Virgo Potens

2 of 2 Month of the Holy Eucharist ~ April 27th We do not wonder when we see the fig-tree bearing its figs year after year, and the apple-tree its apples. No; because each tree bears its own fruit. In the same way pride is rooted like a tree in our hearts; and our sins of anger, envy, hatred, malice and uncharitableness and rash judgments of others which we confess over and over again are the fruit of pride; but as we never strike at the root of this pride these same sins, like clipped branches, ever sprout out anew. Let us endeavour to eradicate pride thoroughly, following the advice of St. Bernard: “Put the axe to the root” [Serm. 2 de Assum.] and then we shall have great joy and consolation in our own conscience. We must regard pride as the king of all vices and follow the wise advice given by the king of Syria to his captains: “You shall not fight against any, small or great, but against the king only.” [3 Kings, xxiii, 31] Judith too, by killing the proud Holofernes, conquered the whole Assyrian army. And David triumphed over all the Philistines by slaying the proud Goliath; and in like manner we shall also triumph, because by conquering pride we shall have subdued all other vices. King David erred in one thing, for knowing Absalom to be the chief of the rebels he yet commanded that he should neither be killed nor hurt: “Save me the boy Absalom.” [2 Kings, xvii, 15] Alas, how many imitators he has found! We know full well that pride is the chief rebel among all our passions, but notwithstanding it is the one which we seem to respect the most, and which we almost fear to offend displaying even a tendency to encourage it. ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

Month of the Holy Eucharist ~ April 27th 83. Pride is the root of all our vices, so that, when once we have uprooted it, those vices will little by little disappear also. This is the true reason of our having to accuse ourselves of the same sins over and over again in our confessions, because we never confess that pride which is the root of them all. (continued)

2 of 2 23.— The Second Appearance of Jesus to the assembled Apostles 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. 1. One of the apostles, St. Thomas, had been absent when Jesus first appeared to them. When the rest announced the visit of their Master, Thomas would not believe them: he stood out against their consentient voice, and declared that he would remain incredulous till he had actually put his finger into the sacred wounds of Our Lord's hands and feet, and thrust his hand into His side. Men fancy that in early days the followers of Christ were ready to accept every marvel without question, but what modern sceptic could be more sceptical than Thomas? He had heard the ancient prophecies, the repeated predictions of Our Lord, the united testimony of the apostles, yet he would not believe. Pray for a loyal readiness to believe. 2. Our Lord had waited eight days before again visiting His apostles. He was preparing them for His final departure from them— training them to remember Him whom they saw not; to love Him nonetheless because He was absent from them. This is always a great mark of affection—to bear in mind a friend in his absence. Do I thus remember Him from one Communion to another, the one preparing for the other, and its sweet memory lasting on in my heart? 3. When Our Lord had greeted His apostles He called St. Thomas to Him and told him to touch His hands and feet and side, and thus learn to believe. What wonderful condescension! God does not generally let men dictate their conditions of belief. But Jesus, though now triumphant, is still full of compassion, meek and gentle of heart, patient, forbearing, and forgiving. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

THE RESURRECTION and ASCENSION of JESUS CHRIST April 27th, 2026 ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ 23.— The Second Appearance of Jesus to the assembled Apostles Read St. John xx. 24-29. 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 hither, and see my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and put it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing. (continued)

2 of 2 Month of the Holy Eucharist ~ April 26th We feel a natural aversion towards the proud, and we cannot love them; but may not this instinct of aversion which we have towards the proud be felt by others towards ourselves? For it is true that “Pride is hurtful always.” [Ecclus x, vii] Sometimes we lament that others do not love or esteem us. Let us examine the cause, and we shall find that it proceeds from our pride. On the other hand, do we not see the affection that is generally shown towards the humble? Everyone seeks their company, everyone places confidence in them, everyone wishes them well. This would be the case with us if we were humble; and what happiness we should feel in loving and being loved by all! It seems at first as if this were a question of human respect; but it is inspired by charity, and comes from God and from a desire to resemble Him. Humility is clad in the same garb as charity, which, St. Paul says, “is patient, is kind, envieth not, is not puffed up, is not ambitious.” [1 Cor. xiii, 4] And it is easy to invest humility with the same virtuous intentions as charity. ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

