February 9, 2021: THE PASSION OF CHRIST

February 9, 2021: COMMEMORATION OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST

[Tuesday after Sexagesima Sunday]

“…My heart hath expected reproach and misery. And I looked for one that would grieve together with me, but there was none: and for one that would comfort me, and I found none. And they gave me gall for my food, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”
(Ps, lxviii. 21-22)

 

Prayer (Collect).

O almighty and eternal God, who, to give mankind an example of humility, wouldst have our Saviour become man and suffer on a cross; mercifully grant that we who celebrate the solemn commemoration of his Passion, may improve by the example of his patience and partake of his resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

“For many dogs have encompassed me: the council of the malignant hath besieged me. They have dug my hands and feet. They have numbered all my bones. And they have looked and stared upon me. They parted my garments amongst them; and upon my vesture they cast lots.”
(Ps, xxi. 17-19)

 

A Prophecy of the Passion of Christ – Isaias, Ch. liii.
(It is Isaias that instructs us upon the sufferings of the Man of Sorrows. So explicit is his description of our Lord's Passion, that the holy Fathers have called him the fifth Evangelist)

Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? And he shall grow up as a tender plant before him, and as a root out of a thirsty ground: there is no beauty in him, nor comeliness: and we have seen him, and there was no sightliness, that we should be desirous of him: Despised, and the most abject of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with infirmity: and his look was as it were hidden and despised, whereupon we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our infirmities, and carried our sorrows: and we have thought him as it were a leper, and as one struck by God and afflicted. But he was wounded for our iniquities, he was bruised for our sins: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, every one hath turned aside into his own way: and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was offered because it was his own will, and he opened not his mouth: he shall be led as a sheep to the slaughter, and shall be dumb as a lamb before his shearer, and he shall not open his mouth. He was taken away from distress, and from judgment: who shall declare his generation? because he is cut off out of the land of the living: for the wickedness of my people have I struck him. And he shall give the ungodly for his burial, and the rich for his death: because he hath done no iniquity, neither was there deceit in his mouth. And the Lord was pleased to bruise him in infirmity: if he shall lay down his life for sin, he shall see a long-lived seed, and the will of the Lord shall be prosperous in his hand. Because his soul hath laboured, he shall see and be filled: by his knowledge shall this my just servant justify many, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I distribute to him very many, and he shall divide the spoils of the strong, because he hath delivered his soul unto death, and was reputed with the wicked: and he hath borne the sins of many, and hath prayed for the transgressors.

 

Click here, to view a section on this website dedicated to the Passion of our Lord.

 

“A single tear shed in memory of the Passion of Christ outbalances a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, or a year's fast on bread and water.”
(St. Augustine)

 

Of all forms of Catholic devotion the devotion to the Passion of Our Lord and Savior is the most ancient, the most venerable, the most universal. Jesus Himself has written the remembrance of His Passion deep into the hearts of His faithful. What else is Holy Mass but the unbloody renewal of His Passion? What else Holy Communion but a memorial of His Passion? And when, in order to atone for our chilling coldness towards the Sacrament of Love, for our forgetfulness and ingratitude towards Our Lord's redeeming Death — when for this purpose fervent souls burn with love for the Heart of Jesus, what else do they do than sink their memories and affections into the depths of our Savior's Passion?

How deep, think you, were the wounds of Jesus chiseled into the Heart of Mary? From His death to her own, so it was revealed to many favored souls. His entire Passion was reenacted in her every week. ’Twas the Dolorous Mother who first practiced the Way of the Cross.

The Apostles, too, lived and breathed in the mystery of the Passion and Death of their Master. Think of St Andrew, who hung two days upon his beloved cross, or of St. Peter, who in humble love for his Lord was crucified head downwards.

To realize how Wrongly Holy Mother Church desires her children to think over and over again upon the Passion of Jesus, we need but glance at the many feasts she has instituted in honor of this mystery. How overpowering are the ceremonies of Holy Week, particularly the Lamentations! How beautiful and touching the feast of the Finding and the Exaltation of the Cross!

No wonder, then, that the saints of all ages have been unable to tear themselves away from the Cross. Out of thousands of testimonies to be found in their writings, let us here consider a few brief passages:

Saint Bonaventure: “Let him who desires to attain union with God keep the eyes of his soul ever fixed on Him who hangs dying on the Cross. ’Tis from those wounds of the Savior that man draws power to suffer, not with patience merely but with joy.”

“Nothing so promotes our salvation as daily to contemplate the excessive pain endured by the God-Man for love of us. The marks on His body wound even the hardest hearts and inflame even the most zealous souls.”

