --- us to Him that was born of thee , for the Mother's prayer awaits much with the mercy of our Lord . Despite not , O most pure evil door . But Thou , O Christ ! did start bear this wickedness with who , being innocent , willed to suffer for sinners , and be unjustly our sins , and to-morrow feed us on the banquet of the Sacramento sought Tree , that they might treat . Their benefactor , as an Supper ; that to-day Thou receive the confession of our faults , and condemned for the guilty . His death wiped away our sins , and Lord , Almighty Father , Eternal God , through Christ our Lord , which a Christian should have on the vigil of our Lord's Super : Him we beseech Thy clemency , that to day Thou cleanse us from silence , for Thou , being the lover of mankind , didst desire to to-morrow grant us the increase of spiritual gifts ; that to-day multitude of our sins ; do thou , O Virgin Mother of God ! pray for Virgin ! the prayers of sinners , for He that refused not even to Missal ; it expresses , in a most touching manner , the sentiments suffer for and save us . We are prevented from speaking by the His resurrection opened for us the gates of heaven . Through " They that had enjoyed Thy unceasing gifts cried out : Let should ever , here and in all places , give thanks to Thee , O Holy I subjoin the following beautiful preface from the Ambrosian Pilate the Word that is from God and that came to redeem our Though receive the offering of our facts , but to-morrow introduce " It is meet and just , right and available to salvation , that we him be crucified ! These murderers of such as were innocent us to the feast of the most holy Supper . Through the same Christ Why , therefore , have yet plotted how to deliver up to suffer for us , is merciful , and is able to save us . " history of the Passion . our Lord . Amen . " souls ? Did He not expound unto you the Law and the prophets ? saviour ? # Translation information from the 661simmold . It was written to 21 . --- Page 20 --- is my body , says our Lord . I believe it to be thy body , replies the of our dogma beside that which He used in delivering it . This taking bread and wine , He who is omnipotent said : This is two body ; this is my blood . Here is our argument , and what can we selves than what Christ has already said ; and that our best are truly and really present in the adorable Eucharist , because , say to thee , that in this night before the cock crew , thou will deny me that of our Saviour stronger and clearer , than the bare enunciation plainly see that we have nothing more or better to say for our- Cardinal Wiseman thus expresses the Catholic belief in this in thee , I will never be socialismised . Jesus said to him : Amen I shepherd , and the sheep of the flock shall be dispersed . mystery : " We believe that the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ advance to prove a strict accordance between our doctrine and Catholic . This is my blood , repeats our Redeemer . I believe it Sacrament . - After our Saviour's explicit and clear expressions . It to be the figure of thy blood , rejoins the Protestant . follows that all are obliged to believe in the reality of His flesh And Peter , answering , said to him : Although all shall be socialismized and blood , as contained in the Holy Eupharist . in the Blessed Sacrament , and the motive of our belief in the History of the Passion . teaching of Christ ? Is it Catholic or Protestant ? You must argument consists in the bare repetition of His sacred and in- I do not use this extract in any controversial sense , except in The Words of Conservation , or the Institution of the Blessed " Whose speech is here , you , you ? Who said them to the so far as it goes to show the dogma of the real presence of Christ ( Mr. ) Then Jesus came with them into a country place which is fallible words . " dogma . called Gethsemani . scandalised in me this night . For it is written : I will strike the thrice . 23 . 22 . --- Page 21 --- The differences in their variations are so slight , that a very few both agree in adjoining a clause commanding the commemorative a participial form ( in Latin ) in the narrative . On the other hand , ( Luke v. 17 ) , of which , He said , He would no more drink ... Secondly , both add to the words of consecration of the bread an phrase in the 23rd verse : And they all drank of it ; and his , using St. Luke and St. Paul agree in a no less remarkable manner , in tion of the cup , must be considered quite synonymous , so that This Evangelists , and by St. Paul , in his first Epistle to the Corinthians . reason of which seems to be clearly to distinguish the Sacramento expressions recorded by the two clauses in relating the consecra- cup from the legal one , which Christ divided among his Apostles and thus complete the history . But it is no less manifest that the cup is the new Covenant , in my blood , is equivalent to This is my blood . the narrative . Two of the writers give additional circumstances , only difference consists in St. Mark's insertion of the parenthetic forms of consecration . Fourthly , they both give the words of in- important clause : St. Luke having , This is my body , which is given tution : " The history of this institution is given by the three first stitution for the cup in the peculiar form : This chalice is the New for you ; and St. Paul adding , which is broken for you . Thirdly , ome slight variations from the other two . First , they both men- repetition of the rite . ' St. Paul alone repeats this clause after both tion the circumstance of the institution being after supper ; the Testament , in my blood . ' tion of the Eucharist , the following questions are proposed and To sum up briefly all that was done by our Lord in the institu- gelists agree not only in substance , but almost in every word . The It is manifest that these variations do not affect the substance of Cardinal Wiseman says , in reference to the above words of insti- history of the passion . answered by Benedict XIV . # : remarks will suffice to note them . ... The two first Evan- # De . Feris V. in Coens Domini . 25 . --- Page 22 --- after the washing of the feet , at which Judas was present . And According to that text of the Acts , in 8. Jesus began to do and to teach . opinion of St. Thomas , St. Jerome ; and , according to Vasquez , it mulgation of the law of baptism , Christ wished to be baptized , so and blood , " which words sufficiently show that He did not that Judas did receive the Holy Eupharist at the Last Supper , and of the heavenly bread , it is said : Turbe fatrum duodene ; datum in like manner , at the institution of the Eucharist , He wished to sacrilegious Communion , and immediately afterwards betrayed his Last Supper did receive His own body and blood . This is the after the distribution of the Bucharist , our Lord again said that one he is the first example of an unworthy communicant . He made a consecrate by His blessing , but by the words , This is my body ; is the common opinion of theologians . For , as before the pro- testified , in clear and distinct words , that He gave them His body The fourth question has been already answered , to the effect Christ : " When after the blessing of the bread and wine . He which priests now use in consecrating the Holy Eucharist . This is implied in the words of the Council of Trent , " when it external benediction or blessing , and the same form of words receive His body and blood before distributing it to the disciples . of them would betray Him . Hence , in the hymn of the Church , non ambigitor . If , then , it was given to the twelve , Judas must this is my blood , as narrated by the Evangelists and by St. Paul . Divine Master with a kiss . Our Saviour instituted the Bucharist says that the institution of the Blessed Eucharist was made by opinion , as stated by St. Thomas , namely , that Christ used an have been one of them . To the third question the answer given is , that Christ at the was over , and Judas had gone out , our Saviour addressed to His history of the passion . In answer to the fifth question , it is said that after the supper disciples a most pleasing and admirable discourse , which St. John , 27 . # Come to Oh a --- Page 23 --- body and blood of Christ , he shows the death of the Lord , thus the Last Supper . By thus enriching His Church with the one reached the place where the enemies of his Saviour are assembled . and perpetual sacrifice , He also gives the means of abiding in operate , by the ministry of mortal and sinful men , the mystery of expressing the oneness there is between the sacrifice of the cross subjoin a summary of the last discourse of Jesus to His Apostles on that night in the Canada , and on His way to the Garden of our Lord empowered His Apostles to renew what He Himself had so intimate a manner with the mystery of redemption , we contract I think it , may be useful , at the conclusion of this chapter , to so close union with the divine Victim , we should banish from our The Apostle St. Paul does not omit to give the words whereby him , for He gives us , as He promised , the bread of life . " hearts sin and affection to sin ? " Christ , therefore , at His Last Supper , not only instituted the history of the Passion . Church , namely , the Christian priesthood . ' Olives . The following account and summary is taken from the Holy Eucharist , but also that other wonderful work of His in the done . He tells us that as often as the priest consecrates the and that of the altar . him eat of that bread and drink of that chalice . " What could be more just than that having to be initiated in man abiding in each other ? ' t I in him , says our Lord . Could there be a closer union , God and ' Judas has left the Cenacle , and , profiting by the darkness , has Let a man then , says the same Apostle , prove himself , and so let " He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood , abideth in me . and Jesus then turns to His faithful Apostles , and says to them : " Liturgical Year " # ordination , even to the end of the world . Jesus will continue to " The " Liturgical Year , " Maunday-Thursday . 29 . took " # # It was written Jesus will continue to ordination , even to the end of the world . --- Page 24 --- give unto you ; not as the world giveth , do I give unto you . Let not duced by divine grace in the soul of man : I am the true vine , ' many things with you , for the prince of this world cometh , and in me for Jesus had too much of the human about it , for it was not based Paraclete , that he may abide with you for ever . I will not leave you to thee , the cock shall not cross till thou deny me thrice . Peter's love the way , the truth and the life . If you love me , keep my command - that beareth not fruit , he will purge it . that it may bring forth He says , and my Father is the husbandman . Every branch in me spoken by Jesus before He leaves His disciples . I am , says He , than , replies Jesus , lay down they life for met Amen , amen , . I say ments . I will ask the Father , and he shall give you another he hath not anything . But that the world may know that I love arise , let us go hence . orphans ; I will come to you . Peace I leave with you , my peace I the Father , and as the Father hath given me commandment , so do I : He continues His instructions as they go along . He takes occasion from the passing by a vine to speak of the effects pro- disciples , if we have love one for another . Peter says to Him : Lord ! on humility . Presumption comes from pride ; it almost always Deeply impressed by these words , the disciples arise , and , after thee now ? again asks Peter ; I will lay down my life for thee . Will to Mount Olivet . would be glad , because I go to the Father ! I will not now speak your heart be troubled , nor let it be afraid . If you loved me , you the hymn of thanksgiving has been said , they accompany Jesus But let us return to the instructions contained in the last words results in a fall . whither guest thou ? ' Whether I go , answers Jesus , thou canst not history of the passion . more fruit . Abide in me , and I in you . As the branch cannot bear By this shall all men know that you are my follow me ; but thou shall follow hereafter . Why cannot I follow follow me ; but thou shall follow hereafter . Love one another . 3r . Why cannot I follow 0-000 30 . --- Page 25 --- and needest not that any man should ask there . By this we believe rest may abandon Him , if they will , but he will keep with Him to loveth you , because you have loved me , and have believed that I came Jesus ; behold the hour cometh , and it is now come , that you shall be out from God . I came forth from the Father , and am come into the promise He had made them of the Holy Spirit , the Comforter . scattered every man to his own , and shall leave me alone . All you in me , and I in him , the same beneath much fruit , for without me leave them . He assures them that they shall obtain whatever world ; again I leave the world , and I go to the Father . The the last . It should indeed be so , for he has received so much you can do nothing . If any man abide not in me , he shall be cast more from Jesus than the others have ; but he is again humbled by abide in me . I am the vine ; you are the branches : he that a hideth they ask of the Father in His name . The Father , " He adds , being told again of his coming speedy fall . Jesus then , calmly but I have chosen you , that you should go , and should bring forth shall be socialism in me this night , for it is written : " I will strike forth as a branch , and shall whether , and they shall gather him up , that thou contest forth from God . Do you now believe I answered and of the hatred the world will have of them . He renews the disciples say to him : Now we know that thou knowest all things , the shepherd , and the sheep of the flock shall be dispersed . " But after history of the passion . and tells them that it is to their advantage that He Himself should I shall be risen again , I will go before you into Galilee . He next speaks to them of the persecutions that await them , raising up His eyes to heaven , says : Father , the hour is come ; Peter again protests that he will be faithful to his Master ; the fruit of itself , unless it abide in the time , so neither can you , unless you and cast him into the fire , and he burneth . You have not chosen me , fruit , and your fruit should remain . glorify thy Son , that thy Son may glorify thee . I have finished the # St.John , xvi. . " St. Matt. xxvi. 3r. 32 . --- Page 26 --- fore , when He came to them the third time , He wished them in would have us think ; but , according to the other Fathers , they were reality to continue their sleep until the approach of Judas , when Bekold he that will betray me is at hand . not used in any ironical sense , as St. Chrysostom and Emissemus elevated summits ) , and the supposed scene of that event . the north and south of the city . It is only 280 feet higher than church of Jebel-el-Tur ( the Arabic name for Olivet , as for all it is situated to the east of Jerusalem , with its outlying ridge to The Mount of Olives took its name from the olive trees growing to them : Sleep ye now , and take your rest . These words were used in a serious , compassionate and mild spirit . For Christ was full of compassion for the weakness of His Apostles , and , there- to which Christ retired after His resurrection . out against the sky , and not against any high background . He said to them : Sufficit , it is enough . ( M.M. ) Rise Among the things to be considered in the foregoing narrative hills in its immediate neighbourhood - its towers , its walls standing Brook Cedron , and the Garden of Gethsemani . there . As described by Dean Stanley , in his " Sinai and Palestine , " history of the passion . stood , and said , " Ye men of Galileo , " or that it was the " Galileo " tingwished by traditional names . 1 . " The Galileo , " from the supposition that there the angels It is a long ridge , with four distinct summits , which are now dis- from Olivet , Jerusalem is seen on an elevation higher than the a . " The Ascension , " covered by the village and mosque and Jesus arose , and coming a third time to His disciples , He ( Mt. ) said g. " The Prophets , " from the curious catacomb called the " Pro- phets' Tomb " on its side . are , first of all , the localities . These are , the Mount of Olives , the mount Sign . worship . 4 . " The Mount of Defence , " so called from Solomon's idol 35 . --- Page 27 --- said that water was running in that native in our Lord's time , but Hebrew name , it signifies a dark and gloomy valley , either designed takes its name from cadars , as cedars were not found growing regarded , both by Jewish and Christian pilgrims , as the destined there . Josephus says that Solomon planted cedaris in many parts to characterize the turbid character and violent flow of its waters . to the Jewish pilgrims of the middle ages , only dignified by the scene of the judgment of the world . As to the import of the little water , and often none ; but after storms - or heavy rain it sacrifice of " the red heifer , ' and the vision , too great for words , name Cedron , various conjectures are made . It is not true that it which discharges itself into the Dead Sea . It has generally but and unchanged with mud and gravel ; or , as Baring Gould says : letailed and most authentic abiding place of Jesus Christ . as a mere winter torrent , soiled and swollen by the heavy rains , able event in the earlier history of the Mount of Olives . History of the Passion . swells and runs with much impetuosity , as Calmet tells us . It is of Judea , but not in this valley . Looking to the root of the The Brook Cedron . This is a stream , or ravine , in the valley east of Jerusalem , between the city and the Mount of Olives , and the free space of the Mount of Olives . ' t that now the stream runs underground , and breaks out as a valley of Josephat , or of the Divine Judgment , and has been long The last glory of this place belongs not to the old dispensation , but to the new . " Contrast the blank which Olivet presents which it offers to the Christian traveller of all times as the most fountain lower down . since ten times captured city . It is impossible not to find them in " It is useless to seek traces of His presence in the streets of the This valley , according to ancient tradition , is identical with the " It is , indeed , a gloomy valley : the sun only shines into its Kings , " in all its stages of ascent and descent , is the most remark- Ch. XV. and xi. + Stanley's " Sinai and Palestine . " vs . 37 . --- Page 28 --- beatitude which results from its union with the Divinity . ' This , on the face of the earth ; their gnarled trunks and scanty foliage always struck even the most indifferent observers . They are now on the rough hill side ; but they will remain , so long as their will always be regarded as the most affecting of the sacred memorials in or about Jerusalem ; the most nearly approaching to His humanity , will be interiorly supported , even to the very last the voice of God calling him in the Garden of Eden : Adam , where art thou ? He answered , filled with fear : I have heard they voice in ' His human nature experiences , as it were , a suspension of that manifest difference from all the others on the mountain , have indeed less striking in the modern enclosure built round them by and enters the Garden of Gethsemani , whether he had often before already protracted life is spared , the most venerable of their race led His Apostles . Suddenly his soul is overpowered with grief . path to the bottom of the valley ; He crosses the Brook Cedron moment of His Passion , but it must bear everything that it is an idea of them , we have now to follow our Saviour , and consider the everlasting hills themselves , in the force in which they carry us . Apostles through the east gate of the city , and descends the steep Paradise , and I feared . In atonement for Adam's sin and its con- the Franciscan monks , than when they stood free and unprotected He began to fear . Our first parent began to fear when he heard history of the passion . lader , contristari et moestus esse . Christ , - on leaving the supper-room , goes out with His eleven Having given the description of the localities sufficient to form Jesus began to fear , to be sorrowful , and to be sad . Capit pavere back to the events of the Gospel history . " the betrayal . There are also eight olive trees , which , by their possible for it to bear . ' t His sorrow and prayer in the garden . sequences , Jesus , the second Adam , now walking in another garden , # Sinai and Palestine . " A " Liturgical Year . " 39 . --- Page 29 --- but what they will . No , it is not now possible that it should away , unless man perish and God continue to punish with a two- morely a swimming , it is an agony , that He suffers . ' There was a it the thought of His glorious resurrection , the desire of the angels , this is the will of my Father , that sent me ; that every one who multitude when they had no bread , now keeps tears of blood for If we , after the example of Christ , ask what is the will of our edged sword ; unless the angels withdraw their help , and the when the decree of the Holy Trinity is proposed to Him , and with beavenly Father , our Saviour will answer us in the words : " And over Jerusalem and over the tomb of Lazarus , and had pity on the blood flows from His body and bathing the ground . It is not Not my well , but there he done . ' Not as I will , but as thou willt us , and His mercy prevails . two-fold agony of our Saviour in His Passion-an agony of mind the lamentations of the holy fathers , the salvation of men , and , between the God-man , and death ; ( 2 ) between the greatest joy We acknowledge in that one person of Christ two voices ; one in the garden , and an agony of body on the Cross . worth the Son , and believeth in him , may have everlasting life , and devils reign , and heaven's gates remain closed . Jesus , who wept of fear , the other of love . Fear wishes the chalice to pass , but finally , the will of His heavenly Father , love cries out , and says : Christ , as our Creed tells , had two wills , as He had two natures , history of the passion . be removed . It is now necessary . The chalice cannot pass be possible , let this chalice pass from me . On the other hand , divine and human . The human will shrunk from death , but con- formed itself to the divine will , which urged its necessity . possible to thee . Remove this chalice from me ; but not what I will , I will raise him up on the last day . " The agony of mind was occasioned by the mental struggle ( r ) The Agony and Great of Blood . - Whilst praying , a sweat of love desires to drain it to the drags . " Fear says : Father , if it 41 . --- Page 30 --- just as though He had been more man . " He begins His prayer by out vengeance against Him ; the ingratitude of men , many of of such equations of blood have been known to take place . ( See always possessed ) and the present darkness of His soul ; ( 3 ) be- whom will make His sacrifice useless . Jesus has to accept all this , is at hand , and the Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of that the sweat was of blood ; but that it was blood-like in its drops . and at the very time when He seems to be left to His human It has , however , been generally understood that the excessive suffer ; the sins of the whole world taken upon Himself , and crying D. W. Stroud's " Treatise on the Physical Causes of the Death of saying to His Father : Not my will , but there be done . " near Him , but each time finds them asleep . At length the speaks tween the soul and body of Christ when about to be separated by him ; but it does not prevent Him from feeling every suffering , torture of the mind produces a sweat of blood . Several instances nature . The power of the Divinity , which is in Him , supports Rise , let us go ! Behold he is at hand that will betray me . Him . " But what a chalice ! every pain that body and soul can We may appropriately conclude this chapter with the lesson read in the Tenebre Office for Maunday-Thursday , and taken from asking that the chalice may be taken from Him ; He ends it by to them , saying : Sleep ye now , and take your rest . Behold the hour Twice He returns to His disciples , whom He had asked to watch As to the sweat of blood , the Evangelist does not say precisely Christ , after His agony , again accepts the chalice prepared for and the greatest sorrow , that is the beatific vision ( which His soul Then , resuming the energy of His divine courage , He adds : history of the passion . the Lamentations of Jeremiah : death . sinners . christ . " ) # Liturgical Year . " 42 . --- Page 31 --- healed it . ( Mr. ) Then Jesus said to Peter : Put up again they sword the ground . Again , therefore , he asked them : Whom seek yet And were with Jesus ( Simon Peter , as St. John tells us ) , stretching forth behold Judas , one of the twelve , came , and with him a great multitude priest ( whose name was Malchus , according to St. John ) , cut off his And Judas also , who betrayed him , stood with them . As soon , there- his hand , drew out his sword , and striking the servant of the High- ( Mr. ) Rise , let us go : behold he is at hand that will betray me , Supper , so that he might the more securely accomplish his design . fore , as he had said to them , I am he , they went backward and fell to whereto art thou come ? ( L. ) Judas , about thou betray the Son of man they said : Jesus of Nazareth . Jesus answered : I have told you that trayed him had given them a sign , saying : Whomsoever I shall kiss . people . St. John says that they came with lanterns and torches and and joined it . ) . ) Jesus , therefore , knowing all things that should Jesus , said : Hail Rabbi ! and he kissed him . ( N. ) And he that be and laid hands on Jesus , and held him . And behold one of them that answered him : Jesus of Nasareth . Jesus said to them : I am he . Whilst Jesus was yet speaking to His disciples , saying to them : as if he did not belong to that party . After the kiss , he fell back that is he ; lay hold on him , and lead him away carefully . When with swords and clubs , sent from the Chief-priests and Ancients of the our ( his right ear , according to St. Luke ) . ( L. ) But Jesus , come upon him , went forth and said to them : Whom seek yet They therefore , Judas had kissed Him : ( Mt. ) Jesus said to him : Friend , history of the passion . I am he . If , therefore , you seek me , let these go their way . ( L In order to kiss Jesus , Judas preceded the crowd a little way , likely , on that samenight he made enquiries about this at the Last with a kiss ? ing , said : Suffer we this far . And when he had touched his ear , he is your hour , and the power of darkness . ( Mr. ) Then they came up weapons . ( L. ) Judas went before them . ( Mr. ) And forth with coming to 45 ( L. ) Judas went before them . is your hour , and the power of darkness . --- Page 32 --- trayer of Christ ( St. Luke v. 6 ) , and preparicator , who fell away grave consequences ; but the registers of crime show numerous the sake of some insignificant gain . Slight affronts have instigated Simon ( St. John v. 72 ) , 2 . That he was the disciple and be- pieces of silver , saying : I have pinned in betraying innocent blood , cases in which motives apparently trifting have led to most dread- shall betray me ; and other texts , as quoted above . Thirdly , his from the Apostolate ( Acts , i. 25 ) . 3 . That seeing Jesus con- the Gospels and the Acts we learn that he was ( i ) the son of and going , hanged himself with a rope , and , being hanged , burst ful deeds . Murder has been committed through jealousy , or for passion which devoured him , we find the following sins , all of sinfulness : You are clean , but not all . For He knew who it was in the words : None of them ( the Apostles ) perisheth except the which Judas was guilty :Avarice , infidelity , sacrifice , simply , despair , suicide , hypocrisy , robbery ; because , as St. John says , he down even into hell by reason of his guilt . That passion was asunder in the midst ( St. Matt. xxvii. 3-5 ) . that would betray Him . It was one foul passion in which he indulged that brought Judas those who were not of a very passionate temperament to violent In the betrayal proceeding from , or as a consequence of the Concerning this man Christ prophesied , first , his condemnation , son of partition ( Judas ) . Secondly , his betrayal : One of you covetousness . . It does not seem a strong passion to produce deeds , and to inflict a death-blow . revas a thief . demned , he was led by false repentance . He returned the thirty Benjamin , Others , that he was from the tribe of Ephraim . From The seven circumstances of a human act are found in a remark- history of the Passion . Quis . Who was it that betrayed our Lord ? An Apostle and able manner to the betrayal : - # Oh Takes will be 4th Tahn will be 1.24 Tahn vii . 47 --- Page 33 --- accompanied by the prices of the people ; the Chief-priest , the of a legion , and numbered 500 , or at least 300 soldiers . It is said ledged his guilt , when he said : I have signed in betraying innocent employed in connection with the Temple , and the Roman soldiers . The procession may be supposed to be arranged in the that doeth evil hateth the light . that this body was made up of the Jewish Guards , who were kept fast , he tells them , and lead him away cautiously . a great multitude with swords and clubs , sent from the Chief-priests their hands - a cohort of soldiers . A cohort was the tenth part immolated the Paschal lamb , at night . The betrayal was a work Olives , the place of prayer : And a hymn being sung , they went out As he yet spoke , behold Judas , one of the twelve , came , and with him Taking the circumstances of Christ's arrest in order , we have to While Jesus was speaking His last words to His disciples , a numerous body of armed men enter the garden , with torches in The betrayal afterwards , in his remorse and imperitence , acknow- and the Ancients of the people . What will you give me , and I will deliver him up to you ? following manner : The Roman troops , the Jewish Guards , consider , in the first place , the great multitude that came with Quanda . On the first day of the Azymes , when the Jesus History of the Passion . This . Where did the betrayal take place ? In the Garden of Judas to capture Him . of darkness . This is your hour , says our divine Lord . Every one Quomodo . In what manner ? With swords and clubs : Hold him into Mount Olivet . Judas Iscariot , who also betrayed him . Quid . Whom did he betray ? The only-begotten Son of God . disciple . He is thus mentioned in the list of the Apostles : And blood . Cur. Why , or through what motive ? Covetousness or advice : quibus auxilis . Through whose help ? A great multitude : 48 . --- Page 34 --- A mass did not take notice of the sword which Joab had , and he struck them to do so . With one single word He cast them prostrate on gives everything evil . You promise life , and you give death ; you the ground . That word was : Ego sum - I am . In the Douay crowd , together with Judas , go backward , and fall to the ground , Bible it is translated : I am he . It is supposed that it was the priest cannot lay hands out Jesus unless He , their Victim , permit exclaims . " O traitor world , that promises everything good , and Hebrew name of God which Christ here made use of . I am who priest in the Holy of Holies . At hearing it the soldiers and entire Machabees ( iv. 34 ) : Andronicus went to Onias , and gave him right hand , with an oath ( in token of friendship ) , and ( though he were suspected by him ) persuaded him to come forth out of the same- expressly mentioned , is that recorded in the second book of him in the side , and shed out his barrels to the ground , and gave him many , and immediately slew him without any regard to justice . Matter and farm upon us only to deceive and betray us . divine power which Christ desired to manifest before allowing world , there is no security against the deceits , " St. Augustine all God's perfections . It only applies to Him to whom all power not in mockery or decision , as some suppose , but through the real Take the world as the generic name for them . " O peridious His Enemies fall to the Ground . The servants of the High- aw-that name which was only to be pronounced by the High- The third was the case of Judas , as above narrated . promise joy , and you give sorrow ; you promise rest , and you give confusion ; you promise to stand , and you soon fall away . " The second case of similar perfidy , although the kiss is not them to take and bind Him . history of the passion . Let us learn from these examples to beware of false friends , who not a second round , and he died ( 2 Kings , xx. 9 ) . he took Amasa by the skin with his right hand to kiss him . But Ego sum-I am . This expression contains the compendium of 5.1 . This expression contains the compendium of Ego sum - I am. --- Page 35 --- him , teach that there is no reason why it should not be taken in young man followed , having a linen cloth cast about his naked body ; that it was St. Mark himself ; and others , that he was from the house Scripture says comes , all . Maldonatus , however , and others with from enduring His Passion : Lord , this shall not be to thee ; and then his word received the severe rebuke : Get there behind me , Satan ; only by St. Mark , and it is : That after our Lord was taken , a the mind of God by the words : Thinkest thou that I cannot ask some of the multitude laid hold of him , but he , casting off the linen him there to see , to hear , and to know . Thus he fell into danger . where Jesus had eaten the Paschal supper , or a young man from its fully literal sense - that all of them went away at first ; but SS . some neighbouring hamlet , who , on going to sleep , heard the noise refer to it because it is singular and remarkable . It is narrated them , and therefore some exception may be understood when the James , the relative of our Lord ; others , that it was St. John ; others , How then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled ? immediately and followed after off : Simon Peter followed Jesus , and Peter and John , as appears from the Scripture , must have returned reproved , and he is reminded how far he was from understanding of the soldiers and the shouts of the people , and hurried to the St. John the Evangelist did not run away with the others , or like cloth , fled from them . Some think that this young man was St. place to see what was going on . This incident serves to show us another disciple . thou art a scandal to me . Now , his interference by act , is severely Then all His disciples relicto co abierunt - Then all His dis- the state of confusion and excitement that prevailed in the neigh- A little before this , St. Peter , by zwyd , tried to dissuade Christ my Father , and he will give me presently twelve legions of angels ? history of the passion . bourhood on that dreadful night . His indiscreet curiosity brought ciples , leaving Him , went away . St. John Chrysostom says , that There is only one other incident to be mentioned here , and I 53 . --- Page 36 --- love this Jesus , who might have saved us by one and the least of poured out upon the world the sublime instructions of His loving heart . We have seen Him struggling with the feelings of human vish this young man to be involved in his disgrace . He did not There , O holy Lord ! Almighty Father ! and to Jesus Christ thy attention , or pre-occupation , or indulgence on the part of the Jews , reakness , as He be held the chalice of His Passion that was pre- vish any person to suffer on this occasion but Himself , and hence pared for Him ; but He triumphed over all , in order to save us . but only through the special protection of Christ , who did not all these humidations , but whose love for us was not satisfied Son . We have been fostered by His humanity , exalted by His He has instituted the priesthood of the New Testament ; He has humility , set free by His betrayal , redeemed by His blood , fed by He secured the safety of His Apostles before He was taken and holy city , there to consummate His sacrifice . Let us alone and We have seen Him betrayed , fettered , and led captive into the the words : Now all this was done , that the Scriptures of the Prophets Jesus' love . He has given us His body and blood to be our food ; might be fulfilled . from His Father . " us in our devotion towards the mystery we have been commemo- history of the Passion . unless He drank to the very dress the chalice He had accepted The same author gives the English translation of the following on the devotions of Maunday Thursday : beautiful Preface of the Gothic Missal of Spain , which will assist St. Matthew concludes the history of the arrest of Christ with : Mation . " It is meet and just that we should give thanks to But he was set free , or freed himself , not so much because of in- " What a day is this we have been spending ! How full of bound . The author of the " Liturgical Year " thus concludes his remarks rating : 54 . --- Page 37 --- Annas , and in this I follow the order given by Ludolph , the Saxon . loved him after off , even to the court of the High-priest ; and going before Caiphas , the High-priest , who was the pontiff of that year . that Annas sent Him bound to Caiphas . ' St. John also tells us reason for the order adopted . SS. Mark and Luke say that after ( Ch. xviii. 