19 APRIL – SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EASTER (Good Shepherd Sunday)

Dom Prosper Gueranger:

This Sunday goes under the name of the Good Shepherd Sunday because in the Mass there is read the Gospel of Saint John in which our Lord calls Himself by this name. How very appropriate is this passage of the Gospel to this present Season when our Divine Master began His work of establishing and consolidating the Church by giving it the Pastor, or Shepherd, who was to govern it to the end of time!

In accordance with the eternal decree, the Man-God, on the fortieth day after His Resurrection, is to withdraw His visible presence from the world. He is not to be again seen on the earth till the Last Day when He will come again to judge the living and the dead. And yet, He could never abandon mankind for which He offered Himself on the Cross, and which He delivered from death and Hell by rising triumphantly from the grave. He will continue to be its Head after His Ascension into heaven: but what will we have on earth to supply His place? We will have the Church. It is to the Church that He will leave all His own authority to rule us. It is into the hands of the Church that He will entrust all the truths He has taught. It is the Church that He will make the dispenser of all those means of salvation which He has destined for the world.

This Church is a society to which all mankind is invited. It is composed of two classes of members: the governing and the governed, the teaching and the taught, the sanctifying and the sanctified. This society is the Spouse of Christ. It is by her that He produces His elect. She is the one only Mother of the elect. Out of her bosom there is no salvation. But how is this society to subsist? How is it to persevere through the long ages of time, even to the Last Day? Who is to give it unity and adhesion of its parts? What is to be the visible link between its members, the palpable sign of its being the true Spouse of Christ in the event of other societies rising up and disputing her titles? If Jesus Himself could have remained with us, we should have had nothing to fear, for where He is, there also are truth and life. But as He says, He is going, and we may not as yet follow Him. Give ear, then, and learn what is the primary quality of the true Spouse of Christ.

Jesus was one day, previous to His Passion, in the country of Caesarea Philippi. His Apostles were standing around Him, and He began questioning them about what they thought of Him. One of them, Simon the son of John or Jonas, and brother to Andrew, answered in the name of all, and said: “You are Christ, the Son of the living God!” (Matthew xvi. 16). Jesus expressed His pleasure at receiving Simon’s testimony, which was not the result of any human knowledge, but the expression of a divine revelation there and then granted to him. And He immediately told this Apostle that from that time forward he was to be, not Simon, but Peter (which means a Rock). Christ had been spoken of by the Prophets under the name of a Rock, or Stone (Isaias xxviii. 16). By thus solemnly conferring on His disciple a title so characteristically that of the Messiah, Jesus would give us to understand that Simon was to have a something in common with Himself which the other Apostles were not to have. After saying to him: “You are Peter, (that is, you are the Rock)” — He added: “And upon this Rock I will build my Church” (Matthew xvi. 18).

Let us weigh the force of these words of the Son of God: “He will build my Church.” He has, then, a project in view — He intends to build a Church. It is not now that He will build it, but at some future period. But one thing we already know as a certainty — it is, that this Church will be built on Peter. Peter will be its foundation and whoever is not on that foundation will not belong to the Church. Let us again give ear to the Text: “And the gates of Hell will not prevail against my Church.” In scriptural language gates signify the powers: the Church of Christ, therefore, is to be proof against all the efforts of Hell. And why? Because the foundation, which Jesus is to give to it, will be one that no power can shake. The Son of God continues: “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven.” In the language of the Jews, keys signify the power of governing, and in the Gospel Parables the kingdom of Heaven is the Church built by Christ. By saying to Peter (which is henceforth to be Simon’s name), “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven,” Jesus implied this: “I will make you the king of my Church, of which you are to be the foundation!” Nothing could be clearer. But let us remember that all these magnificent promises regard the future.

That future has now become the present. We are now come to the last days of Jesus’ visible presence here below. The time is come for Him to make good His promise and found the Kingdom of God — that Church which he was to build on the earth. The Apostles, in obedience to the order sent them by the Angels, are come into Galilee. Our Lord appears to them on the shore of the lake of Tiberias: after providing them with a mysterious repast, and while they are all attentive to His words, He suddenly addresses Himself to Peter: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” (John xxi. 15) Observe, He does not call Him Peter. He, as it were, goes back to the day when He said to him: “Simon, son of Jonas, you are Peter.” He would have His disciples note the connection between the promise and its actual fulfilment. Peter with his usual eagerness answers His Master’s question: “Yes Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus resumes with a tone of authority: “Feed my lambs!” Then repeating the question, He says: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter is surprised at His Master’s urging such an inquiry. Still, he answers with the same simplicity as before: “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you”: and as soon as he had given answer, Jesus repeats the words of investiture: “Feed my lambs!” The disciples respectfully listen to this dialogue. They see plainly that, here again, Peter is made an object of Jesus’ partiality, and is receiving a something which they themselves are not to receive. They remember what happened at Cesarea Philippi, and how, ever since that day, Peter has been treated by their Master with especial honour. And yet, there is another privilege or office to be added to this of feeding the lambs. A third time, then, Jesus says to Peter: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” This is too much for the Apostle. These three questionings of his love bring to his mind the three denials he had so sinfully made to the servant girl of Caiphas. He feels the allusion to his recent infidelity, and this third time his answer implies a prayer for forgiveness. His reply bespeaks humility rather than assurance: “Lord!” says he, “you know all things! You know that I love you!” Then, making Peter’s authority complete, Jesus pronounces these imposing words: “Feed my sheep!” (John xxi. 17)

