From Challoner's Meditations:
SATURDAY, THIRD WEEK IN LENT
ON THE SUFFERINGS OF OUR SAVIOUR, BEFORE HIS PASSION
Consider first, how truly did the devout author of the 'Following of Christ,' say:- 'The whole life of Christ was a Cross and a Martyrdom. He came into this world to be a victim for our sins; and from the first instant of his conception in his mother’s womb, he offered himself for all the sufferings he was to undergo in life and death.' Hear how he then addresses himself to his Father, Ps. xxxiv. 7, 'sacrifice and oblation thou didst not desire, but thou hast pierced ears for me. Burnt-offering and sin-offering thou didst not require: then said I, behold I come. In the head of the book it is written of me, that I should do thy will. O my God, I have desired it, and thy name is in the midst of my heart.' And what was this will and this law, which from his first conception he embraced in the midst of his heart; but that instead of all other sacrifices he should become himself both our priest and victim, and through his sufferings should mediate our peace, and reconcile us to his Father? Thus he accepted beforehand all that he was afterwards to endure; and by the clear and distinct foresight, which he had all along of his whole passion, suffered in some measure all his lifetime, what afterwards he endured at his death. O how early did my Jesus embrace his cross for the love of me! O how early did I prefer my pleasures before his love!
Consider 2ndly, divers other sufferings which our Lord went through in the course of his mortal life. His nine months confinement in his mother’s womb, most sensible to him, who from his first conception had the perfect use of reason, and who by a violence which he offered to his zeal and love, was kept so long from action. The hardships he endured at his birth, from the rigour of the season and the poverty of his accommodations; his circumcision; his flight into Egypt; the sense that he had of the murder of the Innocents; the austerity of his life; his frequent hunger, thirst, and want of necessaries; his labours and fatigues. But all this was nothing to what his boundless charity and his zeal for the honour of his Father and the salvation of souls, made him continually suffer, from the sight and knowledge of the sins of men. He had all the sins of the world always before his eyes, for the whole time of his life, with all their enormity and opposition to the infinite majesty and sanctity of God, and his divine honour and glory, and the dreadful havoc they did, and would make in the souls of men, with all the dismal consequences of them both in time and eternity; and this sight which was always present to him, was infinitely more grievous to his soul than the very pangs of death. For if St. Paul had such a sense of the evil of sin, as to be quite on fire when he saw any one fall into sin, 2 Cor. xi. 29, how much more did this fire devour our Saviour?
SATURDAY, THIRD WEEK IN LENT
ON THE SUFFERINGS OF OUR SAVIOUR, BEFORE HIS PASSION
Consider first, how truly did the devout author of the 'Following of Christ,' say:- 'The whole life of Christ was a Cross and a Martyrdom. He came into this world to be a victim for our sins; and from the first instant of his conception in his mother’s womb, he offered himself for all the sufferings he was to undergo in life and death.' Hear how he then addresses himself to his Father, Ps. xxxiv. 7, 'sacrifice and oblation thou didst not desire, but thou hast pierced ears for me. Burnt-offering and sin-offering thou didst not require: then said I, behold I come. In the head of the book it is written of me, that I should do thy will. O my God, I have desired it, and thy name is in the midst of my heart.' And what was this will and this law, which from his first conception he embraced in the midst of his heart; but that instead of all other sacrifices he should become himself both our priest and victim, and through his sufferings should mediate our peace, and reconcile us to his Father? Thus he accepted beforehand all that he was afterwards to endure; and by the clear and distinct foresight, which he had all along of his whole passion, suffered in some measure all his lifetime, what afterwards he endured at his death. O how early did my Jesus embrace his cross for the love of me! O how early did I prefer my pleasures before his love!