13 ) , and in verse the 24th of the same chapter it happened as in the order given by him . That is , in the house 2 3rd , inclusive , took place in the house of Annas , or in the house the agony and the arrest in the garden , Christ was brought by the the clearest and simplest solution of the question is to let St. John's Only St. John says that Christ was brought before Annas first narrative remain as it is , and allow that those things mentioned in for the people . These particular references of St. John should be of Caiphas . The question is controverted ; but I consider that father-in-law to Caiphas , who was the High-priest of that year ( Mr. ) where the Scribes and Ancients were assembled , and Peter fol- In this portion of the Gospel history , it is necessary to establish- kept in mind as well as the Gospel narrative in the solution of the who Annas was , and who Caiphas was . Annas , he says , was and Caiphas was he who had given counsel that one man should die lish the order of events , as far as possible , and to assign some first denial of St. Peter during the time that Christ was before jews to the High-priest , or the High-priest's house , without of Annas , Jesus was examined concerning His disciples and His has it , he sat with the servants at the fire , and warned himself . history of the passion . in , he sat with the servants , that he might see the end ; or , as St. indicating the name of the High-priest . doctrine , and received a blow on the face . I have also placed the in the eighteenth chapter of his Gospel , from verse the 15th to the following question : SS. Matthew and John agree in saying that Christ was brought Then U. ) Annas sent him bound to Caiphas , the High-priest , The question is , whether those things which St. John narrates 57 . 0 0 --- Page 38 --- to both High-priests , and brought Peter into the house of each , in to the 23rd , inclusive , should be considered as taking place in the 14 , are said by the Evangelist in anticipation , or by way of paren- for Annas was father-in-law to Caiphas , who was the High-pri happened in the house of Caiphas . I find this explanation given according to this arrangement it would be clear that all these this seems evident from the text of St. John , who , although he by some authors , but I do not see any necessity for making such from verse the 15th to the 23rd , inclusively ; and that all the rest that year ; but Caiphas was he who had given counsel , 800. " goes on to the other two denials which took place afterwards in 24th verse after this manner : And Anna sent him bound to Caiphas , Caiphas , to the end of the 14th , be left out here , and joined to narranted by the same Evangelist , from verse the 25th to the 27th , Evangelist , it would bear the same meaning throughout . For the the court of Caiphas . And it may have been that John was known a change ; by leaving the narrative as it is , in the order of the began in the court of Annas , and ended in that of Caiphas . And thesis , and not that those things which he narrates from verse 15th makes no mention of Caiphas , but only of Annas , puts first one things happened in the house of Annas , which St. John narrates words , he was father-in-law to Caiphas , Sec. , to the end denial , then the questions which Annas asked Christ , and lastly To remove objections to this theory , I may give the following history of the passion . who says : " The more common opinion is , that the threefold denial house of Caiphas , for in verse the 24th he says that Annual sent further explanation . ' Let the words , who was father-in-law to the manner explained above , when Annas sent Jesus bound to him bound to Caiphas . palace seems plausible , but it does not solve any difficulty , because The conjecture that Annas and Caiphas occupied the same caiphas . " " Matins , " p. 123 . . 58 . --- Page 39 --- up the steep ascent by which He and His disciples had descended , ween the thumb and forefinger , and a sort of spur of hill running palace of Herod stood at the main joint of the little finger . A pillar , which crosses the torrent by a picturesque arch about twenty the city of David at the going up of the wall . probable . From this gate fights of steps led up to Zion ( Nehemias , because that led to the town where the common people lived . iii. 15 8xii. 37 ) . At the fountain gate , says Nehemias , deep ravine , called the Tyropoeon Valley , represents the cleft be- servants of the Temple ( Nehemias iii. 36 ) . Then they passed from Moriah , and called Ophel , is represented by the thumb . through the dung-gate at the lowest point reached by the city wall , hand is held out flat , then the old town of Jerusalem occupies feet high . From the bridge the road winds up the hill Ophel , place where comes the main joint of the thumb when the gloved the back of the hand , and further to the wrist the new town of Bezetha . Where the fingers are , there was Mount Zion , and the great folk , Herod and the High-priest and Annas . ' which was occupied by the house of the Nethinim , or inferior Now , the servants and soldiers would not take Jesus , when bound , side of the brook , till they reached the bridge near Absalom's Jesus moved down the valley Kedron , along the path on the east the traditional course taken , and it is that which appears most in the glen of Tyropoeon , which there opens to Siloam . This is gate leading to the pool of Siloam : They went up by the stairs of Son of David , was conveyed into the city of David . " Gospel that there was a kind of trial conducted before and by history of the passion . " To reach this part of the town , the band of those who held They would lead Him away to Zion , where were the palaces of the Jesus is Examined before Annas . It is certain from St. John's " Up the fight of steps , in the sleep side of Zion , Jesus , the annas . in those of children . Now , suppose the Temple to occupy the so . in those of children . --- Page 40 --- it , on the contrary , He had chosen men who were rude , uncultured , ment , and Annas was the most fitting person to conduct it . It and experience placed him at the head of the priestly class . The and ignorant of all the sciences - of a low and object condition Plato , or from amongst the great orators of Athens . Why was What a lesson for those who belong to the schools of learning in even in the priestly family the destruction of Christ had been a to death is to be traced back to the influence of Annas , whose age profane knowledge , and so little time and labour given by students of preliminary process to be gone through before the formal judg- office ? He appears as the founder of a new religion , with twelve was not , therefore , merely out of respect or curiosity that Christ to the school of Christ ! And we know that the wisdom of this subject of consideration . The resolution adopted of putting Him the world ! So many years and so much labour spent in acquiring have thought , as Mr. Stanihurst , S. J. , expresses it , " that world is foolish with God . " We may here say with the pious together ? or , believing Him to be an extraordinary man , he might Zeno , or the Peripatetics of Aristotle , or the Academicians of fishermen instead of twelve Patriarchs , and seventy-two poor judgment of Caiphas - it is right that one man should die for the disciples instead of seventy-two Seniors of the Old Law . restigation required by the law , and the questions asked by Anna's people-embodied the views of his father-in-law . ' There was a kind history of the Passion . have selected His followers either from amongst the Stoics of was brought before Annas , but for some sort of preliminary in- The High-priest interrogated Jesus about His disciples and His Thomas A Kempis : " O God , who art the Truth , make me one First , as to His disciples - why He had gathered them doctrines . that ought not to be omitted . He says that it is probable that were concessions to the forms of law . # Dei immortalis in mortali corpore patientis Historia . 62 . 62 . --- Page 41 --- charitably rebucking the servant , on whom by His mere command but endured this effort , like many others which follow , with per- well , and thou hast nothing to find fault with , why strikers thou some reward or acknowledgment for this having taken upon one could say that He had spoken inconsistency , or without Our long suffering and patient Lord renders not evil for evil , indulge the promptings of his rude and cruel nature . He expected we may appear before men , we have struck our Saviour's face , and a low voice , showing the truth of what He said , and gently and earth to open under his feet , that he may go down alive into hell , feel patience and mockness for our sales , and taught us patience , He could have inflicted any punishment . ' If , He'said , I have joremins . He shall give His cheek to him that striketh him . let us not forget our own blows - that , however calm and mild spoken evil , give testimony of the evil , and prove me a liar ; but if history of the passion . attention and respect . Secondly , for our instruction , to teach us . for fire to come down from heaven to consume him , or for the himself to vindicate the respect due to the High-priest . We do # unjustly ? What can be more true , more gentle , and more just answering modestly , humbly , with an unmoded countenance and " In this blow , " says Ludolph , " was fulfilled the prophecy of not read that he is either corrected or removed by Annas . was given , in the first place , in self-justification , to show that no had we can in justice , and without fear , refute calmnies , but with It may be supposed that this servant intended more than to than this answer ? " given Him blow after blow , as often as we have offended Him Whilst we condemn the servant of the High-priest , and cry out ground , so as to purple the pavement . guished forth from His mouth and nostrils , and fell in drops on the by sin . The neck reply of our Saviour is an unanswerable dilemma . It " Jer. , Lament . iii. 30 . 65 . --- Page 42 --- ing : Prophesy , who is it that struck theel ( ( Mr. ) Then they did to destroy the temple of God , and after three days to rebuild it . And against Jesus , that they'm right put him to death ; and they found not , came two false witnesses , and they said : This man said , I am able that thou tell us if thou be Christ the Son of God . Jesus said to with the understanding that they were to meet again early in the priest , where the Scribes and the Ancients were assembled . And think you ! But they , answering , said : He is guilty of death . And the High-priest said to him : I adjust thee , by the living God , him : Then had it . Nevertheless , I say to you , hereafter you priests and the members of the Council retired to their homes , shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of the power of Peter followed him after off , even to the court of the High-priest ; And the Chief-priests , and the whole council , sought false witness history of the passion . God , and coming in the clouds of heaven . Then the High priest rent convoked a full and special Council meeting , that Christ might be the High-priest , rising up , said to him : Anssverest thou nothing to and going in , he sat with the servants , that he might see the end . It was late at night when these things happened . The Chief- his garments , saying : He hath blasphemy ; what further need have they blindfolded him and smoke his face . And they asked him , say whereas many false witnesses had come in . And last of all . there the things that these witness against the ? But Jesus held his peace . ( In ) And the men that held him , mocked him , and struck him , and Saviour's Passion which we have to consider now . morning . In the meantime , Christ , during the night , was left in other things they said against him . In the morning early , Caiphas , who the night before had examined and condemned our Saviour , rue of witnesses ? Behold , now you have heard the blasphemy ; what the hands of the soldiers and the ministers of the Jews . spil in his face , and buffeled him . ( L. ) And , blasphemy , many ( Mr. ) But they , holding Jesus , led him to Caiphas , the High- These words of Isaias are clearly verified in the portion of our # Fract. exiii . in pan . --- Page 43 --- said they all : Art thou the Son of God ? Who said : You say that was day , the Ancients of the people , and the Chief-priests and the At this meeting the trial and condemnation of Christ was repeated as on the previous night . It is thus narrated : ( ... ) And as soon as it What do we , for this man both many wonders ? ( John Xi. 47 ) . man shall be sitting on the right hand of the power of God . Then to Ancients , with the High-priest as its president on this occasion . history of the passion . I am . And they said : What need we any farther testimony ? For multitude of them , rising up , led him to Pilate . and after that be delivered to Pontius Pilate , the Roman Governor . The third time recorded was that which is narrated above : hedrim , composed , as I have explained in a former chapter , of the all matters either directly or indirectly connected with the law of we ourselves have heard it from his own mouth . And the whole the people took counsel against Jesus , that they might put him to The chief office of this Council was to judge and give sentence in The second was the time of the resurrection of Lazarus , when : And when morning was come , all the Chief-priests and Ancients of The Chiefpriests and the Pharisees gathered a Council , and said : enquired of them where Christ should be born ( Matt. ii. 1-4 ) . Scribes , came together ; and they brought him into their Council . The Council of the Jews . This was the Council of the San- together all the Chief-priests and the Scribes of the people , and three times to receive and judge of questions that concerned our condemned formally by the judgment of the whole Sanhedrim . The first time was when Jesus was born . King Herod called you will not answer me , nor let me go . But hereafter the Son of Blessed Lord . This Council , according to the Gospel , was called together shall tell you , you will not believe me . And if I shall also ask you , saying : If there be the Christ , tell us . And he said to them : If I death . god . And if I shall also ask you , And he said to them : If I 68 . saying : If thou be the Christ , tell us . shall tell you , you will not believe me . 68 . --- Page 44 --- brought up now against Him , because they knew that Christ did what they said was false , and unworthy of an answer ; secondly . standing before the High-priest , bound , with His hands tied across than He . And their witnesses did not agree ( St. Mark ) . " emphasized by St. Mark : But he held his peace , and answered Christ say that He and the Father were one , while another could recording to the Jewish conceptions of it . This was the first sub- and it would be inconvenient to refer to His miracles now . on perplexed and irritated Caiphas , and confounded the Chief-priests His body , His countenance , mild but heroic , exhibiting the firm- and Scribes . They began to fear that Jesus would have to be Son of God ; " and another asserting that he heard Him saw He not infringe on the Sabbath law except to work beneficial miracles , Thus we may suppose one asserting that Jesus called Himself the have testified that he heard Christ say that the Father was greater order to show , first , His justice , for these men were unworthy , and His mercy , that they might not sin more by persisting in their account of which so many , even members of the Council , believed stantial ground for the hostility of the Pharisees to Him : yet we do not read that the Sanhedrim caused this accusation to be was the " Son of man : " and one could have said that he heard It was notorious that our Lord transgressed the Sabbath law Ludolph says that " Jesus was silent , and answered nothing , in released for want of testimony . All the while , Jesus had remained history of the passion . Other witnesses did not agree , but contradicted each other . malice ; thirdly , His wisdom , for He knew , as God , that what- Jesus autumn takeoff-Jesus was silent . Such opposite testimony and " deceivers ; " the Scribes , " foxes ; " and the Pharisees in Him . ness and composure of innocence . His remarkable silence is See a work entitled , " Prince of the House of David , " by Rev. J. H nothing . crites . " 7i . --- Page 45 --- be the Christ , tell us plainly . Jesus answered them : I speak to you , and His divine power ? ' These things made the Jews half believe and Messias , or their ideas of Him were of such a nature as to make it Council , might have abandoned the expectation of the coming lehem ? For so it was written by the prophets . How could they over- blasphemous . Yet , how could they all have forgotten the meeting prophecies , and the extraordinary miracles by which He proved the answer was then given that Christ would be born in Beth- of that Council , like Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus , did look the remarkable events of our Saviour's life fulfilling all their appear to them that Christ's claim to be the Son of God was ( xii. 42 ) : Many of the chief men also believed in him ; but because you believe not ; the works that I do in the name of my Father , they the members of that Council , are even a majority of them , pronounced not hate or dislike Christ . We cannot suppose for a moment that and said : How long dust thou hold our souls in suspense ? If then suspect that He was the Messias , as is evident from that occasion held by that Council when the wise men came from the East , and of the Pharisees they did not confess him , that they might not be cast and under the influence of complete conviction . mentioned by St. John ( x. 24 ) , when they gathered round Him right audience . This , I think , cannot now amount to more than a supposition . the sentence . He is guilty of death , in perfect calmness of mind , not account entirely for their being unjust judges , and individuals Cainhas and Annas , and some of the other members of the out of the Synagogue . history of the Passion . give testimony of me . Jesus now , at this solemn moment , tells them that He is the I and the Father are one . The siderable , according to the testimony of the same Evangelist Still , the number of them who believed in Him was always con- Joseph of Airmathea registered his protest . Joseph was not present at the Jews then took up stones to stone him . of the Chief-priests voted not guilty . At the second trial , in the morning , " I have seen it stated that at the first trial of Jesus before Caiphas , not one 73 . " I have seen it stated that at the first trial of Jesus before Cainhas " not one --- Page 46 --- how did it come to pass that the whole Council , on the grounds men covered it up and blindfolded Him. V. Bede says : " They (1.6 ) : I have not turned away my face from them that spit upon the hidden wisdom of God : Which none of the princes of this world Then did they spit in his face , thus fulfilling the saying of Isaias me . It was the peculiarity of the Jews to show their contempt , those who see are made blind , and they act under the influence reproach , and scorn for a person whom they wished to humiliate , history of the passion . and signed for the sight of that beautiful face , and these wretched ing all doubts , and of strengthening faith wherever it existed . Yet , knero ; for if they had known it , they would never have crucified the St. Paul says ( r. Cor. ii. 8 ) that the Jewish rulers did not know and struck his face . Their fathers and the prophets had long desired and thus they spit in that face on which the angels desire to But St. Mark gives us the sense in which that answer was made ment upon Christ , are themselves the subject of a divine judgment ; And some began to cover his face . ( L. ) And they blindfolded him , of these very words , uttered the sentence : He is guilty of death ? when he expresses it by the simple affirmative , I am . This very testimony , borne by Jesus at a decisive moment , plain and simple as it was , contained a force of truth capable of Danish- of their blindness . This is the only key to unfold the mystery of to the words of the Evangelist , in his narrative of the injuries and the sentence passed by the Sanhedrim . " insults to which our Lord was subjected by that vile rabble . Jesus that night in the hands of the Soldiers . We need not add ( Mr. ) Others struck his face with the palms of their hands . ( M. ) Lord of glory . Messias . St. Matthew gives the answer as : Thou hast said it . covered it up , not that He might not see their evil deeds . but They were blinded and hardened . Those who here sit in judg- " See " History of the Passion , " by Steinmeyer : " The trial of Jesus . " look . 14 --- Page 47 --- which the Son of God , born of the Father before all ages , conceived The Second Trial of Jesus before Caipkas . On the morning of death of the Redeemer than by the light of the sun . It was the day earth ; to the captive souls in Limbo ; and to the blessed spirits mysteries , and with the most wonderful prodigies and miracles - a came together , and they brought Him into the Council , saying : by the death of the Son of God . This is the day towards looked , and on seeing it He rejoiced . And as soon as it was this day on which the world's redemption was to be effected which , before all days , and all time , and all ages , that the Immortal in time of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Blessed Virgin , King of ages had destined from eternity in the catalogue of time A day of joyful tidings to men , who were still strangers here on in heaven . This was the day of salvation , more bright by the What was that day ? ' Never was there a day such as that . ' It as the most holy of all days ; the most replete with hidden and place , and not below the word of God on the unworthy . " the greatest sorrow for Christ , but of the greatest joy to the world . unworthy , and that as Christ , though truly a prophet , would not day , the Ancients of the people and the Chief-priests and Scribes in the text : If I shall tell you , you will not believe , Sec. may be ever removed further and further from me . ' history of the passion . prophesy to His scoffers , so teachers must have regard to time was truly the great day which the Lord had made . The day of If then be the Christ , tell us . Then our Saviour answered them as As if He had said : " If I tell you , we will not believe ; if I " The fourth is , that the gift of God is not to be lavished on the consent to his miles is far from me , so the very thought of them Good Friday , as soon as it was day , the Ancients and the Scribes prove it to you from the Prophets and by my works , we will not duce me to ask a sign . But I beseech Tree , O Lord , that as came together . # Hours of the Passion , " p. 117 . 76 . --- Page 48 --- the tablem. It was the grand reception room , and was richly atrium , called in a Greek house the null , a square or oblong apart- servants of the High-priest ( a kinsman to him whose ear . Peter cut ment , open in the middle to the sky , with , in Roman houses . a one of them ; for even thy speech both discover thee . Then Peter ( N. ) says : After the space as it were of an hour , ( I ) one of the small water-tank in the middle , and beside it the image of the they came that stood by , and said to Peter : Surely , then also art palace occupied by Caiphas was built after the Roman style : tutetary god , and a small stone altar , on which incense was burnt . doors . On one side lived the porter . This hall gave admission to the from Baring Gould , who supposes with great probability that the At the same time , another certain man affirmed , saying : Of a truth . denials , which certainly took place in the hall of Cainhas . off ) said to him : Did not I see there in the garden with him ? ( I. began to curse and swear , saying : I know not the man of whom you " There was what was called the restibulum , an entrance adorned At the further end of the hall was a large handsome room called with pillars ; in this was the autumn , or entrance hall , closed with The description of the hall of the High-priest may be taken this man was also with him ; for he is also a Galilean . ( Nk. the lessons to be drawn from the example of St. Peter , in his fall to that first denial I now refer in conjunction with the other two and in his repentance . I have followed , the first denial was in the house of Annas , and SS. Matthew and Mark say : After a little while ; and St. Luke history of the passion . Jesus had said unto him . denied Christ , and its surroundings . speak . And immediately the cock crew again . ( L. ) And the Lord . It was in the hall of the High-priest ; and according to the order First of all , we have to consider the place in which St. Peter ( Mr. ) And going forth , he wept bitterly . We have now to consider the circumstances of this denial , and turning , looked at Peter . (M. ) And Peter remembered the word that 79 . 79 . 78 . --- Page 49 --- saying , Then art Christ , the son of the living God , our Lord Andrew , his brother . He was thus raised by Christ not only to rated by St. Matthew . And having called the twelve disciples Andrew was Christ's disciple before Peter , but Peter was first whalesnever thou shalt bind upon earth , shall be bound also in heaven ; twelve Apostles are these : the first , Simon , who is called Peter , and will be called Cophas , which is interpreted Peter # for a rock ) . when Jesus saw him , He said : Thou art Simon , son of Jona ; there the dignity of an Apostle , but placed at the head of the college of As narrated in St. Matthew's Gospel , # after St. Peter , in the consider his position in order to understand the nature of his fall , prerogatives by which he was afterwards constituted , and exercised said to him : Then't art Peter , and upon this rock I will build my name of the others , had made a profession of faith in His Divinity , and the pain his denial must have given to the loving heart of his , Church , and the gates of hell will not prevail against her . name from Simon to Cephas , or Peter , which means a rock . the duties of Christ's Vicar upon earth . He was first brought by his brother Andrew to Jesus . And and whatsoever thou shall loose upon earth , shall be loosed also in the Apostles , and , as such , he received the great privileges and And to thee I will give the keys of the kingdom of heaven . And divine Master . Christ had already promised him the supremacy over His called to the Apostolate . The vocation to the Apostolate is nar- Church , and also the gift of infallibility . He had changed his Bar-Jona . He was a native of Galilee , and by trade or employment Peter was the son of Jona , and he was first known as Simon together , he gave them power . a fisherman . Secondly , in regard to St. Peter himself . It is necessary to neaven . History of the Passion . And the names of the 1940s. together , he gave them power . ... And the names of the was also been transferred to 8r . --- Page 50 --- had his faith might not fail , and that he being converted would He said , in St. Matthew's Gospel : " I do not say to thee seven times , the Church was to be built , and against which the gates of hell when He said to them : Receive ye the Holy Ghost ; whose sins you shall forgive they are forgiven , and whose sins you shall retain they words : Feed my lambs , feed my sheep ( St. John , xxi. 1 prayed for these that they faith jail not ; and thou , being once resurrection St. Peter had professed and proved his love for Christ , the following words to St. Peter : Simon , Simon , behold Satan hath would never prevail . Again , the promise of supremacy and in- Christ also had given him the power of the keys implicitly when over the Church was promised to him . He was the rock on which desired to have you , that he may gift you as what . But I have allibility was confirmed when Christ said He would pray for him way to the Mount of Olives , He said : In this night before the cock till thou thrice denied that thou knows me . And again , on the save to confirm his brethren . And finally , when after the but seventy times seven times ; and explicitly that power was con- Thus , when Peter had professed his faith in Christ , the supremacy mised when our Lord commissioned him to feed his flock by the then it was that these powers were conferred upon him . when He said : I say to thee , Peter , the cock shall not crow this day converted , confirm thy brethren . " ferred upon him and upon the others after Christ's resurrection , These two promises he had already received from Christ , and after the resurrection he obtained the prerogatives here vro- In regard to St. Peter , Christ predicted two things : rst , his Our Saviour told him of his denial first at the Last Supper , denial ; and , and , his martyrdom . history of the passion . In His discourse to them at the Last Super . Christ addressed & St. Luke , xxii. 34 . " St. Matt. xxvi. 34 . crow thou will deny me thrice . " are retained . # St. Luke , exit. 27. 22. 4 St. Matt. xviii. 83 . --- Page 51 --- elevated over many , and be favoured with the greatest of gifts , let arrest in the garden ) passing along the streets of Jerusalem ; press- tated by Judith . Peter is sober and awake . As it was said of him take to heart the warning : Cave at ancilla . At the voice of dead by his denial , " was restored to life through repentance . he was not interrogated by the Council , or by any of the Chief-priests , Nabuchodonosor , for behold Holofernes lieth upon the ground necessary . " Yet his fall and his denial happened very soon after . nor for fastings or hair-shirts - the look of Christ was sufficient to ing eagerly on , at a rapid pace , ready even to die with Him if of the maid-servant . This fall is more surprising than the fall of first denial , a woman is the occasion of it . Fr. Stanihurst here or by Pilate or Herod ; but he was not able to escape the curiosity nor for prisons and persecutions , which he afterwards endured ; Holofernes . He was insensitive and asleep when he was decapi- ' His tall , spare figure might have been sent night ( after the history of the passion . make that heart penitent , and restore Peter to His former friend- And as Joab pierced with three lances the heart of Absalom , so the maid-servant Peter fell . He was not molested by the soldiers ; old : One woman hath made confusion in the house of King He who had fallen , stood once more . He went for his sin . That had spoken to him , and going forth , he wept bitterly . held Peter . ' And Peter' remembered the words which the Lord There is no necessity for chains or scourges in Peter's case ; The very instant that Christ looked at him , he was converted . look breathed into him the spirit of a new life , and he that was ship and love . the heart of Jesus was transferred by the three-fold denial of St. applies the saying : Duss femina facti . Even though a man be The author already quoted describes Peter following afar off : Let us now reflect upon the three details separately . As to the peter . cross twice , thou shalt deny me thrice . And the Lord turning , be 85 . And the Lord turning , be- --- Page 52 --- Cicero and all his philosophers ; to confound Aristotle and all his arguments ; Porphyry , and his dilemmas and entrymemas . The same may be said of even holy men and of high ecclesiastics , accord- of Adam , Samson , and Solomon . A woman is able to confute who stood by the cross of Jesus ; and on hearing His dying words , help to man , has been to his ruin . Think of Peter , and , before him , brought sin and confusion into the earthly paradise ; into the house begins , before his downfall , to deny one virtue after another , until of David ; into the Kingdom of Solomon , and now into the college one has recourse in vain . ' She was called by the angels , Blessed Woman , behold they son , received us as her children . She is our it may be said : " One Hebrew woman brings confusion ing to the testimony of St. Augustine . It was a woman who The innocent youth who enters the academy or public school , into the household of Christ . " And Peter , in denying Christ , falls at length he denies Christ . Thus purity is denied , justice is comfort , our help , and our most powerful advocate , to whom no into spiritual death , and is cut off from his head , who is Christ . and his head is not upon him ( Judith , xiv. 16 ) ; so in this place of the Apostles . " Woman , " says Fr. Stanihurst , " whom God had made to be a denied , charity is denied , and at length Christ and His teaching virtues of which . He is the teacher are first denied . It is true that before Christ is ' explicitly denied , many of the by Him hereafter . After death the divine justice will say to the Those who deny Christ here , we are reminded , will be denied We must not , however , forget all we owe to that second Eve history of the passion . The second and third denials of St. Peter remind us how a man falls from one sin into another . First he denies , and then he re- amongst all women . mpire : I know not this man . ' The divine mercy will say to the are denied . denies . 