Dom Prosper Guéranger:
On this day in the Roman Church was held the sixth Scrutiny for the admission of catechumens to Baptism. Those upon whom there had been previous doubts were now added to the number of the chosen ones if they were found worthy. There were two Lessons read in the Mass, as on the day of the great Scrutiny, the Wednesday of the fourth Week of Lent. As usual, the catechumens left the church after the Gospel, but, as soon as the Holy Sacrifice was over they were brought back by the Door-Keeper, and one of the priests addressed them in these words: “On Saturday next, the Eve of Easter, at such an hour, you will assemble in the Lateran Basilica, for the seventh Scrutiny. You will then recite the Symbol which you must have learned, and lastly, you will receive by God’s help the sacred laver of regeneration. Prepare yourselves zealously and humbly by persevering fasts and prayers in order that, having been buried, by this holy Baptism, together with Jesus Christ, you may rise again with Him to life everlasting. Amen.”
Lesson – Isaias lxii. 11, lxiii. 1‒7
Thus says the Lord God: “Tell the daughter of Sion: Behold your Saviour comes: behold his reward is with him. Who is this that comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bosra, this beautiful one in his robe, walking in the greatness of his strength? I, that speak justice, and am a defender to save. Why then is your apparel red, and your garments like them that tread in the wine-press? I have trodden the wine-press alone, and of the Gentiles there is not a man with me. I have trampled on them in my indignation, and have trodden them down in my wrath, and their blood is sprinkled on my garments, and I have stained all my apparel. For the day of vengeance is in my heart, the year of my redemption is come. I looked about, and there was none to help. I sought, and there was none to give aid, and my own arm has saved me, and my indignation itself has helped me. And I have trodden down the people in my wrath, and made them drunk in my indignation and have brought down their strength to the earth. I will remember the tender mercies of the Lord, the praise of the Lord, for all that the Lord has bestowed on us.”
Thanks be to God.
Dom Prosper Guéranger:
How terrible is this our Defender, who tramples His enemies beneath His feet, as they that tread in the wine-press so that their blood is sprinkled on His garment! But is not this the fittest time for us to proclaim His power, now that He is being treated with ignominy, and sold to His enemies by one of His disciples? These humiliations will soon pass away: He will rise in glory, and His might will be shown by the chastisements with which He will crush them that now persecute Him. Jerusalem will stone them that will preach in His name. She will be a cruel step-mother to those true Israelites, who, docile to the teaching of the Prophets, have recognised Jesus as the promised Messiah. The synagogue will seek to stifle the Church in her infancy, but no sooner will the Church, shaking the dust from her feet, turn from Jerusalem to the Gentiles, than the vengeance of Christ will fall on the city which bought, betrayed and crucified Him. Her citizens will have to pay dearly for these crimes. We learn from the Jewish historian, Josephus (who was an eye-witness to the siege), that the fire which was raging in one of the streets, was quenched by the torrents of their blood. Thus were fulfilled the threats pronounced by our Lord against this faithless city as he sat on Mount Olivet the day after his triumphant entry.
And yet, the destruction of Jerusalem was but a faint image of the terrible destruction which is to befall the world at the last day. Jesus, who is now despised and insulted by sinners, will then appear on the clouds of heaven, and reparation will be made for all these outrages. Now He suffers Himself to be betrayed, scoffed at, and spit upon, but when the day of vengeance is come, happy they that have served Him, and have compassionated with Him in His humiliations and sufferings! Woe to them that have treated Him with contempt! Woe to them, who not content with their own refusing to bear His yoke, have led others to rebel against him! For He is King. He came into this world that He might reign over it, and they that despise His mercy will not escape His justice.
Epistle –
Isaias liii. 1‒12
In those days Isaias said: “Who has believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? And he will grow up as a tender plant before him, and as a root out of a thirsty ground. There is no beauty in him, nor comeliness. And we have seen him, and there was no sightliness that we should be desirous of him; 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; upon which we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our infirmities, and carried our sorrows. And we have thought him as it were a leper, and as one struck by God and afflicted. But he was wounded for our iniquities, he was bruised for our sins; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, every one has turned aside into his own way: and the Lord has laid upon him the iniquity of us all. He was offered because it was his own will, and he opened not his mouth. He will be led as a sheep to the slaughter, and will be dumb as a lamb before his shearer; and he will not open his mouth. He was taken away from distress, and from judgement. Who will declare his generation? because he is cut off out of the land of the living. For the wickedness of my people have I struck him. And he will give the ungodly for his burial, and the rich for his death; because he has done no iniquity, neither was there deceit in his mouth. And the Lord was pleased to bruise him in infirmity. If he will lay down his life for sin, he will see a long-lived seed, and the will of the Lord will be prosperous in his hand. Because his soul has laboured, he will see and be filled: by his knowledge will this my just servant justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore will I distribute to him very many, and he will divide the spoils of the strong, because he has delivered his soul to death, and was reputed with the wicked; and he has borne the sins of many, and has prayed for the transgressors.