Consider 2ndly, divers other sufferings which our Lord went through in the course of his mortal life. His nine months confinement in his mother’s womb, most sensible to him, who from his first conception had the perfect use of reason, and who by a violence which he offered to his zeal and love, was kept so long from action. The hardships he endured at his birth, from the rigour of the season and the poverty of his accommodations; his circumcision; his flight into Egypt; the sense that he had of the murder of the Innocents; the austerity of his life; his frequent hunger, thirst, and want of necessaries; his labours and fatigues. But all this was nothing to what his boundless charity and his zeal for the honour of his Father and the salvation of souls, made him continually suffer, from the sight and knowledge of the sins of men. He had all the sins of the world always before his eyes, for the whole time of his life, with all their enormity and opposition to the infinite majesty and sanctity of God, and his divine honour and glory, and the dreadful havoc they did, and would make in the souls of men, with all the dismal consequences of them both in time and eternity; and this sight which was always present to him, was infinitely more grievous to his soul than the very pangs of death. For if St. Paul had such a sense of the evil of sin, as to be quite on fire when he saw any one fall into sin, 2 Cor. xi. 29, how much more did this fire devour our Saviour?
Consider 3rdly, how much our Lord suffered from being obliged to live and converse amongst men, whose manners were so widely different from and so infinitely opposite to his; how sensibly he was touched with the crying disorders of the people of the Jews, amongst whom he lived; with their malice, their violences, their injustices, their deceits, their blasphemies, and the licentiousness of their lives; the pride, ambition, covetousness, and hypocrisy of their priests, scribes, and Pharisees; their oppressions of the poor; their contempt of virtue and of truth; and their general forgetfulness of God and their salvation. Add to this, how sensibly he must have been afflicted with the hardness of their hearts, with which they resisted his graces; their obstinacy in their evil ways; their ingratitude; the opposition they made to his heavenly Gospel; their blasphemous judgments of his person and miracles; their slanders and murmurings against him; and their continually laying snares for him, and persecuting him even unto death. O, who can sufficiently apprehend how much our Saviour’s soul was affected by all these evils; with this reception and treatment he met with from his chosen people, and with those dreadful judgments they were thereby drawing down upon their own heads, instead of that mercy, which he came to purchase for them by his blood! Death itself was not so sensible to him.
Conclude, if thou would’st be a true disciple of Jesus Christ, to conform thyself to a life of crosses and sufferings: thus shalt thou wear his livery, and shalt be entitled to a share in his heavenly kingdom.
Conclude, if thou would’st be a true disciple of Jesus Christ, to conform thyself to a life of crosses and sufferings: thus shalt thou wear his livery, and shalt be entitled to a share in his heavenly kingdom.
Pray, Pray Continuously
In all things, pray continuously, for you can do nothing without God's help. Nothing is as powerful as prayer to give us divine energy. And nothing is as useful as it is to obtain for us God's benevolence. The practice of the commandments is all contained in prayer. For there is nothing higher than the love of God.
Prayer without distractions is a sign of the love of God in the one who perseveres. Neglect and distraction when praying denounce love of pleasure. He who, without difficulty, watches, perserves and prays visibly receives the Holy Spirit. But he who does all this with difficulty and keeps his resolution is also answered without delay.
If you want to do a favor to someone who likes to learn, show him prayer, right faith and patience in trial. It is with these three virtues that you obtain the rest of the good things. Escape temptation by patience and prayer. If you think of fighting it without these virtues, you will be attacked by it again. Anything we can say or do without prayer becomes dangerous or useless.
We have to seek the inner dwelling place of Christ, since we are God's dwelling place, and, through prayer, persevere in knocking at his door (cf. Mt 7:7), so that, now or at the hour of our death, the Lord may open it for us and not say to us as to negligent men: "I do not know where you are from" (Lk 13:25). And we have, not only to ask and receive, but to keep what has been given to us. For there are those who lose after they have received.
Saint Mark the Ascetic, a hegumen in Asia Minor in 'On those who think they are justified by their works'.
In all things, pray continuously, for you can do nothing without God's help. Nothing is as powerful as prayer to give us divine energy. And nothing is as useful as it is to obtain for us God's benevolence. The practice of the commandments is all contained in prayer. For there is nothing higher than the love of God.
Prayer without distractions is a sign of the love of God in the one who perseveres. Neglect and distraction when praying denounce love of pleasure. He who, without difficulty, watches, perserves and prays visibly receives the Holy Spirit. But he who does all this with difficulty and keeps his resolution is also answered without delay.