1961 , and impure : I know not this man . --- Page 53 --- Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet , gifts offered to God in the Temple were put into the Corona . potter's field , to be a burying place for strangers . For this cause that And after they had consulted together , they bought with them the how the Jews in this were straining at the gnat and swallowing was prized , whom they prized of the children of Israel . And they The Jews scrupled to deposit the money returned by Lucas blood , they purchased with it the potten's field to be the burial- gave them unto the potter's field , as the Lord appointed to me . " purchased with the thirty pieces of silver that Judas received as because it was the price of blood , and they scrupled not in the Temple treasury , because it had been the price of blood , and as such was esteemed impure . St. Jerome remarks saying : And they took the thirty pieces of silver , the price of him that field was called haveldama , that is , the field of blood , even to this day the price of our Saviour's blood . Pretending that it was not law- This is a small field lying south of Jerusalem , which the priests the camel . They would not put the money into the Corona malefactors , or such as were executed , to be buried in the tombs I need only refer in this place to one or two things in the above place of strangers . We read in the Mishna that they did not allow history of the passion . of their fathers , except their flesh had been first consumed in other As I have already treated the case of Judas in a former chapter , places appointed as the punishment of such offenders . is the Hebrew term for a gift or offering made to God . The The Corbona . This was the treasury of the Temple . ' Corban ful to apply this money to sacred uses , because it was the price of not lawful to put them into the corbona , because it is the price of blood . to shed the blood of the innocent . Hauldama , the field of blood , which was the potter's field . St. Helena , the mother of Constantine , had part of the field narrative . Zach. xi. 12 . 8g . 88 . --- Page 54 --- Every one who is of the truth , heareth my voice . Pilate said to him : therefore , said to him : Art thou a king then ? Jesus answered : to Him : U. ) Art that the King of the Texas ? Jesus answered : answered : My kingdom is not of this world ; if my kingdom were of went not into the hall , that they might not be defied , but that they might delivered to the Jesus ; but now my kingdom is not from hence . Pilate , but they accused Him of a crime which the Romans punished up to thee . Pilate , therefore , said to them : Take him you , and judge eal the Pasch . ' Pilate , therefore , went out to them , and said : What with great severity . They say , therefore : ( L. ) We have found this the soldiers . On entering the hall , he addressed Jesus , and said forth to the Jews , and where he had left Jesus in the custody of him : If he were not a malefactor , we would not have delivered him Those sayest that I am a king ; for this was I born , and for this Sayest thou this of myself , or have others told it thee of me ? ' Pilate this world , my servants would certainly strike that I should not be them , entered the hall , that is the place from which he had come a King in Judea . not lawful for us to put any man to death . events , it would not have much weight with the Roman Governor , man perverting our nation , and forbidding to give tribute to Cesar , of Moses , which crime the Jews themselves could punish , or , at all They began therefore to accuse him ; not as a violator of the law have delivered these up to me . What hast thou done ? Jesus answered : Am I a Jew ? Thy own nation , and the Chief-priests , promised Messias , who would shake off the Roman yoke and reign accusation bring you against this man ? They answered , and said to history of the Passion . and saying that he was Christ the King . came I into the world , that I should give testimony of the truth . That is in their representation , that He said He was the Pilate , moved by their accusations , and especially by the last of him according to your last . The Texas , therefore , said to him : It is hall , by the soldiers ; but they ( the Chief-priests and the Jews ) 0 0 --- Page 55 --- answer given by the Jews to Pilate : It is not harmful for us to put had so much to do with the Passion of Christ , that his name is ration , and of the charges made against him . He was found manner of vices , so that , according to the historian , Philo , he caused the hall , again asked him , saying : ( M. ) Answerest thou nothing ? sedition in the country against his government and authority . He all Judea , beginning from Galileo to this place . But Pilate , hearing was afterwards called to Rome to give an account of his adminis- was also himself at Jerusalem in these days . an Italian ; others that he was a Frenchman ; and others , with Berald in how many things they accuse these . But Jesus still Tews , and said to them : I find no cause in him . for which he should be condemned to death . " The Jews , hearing this outside the hall , began more and more We have in this portion of the history of the Passion men- that he was of Herod's jurisdiction , he sent him away to Herod , who I find no cause in this man . That is , " I find no crime in His case history of the Passion . to accuse Jesus . Pilate , who with Jesus was on the platform of Theophylactus , say that he was born in Pontus . There is some difference of opinion as to the meaning of the guilty , and condemned to perpetual imprisonment to Vienne , in tion made of the pagan governor of Judea , Pontius Pilate . He France , where he put an end to his life by committing suicide . which him . ( L. ) And he said to the Chief-priests and the multitude : For ten years he discharged the duties of Roman prosecutor in more earnest , saying : He stirreth up the people , teaching throughout When , therefore , Pilate came out again to the Jews , he had Jesus His nationality is uncertain . Some say he was a Roman , or at least judea . He was a man of fierce temper , and addicted to all mentioned in the Apostles' Creed . answered nothing ; so that Pilate wondered . ( L. ) But they were What is truth ? And when he said this , he went out again to the Galilee , asked if the man were of Galileo . ' And when he understood answered nothing ; so that Pilate wondered . y2 . ' --- Page 56 --- sion , He caused Pharoah and his army to perish in the Red Sea tribute to be paid , and that He taught them to pay it when He Our Saviour had been condemned by the Jews in the house of the that accusing multitude : Whose mouth is full of cursing , of bitter . the things that are Cesar's , and to God the things that are God's . answered the question on this point : Reader , therefore , to Casar A third accusation is , that he called himself Christ the king . unwilling to condemn Him , and far more lenient in its manner of both Jews and gentiles , whom He came to save . gentiles , in the hall of Pilate , in order that He who came to treating Him than the religious tribunal of the Jews . The fol- mountains himself alone . offer His life for all should be condemned to death by all those , the Jews accusing Christ , may show more clearly what took place lowing colloquy between the gentiles , represented by Pilate , and St. John answers this : When he knew that they would come to High-priest ; now they wish to have Him condemned by the take him by force and make him king , Jesus fled again into the in order to save your nation and people , and to bring you into But , strange to say , the profane tribunal of the gentiles was to overthrow the enemies of your nation ; as , on a former occa- history of the passion . tudine et dolo . " ness , and of deceit : Quia maledictione as ejus plenum est et A second accusation is : We found this man forbidding to give the promised land . The Roman governor excuses Christ , and tries to defend Him . tribute to Caesar . before this tribunal : Pilate . What evil hath he done ? They knew very well that our Saviour had Himself caused the On the contrary , far from preventing your nation , He has come their mouth ; their heart is rain . And , again , it might be said of 95 . # He would be transferred to the American women's --- Page 57 --- privately to our Lord , to ask some questions of the greatest im- " King " in those days was given to princes , to wipe men , and to All things were made by him , and without him was made nothing all things , He came into this world , and the world knew him not ; world ; neither was His kingdom . Although King and Lord of accussions and clamours of the Jews , Pilate thought of speaking fore , and had the colloquy with Christ which is given in the Gospel Wing . Even in this it was not a matter of disloyalty , for the title the kingdom of all ages : Regnum omnium sacularum . the heads of some families , and , in our Saviour's case , it might he came unto his own , and his own received him not . As regards foss answered : My kingdom is not of this world . He was in signily that He was a descendant of the royal house of David . the world , but not of the world . He was not of the spirit of the He asked Christ , first of all : Art thou the King of the Jews ? He saw that their accusations were extraordinary , that they were portance . No doubt , he was seriously impressed by the silence that was made . In the beginning , He created the heavens and question to put to our Lord . To us answer is simple enough . vague , and without sufficient grounds or evidence . He understood , God , this world is only a point in his creation , and only a moment compared with eternity . The real kingdom of God is claimed this title . Hence his question : Art thou a king ? however , as much as that Christ had certainly called Himself a the earth . He formed man of the clay of the earth , and breathed Pilate next asked Him : What had then done ? A strange Pillate may have wished to know in what sense our Saviour into him a living soul . Whatever he rushed , he hath made . " St. history of the passion . and the whole demeanor of Christ . He entered the palace , there- Male questions Christ about many things . Having heard all the John tells us : But there are also many other things which Jesus did , married . 97 . # Pro aviii . --- Page 58 --- certainty beyond the horizon bounded by the senses ? ' Is not the law . None found what they sought ; and why ? Because they how men surrounded themselves with sparks of their own kindling , was the 1kulk itself ; who came down from heaven to reveal the and wondered away from the truth , because they did not start creation , since for Him , as well as by Him , all things were made . sophy sought righteousness apart from peace , righteousness by its except in Christ . Truth is to be found in natural science , in menting on the well-known passage of the Psalms , IXXXV. 10 ) : Christianity . Yet Christ is the key to all the mysteries of life and truth to men . So it is also now . Men seek everywhere for truth virtues together . ' There is but one God , that works in several ways , the realms of eternal truth and perfect light , and sadly smile to see vigh of the human heart at the present day : What is truly ? own efforts without Christ . " " The Romans and other nations from Christ , nor follow the lines that led up to Christ-lines explanation of the law , so is the end and explanation of all Pilate , when he asked this question , went out and left Him who dividual life , be unrevelled . lehem , and behold these four virtues at the corners of this crib , emancipation of the individual will , without regard to a moral verywhere visible in every branch of human activity , and of metaphysics , in archaeology , in the exact sciences , only not in and His ways are manifest in His creation . Go to the crib of Beth- there for the first time united , Before the Incarnation , philo- " Then we shall see how that , as Christ was the end of all , and Through Him alone can all enquiries of the world's history , of in- sought peace without righteousness , happiness - that is , by the ' hereafter , it may be , we shall look back on this century from human knowledge to those who believe . Merey and truth are met together , " says Savannaha ( com- Nighteousness and peace have kissed each other . " David puts four creation . ' --- Page 59 --- mocked him , putting on him a white garment , and sent him back to history of the passion . King of Judea . This man , hearing that the Messias was born , by reason of his authority , and his surname was Ascolonita . He exceeding angry ; and , sending , killed all the men children that were accusing him . And Herod , with his army , set him at height , and Then privately calling the voice men , ( We ) learned dili- in Bethlehem , and in all the borders thereof , from two years old and was troubled , and all Jerusalem with him . And assembling together was the father of Alexander and Aristobulus , whom he caused to of Galileo . This man , because he was removed by St. John the found him , bring me sword again , that I also may come and adore ( they had returned to their own country by another way ) , ( he ) was Perceiving that he was defended by the rise men named Antipas . He was not King of Judea , but only Tetrarch Baptist for having taken Herodias , the wife of his brother Philip , The first , mentioned by St. Matthew , was the son of Antipas , who was a proselyte in religion , an Idumean by birth , called great , be put to death ; and also of Archelaus and Philip . He was the the Sanhedrim , he inquired of them where Christ should be born . Milale . And Herod and ' Pilate were made friends that same day , The second Herod was Archelaus , the son of the first , and sur- death of Herod . gently of them the time of the star which appeared to them ; and nothing . And the Chief-priests and the Seribes stood by , earnestly apprehended John , and bound him , and put him into prison to ... the slaughter , who , however , had been taken into Egypt until the for before they were enemies one to another . restament . There are four remarkable . Herods mentioned in the New it ... that this Christ might certainly be included in And having a mind to put him to death , he feared the people . But him . sending them into Bethlehem , said ... . And when you have sending them into Bethlehem , said . Ibid.xiv. 5 . " St. Matt. ii. r. " St. Matt. ii. " I Did. And when you have undert . 100 --- Page 60 --- that it pleased the Jews , he proceeded to take Peter also . called King Agrippa and Bernice in the Acts . It was before this Agrippa , and he was also king , but only of Trachonitidis , Galileo Sidonians ) . And the people made acclamation , saying : It is the the judgment seal , and made an oration to them ( the Tyrians and king that St. Paul pleaded his cause ; and it was he who said to upon a day appointed , Herod being arrived in kingsly apparel , sat in Festus : This man ( Paul ) might have been set at liberty if he had her mother , he caused John to be befriended in prison . voice of a god , and not of a man . And forthwith an angel of the Lord he killed James , the brother of John , with the sword . And , seeing and treated as a mock king . Aristobulus , and nephew of the first Herod . His surname was Passion of Christ , and before whom our Saviour was interrogated The fourth was also called Agrippa , the son of the preceding not appealed to Casar ; and who said to Paul himself : In a little The third Herod of note in the New Testament was the son of eaten up by vermin , he gave up the ghost . " thou persuadest me to become a Christian . I From this account of the Herods , given in Holy Scripture , we and Ituria . It was he who , as related in the Acts of the Apostles , are able to know who they are , and also the character of each.S Herod . He was King of Chalcidis and Trachonitidis . He is struck him , because he had not given the honour to God ; and , being and pleased Herod . ' And at her request , which was prompted by This was the Herod who came to Jerusalem in the days of the on Herod's birthday , the daughter of Herodias danced before them . to keep them all distinct in their relations to our Saviour and His We may refer briefly to the other two , so that we may be able history of the passion . stretched forth his hand to affect some of the Church . apostles . Questiones Scripturisticae , sub nominee Herodis . # Ibid. xxvi. 28 and 32 . 8 Vide t Ibid. xxv. 13 ; and Acts xii. 1 , 2 , et seq. 102 . --- Page 61 --- truth are to be destroyed , not upheld . ' Christ is the peace of angels even keep united to our friends in order to our own salvation . " become friends when there is question of enacting a penal law against Catholics , or of suppressing any Catholic truth or dogma . free , and not sent Him again for judgment before another judge . because , when he found Him innocent , he should have set Him Herod is considered to have consented to our Lord's death ; nationalities , their beliefs , their customs and manners , but Jew and sion both by Jews and gentiles , as differing in race and religion , the wicked rulers ; but , as the Psalmist says : The enemies of the and even in mind , yet agreeing in persecuting Christians and the gentile , Mahomedan and Greek , Lutheran and Calvinist , Sec. " rather to be despised openly by the proud , than to be praised by Hered and Pilate were made friends on that day . - The unjust He sent Him back to Pilate , as if to say : " Do with this foolish pacifies enemies in order to put Christ to death , and we do not about the death of Christ . He unites and conciliates in one con- false religious sects persecute the true Catholic Church and her This also represents the unanimity with which all heretical and This religious treaty of Herod and Pilate , which concurred in condemnation of Christ was the impious and perfidious concord of umbelievers . children in every age . They disagree in their own tenets , in their man what you please . ' faithful of the Church of Christ . putting Christ to death , is preserved , as it were , by right of success - history of the passion . phylactus , " how the devil unites discrepancies , that he may bring St. Gregory says that Christ is silent , because He chooses spiracy these two enemies . Are we not confounded at this ? He truth is the more clearly made known . " excites him to approaches and insults against Christ , whence the Hered sent Him back to Pilate . - And in this sending Him back , And Herod and Pilate were made friends . " See , " says Theo- 105 . 104 105 . --- Page 62 --- to death , he subjected Him to scourging , but he hopes that the unto you ? ( L. ) But the whole multitude together cried out : Away was put in prison with some seditious men , who in the sedition had Pilate said : whom will you that I release to you . Barabbas . or as St. Mark puts it : What will you then that I do to the King of people , saying : I am innocent of the blood of this just man : look you to it . And the whole people , answering , said : His blood be when his wife sent to him , saying : ( Mr. ) " Have thou nothing to do with the multitude , ( Mr. ) taking water , he washed his hands before the the Jews . But they again cried out : Crucify him . And Pilate said Chief-priests and Ancients persuaded the people that they should ask us and upon our children . Then he released to them Barabbas , and having scourged Jesus , delivered him unto them to be crucified . Or , death in him ; I will chastise him , therefore , and let him go . ( Mr. notorious and seditious man in prison called Barabbas , ( M. ) who to them : Why , what evil hath he done ? ( In ) I find no cause of When Pilate had proposed this , sitting on his judgment seat . with this man , and release unto us Barabbas . ' Pilate said to them : for Barabbas , and make Jesus away . Then , the messenger having Jesus that is called Christ . For he knew that for envy they had began to desire that he would do as he had ever done unto them . ( Mr. ) But they cried out the more , saying : Let him be crucified . Pilate seeing that he gained no advantage , but excited more left , Pilate said to them : Whether will you of the two to be released that just man ; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream according to the will or desire of the people . There was then a history of the passion . ( Mr. ) What shall I do , then , with Jesus , who is called Christ : or as St. Luke says : But Jesus he delivered up to their will . committed murder . And when the multitude was come up , they because of him . Whilst Pilate was receiving this message : The That is , under the presence that he intended to condemn Jesus delivered him . release some unfortunate prisoner each year at the Paschal time . 107 . 1961 62m. 106 . --- Page 63 --- he crossing of the Red Sea , in which the Children of Israel were their prisoners on this occasion . On the night of the Pasch , the They were accustomed to execute some , and to release others of Matthew's and St. Mark's Gospels to prove this ; as these Gospels the worst man then in prison , a robber , a seditious man , who , in Angel of the Lord saved the ' Hebrews , and struck all the first- perpetuate its remembrance , they released on this festival day one all the other opprobrims and insults , in the hope that the Jews Now the governor proposes two , Barabbas and Jesus . Barabbas , at the Feast of Tabernacles and of Pentecost , and they refer to St. memory of their liberation out of Egypt , and it was also ordained Pasch , is uncertain . Some authors say that this was also done Usually the choice of the prisoner was left entirely to the people . born of the Egyptians . In order to represent this Pasch , and would be satisfied , and that he might ultimately liberate Him from for the purpose of giving greater solemnity to the occasion . to be considered . Representing to our minds Christ clothed in The custom of releasing a prisoner , amongst the Jews , was in prisoner , whose death was at hand , and executed some of the history of the passion . a riot , had committed murder ; and Jesus , who is called Christ . was customary to release a prisoner at other feasts as well as the mention only in a general way the feast day , or the solemn feast . Pilate permitted Christ to be maltreated by the soldiers , clothed in a purple garment , crowned with thorns , and to be ill-used by In this portion of our Saviour's Passion there are many things the white robe with which He was vested in the house of Herod , after it they will not urge His death . 1st . The custom of releasing to the people a prisoner . Whether it For the same reason , according to St. Augustine and others , fury of the people will be satisfied by the scourging , and that others destined to die . Or , perhaps , they did this in memory of we may examine : death . in- 108 --- Page 64 --- the Saviour , a destroyer of life to its Author , they deservedly lost courageous than the men-at-arms : when she sleepeth , Jesus is in their kingdom , which they loved better than Christ , and up to this a murderer above the Author of life . And Bede thus speaks of be set free by the privilege of the festival . In this action the when they use Him as a thief ; she maketh her husband wash his religious than the priests ; more zealous than the Apostles ; more proclaimed . She was a Roman lady , called Claudia Procula , and hands before he touched that blood , the high price of which she mystery of future infidelity is shown , namely , that Antichrist will devil , who still reigns over them , in preference to our Lord " write , Jesus is under her pen ; her letter defended him at the judg- history of the passion . be preferred to Christ . Thieves asked for a thief , and esteemed seditions to such a degree that they lost both their country and their salvation and their life , and became sunk in robberies and her sleep ; ' when she talketh , Jesus is upon her tongue ; if she their choice : " Even to this day the petition of the Jews , which date they have not been found worthy to regain that liberty of the wife of Pilate , is more knowing than all the lawyers ; more soul and body which they then sold . Therefore , the Jews cannot ( Rudolph the Saxon-Tierce ) . it was very fit she should defend this Jesus , who was to plant the Jesus was worse than a robber ; so iniquitous that He could not ment hall when all the world condemned Him ; she called him holy , seat of His Church in Rome . ' they obtained with so much trouble , clings to them . For when they had the choice , they preferred a thief to Jesus , a murderer to The author of the " Holy Court " says of her : " A pagan lady , Not this man , but Barabbas . 4th . The choice made by the Jews was proclaimed by the words : have peace , because they chose a seditious prince , that is the St. John Chrysostom says that by this they would make out that be considered . The preference given by the Jewish people has four circumstances to itt . 110 . --- Page 65 --- of their maladies ; those whom He had known so well , and with over their city , and sweated blood for them in the garden , and with His life , for them . They cry out for it , and in thus crying whom He had so often conversed . He had already shed tears now He was about to give the last drop of His blood , together Our Lord sees in that crowd some of the four or five thousand man . How , therefore , can be be innocent ? the Prophet : I have brought up children , but they have despised me . to whom He gave the miraculous bread , many to whom He had Christ to be just : I am innocent of the blood of this just man ; and Pilate asks what evil hath He done ? and only one answer can out for His crucifixion they give occasion for the words spoken by therefore , and let him go . no cause in him . It justify Pilate . On the contrary , by this very action he declared often spoken the words of eternal life ; many whom He had cured declare himself guiltless of any crime , should take water and wash 4 . And Pilate , therefore , went forth again , and said to them : yet he gave orders for the scourging and crucifixion of this just Crucify him . But they cried out the more : Let him be crucified . It was customary among the ancients that a man who wished to Bold I bring him forth unto you , that you may know that I find the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak . Pilate washes his hands . This action justified Jesus ; it did not Jews cried out , saying : If thou release this man , thou art not Cesar's his hands before the people . 5 . And from henceforth Pilate sought to release him . But the The Jews cry out for His crucifixion . But they again cry out : friend . # history of the Passion . be given to that question . He hath done all things well . He made In the present instance Pilate was a partner to the crime of the man done ? I find no cause of death in him . I will chastise him , # St. Luke , xxiii. 22 . " St. John , xix. 4 . fibid. xix. 12 . I will chastise him , 113 . --- Page 66 --- sentence . The Jews , who believed in the true God , in order to should open their flood-gates , and another Deluge should pour wash out his guilt . No ; whether it comes from the ocean , or from may be asked , do the Jews use these words ? In the spirit of fury conduct we learn the great danger of tampering with conscience . sible for the sin , did not escape guiltless . Those who excuse them- whatever river or fountain or torrent . No ; although the heavens down upon the earth for forty days and forty nights . From Pilate's selves from consenting to wrong-doing which they can effectively excellent and grace-giving , but their meaning was very evil . " We abandoning his own judgment and making that of others respon- ought to desire that His blood should come upon us , but in order and impiety . They meant it , and by those words they called down " The crime of the Jews was greater than that of Pilate ; but he , by upon them with the rigour of divine justice . terrible curse upon themselves and upon their children . blood of this just man , the whole people , answering , said : His to cleanse us , according to the words of the Apocalypse : " He hath St. Jerome says : " The words in which the Jews answered were He feared last he should incur the anger of heaven by an unjust blood be upon us , and upon our children . obtain His condemnation , boldly faced the danger , and drew a prevent , imitate the example of Pilate . In vain ; water cannot A pagan judge trembled at the thought of condemning Christ . He represents all those who excuse themselves for failing to do washed us from our sins in his own blood . ' " history of the Passion . upon themselves and their posterior an anathema , which has fallen When Pilate , in washing his hands , said : I am innocent of the This is the terrible imprecation of the Jews . In what spirit , it what they know to be right . " people , but more innocent than they . Hence , Pope Leo says : While we think of the Jews , and reflect on the spirit in which # Apoc. i. 15 , ( Apud Ludolph the Saxon. ) . 114 --- Page 67 --- nounced , and St. John narrates other events as happening between XIV " , De Feria VI. ) that criminals were bound to a pillar and people ; especially as St. Matthew and St. Mark mention a scourging immediately before the sentence of death was pro- Scriptures are silent as to the manner and place of Christ's scourg - scourged in the pretorium before they were executed ; and appear to be well founded . The two first Evangelists mention pretorium ; we conclude with St. Jerome and Ven. Bede accordance with the custom which required , that all condemned to the scourging and the sentence of death . This opinion does not ing , yet , as we are taught by J. Lipsius ( as quoted by Benedict the series of events in this part of the Passion . Others , with St. Jerome , contend that Christ was scourged , in Passion , we have first to think over the scourging . ings-one according to the custom , and another to satisfy the Then , therefore , he delivered him to them to be crucified . the fact of the scourging ; and St. John narrates more minutely ranging child , or as a slave , to deter him from again , committing the same offence . we have no king but Caesar . ment he might appease the Jews and liberate Him . words of St. Luke's Gospel : " I will chastise him , " therefore , and Others again , with Calmet , assert that there were two scourg- there is the ancient tradition that Jesus was scourged in the the death of the cross should be scourged before they were Pilate subjected Christ to the scourging , that by this punish- This is the opinion of St. Augustine and others founded on the The Squinging . - On the above portion of the history of the history of the passion . The Place and Minister of the Scourging . Although the sacred executed . that our Lord was tied to a pillar , and scourged in the to them : Shall I crucify your king ! The Chief-priests answered , release him . ( The word used ( raudras ) is contemptuous - it means to correct as a # St. Luke , xxiii. 16 . # --- Page 68 --- acquainted with infirmity ; and his look was , as it were , hidden and were , a letter , and as one struck by God and afflicted . But he was Despised , and the most object of men , a man of sorrows , and informities , and carried our sorrow ; and soe have thought him , as it Passion , mentions His scourying in the second place . him . St. Matthew : And having scourged Jesus , ( he ) delivered him of the manner in which Flaccus treated the Jews of Alexandria . says he made them suffer the punishment of the whip , which ( he as it was inflicted in those days , we may now reflect on the to increase the pain , and these whips were called scorpions , from And our blessed Lord , speaking of the pains and sufferings of His briefly . St. John simply says : Then Pilate took Jesus , and scourged this torture are mentioned by the historian , Philo , who , speaking unto them to be crucified . And St. Mark : And so Pilate being rods was different from that with a whip ; for , he says , thrice was chastisement of our peace was upon him , and by his bruises we are Having given these few particulars of the penalty of scourging to be exceeded . The Apostle also shows that correction with remarks ) is not less insupportable to a free man than death itself . and there was no sightiness that we should be desirous of him . wounded for our iniquities , and was bruised for our sins ; the the ' suffering they occasioned . ' The sufferings endured during Speaking of it , the Prophet Isaias said it And we have seen him , despised , whereupon we esteemed him not . Surely he hath borne our particulars of our Saviour's scourging . It is remarkable that the Evangelists narrate this event so I beaten with rods . Some little bones , or pieces of bones , were tied to the scourges willing to satisfy the people , released to them Barabbas , and delivered history of the passion . one , which seems to imply that thirty-nine was a fixed number not healed . up Jesus , when he had scourged him , to be crucified . They would , as # Calmet's Dictionary . ' It Isaias , I iii. 2 . 