Month of the Holy Eucharist ~ April 26th 82. Is it not well to apply ourselves to eradicate a fault, when we know that by so doing our hearts will be gladdened? And therefore is it not true that once our pride, which is the cause ot so many of our troubles, is subdued, we shall be far happier? (continued)

2 of 2 22.— The Powers bestowed on the Apostles 1. Jesus now proceeded to bestow upon the apostles first the power to be apostles and then priests, and the privilege of offering the Holy Sacrifice. The latter had indeed been given at the Last Supper in the words "Do this in remembrance of Me." Now it is confirmed in the words, "As My Father sent Me, so I send you." Christ was sent to offer a Propitiatory Sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. The apostles were sent to offer the same sacrifice—to carry on to the end of time in themselves and their successors the Sacrifice of Calvary. 2. Besides this, it also included the power to forgive sins. The Son of Man had power on earth to forgive sins—not only to declare the sinner loosed from his sins, but to loose him. So, too, every priest of God has power to loose from sin in the Sacrament of Penance. How many a sinner knows by experience the consoling influence of the sacrament so justly called the Sacrament of Consolation! How many a broken heart has there found relief from a sorrow that was too hard for human heart to bear! Thank God for it with all your heart. 3. Our Lord in conferring these apostolic and priestly powers breathed upon His apostles, as the sign that He was bestowing upon them the same Spirit that had breathed in Him. The Spirit of God was upon Him to preach the Gospel to the poor, to heal the contrite of heart, to preach deliverance to the captives. The same spirit breathes now throughout the Catholic Church, not in her priests alone, but in all her children who seek to carry on the work of Jesus. On all there rests the same Holy Spirit, giving life and power to their prayers, their words, their deeds. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

THE RESURRECTION and ASCENSION of JESUS CHRIST April 26th, 2026 ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ 22.— The Powers bestowed on the Apostles Read St. John xx. 23 Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained. (continued)

2 of 2 Month of the Holy Eucharist ~ April 25th Firstly, in meditating on the subject, we ought to feel hatred and abhorrence of our pride, because we can never get rid of all the ills that affect our soul as long as we continue to love them. Secondly, we must make a firm resolution of amendment at all cost, because in whatever light we consider it, it will always be to our advantage. Thirdly, we should at once endeavour to uproot all our habits of pride, especially those which are most predominant, for it is well known that the longer we allow a had habit to grow, the stronger it will become, and the greater will be our difficulty in eradicating it: “And I said, now have I begun.” [Ps. lxxvi, 11] We must not lose heart or be discouraged but commend ourselves to God’s mercy, this being above all things most necessary: “And He will do it.” [Ps. xxxvi, 5] It is through God’s grace alone that we can overcome our numerous evil passions, and it is through Him alone that we can hope to subdue our pride. Let us therefore cry unto Him with King David: “My mercy and my refuge: my support and my deliverer. My protector: and I have hoped in Him who subdueth my people under Him.” [Ps. cxliii, 2] ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

Month of the Holy Eucharist ~ April 25th 81. To be humble, we must know ourselves; and this self-knowledge is difficult, but only by reason of our pride, the principal effect of which is to blind us. Therefore to acquire the virtue of humility we must first fight against and subdue its enemy pride; and in order to overcome it–—having prayed to God, with the valiant Judith: “Bring to pass, O Lord, that his pride may be cut off”—three other things are necessary. (continued)