If you want to do a favor to someone who likes to learn, show him prayer, right faith and patience in trial. It is with these three virtues that you obtain the rest of the good things. Escape temptation by patience and prayer. If you think of fighting it without these virtues, you will be attacked by it again. Anything we can say or do without prayer becomes dangerous or useless.
We have to seek the inner dwelling place of Christ, since we are God's dwelling place, and, through prayer, persevere in knocking at his door (cf. Mt 7:7), so that, now or at the hour of our death, the Lord may open it for us and not say to us as to negligent men: "I do not know where you are from" (Lk 13:25). And we have, not only to ask and receive, but to keep what has been given to us. For there are those who lose after they have received.
Saint Mark the Ascetic, a hegumen in Asia Minor in 'On those who think they are justified by their works'.
PRAYER TO PRESERVE THE TRUE FAITH.
Prayer of St. Peter Canisius
Prayer written by St. Peter Canisius (1521-1597), of the Society of Jesus, apostle of the Counter-Reformation in Germany, called "hammer of the heretics". He was beatified by Pope Pius IX in 1868 and canonized by Pius XI in 1925, who named him Doctor of the Church.
For my salvation, I confess aloud all that Catholics have rightly always believed in their hearts. I abhor Luther, I hate Calvin, I curse all heretics; I do not want to have anything in common with them, because they neither speak nor listen rightly, and do not possess the one rule of the true faith proposed by the one, holy, catholic, apostolic and Roman Church. I unite myself in communion with Her, embrace the faith, follow the religion and approve the doctrine of those who listen to and follow Christ, not only what is taught in the Scriptures, but also in the Ecumenical Councils and what is defined by the mouth of the Chair of Peter, testifying to it with the authority of the Fathers. I also declare myself to be a son of the Roman Church, which the impious and blasphemers persecute, despise and abominate as if it were anti-Christian; I do not in any point turn away from its authority, nor do I refuse to give my life and shed my blood in its defense. I believe that salvation through the merits of Christ we can attain only in the unity of this same Church.
With St. Jerome, I declare to remain united with all those who are united to the Chair of Peter; with St. Ambrose, I promise to follow in all things the Roman Church which I respectfully acknowledge, with St. Cyprian, as the root and mother of the universal Church. I base this faith on the doctrine which I learned as a child, which as a young man I confirmed as I was taught by adults and which, until now, I have defended with my feeble strength. In making this profession I am moved by no other reason than the glory and honor of God, the awareness of the truth, the canonical authority of Holy Scripture, the consensus of the Fathers of the Church, the testimony of faith that I must give to my brethren and, finally, the eternal salvation in Heaven and the happiness promised to true believers.
If it should happen that because of my faith, I am despised, mistreated and persecuted, I will consider it as an extraordinary grace and favor, because it will mean that You, my God, grant me the opportunity to suffer for justice and do not want to be benevolent to me those who, as declared enemies of the Church and of Catholic truth, cannot be your friends. Nevertheless, forgive them, O Lord, because instigated by the devil, and blinded by the brilliance of a false doctrine, they do not know or do not want to know what they are doing.
Grant me this grace, both in life and in death, and may I always be a trustworthy witness of the sincerity and fidelity which I owe to You, to the Church and to the truth, that I may not turn away from your holy love, and that I may remain in communion with those who fear and keep your precepts in the Holy Roman Church, to whose judgment I submit myself and all my works, with a prompt and respectful spirit. May all the saints, triumphant in heaven or militant on earth, united indissolubly in the bond of peace with the Catholic Church exalting your immense goodness, pray for me. To you, who are the beginning and end of all my goods, be all honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer of St. Peter Canisius
Prayer written by St. Peter Canisius (1521-1597), of the Society of Jesus, apostle of the Counter-Reformation in Germany, called "hammer of the heretics". He was beatified by Pope Pius IX in 1868 and canonized by Pius XI in 1925, who named him Doctor of the Church.