119 They would , as 118 --- Page 69 --- to the words of St. John : Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged him . as it was the custom of the Romans . And Ven. Bede has the according to the private revelation of St. Bridget , the number of And I have been scourged all the day , and my chastisement hath blows were over 5,000 . This opinion as to their number and certain , and must be a mere matter of human supposition . It is Roman custom , His body was entirely naked when scourged . there is one opinion which says that the wounds inflicted by the exposed to the decisive jeers and insults of that ' degraded multi- upon Himself the form of a slave or servant . According to the tied to the marble pillar , like Isaac bound on the altar , or the singular opinion that Pilate himself scourged our Lord , according intensity is one in accordance with the words of the Psalmist : " Paschal lamb about to be sacrificed . His body was naked , and been from the morning ; verified , not in the length of time spent in described by the Fathers . Our Saviour's hands and feet were and another author , Lansbergius , says 5,460 . But all this is un- tude . In the case of the three children who were thrown into the permit their garments , or even a hair of their heads , ' to be injured ; This sentence need not refer to Pilate in any other sense than scourging were 5,335 ; and Ludolph gives the number as 5.435 ; The number of the executioners were four , according to some . according to the common rule of casuists : Qui fact per alum and according to others one . St. Jerome holds the latter opinion , the scourging , but in the number of wounds and blows . certain , however , that the number was in excess of 40 , and burning furnace by order of the King of Babylon , God did not history of the passion . We may then picture to ourselves the scene of the scourging as used for the free , and , according to the Apostle , Christ had taken Again , returning to the number of blows which He received , facit per se . but here there is no protection extended to His only-begotten # Pearlme lxxii . vs 121 . 120 . --- Page 70 --- even after our Saviour had fallen to the ground , according to the When no man saw his brother , nor moved himself out of the place bound Him to the pillar , and Jesus falls to the ground , bathed in His own blood . St. Augustine says that they continued to strike the sale of the foot to the top of the head there is no soundness therein . Then were fulfilled the words of the same prophet : There is no that he was . After the scourging , the soldiers cut the ropes that for our sins , which are certainly innumerable ; hence the stripes that unsightly spectacle to all , because the malice of the wicked had executioners , strong , barbarous men from the confines of Egypt . tempest hall overwhelmed me ; that is , as if He would say : " I sank into the depth of the sea of my own blood , and the tempest whom they scourged . As in the days of the plagues of Egypt : St. Augustine says : " From His face all beauty had gone , and their number uncertain , did not recognise their brother in Him . sense of shame and degradation than from the scourges . The wicked have wrought upon my back ; they have lengthened their He who was beautiful above the sons of men , was made an beauty in him , nor comeliness , and we have thought him , as it were , shall the measure also of the stripes be . Now , Christ was scourged Psalmist , when he said : I am come unto the depth of the sea , and a He received were countless . Of this Isaias speaks , saying : From prescription of the law of Deuteronomy ,It and as signified by the of my blows and screws overwhelmed me . " And again : The defiled His sacred countenance with blows " ( Ludolph's " Hours We read in Deuteronomy : According to the measure of the sin , of the Passion " - Tierce . ) history of the Passion . Son , who is stripped of His garments , and suffers more from the IPsalms , cxxviii. 3 . a letter , as one struck by God and afflicted . iniquity . I exod. x. 23 . said . according to the Roman law , and was tied erect to the pillar . ' This is not a proof : because ouraviour was scourged , as we have already --- Page 71 --- rejoicing which the custom of his country demanded on certain to surround the head . The tradition is that , in the thirteenth cen- monarch required ( Benedict XIV . De Feria VI. in Parasceve ) . supreme magistrates of countries by the phrase ' crowned heads : " which the skull is covered , not in the form of a riband or filled crown which they employed , but a prickly , vegetable one , to carefully described by those who have seen it . It is like a cap by occasions . But we have this custom described at full length in soldiers on the head of our Lord , was as a decision of His inaugu- but in the East they were worn on many occasions which required ration as King of the Jews ; and it was not a tarnished golden Christ ; that precious blood which then flowed : Like the precious ( that would not need binding ) , but as one of those tokens of degrade , in a very expensive and designedly ridiculous manner , demonstrations of joy . Job't speaks of binding a crown on his exhibited for veneration , as relics from Christ's crown , in the Church which opened as many fountains of blood in the sacred head of tury , St. Louis of France rescued this from Baldwin IL. of " Crowns are so little in use among us , that we distinguish the before they be swithered ; let no meadow escape our riots . " Wisdom and Ecclesiasticus : Let us crown ourselves with roses " The true import of the crown of thorns , placed by the Roman of the Holy Cross , in Rome , correspond to the above description head , which we are not , we presume , to take as a royal crown Constantinople , on payment of a large sum of money which that The crown itself , as that preserved in the Cathedral in Paris , is ointment on the head , that ran down upon the beard , the beard of According to some , that crown of thorns had 72 sharp points , the triumphant occasion on which they thus bedecked Him . " S from the disappearance of the thorns and briars . " The thorns history of the passion . in their length and form and point . tjob , xxxi. 36 . 125 . # Isa. Iv. 13 ; Czech xxviii. 24 ; see Bible Dictionary . twish .ii . & Calmet's Dictionary . --- Page 72 --- of a judge , that by it Christ might write the surface of the Jews . is this that cometh from Edom with dyed garments from Bosar , this beautiful one in his robe , walking in the greatness of his strength ! I , The ancients used the need sometimes for impressing important that speak justice , and am a defender to save ? Why then is they St. Jerome gives the answer : " Ut sacrilegium Judacrum scriberet : or scarlet garment , the crown of thorns , the need . The garment is mocked and despised , His appearance with the need in His hand three instruments of mockery are brought in , namely , the purple That need designated not only the royal sceptre , but also the pen Ludolph , speaking on this part of the Passion , says : # Thus Holy of Israel ; they have gone away backwards . by wishing to usurp a kingdom , which , however , He was not able leave the right hand free to impart favour and blessings to the contempt and decision , to show that He was guilty of high treason is a strong rep roof to the Jews , and to them may be applied the press ? I have trodden the wine-press alone , and of the gentiles is no notices on public monuments . ' On this occasion , when Christ is King . Kings , however , hold the sceptre in the left hand , so as to upon my garments , and I have stained all my apparel . ' a man with me . I have trampled on them in my indignation , and apparel red , and thy garments like theirs that tread in the wine- words of Isaias : Wo to the sinful generation , a people laden with to obtain . Taken morally , as Christ was mocked three times ) , so people . Wherefore , then , do they place the need in His right hand ? have trodden them down in my worth , and their blood is sprinkled hand . Taken literally , these are three badges of royalty , used in put on His body ; the crown on His head ; the need-sceptre in His history of the passion . iniquity . They have forsaken the Lord ; they have blasphened the The Reed in the Right Hand . In mockery of the sceptre of a Here we find verified in our favour the prophecy of Isaias : Who and now by the cohort of Pilate . " Isa. Ixiii. I , et seq. 1 Isa. i. 4 . I S First , by the servants of the High-priests ; then by the soldiers of ITem 127 126 . --- Page 73 --- it were given that from above ; therefore , he that delivered me unto rucify or to release , whereupon Jesus uttered the memorable thee had the greater sin . These words of majesty and mildness , he associated with it might more than an indefinite impression of law , on the baseless charge of sedition , have recourse to the asser- prevail on Pilate to sanction the death of Jesus under the Roman some higher power ; but when he recalled his wife's warning and earnestly to seek our Saviour's release . But the Jews , irritated by cannot tell in what sense Pilate conceived the claim , or whether pretorium with Jesus , and asked Him : Whence art thou ? When nagistrate , Pilate reminded Him that he possessed the power to answer , so calmly announcing the source of Pilate's authority , and jesus made no reply , with the characteristic pride of a Roman his scruples , now resorted to the threat of accusing him of dis- and almost sympathy for his weakness , induced Pilate yet more tion of their own law , and to their original charge of blasphemy . consent to your act . " The Jews now seeing that they cannot into their hands . " Cracing Him if you will , but do not ask my the greater guilt of the agency by which He had been delivered he made himself the Son of God . into Pilate's hands : Then couldn't have no power against me except the bearing of the sufferer , and the remark as to a kingdom not loyalty to the Emperor . If thou let this man go , thou art not of this world , he was the more afraid . He retired again into the Casar's friend ; whatsoever maketh himself king , speaketh against This mention of such a claim of Christ's , hitherto carefully con- cealed , affected the mind of Pilate with a mysterious awe . We history of the passion . We have a law , and according to our lace he ought to die , because losing office , and it might be life itself , Pilate was by no'mears ready to incur . " Accordingly , he again presented Jesus to the The charge of treason , especially under Tiberius , the risk of unction ; while others regard it as a virtual surrender of the case casar . k . 128 . --- Page 74 --- ready fitted , that they might be laid down in the prerorium in Hebrew , high or elevated ; in Greek , Lithostrates , which means having an ornamental or mosaic flooring , it was called emphatically stone or marble , and of considerable height . " wherever he encamped . Josephus does not mention the place pur Saviour had to ascend and descend more than once during these scenes of His sufferings , and which were stained with His to this devotion applicable to the souls in purgatory . before us by name , but he gives instances of Pilate and other jured with stones . It was the name of a place in Pilate's palace very naturally become common with Roman commanders , since Roman governors seating themselves for judgment in public before Wborparos , the pavement . Platforms with such a pavement might nounced the sentence of death was called Gabbatha , which means , which was brought to Rome by St. Helena in the year 326 , and ing those steps on our knees , and in rico Pope Paschal III . probably an eminence or terrace ; a gallery or balcony paved with use they soon began to be worn away , and it was found necessary renewed this devotion . Pius VII , made the indulgence attached cannot omit mention of the Scala Sanda , or the holy stairs , which - Julius Caesar was went to carry about with him pieces of marble erected at St. John Lateran . from whence he pronounced sentence against our Saviour . It was the pretorium , or in the market-place . ' These stairs could only be ascended on the knees . By constant history of the passion . The Scala Sanda . - This was the staircase in Pilate's palace , In the year ago , St. Leo IV. established the devotion of ascend- It was close to the pretorium , probably in front of it , and , from to cover them with walnut wood , in such a way that the relics may In connection with this place , and the pretorium of Pilate , we Gabbatha , or Lithostrates . The place from which Pilate pro- precious blood . # Calmet's Dic. # I'm. Bible Dic. " 130 --- Page 75 --- recognised three of his friends who were still living , and that he presented the appearance of a forest of crosses . In recounting cross by his son Ptolemy . longer sufficient wood left to make the crosses , and the city itself the number of five or six hundred a day , so that there was no for having sold Paulina , wife of Saturninus , to a certain Decius . that Alexander , King of the Jews , having taken the town of Belonia , that eight hundred of the inhabitants should be crucified , and , their fellow-creatures by this species of torture . the war in Sicily , condemned to this punishment six thousand which had often revolted , ordered , in the midst of a debaunch , slaves who had not been reclaimed by their masters . creatures who fled to the city to escape famine , to be crucified to and praised in history , who took delight in destroying the lives of while hanging on their crosses , that their wives and children He condemned also a freed woman , who had acted as an inter- these atrocities , Josephus tells us that amongst the crucified he had it beheaded , and the trunk hung on a cross . Augustus , after Xerxes having found among the dead the body of Leonidas . Tiberius crucified the priests of Isis , and destroyed their temple , and his mother were crucified in order to avenge the death of Mitus , during the siege of Jerusalem , caused the miserable In Egypt , after the death of Ptolemy Philopator , Agathocles should be massacred before their eyes . In those terrible times there were monsters who are admired mediary in the transaction . history of the Passion . Queen Eurydice . Alexander the Great , after he had taken the city of Tyre , cruci- Cleomensus , King of Sparta , was played alive , and sent to the on women . impose this torture on the seditious , on the Christians , and even Flavius Josephus narrates , in his " Antiquities of the Jews , " fied two thousand of the inhabitants . 133 . 133 . --- Page 76 --- the greatest sorrow . It was not in ancient times in use among people . The executioners cried through the town the cause of Constantine , who was the deliverer of the civilized world . But it Artemidore and Phutarch attest this , and Plautus says : Patibulum cross , a man sounding a trumpet preceded the cottage to call the the death of the cross ; every slave owner or proprietor could hang the Jews . They used , in taking away life , stoning , burning alive , yet admitted the truths of Christianity . virgin Eulalia , of St. Julia , and of six thousand soldiers of Christ the most cruel of all for which even profane authors often expressed and holy martyrs who were sacrificed on Mount Azarath , in may be still found amongst the nations of the East , who have not ferat per urban , decide affair cruci . During the carrying of the gives the colloquy in the well-known verse : The history is given by Justus Lipsius " of the crucifixion of the Two of them died in spite of all the care bestowed upon them . strangulation , and more rarely decapitation . Not only sovereign had the terrible privilege of condemning to the punishment , and to augment the sufferings of the unfortunate upon the cross his human property . Witness that wicked woman begged Titus that they might be taken down and their lives saved . It remained in used in the Roman Empire until the time of history of the passion . Nilla unquam de morte hominis conctatio longa est , who drove her husband to commit this crime , of which Juvenal Amongst the Romans the condemned carried their own crosses . This kind of punishment was familiar to the Romans , and it was but the third survived . O demens , ita servus homo est ? Nil fecerit , esto Hoc volo , sick jubbo , sit pro ratione voluntas . criminals , they goaded them , on , and they crucified them naked . Pone crucem servo-Merit quo crime service Supplicium ? " Quis testis adest ? Quis default ? Audi egypt . " I , i. Ch. X. Bosio , " De Cruce Triumphante . " --- Page 77 --- taking the whole together , may not be complete in all its details . the " Way of the Cross , " the name given by the Catholic Liturgy to to these particular points is sufficient for all purposes of devotion . the different parts of the way of sorrows , divided into fourteen desire to fix everything precisely , for a tradition which is true , interfere with the researches of archaeologists . An approximation 6 . St. Veronica wipes with a cloth the face of Jesus . a hundred yards or so , but it is impossible to determine now the We are lost in a labyrinth of new and modern buildings which 9 . Jesus falls the third time under His cross . The traditions regarding the scourging , the condemnation , and the 8 . Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem . Stations , and founded on local traditions . These Stations are : Else Homo , are true in the sense that all happened in the space of 2 . Jesus is laden with the cross . 7 . Jesus falls the second time under His cross . we have no other authority than that pious tradition for which St. 12 . Jesus dies on the cross . 14 . Jesus is laid in the tomb . and it may be said that the great fault of archaeologists is their r. Jesus is condemned to death . 5 . Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry His cross . Mr. Jesus is nailed to the cross . Three incidents of this sorrowful journey demand special atten- history of the Passion . 13 . Jesus is taken down from the cross , and laid in the arms of 3 . Jesus falls the first time under His cross . The most reliable information which we have on this subject is tion . " Two of them are mentioned in the Gospel : for the third ro. Jesus is stripped of His garments . undergone , make it impossible to discover now the exact route . 4 . Jesus meets . His most holy Mother . exact places . His mother . 136 . --- Page 78 --- each fold our Saviour left the impress of His sacred countenance . other grave authors , hold the opposite opinion . It makes no from His sacred face ; that it was folded in three , and that upon alper , translated tollers ( St. Mark ) , expresses that the cross was It is thought that this woman's name was Bernice , or Venice , carry the anterior part , and Simon the hind part , that was before Cyrenean . On the first supposition , Christ walked in front , and what manner was the intervention of Simon in carrying the cross , weep not over me , but sweep for yourselves and for your children . Simon carried the cross after Him . On the second , He would incidents is that which the sacred text records about certain pious to our Saviour her veil , to wipe away the blood and perspiration addressed to them , are given by St. Luke : Daughters of Jerusalem , women of Jerusalem . " Their weeping , and the words of Christ entirely relieved of the cross . ' They say that the Greek word of the cross , or whether He continued to carry it aided by the say formally whether our Lord was relieved entirely of the burden Tradition also tells us that one of these pious women presented dragging along the ground . SS. Augustine , Jerome , Leo , and impressed upon it . These images have been preserved , one in The second incident relates to Simon of Cyrene . If we ask in transferred from the one to the other . St. Ambrose , Baronius , and we have two suppositions to consider . ' The sacred text does not Spain , another in Jerusalem , and a third in Rome .'t which came afterwards to be called Veronica , or true image , thus difference that the Gospel uses the word ferre for aipew , to take up , Origen , and most modern authors , suppose that our Lord was applying to her who gave the veil the name of the likeness and immediately after the word portare , to carry . The cross had fallen , and they forced him to take it up ( angariaverunt at tolleret history of the passion . t Ita , R. De Fleury . John's Gospel furnishes sufficient grounds . # The " Passion of our Lord , " by the Rev. C. Doyle , O.S The first of these John's Gospel furnishes sufficient grounds . ' The first of these 138 . --- Page 79 --- itself declared in their Instructions for performing the exercise Pope it was extended to the whole Catholic world , and it is now and Saviour Jesus Christ , and to go from one Station to the other , of the sacred places , began both in Italy and elsewhere ( in short , who perform devoutly the Via Crucis may gain all the indulgences In constant use with persons of every quality , being , moreover , year in mind that it is indispensable required of them to churches fourteen separate Stations , in visiting which , it was said , This , then , is all that is required for the indulgences , and so the mediate , according to their ability , on the Passion of our Lord with the Miserere nostri , Domine , are nothing more than a pious and throughout the whole Catholic world ) to spread the devotion of much is evident from the Apostolical Constitutions above named . so far as the number of persons engaged in the devotion , and the of the Holy Church ; in the Constitution , for instance , of the vish to gain these indulgences by means of this devotion , must journey in spirit , whilst they meditate on all that our Lord Jesus that " the faithful , like the devout pilgrims who go in person to the Via Cruz . This they did by erecting in all their own which have ever been granted by Popes to the faithful who visit words , Adoramus te , Christe , Sec. , the Pater noster , the unriched with most numerous indulgences . For instance , those venerable Pontiff , Innocent XI , of Innocent XII. of the two visit the holy places in Jerusalem , do themselves also make this Benedicts XIII , and XIV. , and of Clement XII . By this last Christ vouchsafed to suffer for our eternal salvation at those holy space where the fourteen Stations are erected , will admit . So " This wholesome devotion has met with the repeated approval of the Via Crucis . ' This the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences in person the sacred places in Jerusalem . All , however , who praiseworthy custom introduced by devout persons into the devotion the year 1342 , they had their house in Jerusalem , and the custody history of the passion . places in the last hours of His life . ' 141 . 140 --- Page 80 --- at the Convention of Area Celi , or also by the Father Provincial , or a brass' crucifix which has been blessed by the Most Rev. the and Gloria besides for the Pope ; holding in their hands the while ever the before-named Popes have declared and confirmed on this prohibit all catechists , preachers , and others from specifying the they have been blessed , cannot be sold or given away , or lent to fourteen Ave Marias ; at the end of these , five Peter rosters and gain the said indulgences by reciting fourteen Peter rosters and It is also to be observed that these crucifixes , so indulgenced , after anyone for the purpose of enabling them to gain the indulgences , Cruis , and bid them confine themselves in this respect to what- any Father , Guardian , subject of the said Father-General . " ... Benedict XIV. , May 10th, 1742 . These instructions , by the way , with the application of Popes Clement XII , April 3rd , 1731 , and five Ave Marias , and five times Gloria Patri , and one Peter , Ave , Adrichomius has written respecting the progress to Calvary from infidelium , or prevented in any other way from visiting the Stations history of the passion . Pilate's hall , in his work , entitled " Theatre of the Holy Land , " as of the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences . " I indulgences which may be gained by the devotion of the Vic Father-General of the entire Order of the Friars Minor Observants , of the Via Cruis erected in churches or public oratories , may I may conclude this chapter by an extract from the letter which given in " The History of the Passion , " by De La Palma : All , however , who are sick , or in prison , or at sea , or in partibus of the Via Crucis , as appears from repeated decrees to this effect of the Via Crucis , Nos. 6 and 9 , published by order of and From the palace of Pilate to the place where the cross was fixed , subject . is one thousand three hundred and twenty-one faces , or , according ( Or any priest with delegated authority from the Pope or the General of the # The crucifix need not necessarily be brass . Franciscans . t The " Raccolta " translated by Fr. Ambrose St. John. 1861 . --- Page 81 --- indeed jusily , for the receive the due reward of our deeds ; but this accomplished , that the Scripture might be fulfilled , said : I thirst . Amen I say to thee , this day thou shalt be with me in paradise . a loud voice , said : Father , into they hands I commend my spirit . a sponge full of vinegar about hyssop , put it to his mouth . ( Mr. ) will come to deliver him . O. ) Jesus therefore , when he had taken In the meantime the others said : Let be , let us see whether Elias blasphemed him , saying : If thou be Christ , save myself and us . But the other , answering , rebuked him , saying : Neither dust thou fear he loved , he said to his mother : Woman , behold thy son . After that , mother's sister , Mary of Cheophas , and Mary Magdalen . man hath done no evil . And he said to Jesus : Lord , remember me ( I. ) Now there stood by the cross of Jesus , his mother , and his Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing , whom ( M. ) And about the ninth hour , Jesus cried with a loud voice , the vinegar , said : It is consummed . ( L. ) Then Jesus , crying with God , seeing thou't art under the same condemnation . And we Now there was a vessel set there full of vinegar ; and they , putting ( I. ) Afterwards Jesus , knowing that all things were now ( I. ) And , bowing his head , he gave up the ghost . saying : Eli , Eli , lanna sabachani't that is , my God , my ruhen thou shall come into thy kingdom . And Jesus said to him : he said to the disciple : Behold thy mother . And from that how what they do . And one of those robbers who were hanged , history of the passion . why hast thou for taken me ? with the Scribes and Ancients , mocking , said : He saved others ; him - also mocked him , coming to him . down from the cross , and we will believe him . ( L. ) And the soldiers the disciple took her to his own . self he cannot save . If he be the King of Israel , let him now come earth until the ninth hour . ( I. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over the whole ( U. ) And Jesus said : Father , forgive them , for they know not when 0 0 --- Page 82 --- their devotions there ; and so long would the inquisitive , whether multitudinous reports concerning them , which were of a nature and yet , when there , should refrain from visiting the scenes of the a corner . ' It is , in short , impossible that the natural curiosity of effectually dismantle the garden of Joseph : and we cannot from were at hand to direct all inquirers ; neither James nor John do not read of any attempt of the rulers of the Jews to obstruct and especially on the circumvallation of Jerusalem ( A.D. 70 ) . The too stipendous to be concealed . The language of St. Luke's Calvary , with the garden and sepulchre of Joseph . The Apostles could be mistaken ; and during more than thirty years the locali- plainly implies wonder that so much as a single pilgrim to the to Agrippa's knowledge that " these things were not done in might be in danger on the breaking out of the Jewish war ( A.D. 66 ) , content to undergo the fatigue of a long journey to visit Jerusalem the human mind-to advice no superior principle-should be this time reckon with any certainly on more of its evidence than the transactions which that city had lately witnessed , and with the soldiers of Titus , who destroyed every tree in the country around convents to Christianity or not , direct their attention to Mount late astonishing wonders . So long as access to the temple was Jerusalem , the Christians of that city retired to Pella , beyond the lies would be ascertained without a doubt by the participators and to employ its timber in the construction of their works , would history of the passion . access to them , or to destroy them ; but it is likely that they what was afforded by the chambers cut into the rock , and pos- holy city could be ignorant of later events ; and St. Paul appeals free , so long would Jews and proselytes from all nations pay sibly the portal or monument annexed to them . ' At the time of the commotions in Judea , and the siege of the eye-witnesses themselves . Though the fact is credible . yet we would find themselves interested in a more than ordinary degree in # St. Luke , xxiv. 28 . 141 . 146 . --- Page 83 --- worlds of which the psalmist sings , Truth is sprung out of the earth , filled up the place with a dyke of stones , and built in it a temple city . This seems to have been the regular phraseology on such was overshadowed by the grove of Thammuz , i.e. , of Adonis ; prayer , and to visit the sacred places , was chosen the Bishop of that in the cave where once the Messiah appeared as an infant , the rock of the cross a marble statue of Venus was stationed , to be and the cross , if they could but pollute the holy places by idols . lover of Venus was loudly lamented . ' This is a general account worshiped by the people , the authors of these persecutions sup- friends - it is the testimony of enemies : it is the record of their they could not be mistaken , and their endeavours guide our on which we lay great stress ; it is no longer the testimony of determination to destroy to their utmost every vestige of the " This may properly introduce the second period in this history , government of Constantine , about the space of 180 years , in the place of the resurrection was set up an image of Jupiter ; in the death , held in great reverence ( or worshiped ) the monument of that wonderful work ; but those who hated the religion of Christ , Bethlehem , now our most venerable place , and that of the whole Gospel of Christ . On that determination we rest our confidence ; posing that they should deprive us of our faith in the resurrection occasions ; for this cause Sozomen ascribes the visit of Helena to to dissipate all recollection of the holy place . ' of facts ; a few additional hints may be gleaned from other writers . Socrates it says : " Those who followed the faith of Christ , after His Jerusalem , " for the sake of prayer and to visit the sacred places . " history of the passion . of Venus , with a figure standing up on it , by which they intended Bishop of Cappadocia ( A.D. 211 ) going to Jerusalem for the ' St. Jerome says , " From the time of Hadrian to that of the judgment . Sozomen is more particular . We learn from him that " the 149 " Ep.13 ad Paulim . " Hist. Eccle. lib. 1 , cap. " Ep. 13 and Paulim . Sozomen is more particular . 148 --- Page 84 --- first , they overlaid the ground with stones , then they built a temple subvert , to destroy the evidences of : yet the evidences defied abolish it ; the holy places they blocked up with a vast heap of of Venus on it , and set up an image of the goddess , their intention living witnesses of his discomfiture . The sepulchres of the soldiers who fell in assaulting Jerusalem remain speaking evidences and State , of the Jewish hierarchy , and of the Roman emperors to of Christianity , laboured by every art and in every manner to worship should be , on the contrary , established . ' preserved to us by Providence , of transactions in these localities been of considerable depth , as it may now be seen ; and , more- their malignity ; of the barbarians , Saracens , and Turks to soi-disant modern philosophy to annul : but in vain . ' The labours worshiping Venus ; so that in process of time the true cause of they surrounded with a wall , stripping it of all ornament . And , stones , and they raised that to a great height which had before preserves the site of the temple of Solomon at this day . demolish ; but they still survive ; of beaten philosophy and being that whoever there adored Christ , should seem to be nearly two thousand years ago-facts which for centuries employed were surrounded by the same wall , as Sozomen asserts , they could Christians , practising this , should become also less attentive to the artifices and the power of the supreme government in Church not be far distant from each other ; and this wall , with the temples over , the entire place , as well of the resurrection as of Calvary , " On the whole , we are called upon to admire the proofs yet and other sacra it enclosed , would not only mark these places , but , in a certain sense , would preserve them , as the mosque of Omar other religious observances , while the gentle temple and image " It is evident that if the rock of Calvary and the holy sepulchre of Julian the Apostate to rebuilt the temple , continue almost this worship in this place should be forgotten . and that the gentiles , by whom the Church was persecuted in the very infancy history of the passion . --- Page 85 --- crosses . Nothing can be more touching than the history of these bodies of criminals to the cross , but they never left them hanging said her husband ( they had been married only twenty days ) , " and matters little whether one is to rot in the air or in the earth . " support the feet , as is seen in some old images of the crucifix and sepulchrum ; ibi majores mei sent , pater , arms , pro on after sunset . The Romans , more cruel , condemned the living with chains , not one over the other , but side by side , after the manner history of the passion . two mutually encouraging each other to suffer . Maura said : " I crucified together towards the year 286 , lived nine days on their ancient medallions . They attach another piece of wood higher up on the hands , but also the arms . They fix the feet on their support victims with cords , or iron manacles , instead of nails , and not only were some crucified who lived on their crosses two or three days , and of dogs , and were generally destroyed by putrefaction . and who could even speak . Timotheus and Maura , who were of a man standing upright . They leave on their clothes , and poor slave saying : " Noli minitari , scio enim crucim futurum am only 17 years of age . I fear that before the governor the thirst and exhaustion . Their bodies became the prey of yultures to this punishment , and left them to perish miserably of hunger , fasten them to the cross on the ground , and then the executioners beam inserted into the erect beam . There is a piece of wood to Cyrene , in his reply to the threat of the tyrant Lysimachus : " It the beam , on which the person crucified can sit . They fasten the Cicero gives the beautiful words of the Philosopher Theodore of Death was caused either by loss of blood or by hunger . ' There raise them up with torture . Soon they are pierced with the thrust The cross was the tomb of the victim . Plautus makes out a the Jesuit Father Frois : " Their crosses are transverse ; the cross- Death on the Cross . The Jews sometimes attached the dead horror of the torture may make me fail . " " Pray God , my sister . " of a lace , and thus death is caused . " 153 . 