Day 9 Penance Novena

NOVENA OF PENANCE : DAY 9

This page will consist of a variety of prayers, meditations, readings and penitential suggestions to help to spend the entire day in a true spirit of penance and reparation. Feel free to use whatever you want. Remember, though, penance is not sweet and the well-known axiom (as applied to food) is also true for spiritual exercises: "Bitter is better!" Do not read, or pray, or meditate all at once, just like you would not eat an entire day's quantity of food and drink at one sitting at one single meal. Spread it throughout the day as you would do with food. Remember, too, that it is no so much WHAT we do that primarily matters, but the LOVE that we do it with. More materials will be added throughout the day, so please continue to check the page later, or refresh it. All for the glory of God and for the salvation of souls. Our Lady, Refuge of sinners and Mother of mercy, pray for us!

THE HOLY ROSARY

Over the course of the Novena of Penance (9 days) each set of mysteries (Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious) will be said three times. The schedule will naturally be:

Friday, April 3rd: Joyful
Saturday April 4th: Sorrowful
Sunday April 5th: Glorious
Monday April 6th: Joyful
Tuesday April 7th: Sorrowful
Wednesday April 8th: Glorious
Holy Thursday April 9th: Joyful
Good Friday April 10th: Sorrowful
Holy Saturday April 11th: Glorious

THE JOYFUL
MYSTERIES

A short meditation for each mystery followed by 10 Scriptural quotes, one for each Hail Mary.
Read the meditation (out loud if with others) before praying the Our Father and Hail Marys.
Say the appropriate Scrpitural quote one before each Hail Mary.

1. THE ANNUNCIATION

Meditation:
The Angel Gabriel came with a message to Mary, that she was chosen to be the Mother of God. Yet it required her cooperation. She was ignorant of Holy Scripture and knew that the Messias would be a Man of Sorrows: “Despised, and the most abject of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with infirmity: and his look was as it were hidden and despised, whereupon we esteemed him not” (Isaias 53:3).

Similarly, the Angel of Portugal told the children at Fatima (and also to us by extension): “What are you doing? Pray! Pray a great deal! The Holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary have designs of mercy on you. Offer unceasingly prayers and sacrifice yourselves to the Most High. Make everything you do a sacrifice, and offer it to God as an act of reparation for the sins by which God is offended, and as a petition for the conversion of sinners. Above all, accept and bear with submission all the sufferings the Lord will send you. In this way, you will draw peace upon your country” (The Angel of Portugal).

Our Lady, when she later appeared in Mary of 1917, asked the children: “Are you willing to offer yourselves to God and bear all the sufferings He wills to send you, as an act of reparation for the conversion of sinners? … Then you are going to have much to suffer, but the grace of God will be your comfort!”

Are you willing to suffer for sin, suffer for sinners, suffer in order to get us out of this mess that we currently find ourselves in? Just as Our Lady's consent was required for the Incarnation, so too is your consent required for reparation to bring about a restoration. What will you answer be? "Be it done unto me according to thy word" ? Or will you decline and refuse the request.

Hail Mary Scripture Quotes:

1. And in the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent, from God, into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth.

2. He was sent to a Virgin espoused to a man, whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the Virgin’s name was Mary.

3. And the Angel, being come in, said unto her: “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee! Blessed art thou among women!”

4. Who, having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought within herself what manner of salutation this should be.

5. And the Angel said to her: “Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God!”

6. “Behold! Thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a Son; and thou shalt call His Name Jesus.”

7. “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of David, His father; and He shall reign in the House of Jacob for ever. And of His kingdom there shall be no end.”

8. And Mary said to the Angel: “How shall this be done, because I know not man?”

9. And the Angel, answering, said to her: “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. And, therefore also, the Holy, which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God.”

10. And Mary said: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord! Be it done unto me according to thy word!” And the Angel departed from her.

2. THE VISITATION

Meditation:

Zachary, a priest and father of St. John the Baptist brought a severe penance upon himself by disbelieving or rejecting the message that the Angel Gabriel brought to him while he was sacrificing in the Temple, namely, that Zachary and Elizabeth would cease to be barren and would conceive a child in their old age. As a consequence, he was punished by being struck dumb until the birth of that child--St. John the Baptist.

In a certain sense, we are dumb to ignore the many messages of Heaven, through Our Lady, which call us to "give spiritual birth" in our spiritually barren lives, to a spirt much like the spirit of St. John the Baptist--who was a precursor of the coming of Christ--whereas we are called to be precursors of the coming of the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

The problem is that we have gone AWOL (absent without leave), we have deserted our posts as soldiers of Christ. Unlike St. John the Baptist--who fled to desert to escape the world and do penance--we try to escape penance so that we can love the world! As St. John the Baptist said: "Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of penance!” (Matthew 3:8). If we don't then the words of Our Lord come into play: "Unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish!"  (Luke 13:3-5).

Hail Mary Scripture Quotes:

1. A priest, named Zachary, and his wife, Elizabeth, were both just before God, walking in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord without blame. And they had no son, for Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.

2. And it came to pass, when Zachary executed the priestly function, going into the Temple of the Lord in the order of his course before God, for it was his lot to offer incense, according to the custom of the priestly office. And all the multitude of the people was praying outside, at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zachary, seeing him, was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

3. The angel said to him: “Fear not, Zachary, for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice in his nativity. For he shall be great before the Lord; and shall drink no wine, nor strong drink: and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. And he shall convert many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias; that he may turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the incredulous to the wisdom of the just, to prepare unto the Lord a perfect people.”

4. Zachary said to the angel: “Whereby shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years!” And the angel answering, said to him: “I am Gabriel, who stands before God: and am sent to speak to thee, and to bring thee these good tidings. And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be able to speak until the day wherein these things shall come to pass, because thou hast not believed my words, which shall be fulfilled in their time!”

5. The people were waiting for Zachary; and they wondered that he tarried so long in the Temple. And when he came out, he could not speak to them―and they understood that he had seen a vision in the Temple. And he made signs to them, and remained dumb.

6. And it came to pass, after the days of his office were accomplished, he departed to his own house. And after those days, Elizabeth, his wife, conceived and hid herself five months, saying: “Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein He hath had regard to take away my reproach among men!”

7. And Mary, rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda. And she entered into the house of Zachary and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.

8. And Elizabeth cried out with a loud voice, and said: “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb! And whence is this to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leapt for joy! And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.”

9. And Mary said: “My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. Because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because He that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is His Name. And His mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear Him. He hath showed might in His arm: He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away. He hath received Israel His servant, being mindful of His mercy: as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His seed for ever.”

10. And Mary abode with her about three months; and she returned to her own house. Now Elizabeth’s full time of being delivered was come, and she brought forth a son. And her neighbors and kinsfolks heard that the Lord had showed His great mercy towards her, and they congratulated her.
And it came to pass, that, on the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child, and they called him by his father’s name―Zachary. And his mother answering, said: “Not so! But he shall be called John!” And they said to her: “There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name!” And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And demanding a writing table, he wrote, saying: “John is his name!”
And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came upon all their neighbors; and all these things were noised abroad, over all the hill country of Judea. And all they that had heard them, laid them up in their heart, saying: “What a one, think ye, shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him!”

3. THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD AT BETHLEHEM

Meditation:

The Creator of the Universe, the Creator of Heaven and Earth — "All things were made by him: and without him was made nothing that was made" (John 1:3) — that same Creator chose to become a mere man, a seemingly helpless baby even, and to be born into a life of poverty and "self-isolation" for the duration of His life on Earth.

Today, even most poor people in America, live like kings and queens in comparison to the King of Kings in his poverty. Today even the poor people have fairly comfortable houses, electricity and gas, plumbiing and indoor toilets, baths and showers, runnign water, water heaters, soft beds, glass windows, interior heating, air-conditioning, ceiling fans, cooking stove, refrigerator, microwave, dish washer, washing machine, clothes dryer, electical appliances, vacuum cleaner, cooking appliances, mixers, blenders, grinders, pots and pans, easy-chairs, sofas, TV, radio, computers, smartphones, an incredible choice of food and clothing in the stores and supermarkets, cars, motocycles, books, etc. etc.

Our Lord, the Creator of all things, had NONE of that! He even said: “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air nests―but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20). On antoher occasion he asked a rich young man to sell all his possessions, give the money to the poor and then to come and follow Him. “And when the young man had heard this word, he went away sad: for he had great possessions” (Matthew 19:22), which led Jesus to say to His followers: “Amen, I say to you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. And again I say to you: It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 19:23-24).

O how terribly attached we are to whatever riches we might have in this world. O yes, we may well think ourselves poor in relation to other people, but when we compare what we have to what Christ had, then we are "stinking rich"―there is no doubt about it!

Hail Mary Scripture Quotes:

1. And it came to pass, that in those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that the whole world should be enrolled. This enrolling was first made by Cyrinus, the governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, everyone into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem―because he was of the house and family of David―to be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with Child.

2. And it came to pass, that when they were there, her days were accomplished, that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him up in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

3. And there were, in the same country, shepherds watching and keeping the night watches over their flock. And, behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the brightness of God shone round about them; and they feared with a great fear. And the angel said to them: “Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy―that shall be to all the people!”

4. “For, this day, is born to you a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. And this shall be a sign unto you―you shall find the Infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger!” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God, and saying: “Glory to God in the highest; and on Earth peace to men of good will!”

5. And it came to pass, after the angels departed from them into Heaven, the shepherds said one to another: “Let us go over to Bethlehem, and let us see this word that is come to pass, which the Lord hath showed to us!” And they came with haste; and they found Mary and Joseph, and the Infant, lying in the manger. And seeing, they understood of the word that had been spoken to them concerning this Child. And all that heard, wondered at those things that were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God, for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

6. When Jesus therefore was born in Bethlehem of Juda, in the days of King Herod, behold, there came Wise Men from the East to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East, and are come to adore Him.”  And King Herod hearing this, was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And assembling together all the Chief Priests and the Scribes of the people, he inquired of them where Christ should be born. But they said to him: “In Bethlehem of Juda. For so it is written by the prophet: ‘And thou Bethlehem, the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come forth the Captain that shall rule My people Israel.’”

7. Then Herod, privately calling the Wise Men, learned diligently of them the time of the star, which appeared to them; and, sending them into Bethlehem, said: “Go and diligently inquire after the Child, and, when you have found Him, bring me word again, that I also may come to adore Him.” Who, having heard the king, went their way; and, behold, the star which they had seen in the East, went before them, until it came and stood over where the Child was. And, seeing the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And entering into the house, they found the Child with Mary His Mother, and falling down they adored Him; and opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts―gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And, having received an answer, in sleep, that they should not return to Herod, they went back another way into their country.

8. And, after they were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph, in his sleep, saying: “Arise, and take the Child and His Mother, and flee into Egypt: and be there until I shall tell thee! For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the Child to destroy Him.” Who arose, and took the Child and His Mother by night, and retired into Egypt: and he was there until the death of Herod―that it might be fulfilled, which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: “Out of Egypt have I called My Son.”