Here, then, we have Peter made Shepherd by Him who says of Himself: “I am the good Shepherd.” Firstly, our Lord gives His Apostle, and twice over, the care of his lambs. This does not make him the complete Shepherd, but when He bids him feed His sheep too, the whole flock is subjected to his authority. Now, therefore, let the Church show herself, let her take her stand, let her spread herself through the length and breadth of the nations. Simon, the son of John, is proclaimed its visible head. Is the Church a building? He is the Foundation-Stone, the Petra, the Rock. Is she a kingdom? he holds the keys, that is, the sceptre. Is she a fold? He is the Shepherd. Yes, this Church which Jesus is now organising, and is to be proclaimed to the world on the day of Pentecost, is to be a fold. The Word, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, is come down from heaven that He may gather together in one the children of God, that were dispersed (John xi. 52) and the time is at hand when there will be but one Fold and one Shepherd (John x. 16). O Jesus! our Divine Shepherd! We bless you, we give you thanks. It is by you that the Church you are now founding subsists and lives through every age, congregating and saving all that put themselves under her guidance. Her authority, her strength, her unity, all come from you, her infinitely powerful and merciful Shepherd! We likewise bless and thank you for that you have secured this authority, this strength, this unity, by giving us Peter as your Vicar, Peter our Shepherd in and by you, Peter to whom all, both Sheep and Lambs, owe obedience, Peter in whom you, our Divine Head, will be forever visible, even to the end of the world!

Epistle – 1 Peter ii. 21‒25

Dearly beloved, Christ suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow His steps. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth. Who, when He was reviled, did not revile; when He suffered, He threatened not, but delivered Himself to him that judged Him unjustly. Who His own self bore our sins in His body upon the tree, that we being dead to sins, should live to justice. By by whose stripes you were healed. For you were as sheep going astray, but you are now converted to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Thanks be to God. 

Dom Prosper Gueranger:

It is the Prince of the Apostles, the visible Shepherd of the universal Church, who addresses these words to us. Observe how he ends by turning our thoughts to the invisible Shepherd whose Vicar he is, and how carefully he avoids any allusion to himself. So, also, when assisting his disciple Mark to write his Gospel, he would not allow him to relate the history of Christ’s having made him the Shepherd of the whole Flock, whereas, he insisted on his telling every circumstance of his thrice denying Jesus to be his Master. See, too, how feelingly the Apostle here speaks of his Saviour — of the sufferings He endured, of His patience, of His devotedness for those poor straying sheep of whom He was to form His fold! These words will one day be verified in Peter himself. The hour will come when, like his Master, He will be fastened to a cross and patiently endure every insult and cruelty. Jesus told him that it was to be so. After entrusting him with the care of the Sheep and Lambs, our Lord told him that when he should have grown old, he would stretch forth his hands on a cross, and suffer violence from men (John xxi. 18) This is to happen not merely to Peter, but to a considerable number of his successors who are one with himself, and whom future generations are to see continually persecuted, exiled, imprisoned and put to death. Let us, also, follow Jesus’ steps by cheerfully suffering for justice’ sake: we owe it to Him, who, from all eternity, being equal in glory to God the Father, deigned to come down to our earth that He might be the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls.

Gospel – John x. 11‒16

At that time, Jesus said to the Pharisees, “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives his life for the sheep. But the hireling, and he that is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeing the wolf coming, leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches and scatters the sheep: and the hireling flees, because he is a hireling, and he has no care for the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd; and I know mine, and mine know me; as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for my sheep. And other sheep I have, that are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one fold and one Shepherd.

Praise be to you, O Christ. 

Dom Prosper Gueranger:

Divine Shepherd of our souls! How great is your love for your sheep! You give even your life to save them. The fury of wolves does not make you flee from us. You become their prey that we may escape. You died in our stead because you were our Shepherd. We are not surprised at your requiring from Peter a greater love than thou required from his brother Apostles. You willed to make him their and our Shepherd. Peter answered you without hesitation that he loved you, and you conferred on him your own name, together with the reality of your office, in order that he might supply your place after your departure from this world. Be blessed, Divine Shepherd, for your having thus provided for the necessities of your flock which could not be one, were it to have many shepherds without one supreme Shepherd. In obedience to your command, we bow down before Peter with love and submission. We respectfully kiss his sacred feet, for it is by him that we are united to you. It is by him that we are your sheep. Preserve us, O Jesus, in the fold of Peter, which is yours. Keep far from us the hireling who usurps the place and rights of the Shepherd. He has intruded himself, or been intruded by violence, into the fold, and would have us take him as the master, but he knows not the sheep, and the sheep do not know him. Led, not by zeal, but by avarice and ambition, he flies at the approach of danger. He that governs through worldly motives is not a man to lay down his life for others. The schismatic Pastor loves himself. He does not love your sheep. How could he give his life for them Protect us, O Jesus, from this hireling! He would separate us from you by separating us from Peter who you have appointed your Vicar, and we are determined to recognise no other. Anathema to him who would command us in your Name, and yet not be sent by Peter! Such a Pastor could be but an impostor. He would not rest on the Foundation. He would not have the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. To follow him would be our ruin. Grant, then, Good Shepherd, Jesus, that we may ever keep close to you, and to Peter, that as he rests on you, we may rest on him and thus we may defy every tempest, for you, dear Lord, have said: “A wise man built his house on a rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat on that house, and it fell not, for it was founded on a rock” (Matthew vii. 24, 25).

18 APRIL – SATURDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF EASTER

 

Dom Prosper Gueranger:

This being Saturday, let us once more think of Mary and of the joy she feels at the Resurrection of her Son. She had been His companion in His sufferings. There was not one that she had not endured and suffered as far as a mere creature could suffer: so, too, there is not a single glory or gladness of the Resurrection in which she is not now made to participate. It was meet that she to whom God had granted the grace and merit of sharing in the work of the Redemption should take her part in the prerogatives which belong to her Jesus, now that He is risen. Her soul is raised to a higher state of perfection. Grace loads her with new favours. Her actions and sentiments become more than ever heavenly. She was the first to receive a visit from Jesus after His Resurrection — the first, consequently, to receive from Him His own New Life. Can we be astonished at her receiving it when we remember that every Christian, who, being purified by his having compassionated with Jesus in His Passion, unites himself afterwards with holy Church in the sublime mystery of the Pasch, becomes a sharer in the life of His Risen Lord?

This transformation which in us is weak and often, alas! of short duration, was perfect in Mary, for her high vocation and her incomparable fidelity deserved that it should be so of her, then, far more truly than of us, it may be said, that she was indeed risen in her Jesus. The thought of these forty days during which Mary still possesses her Divine Son on this earth reminds us of those other forty of Bethlehem when we paid our affectionate homage to the young Virgin-Mother who fed her divine babe at her breast. We heard the Angels singing their Gloria, we saw the shepherds and the Magi. All was exquisite sweetness. What mainly impressed us then was the humility of our Emmanuel. We recognised Him as the Lamb that had come to take away the sins of the world. There was nothing that betokened the Mighty God. What changes have happened since that dear time! What sorrows have pierced Mary’s heart before her reaching this blissful season of Paschal joy! The sword foretold by Simeon is now indeed, sheathed, yea, broken for ever, but oh how sharp and cruel have been its thrusts! Well may Mary now say with the Psalmist: “According to the multitude of my sorrows in my heart, your comforts, Lord, have given joy to my soul!” (Psalms xciii. 19). The Lamb, the gentle little Lamb has become the Lion of the tribe of Judah and Mary, the Mother of the babe of Bethlehem, is equally the Mother of the glorious conqueror.

With what delight does He not show the glories of His victories to His Mother! His work is done and now He is the beautiful crowned King of Ages. Yes, this is He whom she held for nine months within her womb, whom she fed at her breast, and who, for all eternity, will honour her as His Mother. He honours her during these his last Forty Days on earth with every possible mark of affection. He satisfies her maternal love by frequently visiting her. How admirable must not these interviews be between such a Son and Mother! How delightedly must not Mary look upon her Jesus now? The same dear one, it is true, but oh so changed from what He was a few days ago! That face, so familiar to Mary, beams with a light which is new even to her. The wounds that remain on His hands, feet and side dart forth a brightness which effaces every recollection of sadness. But how shall we speak of the joy with which Jesus gazes on Mary, His Immaculate Mother — His companion in the work of man’s salvation — the creature who is more perfect and more worthy of love than all other creatures put together? Who could describe the conversations of such a Son with such a Mother during these days preceding His Ascension when another long separation is to follow? Eternity will tell us what they were but, even now, if we love the Son and the Mother, we can imagine some little of what passed between them. Jesus would offer to Mary some compensation for the prolongation of her stay on earth, which is required of her by her ministry as Mother of men. More privileged than was heretofore Martha’s sister, she hears His every word and feeds on its sweetness in an ecstasy of love. O happy hours, to be followed by long years of absence, flow slowly by! Give this Blessed Mother time to satiate her love with the sight and caresses of this dearest and most beautiful of the sons of men! O Mary! by these hours of joy which repaid you for those long bitter ones of your Jesus’ Passion, pray to Him for us that He permit us to feel and relish His presence in our hearts during this our exile in which we are absent from Him (2 Corinthians v. 6). Thus will we persevere in our devoted service until the arrival of that blissful moment when we are to be united with Him in Heaven, never again to be separated from Him.