For my salvation, I confess aloud all that Catholics have rightly always believed in their hearts. I abhor Luther, I hate Calvin, I curse all heretics; I do not want to have anything in common with them, because they neither speak nor listen rightly, and do not possess the one rule of the true faith proposed by the one, holy, catholic, apostolic and Roman Church. I unite myself in communion with Her, embrace the faith, follow the religion and approve the doctrine of those who listen to and follow Christ, not only what is taught in the Scriptures, but also in the Ecumenical Councils and what is defined by the mouth of the Chair of Peter, testifying to it with the authority of the Fathers. I also declare myself to be a son of the Roman Church, which the impious and blasphemers persecute, despise and abominate as if it were anti-Christian; I do not in any point turn away from its authority, nor do I refuse to give my life and shed my blood in its defense. I believe that salvation through the merits of Christ we can attain only in the unity of this same Church.
With St. Jerome, I declare to remain united with all those who are united to the Chair of Peter; with St. Ambrose, I promise to follow in all things the Roman Church which I respectfully acknowledge, with St. Cyprian, as the root and mother of the universal Church. I base this faith on the doctrine which I learned as a child, which as a young man I confirmed as I was taught by adults and which, until now, I have defended with my feeble strength. In making this profession I am moved by no other reason than the glory and honor of God, the awareness of the truth, the canonical authority of Holy Scripture, the consensus of the Fathers of the Church, the testimony of faith that I must give to my brethren and, finally, the eternal salvation in Heaven and the happiness promised to true believers.
If it should happen that because of my faith, I am despised, mistreated and persecuted, I will consider it as an extraordinary grace and favor, because it will mean that You, my God, grant me the opportunity to suffer for justice and do not want to be benevolent to me those who, as declared enemies of the Church and of Catholic truth, cannot be your friends. Nevertheless, forgive them, O Lord, because instigated by the devil, and blinded by the brilliance of a false doctrine, they do not know or do not want to know what they are doing.
Grant me this grace, both in life and in death, and may I always be a trustworthy witness of the sincerity and fidelity which I owe to You, to the Church and to the truth, that I may not turn away from your holy love, and that I may remain in communion with those who fear and keep your precepts in the Holy Roman Church, to whose judgment I submit myself and all my works, with a prompt and respectful spirit. May all the saints, triumphant in heaven or militant on earth, united indissolubly in the bond of peace with the Catholic Church exalting your immense goodness, pray for me. To you, who are the beginning and end of all my goods, be all honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
From Challoner's Meditations:
FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT
ON OUR SAVIOUR'S PRAYER IN THE GARDEN
Consider first, that our Saviour's passion began the night before his death; when, after having eaten the paschal lamb with his disciples, humbly washed their feet, instituted the great Passover of the new covenant, and given them, in an admirable sacrament of love, his own most precious body and blood, he went out with them unto Mount Olivet - the place to which he was accustomed to resort after the preaching and labours of the day, to spend the evening, if not the whole night, in prayer. Hither he went on this his last night, to prepare himself for his passion by prayer; not for any need he had of it for himself, but to give us an example, and for our instruction. O learn, my soul, by this great example, how thou art to arm thyself against all trials and temptations! Learn from whence all thy strength is to come, in the time of battle. Give ear to what our Lord said to his disciples upon this occasion, Matt. xxvi. 41, 'Watch ye and pray, that ye enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.' O take heed, lest if thou sleep as Peter did, when thou shouldst pray, thou deny thy Lord when thou comest to the trial.
Consider 2ndly, how our Saviour began to disclose to his disciples the mortal anguish, fear, and sadness which he then suffered in his soul. 'My soul' (saith he) 'is sorrowful, even unto death;' that is to say with a sadness which is capable of even now taking away my life, if I did not, by miracle, support myself for enduring the other torments of my passion. Sweet Jesus, what can be the meaning of this? Didst thou not from the first instant of life accept of and embrace, in the midst of thy heart, all that thou art now going to suffer - forasmuch as it would be for the glory of thy Father, and the redemption of man? Hast thou not even a longing desire of accomplishing this great sacrifice of our redemption? And how comes it that thou art now thus oppressed with sadness and anguish? Where is that courage and fortitude which thou hast imparted to thy martyrs, which has made even tender maids despise the worst of torments, when they endured them for the love of thee? And shalt thou, who art the strengths of the martyrs, shrink at the fear of death? But O! very well understand that it is at thy own choice thou hast condescended to all this sadness, fear, and anguish; to the end that thou mightest suffer the more for me, and engage me to love thee the more; it is that thou mightest teach me how to behave under all my interior anguishes and afflictions, and how to endure them for the love of thee.