152 . --- Page 86 --- withdrawing herself from her embrace , placed herself upon the her mother , who made a last effort to make her yield : but Maura . the sufferings . Hence , our Saviour having tasted it , would not ing to St. Luke and St. John , was presented by the soldiers to drink it . This is not the same kind of drink as that which , accord- cruel comments without exciting any pity in the bloodthirsty crowd Christ when He cried out : I thirst . The first was given before fortunately we find authors and artists differing , in the same manner that nails were employed in the crucifixion of Christ , and we have The governor , Arianus , exhausted on Maura the rigour of his His crucifixion , and was wine ; the second was vinegar . Accord- that was assembled . At length he ordered her to be crucified ing to the Evangelists , the wine was mingled with gall . before the eyes of her spouse . On her way to the cross she met The Nails that Pierced His Hands and His Feel . It is certain had been subjected to the most terrible tortures . The wine mingled with myrrh was given by the Jews , according history of the Passion . accelerate death , or to render the condemned person insensitive to cross , and prayed not to be prevented from dying soon the death to their custom , before a criminal was executed , in order to " Then they crucified them facing each other , and they were on here to consider their number and size . On the question of the number of nails actually used , un- as they do on the question of the form of the cross . Some suppose they gave him mine mingled with gall , or with myth , as St. Mark of Christ . mutual exhortation . " The Wine , Myrrh and Gall . When Jesus arrived on Calvary , the cross nine days and as many nights , comforting one another by Bollandists , die 3 Maii . God will give you courage . " The same martyrs , although crucified . four nails , and some only three . The weight of authority is on says . 154 although crucified , --- Page 87 --- sinners , namely , Father , forgive them , and , This day shall then be it , save they own self . On their conduct I need only remark that there My God , why had thou forsaken me ; and , Father , into the hands I with me in paradise ; two for the good , namely , Woman , behind Hence , according to St. Augustine , He acted like a master speak - speaks from His cross , and , in speaking , teaches the whole world . than that destroyest the temple of God , and in three days dust rebuild Some distinguish eight words , by dividing the third into two ; so that , according to this arrangement , Jesus spoke two words for thy son , and , ( Son , ) behold thy mother ; two for the whole world , namely , I thirst , and , It is consummated ; two for Himself , namely , ing from a professorial chair , and the wood from which He hung is nothing so depraved , or gives so strong a proof of a demoralized became the rostrum from which He taught . The last seven words of Christ are as follows : commend my spirit . Last thou forsaken me ? heart , as to mock a sufferer , and yet more a dying man . 1 . Father , forgive them , for they know not what they do . Christ our Lord , who is the Master and Teacher of all , now 2 . Amen I say to thee , this day shall thou be with me in paradise . they do ( St. Luke , xxiii. 34 ) . 6 . It is consummed . without any reservation , according to the natural sense of the This saying , or prayer , of our Lord may be taken literally , and 4 . Eli , Eli , Iamma sabachani ! that is , my God , my 7 . Father , into thy hands I commend my spirit . We have now to reflect on these seven words , and examine them 5 . I thirst . The First Word . - Father , forgive them , for they know not what believe in thee . He saved others ; himself he cannot save . separately . history of the passion . 3 . Woman , behold thy son . Son , behold thy mother . vah ! Son , behold thy mother . --- Page 88 --- and the members of the Jewish Council , could not but know that your rulers ; " and St. Paul , in his first Epistle to the Corinthians , to His disciples , clearly signifies that their ignorance was culpable . speaking of Christ's death , through ignorance ye did it , as did also history of the Passion . rate them , for they could , and should , have known that He was times of this ignorance ! - to which time the sin of the enemies of applied , namely , that indicated in the Acts by the words , the now they have no excuse for their sin . And again : And these He was the promised Messias . Their ignorance could not excul- If I had not come and spoken to them , they would not have sin ; but these rulers of the Jews , together with the Scribes and Pharisees , now vanishing away , and in a very short time will belong to the using a reason for His petitions or other occasions ; now He says that had they known , they would not have crucified the Lord things will they do to you , because they have not known the Father Christ belongs . That was the period before Christ , and up to His assigns the ignorance of the Jews and His enemies as a reason for knowledge of His divinity , or that He was the Lord of glory . But innocent ; because in Him they saw the divine power mani- their forgiveness . death , at which , the Apostle says , God winked . This period is They know not what they do . Christ was not accustomed to fested and the prophesies fulfilled . Christ , in His last discourse Union ignorant ; and the Jews and their rulers had not a certain were the immediate agents in the Passion . St. Peter tells the Jews , We must admit a certain amount of ignorance in those who We may , therefore , suppose the immediate agents in His cruci- There is another sense in which this ignorance may be here nor me .s . past ; but it is by the guilty act of the Jews , whereby they filled up of glory . 11 Acts , xvii. 30 . # St. John. xv. 22 . 101 . # Ibid. xvi. 3 . n . Acts , iii. 17 . It is. 8 . # Acts , iii. 17 . 7 . Itii. 8 . tii . 8 . --- Page 89 --- of this promise , commentators especially dwell on the words , there more than the petition , which was only to be remembered at some future indefinite time . In the further examination of the import consoles him with the assurance that he would persevere until separated from me . " This He says in the same sense as in death in that faith , hope , and repentance which He had infused another place . He. says : ' Where I shall be , there also will be my nor to participate in His kingdom , but only asks to be remembered declings with His creatures , He grants more than the singer shall be with me , and in paradise . We need not say that the first to-day , you will be my companion ; never afterwards will you be present , immediately after His death . Thus the promise covers history of the passion . Christ , in His office of priest , absolves him from his sins , and to the prayer of the dying malefactor . After the manner of His Lord , remember me , Sec. mindful of you , but you will be with me , and where I shall be have to be emphasized more than the second . Both deserve special but this man half done no evil ; then , turning to Christ , he said . This prayer contains a modest and sorrowful act of repentance . This day-not merely at some future time , but the day then Christ , who seems deaf to all the blasphemies , is most attentive He does not ask to be liberated from the cross on which he hung , minister . " The favour is more abundant than the petition , " says using them art under the same condemnation , and we indeed justly , into Him . Imen I say to thee-that is a form of attention showing it to be a solemn promise . Then shall be with me as if He had said : " Not only will I be attention . by him . St. Ambrose , " for God always gives more than is asked . " saskes . St. John , xii. 26 . 162 . --- Page 90 --- film with sorrow and true repentance . It is true that this thief disciple standing whom he loved , that is , John , the son of Zebedee , of a son . After that he said to the disciple : Behold they mother . and his mother's sister , Mary ( the wife ) of Cleophas , and Mary tribunal , and on it is the Judge , between the two thieves . He on could see and hear him speaking , his mother , the Virgin Mary , to all winners who , like the thief , become converted and turn to and presuming on a death-bed repentance that would be rash and Church justly and truly teaches , that even in the hour of death testifies by this public act that He will grant pardon and salvation for Me in the place of a son ; he will fulfil for these all the duties dangerous ; for a death-bed repentance is a rare gift of God , and all your days , fill affection , solicitude and reverence . And from You will henceforth regard her as your Mother , and have for her , and the dead at the last day , when the former will be placed at by St. John , who was an eye-witness of all that happened . His right hand and the latter at His left hand . For the cross is a God , in His benignity , will not reject a truly penitent soul . He much more rare is a repentance joined with such faith as we he said to his mother : Woman , behold they son . He will be to thee found a short and an easy entrance into paradise ; but we should He tells us that there stood by the cross of Jesus , so that they he said to the disciple : Behold they mother ( St. John. xix. 26 , manner of his conversion . history of the passion . take care not to abuse this example by putting off our conversion the right repeats and believes , and is liberated ; the other , on the Maggalen . " When Jesus , therefore , had seen his mother and the The circumstances in which this word was spoken are narrated witness in the case of the good thief , who had no equal in the left , insults , and is condemned . From this fact of Christ performing the thief on the cross , the that Christ on the cross signifies what He will do with the living The Third Word . Woman , behold thy Son The Third Word . - Woman , behold they Son ... . After that 165 . after that . --- Page 91 --- waited on Him during life , and many also of the Jews , even or Sabbath , to the Blessed Virgin : The name signifies " rest , " and who accompanied our Lady lost the faith . Neither did the alone retained faith , even external faith , and therefore the Church infidelity ; and Christ , after His resurrection , did not blame them its dedication to the Blessed Virgin commemorates that rest by which survived all the terrors and darkness of His Passion . And the Apostles and disciples of Christ , and the pious women who had It is not commonly admitted that faith and the Church persevered remained only in her . This , they maintain , is confirmed by the members of that body of which Christ is the Head . tabernaculo neo - " He who created me hath rested in my tabernacle . " all for incredulity , but some only for being stiff-necked . . Besides , only in our Blessed Lady during the Passion . On the contrary , it ecclesiastical rite during Holy Week , when all the candles except amongst whom we are , because she co-operates by charity that which the Son of God took up His abode in the womb of the one are extinguished at the Office of Teretric , and to this same St. Peter Damian assigns the reason for dedicating the Saturday , cause they attribute the dedication of Saturday to the Blessed Apostles fail in faith , especially St. John , who remained with before the promulgation of the Gospel law , retained the true faith , cannot be said that the pious women , especially the Magdalen , Some have endeavoured to prove the glory of the Blessed Virgin in the time of the Passion of Christ , by saying that she Christ till , His death . Neither did St. Peter fall into the sin of the faithful be born into the Church , and thus they become and the Church lived in them . Blessed Virgin , according to the words : Qui creatit me requierit in history of the passion . the Head , so she is spiritually the Mother of His members , This devised interpretation or explanation is not well founded . The candle preserved at Zenebra , signifies the glory of Christ , virgin . 166 . --- Page 92 --- endured on that Saturday when Christ's body was in the sepulchre . What must have been the compassion of His Mother after the others , in the thought of His future resurrection on the next day . Jews to compassion by the sight of Christ after He was scourged . a body entirely as to its substance from ' His Virgin Mother . idea of it by reflecting an some points in connection with this suffered was her only Son , and her Son in a special manner . Other to be done in grateful remembrance of those sorrows which she how much mothers are afflicted by the sufferings of their sons : No one can fully explain the greatness of Mary's sorrow and in honour of the great joy which she had , more than all Hence , He was her Son in a manner above all others . We know of Christ , Mary's faith , was the most firm and perfect , but she was not the only one in whom the faith remained . As to the dedica- crucifixion ! If the women of Jerusalem were so moved sons have a human father as well as a mother : Christ had not a the wilderness , but went away some distance from him , saying : I suffered , or will suffer , as He did . Pilate thought to move the His sufferings . Agar could not bear to see her son die of thirst in human father , but was conceived by the Holy Ghost , and received tion of the Saturday to the Blessed Virgin , the Church wishes this as she stood at the foot of the cross ; but we may form some as to keep and lament over Him , what must have been Mary's how much , therefore , must Mary's heart have suffered during First-Her sorrow was great , because of its object . He who her Son's Passion ! . will not see the boy die . What wounds must have torn the heart Secondly - The nature of Christ's sufferings . No one else ever history of the passion . Thirdly-From her presence there . She was an eye-witness of St. Thomas teaches , # that at the time of the Passion and Death grief ! scene : - 1961 62minton's first --- Page 93 --- Chaldaic languages . As to the second question , some , with departure of the soul , is likewise perilous , for there are roaring finds seeking to favour the soul ; but the Blessed Virgin receives over them ; but the Blessed Virgin protects souls in their death alteration in the two first words , from Eli into Elpi , but both God , my God , why had thou forsaken me ? ( St. Matt. xxvii understood that he called Elias . Here it is asked : r . In what approach the dying , and seek to ascertain if they have any authority death , is full of danger ; for many foes , that is to say , devils , St. Mark's narrative is the same , with the exception of a slight expressions signify my God , according to Maldonatus ; who also language did our Lord speak ? and 2 . To what nation did they with a loud voice , saying : Eli , Eli , Ianna Sabacthanik that is , clude-And receive us at the hour of our death ? ' agony , and drives away the enemy , wherelore we go on-Proted cross is given by St. Matthew : And about the ninth hour , Jesus cried sherobtains perseverance in grace-Mary , Mother of grace . Others the souls in death and leads them into heaven , wherefore we con- Syrian , which was the language used by the Hebrews after the things that Christ used the word Eli , inasmuch as those around belong who understood not His words ? us from the enemy . The third state , namely , after death , and the The answer to the first question is , that the words used were in Babylonian captivity . It was a mixture of the Hebrew and The Fourth Word . The fourth word spoken by Christ from the are sinners , and for them she obtains pardon of their sins and She therefore helps us in life ; but some are just , and for those O Mary . Mother of grace , Mother of mercy , And receive us at the hour of death . Protect us from the enemy , mercy from God-Mother of mercy . The second state , namely , in children who look upon her as a Mother . The Church sings of her- --wave of the FASSION . The second state , namely , in --- Page 94 --- the Scripture might be fulfilled - that is , the text of the Psalms . In might be fulfilled , as used here and elsewhere in the Gospel his- accomplished-that is , when all things were fulfilled which were pre- my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink . It was , therefore , pre- dicted in the Scripture that before His death they would give Inspirer of the Prophets , foreseeing all the circumstances of the dicted concerning Him by the Scriptures , and which His Father zinegar about hyssop , put it to his mouth ( St. John , xix Afterwards , Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished , ment of the sick , the shield of the weak , the sweet perfume of the that the Scripture might be fulfilled , said : I thirst . Now there was a cried to God the Father , saying : " My God , my God , why had ture said it , Christ must accomplish it ; but the Holy Ghost , the He would accomplish for us in time , and therefore all things that ought to turn to God in our tribulation , and to bewail our desola- Afterwards - that is , after He had been three hours on the cross , Passion , revealed them . It was foreseen from all eternity what jury , is not to be understood in the sense that because the Script- and death was imminent . Knowing that all , things were now tion to Him in prayer , as Christ in His anguish and tribulation had ordained should be accomplished before His death . That were revealed had to be accomplished . From this point , the dereliction of our Lord , we learn that we The Fifth Word . I Thirst . This word is given in St. John's Gospel in the following manner : vessel set there full of vinegar . And they , putting a sponge full of The Evangelist continues : Now there was a vessel set there full citizens of heaven . " history of the Passion . Him vinegar to drink . But the expression , that the Scripture then , my soul , to the fort and tower of prayer , for it is the oint- of vinegar . It does not appear that the vessel of vinegar was set Thou forsaken Me ? " # " See " Hours of the Passion , " at supra . t laviii . 22 . 173 . --- Page 95 --- blood . " He had passed the whole night in suffering and without the Latin Vulgate-Munc ergo , Sec. ; the ergo , according to him would not drink , for reasons which are given above . Now . He reach a cup to His lips , and had , therefore , to reach a sponge by drink of the kind , and it is certain that this vessel was quite differ - greatest thirst , by which His tongue , and palate , and throat were insinuates this meaning . It is , however , probable that the execu- because , as Christ was elevated on the cross , the soldier could not once before the crucifixion , and , again , when He signified His sleep . His most bitter torments were calculated to cause the St. Mark says : And one running , filling a sponge with vinegar , thirst from the cross . The first time , when He had tasted . He means of a need , that His parched lips might be moistened , and word , we have now to consider the signification of the word in naturally the case . His whole body was exhausted by the loss of tioners were accustomed to refresh themselves with some cooling and putting it upon a need , gave him to drink . This was necessary , receives the drink , as is clear from the words of the Evangelist : parched and burning with heat ; and thus was fulfilled the predic- Having explained the circumstances in connection with this fixion : that was mixed with gall , this was not . that He might extract from the sponge the vinegar which ent from the vinegar which was given to Christ before the cruci- Jesus , therefore , when He had taken the vinegar . It may be considered - First , in its literal sense ; and , secondly , history of the passion . in its moral sense . As to its literal sense , it means that Christ thirsty really and Twice , therefore , on Calvary , they offered our Saviour a drink . there on purpose , although Silviero deduces this conclusion from truly with vehement desire for drink . This must have been He received . " " In a former chapter the sponge , need , and hyssop are noticed . itself . 14 . 174 . --- Page 96 --- referred to so often , and especially by the words : I have a baptism faith and true religion , to a state of Christianity in which we can the work of man's redemption - that which Christ Himself had gill corresponding to merit is called reward . The rewards His grace here , and of His glory hereafter . We have been purchased for us by our . Saviour are the supernatural gifts of Father , which was worthy of a supernatural recompense . The by this merits , and He had to pay the debt due for our sins by tion . ' We had to purchase grace and the glory of heaven for us older the merits and satisfactions by which we are redeemed . obtain all graces , and all the means necessary for our salvation . raised from that state of fallen nature into which the human race His sufferings and death . To understand this twofold work which Him , and which is attributed to the merits of His Passion . " This This was the work of Christ , which could only be accomplished by Christ came on earth , and for which He suffered and died , namely , history of the passion . had been thrown by the sin of Adam : from that state of ignorance . supernatural , as His reward is supernatural . Christ's merit we have been raised to the state of repaired nature , to a state of consisted in that service or work which He offered to His and idolatory into which the pagan world had plunged itself ; and wherewith I am to be baptized : and how am I straightened until it The Merits of Christ . In order to understand this , it is neces- the Redeemer of the world had to accomplish , we have to con- sary to refer to the state of misery in which we were , and the state was a work of infinite value , because Christ's actions were those of This was a twofold work - a work of merit and a work of satisfac- The work to be accomplished was that of man's redemption . be accomplished ? # to which we have been raised . Merit is a work worthy of reward . With God it must be Testaments . ' I shall only dwell upon the work itself for which St. Luke , xii. 50 . 17 . --- Page 97 --- God and men , the man Christ Jesus , who gave himself a redemption the predestined ; a redemption that was not merely impetatory , friendship of God and of eternal life . He had offered a super- how He was punished , we learn from the sad history of His bitter and not in the imperfect sense of the Palagians and Socinians ; a had finished all things which it beloved Him to do ; and as we for all , " that , in the words of St. Peter I we are admonished : abundant and infinite satisfaction for sin , as the one Mediator of redemption offered for all men , and not alone for the elect and Passion ; and especially from the suffering He endured on the but soluble prefix ( the price being paid ) . He paid the price of it over that atonement might be made to the Divine Majesty . And guilt and the stairs contracted by them . ' It is in His blood that our aim are washed out , and through the shedding forth of that means that He made atonement for our sins , and washed out their work of redemption - a redemption in its true and real sense , pressed the anger of God towards man ; it was through these same have considered the outline of . His work of infinite mercy and Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things , as servitude of sin and Satan . He had made us participators of the cross , when He cried out , My God , my God , why had thou love , let us say to Him according to our devotion : " O Jesus , our of a lamb unspotted and underded . by meriting and satisfying for us . He had rescued us from the Saviour , the Finisher of that glorious work . Thou didst receive from offered Himself to be punished as all the sins of men required , in This then , is the work that was finished or consum-rated-the history of the passion . It was in sorrow , in sufferings , and in death that Christ ap- By this Sixth Word , It is consummed . Christ signified that He Sorsaken me ? blood that our redemption was effected . gold or silver ... ... but with the precious blood of Christ , as " I Tim. ii. 5 , 6 . " It 1 Peter , i. 18 , 19 5,6 . ft. Peter , i.18, 19 . 178 --- Page 98 --- last offer up the consumption of Thy whole Passion collectively commandments , and may advance in virtue pleasing to Thee. and lected the work which Thou hast given me to do , and now I come to God the Father , saying , ' It is consummed , ' blessed , O Lord , the great affection of His prayer . He used the word Father now for this be Thy holy Name , that Thou hast made this consum- I may be able to say : " Behold , O Lord , I have finished and per- through Three to God the Father , so that at the hour of my death . may be consumed . I beseech Thee , grant that I may fulfil Thy much toil , and didst finish it with intense suffering , and didst at mation that we may have a good end , and that all our enemies All these particulars may be considered . St. Mark : ) And Jesus , having cried with a loud voice , gave up the unto Theo , my Master , and my Lord Jesus Christ . ' And then St. Luke & And Jesus , crying with a loud voice , said : Father , into may I be found worthy to see Thee face to face , There , the end of yielded up the ghost . is consummed . And , bowing his head , he gave up the ghost . thy hands I commend my spirit . And saying this , he gave up the Jesus crying with a loud voice . This great voice came forth from to show by His last Word that He was the Son of God , and to St. John : 11 Jesus , therefore , when he had taken the vinegar , said : It ( St. Luke , xxiii. 46 ) . St. Matthew says it . And Jesus , again crying with a loud voice , The Seventh Word . Father , into thy hands I commend my spirit All four Evangelists mention the death of Christ , and in the They Father to accomplish , Thou who didst begin Thy work with all perfection . " # following words : ghost . ghost . history of the Passion . Ludolph , " Hours of the Passion " ( Sext. ) 11 xix. 30 . xxxiii . 46 . taxvii . 50 . I xv. 37 . 180 . --- Page 99 --- but St. Mark connects his profession of faith in the divinity of explains that He had , even in the midst of His bodily sufferings , reserved the power of His soul , so that at death He might be turion , who stood over against him , seeing that crying out in this matter , we must regard it as miraculous , and it needed a special such tortures and loss of blood , could then naturally speak in a doubt , all the circumstances concurred to move him to repentance ; given to a thing that is entirely incorporated and independent of a reference to a body . It is said , therefore , that He gave up the Christ , with this crying out with a loud voice : And the cen- to speak in a loud voice from the cross . St. Thomas , however , power to speak at that time with a loud voice ; that no man , after able to speak as He did ; but whichever view we take of the and the common opinion of the Fathers and commentators . and why is it said , emisit spiritum . He gave up the ghost . body , according to the expression : God is a spirit . A soul has loud voice in which our Saviour uttered His last Word ? divine power to assist His human nature in His last agony . It ghost , or spirit , because His soul , during the time it was separated loud voice . It was , therefore , by a miracle that Christ was able from the body , was subsisting and independent of the body by was chiefly by this voice that the centurion was converted . No history of the passion . manner he had given up the ghost , said : Indeed this man was the Ven. Bede gives us a theological and abuse reason for His Cornelius a Lapide thinks that He had to use a special divine By his spirit . He meant His soul , according to St. Augustine , using spirit instead of soul . " A spirit , " he says , " is a name Thirdly-Why does He use the expression spirit , and not soul ; son of God . reason of its union with the Word . " Secondly-What interpretation is given by commentators to the Jesus bowed His head before giving up the ghost , not only as a # XV. 39 . 182 . --- Page 100 --- His love , in the choice of His death , in the greatness of His advantage for Himself , for He was God , but that He might pay tion unless in union with His subsequent passion and death , as vish that His preceding works should have the effect of redemp of His redemption . He suffered , not that He might gain any the last complement of all His merits , according to the words of love for our souls : He loved us , and delivered himself for us . It is souls . He loved us , and because He loved us He delivered Him- our debts , contracted by sin , which we ourselves could never cient to merit and satisfy for us , and to effect the work of redemp- as well as for all mankind , no one being excluded from the fruits our heavenly Father , open to us His glory and His kingdom . The one motive which led Him to do all this , was His love for our tion , had He so willed . But it was not sufficient to satisfy His says the Apostle St. Paul , love not the Lord Jesus Christ , let him be history of the passion . have paid . He suffered all , that He might wipe out the hand- hath , than that he lay down his life for his friends . the Prophet Isaias : " And the Lord was pleased to bruise him in self for us . Who can refuse to return that love ? If any man , bear in mind that all these suffering . He bore for the sake of the Christ's least actions , a prayer or a tear , would have been suffi- very men who crucified Him , and who mocked Him in His agony , writing of sin against us , and that He might , by reconciling us to in His Passion we find the strongest and most touching proofs of specially to have redeemed us by His death , because He did not Looking back on the history of His Passion and death , let us infirmity : if he shall lay down his life for sin , he shall see a long- In conclusion , let us remember that one drop of blood , one of sorrows , and in His crucifixion . Greater love than this no man anathema . lived seed . # Let us often listen to and reflect on His last seven dying words , " Iiti . to . I See Shouppe's " Elementa Dog . Theolog . 185 . 184 . --- Page 101 --- There , therefore , because of the parascove of the Jews , they laid Jesus , also came ( he who at the first came to Jesus by night ) , bringing a he was already dead , they did not break his legs . But one of the the centurion , he asked him if he were already dead . And when he ( Mr. ) He went to Pilate , and asked the body of Jesus . ( M. a disciple of Jesus . ( U. ) He was a counsellor , a good and just events may be divided into the prodigies which were then mani- mixture of myrrh and does ; about an hundred poundweight . ( M. ) And Joseph buying fine linen and taking him down . " ) . ) They came a certain rich man of Arimathea , named Joseph , who also was Pilate wondered that he should be already dead . And , sending for The same had not consented to their ( the Jews' ) counsel and doiness the spices , as the manner of the Jews is to bury . came , therefore , and took away the body of Jesus . And Nicodemus fested , causing the centurion , and those who were with him , to go soldiers with a spear opened his side , and immediately there came out had understood it by the centurion , he gave the body to Joseph . ( T. ) He with him . And after they were come to Jesus , when they saw that because the sepulsive was high at hand . " ( Mr. ) And Joseph , taking monument , and went his way . in the garden a new sepulchre , wherein no man had yet been laid . Now there was in the place where he was crucified a garden : and took , therefore , the body of Jesus , and bound it in linen clothes , with In this portion of the history of the Passion , we have to run- heaved out in a rock . And he rolled a great stone to the door of the sider what happened immediately after the death of Christ . These history of the passion . the body . " . laid it in his own new monument , which he had piersed . " And after these things , ( Mr. ) when it was evening , there and they broke the legs of the first , and of the other that was crucified again , another Scripture said : " They shall look on him whom they down from the hill of Calvary striking their breasts , saying : For these things were done that the Scripture might be fulfilled : " You shall not break a bone ? " And , Wood and water ... . For these things were done that the 187 blood and water # laid it in his own new monument , which he had --- Page 102 --- and by huntsmen . It was fastened by a leathern girdle . We to have the condemned guarded by foot-soldiers , armed with a Mass the chalice is placed on the right of the priest , to show that The lace , which was used as a spear to piece , and as an arrow to function and Mass of the Sovereign Pontiff , the chalice is brought on that side the blood flowed from the cross . In the solemn have not a good and incontestable representation of this weapon . not moved through any motive of humanity to lessen the torments and a sharp point of metal . side which was pierced , and this in verification of the words of the Prophet Ezekiel :t And behold there ran out readers on the right represent the place on the right side . In the Holy Sacrifice of the be thrown with the hand , had three distinct parts - the handle of The Lance . This was a long and light weapon , used either as a were four in number , and foot-soldiers . The Romans were won't to the right of the Pontiff , and the Host on the left , for the pur- pose of showing this signification . For this opinion , Benedict XIV . history of the passion . the Sabbath day , they wished His death to be hastened . of Christ ; but that His body might not remain on the cross on lance . A short arm could easily reach the side of our crucified spear or as an arrow . It was used by the Greek horse-soldiers Most authors say that it was the right side that was pierced or Cornelius a Lapide also holds the opinion that it was the right bronze or iron ; the wood of ash , or some such species of wood , were more cruel in this instance than the Romans . They were side . And when the man that had the line in his hand went out It is asked whether the soldier who pierced our Lord's side was Redeemer on the cross . opened by the thrust of the lance . The more ancient pictures is quoted . " a horse-soldier or.on foot . ' The soldiers who crucified our Lord St. Francis received the stigmata , and torwards the East . # Lin . I. Ch.vii . " t Czech xlvii. 