9. Then Herod, perceiving that he was deluded by the Wise Men, was exceedingly angry; and, sending soldiers, killed all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the Wise Men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet, saying:  “A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not!” But when Herod was dead, behold an angel of the Lord appeared, in Egypt, to Joseph in his sleep, saying: “Arise, and take the Child and His Mother, and go into the land of Israel. For they are dead that sought the life of the Child.”

10. Who arose, and took the Child and His Mother, and came into the land of Israel. But, hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea, in the room of Herod his father, he was afraid to go there―and, being warned in sleep, retired into the quarters of Galilee. And coming, he dwelt in a city called Nazareth― that it might be fulfilled which was said by prophets: “That He shall be called a Nazarene.”

4. THE PRESENTATION OF THE INFANT JESUS IN THE TEMPLE

Meditation:

According to the Mosaic law a mother who had given birth to a man-child was considered unclean for seven days; moreover she was to remain three and thirty days “in the blood of her purification”―for a maid-child the time which excluded the mother from sanctuary was even doubled. When the time (forty or eighty days) was over the mother was to “bring to the temple a lamb for a holocaust and a young pigeon or turtle dove for sin.” If she was not able to offer a lamb, she was to take two turtle doves or two pigeons; the priest prayed for her and so she was cleansed. (Leviticus 12:2-8). Forty days after the birth of Christ, Mary complied with this precept of the law, she redeemed her first-born from the temple (Numbers 18:15), and was purified by the prayer of Simeon the just, in the presence of Anna the prophetess (Luke 2:22 sqq.).

Our Lady was further “purified” by the painful prophecy of Simeon, who, in speaking of Jesus, said: “Behold this Child is set for the fall and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted! And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed!” (Luke 2:34-35). If this is said of the Christ―Who is our Head, the Head of the Mystical Body of Christ―then it must also indirectly apply to us, the members of the Mystical Body of Christ. We shall be contradicted, we shall be persecuted, we shall be the cause of the fall or the resurrection of many, we shall have our own hearts pierced by the sword of hatred and persecution. As our Head later said: “If the world hate you, know ye, that it hath hated Me before you!” (John 15:18). “If you had been of the world, the world would love its own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you!” (John 15:19). “The world hateth Me because I give testimony of it, that the works thereof are evil!” (John 7:7).

This is why the Apostles and disciples of Our Lord wrote in Holy Scripture: “Keep yourself unspotted from this world!” (James 1:27). “Be not conformed to this world” (Romans 12:2) … “That we be not condemned with this world!” (1 Corinthians 11:32). “For all that is in the world, is the concupiscence of the flesh, and the concupiscence of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is not of the Father, but is of the world!” (1 John 2:16). “Know you not that the friendship of this world is the enemy of God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of this world, becometh an enemy of God!” (James 4:4). “We have received not the spirit of this world, but the Spirit that is of God; that we may know the things that are given us from God! … Use this world, as if [you] used it not: for the fashion of this world passeth away!” (1 Corinthians 2:12; 7:31). “Love not the world, nor the things which are in the world. If any man love the world, the charity of the Father is not in him!” (1 John 2:15).

Is that our attitude? Is that how we live in relation to the world? Or are we immersed in the world and besotted by the world?

Hail Mary Scripture Quotes:

1. And after the days of her purification were accomplished, according to the law of Moses, they carried Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord―as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every male, opening the womb, shall be called holy to the Lord!”―and to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”

2. And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was in him.

3. And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. And he came by the Spirit into the Temple.

4. And when His parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the Law, Simeon also took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said: “Now Thou dost dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word in peace; because my eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples―a light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel!”

5. And His father and mother were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning Him.

6. And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother: “Behold this Child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted; and thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed.”

7. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; she was far advanced in years, and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity. And she was a widow for eighty-four years; who departed not from the Temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day.

8. Now she, at the same hour, coming in, confessed to the Lord; and spoke of Him to all that looked for the redemption of Israel.

9. And after they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their city Nazareth.

10. And the Child grew and waxed strong, full of wisdom; and the grace of God was in Him.

5. THE FINDING OF THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE

Meditation:

We read, in the Gospel, the short simple account of Mary and Joseph's mistaken presumption, that Jesus was with the other spouse or with friends and acquaintances. He wasn't! They had presumed so, but they were dead wrong! Similarly, in today’s world there are many who think or ‘feel’ that Jesus is with them, with their spouses, families, friends and acquaintances—but they are dead wrong! When they are dead and gone, it is only then that they will see how dead wrong they were. The Israelites, the Chosen People of God, presumed that God was with them and that everything was ‘hunky-dory’―“But with most of them God was not well pleased” (1 Corinthians 10:5).

If there could be said to be an underlying sin, other than pride, that infests the modern world today, then a very serious case can be made out against the sin of Presumption. Just about everyone presumes that they are going to Heaven—no matter what their life is like, no matter how much they sin. It is an anomaly to see sin increasing in the world by leaps and bounds; to see Catholics falling-away from going to Mass, Holy Communion and Confession—while at the same time we see this insane presumption, epitomized by our ‘funerals in white’, with talk of everyone being ‘saved’ and going to Heaven “in a jiffy” or “in a flash”, without even a thought of Purgatory, whereas Our Lady is telling us that many souls are going to Hell (and that was back in the less sinful days of 1917!!).

If we are so good that everyone is going to Heaven, why is Our Lady threatening us phrases like: “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth! God will exhaust His wrath upon them, and no one will be able to escape so many afflictions together. The society of men is on the eve of the most terrible scourges and of gravest events. Mankind must expect to be ruled with an iron rod and to drink from the chalice of the wrath of God”? Someone has got it all wrong! Either we are wrong in presuming we are so good, or God is wrong in presuming that we are so bad! Who are you going to believe? Yourself or Our Lady?

Hail Mary Scripture Quotes:

1. And His parents went every year to Jerusalem, at the solemn day of the Pasch.

2. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast.

3. And having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the Child Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and His parents knew it not.

4. And thinking that He was in the company of others, they came a day’s journey, and sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances. And not finding Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.

5. And it came to pass, that, after three days, they found Him in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard Him were astonished at His wisdom and His answers. And seeing Him, they wondered.

6. And His mother said to Him: “Son, why hast Thou done so to us? Behold Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing!”

7. And He said to them: “How is it that you sought Me? Did you not know, that I must be about My Father’s business?” And they understood not the word that He spoke unto them.

8. And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them.

9. And His Mother kept all these words in her heart.

10. And Jesus advanced in wisdom, and age, and grace with God and men.

THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES

1. THE AGONY OF OUR LORD IN THE GARDEN

Meditation:

Hail Mary Scripture Quotes:

1. And a hymn being said, going out, He went, according to His custom, to the Mount of Olives. He went forth over the brook Cedron and His disciples also followed Him. Then Jesus came with them into a country place, a farm which is called Gethsemane. And taking with Him Peter and James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, He said to His disciples: “Sit you here, till I go yonder and pray!” And He began to fear and to be heavy, and grow sorrowful and to be sad. Then He said to them: “My soul is sorrowful even unto death: stay you here, and watch with Me!”

2. And when He was gone forward a little, and was withdrawn away from them a stone’s cast, He fell upon His face, flat on the ground; and He prayed, that if it might be, the hour might pass from Him, saying: “My Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from Me--remove this chalice from Me! Nevertheless, not My will, but Thine be done!”

3. And He cometh to His disciples and findeth them asleep, and He saith to Peter: “What! Could you not watch one hour with Me? Watch ye, and pray that ye enter not into temptation! The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh weak!”

4. Again the second time, He went and prayed, saying: “My Father, if this chalice may not pass away, but I must drink it, Thy will be done!” And He cometh again and findeth them sleeping―for their eyes were heavy and they knew not what to answer Him.

5. And leaving them, He went again and He prayed the third time, saying the same words. And there appeared to Him an angel from Heaven, strengthening Him. And, being in an agony, He prayed the longer. And His sweat became as drops of blood, trickling down upon the ground.
And when He rose up from prayer, and was come to His disciples, He found them sleeping for sorrow and saith to them: “Sleep ye now and take your rest! It is enough! Behold the hour is at hand, and the Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of sinners!  Rise! Let us go! Behold he is at hand that will betray Me!”

6. And while He was yet speaking, behold, Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, came―and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs―sent from the Chief Priests and the Ancients of the people. Judas, who betrayed Him, knew the place; because Jesus had often visited there―together with His disciples. Judas, therefore, having received a band of soldiers and servants from the Chief Priests and the Pharisees, cometh there with lanterns and torches and weapons.
And he, that betrayed Him, gave them a sign, saying: “Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is He! Hold Him fast and lead Him away carefully!” And forthwith coming to Jesus, and immediately going up to Him, he said: “Hail, Rabbi!” And he kissed Him. And Jesus said to him: “Friend, whereto art thou come? Judas, dost thou betray the Son of man with a kiss?”

7. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth, and said to them: “Whom seek ye?” They answered Him: “Jesus of Nazareth!” Jesus saith to them: “I am He!” And Judas also, who betrayed Him, stood with them. As soon, therefore, as He had said to them: “I am He”, they went backward, and fell to the ground. Again, therefore, He asked them: “Whom seek ye?” And they said: “Jesus of Nazareth!”  Jesus answered: “I have told you that I am He! If therefore you seek Me, let these go their way!” That the word might be fulfilled which He said: “Of them whom Thou hast given Me, I have not lost any one” Then they came up, and laid hands on Jesus, and held Him.

8. And they, that were about Him, seeing what would follow, said to Him: “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And, behold, one of them that was with Jesus, Simon Peter, having a sword, stretching forth his hand, drew out his sword and struck the servant of the High Priest and cut off his right ear. And the name of the servant was Malchus.
Then Jesus saith to him: “Put up thy sword into the scabbard! For all that take the sword shall perish with the sword! The chalice which My Father hath given Me―shall I not drink it? Thinkest thou that I cannot ask My Father, and He will give Me presently more than twelve legions of angels? How then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that so it must be done? Suffer ye thus far!”  But when Jesus had touched his ear, He healed him.

9. And Jesus said―to the Chief Priests, Magistrates of the Temple and the Ancients, that were come unto Him: “You are come out as it were to a robber, with swords and clubs, to apprehend Me! I sat daily with you, teaching in the Temple, and you laid not hands on Me! But this is your hour and the power of darkness!”
Now all this was done, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then the disciples, all leaving Him, fled away. And a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and they laid hold on him. But he, casting off the linen cloth, fled from them naked.

10. Then the band and the tribune, and the servants of the Jews, apprehending and holding Jesus, bound Him and led Him away to Annas first, for he was father-in-law to Caiphas, who was the High Priest of that year, and then to Caiphas, where the Scribes and the Ancients were assembled. But Peter followed afar off.

2. THE SCOURGING OF OUR LORD AT THE PILLAR

Meditation:

Hail Mary Scripture Quotes:

1. And when morning was come, all Chief Priests holding a consultation with the Ancients of the people and the Scribes and the whole Council, took counsel against Jesus, that they might put Him to death. And the whole multitude of them, rising up, binding Jesus, led Him away from Caiphas to the governor’s hall and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor. They went not into the hall, that they might not be defiled, but that they might eat the Pasch.

2. Pilate, therefore, went out to them, and said: “What accusation bring you against this Man?”
They answered and said to him: “If He were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered Him up to thee!” And they began to accuse Him, saying: “We have found this Man perverting our nation, and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that He is Christ the King!”

