Virgo Potens

2 of 2 THE DESCENT OF JESUS TO LIMBUS Hymn (continued from above) 5. And Eve like Joseph's shadow hung About him wheresoever he went ; She lived on thoughts of Mary's child, Trembled with hope, and was content. 6. But see how hushed the crowd of souls ! Whence comes the light of upper day ? What glorious Form is this that finds Through central earth its ready way ? 7. 'Tis God ! 'tis Man ! the living Soul Of Jesus, beautiful and bright, The first-born of created things, Flushed with a pure resplendent light. 8. 'Twas Mary's child ! Eve saw Him come ; She flew from Joseph's haunted side, And worshipped, first of all that crowd, The Soul of Jesus Crucified. 9. So after four long thousand years, Faith reached her end, and Hope her aim, And from them, as they passed away, Love lit her everlasting flame ! ~ Frederick William Faber, D.D. Hymns (1861)

1 of 2 THE DESCENT OF JESUS TO LIMBUS 1. Thousands of years had come and gone, And slow the ages seemed to move To those expectant souls that filled That prison-house of patient love. 2. It was a weary watch of theirs, But onward still their hopes would press ; Captives they were, yet happy too, In their contented weariness. 3. As noiseless tides the ample depths Of some capacious harbor fill, So grew the calm of that dread place Each day with increase swift and still. 4. Sweet tidings there St. Joseph took ; The Saviour's work had then begun, And of His Three-and-Thirty Years But three alone were left to run. (continued below)

2 of 2 Easter Eve — The Entombment 1. When Our Lady's mournful task was finished, the body of Jesus was laid in the new tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, there to remain until the hour of its joyful resurrection. Let us contemplate it as it lies there: disfigured by countless wounds and scars; so apparently helpless, yet none the less the joy of God and worthy of our highest adoration. Passive and cold and motionless, but soon to be radiant with the most dazzling beauty; dead, but living with a divine life. Learn from this (a) the glory of suffering; (b) the power of apparent helplessness when God is with us; (c) the beauty of passive obedience; (d) the true life of those who are dead to the world. 2. What was Our Lord doing while thus apparently inactive in the silent tomb? He was beginning His work of triumph, delivering countless souls from purgatory and from limbo, consoling the patriarchs and prophets, fulfilling His promise of paradise to the good thief, trampling on Satan and changing the kingdoms of this world into the kingdoms of God and of His Christ. So it is with us. When we seem useless and doing nothing, we are often really doing the greatest things for God. 3. The tomb whereChrist is laid is to be the model of my soul when I receive holy Communion: silent from all din of earthly things, cleansed from all stain of sin by a good confession and firm resolution to amend, dedicated to Him alone, His sacred body embalmed by my love, and wrapped in the clean winding-sheet of purity of intention. Thus will His presence there be the pledge of my resurrection with Him. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Holy Eucharist ~ April 19th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ Easter Eve — The Entombment Read St. Luke xxiii. 50-56 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 doings;) 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 hewed in stone, wherein never yet any man had been laid. And it was the day of the Parasceve, and the sabbath drew on. And the women that were come with him from Galilee, following after, saw the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And returning, they prepared spices and ointments; and on the sabbath day they rested, according to the commandment. (continued)

2 of 2 FIVE OFFERINGS OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST FOR SINS FIFTH OFFERING (continued) I offer to thee all the scornful mockeries and the blasphemies which assailed his sacred Ears, all the words be uttered from the cross, all the tears he shed, all the quivering of his holy limbs in their agony, all the anguish and torment of his sacred Heart, all the sighs and prayers which he breathed towards thee, all his shrinking from nakedness and from the rude gaze of the crowd, all his acts of virtue on the cross, all the compassion, the sobs, the tears of his most desolate Mother and of all his friends; I offer thee, last of all, that most bitter, most cruel, most agonising death, which impetuous love and thrilling anguish inflicted on him, most humbly beseeching thee that, by the merits of his most holy Life and Passion and Death, thou wouldst wash my soul from all its stains and defilements in his most precious Blood, and adorn it with the merits and virtues of his Humanity, and strengthen it at its departure hence with his Passion and Death. Amen. After each of these offerings you may say a Pater Noster. ~ Preces Gertrudianæ (1861)

❀•°❀°•❀•°❀°•❀ FIVE OFFERINGS OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST FOR SINS FIFTH OFFERING O MOST gracious and clement God, for all my sins, mortal and venial, for all my negligences and omissions, for all the guilt I have contracted and all the punishment I have deserved, I offer thee the unutterable anguish which pierced the Heart of thy Son when the cross was uplifted and let fall suddenly into its place, and all the weight of his sacred Body was borne by three nails. (continued below)