17 APRIL – FRIDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF EASTER

Dom Prosper Gueranger:

Let us honour the Resurrection of our divine Messiah by offering Him this Easter Sequence of the ancient Missals of Saint Gall’s.

Let our most beautiful praise magnify the new victory of the great King on the Cross.

On the Cross was conquered the empire of death.
On the Cross was made void the hand-writing of the sin that was of old.
On the Cross was sacrificed the Paschal Lamb for the flock.

On the Cross was the winepress trodden by him that came from Edom and Bosra.
It is the antidote that cures the sting of the serpent’s wound.

By the Cross is the world brought back into God’s favour: it was, in Adam, sold by a tree, and by a tree is now redeemed.
By the Cross, the last made of creatures is associated with the Morning Stars, and repairs Heaven’s losses.

Cross! You Tree of Life that bears the Life and Ransom of the world: you are the staff, bearing upon you the Cluster of Grapes from the vineyards of Engaddi.

Christ is our Peace who takes enmities away and gives peace to them that are afar off, and to them that are near.

O mighty Cross! You draw the whole world to yourself and, with your two arms, embraces all mankind.

O lofty Cross! You penetrate into the depths below and raise to Heaven the captives you loose.

On you Christ offered the Temple of His Flesh which had been built in the number of days expressed by the four Greek letters composing Adam’s name — He offered it that it might be destroyed, but He raised it up again in three days, that He might save the four quarters of the world.

O Lamb of the Sovereign Father that, by the Cross, takes away the sins of the world, grant that by our growth in faith, hope and charity, we may be able to comprehend, with all the Saints, the measure of the Holy Cross.

That having compassion on our neighbours and mortifying our flesh we may carry the dear Cross, and be drawn by you to walk in your footsteps.

Thus safe and protected in this life, grant, O Divine Judge that, by the sign of the holy Cross, we may be so, when standing before your tribunal, and may proclaim aloud to all nations, “that the Lord has reigned from the Wood.” Amen.

16 APRIL – THURSDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK AFTER EASTER

Dom Prosper Gueranger:

The Apostles and holy women are not the only ones to enjoy the presence of our Risen Jesus: a countless people of the Just made perfect claim and have the happiness of seeing and reverencing the sacred humanity of this their beloved King. The magnificence of the Resurrection has caused us somewhat to forget those venerable captives of Limbo with whom the Soul of our Redeemer spent the hours that elapsed between His Death and Resurrection. They were the friends of God, and were awaiting in Abraham’s bosom (as the Scripture expresses it), the dawning of light eternal. From the hour of None (3 o’clock) of the great Friday till the day-break of Sunday, the soul of our Emmanuel abode with these holy prisoners who were thus put in possession of infinite happiness. But when the hour of his triumph came how was the Conqueror of Death to leave behind Him these souls whom he had enfranchised by His Death and Resurrection? At the moment fixed by the eternal decree, Jesus’ soul passes from Limbo to the sepulchre and is reunited to His body, but He is accompanied by a jubilant choir of other souls — the souls of the long-imprisoned saints.

On the day of the Ascension they will form His court and rise together with Him, but Heaven’s gate is not yet open and they must needs wait for these forty days to pass during which our Redeemer will organise His Church. They are invisible to the eyes of men, but they dwell in the space above this lowly earth where once they passed their days and merited an eternal recompense. Adam again sees the land which he had tilled in the sweat of his brow. Abel is in admiration at the power of the divine Blood which has sued for mercy, whereas his prayed but for vengeance (Hebrews xii. 24). Noah looks upon this globe and finds it covered with an immense multitude of men, all of whom are descendants of his three sons. Abraham, the father of believers, Isaac also, and Jacob, hail the happy moment when is to be fulfilled the promise which was made to them that all generations should be blessed in Him who was to be born of their race. Moses recognises his people, in whose midst the Messiah, (whom he had announced (John i. 45) and who is greater than he (Hebrews iii. 3) has found so few followers and so many enemies. Job who represents the elect among the Gentiles is filled with joy at seeing his Redeemer living (Job xix. 25) in whom he had hoped in all his trials. David, fired with holy enthusiasm, is preparing canticles for Heaven grander far than those he has left us, to be sung in praise of the Incarnate God, who has espoused our human nature. Isaias and the other Prophets behold the literal fulfilment of all they had foretold. In a word, this countless army of saints formed from the elect of all times and countries is grieved at finding the earth a slave to the worship of false gods. They beseech our Lord, with all the earnestness of prayer, that He would hasten the time for the preaching of the Gospel, which is to rouse from their sleep them that are seated in the shadow of death.