3. And when He was accused by the Chief Priests and Ancients, He answered nothing.
Then Pilate saith to Him: “Dost not Thou hear how great testimonies they allege against Thee?”
And He answered him not a word; so that the governor wondered.
And Pilate again asked Him, saying: “Answerest Thou nothing? Behold in how many things they accuse Thee!”
But Jesus still answered nothing; so that Pilate wondered exceedingly.

4. Pilate therefore said to them: “Take Him you, and judge Him according to your law!”
The Jews therefore said to him: “It is not lawful for us to put any man to death!” That the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which He said, signifying what death He should die. But they were more earnest, saying: “He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.”
But Pilate, hearing “Galilee”, asked if the Man were of Galilee. And when he understood that He was of Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him away to Herod, who was also at Jerusalem in those days.

5. And Herod, seeing Jesus, was very glad; for he was desirous of a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things of Him; and he hoped to see some sign wrought by Him. And he questioned Him in many words.
But He answered him nothing.
And the Chief Priests and the Scribes stood by, earnestly accusing Him. And Herod, with his army, set Him at nought, and mocked Him, putting on Him a white garment, and sent Him back to Pilate.
And Herod and Pilate were made friends that same day; for, before, they were enemies one to another.

6. And Pilate, calling together the Chief Priests, and the Magistrates, and the people, said to them: “You have presented unto me this Man, as one that perverts the people; and, behold I, having examined Him before you, find no cause in this Man, in those things wherein you accuse Him. No, nor Herod neither! For I sent you to him, and behold, nothing worthy of death is done to Him!”
But they cried again, saying: “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”
And he said to them again: “Why? What evil hath this Man done? I find no cause of death in Him. I will chastise Him therefore, and let Him go!”
But they cried again, saying: “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

7. Pilate, therefore, went into the hall again, and called Jesus. And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked Him, saying: “Art Thou the king of the Jews?”
Jesus answered: “Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or have others told it thee of Me?”
Pilate answered: “Am I a Jew? Thy own nation, and the Chief Priests, have delivered Thee up to me! What hast Thou done?”

8. Jesus answered: “My kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, My servants would certainly strive that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now My Kingdom is not from hence.”
Pilate therefore said to Him: “Art Thou a king then?”
Jesus answered: “Thou sayest that I am a king. For this was I born, and for this came I into the world―that I should give testimony to the truth. Everyone that is of the truth, heareth My voice!”
Pilate saith to Him: “What is truth?”

9. And when Pilate said this, he went out again to the Jews, and saith to them: “I find no cause in Him! But you have a custom that I should release one unto you at the Pasch! Will you, therefore, that I release unto you the King of the Jews?”
Then they all cried again, saying: “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.
Pilate said to them: “What shall I do then with Jesus, that is called Christ?”
They
all said: “Let Him be crucified!”
The governor said to them: “Why? What evil hath He done?”
But they cried out the more, saying: “Let Him be crucified!”
And the whole people answering, said: “His blood be upon us and our children!”

10. But they insisted with loud voices, requiring that He might be crucified; and their voices prevailed. And Pilate seeing that he prevailed nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, taking water, washed his hands before the people, saying: “I am innocent of the Blood of this just Man―look you to it!”
And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. And he released unto them Barabbas, whom they had desired―who, for murder and sedition, had been cast into prison; but he had Jesus scourged and delivered up to their will.

3. THE CROWNING OF OUR LORD WITH THORNS

Meditation:

Hail Mary Scripture Quotes:

1. Then the soldiers of the governor led Jesus away into the hall, the court of the palace, and they called together unto Him the whole band; and stripping Him, they put a scarlet cloak about Him.

2. And plaiting a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand.

3. And they began to salute Him, and, bowing the knee before Him, they adored Him. And they mocked Him, saying: “Hail, King of the Jews!”

4. And they took the reed and struck His Head with the reed. And they did spit on Him and they gave Him blows.

5. And after they had mocked Him, they took off the purple cloak from Him, and put on Him His own garments, and led Him back to Pilate.

6. Pilate therefore went forth again, and said to them: “Behold, I bring Him forth unto you, that you may know that I find no cause in Him!” Jesus therefore came forth, bearing the crown of thorns. And Pilate said to them: “Behold the Man!” When the Chief Priests, therefore, and the servants had seen Him, they cried out, saying: “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

7. Pilate said to them: “Take Him you, and crucify Him! For I find no cause in Him!”
The Jews answered him: “We have a law; and according to the law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God!” When Pilate therefore had heard this saying, he feared the more. And he entered into the hall again, and he said to Jesus: “Whence art Thou?” But Jesus gave him no answer.

8. Pilate therefore said to Him: “Speakest Thou not to me? Knowest Thou not that I have power to crucify Thee, and I have power to release Thee?”
Jesus answered: “Thou shouldst not have any power against Me, unless it were given thee from above. Therefore, he that hath delivered Me to thee, hath the greater sin!”

9. And from henceforth Pilate sought to release Him. But the Jews cried out, saying: “If thou release this Man, thou art not Caesar’s friend! For whosoever maketh himself a king, speaketh against Caesar!”
Now when Pilate had heard these words, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat, in the place that is called Lithostrotos, and in Hebrew Gabbatha. And it was the Parasceve of the Pasch, about the sixth hour, and he said to the Jews: “Behold your King!” But they cried out: “Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!”

10. Pilate said to them: “Shall I crucify your King?” The Chief Priests answered: “We have no king but Caesar!” Then, therefore, he delivered Him to them to be crucified. And they took Jesus and led Him forth.

4. OUR LORD CARRIES HIS CROSS TO CALVARY

Meditation:

Hail Mary Scripture Quotes:

“And bearing His own Cross, He went forth to that place which is called Calvary, but in Hebrew, Golgotha” (John 19:17).

1. And after they had mocked Him, they took off the cloak from Him, and put on Him His own garments, and led Him away to crucify Him.

2. And bearing His own Cross, He went forth to that place which is called “Calvary”―but in Hebrew, “Golgotha.”

3. And there were also two other malefactors, led with Him, to be put to death.

4. And going out, they found a man named Simon, who passed by, coming out of the country of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and of Rufus. And they forced Simon to take up His Cross.

5. And there followed Him a great multitude of people, and of women, who bewailed and lamented Him.

6. But Jesus turning to them, said: “Daughters of Jerusalem! Weep not over Me; but weep for yourselves, and for your children! For behold, the days shall come, wherein they will say: ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not borne, and the paps that have not given suck!’”

7. Jesus said to them: “Then shall they begin to say to the mountains: ‘Fall upon us!’ and to the hills: ‘Cover us!’ For if in the green wood they do these things, what shall be done in the dry?”

8. Pilate wrote a title, also, and he put it upon the Cross. And the writing was: “Jesus of Nazareth, The King of the Jews.”

9. This title, therefore, many of the Jews did read―because the place where Jesus was crucified was near to the city―and it was written in Hebrew, in Greek, and in Latin.

10. Then the Chief Priests of the Jews said to Pilate: “Write not, ‘The King of the Jews’; but that He said, ‘I am the King of the Jews’!” Pilate answered: “What I have written, I have written!”

5. THE CRUCIFIXION AND DEATH OF OUR LORD

Meditation:

Hail Mary Scripture Quotes:

“And it was the third hour, and they crucified Him” (Mark 15:26).

1. And it was the third hour when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, they crucified Him there. And Jesus said: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!” The soldiers, therefore, when they had crucified Him, took and divided His garments, and they made four parts, to every soldier a part, and also His coat. Now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.
They said then one to another: “Let us not cut it, but let us cast lots for it, whose it shall be!” that the Scripture might be fulfilled, saying: “They divided My garments among them; and upon My vesture they cast lots.” And the soldiers indeed did these things.

2. And they put over His head the written inscription of His cause: “This is Jesus the King of the Jews.” And with Him they crucified two thieves; the one robber on His right hand, and the other on His left, so that the Scripture was fulfilled, which saith: “And with the wicked He was reputed.” And they sat and watched Him.

3. And they that passed by, blasphemed Him, wagging their heads, and saying: “Vah! Thou that destroyest the Temple of God, and in three days dost rebuild it! Save Thy own self! If Thou be the Son of God, come down from the Cross!”
In like manner also the Chief Priests, with the Scribes and Ancients, mocking, said: “He saved others; Himself He cannot save! Let Christ the King of Israel come down now from the Cross! If He be the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the Cross, that we may see and believe! He trusted in God; let Him now deliver Him if He will have Him! For He said: ‘I am the Son of God!’ He saved others; Himself He cannot save!”
And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming to Him and offering Him vinegar, and saying: “If Thou be the King of the Jews, save Thyself!”
And the self-same thing the thieves, that were crucified with Him, also reproached Him with and reviled Him.

4. And one of those robbers, who were hanged, blasphemed Him, saying: “If Thou be Christ, save Thyself and us!” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying: “Neither dost thou fear God, seeing thou art condemned under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man hath done no evil!” And he said to Jesus: “Lord! Remember me when Thou shalt come into Thy Kingdom!”
And Jesus said to him: “Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with Me in paradise!”
And it was almost the sixth hour.

5. Now there stood by the Cross of Jesus, His Mother, and His Mother’s sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen. When Jesus, therefore, had seen His Mother and the disciple standing, whom He loved, He saith to His Mother: “Woman, behold thy son!” After that, He saith to the disciple: “Behold thy Mother!” And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own.

6. And when the sixth hour was come, the sun was darkened and there was darkness over the whole Earth until the ninth hour. And, about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying: “Eli, Eli, lamma sabacthani?” That is: “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” And some that stood there and heard, said: “Behold, this Man calleth Elias!” And the others said: “Let be! Let us see whether Elias will come to deliver Him!”

7. Afterwards, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said: “I thirst!” Now there was a vessel set there, full of vinegar. And immediately, one of them running, took a sponge and filled it with vinegar and hyssop and put it on a reed. And they, putting a sponge full of vinegar and hyssop, put it to His mouth and gave Him to drink. Jesus, therefore, when He had taken the vinegar, said: “It is consummated!””

8. And Jesus, again crying with a loud voice, said: “Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit!” And after saying this, bowing His head, He gave up the ghost. And the veil of the Temple was rent in two, from the top to the bottom. And the centurion, who stood over against Him, seeing that, crying out in this manner, He had given up the ghost, seeing what was done, glorified God, saying:  “Indeed this was a just Man! Indeed this Man was the Son of God!” And all the multitude of them that were come together to that sight, and saw the things that were done, returned striking their breasts.

9.Then the Jews, because it was the Parasceve, that the bodies might not remain on the Cross on the Sabbath day—for, at the time of the Pasch or Passover, it was a great Sabbath day—besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. The soldiers, therefore, came; and they broke the legs of the first and of the other, that was crucified with Him.
But after they were come to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers, with a spear, opened His side, and immediately there came out blood and water. For these things were done, that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “You shall not break a bone of Him.”  And again another Scripture saith: “They shall look on Him Whom they pierced.” And he that saw it, hath given testimony, and his testimony is true. And he knoweth that he saith true; that you also may believe.