2 of 2 21.— The Mission of the Apostles 1. Our Lord had come not merely to bring peace to His apostles and to fill their hearts with lightness and with joy; this supernatural happiness was intended only as the prelude to the work He was going to entrust to them. First peace for themselves and after that they were to go forth as the messengers of peace to others. First a firm faith for themselves, and then they were to carry that faith to others. We shall never do much to benefit the souls of others until we have ourselves put into practice the counsels that we give to others. 2. In these words: "As My Father sent Me, I also send you," Jesus gave to His apostles their future mission and the powers necessary thereto. What are these powers? They are no other than those that the Eternal Father had bestowed upon His Divine Son. As He was invested in His Sacred Humanity with graces unlimited flowing into it from His Divine nature, so His apostles are to have graces and gifts innumerable. What a respect and reverence we ought to have for priests, since they are the vice regents of Jesus Christ Himself. 3. If priests thus receive graces corresponding to those bestowed on the Son of God, they have corresponding responsibilities. They must obey as Christ obeyed, they must be servants of all as Christ was, they must be willing to sacrifice themselves as Christ sacrificed Himself; and not priests only, but all who aspire to be apostles must remember that their model and type in dealing with those to whom they minister was He who was meek and humble of heart, who came not to do His own will, but the will of God. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

THE RESURRECTION and ASCENSION of JESUS CHRIST April 24th, 2026 ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ 21.— The Mission of the Apostles Read St. John xx. 20-23 And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained. (continued)

2 of 2 Month of the Holy Eucharist ~ April 24th It is necessary to thoroughly understand this doctrine because we shall never succeed in acquiring humility unless we really desire to obtain it; nor shall we ever desire it unless we have learnt to love it, nor shall we love it unless we have realized what humility really is–—a great and most precious good, absolutely essential to our eternal welfare. Consider for a little while in what esteem you hold humility. Do you love it? Do you desire it? What do you do to acquire it? Do you ask this virtue of God in your prayers? Do you have recourse to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin? Do you willingly read those books that treat of humility, or the lives of those Saints who were most noted for their humility? “There is a certain will,” says St. Thomas, “which had better be called the wish to will than the absolute will itself”; [3 part., qu: xxi, art. 4] by which it seems that we can will a thing and yet not will it. Therefore examine yourself and see whether your desire for humility be only a passing velleity, or really in your will.” ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

Month of the Holy Eucharist ~ April 24th 80. The more we reflect upon this great virtue of humility, the more we should learn to love and honour it. It is natural to the soul to love a good which it recognizes as such, and there is no doubt that we shall love humility when we recognize its intrinsic value and the good that comes of it. Our love of what is good is measured by our knowledge of it, and in the same measure that we love we desire to obtain it, and in the measure that we desire it we embrace the most proper and efficacious means of acquiring it. It was thus that the Wise man acted in order to obtain wisdom. He loved her, desired and prayed for her, and applied his whole mind to possess her, so great was the esteem in which he held her: “Wherefore I wished, and understanding was given me, and I preferred her before kingdoms and thrones, and esteemed riches nothing in comparison of her.” [Wisd. vii, 7]” (continued)

2 of 2 20.— Jesus shows His Sacred Hands and Feet 1. When Our Lord appeared after the Resurrection His sacred hands and feet and side still bore the wounds made by the nails and spear. They were like no other wounds: they in no way disfigured His Sacred Body; on the contrary, they shone like jewels of dazzling brilliancy. So, too, the martyrs of Jesus will to all eternity be decorated with each wound they suffered on earth, as with an ornament; and all who have mortified their bodies for His sake will have an additional beauty in body and soul alike in heaven. 2. Our Lord was not ashamed of these marks of His humiliation, of His shame and outrage and degradation. He rejoiced in them. They were the scars in the battle by which He had won Heaven for His elect; the trophies of victory over sin and Satan. We cannot win the battle without humiliation, shame, and bearing His reproach. How we ought to rejoice when we are thought worthy to share in any way His sufferings, knowing that we shall thereby earn a share in His triumph ! 3. Our Lord points out to His apostles these proofs that it is He Himself, Jesus of Nazareth, in no way changed. He goes still further, and to convince them of His human nature He asks for some food, and eats before them. He shows a wonderful condescension for their weakness andtheirincredulity. He is determined to put them at their ease, and leaves no means untried to win their confidence and love. In much the same way He has treated me and won me in spite of myself. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