As the elect, when they rise from their graves on the Last Day, will ascend through the air to meet Christ (1 Thessalonians iv. 16) as eagles who gather together, wherever the body may be, (Matthew xiv. 28) so now these holy souls cluster around their divine Deliverer. He is their attraction. The seeing Him, the speaking with Him, is truly a heaven on earth to them. Jesus indulges these Blessed of His Father who are soon to possess the Kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world (Matthew xxv. 34) — He allows them to follow and accompany Him, and thus does He beguile the days which are to be spent before that glorious one of His triumphant Ascension. What mast not have been the happiness of the faithful and chaste Joseph in being thus near his adopted Son, his Creator? With what affection must he not have looked upon his virginal spouse who has been made, at the foot of the Cross, the Mother of men! Who could describe the delight with which Anne and Joachim gaze upon their daughter, the august Mother whom all generations will call “Blessed”? (Luke i. 48) And John, the Precursor, how must he not have exulted at seeing Her, at whose voice he was sanctified in his mother’s womb, and who has given to the world the Lamb that takes all sin away! How affectionately must not these ransomed souls have looked upon the Apostles, those future conquerors of the world, who are now being prepared for the combat by their Divine Master! It is through them that the earth, once brought to the knowledge of the true God, will be ever sending up elect ones to heaven until time will give place to eternity. Let us today honour these hidden but august witnesses of what God’s mercy is preparing for the world’s salvation. We will soon see them ascending to Heaven, of which they will take possession in the name of mankind that has been redeemed by Christ. Let us not forget how, on their way from Limbo to Heaven, they rested with Jesus for forty days on this earth of ours where they themselves had once lived and merited an eternal crown. Their visit brought a blessing with it, and their departure was the signal for us to follow them — it opened the way to the blissful Home which is one day to be ours!

Sing the mourning hymns, holy choir, mourning, but full of hope.
Sing now your canticles to the Divine King, who has broken down the gates of Hell.
He conquers Death, and rising from the Tomb, brings festive joy to the world.
The cursed regions of Hell wonder at the strange event.

They gaze on Him who enters. He is Eternal Life, and they see His power.
The mighty host of demons tremble with fear, and howl, and weep, asking each other, who this may be that dares to break the massive bolts!
’'Tis thus our Lord returns to Earth, surrounded by a glorious troop, and hastens to console the timid hearts of His Disciples.

Let us who celebrate His noble victory, beseech Him in humble prayer, that we may be found worthy to celebrate the great Pasch, in the choir of Virgins. And in that Galilee above sanctified by light, to see the Source of Light. Amen.

15 APRIL – WEDNESDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK AFTER EASTER

 

Dom Prosper Gueranger:

We are not to suppose that because the sacred humanity of our Risen Jesus is resplendent with glory and majesty, it is therefore less accessible to mortals. His kindness and condescension are the same as before; nay, He seems to have become more affectionate than ever, and more desirous to be with the children of men. Surely we have not forgotten what happened during the joyous Octave of the Pasch! His affectionate greeting of the holy women when on their way to the sepulchre. His appearing to Magdalene under the form of a gardener. His conversation with the two disciples of Emmaus, and the means He took to make them recognise Him. His showing Himself on the Sunday evening to the ten, greeting them with His Peace be to you, allowing them to touch Him, and even condescending to eat with them. His amiably bidding Thomas, on the eighth day, to convince himself of the reality of the Resurrection by feeling the wounds. His meeting His disciples at the Lake of Genesareth, blessing their fishing, and providing them with a repast on the bank — all this is proof of the tender love and intimacy with which our Saviour treated His creatures during the forty days after His Resurrection.

As to His visits to His Blessed Mother, we will have another occasion for speaking of them. Today we will consider Him in the midst of His disciples. So frequently is He with them that Saint Luke calls it an appearing to them for forty days (Acts i. 3). The Apostolic College is reduced to eleven, for the place of the traitor Judas is not to be filled up till after our Lord’s Ascension, immediately before the descent of the Holy Ghost. How beautiful in their simplicity are these future messengers of the good tidings to mankind! (Isaias lii. 7) A short while ago they were weak and hesitating in their faith. They forgot all they had seen and heard. They fled from their Master in the hour of trial. As He had foretold it to them, they were scandalised at His humiliations and death. The news of His Resurrection made little impression on them. They even disbelieved it. And yet, they found Him so affectionate, so gentle in his reproaches, that they soon resumed the confidence and intimacy they had had with Him during His mortal life. Peter, who had been the most unfaithful, as well as the most presumptuous, of all, has now regained his position of the most honoured of the Apostles, and, in a few days hence, is to receive a special proof of Jesus’ having forgotten his past disloyalty. He and his fellow-Apostles can think of nothing now but of Jesus. When He is with them, they feast on the beauty and glory of His appearance. His words are dearer to them than ever, for they understand them better now that they have been enlightened by the mysteries of the Passion and Resurrection. They eagerly listen to all that He says, and He says more than formerly, because he is so soon to leave them. They know that the day will soon come when they will no longer be able to hear His voice. They, therefore, treasure up His words as though they were His last will, and how could they better fit themselves for the mission He has entrusted to them? It is true, they do not, as yet, fully enter into all the mysteries they are to preach to the world — they could not even remember so many sublime things — but Jesus tells them that he will soon send upon them the Holy Ghost, who will not only give them courage, but will also bless them with spiritual understanding, and will enable them to remember all that He, Jesus, has taught them (John xiv. 26).