10. And all His acquaintances, and the women that had followed Him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things. Among whom was Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joseph, and Salome: who, also, when He was in Galilee, followed Him, and ministered to Him, and many other women that came up with Him to Jerusalem.
And when evening was now come, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a noble counsellor, who was also himself looking for the Kingdom of God, came and went in boldly to Pilate and begged the Body of Jesus. But Pilate wondered that He should be already dead. And sending for the centurion, he asked him if He were already dead. And when he had understood it by the centurion, he gave the Body to Joseph. And Joseph, buying fine linen and taking Him down, wrapped Him up in the fine linen, and laid Him in a sepulcher, which was hewed out of a rock. And he rolled a stone to the door of the sepulcher. And Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of Joseph, beheld where He was laid.

THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES

1. THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD FROM THE DEAD

Meditation:

Hail Mary Scripture Quotes:

1. And when the Sabbath was past, when it began to dawn towards the first day of the week, there was a great earthquake. For an angel of the Lord descended from Heaven, and coming, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. And his countenance was as lightning, and his raiment as snow. And for fear of him, the guards were struck with terror, and became as dead men. Later the guards came into the city, and told the Chief Priests all things that had been done. And they, being assembled together with the Ancients, taking counsel, gave a great sum of money to the soldiers, saying: “Say you: ‘His disciples came by night, and stole Him away when we were asleep!’ And if the governor shall hear this, we will persuade him, and secure you!” So they, taking the money, did as they were taught: and this word was spread abroad among the Jews―even unto this day.

2. Very early in the morning Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought sweet spices, so that, coming to see the sepulcher, they might anoint Jesus. Mary Magdalen came first unto the sepulcher, when it was yet dark; and she saw the stone taken away from the sepulcher. She ran, therefore, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith to them: “They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, and we know not where they have laid Him!”

3. Meanwhile, with the sun being now risen, the other women arrived at the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they said one to another: “Who shall roll us back the stone from the door of the sepulcher?” For it was very great. And looking, they saw the stone rolled back. And entering into the sepulcher, they found not the Body of the Lord Jesus. They saw a young man, sitting on the right side, clothed with a white robe―and they were astonished. They were afraid and bowed down, their countenance towards the ground. And the angel answering, said to the women: “Be not afraid! For I know that you seek Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified! Why seek you the living with the dead? He is not here, but is risen. Remember how He spoke unto you, when He was in Galilee, saying: ‘The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again!’ He is risen! He is not here! Come, and see the place where the Lord was laid. Now go quickly, tell His disciples and Peter that He will go before you into Galilee; there you shall see Him, as He told you!”

4. But they going out, fled from the sepulcher with fear and great joy, running to tell His disciples. For a trembling and fear had seized them: and they said nothing to any man; for they were afraid. And going back from the sepulcher, they told all these things to the Eleven, and to all the rest. And these words seemed to them as idle tales; and they did not believe them.

5. In the meantime, Peter went out, and that other disciple, and they came to the sepulcher. And they both ran together, and that other disciple did outrun Peter and came first to the sepulcher. And when he stooped down, he saw the linen cloths lying; but yet he went not in. Then cometh Simon Peter, following him, and went into the sepulcher, and saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin that had been about His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but apart, wrapped up into one place. Then that other disciple also went in, who came first to the sepulcher, and he saw and believed. For, as yet, they knew not the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. The disciples therefore departed again to their home.

6. Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalen, out of whom He had cast seven devils. Mary, having returned again to the sepulcher, stood outside, weeping. Now as she was weeping, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher, and she saw two angels in white, sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the Body of Jesus had been laid.
They said to her: “Woman, why weepest thou?”
She said to them: “Because they have taken away my Lord; and I know not where they have laid Him!”
When she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing; and she knew not that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her: “Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?”
She, thinking it was the gardener, saith to Him: “Sir, if Thou hast taken Him out of here, tell me where Thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away!”
Jesus said to her: “Mary!”
She, turning, said to Him: “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Master).
Jesus said to her: “Do not touch Me! For I am not yet ascended to My Father! But go to My brethren and say to them: ‘I ascend to My Father and to your Father, to My God and your God!’” Mary Magdalen went and told the disciples: “I have seen the Lord! And these things He said to me!”

7. In the meantime, Jesus met the women, saying: “All hail!” But they came up and took hold of His feet, and adored Him. Then Jesus said to them: “Fear not! Go, tell My brethren that they go into Galilee, there they shall see Me!”
The women told these things to the Apostles. And these words seemed to them as idle tales; and they did not believe them. And they hearing that He was alive, and had been seen, did not believe. And after that He appeared in another shape to two of them walking, as they were going into the country. And they going told it to the rest: neither did they believe them. At length He appeared to the Eleven as they were at table: and He upbraided them with their incredulity and hardness of heart, because they did not believe them who had seen Him after He was risen again.

8. Two disciples, the same day, walked to a town which was sixty furlongs from Jerusalem, named Emmaus. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And while they talked and reasoned, Jesus Himself joined them. But their eyes were held, that they should not know Him.
And He said to them: “What are you talking about and why are you so sad?”
And Cleophas said to Him: “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, and how our Chief Priests and princes delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. We hoped, that it was He that should have redeemed Israel! Today is the third day since these things were done and some women of our company, who were at the sepulcher, and not finding His body, came and frightened us, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, who say that He is alive!”

9. Then Jesus said to them: “O foolish, and slow of heart to believe in all things which the prophets have spoken! Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and so to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded to them, in all the Scriptures, the things that were concerning Him.
And as they drew near to the town where they were going, they constrained Him; saying: “Stay with us, because it is towards evening, and the day is now far spent!” And He went in with them. And it came to pass, whilst He was at table with them, He took bread, and blessed, and broke, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him: and He vanished out of their sight.
And they said one to the other: “Was not our heart burning within us, whilst He spoke in this way, and opened to us the Scriptures?” And rising up, the same hour, they went back to Jerusalem: and they found the Eleven gathered together, and those that were staying with them, saying: “The Lord is risen indeed!”

10. Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, who is called “Didymus”, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him: “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them: “Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe!” And, after eight days again His disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said: “Peace be to you!” Then he saith to Thomas: “Put in thy finger here, and see My hands; and bring here thy hand, and put it into My side―and be not faithless, but believing!” Thomas answered, and said to Him: “My Lord, and my God!” Jesus saith to him: “Because thou hast seen Me, Thomas, thou hast believed! Blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed!”

2. THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD INTO HEAVEN

Meditation:

Hail Mary Scripture Quotes:

1. And the Eleven Disciples went into Galilee, and Jesus led them out as far as Bethania, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And seeing Him they adored: but some doubted.

2. They, therefore, who were come together, asked Him, saying: “Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” And Jesus, spoke to them, saying: “It is not for you to know the times or moments, which the Father hath put in His own power.”

3. And Jesus said to them: “All power is given to Me in Heaven and in Earth. But you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost parts of the Earth. Go ye into the whole world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. Teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”

4. “He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be condemned.”

5. “And these signs shall follow them that believe—In My Name they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay their hands upon the sick, and they shall recover.”

6. “Behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world!”

7. And the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, lifting up His hands, He blessed them. And it came to pass, whilst He blessed them, He departed from them, and was carried up to Heaven while they looked on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. He now sitteth on the right hand of God.

8. And while they were beholding Him going up to Heaven, behold two men stood by them, in white garments, who also said: “Ye men of Galilee, why stand you looking up to Heaven? This Jesus, Who is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come, as you have seen Him going into Heaven!”

9. Then they adoring went back from the mount, which is near Jerusalem, that is called Olivet, and with great joy returned to Jerusalem, which is within a Sabbath day’s journey.

10. And when they reached Jerusalem, they went up into an upper room, where abode Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Jude the brother of James. All these were persevering with one mind in prayer with the women, and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and with His brethren.

3. THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY GHOST AT PENTECOST

Meditation:

Hail Mary Scripture Quotes:

1. And when the days of the Pentecost were accomplished, they were all together in one place.

2. And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven, as of a mighty wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

3. And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them.

4. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak.

5. And when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded in mind, because that every man heard them speak in his own tongue.

6. And they were all amazed and astonished, and wondered, saying one to another: “What meaneth this?” But others mocking, said: “These men are full of new wine!”

7. But Peter standing up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke to them: “Ye men of Judea, and all you that dwell in Jerusalem, be this known to you, and with your ears receive my words! For these are not drunk, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day!”

8. “Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man approved of God among you, by miracles, and wonders, and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you―as you also know. This same Being delivered up, by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you, by the hands of wicked men, have crucified and slain. Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the sorrows of Hell, as it was impossible that He should be held by it.

9. When they had heard these things, they had compunction in their heart, and said to Peter, and to the rest of the Apostles: “What shall we do, men and brethren?” But Peter said to them: “Do penance, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins―and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost! The promise is to you, your children and to all that are far off, whomsoever the Lord our God shall call!”

10. And with very many other words did he testify and exhort them, saying: “Save yourselves from this perverse generation!” They, therefore, that received his word, were baptized; and there were added in that day about three thousand souls. And they were persevering in the doctrine of the Apostles, and in the communication of the breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul―many wonders also and signs were done by the Apostles in Jerusalem, and there was great fear in all. And all they that believed, were together, and had all things common. Their possessions and goods they sold, and divided them to all, according as everyone had need.

4. THE ASSUMPTION OF OUR LADY INTO HEAVEN

Meditation:

Hail Mary Scripture Quotes:

1. “Lift up your eyes to Heaven” (Isaias 51:6).

2. “Look up to Heaven and see, and behold the sky, that it is higher than thee” (Job 35:5).

3. “They shall make themselves wings like those of an eagle, and shall fly towards Heaven” (Proverbs 23:5).

4. “Who mounteth above the Heaven of Heaven” (Psalm 67:34).

5. “If I ascend into Heaven, Thou art there” (Psalm 138:8).

6. “And He had commanded the clouds from above, and had opened the doors of Heaven” (Psalm 77:23).

7. “God give thee the dew of Heaven” (Genesis 27:28).

8. “Then hear thou from Heaven, and do justice to thy servants” (2 Paralipomenon 6:23).

9. “Hear thou from Heaven their prayers and their supplications” (2 Paralipomenon 6:35).

10. “Hear thou from thy dwelling place, that is, from Heaven, and show mercy!” (2 Paralipomenon 6:21).

5. THE CORONATION OF OUR LADY IN HEAVEN

Meditation:

Hail Mary Scripture Quotes:

1. “Be thou faithful until death―and I will give thee the crown of life!” (Apocalypse 2:10).

2. “When the Prince of pastors shall appear, you shall receive a never fading crown of glory” (1 Peter 5:4).

3. “Behold, I come quickly! Hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown!” (Apocalypse 3:11).

4. “Thou shalt put her on as a robe of glory, and thou shalt set her upon thee as a crown of joy” (Ecclesiasticus 6:32).

5. “God will clothe thee with the double garment of justice, and will set a crown on thy head of everlasting honor” (Baruch 5:2).

6. “Thou shalt be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God” (Isaias 62:3).

7. “That thou mayest receive a crown as an ornament of grace” (Ecclesiasticus 32:3).

8. “And a great sign appeared in Heaven―a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (Apocalypse 12:1).