2 of 2 Good Friday — The Descent from the Cross 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 sepulchre which was hewed out of a rock. And he rolled a stone to the door of the sepulchre. 1. No sooner is the sacrifice consummated and the last drop of the precious blood shed from Our Lord's Sacred Heart, than all is changed. That lifeless body is now treated with the utmost respect and veneration. See how gently and carefully Joseph and Nicodemus wind linen bands around the limbs and lower it to the ground, reverently adoring that body which had only a few hours before been a laughing-stock and object of contempt. Henceforth no more ignominy, no more contempt, no more ill-usage, but the love and adoration of saints and angels to all eternity. 2. Our Lady receives the body of her Son. What were her thoughts as she gazes into the five wounds, and sees how from head to foot it is covered with gaping wounds and bruises, battered out of all shape by the cruelty of man? O Mother of Sorrows, great as an ocean is thy sorrow! What can be thy hatred of sin when thou seest what it has wrought in the divine beauty of thy spotlessSon! What a mixture of agonized compassion and mournful sorrow, and hope and consolation, and gratitude and triumphant joy, fills thy sacred soul while thou lookest on the dead body of thy Son! 3. The day on which Jesus died is indeed well called Good Friday. It is the day when Jesus consummated His victory over sin and death. While we mourn over His sufferings and our sins which caused them, we must also rejoice exceedingly at the thought of Satan conquered and heaven opened, and millions of sinners cleansed from sin in His most precious Blood ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Holy Eucharist ~ April 18th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ Good Friday — The Descent from the Cross Read St. Mark xv. 38-46 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, said: Indeed this man was the son of God. And there were also women looking on afar off: 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, (because it was the Parasceve, that is, 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. (continued)

2 of 2 FIVE OFFERINGS OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST FOR SINS FOURTH OFFERING (continued) I offer thee the cruel and most fearful anguish of his Heart, when his most sacred Hands and Feet were nailed to the cross. Remember, O most compassionate Father, how humbly and how piteously thy Son laid himself down upon the cross, not knowing where to lay his head by reason of the intensity of his intolerable agony. Remember what tears his eyes poured forth to thee, what sighs broke forth from his heart towards thee, how many drops of priceless blood dripped from his sacred wounds, what sorrow and horror of thick darkness pervaded his human soul as death came slowly onwards. I set forth before thee with gratitude and lively compassion all these bloodsheddings and tears, all the anguish of his distorted and dislocated limbs, all his groanings and sighs, and all the love and the patience with which thy Son endured them all; beseeching thee that thou wouldst cleanse me from my sins, and render me in all things well-pleasing to thee. Amen. After each of these offerings you may say a Pater Noster.

❀•°❀°•❀•°❀°•❀ FIVE OFFERINGS OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST FOR SINS FOURTH OFFERING O MOST merciful God, for all the sins and iniquities which I have committed against thee with my body or my soul, I offer thee all that exceeding sorrow which thy Son endured, when the garments which cleaved to his lacerated flesh were roughly stripped off, and all his wounds thus mercilessly torn open afresh. (continued below)

2 of 2 Maundy Thursday — Jesus' Mystical Death in the Blessed Eucharist 1. Each time that holy Mass is said, the sacrifice of our blessed Lord upon the cross is represented in the sacrifice that takes place upon the altar. Thus, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, on the divine decree, continues to be slain mystically, and will continue as long as the world shall last. With such a sight before our eyes, how can we ever forget Him? how can we ever lose heart or despond with this abiding proof of His tender love be fore our eyes? 2. In the blood and water that flowed from Our Lord's side when pierced by the centurion's spear were represented the sacraments of the Church, the blood of Christ that extricates us in holy Communion, the water that cleanses our souls in baptism and penance. His Sacred Heart that was open then is open still; the rich stream of graces still continues; it has flowed even unto me. What countless graces I have received from the love that has been poured upon me from the Sacred Heart of Jesus! 3. The Sacred Host that we receive in holy Communion reminds us in many things of the dead body of Jesus as it hung upon the cross, all the glory hidden—no life to all appearance there; in the power of all to treat it as they choose; reduced to the lowest humiliation. Yet it is our God and our Lord, the object of the adoring love of angels and of men, He Whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain, Who condescends to be our Guest and the food of our souls. Meditate on the unspeakable love of Jesus sacrificed for us! ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Holy Eucharist ~ April 17th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ Maundy Thursday — Jesus' Mystical Death in the Blessed Eucharist Read St. John xix. 34-37 But one of the soldiers with a spear opened his side, and immediately there came out blood and water. 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. 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. (continued)

Month of the Holy Eucharist ~ April 16th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ Wednesday after the Fifth Sunday in Lent — The Death of Jesus Read St. Luke xxiii. 45-48 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And Jesus crying out with a loud voice, said: Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. And saying this, he gave up the ghost. Now the centurion, seeing what was done, glorified God, saying: Indeed this was a just man. And all the multitude of them that were come together to that sight, and saw the things that were done, returned striking their breasts. (continued)

2 of 2 FIVE OFFERINGS OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST FOR SINS THIRD OFFERING (continued) I offer thee that way of sorrows he went to the Mount Calvary, laden with his heavy cross; I offer thee the weariness of his sacred limbs, the ruthlessness of the soldiers, the shouts and derision of the mob, his footprints traced in blood, and whatsoever he did or suffered throughout his whole life. And setting forth all these before thee with gratitude and lively compassion, I beseech thine inexhaustible goodness, that by their virtue and their merit thou wouldst wash me from my sins, and render me in all things well-pleasing to thee. Amen. After each of these offerings you may say a Pater Noster.