2 . # Lin . I. Ch.vii. " It Czech. xlvii. 2 188 . --- Page 103 --- either have the cross and its victim laid down on the ground , and where he preached the faith . ' Others think that Longinus was the centurion , and not the soldier who pierced His side . Others then the nails extracted from His hands and feet , or the cross down into the arms that received it . It is probable that this latter Genesis , where Joseph commanded his servants , the physicians , to the left side , so that the point of the lace appeared on the left Saviour's wound went across His whole body , from the right to standing erect , the body of Christ could be unfastened and let mode was the one adopted , and it is that which is represented that the disciples could make use of , as it was also the simplest wards embraced Christianity , and was martyred in Cappadocia , repulchre in the garden belonging to Joseph . All three places history of the passion . They , having taken down the body of Christ , carried it to a new word comes from a corruption of the Greek word , Nyxir . of the Holy Sepulchre . again say that Longin was the name of the lance , and that this embalm his father . And , while they were fulfilling his commands , generally by painters ; it would also be the most respectful manner were near each other , and they are now enclosed by the Church probably by some others in taking Christ from the cross , could monument of burial on record is that given in the Book of there passed forty days : for this was the manner with bodies that Augustine tell us that the soldier's name was Longinus , who after- The taking down from the Cross . Joseph of Arimathea , aided was pierced in the right side , and in the hands and feet . Our and the quickest . The Burial of Christ and the Winding-sheet . - The most ancient Nicodamus is spoken of together with Joseph of Arimathea . side , having run through the body . SS. Bonaventure and old . And being embalmed , he was laid in a coffin in Egypt . # Gen. 1.2, 3 &25 . Joseph died , being a hundred and ten years And , while they were fulfilling his commands , severe embalmed . severe embalmed . ... Joseph died , being a hundred and ten years embalm his father . 190 . --- Page 104 --- times expressed by the whole earth , that is , land or country : others terrible darkness that was brought on Egypt as a plague : " It was that it extended over a hemisphere , or the whole earth literally . It sepulchre the whole of Saturday . The evening of that day , St. of opinion that this darkness covered Judea only : which is some- ended at the third hour , or three o'clock in the afternoon . Thus because light was withheld from it . The second , that most it lasted almost the whole time He was on the cross . Some are the physical sense is on three occasions specially mentioned in it continued three days and three nights . ' S Third , the darkness at Mary Magdalen , and Mary the mother of James and Salome , horrible , that no one burst stir out of his place ; and so lasting that Besangon , at Cadouin , Cahors , Compiegne , and Tours . so thick , " says Calmet , ? " as to be , as it were , palpable ; Christ were sent as relics to all parts of the world , but there are generally lasted four days . the Scriptures . The first is at the creation , when darkness was upon the face of the deep , t that is , chaos was immersed in thick darkness . should be remarked that the moon being at full , a natural eclipse body was embalmed . The body of our Lord remained in the our Saviour's death , which began at the sixth hour , or noon , and brought aromatics and perfumes to aid in still further honouring the face of the earth from the sixth to the ninth hour . Darkness in five which are more celebrated than the others , namely at The sacred objects and winding bandages used in the burial of order to carry it to the tomb , was distinct from those in which the the precious remains , or to continue the work of embalming , which death of Christ . history of the passion . We now come to speak of the prodigies that happened at the The first of these is the darkness . Now there was darkness on of the sun was impossible ; though Julius Africanus , Eusebius and See R. Fleury's " Instruments de la Passion . " # See Cabinet's Bible Dictionary . G. Exod. x. 21, 22. Wisdom t Gen. i. 2 . S Exod. x. 21, 22 ; Wisdom , xvii. 2 , 3 . --- Page 105 --- had it was the interior veil , which concealed the Holy of Holies , that was hung before the Holy of Holies , signifies that by St. Paul seems to confirm this opinion , for he writes that Christ , Lapide and Natalis Alexander , and Calmet , who observes that into which no one before could enter was now open to all .'t amed adds as a reason : " If it were the inner veil , then only the judea or in the Temple of Jerusalem . St. Cyril , of Jerusalem , His death Christ opened to us the way to heaven ; that , dispelling the Chief High Priest , made manifest to us the way of the Sanc- By this reading of the veil our Lord wished to signify that the The third miracle , or rather series of miracles , at the death of rists could have seen the miracle , and only at the time when most interior precincts of the temple , that He might liberate all the shadows of the law , He , the true Pontiff , entered into the history of the passion . hat was rent . This is now the more common opinion after divine grace had receded from the temple , and that the place Baronius , Gothus and Lamy agree with this opinion . The last- that it is not quite certain which of the veils was rent . bscondita sunt domus Dei Sacramento videamus ? intering the Sanctuary to light the lamps and offer incense . ' rary by a veil , that is , His body . The reading of the veil says that the rocks on Mount Calvary were shown in his time On the contrary , St. Leo the Great and Cyril of Alexandria hold Christ , was the earthquake , to which is added the breaking of the The Earthquake . This is a very remarkable one , which hap- incet return interius disrumpendum est , at Omnia , quea mono nob men from sin . But , notwithstanding this , Suarez and some others still maintain rocks and the opening of the graves . which had been rent asunder by the earthquake . Sandys and pened at the death of Christ . Many have thought that it was perceived throughout the world . ' Others think it was felt only in Heb. x. 5 . " Benedict XIV. , De Feria VI. in Parasce 94 . Ad. Heb. x. 5 . --- Page 106 --- sixth year ; Natalis Alexander that it was on entering His thirty- the ninth hour . From this hour till sunset was called vespers , or that it was in His thirtieth year , and in the fifteenth year of And in the same way St. John means that Christ was crucified at that our Saviour died at the beginning of or after entering His thirty- seventh year , and in the nineteenth of the Emperor Tiberius . the three first hours . The second , which lasted from prime to evening . When , therefore , St. Mark writes that Christ was mid-day , was sent , because it finished at the sixth hour of the day . Tiberius . But Benedict XIV , holds that which may be called the its beginning or its close , or , as Baronius suggests , with the of the Church , that Christ died in His thirty-third year , either at third year , and in the nineteenth year of the reign of the Emperor that part of the day , but at its close , and at the beginning of seat . crucified at the third hour , he does not mean at the beginning of addition of three months . This was in the eighteenth or nineteenth common opinion , and that which has at least the tacit appreciation Honoratus & S. Maria ( an author quoted by Benedict XIV . ) says prime , because it was the beginning of the day , and it embraced Tiberius . ' Calmet says that it was in the middle of His thirty- Evangelists mean precisely the same hour of the day when speak - reason to deviate from this commonly received opinion . For a similar reason the next part was called some , as it finished at there is some dispute amongst commentators . Greveson shows the beginning of the part of the day called sex . Thus both the ing of the crucifixion . year of the Emperor Tiberius . There does not seem any sufficient history of the Passion . Now as to the year of Christ's death , and the age of our Lord , well known , divided the day into four parts . The first called -96 . sixth year ; Natalis Alexander that it was on entering His thirty- hat our Saviour died at the beginning of or after entering . His thirty 196 . --- Page 107 --- sepulchre , ( L. ) they found not the body of the Lord Jesus . vered into the hands of sinful men , and be crucified , and the third and the other women who were with them , who told these things to laid . And going quickly , ( M.M. ) tell his disciples ( M. ) rest . And it was Mary Magdalen , and Joanna , and Mary of James , they did not believe them . Galilee ; there you shall see him , ( M. ) as he told you . ' Lo day rise again . ( Mt. ) Come and see the place where the Lord was for he is risen , as he said . ( L. ) Remember , how he spoke unto you when he was yet in Galileo , saying : The Son of man must be deli- the apostles . And their words seemed to them as idle tiles , and ( L. ) And they told all these things to the eleven , and to all the ( Mt. ) that he is risen , ( M.M. ) and behold he will go this , behold two men stood by them in shining apparel . And as they ( NL. ) And they said nothing to any man , for they were afraid . where they have laid him . ( I. ) Mary Magdalen ran , therefore , and come to Simon Peter , were afraid , and bowed down their countenances towards the ground , And it came to pass , as they were astonished in their minds at foretold it to you . ( L. ) Why seek you the living with the dead . ( Mr. ) He is not they said unto them : and with great joy , running to tell his disciples . And , for fear of him , the guards were struck with terror , and became ( L. ) And they remembered his words . have taken away the Lord out of the sepulsive , and we know not and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved , and said to them : They (N. ) And looking , they saw ( L. ) the stone rolled back from the history of the passion . Fear not you , for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified . (M.M. ) And they went out quickly from the sepulchre , with fear And his countenance was as lightning , and his regiment as snow . as dead men . ( Mr. ) For it was very great . And entering into the seputchre . " Gen. iii. rg. It Psalms , xv. 10 . --- Page 108 --- sound under both species , by reason of the natural connection or us to God , being put to death indeed in the flesh , but enlivened in the spirit . In which , also coming , he preached to those spirits that were hypostatically united . One reason amongst others assigned by hypostatically united to the Word . After it was defined by the also by the blood of thy testament hast sent forth thy prisoners out of His soul went down to Limbo , but both to holy and soul , even during the time of Christ's death the blood of Christ remained also died once for our sins , the just for the unjust , that he might offer we must hold that the blood was a true and real part of Christ . the pit , wherein is no water ; and Ecclesiasticust : I will penetrate Council of Trent that in the Holy Eupharist the body is under the for the patience of God in the days of Nice . concomitance by which all the parts of our risen Lord are united , though separated from each other , the divine Person remained We may also add the text of the Epistle of St. Peter : Christ to or found in Christ . It may also be stated in this place , that These words clearly signify that Christ descended into hell after His death . The same truth is expressed in the Apostles' Creed . and in the Creed of St. Athanasius , and it therefore belongs to St. Thomas for this is , that what God confers by grace or favour is to all the lower parts of the earth , and will behold all that sleep , and not revoked except on account of sin , which could not be imputed species of bread , and the blood under the species of wine , and the in prison , which had been sometime incredulous when they waited and , therefore , united to the Word , and it would be erroneous now Therefore , the body of Christ was placed in the sepulchre , and will enlighten all that hope in the Lord . history of the Passion . the Christian faith . To this also the Prophet Zacharias' refers , when he says : Zhou to deny this . ' Zach_ix it . ' t Eccles xxiv. 4 ! ' I Epis. I Epis . St. Peter , iii. 18. et sea . " each.ix it . 200 201 . --- Page 109 --- behold the place . He ordered them to go tell the disciples , Hence the holy women who had come to the sepulchre imme- would see Him in Galileo , whether He had gone before them . of the Church , as appears from the Paschal hymn of Lauds . dead only a little before the angel descended and opened the sitting on the right side , clothed with a white robe . He exhorted them not to be afraid ; that Christ had risen ; that they might arrangement given by Benedict XIV . # and , entering into the sepulchre , they saw a young man ( an angel ) Luke . We may , therefore , conclude that Christ rose from the disciples that He was risen , and he told them also that they The women went forth quickly from the sepulchre with fear and St. Matthew mentions the earthquake , the angel coming down from heaven in white rainent , and his countenance as already been brought back to life , as is narrated by SS. Mark and them to see the place where the Lord was laid , and to go tell His comb , and the earth was shaken ; for these things happened diately at sunrise , did not find the body of Christ , which had He then told the women that Christ had risen , and he ordered tightning , and that he rolled back the stone and sat upon it . ' whilst the holy women were coming to the tomb . especially Peter . But they , going out from the sepulchre , and Thirdly , the circumstances attending the resurrection have to be considered . In treating of these I shall endeavoir to follow throughout the trembling with fear , said nothing to any man . We shall first give what the Evangelists narrative . St. Mark tells us ? that the women saw the stone rolled back , great joy , and ran to tell the disciples . St. Luke tells us ) that the women found the stone rolled back history of the passion . De Sabbatho Sancto . t St. Matt. xxviii. 2 , et seq. " 8 St. Tulsa , swim , at cari- 't St. Morris' until a bit car . irkness of sin and penalty . This would seem to be the opinion This would seem to be the opinion darkness of sin and penalty . " St. Mark will be at man . But There were a attack 202 --- Page 110 --- sepulchre , saw the linen cloths lying ; but yet he went not in . standing in the form of a gardener , and at length she knew Him , sepulchre , and St. John outran St. Peter , and , coming first the napkin that had been about His head not lying with the linen apparel , who told them that Christ was risen , as He had predicted . cloths , but apart , wrapped up into one place . St. John then entered of the Lord descended from heaven , and coming , rolled back the Magdalen stood at the sepulchre weeping , and , looking into the and one at the feet , where the body of Jesus was laid , and being Matthew : And behold there was a great earthquake . For an angel asked by them why she wept , she answered : Because they have not where they had laid Him . These two disciples ran to the And they , going back from the sepulchre , told all these things to When she had said this she turned herself back , and saw Jesus risen before the angel rolled back the stone , otherwise the Evan- taken away my Lord , and I know not where they have laid him . descended from heaven . This is founded on the text of St. women arrived at the sepulchre , and at the time that the angel sepulchre , she saw two angels in white , sitting one at the head stone , and sat upon it . From which it appears that Christ had and told the disciples afterwards : I have seen the Lord , and these have to notice : " That the earthquake happened before the away from the sepulchre , ran back to Peter and John , and told Peter entered the sepulchre , and he saw the linen cloths lying , and the sepulchre , and he saw and believed . In the meantime the the eleven and to all the rest . them that they had taken away the body of Christ , and she knew St. John testifies # that Mary Magdalen , seeing the stone taken history of the passion . from the tomb , and that two men stood by them in shining before reconciling the different narratives of the Evangelists , we ing of the angel , but with the resurrection of Christ . things he said to me . gelist would have connected the earthquake not with the descend- # St. John , xx. 2 , et seq. . T. St. Matt. xx 204 --- Page 111 --- example of our resurrection , as well as the cause , and the bodies it was necessary that His own body and soul should be again all of the precious blood was not necessary to the integrity of His about Christ's body being entire after His resurrection , because bones and blood . 3 . It was glorious , as His resurrection was the could not be said that Christ truly rose from the dead , as for this Christ did for His own glory , in order to establish belief in His The divine . Word remained hypotatically united to the portions penetrate other bodies . 2 . His body was entire as regards flesh . more is his soul influenced by them , and , therefore , minute in- by those wounds through which He expiated our sins . or withdraw itself from sight , as the person may wish , and to restigations of the incidents in connection with them need not be of the blood which belonged to the integrity of His body ; but it body , and therefore not necessarily resumed in the resurrection . of the saints will be glorious in their resurrection . 4 . It retained I've more one meditates and dwells upon these mysteries , the to refute the objections of infidels , and it is always useful . It is true that in some places , especially at Mantua , drops of through closed doors , for it belongs to a glorified body to appear necessary for the integrity of His body , and He did not , there- The fourth question to be investigated is the quality of Christ's the five wounds , according to the testimony of St. John . This united . It does not signify that He appeared and disappeared did not always remain united to the other portions that were not the precious blood are retained , and its stairs are on the Scala body after the resurrection . resurrection , and that He might intercede for us with the Father considered useless speculation . It is necessary at times in order fore , assume them in His resurrection . Sancia ; but this does not at all interfere with what has been said history of the Passion . r. It was a true and solid body , not a phantom , otherwise it dwelling the longer on the circumstances of our Lord's resurrection . 207 206 --- Page 112 --- Jeremias , Ezekiel , Daniel and Melchisedech , who was an image many others of the Old Law , up to David . But as the graves groves were opened ; and many bodies of the saints that had slept of the priesthood of Christ ; and Tob. Jonas , and the three sustained . ' Others , on the contrary , have thought that they were life again , such as Zachary , with his son , St. John Baptist . the Abraham were buried in Palestine , this opinion is not very well occasion , according to the testimony of St. Matthew . " And the children who were preserved in the fiery furnace , who were types those who were actually known to the Jews , that had come to supposed that those only came to life whose graves were opened ; were not opened everywhere , but in Jerusalem and near it , it is of Him , that arose , such as Moses , David , Samuel , Isaias , arose . And , coming out of the tomb after his resurrection , came into of Abraham , such as Adam , Abel , Noe , Abraham , Moses , and and , as it is not easy to suppose that all the ancient Fathers up to were those souls who had been the longest detained in the bosom opened at the time of Christ's death , but that the dead did not aged Simeon , and the good thief . Others , again , contend that it was those who prophesied concerning Christ , or who were types of Christ's resurrection . So that there is nothing decided on this go with our Saviour up to heaven at His ascension ? this mystery , concerns those who rose from the dead on this Concerning these resuscitated dead , two questions are asked : point except what the sacred text says , that many of the bodies of 1 . Who were they ? 2 . Did they return to their graves again , or arise until His resurrection . The common opinion , following Suarez , is that the graves were The fifth and last question to be considered in connection with As to the first of these questions , some have thought that they the holy city , and appeared to many . the dead arose . history of the passion . # Ad Heb. xi. 39, 40 . --- Page 113 --- dolour we have handed down to us by tradition , and may be matter of meditation , leaving the inferences , the reflections and placed under the Gospel narrative of the Way of the Cross . The my efforts in this chapter , as in the preceding ones , will be con- remaining three colours are contained in the Gospel narrative of It is not my intention to attempt to describe Mary's sorrow in the History of the Passion , as given already in the course of this each colour , nor the dispositions with which she received it ; but treatment of them the same method which I have followed in endured by her at the crucifixion , death , and burial of Christ . the first three colours will be given with notes and comments on work . In their investigation , it will only be necessary to consider those events in their relation to our Blessed Lady , and the sorrow 2 . The flight into Egypt . explaining the events of the Passion . The Gospel narrative of 3 . The three days' loss . new and particular kind of suffering . fined to explaining the events in so far as they supply the subject special devotion , and they are commonly known as the seven 4 . The meeting of Jesus carrying His cross . The Church has selected seven of those sorrowful events for our 7 . The burial of Jesus . sorrows , and , as Fr. Faber says , they may be regarded as types of 5 . The crucifixion . I shall now consider these colours one by one , observing in my 6 . The taking down from the cross . r. The prophecy through Simeon . all human sorrow whatsoever . These seven colours are mysterious samples of her many other dolours of the Blessed Virgin . They may be here enumerated : its literal and moral significance . The account of the fourth History of the Passion . periods of her life when her divine Son was subjected to some These were at the particular to her the occasion of bitter grief . 210 Son was subjected to some --- Page 114 --- thy own soul with unspeakable sorrow and anguish . " The sword up against Jesus preaching this new doctrine of salvation , and of those who come to Him and arise by faith . Those , therefore , contradictions to this Child will go so far , that He will be He called the Jews to the Gospel faith , and when he sent His necessary cause , as if compelling men to believe , but the efficacious the incredulous - the sin of those who receive not Christ , but take nailed to a cross , on which He will expire ; His side will be standard that is set up , to which there will be opposition , and cause , enabling them to do so , and persevering intact the free-will occasion even from His goodness to bring about their own Apostles to announce His advent to the world . But the Jews rose opened with a lace , and when thou shalt see Him thus trans- clearly understood from the preceding . ' It is as if he said : " The He is the real cause of their sanctification , not indeed the who believed in Him arose , but those who refused to do so fell , against which the enemies of God will direct their aim . Christ resurrection of making , and the separation of the human race , the prediction of Mary's sorrows by the words : And they can soul which shall be contradicted . Here Christ is compared to a sign or for the ruin . The cause of the fall or ruin of many is the sin of raised His standard when , by His preaching and doctrine a sword shall piece . The meaning of this part of the prophecy is history of the passion . directed all their forces against Him , until they delivered Him up fixed , the sword of sorrow will piece they own soul . That destruction . On the other hand , Christ is the real cause of the And after having foretold this , the holy old man then subjoins Holy Simeon also predicted that Christ would be set as a sign and thus the Child was set for the fall and resurrection of many in sword and those , nails which will wound His body , will piece Thus , Christ is not placed for the resurrection in the same way as to death . Israel . 213 . --- Page 115 --- will piece your soul , will be the occasion of revealing the thoughts tion . If there were question of the substance of the mysteries of dared not attempt it for fear of the people . But during the time Scriptures and the ancient prophecies about the work of redemp- that the Blessed Virgin could learn these things from others . human beings ; but if there were question of some of the circum- hearts theughts may be revealed . As if he said : " This sword which over in their minds the plan of putting Him to death , but they Iightened by the Holy Ghost in a manner superior to all other of His Passion , all these thoughts were made manifest to the world . Because we need not hold that she had all at once , and from the The Blessed Virgin was well versed in the knowledge of the some particular passage of Scripture and such like , and of indivi- This , in reality , happened ; for , a long time before Christ's Pas- faith , there was nothing which she could learn concerning them experience , there can be no error or inconvenience in admitting Blessed Virgin , but for the sake of others , and for the Church . dual things , the knowledge of which is principally obtained by cause the death of her beloved and only-begotten Son . of many , which up to that time will remain secret and concealed . " sion , the Chief-priests and many of the Jews had been thinking Suarez , in treating on this subject , notices that the words of from any more human being , inasmuch as she was singularly en- stances in connection with these mysteries , or of understanding beginning , an exact knowledge of all these things . As , for holy Simeon were not spoken for the purpose of instructing the example , she did not know , before the Annunciation , the woman Holy Simeon adds to all this the words : that out of many of whom Christ would be born , nor the time and place of the died . This will penetrate the soul of Mary , inasmuch as it will here referred to may also mean the cross itself on which Christ history of the passion . Incarnation . The Blessed Virgin was well versed in the knowledge of the 214 215 . --- Page 116 --- not have been difficult for God to destroy Herod , or , by some admonished , arises and takes the Child and His Mother by night : dead that sought the life of the child ( St. Matt. ii. 80 ) . How easily protection of God . The angel goes on to say : For it will come to those in Bethlehem and its neighbourhood , and the Holy Family that during that time the Holy Family would be under the special certainly intent on the death of the Child , as appears from the a son at Bethlehem , and soon after left there and returned to Nazareth and Bethlehem were under his jurisdiction . He was the fact that Herod was king over both provinces , and , therefore , and that the divine dispensation might be carried out by which He danger by Right , to teach us the reality of His assumed nature , other simple means , to frustrate his efforts so that the flight into words of the angel announcing the death of Herod : For they are authority to the just for taking refuge in flight , whenever the glory not order all the children of his kingdom to be killed , but only might understand his punishment was to be only for a time , and , of their flight into Egypt ? This difficulty is easily answered by Nazareth . The danger was imminent in any part of Herod's of God or the salvation of souls may require it . Kingdom , and hence the necessity of going into another country . was to give Himself up to suffering , and not to resist it by His pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him . Herod intended de Sales , speaking of the virtues of St. Joseph , thus refers to his The Journey into Egypt and the Sojourn there . Joseph , thus Egypt need not have taken place . But Christ wished to avoid the might he not discover that a woman , a stranger , had brought forth to have Him killed even in the arms of His Mother . It would omnipotent power ; and also He wished to give an example and It may be asked , in what did the danger consist ? Herod did the very same night in which he received the vision . St. Francis at the time was at Nazareth . What , therefore , was the necessity that this exile was only to be till the death of Herod . ' So that he history of the passion . --- Page 117 --- this occasion , as that the Holy Family were entertained by robbers , without inquiring about his return , being sure that He who had and to take our Lady and her most dear . Son into Egypt . ' And inquire ; he dwell there ( according to this holy doctor ) five years , . good thief who died penitent on the cross . These incidents are some five , some two , and some even limit the stay to a few months , behold he sets out at once without saying a word . He does not Other facts and miracles are also narrated as having happened on and as there are so many different opinions on the point , it is clear that nothing certain can be stated concerning the matter . St. inquire , ' Where shall I go ? What road shall I take ? How shall said of the length of time spent in Egypt . Some say seven years , Francis de Sales further says of St. Joseph : " The angel did not God sent His . Son to the Egyptians , on whom He had formerly uncertain , and on that account I need not enlarge on them , or and that the son of one of these robbers turned out to be the turning and breaking of the idols as , Christ entered the country . commanded him to go , would again command him when he had tell him what time he was to remain in Egypt , and he did not give them more than this simple reference . The same has to be resented their departure , and their having been the cause of inflicted so many punishments , as a pledge to them of future might into Egypt : " The angel commands him to set out quickly . his tools on his back , in order to gain , in the sweat of his brow , his history of the passion . we find food ? ' Who will receive us ? ' He sets out probably with a great number of the Egyptians being drowned in pursuit of but of enemies of the Israelites , inasmuch as the Egyptians still Many authors , in speaking of this journey , refer to the over- reconciliation . He was in a land , not only of strangers , poor bread and that of his family . " them . " 218 to return . ... . He was in a land , not only of strangers , # Conferences # to return . # Confirms 218 --- Page 118 --- Whilst the impious enemy of God did not hesitate to put to death children would be subjected to many persecutions at the hands of is , the tribes of Juda and Benjamin , some of whom were taken into what city he was to go . Hence , Joseph , on arriving at the country , as represented by Rachel weeping over her children , that cruel tyrants , and that all their efforts would be vain and power- Judea . It also rendered the glory of Christ more illustrious . found living . Vox in Rama' audita est . ' A voice in Rama was so many innocent children that he might secure the death of one . Whilst in Egypt , Mary heard of this terrible martyrdom of less to effect the extiration of the Gospel and the faith of Christ . arisen in Judea after the death of Herod . Joseph returned with the Infant Jesus and His ' ' Mother when Archelaus was reigning in cries and weeping of their afflicted mothers ; the sorrow of that sleep to Joseph in Egypt , saying : A rise , and take the child and his The angel did not appear immediately after Herod's death , but tection , and has taught us the lesson that in future ages His some time after , probably when the tumult had abated which had prisoners and others killed , so that none of them were to be astuteness or cruelty can injure him who is under the divine pro- namely , the Child Jesus , God has shown that no amount of human child , Sec. He did not say into what part of the land of Israel , or return of the Holy Family . When Herod was dead , behold an angel of the Lord appeared in children , and would not be comforted , because they are not . Judea . The admonition of the angel was : Arise , and take the heard , lamentations and great mourning ; Rachel bewailing her innocent children in and around Bethlehem . She heard of the nativity of Christ more celebrated and better known throughout The Return of the Holy Family . St. Matthew describes the history of the passion . mother , and go into the land of Israel . For they are dead that mother , and came into the land of Israel . sought the life of the child . Who arose , and took the child and his Who arose , and took the child and his 1909 220 --- Page 119 --- ceiving it . He wished to remain there alone , and therefore con- pany ; for when the Jews went up to the feast of the pasch in ing it . At the age of thirty . He will announce to them the Christ wished at that age to give some public manifestation of His prudently thought that He would be with some others of the com- Christian law , and they will have no excuse for saying , as they did Jerusalem , they used to go and return in companies . Mary and afterwards : How comes this man by this wisdom and miracles ( St. journey homewards . It was not required by the law that all Matt. xiii . 