9. “With the crown set upon her head, to show her beauty to all … for she was exceedingly beautiful” (Esther 1:11).

10. “A jewel upon thy forehead and earrings in thy ears, and a beautiful crown upon thy head” (Ezechiel 16:12).

BACK TO (THE) JOB

“Why is light given to him that is in misery, and life to them that are in bitterness of soul? That look for death, and it cometh not, as they that dig for a treasure: And they rejoice exceedingly when they have found the grave. To a man whose way is hidden, and God hath surrounded him with darkness?” (Job 3.20-26)

The Suffering Servant
Yesterday we heard Job say: “Why did I not die at birth, come forth from the womb and expire?”

Your sufferings are real. They are devastating, horrific; they consume you! And no one understands. They do not enter the depth of your suffering. They cannot. You are alone in it. It is a suffering like unto no other, and none understands. You wait for it to pass, but it lingers. The broken heart, the shattered body, day and night they torment you and give you no rest. Your agony has made life senseless and, like Job, you either lament the day you were born, or yearn for the day of your death.

Job had his tormentors who convicted him of sin; you have yours who convict you of weakness and self-pity. Neither understand. Perhaps they never will. Desperately you look around, and find that there are none to deliver you: all have fled ... and those who remain torment you. You did not choose this suffering – despite all that you are told by your “consolers” and detractors. As if the pain were not great enough of itself, humiliation is heaped upon you.

You are hanging with Christ on the Cross
The world does not understand you any more than it understood Christ. You are told that God wills it, but He does not. You are told that it will pass, but it does not. You are told every lie that will conceal the scandal of the enormity of your suffering from those who see themselves in you — and fear it. It could be them — and they know it. You are an unwilling sign to the world ... and it flees you! You cry out to God ... and even God Himself seems heedless of you; your prayers vain orisons in a starless night.

You question Him. You question the world. You question yourself. And in the end you question life. That you should long for an end to all things is not, as those who do not grieve would tell you, “pathological” – it is understandable. It is not death that you seek, but acquittal ... just as Job did:

“For then I should have lain down and been tranquil; had I slept, I should then have been at rest with kings and counselors of the earth who built where now there are ruins ...”

But God did not bring this upon you. You may have no inkling of what has. Things are in motion in this world over which you have no control, but in which you have a part.

Suffering is Redemptive
At the moment it seems ignominious. You have been nailed to the Cross with Christ. Willingly or not, you are participating in that redemptive suffering. If you embrace it in Christ it becomes meaningful, even salvific. If you do not, you must bear it no less and to no purpose.

You cannot escape it. Not now. Not yet. It is not of your choosing — but you can choose what to do with it. You can unite your suffering to the suffering of Christ on the Cross and make it redemptive. Or you can suffer it alone and to no end.

Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane did not want it either. He understands you, and you come to understand that, in the end and despite all appearances, you are not alone.

But He chose to take your suffering upon Himself — for you ... All that remains to you right now is this: Will you now choose Christ, as He chose you?

ARE YOU A FRIEND OF THE CROSS
Part 2

taken from "Letter to Friends of the Cross" by St. Louis de Montfort

Dear Brethren, these are the two groups that appear before you each day, the followers of Christ and the followers of the world.

Our loving Savior’s group is to the right, scaling a narrow path made all the narrower by the world’s corruption. Our kind Master is in the lead, barefooted, thorn-crowned, robed in His blood and weighted with a heavy cross. There is only a handful of people who follow Him, but they are the bravest of the brave. His gentle voice is not heard above the tumult of the world, or men do not have the courage to follow Him in poverty, suffering, humiliation and in the other crosses His servants must bear all the days of their life.

THE OPPOSING SPIRIT OF THE GROUPS

To the left is the world’s group, the devil’s in fact, which is far superior in number, and seemingly far more colorful and splendid in array. Fashionable folk are all in a hurry to enlist, the highways are overcrowded, although they are broad and ever broadening with the crowds that flow through in a torrent. These roads are strewn with flowers, bordered with all kinds of amusements and attractions and paved with gold and silver (Matthew 7:13-14).

To the right, the little flock that follows Jesus can speak only of tears, penance, prayer and contempt for worldly things. Sobbing in their grief, they can be heard repeating: “Let us suffer, let us weep, let us fast, let us pray, let us hide, let us humble ourselves, let us be poor, let us mortify ourselves, for he who has not the spirit of Christ, the spirit of the Cross, is none of Christ’s. Those who are Christ’s have crucified their flesh with its concupiscence. We must be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ or else be damned!” “Be brave,” they keep saying to each other, “be brave, for if God is for us, in us and leading us, who dare be against us? The One Who is dwelling within us is stronger than the one who is in the world, no servant is above his master; one moment of light tribulation worketh an eternal weight of glory; there are fewer elect than man may think; only the brave and daring take Heaven by storm, the crown is given only to those who strive lawfully according to the Gospel, not according to the fashion of the world. Let us put all our strength into the fight, and run very fast to reach the goal and win the crown." Friends of the Cross spur each other on with such divine words.

Worldlings, on the contrary, rouse one another to persist in their unscrupulous depravity. “Enjoy life, peace and pleasure,” they shout, “Enjoy life, peace and pleasure. Let us eat, let us drink, let us sing, let us dance, let us play. God is good, He did not make us to damn us, God does not forbid us to enjoy ourselves; we shall not be damned for that; away with scruples; we shall not die.” And so they continue.

THE LOVING APPEAL OF JESUS

Dear Brethren, remember that our beloved Jesus has His eyes upon you at this moment, addressing you individually: “See how almost everybody leaves Me practically alone on the royal road of the Cross. Blind idol-worshipers sneer at My Cross and brand it folly. Obstinate Jews are scandalized at the sight of it as at some monstrosity (1 Corinthians 1:23). Heretics tear it down and break it to pieces out of sheer contempt. But one thing I cannot say without My eyes filling with tears and My heart being pierced with grief, is that the very children I nourished in My bosom and trained in My school, the very members I quickened with My spirit, have turned against Me, forsaken Me and joined the ranks of the enemies of My Cross (Isaias 1:2; Philippians 3:18). Would you also leave Me? (John 6:68). Would you also forsake me and flee from My Cross, like the worldlings, who are acting as so many Anti-Christs? (1 John 2:12). Would you subscribe to the standards of the day (Rom. 12:2), despise the poverty of My Cross and go in quest of riches, shun the sufferings connected with My Cross, to run after pleasure and spurn the humiliations that must be borne with My Cross, and pursue worldly honors? There are many who pretend that they are friends of Mine and love Me, but in reality they hate Me, because they have no love for My Cross. I have many friends of My table, but few indeed of My Cross.” (Imitation of Jesus Christ, Book 2, Chap. 11.)

In answer to the gracious invitation which Jesus extends, let us rise above ourselves. Let us not, like Eve, listen to the insidious suggestion of sense. Let us look up to the unique Author and Finisher of our faith, Jesus crucified (Hebrews 12:2). Let us fly from the corrupting concupiscence and enticements of a corrupt world (2 Peter 1:4). Let us love Jesus in the right way, standing by Him through the heaviest of crosses. Let us meditate seriously on these remarkable words of our beloved Master which sum up the Christian life in its perfection: “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24).

LUKEWARMNESS THE KRYPTONITE FOR PENANCE

GROWTH IN HOLINESS by Father Frederick Faber
Chapter 25 - LUKEWARMNESS

Bellecio in his treatise on solid virtue puts lukewarmness almost at the very commencement. This has always seemed to me an inconvenient arrangement. Lukewarmness is in no sense a beginning. We may begin by being cold, but not by being lukewarm. For lukewarmness implies that a great deal has gone before, that a height has been climbed, and that from cowardice, human respect or weariness, we have come down from it.

Like certain phenomena in geology, it is at once an evidence of a former state of things, and of the catastrophe which overthrew it. He who was never fervent can never be lukewarm. Cold he may be, and low, and mean, and ungenerous, and a poltroon (coward), but not lukewarm.

I prefer therefore to consider lukewarmness in this place, because the knowledge we have now gained of the various appliances of the spiritual life will enable us the better to understand its true nature; and also because all the component parts of the spiritual life being also, when spoiled, the component parts of lukewarmness, this is the natural place it occupies.

In fact, all that has gone before of struggle, fatigue and rest, with their helps, hindrances, phenomena and developments, issues simply in one of two states, lukewarmness or fervor. Either we are lukewarm, or we are fervent.

These are the ends of our whole voyage as proficients: either we run on the sandbanks and go to pieces at the very base of the lighthouse, or we hit the mouth of the harbor and lie snugly in its deep water with the mountains of God embracing us on either side. The rudder of the spiritual life, the little-seeming power which governs the whole ship, is discretion. This turns us off from the treacherous shoal, keeps us in the deep, midway channel, and steers us fairly into port. Hence my last three chapters will naturally be occupied with the consideration of lukewarmness, fervor and discretion.

There is nothing in the spiritual life which arrests our attention so forcibly as lukewarmness because of the unusual language in which it has pleased God to express His ineffable disgust with it, and the startling doctrine which accompanies the declaration of His loathing, that coldness is less offensive to Him than tepidity. Who is it then with whom God is so exceedingly displeased, that He is sick of His own redeemed creature? We tremble at the answer. It is the man who is patient when he has nothing to suffer, who is gentle while he is uncontradicted, who is humble when men leave his honor untouched, who wishes to be a saint without the trouble of it, who seeks to acquire virtues without mortification, who is willing to do many things, but not to take the Kingdom of Heaven by violence.

Alas! Here are verified the dread words of the Prince of the Apostles. The time is that judgment should begin at the house of God. And if first at us, what shall be the end of those who believe not the Gospel of God? And if the just man shall scarcely be saved, where shall the wicked and the sinner appear? (1 Peter 4:17).

The diseases and evils of the body are, as might be expected, seeing they are the immediate out-flowings of sin, in a great degree typical of the miseries and misfortunes of the soul. If we seek the correlative of lukewarmness, we shall find it in blindness. It is a blindness which does not know even its own self, and does not suspect that it is blind, or that other men see better than itself. It is a judicial blindness, because it once saw better itself, and now does not remember either what it saw, or that it ever saw at all.

It is usual to consider that this blindness is owing principally to three causes, (i) the frequency of venial sins, (ii) habitual dissipation of mind and (iii) the ruling passion. The frequency of venial sins is like travelling in the wilderness, where the bright air is imperceptibly filled with fine sand. Habitual dissipation of mind is like reading in the sunshine, and living in a light too strong for our eyes. The ruling passion is an external violence which menaces us and makes us shut our eyes, and have them always shut, that we may not see what it would fain hide, and so when we open them after long being used to darkness, it is the very light itself which blinds us.

The immediate results of this blindness are three also.

In the first place conscience becomes untrue. The body does not move firmly and in a straight line in the dark. So the conscience also must see in order to keep its balance. But if we falsify the oracle, and still believe it, what is the consequence but error and corruption everywhere? If the light that is in us be darkness, says Our Lord, how great is that darkness! So first there comes a false conscience.

Secondly, in proportion as conscience becomes dark, and so cold, and finally numb, in the same proportion the bad instincts of the human spirit, like owls at night, get more far-sighted, animated and vivacious.