Nor must we forget the holy women, those faithful companions of Jesus who followed Him up to Calvary, and were the first to be rewarded with the joys of the Resurrection. Their Divine Master could not overlook them now: He praises their devotedness, He encourages them, He takes every opportunity of repaying them. Heretofore, as the Gospel tells us, (Matthew xxvii. 55) they provided Him with food. Now that He needs no earthly nourishment, He feasts them with His dear presence: they see Him, they hear His words. The very thought that he is soon to be taken from them makes these happy days doubly precious to them. They are the venerable mothers of the Christian people. They are our illustrious ancestors in the faith, and on the day of the Descent of the Holy Ghost, we will find them with the Apostles in the Cenacle, receiving the Tongues of Fire. Woman is to be represented on that glorious occasion when the Church is to be made manifest before the world. The Women of Calvary and the Sepulchre are chosen for this office, and right well do they deserve to share in the bright joys of Pentecost.

14 APRIL – SAINTS TIBURTIUS, VALERIAN AND MAXIMUS (Martyrs)

Valerian, a Roman by birth and of a noble family, was married to the blessed Caecila who was of equal nobility. By the advice of this virgin he and his brother Tiburtius were baptised by the holy Pope Urban during the reign of the emperor Alexander Severus. Almachius, the City Prefect, having been informed that they had become Christians, had distributed their patrimony among the poor and were burying the bodies of the Christians, summoned them before him and severely rebuked them. Finding, however, that they persevered in confessing Christ to be God and in proclaiming the gods to be but vain images of devils, he ordered them to be scourged. But they were not to be induced by this scourging to adore the idols of Jupiter. They continued firm in the profession of the true Faith: they were, therefore, beheaded four miles out of Rome. One of the Prefect’s officials named Maximus, who had been appointed to lead them to execution, was filled with admiration at seeing the courage with which they suffered, and professed himself to be a Christian, as did likewise several other servants of the Prefect. Not long after, they were all beaten to death with whips loaded with plummets of lead: and thus, from being slaves of the devil, they became Martyrs of Christ our Lord.

Dom Prosper Guéranger:

Let us affectionately welcome the brave triumvirate of Martyrs presented today to our Risen Jesus by the Roman Church of the second century. The first is Valerian, the chaste and noble spouse of Caecila. He wears on his brow a wreath of roses and lilies. The second is Tiburtius, Valerian’s brother, and, like him, a convert of Caecila’s. He shows us the triumphant palm he so speedily won. Maximus is the third. He witnessed the combat and the victory of the two brothers, imitated their example and followed them to Heaven. The immortal Caecila is the queen of this holy group. She taught them to be Martyrs. She has a right to our remembrance on this day of their Feast. She herself shared in their privilege of being martyred during Paschal Time, but her Feast is not kept till November when we will find her imparting an exquisite loveliness to the close of the Liturgical Year.

For many centuries, the Church admitted none but secondary Feasts into the present Season, and this in order the more to concentrate the attention of the Faithful on the mystery of our Lord’s Resurrection. Hence the feast of Saint Caecilia which was formerly kept with a Vigil was deferred to a Season when it could be solemnised as it deserved. The Church now makes a commemoration only of our three great Martyrs.

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Holy and precious fruits of the great Caecilia’s apostolate! We this day unite with the blessed Spirits in celebrating your entrance into the court of Heaven. You, O Valerian, were led to Faith, and to the sublimest of all virtues, by your noble spouse. You were the first to enter into the joy of the Lord. But in a few days your Caecilia followed you, and the love begun on Earth was made eternal in Heaven. Speaking of you and her, an Angel said that your Roses and Lilies should never fade. Their fragrance of love and purity is sweeter by far now than when they bloomed here below. You, O Tiburtius, brother of these two angels of Earth! You owe to them your beautiful Martyr’s palm. You are a sharer in their eternal happiness, and the three names Caecilia, Valerian and Tiburtius are to be for ever united in the admiration of Angels and men. The sight of the two brothers suffering so bravely for Christ inflamed your ambition, O Maximus, to imitate them. The God of Caecilia became yours. You shed your blood for Him, and He in return has put you in Heaven near Caecilia, Valerian and Tiburtius to whom, while on Earth, you were so inferior by birth and position. Now, therefore, O holy Martyrs, be our protectors and hear the prayers we address to you. Speak in our favour to the Immortal King for whom you so bravely fought and died. Ask Him to fill our hearts with His love, and make us generous like you. You despised this fleeting life. We, too, must despise it if we would share in the happiness you now enjoy — the sight of our Risen Lord. The battle we have to fight may, perhaps, be different from yours but the reward that awaits us is, like your own, everlasting. Rather than betray Christ, you laid down your lives. Our duty is the same. We must die rather than sin. Pray for us, O holy Martyrs, that our lives may henceforward be such as will honour this year’s Pasch. Pray, also, for the Church of Rome, your Mother. Her days of trial have returned. She has a right to count on your intercession for obtaining the help she needs.