“If thou, O man, wouldst climb from one virtue to another, if thou wouldst lead a perfect life, then contemplate daily on the Passion of Christ. Nothing else can drive the soul so powerfully to holiness. By frequent experience I have learned that when we devoutly think of the Passion of our Lord all devils are terrified and put to flight.”

St Alphonsus of Liguori: “A soul that believes in the Passion of Jesus Christ and frequently thinks thereon, will find it impossible to go on offending her Savior. Rather, she will have to begin to love Him, yea, she will even, in the holy sense of the word, have to become foolish for love, in beholding a God become foolish for love of her.”

“Meditation is the blessed hearth where burns the precious fire of divine love. Daily consider and contemplate the Passion of Christ, and when thy heart begins in turn to burn with love, then pray and meditate still more.”

“Souls that are tortured by the devil and trembling for their eternal salvation will feel great consolation in withdrawing their eyes from the outward world and fixing them on the Cross where Jesus hangs bleeding from every wound. The sight of the crucified One, drives from our soul all desires for the goods of this world. Down from the Cross where Jesus hangs on high there floats a heavenly atmosphere that makes us forget all that is earthly, that inflames us with a holy desire to love nothing but Jesus alone, who in love laid down His life for us.”

“Oh how devoutly and readily will he obey the voice of God who frequently remembers how much Jesus Christ has done for love of us! How continuously and decisively will he advance in virtue!”

St Augustine: “Nothing is more salutary than daily to recall how much the God-Man has done for us.”

“Brethren, let us look upon our crucified Jesus in order to be healed of our sins.”

“As often as I am attacked I seek refuge in the wounds of Jesus, I fly into the heart of the mercies of my Lord. Christ died for me— this is my sweet consolation when suffering weighs most heavy. All my hope rest on the death of Christ.”

“A single tear shed in memory of the Passion of Christ outbalances a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, or a year's fast on bread and water.”

St Bernard: “Nothing is better suited to heal the wounds of conscience, to purify and perfect the soul, than continued contemplation of the wounds of Christ.”

“Contemplation of Our Lord's sufferings is what I style wisdom; in them I find the riches of salvation and the fulness of merit; from them I dip the draughts, now of salutary bitterness, now of sweetest consolation.”

Following of Christ: “Dost thou wish to learn the love of Jesus, to cleanse thy soul from all its spots and adorn it with all virtues, to win a glorious victory from the enemies of thy salvation, to enjoy sweet consolation in the midst of suffering and pain, to make great progress in prayer, to obtain final perseverance, to die a blessed death and reign forever in Heaven — then contemplate diligently the Passion and Death of Our Divine Redeemer.”

 

Litany of the Passion of Jesus Christ.

Antiphon. The Lord Jesus Christ humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross. Wherefore God hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a Name which is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ our Lord is in the glory of God the Father (Phil, ii. 8-11).

Lord, have mercy on us, Lord have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us, Christ have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us, Lord have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us, Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us, Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Jesus, Eternal Wisdom, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast born of the Virgin Mary, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast a sojourner among men, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast hated without a cause, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast vexed with reproaches, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast transfigured on the Mount before the Father, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who as a meek King didst enter Jerusalem, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who didst weep for pity, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast sold for thirty pieces of silver, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who didst bend to the feet of Thy disciples, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast comforted of an Angel, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who in agony wast bathed in the Bloody Sweat, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast betrayed by Judas with a kiss, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast bound by the servants, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast forsaken by Thy disciples, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast brought before Annas and Caiaphas, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast struck with the palm of the hand by the servant of the high priest, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast accused by false witnesses, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast judged guilty of death, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast spit upon in the face, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast blindfolded, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast buffeted, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast thrice denied of Peter, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast delivered bound to Pilate, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast set at nought by Herod, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast clad in a white robe, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast rejected for Barabbas, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast scourged, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast bruised for our iniquities, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast counted as a leper, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast clad in a purple robe, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast crowned with thorns, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast smitten with a reed, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast of the Jews required to be crucified, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast condemned to the most shameful of deaths, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast delivered to the will of the Jews, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast oppressed with the burden of Thy Cross, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast led as a lamb to the slaughter, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast stript of Thy garments, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast fixed with nails to the Cross, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast wounded for our iniquities, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who didst entreat the Father for Thine enemies, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast numbered with the transgressors, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast blasphemed and mocked on the Cross, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast reviled by one of the thieves, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who to the repentant thief didst promise Paradise, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who didst commend John as a son to Thy Mother, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who didst declare Thyself forsaken of the Father, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who in Thy thirst wast given gall and vinegar to drink, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who didst bear witness that all things written of Thee were fulfilled, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who didst commend Thy Spirit into the hands of Thy Father, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast made obedient unto the death of the Cross, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast pierced with a spear, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast made a propitiation for us, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Who wast taken down from the Cross, have mercy on us.