These instincts lead us with uncommon tact to avoid anything which will restore animation to the conscience. For their purpose it had best remain under chloroform for life. Thus they make us shrink from anything like vigorous spiritual direction. We suspect we shall be awakened, and driven, and made too good. Discretion, that is, the discretion of the blind conscience, tells us this shrinking is wisdom and sagacity. We must, it says, be moderate in everything, but of all things amazingly moderate in the love of God.

So in hearing sermons, reading books, cultivating acquaintances, patronizing works of mercy, it draws back from everything that is likely to come too near or hit too hard. It is the old story of the earthen jug and the brazen jar, as they went down the stream together. Here is the second result of this blindness, which renders the cure still less likely. Indeed it is a characteristic of tepidity that everything we do while we are in that state has a tendency to confirm us as incurable.

A third flows out of the two preceding results, which is a profane use of the Sacraments. To go to Holy Communion when we are physically drowsy, yawning and half asleep, or to make our general confession half stupefied with laudanum would be fair types of the way in which we morally use the Sacraments.

Thus frequent or even daily Communion seems to have only a negative effect upon us. We do not know how bad it might be without it; and that is all. Weekly confession gives us no additional power over our commonest imperfections. Matters look as if they had come to a standstill, if there were any such phase of the spiritual life.

But no! We are blind men, whose faces have been turned unwittingly. We are retracing our steps; and the only wonder is that the easier task of going downhill does not by its contrast make us suspicious of some mistake. Alas! We are asleep as well as blind. The finest things we do now are no better than feats of somnambulism.

It is plain from this description that what is of the greatest practical utility in this matter of lukewarmness is a thorough acquaintance with the symptoms by which the insidious disease allows itself to be detected. These are seven in number; and according as we perceive that we unite them in ourselves, either in number or degree, so we have reason painfully to doubt whether our spiritual eyesight is not failing.

The first symptom or mark is a great facility in omitting our exercises of piety, which is the exact contradictory of fervor. Everyone has his routine of pious exercises; and there are few days in which they do not entail upon us some little inconveniences. Perhaps it is one of their special uses to do this, especially if habitual distractions are going to make the exercise itself of small value. Now these little inconveniences suggest dispensations, or at least delays, which we see confusedly will turn out dispensations at the last.

Clearly there are cases in which conflicting duties or the needs of charity will interfere, and it will be more perfect to give way to them than to read or meditate. But most often the inconveniences concern only ourselves. We have the power to dispense ourselves; and we grant these dispensations either rarely and with reluctance, or often and with facility. If the latter be the case, behold the first mark of tepidity! I do not say that by itself it proves everything; but it proves much. At all events, wherever there is lukewarmness, there also is this symptom.

Here is a second symptom. But we are not only easy in omitting exercises of piety, we are negligent in those which we do perform. We care more about the fact of going through them, than the manner or the spirit of it. Thus our prayers rise to Heaven with an equipage of venial sins in attendance upon them, and the angels are reluctant witnesses of our Confessions and Communions.

Here is a third. The soul feels not altogether right with God. It does not exactly know what is wrong; but it is sure all is not right. It casts about to see. It quarrels with everything it does, and questions each of them, and yet the mischief eludes it. It is angry with its Confessions; yet it is not easy to settle how to amend them. Something always seems unexpressed, something left behind which ought to have come out and does not. What is it?

Then the Communions are overhauled in a similar way, the examens of conscience tortured, meditations reprimanded, spiritual books cashiered, together with a determination to reform everything. General orders are issued from self’s headquarters, in which strong things are said ambiguously. Everyone feels he is aimed at. Blame lies everywhere. Yet all to no purpose.

At last when we have given the matter up, we suddenly come upon the offending thing, just as we look for a lost article till we are hot and tired, and then all at once see it lying in open day in a spot we have searched four or five times before. Now when we have this feeling of not being altogether right with God, and yet will not vigorously face the inquiry and make the disturbance I have described, and buckle to the triple task of discovery, punishment, and reformation, it is a symptom of our being lukewarm.

A fourth symptom of lukewarmness is an habitual acting without any intention at all, good, bad or indifferent, of which I spoke in the preceding chapter.

A fifth symptom is a carelessness about forming habits of virtue. This is the opposite of the inordinate appetite for self-improvement already considered; the truth lying here, as it mostly does in spiritual matters, in a mean.

A sixth symptom is a contempt of little things and of daily opportunities. This is a necessary part of our blindness. We can only despise little things because we do not discern the capabilities of glorifying God, and advancing our own spiritual interest, which they contain.

The seventh and last symptom is a thinking rather of the good we have done than of the good we have left undone, resting on the past rather than striving for the future, loving to look at people below us rather than people above us. Our own ease and self-complacency find their account in this attitude of the soul.

This is the way in which tepidity attacks the inmates of convents. When religious become lukewarm, they like to measure themselves with the poor citizens of the world, rather than with the grand saints of their own order. They are ever calculating the sacrifices they have made, and fondly realizing to themselves the glory of their self-devotion. When these signs are observed, superiors recognize in them the alarming symptoms of tepidity. It all lies in one word. Such religious do what St. Paul said he did not do. They count themselves to have apprehended. “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended. But one thing I do; forgetting the things that are behind, and stretching forth myself to those that are before, I pursue toward the mark, for the prize of the supernal vocation of God in Christ Jesus. Let us, therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded.” (Philippians 3:13).

From these fatal marks let us pass to consider the extraordinary hatred which God has of this state. “These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, who is the beginning of the creation of God. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot. I would thou wert cold or hot. But because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will begin to vomit thee out of my mouth.” (Apocalypse 3:14-16).

This passage is without any parallel in Scripture. God not only prefers coldness, but He rejects tepidity. It turns Him sick who is eternal love. The charity of the Heart of Jesus, our only home, cannot retain us. His disgust is too strong for Him to resist it; and He rejects us with an unconquerable nausea which even redeeming love cannot temper or allay. It is a most awful figure, and one which, but for His own word, we should not dare to have mentioned in the same breath with His adorable majesty. How much He must have meant to teach us by the singularity of that terrific language! Now God is infinitely just, therefore His hatred of this state cannot be too great. It is not in His majesty to exaggerate. But He is also infinitely forbearing, so that His punishment must be, if anything, short of its horrible deserts. What then must its real horror be?

But why does He hate it so? Let us venture to search for reasons. Because it is a quiet intentional appreciation of other things over God. It cheapens God, and parts with Him secondhand. Meanwhile, as it is not open wickedness, but is even an open profession and exterior practice of His service, it pretends friendship, and takes rank in the world as one of God’s friends; and hence it involves the twofold guilt of treachery and hypocrisy.

It thus has a peculiar ability to wound God’s glory by the scandal it gives. It has God’s honor in its power, and treats it shamefully and cruelly. It profanes grace by the indifference with which it misuses it. It takes it as a right, and misapplies it, as a dishonest man spends money on purposes for which it was not trusted to him. It is taking a liberty with the majesty of God’s exceeding goodness, which is a terrible thing to do. It were better to play with His thunderbolts, than to make sport with His compassions. And all this is done with knowledge, the double knowledge of God and of evil. What wonder that it turns God’s whole being, and sours even the sweetness of the Sacred Heart!

A few words on its remedies, and the hateful subject may be dismissed. Its cure is immensely difficult; St. Bernard would make us almost despair of its being curable at all. Only, we made up our minds at the beginning to hold this all through, that nothing is incurable, though many things in the spiritual life are nearly so; and neither doctor, nor father, nor saint, but only the Pope, shall drive us from this doctrine. St. Bernard therefore will be satisfied if we say that its cure is immensely difficult, because all the Saints have said so, because the evil is unsuspected, because even the good is mixed with evil, because men do not realize the possible forfeiture of grace to keep precepts when they have been playing fast and loose with counsels, and because, as St. Teresa teaches, for some souls perfection is accidentally necessary even for their salvation!

How absurd it seems to mention the feeble remedies!

The first is to quicken faith by meditation on eternal truths, so as to possess our minds habitually with their overwhelming importance and their exacting purity.

The second is, not having so many things to do. It is no use. The times are busy. But we cannot save our souls if we have so many things to do. But the remedy? Good soul! There are some knots in life which cannot be untied; the thing is to cut them, and leave the consequences to help themselves. If you have more duties to do than you can do well, you must boldly neglect some of them. Only have faith, and God will spirit the consequences away, so that you will see nothing more of them.

The third remedy is the practice of silence, not in any offensive or singular way, but proportionately to our state of life.

The fourth is to persevere in our spiritual exercises in spite of dryness and distractions;

And the fifth, which is nearer a specific than any of the others, is a habit of mortification, not interior, but exterior. The interior will look out for itself when its time comes. Just now I want the flesh to suffer. If you turn away from this I give you up. It is the quinine for your ague. Alas! Alas! What does all this come to but the admission that the only sure remedy for lukewarmness is never to be lukewarm, an oracle worthy of the pompous physician of the old comedy? Yet does it not in reality say a great deal?

I fear this evil of lukewarmness is very common, and that at this moment it is gnawing the life out of many souls who suspect not its presence there. It is a great grace, a prophecy of a miraculous cure, to find out that we are lukewarm; but we are lost if we do not act with vigor, the moment we make this frightening discovery. It is like going to sleep in the snow, almost a pleasant tingling feeling at the first, and then—lost forever.

PSALMS OF PENANCE & WARFARE
If you would like to pray the any of the other days Psalms
click here for Psalms from Day 1
click here for Psalms from Day 2
click here for Psalms from Day 3
click here for Psalms from Day 4
click here for Psalms from Day 5
click here for Psalms from Day 6
click here for Psalms from Day 7
click here for Psalms from Day 8
click here for Psalms from Day 9

PSALM 38

[38:2] I said: I will take heed to my ways: that I sin not with my tongue. I have set guard to my mouth, when the sinner stood against me.
[38:3] I was dumb, and was humbled, and kept silence from good things: and my sorrow was renewed.
[38:4] My heart grew hot within me: and in my meditation a fire shall flame out.
[38:5] I spoke with my tongue: O Lord, make me know my end. And what is the number of my days: that I may know what is wanting to me.
[38:6] Behold Thou hast made my days measurable: and my substance is as nothing before Thee. And indeed all things are vanity: every man living.
[38:7] Surely man passeth as an image: yea, and he is disquieted in vain. He storeth up: and he knoweth not for whom he shall gather these things.
[38:8] And now what is my hope? Is it not the Lord? And my substance is with Thee.
[38:9] Deliver Thou me from all my iniquities: Thou hast made me a reproach to the fool.
[38:10] I was dumb, and I opened not my mouth, because Thou hast done it.
[38:11] Remove Thy scourges from me. The strength of Thy hand hath made me faint in rebukes:
[38:12] Thou hast corrected man for iniquity. And Thou hast made his soul to waste away like a spider: surely in vain is any man disquieted.
[38:13] Hear my prayer, O Lord, and my supplication: give ear to my tears. Be not silent: for I am a stranger with Thee, and a sojourner as all my fathers were.
[38:14] O forgive me, that I may be refreshed, before I go hence, and be no more.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