Consider 3rdly, the prayer our Saviour made on this occasion, that if it were agreeable to the will of his Father, the bitter cup might pass away from him. But O with what fervour did he pray? 'With a strong cry and tears.' - Heb. v. 7. With what reverence and humility? - lying prostrate upon the ground, Matt. xxvi. 39. With what earnestness and perseverance? - continuing a long time in prayer, and repeating again and again the same supplication. Learn, my soul, to imitate him under all thy distresses and betake thyself to prayer; but see thou pray, as the Lord did, with fervour, humility, and perseverance; see thou pray with the like resignation! 'Not my will but thine be done.' Remember that in thy prayers thou art not to seek thy own pleasure or comfort, but the holy will of God: O make this holy will thy pleasure and comfort, and thy prayer will be always acceptable. 'Stay thou here and watch with me,' saith our Lord to His disciples; but at every time that he came to them, he found them still asleep; and no help or comfort had he from their company, in this his desolate condition. O my soul, do thou at least pity thy Saviour under all this anguish and desolation; do thou stay and watch with him, by a frequent meditation on his sufferings.
FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT
ON OUR SAVIOUR'S PRAYER IN THE GARDEN
Consider first, that our Saviour's passion began the night before his death; when, after having eaten the paschal lamb with his disciples, humbly washed their feet, instituted the great Passover of the new covenant, and given them, in an admirable sacrament of love, his own most precious body and blood, he went out with them unto Mount Olivet - the place to which he was accustomed to resort after the preaching and labours of the day, to spend the evening, if not the whole night, in prayer. Hither he went on this his last night, to prepare himself for his passion by prayer; not for any need he had of it for himself, but to give us an example, and for our instruction. O learn, my soul, by this great example, how thou art to arm thyself against all trials and temptations! Learn from whence all thy strength is to come, in the time of battle. Give ear to what our Lord said to his disciples upon this occasion, Matt. xxvi. 41, 'Watch ye and pray, that ye enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.' O take heed, lest if thou sleep as Peter did, when thou shouldst pray, thou deny thy Lord when thou comest to the trial.
Consider 2ndly, how our Saviour began to disclose to his disciples the mortal anguish, fear, and sadness which he then suffered in his soul. 'My soul' (saith he) 'is sorrowful, even unto death;' that is to say with a sadness which is capable of even now taking away my life, if I did not, by miracle, support myself for enduring the other torments of my passion. Sweet Jesus, what can be the meaning of this? Didst thou not from the first instant of life accept of and embrace, in the midst of thy heart, all that thou art now going to suffer - forasmuch as it would be for the glory of thy Father, and the redemption of man? Hast thou not even a longing desire of accomplishing this great sacrifice of our redemption? And how comes it that thou art now thus oppressed with sadness and anguish? Where is that courage and fortitude which thou hast imparted to thy martyrs, which has made even tender maids despise the worst of torments, when they endured them for the love of thee? And shalt thou, who art the strengths of the martyrs, shrink at the fear of death? But O! very well understand that it is at thy own choice thou hast condescended to all this sadness, fear, and anguish; to the end that thou mightest suffer the more for me, and engage me to love thee the more; it is that thou mightest teach me how to behave under all my interior anguishes and afflictions, and how to endure them for the love of thee.
Consider 3rdly, the prayer our Saviour made on this occasion, that if it were agreeable to the will of his Father, the bitter cup might pass away from him. But O with what fervour did he pray? 'With a strong cry and tears.' - Heb. v. 7. With what reverence and humility? - lying prostrate upon the ground, Matt. xxvi. 39. With what earnestness and perseverance? - continuing a long time in prayer, and repeating again and again the same supplication. Learn, my soul, to imitate him under all thy distresses and betake thyself to prayer; but see thou pray, as the Lord did, with fervour, humility, and perseverance; see thou pray with the like resignation! 'Not my will but thine be done.' Remember that in thy prayers thou art not to seek thy own pleasure or comfort, but the holy will of God: O make this holy will thy pleasure and comfort, and thy prayer will be always acceptable. 'Stay thou here and watch with me,' saith our Lord to His disciples; but at every time that he came to them, he found them still asleep; and no help or comfort had he from their company, in this his desolate condition. O my soul, do thou at least pity thy Saviour under all this anguish and desolation; do thou stay and watch with him, by a frequent meditation on his sufferings.