Be merciful to us, Spare us, O Lord.
Be merciful to us, Graciously hear us, Lord.

From all evil, deliver us, O Lord.
From all sin, deliver us, O Lord.
From thy wrath, deliver us, O Lord.
From the scourge of earthquakes, deliver us, O Lord.
From plague, famine, and war, deliver us, O Lord.
From sudden and unprovided death, deliver us, O Lord.
From the snares of the devil, deliver us, O Lord.
From anger, hatred, and all ill-will, deliver us, O Lord.
From the spirit of fornication, deliver us, O Lord.
From lightning and tempest, deliver us, O Lord.
From everlasting death, deliver us, O Lord.

Through the mystery of thy holy Incarnation, deliver us, O Lord.
Through thy Coming, deliver us, O Lord.
Through thy Nativity, deliver us, O Lord.
Through thy lowly Circumcision, deliver us, O Lord.
Through thy Baptism and holy Fasting, deliver us, O Lord.
Through thy Labours and Watchings, deliver us, O Lord.
Through thy dolorous Scourging and Crowning, deliver us, O Lord.
Through thy Thirst, Tears, and Nakedness, deliver us, O Lord.
Through thy Cross and Passion, deliver us, O Lord.
Through thy precious Death and Cross, deliver us, O Lord.
Through thy Death and Burial, deliver us, O Lord.
Through thy holy Resurrection, deliver us, O Lord.
Through thy admirable Ascension, deliver us, O Lord.
Through the coming of the Holy Ghost the Comforter, deliver us, O Lord.
In the day of Judgment, deliver us, O Lord.

We sinners, we beseech, thee, hear us.
That thou spare us, we beseech, thee, hear us.
That thou be gracious unto us, we beseech, thee, hear us.
That thou pardon us, we beseech, thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to bring us to true penance, we beseech, thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to mercifully pour into our hearts the grace of the Holy Spirit, we beseech, thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to govern and preserve thy holy Church, we beseech, thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to preserve our Apostolic Prelate, and all ecclesiastical orders, in holy religion, we beseech, thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to grant us true peace, humility, and charity, we beseech, thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to humble the enemies of thy holy Church, we beseech, thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to give peace and true concord to Christian Kings and Princes, we beseech, thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to grant peace and unity to all Christian people, we beseech, thee, hear us.
That thou call back to the unity of the Church all who have strayed from her fold, and to guide all unbelievers into the light of the Gospel, we beseech, thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to comfort and preserve us in thy holy service, we beseech, thee, hear us.
That thou lift up our minds to heavenly desires, we beseech, thee, hear us.
That thou render eternal good things to all our benefactors, we beseech, thee, hear us.
That thou deliver our souls, and those of our brethren, kinsfolks and benefactors, from unclean thoughts, from the temptations of the devil, and from eternal damnation, we beseech, thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to unite us with the company of Thy Saints, we beseech, thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to give and preserve the fruits of the earth, we beseech, thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to give eternal rest to all the Faithful departed, we beseech, thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe graciously to hear us, we beseech, thee, hear us.
O Son of God, we beseech, thee, hear us.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us, Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us, Christ, graciously hear us.

Lord, have mercy on us, Lord have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us, Christ have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us, Lord have mercy on us.

Our Father. (In secret.)
℣. And lead us not into temptation.
℟. But deliver us from evil.

℣. We adore and bless Thee, O Christ.
℟. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

℣. Remember, Lord, Thy compassions.
℟. And Thy loving-kindnesses, which have been ever of old.

℣. Behold my humility and my trouble.
℟. And forgive me all my sins.

℣. Lord, hear my prayer.
℟. And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray.

O God, whose mercies are without number, and the treasure of whose goodness is infinite; we thank Thy most loving Majesty for the good things which Thou hast bestowed upon us; always imploring Thy clemency, that Thou, who dost grant our petitions, wilt not forsake us, but dispose us towards Thy everlasting rewards. Through Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. ℟. Amen.

℣. Let us bless the Lord.
℟. Thanks be to God.

℣. May the souls of the faithful, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
℟. Amen.

Taken from: The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, according to the Revelations of Blessed Anna Catherine Emmerich, translated from the German by a Priest of the Order of St. Benedict. With Ecclesiastical Approbation. Imprimatur. 1914; and
Devotions Commemorative of the Most Adorable Passion of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, with the Office of Tenebrӕ.

 

February 9, 2021: St. Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor of the Church.

February 9, 2021: St. Apollonia, Virgin and Martyr.

 

Holy Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, save us.