❀•°❀°•❀•°❀°•❀ FIVE OFFERINGS OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST FOR SINS THIRD OFFERING O MOST long-suffering God, for all the good I have omitted through my sloth and lukewarmness, I offer thee that love wherewith thy Son endured his intolerable anguish, when he was crowned with thorns, hailed with impious derision, shamefully spit upon, smitten with reeds and buffeted, dragged before the judgment-seat and unjustly condemned; when a murderer and thief was preferred to him, and an ungodly rabble clamoured for his death. (continued below)

2 of 2 Wednesday after the Fifth Sunday in Lent — The Death of Jesus 1. After Our Lord has hung in agony for three hours upon the cross, at last the time approaches when His deliverance is at hand. He has endured every possible form of suffering, bodily and mental. His body has been subjected to a physical torture far worse than the accumulated sufferings of the martyrs; His sacred soul has been rent asunder with an anguish and desolation more awful than any save the eternal anguish of hell. He has sacrificed His honor,His reputation; He has been esteemed a fool and a madman. Now there is only one sacrifice more that He can make to His Eternal Father for man—the sacrifice of His life. He is determined to give up all for us, to be obedient even to death. 2. What was it that caused the death of Our Lord? Not the executioners, not the Jews, not the agony of the cross; they were but instruments. It was sin. Sin had in it a malice sufficient even to rob of life God, Our Lord and King. What a strange mystery sin is! And how strange that we do not hate it more when we see its power to destroy! 3. The death of jesus was no transient occurrence. He still mystically dies for us each day and each hour. When we receive holy Communion, we "show the death of the Lord till He come" and, therefore, His sacred Passion and Death should be the chief subject of our thoughts whenever we approach the holy Table, and especially on the eve of the solemn day when He instituted the sacrament of His love ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Holy Eucharist ~ April 16th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ Wednesday after the Fifth Sunday in Lent — The Death of Jesus Read St. Luke xxiii. 45-48 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And Jesus crying out with a loud voice, said: Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. And saying this, he gave up the ghost. Now the centurion, seeing what was done, glorified God, saying: Indeed this was a just man. And all the multitude of them that were come together to that sight, and saw the things that were done, returned striking their breasts. (continued)

2 of 2 Wednesday after the Fifth Sunday in Lent — The Death of Jesus 1. After Our Lord has hung in agony for three hours upon the cross, at last the time approaches when His deliverance is at hand. He has endured every possible form of suffering, bodily and mental. His body has been subjected to a physical torture far worse than the accumulated sufferings of the martyrs; His sacred soul has been rent asunder with an anguish and desolation more awful than any save the eternal anguish of hell. He has sacrificed His honor,His reputation; He has been esteemed a fool and a madman. Now there is only one sacrifice more that He can make to His Eternal Father for man—the sacrifice of His life. He is determined to give up all for us, to be obedient even to death. 2. What was it that caused the death of Our Lord? Not the executioners, not the Jews, not the agony of the cross; they were but instruments. It was sin. Sin had in it a malice sufficient even to rob of life God, Our Lord and King. What a strange mystery sin is! And how strange that we do not hate it more when we see its power to destroy! 3. The death of jesus was no transient occurrence. He still mystically dies for us each day and each hour. When we receive holy Communion, we "show the death of the Lord till He come" and, therefore, His sacred Passion and Death should be the chief subject of our thoughts whenever we approach the holy Table, and especially on the eve of the solemn day when He instituted the sacrament of His love ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

2 of 2 FIVE OFFERINGS OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST FOR SINS SECOND OFFERING (continued) Behold, O compassionate Father, with what composed modesty He stood at the pillar, how with all His heart He sighed unto Thee, how many blows and gashes He received, and with how many wounds His flesh was torn, what anguish penetrated even to His bones, and how many the drops of His most sacred Blood which flowed forth from His wounds; and setting forth all these before Thee, with gratitude and lively compassion, I beseech Thee that by their virtue and their merit Thou wouldst receive me into Thy favour, and render me in all things well-pleasing to Thee. Amen. After each of these offerings you may say a Pater Noster. ~ Preces Gertrudianæ (1861)

❀•°❀°•❀•°❀°•❀ FIVE OFFERINGS OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST FOR SINS SECOND OFFERING O MOST compassionate God, for all the perverse and wicked actions which I have done with the several members of my body I offer Thee that inexpressible affront and grief which thy Son endured, when His sacred Face was so shamefully spit upon and smitten; when He was unjustly accused before Pilate and Herod, was scornfully mocked and blasphemously insulted. I offer Thee the ignominious stripping off of His garments, the harsh binding to the pillar, His painful scourging, His grievous wounds, and His excessive effusion of blood. (continued below)