Also on this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:

The feast of St. Justin, martyr, who is mentioned on the thirteenth of this month.

At Teramo, St. Proculus, bishop and martyr.

Also St. Domnina, virgin and martyr, crowned with other virgins, her companions.

At Alexandria, St. Thomaides, martyr. 

The same day, St. Ardalion, an actor. One day, in the theatre, while mocking the holy rites of the Christian religion, he was suddenly converted and bore testimony to it, not only by his words, but also with his blood.

At Lyons, St. Lambert, bishop and confessor.

At Alexandria, St. Fronto, an abbot, whose life was adorned with sanctity and miracles.

At Rome, St. Abundius, resident sacristan of the church of St. Peter.

And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.

Thanks be to God.

14 APRIL – TUESDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK AFTER EASTER

 

Dom Prosper Gueranger:

“What are these wounds in the midst of your hands?” (Zacharias xiii. 6) —Such was the exclamation of the Prophet Zacharias who lived 500 years before the birth of our Emmanuel: and we are almost forced to use it now that we behold the Wounds that shine so brightly in the glorified Body of our Risen Lord. His hands and feet bear the mark of the Nails, and His side that of the Spear. The Wounds are as visible and as deep as when He was first taken down from the Cross. “Put in your finger here,” said Jesus, holding out His wounded hands to Thomas: “Put your hand into my side!” (John xx. 27).

We assisted at this wonderful interview on Sunday last — the incredulity of the Disciple was made an occasion for the most incontestable proof of the Resurrection: but it also taught us that when our Lord arose from the tomb He retained in His glorified Flesh the stigmata of His Passion. Consequently, he will retain them forever, inasmuch as no change can have further place in His Person. What He was the moment after His Resurrection, that will He be for all eternity. But we are not to suppose that these sacred stigmata which tell of His humiliation on Calvary are, in the slightest degree, a lessening of His glory. He retains them because He wishes to do so; and He wishes it because these wounds, far from attesting defeat or weakness, proclaim His irresistible power and triumph. He has conquered Death; the Wounds received in the combat are the record of His victory. He will enter Heaven on the day of His Ascension, and the rays of light which beam from His wounds will dazzle the eyes of even the Angels.

In like manner, as the Holy Fathers tell us (Saint Augustine, The City of God), His martyrs who have imitated Him in vanquishing death will also shine with special brightness in those parts of their bodies where they were tortured. And is not our Risen Jesus to exercise, from His throne in heaven, that sublime Mediatorship for which He assumed our Human Nature? Is He not to be ever disarming the anger of His Father justly irritated by our sins? Is He not to make perpetual intercession for us and obtain for mankind the graces necessary for salvation? Divine Justice must be satisfied, and what would become of poor sinners were it not that the Man-God, by showing the precious wounds on His body, stays the thunderbolts of Heaven and makes mercy preponderate over judgement? (James ii. 13)

O sacred Wounds! The handiwork of our sins and now our protection! We shed bitter tears when we first beheld you on Calvary, but we now adore you as the five glories of our Emmanuel! Hail most precious Wounds! Our hope and our defence! And yet, the day will come when these sacred Stigmata which are now the object of the Angels’ admiration will be again shown to mankind and many will look upon them with fear for, as the Prophet says: “They will look upon Him whom they have pierced” (Zacharias xii. 12). These men who during life heeded neither the Sufferings of the Passion, nor the Joys of the Resurrection, but rather despised and insulted them, will have treasured up for themselves the most terrible vengeance — for could it be that a God could be crucified and rise again, and both to no purpose? We can understand how sinners will say on that last day: “Fall upon us, ye mountains! and ye hills, cover us!” (Luke xxiii. 30). Hide us from the sight of these wounds which now dart upon us the lightnings of angry justice!”

O sacred Wounds of our Risen Jesus! be a source of mercy and joy, on that dread day, to all them that spent the Easters of their earthly pilgrimage in rising to a holy life! Happy the Disciples who were privileged to gaze upon you during these forty days! And happy we, if we venerate and love you! — Let us here borrow the devout words of Saint Bernard: “Where can I that am weak find security and rest, but in the Wounds of Jesus? The greater is His power to save, the surer am I in my dwelling there. The world howls at me, the body weighs me down, the devil sets snares to take me; but I fall not, for I am on the firm Rock. I have sinned a grievous sin; my conscience will throw me into trouble, but not into despair, for I will remember the Wounds of my Lord. Yes, He was wounded for our iniquities! (Isaias liii. 5) What I have not of mine own, I take to myself from the Heart of my Jesus, for it is overflowing with mercy. Neither are there wanting outlets, through which it may flow: they have pierced His hands and feet (Psalm xxi. 17), and, with a spear, they have opened His side, enabling me, through these chinks, to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the hardest stone (Deuteronomy xxxii. 13): that is, to taste and see how sweet is the Lord. He thought thoughts of peace (Jeremias xxix. 11) and I knew it not, for who has known the mind of the Lord? or who has been His counsellor? (Romans xi. 34). But the Nail that wounded, is the key that opened to me to see the design of the Lord. I looked through the aperture, and what saw I? The Nail and Wound both told me that truly God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (2 Corinthians v. 19). The Iron pierced His soul (Psalm civ. 18) and reached even to His Heart, so that henceforth He cannot but know how to compassionate with me in my infirmities. The secret of His Heart is revealed by the Wounds of His Body; the great mystery of mercy is revealed — the bowels of the mercy of our God, in which the Orient from on high has visited us (Luke i. 78). What, O Lord, could more clearly show me, than do your Wounds, that you are sweet and mild, and plenteous in mercy?” (Psalm lxxxv. 5).