PSALM 40

[40:2] Blessed is he that understandeth concerning the needy and the poor: the Lord will deliver him in the evil day.
[40:3] The Lord preserve him and give him life, and make him blessed upon the Earth: and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies.
[40:4] The Lord help him on his bed of sorrow: Thou hast turned all his couch in his sickness.
[40:5] I said: O Lord, be Thou merciful to me: heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee.
[40:6] My enemies have spoken evils against me: “When shall he die and his name perish?”
[40:7] And if he came in to see me, he spoke vain things: his heart gathered together iniquity to itself. He went out and spoke to the same purpose.
[40:8] All my enemies whispered together against me: they devised evils to me.
[40:9] They determined against me an unjust word: shall he that sleepeth rise again no more?
[40:10] For even the man of peace, in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, hath greatly supplanted me.
[40:11] But Thou, O Lord, have mercy on me, and raise me up again: and I will repay them.
[40:12] By this I know, that Thou hast had a good will for me: because my enemy shall not rejoice over me.
[40:13] But Thou hast upheld me by reason of my innocence: and hast established me in Thy sight for ever.
[40:14] Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel from eternity to eternity. So be it. So be it.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

PSALM 48

[48:2] Hear these things, all ye nations: give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world.
[48:3] All you that are earthborn, and you sons of men: both rich and poor together.
[48:4] My mouth shall speak wisdom: and the meditation of my heart understanding.
[48:5] I will incline my ear to a parable; I will open my proposition on the psaltery.
[48:6] Why shall I fear in the evil day? The iniquity of my heel shall encompass me.
[48:7] They that trust in their own strength, and glory in the multitude of their riches.
[48:8] No brother can redeem, nor shall man redeem: he shall not give to God his ransom.
[48:9] Nor the price of the redemption of his soul: and shall labor for ever,
[48:10] And shall still live unto the end.
[48:11] He shall not see destruction, when he shall see the wise dying: the senseless and the fool shall perish together: And they shall leave their riches to strangers.
[48:12] And their sepulchers shall be their houses for ever. Their dwelling places to all generations: they have called their lands by their names.
[48:13] And man when he was in honor did not understand; he is compared to senseless beasts, and is become like to them.
[48:14] This way of theirs is a stumbling-block to them: and afterwards they shall delight in their mouth.
[48:15] They are laid in Hell like sheep: death shall feed upon them. And the just shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their help shall decay in Hell from their glory.
[48:16] But God will redeem my soul from the hand of Hell, when He shall receive me.
[48:17] Be not thou afraid, when a man shall be made rich, and when the glory of his house shall be increased.
[48:18] For when he shall die he shall take nothing away; nor shall his glory descend with him.
[48:19] For in his lifetime his soul will be blessed: and he will praise Thee when Thou shalt do well to him.
[48:20] He shall go in to the generations of his fathers: and he shall never see light.
[48:21] Man when he was in honor did not understand: he hath been compared to senseless beasts, and made like to them.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

IDEAS FOR PENANCES

► MORNING PENANCES

■ Out of bed immediately, no snooze alarm.
■ Say some (not all) prayers kneeling on the palms of your hands, or with your arms outstretched to the sides as on a crucifix.
■ Reverently kiss your Brown Scapular, crucifix and holy medals that you wear.
■ Make an act of contrition for all your sins.
■ Mortify vanity in dressing & grooming.
■ Take a short moment of a cold shower.
■ Don’t take too long in the bathroom.
■ Do some spiritual reading at breakfast.
■ Speak of religious, not worldly, topics.
■ Some food mortification at breakfast. Eat what you don’t like. Don’t grab best for self.
■ Drink what you don’t like. Perhaps even give-up your favorite drink. Water instead.
■ Eat less than you normally would.
■ Do the dishes if you normally don’t.
■ Don’t hog the conversation. Speak more if a wallflower.

► WORK DAY PENANCES

■ Leave on time if you are usually behind.
■ Keep your eyes strictly on the road, do not gaze around, especially at traffic lights, or when the car is stationary.
■ Set the car temperature at a slightly uncomfortable level—colder or hotter.
■ Show more courtesy to other drivers, even the bad drivers who want to cut-in.
■ Park in a place that make you walk more.
■ Take the stairs rather than elevator.
■ Don’t complain but see God’s hand in all.
■ Offer to do things that you normally avoid.
■ Mortify your curiosity about events.
■ Pray short prayers as much as possible.
■ Avoid being caustically critical. If criticism is necessary, make it charitably.
■ Mortify the eyes at the workplace. Look down or ahead, avoid looking all around.
■ Avoid flattery and “greasing-up” to others.
■ Do not show human respect in the face of wrong-doing. Silence makes accomplices.
■ Give a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay!
■ Don’t lie about mistakes you make.
■ Avoid jealousy. Give praise where due.
■ Be your Catholic self. Not a hypocrite.
■ Accept criticism without making excuses.
■ On drive home: see above.

► EVENING PENANCES

■ Some food mortification at the meal. Eat what you don’t like. Don’t grab best for self.
■ Drink what you don’t like. Perhaps even give-up your favorite drink. Water instead.
■ Eat less than you normally would.
■ Do spiritual reading at evening meal.
■ Make table talk more spiritual than worldly. Keep the talk charitable.
■ Do the dishes if usually you don’t.
■ No TV, do some family spiritual reading or extra prayers. Let everyone pick their own book, and read silently in the same room for 30 minutes or more.
■ Perhaps one person could give a summary of what they read. Do NOT announce the name of the person until it is time.
■ Do not just say the Rosary as a family, but meditate it. It could be a longer meditation and discussion on just one mystery, or some brief thoughts about each mystery. Avoid banal, meaningless one-liners.
■ Drop the room temperature in the house by one or two degrees.
■ Say night prayers as a family. Make an examination of conscience—this could read from a book, or a competent adult could lead it, or it could be made in silence (but this is rarely as effective).
■ Perhaps sing a hymn (if capable).
■ Generally turn down the entertainment and fun levels throughout Lent.

► SLEEPING PENANCES

■ Go to bed on time and don’t lose time on trivialities, so you so some spiritual reading.
■ Each and every time you awake during the night, for whatever reason, take time to pray three Hail Marys or some other prayer.
■ Set your alarm to rise a few minutes earlier than usual, and give those extra minutes to extra prayer immediately on waking.
■ Sleep with less comfortable pyjamas or nightgown.
■ Use a blanket less than you usually are comfortable with. Or use an extra one to make it hotter.
■ Alter the bedroom temperature to a less comfortable level—hotter or colder—by turning the heat up or down, opening a window, using or not using ceiling fans.

► FOOD & DRINK PENANCES

■ Wait a little longer before eating.
■ Let hot food become lukewarm before eating, to remind you of your lukewarmness
■ Eat all of the food served. With many fruits, you can eat all the skin, e.g. oranges and lemons, which are very healthy too!
■ Put a pinch of sea salt in your water, or vinegar. You may not like the taste, but it provides minerals & electrolytes!
■ Make a vegetable broth from your vegetable peel and cut-offs, etc.
■ Don’t throw out food that is past its “best before” date.
■ Buy the inferior produce at the store. The less juicy fruits, the smaller eggs, the fattier meat, etc.

► CLOTHING PENANCES

■ Wear the clothes you don’t like very much
■ Wear clothes that don’t flatter you
■ For short spells, tighten the belt real tight
■ Put a small irritating object in your shoe for a short while
■ In cold weather, remove either gloves, scarf, hat, etc. for a short while.
■ If it cold outside, wear sandals instead of shoes—perhaps go without socks too.
■ If it is warm outside, wear a coat or cardigan to make it feel warmer.
■ Give away to charity some favorite items of clothing.
■ If buying clothing, instead of the “apple of your eye, buy something you like less.

► PRAYER PENANCES

■ Slow down! Slow down! Slow down!
■ Reverence! Kneel rather than sit (unless infirm or injured). Stand rather than sit!
■ For private prayer when alone: pray with arms outstretched in form of a cross for as long as you are able.
■ For private prayer when alone: Make a genuflection each time you say the Name of Jesus in the Hail Mary.
■ Avoid the “all-poured-out-in-one-breath” manner of praying. Pray like you converse. Slowly and with many short pauses.
■ Familiarity breeds contempt and routine destroys devotion—therefore vary you prayers, except for the Rosary—but can avoid a Rosary routine if you truly read about and meditate the mysteries.
■ Pray at least one Psalm a day—they are the work of the Holy Ghost and part of the Divine Office of the Church.

► FUN PENANCES

■ “Fun” Penances does not mean having fun, but doing without fun!
■ A greater silence in the home would not be a bad thing! If the TV is always on, or the internet is always available, then the temptation to be worldly and not spiritual will obviously be successful. TURN IT OFF!
■ If the above things are really needed (for truly necessary things rather than fun things), then allocate a certain time of day or a certain length of time when those electronic appliances can be used.
■ Would it really be that painful not to watch sports, or movies, or other entertainment and give that time to God instead? It would send out a powerful message to everyone.
■ If music is to be listened to, then why not choose religious music instead of secular?

► PHONE PENANCES

■ Too much time is spent by too many people on the phone on idle, banal and trivial matters. Cut back on the phone time!
■ If calls are necessary, be brief and keep to the essentials. Cut out idle chatter.
■ Why not finish your phone call with a prayer, said out loud, with the other person participating—an Our Father, Hail Mary, etc.

A SELECTION AND COMBINATION OF PRAYERS FROM THE LITURGY, CONCERNING PENANCE & ENEMIES

The terrors of death surged around me, the cords of the nether world enmeshed me. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the prayer of Your servant! Let Your face shine upon Your servant; save me in Your kindness! O Lord, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon You! If You, O Lord, mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand it? But with You is forgiveness, and by reason of Your law I have waited for You, O Lord! In my distress I called upon the Lord. From His holy temple He heard my voice. I love You, O Lord, my strength, O Lord, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer! A helper in due time in tribulation. Let them trust in thee who know thy name: for thou hast not forsaken them that seek thee, O Lord! We beseech You, O Lord, graciously hear the prayers of Your people, that we, who are justly punished for our sins, may be mercifully delivered for the glory of Your Name. Take away from us our iniquities, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that we may be worthy to enter with pure minds into the Holy of Holies, through Christ our Lord. Amen. (Septuagesima Sunday).

Awake! Why are You asleep, O Lord? Arise! Cast us not off forever! Why do You hide Your face, forgetting our oppression? Our bodies are pressed to the earth. Arise, O Lord, help us, and deliver us! O God, You Who see that we put no trust in anything we do, mercifully grant that we may be defended against all adversity. Let the nations know that God is Your name; You alone are the Most High over all the Earth. O my God, make them like leaves in a whirlwind, like chaff before the wind! You have rocked the country, O Lord, and split it open. Repair the cracks in it, for it is tottering. That they may flee out of bowshot; that Your loved ones may escape! May the sacrifices which we offer You, O Lord, ever give us new life and protection. (Sexagesima Sunday).