THE RESURRECTION and ASCENSION of JESUS CHRIST April 24th, 2026 ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ 20.— Jesus shows His Sacred Hands and Feet Read St. John xx. 19, 20 Now when it was late that same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them: Peace be to you. And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. (continued)

2 of 2 Month of the Holy Eucharist ~ April 23rd If we feel inward satisfaction when we are given credit for a humility which we do not possess, why do we not endeavour to acquire that with which we like to be credited? If we seek after the vain shadow of humility, it means that we care very little for the substance of this virtue. A man who would be contented with the appearance of virtue without trying to acquire it in reality, would resemble a merchant who valued false pearls and gems more than real ones. O my soul, perhaps thou too art among those who, being proud, resent the accusation of pride and desire to be thought humble! This would be lying to thy own conscience, lying to God, to His Angels, and to men. As St. Paul says: “We are made a spectacle to the world, and to Angels, and to men.” [1 Cor. iv, 9] It is a shameful thing for us to wish to appear humble when we are not so. There are certain occasions when in our interior acts we must practice humility; but we must watch over ourselves carefully, so that in thus practicing it we may not desire to be thought humble. And that is why hidden acts of humility are safer than exterior ones. But if there is pride in wishing that the humility we have should be recognized and known, what measure of presumption would there not be in wishing to be thought humble when we have no humility? Let us beware lest the words of Holy Writ be applicable to ourselves: “There is one that humbleth himself wickedly, and his interior is full of deceit.” [Ecclus xix, 23] ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

Month of the Holy Eucharist ~ April 23rd 79. Truly, no one cares to be thought proud, for even according to worldly ideas the greatest blame that one can give to a man is to say that he is proud. And yet few try to avoid the very thing they would least desire to be accused of by others. (continued)

2 of 2 19.—The Words of Jesus to His Apostles 1. Jesus does not like to see His friends in fear, and troubled at His presence, on the very day of His resurrection; and with cheering words He hastens to reassure them: "Peace be to you : it is I; fear not. Why are you troubled? See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself." He seems almost pained at their inability to realize that it is He Himself. How He desires confidence from us! That we should recognize Him, trust Him, feel at home with Him. He does not like us to be afraid of Him: He likes to be treated by us with a sort of reverent familiarity as our dearest Friend, our Brother, the Lover of our souls. 2. How soothing His words are: "Peace be to you"! This is His first greeting to His apostles after He has fought the battle and conquered. He knew the necessity of peace as an element, or rather as the foundation, of holiness. The troubled soul cannot reflect the image of God. As long as there is strife within, we shall never overcome our enemies or do good service to the Captain of our salvation. Pray then for peace. Dona nobis pacem! Give us true peace. Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum. 3. What He especially desired to impress upon them was that He was the same Jesus who had been their companion during the three years of His ministry, and who had been scourged and crucified. They seemed to imagine He was a different Being, and that now He would lose all sympathy with them. Is not this often our danger? We scarcely believe that Jesus in heaven has the same compassionate, gentle heart as when He was on earth. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

THE RESURRECTION and ASCENSION of JESUS CHRIST April 23rd, 2026 ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ 19.—The Words of Jesus to His Apostles Read St. Luke xxiv. 38-45 And he said to them: Why are you troubled, and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? See my hands and feet, that it is I myself; handle, and see: for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as you see me to have. And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and feet. But while they yet believed not, and wondered for joy, he said: Have you any thing to eat? And they offered him a piece of a broiled fish, and a honeycomb. And when he had eaten before them, taking the remains, he gave to them. And he said to them: These are the words which I spoke to you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then he opened their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures. (continued)