54 ) , and how came he to know letters , as he never learned Evangelist says expressly : thinking that he was in the company - by mistake or chance , but by the divine appointment and counsel . from the words of St. Luke , having fulfilled the days , it appears amongst these they afterwards thought to find Him . This the pilgrims should remain at Jerusalem for the whole seven days ; but , that no suspicion of negligence or want of care might be imputed Joseph , therefore , thought that He would be in the company of the inhabitants of Nazareth , their own relatives and friends : and seven days of the Azymes , Mary and Joseph set out on their wisdom , that men might begin to prepare themselves for the reception of His Gospel when the time should come for announc- negligence or want of care on the part of the parents . They And his parents knew it not . In this there was no fault of that the Holy Family remained in Jerusalem for the week on this We may suppose that it was by the special Providence of God that He remained behind in Jerusalem without His parents per- When the days of the festive celebrations were over , that is , the make the journey . to His parents . At their departure the Child Jesus remained in Jerusalem , not It is a distance of about thirty leagues , and it took four days to occasion . them . 222 --- Page 120 --- unswers . They admired the modest manner in which He gave ask Him why He did that ; for she knew that it must be through found Him . And his mother said to Him : Son , why had there why He had done so to them , as it was the cause of so much dered at this new action of His , and the position in which they some all-wise and all-holy motive that He acted ; but she asked done so to us ? Behold they father and I have sought these sorrowing . gone astray , or was lost , in the sense that last could be applied to ing questions that were proposed to Him , as to a disciple or scholar . By His answers He taught the masters and doctors parents wondered at this-not at His wisdom , which they will a mere human being , for they knew that this could not happen to privately , and when alone with Him afterwards . Her words were Him who was the Son of God ; but they borrowed because they not words of reproach , but of wonder and sorrow . She did not His answers , and were astonished at their truth and wisdom , and questions for the sake of hearing them explained , and also answer- themselves , so that all were astonished at his prudence and his knew , and at which they could not be astonished , but they won- were deprived of His presence , and they knew not what the divine the intelligence which He showed , far beyond His years . His Mary spoke to her Son , not immediately or in public , but The parents survived , not because they thought the child had sorrow to them because they did not know of it . Emphasis is to been spoken by the lips of Jesus , the Incarnate Wisdom . be laid on the words sic and nobis , so and to us . purpose was in this mystery . And he said to them : How is it that you sought me ! the bench of the doctors . He was hearing them , and asking them These are the first words narrated by the Evangelists as having This answer has the appearance of reprehending , but in reality this is not the meaning to be extracted from His words . Our The divine child was on one of the seats of the hearers , not on HISTORY or Steve Sullivan to # 224 --- Page 121 --- His suffering , and His death , should become the Saviour and they known in what manner and for what reason He was then em- find Him , and for doing that which was a duty of piety and played in His Father's business , they would not try to take Him ( 2 ) He wished to teach us that besides earthly parents , we have a heavenly Father to obey , and , therefore , His words are not to business of His Father was , or how it was promoted by His our Lord , at seasons , veiled the operations of His Sacred Heart charity . He spoke to them in these words : ( i ) Because had only-begotten Son of God He refers to ' His Father . nor the whole mystery of the present understood . She hung upon Jesus for everything , and it was her joy that everything was His , The meaning of this is , that they did not understand what that Fr. Faber remarks : " All things were not clear to our Lady . As remotely by His manifestation to the doctors in the temple . sense which they knew them to contain , and , leading the divine remaining after them in the temple . They knew indeed in God , but with a lively and humble faith they adored the profound Redeemer of mankind , for which preparation was being made And they understood not the words which he spoke unto them . general that His Father's business was that He , by His teaching , known , and you do indeed know , that I must be engaged in the from her sight , so sometimes the future was not present to her , away from it , and it would not have caused them so much sorrow . work which has been entrusted to me by my Father , " thus , as the blame them , but to instruct us . Child with great joy at having found Him , they returned to their His parents did not clearly understand the words of the Son of Did you not know ? that is , as if He had said : " You could have Lord could not reprehend His parents for looking after Him to and nothing was her own . " # home in Nazareth , where , although gifted with such wisdom that Insistry of the Passion . # " Foot of the Cross . " p. 179 . " 227 . --- Page 122 --- on hearing the sentence of death she would try to make her way one of the holy women who accompanied her to Jerusalem , would after Christ was taken . St. John , or one of the other Apostles , or of Jerusalem to whom Jesus afterwards spoke the words : West to the place of crucifixion , to be with Jesus in His last moments . fore , very probable that long before He was condemned to death maternal love and sorrow . It is most reasonable to suppose that be sure to bring her the news of what was going on . It is , there- was present not only on the way to Calvary , and when Jesus was and in the private revelations of St. Bridget it is said that Mary according to tradition , represented in the Stations of the Cross , it certain from the Gospel narrative that she was on Calvary when and on the way she would either meet Him or wait for Him ; and , Scripture , nor in the writings of the ancient Fathers . It is , how- news of His Passion would certainly reach our Blessed Lady Him and participate in His sufferings , moved as she was by to Calvary , is known to us only by tradition . It is not found in the she had come forth from her house in order that she might see ever mentioned in the writings of the more recent Fathers . St. was after the first fall of Jesus under His cross that He met His crucified , but that she was also present at the scourging , which He was crucified , and that she stood at the foot of the cross . The Bonaventure refers to it in his meditations on the life of Christ ; most holy mother . this meeting of the Mother and Son at such a time . It is quite opinion is expressed also in the hymn of the Church : Pro peccatisuse gentis This meeting of Jesus with His sorrowful Mother on the way There is nothing more natural or reasonable than to suppose We must not suppose that Mary was one of the pious women Et Angellis subditum . Dum emisit spiritum . Moriento desolatum , Till His spirit for the sent . For the sins of His own nation Vidit Tesum in tormentis , Bruised , decided , cursed . defiled , Saw Him hang in desolation history of the passion . All with bloody scourges rent . Vidit sum dulcem Natum . She be held her tender child --- Page 123 --- with full strength of soul and body , we cannot suppose her failing She was guilty of no such weakness or corporal defect , inasmuch as it would be a great imperfection . It would also be derogatory poignancy of her sorrow ; but the cause of this sorrow was at its terrible scenes of Calvary , without fear , without weakness , and that she swooned or fainted then , but , on the contrary , stood at there is the famous painting of Raphael entitled the Spasms , which or fainting at any other scene of the Passion . If the fainting were suffering His most bitter agony on the cross , Mary was standing , and members , Sec. , is not to be attributed to the Blessed Virgin . imperfection , and thus it cannot be imputed to the Mother of sensible state when she met Him carrying His cross . and she did not fail either in body or soul . When we think of to overcome her , it would have arisen from the greatness and and all her actions . This would have been a voluntary weakness her standing there in the midst of all His enemies and all the lying between the two thieves , and , as St. John does not tell us in her which she could have prevented , and a voluntary losing of to her exalted grace and to the complete dominion which she the foot of the cross , we cannot suppose her falling into an in- highest force when Jesus was hanging nailed to the cross , and occasion of meeting our Saviour carrying His cross . senses confused and disturbed , and the contraction of the muscles always retained and exercised over all her faculties , all her motions , affections and her actions , and she so regulated her conduct as not The Latin word used to signify this swimming is spasms , and her senses and consciousness which would amount to a serious This swimming , or fainting , taken as a corporal defect , with the St. John the Evangelist tells us that at the very time Jesus was represents the Blessed Virgin as swimming , or fainting , on the The whole reason of this is , as I have already stated , because the Blessed Virgin retained always full dominion over all her history of the passion . god . sun . 230 --- Page 124 --- stances . We do not , as Fr. Ventura says , hear her complain of was promulgated . She was the first to conform herself to the all the sorrow of which it was capable , she accompanied Jesus in footsteps of the Son of God . Mary will show us the way , and we offer Him some consolation . No ; but repressing the reference precepts of Christ by taking up her cross and following Him to steps of her virtues will go direct to their crucified Redeemer . from the manner of acting of other women under similar circum- the cruelty of His enemies , nor of the injustice of the judges , nor are safe in her company . They who walk faithfully in the foot- Calvary , there to be interiorly crucified with Him . To get to of her maternal tenderness , commanding her affections and con- way of salvation-practising the Gospel teaching even before it as to reach our Saviour , that she may press Him to her heart and silence , as Abraham accompanied his son Isaac to the place of the barbarity of the soldiers , nor the blind range of the people . heaven we must go along the road of Calvary , and walk in the She does not even attempt to force her way through the crowd so centrating them in the interior of her heart , rent with the pangs of Mary obtains for her children , the disciples of her Son Jesus , was the first of the predestined , so was she first in walking in the with good reason that the Church sings of our Blessed Lady in heroism and charity ; she conducts and guides them by the a most perfect and supernatural manner on this occasion , different Father Ventura further reflects on this mystery , " that as Mary At the cross her station keeping . sacrifice . Stabat Mater dolorosa . sublimity of her example . She shows them the way as the children Dum pendebat Films . We may , therefore , represent the Blessed Virgin as acting in stood the mournful Mother weeping , Juxta crucem lacry'mosa , Close to Jesus to the last . her sorrow : # " In Vare de Dias " Parti Chnomini 233 232 --- Page 125 --- good thief . She witnessed the fulfilment of all the prophecies in refers to the tradition that on the occasion of the flight into Egypt , in two by the love of Jesus , of whom she was the natural Mother , other creature what Christ suffered by reason of the mystical and by the love of us , her children by adoption . The penitent the Holy Family was well received and entertained by a gang of must have in some measure touched her heart with tender com- Of this , Sir. John Damascene says : " The good thief repeated , dying Son ? She understood the pain and suffering of the physical passion on hearing the words of that converted thief , when he said chief was helped towards his conversion by the prayers of Mary . him for the former favour which she had received . " He here thirst , and saw them offer him the vinegar to drink , in order to Son , offered her prayers to Jesus for the thief , thus recompensing and the hard-hearted Jews . She felt , as it were , her heart divided executioners , and uttering words of pardon and consolation to the with the sentiments of her beloved Son , and much as she abhorred to his companion : Neither dust their fear God , seeing thou art under remember me when thou contest to thy kingdom . the awful crime of decide , of which they were guilty , she , never- robbers . The son of one of the robbers , who was then a child , is because Mary , standing between his cross and the cross of her Whilst she listened to the other thief blasphemy Christ , it His ignominious death . ' She was , it is true , in entire conformity supposed to be the thief converted on the cross through the heless , forgetful of her own sorrow , prayed for the executioners history of the Passion . no evil ; and then added his words of faith and repentance : Lord , prayers of Mary , and now venerated by the Church as St. the same condemnation , and we indeed justly : but this man hath done cause Him still more pain . She understood also better than any She heard Him praying for His enemies , and for His very What can we say of her suffering at the third endured by her dimas . 255 235 --- Page 126 --- at the death of our Blessed Saviour , that she offered up her soul head towards her , as Cardinal Hugo writes , as if He would signify on His dead body , as a sacrifice to God , according to the express- peaceful kind of death ; but here she has to witness the most terrible affection had she seen Jesus die the most honourable and Calvary , so that far and near His ignoring might be made known . altar was the body of her Son , as it were , dying she lives , and dies on the solemn day of the Pasch , that the great number of living she dies ; neither could she die , because even whilst living spectators might increase His dishonour . He dies on the hill of naked breast to the priest , his companion , that the Holy Sacrifice opprobrious and cruel death that could be endured by man . He he was imprisoned for the faith , that he had no altar on which to and heard His last word from the cross : Father , into thy hands I He dies , abandoned by His disciples . Mary witnessed all this , dies between two thieves , as if He were the most guilty of all . He and its circumstances , we may be able to enter still more fully sion of St. Bernard : " She offered herself on the altar , but that commend my spirit : and bowing his head , he dies-inchining His may be said to have died in her crucified Son . have the Blessed Sacrament consecrated , and that he offered his into the depth of Mary's sorrow . It would have been to her a might be celebrated , saying : Allare exit hoc mean pectus - " This , if she herself had been put to death , for she loved her Son more than she loved herself . " So great was the martyrdom , that she It is narrated in the acts of the martyrdom of St. Lucian , when When we add to this , reflections on the manner of His death , " be expressed . It was far more severe and harder to bear than sorrow at that moment of the death of Christ ! she will be dead . " my breast , will be an altar . " It may be said of our Blessed Lady , history of the Passion . " The nature of that martyrdom cannot , " as St. Anselm says , not witnessed that death . What , then , must h have been Mary's 237 . " The nature of that martydom cannot , " --- Page 127 --- finding Him already dead , plunged his lace into His side and confusion of that hour , could move her from the position which Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus . And Pilate gave still alive , they broke their legs . " Then they turned to the cross of a mixture of myrrh and does , about an hundred weight . They took , leave . He came , therefore , and took away the body of Jesus . And saw advancing towards them some soldiers , who had again come as placing herself between them and the cross ; raising her hands , and Mary weeping and sorrowing over his dead body . Two Christ , and at this moment Mary is represented by St. Bonaventure history of the Passion . After the death of Christ , and when the crowd had dispersed , many Nicodemus also came , he who at first came to Jesus by night , bringing caused fresh pain and sorrow to her afflicted heart , namely , the she had taken up at the foot of the cross . After a short time they remarkable things happened immediately after His death that out from Jerusalem ; some of those same soldiers who were Calvary with St. John , Mary Magdalen , and the other holy women . spices , as the manner of the Jews is to bury . the besought them with earnest words not to maltreat His dead of whom went away striking their breasts like the centurion , and Christ , most painful to Mary , and most mysterious to the world . body , but leave it whole and unmangled , and it was at this instant saying , indeed this man was the Son of God , Mary remained on Neither the darkness , nor the earthquake , nor all the noise and approached the crosses of the two thieves , and , finding the victims present at the crucifixion , and who had taken part in it . They piercing of His side with a lace , and the taking down of His therefore , the body of Jesus , and bound it in linen cloths with the that one of the soldiers advanced towards the Crucified , and , The sixth and seventh colours bring before us the dead Christ , body from the cross . he was a disciple of Jesus , but secretly for fear of the Jesus , besought The piercing of His side was an outrage , most injurious to 239 239 --- Page 128 --- Rowed from His side while He slept . O death ! from which the gelist does not say that the soldier pierced His side or penetrated This was not the great object for which the Evangelist mentions which means simply passing , is not here used ; but pertransibit , signifies that the sword was to pass through her soul in order to brought into existence , and was called the mother of the living . which means passing through , and which , according to this doctor , " From His dead body , interrupted though dead , flowed forth the intercession with her Son , it came to be said that she was the dis- this incident . It was that we might reflect on its mystical and allude to the following interpretations given by the Holy Fathers reach to us . Out of this open side , in the first place , came forth the Church , the spouse of Christ , as out of Adam's side Eve was the side of Christ a fountain of grace for men . St. Ambrose says : penser of that precious blood for the salvation of men , as expressed it , but that he opened it , as if it were in some sense opening to us from His sacred side was , according to Theophylact , miraculous . dead obtain second life ! " The second meaning , in a mystical the door of life , out of which flowed the sacraments of the Church , sense , is that given by St. Augustine , who remarks that the Evan- the cross , that from thence His wife might be formed , which entrance obtained into eternal life . Thirdly , the lace opens in spiritual meaning . It was a mysterious wound , and we may soul a sword shall piece , remarks that the Latin word transibit , This second Adam , " says St. Augustine , " inclined His head on to this mystery . St. Bernard , trealing on the words : And they own reality of His death , ' but that blood and water should then flow . The piercing of our Lord's side was not only a proof of the through which the precious blood is applied to our souls , and guinis dispensatio . sacred side . From this thought , and to signify her all-powerful in the words of St. Anselm : Marie commissa est Dominici san- history of the passion . life of us all . The water and the blood went forth ; the one to adv 241 . --- Page 129 --- St. Isidore refers , this soldier , through a chance application of one charity . These , with their own hands , took down the body of permission to take away our Saviour's body and to bury it . Some he that saw it hath given testimony , and his testimony is true . Christ , received the miraculous cure of one of his eyes , and at the Chrysostom exhorts us to a devout practice by the words : " Since say that it was our Lady's prayers and tears that moved him to do of the drops of the blood and water which flowed from the side of Pilate , and obtained , through his influence , and , as some have here the sacred mysteries receive their origin , draw near as one man , who was in secret a disciple of Christ , went courageously to supposed , through the interest of Claudia Procula , Pilate's wife , history of the passion . paid for us , that by drinking we may be redeemed . " And St. who opened it with a lace . According to a tradition , to which same time his soul was illumined by the light of faith . He was And he knoweth that he saidh true : that you also may believe ( St. have used words similar to those by which St. John made such a from Mary's sorrows , who , as a spectator of all this scene , might of the Church , and afterwards a martyr , by giving his own blood also wealthy and pious , assisted Joseph in this great work of strong and emphatic declaration of the truth , when he said : And and wrapping His body in the winding-sheet , are the other parti- this . Nicodamus , who was another secret disciple , and who was for the Christian faith . about to drink from the very side of Christ . " The first fruit How- ing from the open wound , was shown in the case of the soldier culars of this colour . afterwards baptized by one of the Apostles , and became a bishop Whilst we reflect upon these mysteries , let us not separate them After the death of Christ , Joseph of Arimathea , a rich noble- The taking down from the cross ; the placing Him in her arms , cleanse , the other to redeem . Let us drink , therefore , the price John , xix. 35 ) . 1961 62 . 242 --- Page 130 --- great stone to the door of the monument , and went his way . And hands to the sepulchre . The sorrowing Mother , St. John. and down , he wrapped him in fine linen , and laid him in a sepulchre reep , they would on this occasion have filled the air with their linen - bandages and winding-sheet , they carried it reverently in their panied the precious remains . The distance was not far , but that stone to the door of the sepulchre . St. Luke says : And , taking him a garden : and in the garden a new sepulchre , wherein no man had Virgin and the holy women , wrapped the sacred body in the yet been laid . ' There , therefore , because of the parascove of the Jesus , funeral was " the most mournful that the world ever saw . Angels monument , which he had herself out in the rock . And he rolled a the other devout women who had remained on Calvary , accom- And St. Matthew says : And Joseph ) laid it in his own new In the consideration of this colour we may include not only the burial of Jesus , but also the solitude of Mary after His burial St. John says : Now there was in the place , where he was crucified , that was herself in stone , wherein never yet any man had been laid . there was there Mary Magdalen and the other Mary sitting over The burial of Jesus involves three considerations : The carrying until the bright vision of His resurrection on the first Easter they laid Jesus , because the sepulchre was high at hand . Because The Carrying the Body to the Tomb . - After Joseph of Arima- thea and Nicodamus had , with the assistance of the Blessed of peace accompanied that funeral procession , and if angels could the body to the place of burial , the placing it in the tomb , and Evangelists speak of it in the singular number . Thus , St. Mark against the sepulchre . the closing of the tomb . sepulchre which was herself out of the rock . And he rolled a it was principally the act of Joseph of Arimathea , the other three history of the passion . laid him in a sunday . says : And Joseph , buying fine linen says : And Joseph , buying fine linen ... . Said he Thus , St. Mark --- Page 131 --- that tomb all her affections ; " so that Mary herself revealed to St. grave , and then , according to St. Matthew , he departed . St. a great stone to the door of the sepulchre ; thus shutting up the holy Virgin earnestly wished to bury , in desire , her soul with the death could not properly belong ? What was He to do with a When the burial office was over , Mary spread her arms on the ing Him , she begged to be allowed to continue for a while to con- body of her Son ; " and , in the words of St. Jerome , " she buried in upon Mary's solitude during that night and the following Saturday , sacred rock , or stone , she bathed it with her tears , and kissed it sight of her Son , and she can no longer gaze upon His countenance , template His sacred face . She desired , according to the opinion humanity is now hidden away from her , and this brings us to reflect tomb on earth , whose seat was in heaven ? What had He told Bernard , took her last farewell of her dead Son . Additionally kiss- side , the body of Jesus was laid , and Mary , as described by St. Bernard continues his description of Mary's farewell-taking : much like one lying in death , as like one resting on a bed ? " with her lips , in such a way as if to absorb into her own heart that with a sepulchre , who was only in the grave for three days , not so or hear His words , or be comforted by His presence . His sacred monument , as indicating her intense sorrow . " She has now lost expressed by St. Fulgentius , to remain buried with Him : " The Bridget that it could be said that two bodies were buried together until she be held Him risen from the dead on the Sunday morning . Clesing the Tomb . When our Lord was laid in the sepulchre , In this tomb , which was opened not from the top , but on the history of the passion . in that one tomb of her Son . the entrance to it was closed up . Joseph of Arimathea had killed others . For what could He have to do with a sepulchre , to whom whole sepulchre . ' Her tears were said to have been seen on the This painful solitude suggests to us the thoughts that must have # Serm. de Sabbat . Sancto . 47 . --- Page 132 --- observed between herself and St. John . " Others represent them as appeared first to His Blessed Mother . This has been stated by working , that Passion was always going on within her heart . Some desire to come to you , and , with the Apostles , to offer you my risited by some of the other Apostles , and that St. Peter came His disciples . It is also probable that on the Saturday she was John tells her-about those things that happened at the Last Bridget that whatever she did , either by speaking , or eating , or Supper , and the instructions contained in Christ's last discourse to you in your lonely solitude after the burial of thy Son , Jesus , I We believe without doubt that Christ , after His resurrection , specially to offer her his sympathy , and to keep in sorrow at her Nyssa , Sedulius , Anselm , Bonaventure and Rupertus . The say that a mutual silence about the events of the Passion was talking over the recent events , and the different mysteries of reasons for which Jesus suffered and died . to her in His bright and glorious humanity , risen from the dead . Scripture . It was always understood in this sense by the Church , heartfelt love and sympathy . I desire to cast myself at your feet feet over his three-fold denial . All these things kept alive the and the beginning of that tradition cannot be found unless we go Christ's life and death . She is especially attentive to all that St. all Catholic writers that have treated on the subject . It has been At length on the Sunday morning , at the Aurora , Christ appeared back to the time of Christ . Suarez cites the following Fathers and Doctors as teaching this with St. Peter , and there were over the sins by which I crucified memory of the sufferings which she had gone through , and the handed down to us by tradition , although not mentioned in the in their writings : SS. Ambrose , Gregory Nazianzen , Gregory of We may here say to her : " O holy Virgin , whilst contemplating my loving Saviour . " transacted again before her eyes . She herself revealed to St. HISTORY of IMO surveyers . 248 --- Page 133 --- established a feast , and a Mass and Office in its honour and for its at our public devotion in the Church at certain times in the year , desolation : " Hail , Mary , full of sorrows : the Crucified is with tion which we find given to any devotion , is when the Church to priests and Religious , there are many other devout practices practice of any devotion , namely , greater purity of soul and con- of the Seven Dolours . ' The most definite and authentic approba- Missal and the Office which the priests have to recite on the Feast thy womb , Jesus . Holy Mary , Mother of the Crucified , grant 4 . Seven lives , with the Sancta Mater istud agas . thee : tearful art thou amongst women , and tearful is the fruit of 5 . An hour or halfhour's prayer on Good Friday , or other tears to us , crucifiers of thy Son , now and at the hour of our which may be made use of by all the faithful , which have the history of the passion . formula of the Stations of the Cross . science , and an increase of God's holy grace , there are special and which , either in whole or in part , is recited in the usual 1st . There is the Mass of the Seven Dolours , as found in the worthy celebration . Besides the Mass and Office , which belong Church's appreciation , and to which indulgences are attached , Besides the general advantages to be derived from the devout 6 . The following short prayer to the Blessed Virgin in her 3 . An exercise in honour of her sorrowing heart . which she has attached indulgences . by the Church in honour of those colours , and especially those to 2 . An hour spent at any time of the year in meditating on the Fridays , at three o'clock . ruits to be obtained through the devotion to the Seven Dolours . Dolours of Mary . 1 . The Stabat Mater : The hymn of the colours , which is sung such as the following : death . Amen . # # The Raccolta-under the title , " Mary Sorrowing . " 25i . 250 --- Page 134 --- nected with the meaning and spirit of this devotion , and that Passion , which was the cause of Mary's colours , will be more holy Apostle and Evangelist once heard Mary in heaven ask on human testimony , there can be no difficulty in receiving that on a private revelation made to St. John the Evangelist . This matter of faith , and has no more authority than that which depends priest who may attend them at the hour of death will find them , testimony , and in expecting those graces through the devotion to impressed upon their souls . Mary's prayers will have a special power of impetration with God in behalf of such souls ; and the the sins which they have committed . The remembrance of the history of the Passion . Our Saviour promised that He would grant four particular devation will soon feel in their souls a sorrow and detestation for earth , would keep her colours in remembrance . her divine Son to grant some special favour to those who . on As we have considered Christ in his death and burial , and graces to all those who should practise this devotion . These are r. Perfect contribution for all their sins some time before death . We can easily believe that those who begin to practise this hearts filled with the love of Jesus and Mary . the Seven Dolours . They are graces that seem to be closely con- upon their hearts during life . 2 . A particular protection in the hour of death-that hour Though the revelation on which these promises rest is not a Saviour to His Blessed Mother . well disposed for the last sacraments with humble and contrite Now from it , according to the traditional promise made by our when the divine help is most needed . These special fruits are made known to us by tradition . founded Mary in their behalf . 3 . A lively remembrance of His Passion and sufferings impressed the four graces : 4 . A particular power of impetration granted to the prayers of -52 . 