13 APRIL – MONDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK AFTER EASTER

 

Dom Prosper Gueranger:

The first week has been devoted to the joyous celebration of our Emmanuel’s return to us. He has been visiting us each day in order to make us sure of His Resurrection. He has said to us: “See me! Touch me! Feel! it is indeed I!” (Luke xxiv. 39) But we know that His visible presence among us is not to last beyond forty days. This happy period is rapidly advancing; the time seems to go so quickly! In a few weeks He for whom the whole Earth has been in such expectation will have disappeared from our sight. Expectation and Saviour of Israel, why will you be as a stranger in the land, and as a way-faring man turning in to lodge? Why will you be as a wanderer? (Jeremias xiv. 8, 9) —So much the more precious are the hours, then! Let us keep close by His side. When we cannot hear His words, let us fix our eyes on Him. But when He does speak, let us treasure this week in considering Him as the Risen Jesus, dwelling among men and winning their admiration and love. We have contemplated Him in the humility of His swathing-bands and Passion. Let us now exultingly feast on the sight of His glory.

He presents Himself to us as the most beautiful of the sons of men (Psalm xliv. 3). He was always so, even when He veiled the splendour of His charms under the infirmity of the mortal flesh He had assumed, but what must not His beauty be now that He has vanquished death and permits the rays of His glory to shine forth without restraint? His age is forever fixed at that of thirty-three: it is the period of life in which man is at the height of his strength and beauty without a single sign of decay. It was the state in which God created Adam, whom He formed to the likeness of the Redeemer to come. It will be the state of the bodies of the just on the day of the General Resurrection — they will bear upon them the measure of the perfect age (Ephesians iv. 13) which our Lord had when He arose from His tomb.

But it is not only by the beauty of His features that the body of our Risen Jesus delights the eye of such as are permitted to gaze upon Him: it is now endowed with the glorious qualities of which the three Apostles caught a glimpse on Mount Thabor. In the Transfiguration, however, the Humanity shone as the sun because of its union with the Person of the Word. But now, besides the brightness due to it by the Incarnation, the glorified body of our Redeemer has that which comes from His being Conqueror and King. His Resurrection has given Him such additional resplendence that the sun is not worthy to be compared with Him, and Saint John tells us that He is the Lamp that lights up the heavenly Jerusalem (Apocalypse xii. 23).

To this quality which the Apostle of the Gentiles calls Brightness (Phillipians iii. 21) is added that of Impassibility by which the body of our Risen Lord has ceased to be accessible to suffering or death, and is adorned with the immortality of life. His body is as truly and really a body as ever, but it is now impervious to any deterioration or weakness. Its life is to bloom for all eternity. The third quality of our Redeemer’s glorified body is Agility, by which it can pass from one place to another, instantly and without effort. The flesh has lost that weight which in our present state prevents the body from keeping pace with the longings of the soul. He passes from Jerusalem to Galilee in the twinkling of an eye, and the Spouse of the Canticle thus speaks of Him: “The voice of my Beloved! Behold He comes leaping upon the mountains, skipping over the hills! (Canticles ii. 8).

Finally, the body of our Emmanuel has put on the quality of Subtility (which the Apostle calls “Spirituality” (1 Corinthians xv. 44)) by which it is enabled to penetrate every material obstacle more easily than a sunbeam makes its way through glass. On the morning of His Resurrection He passed through the stone that stood against the mouth of the sepulchre, and on the same day He entered the Cenacle, though its doors were shut, and stood before His astonished disciples.

Such is our Saviour, now that He is set free from the shackles of mortality. Well may the little flock that is favoured with His visits exclaim on seeing Him: “How fair and comely are you” (Canticles I. 15).

O dearest Master! — Let us join our praises with theirs, and say: Yes, dearest Jesus, you are beautiful above all the sons of men! A few days back, and we wept at beholding you covered with wounds, as though you had been the worst of criminals. But now our eyes feast on the resplendent charm of your divine beauty. Glory be to you in your triumph! Glory, too, be to you in your generosity, which has decreed that these our bodies, after having been purified by the humiliation of the tomb, will one day share in the prerogatives which we now admire in you!