Thanks be to God.
Dom Prosper Guéranger:
Again it is Isaias that instructs us, not indeed upon the triumph which our Emmanuel is to win over His enemies, but upon the sufferings of the Man of Sorrows. So explicit is his description of our Lord’s Passion, that the holy Fathers have called him the fifth Evangelist. What could be more sublimely plaintive than the language here used by the son of Amos? And we, after hearing both the Old and New Testament upon the sufferings which Jesus went through for our sins, how shall we sufficiently love this dear Redeemer, who bore our infirmities and carried our Sorrows, so as to look as a leper, and as one struck by God and afflicted?
We are healed by his bruises! Heavenly Physician, that takes upon Himself the sufferings of them He comes to cure! But not only was He bruised for our sins, He was also slaughtered as a lamb: and this not merely as a Victim submitting to the inflexible justice of His Father who has laid on Him the iniquity of us all, but, (as the Prophet here assures us), because it was His own will. His love for us, as well as his submission to His Father, led him to the great sacrifice. Observe, too, how He refuses to defend Himself before Pilate who could so easily deliver Him from his enemies: He will be dumb as a lamb before his shearers, and he will not open his mouth. Let us love and adore this divine silence which works our salvation. Let us not pass over an iota of the devotedness which Jesus shows us — a devotedness which never could have existed, save in the Heart of a God. Oh! how much He has loved us — His children, the purchase of His Blood, His Seed, as the Prophet here calls us. Holy Church! Long-lived Seed of Jesus that laid down his life! You are dear to Him, for He bought you at a great price. Faithful souls! Give Him love for love. Sinners! Be converted to this your Saviour. His Blood will restore you to life, for if we have all gone astray like sheep, remember what is added: The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. There is no sinner however great may be his crimes, there is no heretic or infidel who has not his share in this Precious Blood, whose infinite merit is such that it could redeem a million worlds, more guilty even than our own.
Gospel – The
Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke (xxii‒xxiii)
At that time the feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Pasch, was at hand. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might put Jesus to death, but they feared the people. And Satan entered into Judas, who was surnamed Iscariot, one of the twelve. And he went and discoursed with the chief priests and the magistrates, how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. And he promised. And he sought opportunity to betray Him in the absence of the multitude.
And the day of the unleavened bread came, on which it was necessary that the Pasch should be killed. And He sent Peter and John, saying:” Go and prepare us the Pasch, that we may eat.” But they said: “Where will you that we prepare?” And He said to them: “Behold, as you go into the city, there will meet you a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him into the house where he enters in, and you will say to the good man of the house: ‘The Master says to you: Where is the guest-chamber, where I may eat the Pasch with my disciples?’ and he will show you a large dining-room furnished. And there prepare.” And they going found as He had said to them, and they made ready the Pasch. And when the hour was come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. And He said to them: “With desire I have desired to eat this Pasch with you before I suffer. For I say to you, that from this time I will not eat it, till it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And having taken the chalice He gave thanks and said: “Take and divide it among you. For I say to you, that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, till the kingdom of God comes.” And taking bread, He gave thanks, and broke it, and gave it to them, saying: “This is my Body, which is given to you: do this for a commemoration of me.” In like manner the chalice also, after He had supped, saying: “This is the chalice, the new testament of my Blood, which will be shed for you. But yet behold, the hand of him that betrays me is with me on the table. And the Son of Man indeed goes according to that which is determined, but yet woe to that man by whom he will be betrayed.” And they began to enquire among themselves which of them it was that should do this thing.
And there was also a strife among them, which of them should seem to be greater. And He said to them: “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and they that have power over them, are called beneficent. But you not so. But he that is the greater among you, let him be as the younger, and he that is the leader, as he that serves. For which is greater, he that sits at table, or he that serves? Is not he that sits at table? But I am in the midst of you, as he that serves, and you are they who have continued with me in my temptations. And I dispose to you, as my Father has disposed to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and may sit upon thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” And the Lord said: “Simon, Simon, behold Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith fail not: and you, being once converted, confirm your brethren.” Who said to Him: “Lord, I am ready to go with you, both into prison, and to death.” And He said: “I say to you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day till you thrice deny that you know me.” And He said to them: “When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, did you want anything?” But they said: “Nothing.” Then said he to them: “But now he that has a purse, let him take it, and likewise a scrip: and he that has no sword, let him sell his coat and buy one. For I say to you, that this that is written must yet be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was reckoned among the wicked:’ for the things concerning me have an end.” But they said: “Lord, here are two swords.” And He said to them: “It is enough.”