Conclude never to forget what thy Saviour suffered for thee in his soul, during his prayer in the garden. No sufferings can be greater than such as immediately affect the soul. St. Teresa did not let a night pass, from her very childhood, without reflecting, before she fell asleep, on our Saviour’s sufferings in that part of his passion; and, by this means, she gradually arrived at the perfection of mental prayer, and of all holiness. Do thou likewise.
INTROIT (Isa. 66:10-11) Rejoice, O Jerusalem, and come together all you who love her. rejoice with joy, you who have been in sorrow, that you may exalt, and be filled from the abundance of your consolation.
Ps. 121:1. I rejoice at the tidings that were told me, "We shall go into the house of the Lord."
V. Glory be . . .
COLLECT
O Almighty God, we are being justly punished for our sins, but comfort us with Your grace, that we may live. Through Our Lord . . .
EPISTLE (Gal. 4:22-31)
Brethren: For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman and the other by a free woman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh: but he of the free woman was by promise. Which things are said by an allegory. For these are the two testaments. The one from Mount Sinai, engendering unto bondage, which is Agar. For Sina is a mountain in Arabia, which hath affinity to that Jerusalem which now is: and is in bondage with her children. But that Jerusalem which is above is free: which is our mother. For it is written:
"Rejoice, thou barren, that bearest not: break forth and cry thou that travailest not: for many are the children of the desolate, more than of her that hath a husband."
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born according to the flesh persecuted him that was after the spirit: so also it is now. But what saith the scripture? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman." So then, brethren, we are not the children of the bondwoman but of the free: by the freedom wherewith Christ has made us free.
GRADUAL (Ps. 121:1, 7)
I rejoice at the tidings that were told me, "We shall go into the house of the Lord." V. May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your towers.
TRACT (Ps. 124:1-2)
They who trust in the Lord are like Mount Sion; he who dwells in Jerusalem shall never be moved.
V. Mountains are round about it, and the Lord is round about His people, from henceforth and forever.
GOSPEL (John 6:1-15)
At that time, After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is that of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw the miracles which he did on them that were diseased. Jesus therefore went up into a mountain: and there he sat with his disciples.
Now the pasch, the festival day of the Jews, was near at hand. When Jesus therefore had lifted up his eyes and seen that a very great multitude cometh to him, he said to Philip: "Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?" And this he said to try him: for he himself knew what he would do.
Philip answered him: "Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them that every one may take a little." One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, saith to him: "There is a boy here that hath five barley loaves and two fishes. But what are these among so many?" Then Jesus said: "Make the men sit down."
Now, there was much grass in the place. The men therefore sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves: and when he had given thanks, he distributed to them that were set down. In like manner also of the fishes, as much as they would. And when they were filled, he said to his disciples: "Gather up the fragments that remain, lest they be lost." They gathered up therefore and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which remained over and above to them that had eaten.
Now those men, when they had seen what a miracle Jesus had done, said: "This is of a truth the prophet that is to come into the world." Jesus therefore, when he knew that they would come to take him by force and make him king, fled again into the mountains, himself alone.
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (Ps. 134:3, 6)
Praise the Lord, for He is good; sing praise to His name, for He is sweet. All He has willed, He has done in heaven and on earth.
SECRET
Look with favor upon these offerings, O Lord, that they may be an aid to our devotion and to our salvation. Through Our Lord . . .
Ps. 121:1. I rejoice at the tidings that were told me, "We shall go into the house of the Lord."
V. Glory be . . .
COLLECT
O Almighty God, we are being justly punished for our sins, but comfort us with Your grace, that we may live. Through Our Lord . . .