753 . --- Page 135 --- lived in the last century . ' This saint , during his missionary labours History of the Passion , a short instruction on the manner of world in its present form and method , is attributed to the Fran- already in the course of this work referred to its origin and reclaiming sinners , for reanimating and inflaming the topid , and for exercise . I need not go into the history of this devotion , having The Way of the Cross , also called the Stations , is one of the Franciscan Order , from which these instructions are chiefly taken . the Cross ; and on the Crucifes blessed with the Intelligence of the perfecting the sanctification of the just . " especially since the year 1342 , the custody of the holy places in propagator of this devotion was St. Leonard of Port Maurice , who words of Benedict XIV , it is one of the most effectual means " for enriching it with indulgences , I select the most important , which sufferings , cross and death of our blessed Redeemer , and , in the Out of the numerous documents which from time to time were development . The propagation of this devotion throughout the chief devotional exercises whose object is to meditate on the " See a work entitled , " Instructor de Stationibus S. Vice Crucis , " published Jerusalem has been entrusted . In recent times the most zealous in Rome . in 1884 , by the authority of the Most . Rev. Minister-General of execting the Stations , and the manner of performing this devotional ciscan Fathers , to whom for the last six centuries , and more in Italy , erected the Stations of the Cross in 572 different places . published by the Holy See approving of this devotion , and Instructions on the Manner of Erecting and Visiting the Stations of For this reason I wish to add , by way of an Appendix to th- stations . # Download as PDFPrintable version --- Page 136 --- not only the permission of the bishop and that of the parish priest , or superior , but also the petition ( gestulator ) for the permission . are informed that the consent of the parish priest is not required the Sisters of Charity , who have their own chaplains appointed by the bishop , as is the custom in France , and also in these for the erection of the Stations in convents and convent chapels of superior , and also the deputation or delegation granted to the writing sub peena nullitatis , as this is not expressly mentioned in according to a Brief of Clement XII . " But by a declaration of the countries to a great extent . The same is to be said for a like Rev. Father-General of the Franciscans are exempt from this law ; priest to erect the Stations , should be in writing , and must be This permission of the bishop and of the parish priest , or the privilege of exemption from episcopal jurisdiction . in each case , and for every erection of the stations . " as are also other monasteries and convents which have the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences , dated 21st June , 1879 , we The consent of the parish priest , or the superior of the church , or convent , or pious place , as the case may be , is also required , It does not , however , appear that the petition should be in erection of the Stations of the Cross be done in writing ; that is , The convents and places subject to the jurisdiction of the Most ipso facto incurvenda , of the erection itself . It It is also prescribed that all and everything concerning the the decree ; # unless , as it sometimes happens , the petition should embody the permission in its form , and this , as we have shown in case of need or when required , under pain of nullity , said , must be always granted in writing . reason of other convents and chapels that are exempt either jure or de facto from parochial jurisdiction . ' diocese is not sufficient . The place must be designated specifically Benedict XIV . " See Briefs , " Exponi Nobis , " of Clement XII , and " Cum T t.S. Con. Ind. , 30th July , 1748 . # 3rd August , 1748 . I.S. Con. Ind. , 30th July , 1748 . I 3rd August --- Page 137 --- be erected outside a church , as the case in many convents of crosses are erected may not be exposed to any irreverence ; and the said Order , let them be so arranged as to commence or terri- nate in the church , or holy place . Care should be taken that if , after their erection , the place should become ' unfit ( minus mysteries of the Passion . In places where the Stations have to support ; and crosses painted on the wall would not suffice . The evident that fourteen crosses are required , corresponding to the Fourteen Stations in Jerusalem . These crosses are so necessary Fourteen Stations , and let the crosses or chapels represent the decendia ) , let the superior prohibit or interdict the Stations there , that the Stations would be entirely invalid without them . And the small chapels # be protected or enclosed against the free and on this point his conscience is strictly charged . " entrance of men or beasts , and that the places where the case if , at the time of erecting the Stations , even one of the crosses should be of wood , and this condition is indispensable required by 1st . As to the material which constitutes the Stations . ' It is form adopted by the above-mentioned Order ; that is , let there be present . " The precept is not satisfied by fastening , or encasing , material of the Stations , and the form of blessing and erecting wooden crosses may be gilt , or embellished with ornaments of a series of decrees , I and they should be visible to those who are The crosses , according to the prescription of the Roman Ritual , the indulgences are attached to the cross . And this would be the Under this third rule we may consider all that concerns the wooden crosses on crosses of iron or other material as a back & Decr. S. C. Ind. Nov. 23rd. 1878 . were wanting . " Rule III . " They should be erected according to the usual t Decret . Auth. n. 26r. t June 20th, 1838 : Aug. 22nd. 1842 ; June 14th , them . # NEW W.000 # Small channels were erected as , Stations , or places for the Stations . 259 258 --- Page 138 --- first is the sentencing of our Saviour to death ; and the last , such as placing the crosses under or along side the pictures , would were omitted . And the Holy See , in re-validating Stations that crosses be placed over the pictures , as constituting the essential ancient system of pictures is generally observed , and ought not to part of the Stations , and although this is not necessary , it is in blessed privately . " The images , or pictures , or engravings need Christ enclosed in the sepulchre . They are exactly the same as pictures represent the scenes of the Passion , and thus greatly assist the faithful in meditating and in performing the Stations pictures are not necessary for the validity of the Stations , yet this with attention and devotion . It is also the custom that the were irregularly erected without crosses , or without blessing them , has always ordered that the crosses to be supplied should be not have the figure or image of our Saviour on them . dlessing of the crosses and fixing them in their places . The According to an ancient and general custom , paintings and blessing of the crosses is absolutely necessary , so that the Stations be unbecoming and distracting , even though it would not affect accordance with the general custom , and any departure from it , not be blessed , as these are not necessary ,'t and the indulgences 2nd . As to the form of erecting the Stations . This consists in the the validity of the Stations or the gaining of the indulgences . the Stations of the Via Crucis in Jerusalem . Although the be abandoned without some grave necessity , especially as the metal , provided the ornamentation be not so elaborate as to make crosses , and representing the fourteen scenes of the Stations . The pictures are used also for the Stations , as many in number as the would not be validly erected nor any indulgence gained if this it appear that the crosses are other than wooden . They should are attached to the crosses . However , according to the mode of erection followed by the Franciscan Fathers , and approved by t Decision , March 13th , 1837 , and Aug. 22nd , 1842 . Confr. Dec. Authent. n. 261 & 4.2 . They should --- Page 139 --- took place , the authorization of the bishop , the permission of the for the erection of the Stations of the Cross , no separate document witnesses . The document , or account , must then be forwarded to Wherefore , " he says , " to avoid any doubts that may afterwards from the bishop , the permission is included in this , and no other the bishop , to have it deposited amongst his archives , and a copy arise from negligence in the matter , the process-verbal , or report of when the parish priest or superior makes the request in writing separate document is required to show the permission . Also , its loss or defect would not prevent the gaining of the indulgences , monastery , in which all the executions of the Stations of the Cross the Stations in places subject to their jurisdiction . But it is very parish priest or superior . It would be well , too , to have some parish register , or in that of the establishment where it has been consent , need not always be explicit , but it's suffices that they be The Rev. A. Maurel , speaking on this subject , explains clearly The documents containing the reputation , the permission and the erection , ought to be framed as soon as possible . It should mention the Apostolic Rescript , in virtue of which the erection made by the Fathers of the community may be entered . and it can be supplied even after a long interval , provided the what the priest has to do after having erected the Stations : prelates of Religious Orders , or their concessions for the erection of implicit , or contained one in the other . Thus , if one obtain the of , or at least a certificate of the erection , is to be kept in the faculty of erecting the Stations of the Cross in a particular place desirable that in conformity to it , a register be kept in each canonical erection is well authenticated . The above decree does not apply to the petitions made to the is required to show their consent , as it is implied in the request . exection of the Stations , but as a proof of the erection ; and hence " Maurel on Indulgences , English translation , page 152. effected . " 1961 62 263 . --- Page 140 --- large enough , so that no confusion may arise from the Stations vided the greater number of those first erected remain , the renewed , new ones being put in the place of the old ones ; pro- the church , let there be another erected inside when the church is by the renovation or the removal of the pictures or images , either being without ; and that in time of rain , or when otherwise impeded indulgence also remains . " From this we may draw the following in whole or in part . Nor would it affect the grant of the indul- room enough , it will be well , for the greater convenience of the may be substituted by others without a new blessing or erection . provided the place be the same in which the Stations were origi- attached to them , if the crosses first blessed should perish or be I . The validity of the Stations of the Cross is in no way affected for the women ; and when one set of Stations is erected outside explicit decisions of the Sacred Congregation of Indulences : gence to remove the crosses from the old pictures to the new , conclusions , which have been approved at different times , by taken away in less than half the number ; and in this case they and blessing of the Stations must take place . " people , to erect two sets of Stations , one for the men and the other are no longer there , and a new blessing is needed . ' But if seven are thus fast or removed , then the greater number Rule IV . " In the same church or pious place , when there is from saying the Stations outside , the people may be able to per- 2 . It would not invalidate the Stations , or the indulgences fortion , if the whole of them be removed or lost , a new erection 3 . If the greater number of the crosses first erected , and , a And this would be the case even if the crosses themselves were form the Stations inside the church . " Under this rule we may include all that need be said as to the nally erected . appendix . # 205 --- Page 141 --- private apartments . They may be likewise established in several nally to the churches and oratories , in cemeteries , on hills , or in ments , in order that those who entertain a great devotion towards chapels belonging to the same community , as also in the gallery , Stations without very great inconvenience . To determine the in- convenience which would warrant the erecting of the Stations in sufficient to have a special authorization from the Holy See . At as three , four , five , and even seven sets of Stations . " t chair , infirmary , Sec. , provided the place be a becoming and suit- domestic chapels and small oratories , and even in private apart : the Passion of Christ might obtain the graces attached to this holy Franciscans , unless the faithful could not avail themselves of these Pius IX . - Urbis et Orbis , 14th May , 1871 . * able one . ' To have them erected in these various places , it is from one place to another , we have clear decisions given by the erected , not only in public chapels and churches , but likewise in Bouvier tells us that Pius VI . " allowed these Stations to be or districts where they had been already in the churches of the Rome there are some religious houses in which there are as many churches , public chapels , domestic oratories , Sec. , and even exter- Formerly , the Stations were not to be erected in cities , or towns , As regards the places where the Stations may be erected , As to the temporary removal of the crosses , and their removal Ordinary to decide . But even this restriction was removed by other places than those subject to the Franciscans , was left to the Maurel says : " The Stations of the Cross may be erected in all from one place to another . places where the stations are to be erected , and their removal sions , the blessing and indulgences are not nullified by a removal Sacred Congregation of Indulgences . According to these deci- practice . " I" Irish Ecclesiastical Record , " December , 1889 . # Decree , 4th August , 1767 . ments , in order that those who entertain a great devotion towards Sacred Congregation of Indulgences . Decree , 4th August , 1769 # " English Translation , " page 147 . 266 --- Page 142 --- and an Act of Contrition , let them proceed from one Station to the Cross may be performed in procession by the people , led by devotion . For this reason it may be said that the indulgences of the Stabat Mater , or some other prayer , all observing the greatest the mystery and the Station , and , after reciting a Pater and Ave domestic Stations , several sets of Stations cannot be erected , as , that the men may walk separate from the women , that is , the men in exercise in any place , if in course of time it becomes unfit for this for example , one in the country house and another in the town , the places where the Stations are erected , and to interdict the according to the different dwelling-places , unless this be specially been recited in the convents of the Order ; that is , the Stations of granted . The privilege of domestic Stations ceases with the the Stations would cease if the cells , or rooms in private houses , in one or two priests ; or privately , by each individual . If the erection of the Stations is required , all the conditions have to be person to whom it was granted , and does not descend to heirs or nothing be changed from the manner in which the Stations have and the Stations removed from them during that time . gregation , which enjoins on superiors the duty of watching over this would be the case if they were only thus changed for a time , minutely observed which are prescribed for the original canonical or priest , read in a loud voice the consideration corresponding to which they were erected should be turned to profane uses , and Stations be performed in common , let the procession be so arranged In all cases where , according to the above teaching , a new another , singing in the meantime , between the Stations , a verse of Rule V. " Let this exercise be everywhere uniform , and let It is also to be noted that by virtue of the Rescript granting I may here call attention to Rule IV . of the Sacred Con- successors . erection . appendis . front and the women after them . ' At each Station let a cleric , front and the women after them . At each Station let a cleric , --- Page 143 --- Station , and at the end the six Paters and Azes , as sometimes said , without moving the body from one place to another ? The says , could not be properly termed the Way of the Cross-an other conditions of the Stations , that some motion of the body is full of devout people , may gain the indulgences of the Stations from an answer given by the Sacred Congregation to the follow - indulgence . And all the pontifical decrees affirm , amongst the Sacred Congregation answered Mr , without a special political Station , is also a condition required for gaining the indulgences . profit . Hence , the Sacred Congregation has admonished us not to the public exercise of the Way of the Cross , when confusion and upon one after the other from the same spot . This , as Bouvier required ; and that one should go from one Station to another as ing doubt that was proposed on the subject : Whether the faithful , place where the Stations are being performed . Congregation , in which the following method is prescribed : For pictures and crosses may be , it would not suffice merely to look Christe , Sec. , the Act of Contrition , and the Miserere nostri imitation of Jesus Christ proceeding to Calvary . This is evident with some modifications . In the first place , however near the in a great concourse of people , and especially when the church is and most useful in " enabling persons to perform this exercise with This is more fully explained by another decree of the Sacred is not necessary . The same may be said of the Adoramus te , far as the multitude of people will permit , or the limits of the tions or points of reflection , as found in pious books , is very good , inconvenience might be occasioned , the manner of saying the 2 . The visiting the Stations really , that is , going from Station to The practice of saying these prayers , and reading the considera- neglect it . indulgences . Thus , the recital of the Pater and Ave at each appendix . as is clear from the " Raccolta . " Decree of June 2nd , 1838 . " 26th February , 1841 . I 6 271 . --- Page 144 --- as he pleases , provided that He piously meditates on the the holy indulgences , and for simple people it will be sufficient to may content themselves with pious thoughts on some circum- and when there are so many people in the church , that the Stations our Lord's Passion , which is the work enjoined , in order to gain any obligation , to recite , conformable to the usual custom , a Pater each Station ; but it is sufficient to meditate , however briefly , on think in some manner , according to their capacity , on the afore- this holy exercise in the different churches . The rule means that cially when the Stations have to be visited one by one . " prayers he pleases , and consecrate as much time to the exercise and live at each cross or Station , and to make an Act of Con- church , let the faithful abstain from performing the exercise dur- said Passion : although " all are exhorted , without placing on them tion singly in the church where it is established , use whatever Passion of our Lord . And persons not knowing how to meditate could not be said without causing confusion and annoyance , espe- stances of the Passion , according to their capacities . Nevertheless This rule also regards the devotion when said privately . And in the decree of the 6th August , 1757 , it is said that to bishops is ing the time of the divine office or services , and of the holy Mass ; prescribed . From it we learn that anyone may perform this devo- not necessary , as some suppose , to recite six Palers and 1zes at given the faculty of prescribing a convenient time for performing to recite a Pater and live before each cross , and to elicit an Act less , without imposing any obligation on them , they are exhorted In this rule the manner of performing the Stations privately is Rule VII . " When the Stations of the Cross are erected in a people have not to be disturbed or distracted when hearing Mass , Rule VI . " When the Stations are performed privately , it is of Contrition . " sararian ideas . trition . # Darren Fahirth was 1thord Named their Times , ers . --- Page 145 --- inadvertence or equivocation , or through an impulse of devotion ( on the part of preachers or teachers ) , have been altered or con- who might be inclined at such times to go round the Stations , and n the convent , on the manner of making the Way of the Cross in fused ; and , therefore , let it be sufficient to say that whoever Maurel , treating on this point , says : " One of the reasons of this rected in some convent or monastery of nuns , it is not necessary because it is known that these indulgences very often , either through specify in detail , particularly by writing or engraving where the vermission of the ordinary , to bless the crosses at the grate , and to orm whatever , and much less let it be written , either in the chapels , or on the Stations themselves , that a certain , and deter- give a short instruction to the nuns , and to others who may reside shall meditate on the Passion after the manner of this holy exercise , same indulgences as by personally visiting the Stations of the imes , when this can be done quietly , without causing disturbance he case in which the moral presence of the priest is considered sufficient in the erecting of the Stations . o put themselves in the way of others . ' It does not imply any may , through the concessions of the Sovereign Pontiffs , gain the robhibition against saying the Stations during Mass , or at other mined number of indulgences may be gained ( by this exercise ) , This rule applies only to enclosed convents , and it represents order to gain the indulgences , and to gain for their souls the benefit Way of the Cross in Jerusalem . " to enter the enclosure ; but it is sufficient ... with the Stations are , the number of indulgences attached to this devotion . of this devotion . ' Rule VIII . " When the Stations of the Cross have to be Catechists , preachers and others are , therefore , forbidden to ir annoyance to the congregation . Rule IX . " Let it not be published from the pulpit , or in any ir attending at the public devotion of the Church , by devout souls 1961 62m --- Page 146 --- one particular soul , this must be specially determined and applied gences to be gained by the Stations , it is advisable always to make the general as well as the particular application . St. Leonard gain for himself , he may apply all the others for the relief of the souls in purgatory . The general application suffices , according to more than once in the same day ; according to an answer given by the usual practice of the Church ; but if a person should desire to the Cross could be gained as often as the exercise was performed . and pray at the graves of their departed friends and relatives . gained only once in the day . This is deduced from a decree of the Sacred Congregation , t which lays it down as a general principle for that soul . And since we do not know the number of indul- Speaking on this point theologically , we may say : the Sacred Congregation , " it was declared that it was not certain Besides the planary indulgence , therefore , which a person can 1st . That the planary indulgences attached to the Stations can be Communion are not prescribed , and not necessary , as long as the from existing documents that the indulgences of the Stations of advises us to make this application before the beginning of the restrict the application of one of the planary indulgences to any In order to gain the indulgences of the Stations , Confession and ' Raccolta , ' in which the Portimaula is accepted , and in this applied for the souls in purgatory by devout souls who visit As to whether the indulgences of the Stations may be gained soul is in a state of grace . the exception proves the rule . is conceded to those visiting churches on certain days , or per- Stations , or , at all events , before their conclusion . that only once a day a planary indulgence can be gained , which and . ' The partial indulgences may be gained , according to the erected in all Catholic cemeteries , that these indulgences may be forming some pious work . This is also laid down in the March 7th , 1678 . troth September , 1883 . This is also laid down in the --- Page 147 --- the erection of other Stations in the same town or district , which I Way of the Cross in France which had been irregularly established need not transcribe here , as this portion has been abrogated by Rescript of November 16th , 1824 , confirmed all the executions of the the subsequent decree of Pius IX , Urbis et Orbis , which authority these omissions of essential forms . Thus , Leo XII , by a declares , on his Apostolic authority , that the Stations of the Cross As many irregularities have been committed from time to time to the Stations , and by his Apostolic authority remedied any from that convent or church to be determined by the Ordinary for in the executions of the Way of the Cross , the Sovereign Pontiffs have sometimes been requested to repair by their Apostolic discan churches , and that they may be put up in any place without any limitation of distance whatsoever , servants allies servants . may be erected in towns even where they already exist in Fran- gregation of Indulgences , on the 3 1st July , 1881 , revealed all the Stations of the Way of the Cross that had been up to that time defect in the essential forms of the Stations erected up to that date . gences , sanctioned by Benedict XIV .t up to that time , and at the same time commanded for the future the strict observance of the decree of the Congregation of Indul- father to be made by the parish priest for this purpose ; the limita- be moved to practise it with fervour , and to the great advantage invalidly erected . tion of the Stations to the Franciscan Church , and the distance renewed the faculties granted to the Franciscan Fathers in regard I find also that by virtue of special faculties , the Sacred Con- The Crucifuses of the Way of the Cross . I - These are crosses with Finally , His Holiness Leo XIII , on the 15th March , 1884 , of their souls . ' The rest of this rule contains instructions about the choice of the t See Bouvier on Indulgences , page 105 . # May 14th , 1871 . " Instructio de Stationibus . " It Translated from the t Translated from the " Instructor de Stationibus . " the first of a number of 278 --- Page 148 --- contrition of heart refers to the disposition of the person , inasmuch have to adhere to this form of saying the prescribed prayers , as of God , and thus put him in a fit state for gaining a planary in- as perfect contribution will enable him , if in sin , to obtain the grace for a lawful impediment , or any reasonable cause which prevents declared by a decree of August 8th , 1859 . The case is accepted Wounds , and one for the intention of His Holiness the Pope . We of a person so weak as not to be able to say the twenty Paters and common , it will suffice if one hold the blessed crucifix , and the Congregation , January 19th , 1884 , when the prayers are said in one from visiting the places where the Stations are erected . during the recital of the prayers . But by a Rescript of the Sacred others join with that person in saying the prescribed prayers . dulgence ; but an Act of Contrition is not necessary for those who contrito et devote , i.e. , with contribution of heart and devoutly . The The second condition is to say devoutly , and with a contrite Aves , when , according to a Brief granted by Pius IX . " December Stations are erected . A serious inconvenience may be taken here with the ejaculation : Te ergo que sumus his family subreni ; ques heart , twenty Patets , Aves and Glorias , that is one for each Station ; five in honour or memory of our Lord's Five Sacred 18th, 1877 , it will suffice if the sick person say an Act of Contrition , one is prevented from visiting the church or holy place where the According to the Rescript , the prayers should be said corde saltem The third condition is , that the crucifix be held in the hand and they may be said in any tongue or language . Moreover , the above prayers should be recited on one and the are in a state of grace , in order to enable them to gain the same occasion , as explained above when speaking of the Stations . pretioso sanguine redemisti . As to saying the prayers devoutly , the same rule may guide us as indulgences attached to the crucifix . First-That through sickness or some other lawful impediment satresses . aut 280 --- Page 149 --- that distract the mind , and are incompatible with prayer , and cannot be lent or given to another person with the intention of with internal attention , which means that the mind should perform either privately or publicly , or exchanged in any way ( for pay - prohibits objects of devotion after they are blessed to be sold , substituted for them ( without blessing in the usual way ) , and they The second is the decree Nuper ,t by which the Sacred Con- after they have been blessed , can ask the price of them from those person who buys crosses , images , Sec. , in order to distribute them what is called external attention , or guarding against external duties to whom they are given , without fault , and without the loss of the from the person to whom these objects belong , or the person who the devotion as a prayer in the sense of the Church . Unless the ing and intention of the Church , the indulgences would not be first receives them for use ; and if these be lost , others may not be communicating the indulgence at the same time ; if lent in this gregation , under penalty of the loss of the indulgences , strictly vocal prayers ; that is , the devoutly means saying the prayers with ray , these devotional objects will lose the indulgence . indulgences attached to rosaries , crosses , and other pious objects , in which we may include the crucifixes of the Stations , do not pass to crucifixes blessed with the indulgence of the Stations . These exercise be thus performed as a prayer according to the mean- ment ) . And the Sacred Congregation being asked , whether a affect objects of devotion in general , and which apply in particular that which is laid down for the saying of the Divine Office or other It may here be useful to call attention to two decrees which indulgences , gave the answer negative-No . First-The decree of Alexander VII , which declares that the gained . # Time sth. 7.2T. are : # February 6th. then appendix . 2 . t June 4th , 172r. --- Page 150 --- 285 284 Digitus Paternse dextense , Tu rite promissum Patris , Informa nostri corporis . Cum Spiritu Paraclito , Et Filio qui a mortuis . Deo Patri sit gloria , Pacemque does continue ; 5 . Hostem repellas longius , Infunde amorem cordibus , Teque utriusque Spiritum . Virtute firmans perpeti . 4 . Accende human sensibus , Ductore sic te praevio . Ejustice soil Filio . Noscamus atque Filium , trenovabis faciem terrae . 6 . Per te scianus da Patrem , Surrexit , ac Paraclito , Credamus omni tempore . mitte Spiritum tuim , et creabuntur . Vitemus come noxium . Sermone ditans guttura . 7 . Deo Patri sit gloria , Tempore Paschali : 3 . In septiformis munere , Nunc et per omne saeculum . Am In saecularum saecula . R. Amen . amen . --- Page 151 --- Ut nos lavaret sordibus , Electo digna stipite Statera facta corporis , Manavit under , et sanguine . corporis . Per Christum Dominum nostrum . Qua vita mortem pertulit , et Spiritus Sancti : at orantes , inclinantesque se propter David Adeli carmine , Dicendo nationibus : Et morte vitam protulit . Pretium dependit saeculi , Fulget crucis mysterious , Ornata regis purpura , Deum ante istas Cruces , inveniant sanitatem animas , et Tam sancta membra tangere . Mucrone diro , chiminum . Tulique praedam tartari . Regnavit a Igno Deus . Then is sung the following Arbor decora et fulgida , Que vulnerable lancese . Impleta sent , que concinit R. Amen . Vexilla Regis product , Beata , cujus brachiis . hymn . 0 0 # 287 --- Page 152 --- 289 Tam dignati pro me pati , Vidit Jesum in tormentis , Poenas medium divide . Et Hagellis subditum . Crucifixi Age plagas Cordi neo valide . Me sentire vim doloris . Fac , at team jugcam . In amando Christum Deum , Crucifixo condolere , Christi Matrem contemplated Ut sibi complaceam . Dum emisit spiritum . 6 . Quis non' posset contristari , Donec ego vixero . 7 . Pro peccatis suae gentis . Moriento desolatum , 8 . Vidit sum dulcem Natum 9 . Eia Mater fans amoris , Mr. Sancta Mater , istud agas , to . Fac ut ardeat com meum Dolentem cum Filio ? 13 . Fac me team pie flere , 12 . Tui Nati vulnerati , appendix . nlv to the end of this verse is sung at the ceremo ir. --- Page 153 --- 7 . Te gloriosus # Apostolorum chorus . 11 . Patrem # immense majestatis . 14 . Tu Rex # glorise , Christe . 3 . Tibi comes angeli , # tibi coeli , et universa potestates 19. Judex # crederis esse venturus . the Station , which is observed in erecting all the other 8 . Te Prophetarum # laudabilis numerous . then he reads the meditation and the prayers proper to 2 . To sternum' Patrem' # omnis terra veneratur . 4 . Tibi Cherubim et Seraphim # incessabili voce pro- 15 . Tu Patris # sempiternus es Fillius . 21 . Aterna fac cum Sanctis this # in gloria numerari . 9 . To Martyrum candidatus # laudat exercitus . haerediti tune . Stations ; which being finished , the following hymn is 13 . Sanctum # quoque Paraclitum Spiritum . pretioso sanguine redemisti . 10 . To per urban terrarum # sancta confitatur Ecclesia . 6 . Pleni sunt coeli et terra , # majestatis gloriae tune Virginia uterus . 12 . Venerandum tuum verum # et unicum Filium . 5 . Sanctus , Sanctus , Sanctus , # Dominus Deus Sabaoth 16 . Tu ad liberandum susceptible hominem , " non hormisti 18 . Tu ad dexteram Dei sides , in gloria Patris . 1 . Te Deum laudamus : " te Dominum confitemur . 22 . Salvum " face popular tuum , Domine , " et benedic 17 . Tu devicto mortis aculeo , " a peruisti credentials reg clamant : 20 . To ergo quasumus this families subveni , # quos coelorum . sung : 290 291 . --- Page 154 --- R. Et laudabilis et gloriosus in specula . 24 . Per singles dies # benedicimus te . admodum operatives in terms . R. Landemus , et-superoxaltemus sum in specula . donis gratias agimus : tuam semper clementiam exorantes ; ut qui petentibus postulata concedis , eosdem non deserens ad infinitus est thesaurus , piissime majestati tune pro collar Deus , enjoys misericordice non est numerus , et bonitalis V. Benedictus as Domine Deus patrum nostrorum praemia future disponas . Per Christam Dominum nostrum , 27 . Miserere nostri , Domine , " miserere nostri . saculi . V. Benedictamus Patrem et Filium , cum Sancto Spiritu . Oremus . 23 . Et rege eos , # et extolle illos usque in aet 28 . Fiat misericordia tea , Domine , super nos , # quem- 25 . Et laudamus nomen tuum in secularum , # et in speculum amen . 26 . Dignare , Domine , die into # since peccato nos custodire . 29 . In te , Domine , speravi , " non confunder in sternum . Two conclusion the priest blesses the beable with the cross . 1907 1910