Be my rock of refuge, O God, a stronghold to give me safety! You are my rock and my fortress; for Your name’s sake You will lead and guide me! In You, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In Your justice rescue me and deliver me! O Lord, we beseech You, mercifully hear our prayers; loose us from the chains of our sins and keep us from all adversity. You are the God Who alone works wonders―among the peoples You have made known Your power. With Your strong arm You delivered Your people, the sons of Israel and Joseph. O Lord, we beseech You, wash away our sins! Vouchsafe to grant to us, Thy sinful servants, confiding in the multitude of Thy mercies, some part and fellowship with Thy holy Apostles and Martyrs. Deliver us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, from all evils, past, present, and to come; and by the intercession of the Blessed and glorious ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and of the holy Apostles, Peter and Paul, and of Andrew, and of all the Saints, mercifully grant peace in our days, that through the assistance of Thy mercy we may be always free from sin, and secure from all disturbance. (Quinquagesima Sunday).

READINGS FROM HOLY SCRIPTURE

A reading from the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians
Brethren: We entreat you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says, In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation! We give no offense to anyone, that our ministry may not be blamed. On the contrary, let us conduct ourselves in all circumstances as God’s ministers, in much patience; in tribulations, in hardships, in distresses; in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults; in labors, in sleepless nights, in fastings; in innocence, in knowledge, in long-sufferings; in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unaffected love; in the word of truth, in the power of God; with the armor of justice on the right hand and on the left; in honor and dishonor, in evil report and good report; as deceivers and yet truthful, as unknown and yet well known, as dying, and behold, we live, as chastised but not killed, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet enriching many, as having nothing yet possessing all things. (2 Corinthians 6:1-10).

The Holy Gospel according to Matthew
At that time, Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit, to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him: “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread!” But He answered and said: “It is written, ‘Not by bread alone does man live, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took Him into the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him: “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down―for it is written, ‘He has given His angels charge concerning You; and upon their hands they shall bear You up, lest You dash Your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him: “It is written further, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God!’” Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them. And he said to Him: “All these things will I give You, if You will fall down and worship me!” Then Jesus said to him: “Begone, Satan, for it is written, ‘The Lord your God shall you worship and Him only shall you serve!’” Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and ministered to Him. (Matthew 4:1-11).

THE ROSARY OF THE
SEVEN SORROWS OF OUR LADY

V. Incline unto my aid, O Lord.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
V. Glory Be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost.
R. As is was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

1. SIMEON'S PROPHECY

I am filled with compassion for thee, most Sorrowful Mother, for that affliction which thy tender heart suffered at the time of the prophecy of the holy old man, Simeon.
O dear Mother, by thy heart thus afflicted, obtain for me the virtue of humility, and the gift of the fear of God.

Our Father...7 Hail Marys...Glory Be...
Most Sorrowful Heart of Mary, pray for us!

2. FLIGHT INTO EGYPT

I am filled with compassion for thee, most Sorrowful Mother, for those bitter pangs which thy most feeling heart suffered in thy flight and stay in Egypt.
O dear Mother, by thy heart immersed in so great sorrows, obtain for me the virtue of generosity, especially towards the poor, and the gift of piety.

Our Father...7 Hail Marys...Glory Be....
Most Sorrowful Heart of Mary, pray for us!

3. LOSS OF JESUS IN THE TEMPLE

I am filled with compassion for thee, most Sorrowful Mother, for those griefs which thy loving heart experienced in the loss of thy beloved Son.
O dear Mother, by thy heart filled with maternal anxieties, obtain for me the virtue of chastity and the gift of knowledge.

Our Father...7 Hail Marys...Glory Be...
Most Sorrowful Heart of Mary, pray for us!

4. MEETING JESUS ON THE WAY OF THE CROSS

I am filled with compassion for thee, most Sorrowful Mother, for that sorrow which oppressed thy maternal heart, in meeting Jesus carrying His Cross.
O dear Mother, by thy most loving heart, so much afflicted, obtain for me the virtue of patience and the gift of fortitude.

Our Father...7 Hail Marys...Glory Be...
Most Sorrowful Heart of Mary, pray for us!

5. THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS

I am filled with compassion for thee, most Sorrowful Mother, for that martyrdom which thy generous heart sustained, in seeing Jesus dying on the Cross in agony.
O dear Mother, by thy heart undergoing so severe a martyrdom, obtain for me the virtue of temperance and the gift of counsel.

Our Father...7 Hail Marys...Glory Be....
Most Sorrowful Heart of Mary, pray for us!

6. RECEIVING THE DEAD BODY OF JESUS IN HER ARMS

I am filled with compassion for thee, most Sorrowful Mother, for those pangs which thine afflicted heart endured, when the lance pierced the side of Jesus, and wounded His most amiable Heart and confirmed His death.
O dear Mother, by thy heart transfixed, in receiving the precious Body of thy Son from the cross, obtain for me the virtue of fraternal charity and the gift of understanding.

Our Father...7 Hail Marys...Glory Be...
Most Sorrowful Heart of Mary, pray for us!

7. THE BURIAL OF JESUS

I am filled with compassion for thee, most Sorrowful Mother, for that anguish which thy loving heart experienced in the burial of Jesus.
O dear Mother, by thy sacred heart, thus steeped in bitter grief, obtain for me the virtue of diligence, and the gift of wisdom.

Our Father...7 Hail Marys...Glory Be...
Most Sorrowful Heart of Mary, pray for us!

V. Pray for us, O most Sorrowful Virgin,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:
We beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, that the Blessed Virgin Mary whose heart at the time of Thy passion was pierced through with the sword of sorrow, may intercede for us before the throne of mercy, now and at the hour of our death; who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen.

PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWS OF
THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

O most holy and afflicted Virgin! Queen of Martyrs! Thou who didst stand motionless beneath the Cross, witnessing the agony of thy expiring Son—through the unceasing sufferings of thy life of sorrow, and the bliss which now more than amply repays thee for thy past trials, look down with a mother’s tenderness and pity on me, who kneel before thee to venerate thy Sorrows, and place my requests, with filial confidence, in the sanctuary of thy wounded heart; present them, I beseech thee, on my behalf, to Jesus Christ, through the merits of His own most sacred death and passion, together with thy sufferings at the foot of the cross, and through the united efficacy of both obtain the grant of my present petition.

To whom shall I resort in my wants and miseries if not to thee, O Mother of Mercy, who, having so deeply drunk of the chalice of thy Son, canst compassionate the woes of those who still sigh in the land of exile?

Offer for me to my Savior one drop of the Blood which flowed from His sacred veins, one of the tears which trickled from His divine eyes, one of the sighs which rent His adorable Heart. O refuge of the universe and hope of the whole world, do not reject my humble prayer, but graciously obtain the grant of my petition.

ACT OF CONSECRATION TO OUR LADY OF SORROWS

Most Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, holy Queen of Martyrs and spotless Virgin, would that I could be in Heaven with thee; there to contemplate the honors rendered to thee by the Most Holy Trinity and by the whole Heavenly Court! But since I am still a pilgrim in this valley of tears, receive from me, thy unworthy servant and a poor sinner, the most sincere homage and the most perfect act of vassalage and devotion that a human creature can offer thee.

I consecrate myself to thy Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, pierced with so many swords of sorrow, and place my poor soul therein forever. Receive me as a partaker in thy Sorrows, and never suffer that I should depart from that Cross on which thy only begotten Son expired for me and which He wishes to share with me. With thee, O Mary, I will endure all the sufferings, persecutions, adversities, failures, contradictions and infirmities, with which it will please thy Divine Son to visit me in this life.

All of them I offer to thee, in memory of the Sorrows which thou didst suffer during thy life, that every thought of my mind, every beating of my heart may henceforward be an act of compassion to thy Sorrows, and of delight for the glory thou now enjoyest in Heaven.

Since then, O Dear Mother, I now meditate thy Sorrows, and rejoice in seeing thee glorified, do thou also have compassion on me, and reconcile me to thy Son Jesus, that I may become thy true and loyal son (daughter); come on my last day and assist me in my last agony at the hour death, even as thou wert present at the Agony of thy Divine Son Jesus, that from this painful exile I may go to Heaven, there to be made partaker of thy glory. Amen.

OUR LADY, COMFORTER OF THE AFFLICTED

O Sorrowful and Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our most compassionate Mother, we present ourselves in thy sight in all humility, and with full confidence we implore thee for thy maternal patronage.

Thou hast been proclaimed by Holy Church the Comforter of the Afflicted, and to thee constant recourse is had by the sorrowful in their afflictions, the sick in their maladies, the dying in their agony, the poor in their straitened circumstances, those who stand in all manner of need in both public and private calamities; and from thee they all receive consolation and strength.

Our dearest Mother, turn upon us also, wretched sinners that we are, thy merciful eyes, and graciously accept our humble and confident prayers. Aid us in all our spiritual and temporal necessities, deliver us from all evil and especially from sin, which is the greatest evil, and from all danger of falling into it; obtain for us from thy Son Jesus every blessing of which thou seest we stand in need both in soul and body, and especially the greatest blessing of all, which is Divine grace.

Comfort our spirits, troubled and afflicted in the midst of the many dangers that threaten us, and the countless miseries and misfortunes that beset us on every side. This we ask through that immense joy which filled thy pure soul in the glorious Resurrection of thy Divine Son.

Obtain tranquility for Holy Church, help and comfort for her visible Head, the Sovereign Pontiff, peace for Christian princes, refreshment in their pains for the Holy Souls in Purgatory; for sinners, the forgiveness of their sins, and for the just, perseverance in well-doing. Receive us all, our most tender Mother, under thy loving and mighty protection, that we may be enabled to live virtuously, die holily and attain to everlasting happiness in Heaven. Amen.

PRAYER FOR A HAPPY DEATH

O Mother of Sorrows, by the anguish and love with which thou didst stand beside the Cross of Jesus, stand by me in my last agony. To thy maternal heart I commend the three last hours of my life. Offer these hours to the Eternal Father in union with the agony of our dearest Lord. Offer frequently to the Eternal Father, in atonement for my sins, the Precious Blood of Jesus, mingled with thy tears on Calvary, to obtain for me the grace to receive Holy Communion with most perfect love and contrition before my death, and to breathe forth my soul in the actual presence of Jesus.

Dearest Mother, when the moment of my death has come, present me as thy child to Jesus; say to Him in my behalf: “Son, forgive him, for he knew not what he did. Receive him this day into Thy kingdom.”

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF SORROWS
By St. Bridget

O Blessed Virgin Mary, Immaculate Mother of God, who didst endure a martyrdom of love and grief, beholding the sufferings and sorrows of Jesus! Thou didst cooperate in the benefit of my redemption by thy innumerable afflictions and by offering to the Eternal Father His only-begotten Son as a holocaust and victim of propitiation for my sins.

I thank thee for the unspeakable love which led thee to deprive thyself of the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus, true God and true Man, to save me, a sinner. Oh! make use of the unfailing intercession of thy sorrows with the Father and the Son, that I may steadfastly amend my life and never again crucify my loving Redeemer by new sins; and that, persevering till death in His grace, I may obtain eternal life through the merits of His Cross and Passion. Amen.
Mother of love, of sorrow, and of mercy, pray for us.

PRAYER TO CHRIST

Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, that the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Thy Mother, whose most holy soul was transfixed with the sword of sorrow in the hour of Thy Own Passion, may intercede for us before the throne of Mercy, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Imprint, O Lady, thy wounds upon my heart, that I may read therein sorrow and love; sorrow, to endure every sorrow for thee; love, to despise every love for thee. Amen.