EPISTLE (Gal. 4:22-31)
Brethren: For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman and the other by a free woman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh: but he of the free woman was by promise. Which things are said by an allegory. For these are the two testaments. The one from Mount Sinai, engendering unto bondage, which is Agar. For Sina is a mountain in Arabia, which hath affinity to that Jerusalem which now is: and is in bondage with her children. But that Jerusalem which is above is free: which is our mother. For it is written:
"Rejoice, thou barren, that bearest not: break forth and cry thou that travailest not: for many are the children of the desolate, more than of her that hath a husband."
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born according to the flesh persecuted him that was after the spirit: so also it is now. But what saith the scripture? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman." So then, brethren, we are not the children of the bondwoman but of the free: by the freedom wherewith Christ has made us free.
GRADUAL (Ps. 121:1, 7)
I rejoice at the tidings that were told me, "We shall go into the house of the Lord." V. May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your towers.
TRACT (Ps. 124:1-2)
They who trust in the Lord are like Mount Sion; he who dwells in Jerusalem shall never be moved.
V. Mountains are round about it, and the Lord is round about His people, from henceforth and forever.
GOSPEL (John 6:1-15)
At that time, After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is that of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw the miracles which he did on them that were diseased. Jesus therefore went up into a mountain: and there he sat with his disciples.
Now the pasch, the festival day of the Jews, was near at hand. When Jesus therefore had lifted up his eyes and seen that a very great multitude cometh to him, he said to Philip: "Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?" And this he said to try him: for he himself knew what he would do.
Philip answered him: "Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them that every one may take a little." One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, saith to him: "There is a boy here that hath five barley loaves and two fishes. But what are these among so many?" Then Jesus said: "Make the men sit down."
Now, there was much grass in the place. The men therefore sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves: and when he had given thanks, he distributed to them that were set down. In like manner also of the fishes, as much as they would. And when they were filled, he said to his disciples: "Gather up the fragments that remain, lest they be lost." They gathered up therefore and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which remained over and above to them that had eaten.
Now those men, when they had seen what a miracle Jesus had done, said: "This is of a truth the prophet that is to come into the world." Jesus therefore, when he knew that they would come to take him by force and make him king, fled again into the mountains, himself alone.
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (Ps. 134:3, 6)
Praise the Lord, for He is good; sing praise to His name, for He is sweet. All He has willed, He has done in heaven and on earth.
SECRET
Look with favor upon these offerings, O Lord, that they may be an aid to our devotion and to our salvation. Through Our Lord . . .
PREFACE
LENT PREFACE
It is said from Ash Wednesday to Passion Sunday, in all the Masses of the Season, Feasts and Vigils, unless there is a proper Preface.
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; Who by this bodily fast, dost curb our vices, dost lift up our minds and bestow on us strength and rewards; through Christ our Lord. Through whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, the Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with these we entreat Thee that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted while we say with lowly praise:
COMMUNION ANTIPHON (Ps. 121:3-4)
Jerusalem was built as a city with compact unity; to it the tribes went up, the tribes of the Lord, to give praise to Your name, O Lord.
POSTCOMMUNION
O merciful God, we never fail to be nourished by Your Sacrament. May we offer it with true devotion and receive it always with faith. Through Our Lord . . .
LENT PREFACE
It is said from Ash Wednesday to Passion Sunday, in all the Masses of the Season, Feasts and Vigils, unless there is a proper Preface.
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; Who by this bodily fast, dost curb our vices, dost lift up our minds and bestow on us strength and rewards; through Christ our Lord. Through whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, the Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with these we entreat Thee that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted while we say with lowly praise:
COMMUNION ANTIPHON (Ps. 121:3-4)
Jerusalem was built as a city with compact unity; to it the tribes went up, the tribes of the Lord, to give praise to Your name, O Lord.
POSTCOMMUNION
O merciful God, we never fail to be nourished by Your Sacrament. May we offer it with true devotion and receive it always with faith. Through Our Lord . . .
Audio
Thomas A. Droleskey
St. Alphonsus - Fourth Sunday Of Lent - On The Tender Compassion Which Jesus Christ Entertains Towards Sinners
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