And going out, He went according to His custom to the mount of Olives. And His disciples also followed Him. And when He was come to the place, He said to them: “Pray, lest you enter into temptation.” And He was withdrawn away from them a stone’s cast, and kneeling down He prayed, saying: “Father, if you will, remove this chalice from me. But yet not my will, but yours be done.” 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 on the ground. And when He rose up from prayer and was come to His disciples, He found them sleeping for sorrow. And He said to them: “Why sleep you? Arise, pray, lest you enter into temptation.” As He was yet speaking, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. And Jesus said to Him: “Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” And they that were about Him, seeing what would follow, said to Him: “Lord shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the High Priest, and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answering, said: “Suffer ye thus far.” And when He had touched his ear, He healed him. And Jesus said to the chief priests and magistrates of the temple, and the ancients that were come to Him: “Are you come out, as it were against a thief, with swords and clubs? When I was daily with you in the temple, you did not stretch forth your hands against me. But this is your hour and the power of darkness.”
And apprehending Him, they led him to the High Priest’s house, but Peter followed afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall and were sitting about it, Peter was in the midst of them. Whom when a certain servant maid had seen sitting at the light, and had earnestly beheld him, she said: “This man also was with him.” But he denied, saying: “Woman, I know him not.” And after a little while, another seeing him, said: “You also are one of them.” But Peter said: “Man, I am not.” And after the space as it were of one hour, another certain man affirmed, saying: “Of a truth this man was also with him: for he is also a Galilean.” And Peter said: “Man, I know not what you say.” And immediately as he was yet speaking the cock crew. And the Lord turning looked on Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, as He had said: “Before the cock crows, you will deny me thrice.” And Peter going out wept bitterly.
And the men that held Him, mocked Him and struck Him. And they blindfolded Him, and smote Him on the face. And they asked Him, saying: “Prophesy, who is it that struck you?” And blaspheming, many other things they said against Him. And as soon as it was day, the ancients of the people, and the chief priests, and scribes came together, and they brought Him into their council, saying: “If you be the Christ, tell us.” And He said to them: “If I will tell you, you will not believe me. And if I will also ask you, you will not answer me, nor let me go. But hereafter the Son of man will be sitting on the right hand of the power of God.” Then said they all: “Are you the Son of God?” And He said: “You say that I am.” And they said: “What need we any further testimony? For ourselves have heard it from his own mouth.” And the whole multitude of them rose up, and led Him away to Pilate. And they began to accuse Him, saying: “We have found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he is Christ the King.” And Pilate asked Him, saying: “Are you the King of the Jews?” But He answering, said: “You say it.” But Pilate said to the chief priests and to the multitude: “I find no cause in this man.” But they were more earnest, saying: “He stirs 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 himself was also at Jerusalem in those days. 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 with 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 naught, 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 to one another. Then Pilate calling together the chief priests, and the magistrates, and the people, said to them: “You have brought this man to me as one that perverts the people and, behold I, having examined him before you, find no cause in this man touching those things in which you accuse him. No, nor Herod neither. For I sent you to him, and behold, nothing worthy of death is done to him. I will chastise him therefore and release him.”
Now of necessity he was to release to them one upon the feast day. But the whole multitude together cried out at once saying: “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas.” Who, for a certain sedition made in the city, and for a murder, was cast into prison. And Pilate again spoke to them, desiring to release Jesus, But they cried out again, saying: “Crucify him, crucify him.” And he said to them the third time: “Why, what evil has this man done? I find no cause of death in him. I will chastise him therefore, and let him go.” But they were instant with loud voices requiring that He might be crucified, and their voices prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. And he released to them him who for murder and sedition had been cast into prison, whom they had desired: but Jesus he delivered up to their will.
And as they led him away, they laid hold on one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country: and they laid the cross on him to carry after Jesus. And there followed Him a great multitude of people, and of women, who bewailed and lamented Him. 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 will come in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not borne, and the paps that have not given suck.’ Then will they begin to say to the mountains: ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills: ‘Cover us.’ For if in the green wood they do these things, what will be done in the dry?” And there were also two other malefactors led with Him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, they crucified Him there, and the robbers, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. And Jesus said: “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” But they dividing His garments, cast lots. And the people stood beholding, and the rulers with them derided Him, saying: “He saved others. Let him save himself, if he be Christ, the elect of God.” And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming to Him and offering Him vinegar, and saying: “If you be the King of the Jews, save yourself.” And there was also a superscription written over Him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew: “This is the King of the Jews.” And one of the robbers who were hanged, blasphemed Him saying: “If you be Christ, save yourself and us.” But the other answering, rebuked him, saying: “Neither do you fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation. And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds. But this man has done no evil.” And he said to Jesus: “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him: “Amen I say to you, this day you will be with me in paradise.” And it was almost the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the Temple was rent in the midst. And Jesus crying with a loud voice, said: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” And saying this, He gave up the ghost.
And behold there was a man named Joseph who was a counsellor, a good and just man (the same had not consented to their counsel and doing), of Arimathea, a city of Judea, who also himself looked for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus. And taking Him down He wrapped him in fine linen, and laid Him in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, in which never yet any man had been laid.
