MEDITATION FOR PALM SUNDAY

MEDITATION FOR PALM SUNDAY

“This poor meek King is mounted on an ass. Ah! let us not blush for it! I know well that the great ones of the world would ridicule so sorry and wretched an equipage; but Jesus did not come to please them, and whatever our foolish pride may think, this lowly equipment was well worthy of a poor King, who had come down to earth to teach us to despise empty honours.

LET US FOLLOW JESUS TO JERUSALEM

Let us follow Jesus to Jerusalem, and see how He Himself gives to His triumphal entry the character of death. It was His custom. Even on Tabor, when coming forth from that wonderful manifestation of glory, He speaks only of His death, because He wished us to understand well the way that we must follow, after Him, in order to arrive at Jerusalem and at glory.

HUMILIATION AND SUFFERING

Here Jesus wishes again to join humiliation and suffering with His triumph. ‘Now My soul is troubled.’ Here is the commencement of His agony, of the interior combat which He was to suffer in the garden of Olives, a torture so severe that He Himself said at its approach: ‘My soul is troubled.’

O JESUS, MY SOUL IS SORROWFUL FOR YOUR SORROW

O Jesus, my soul is sorrowful for Your sorrow. To whom shall we have recourse if You Yourself are troubled, You whom we call upon in our weakness. This is the mystery: Jesus Christ takes upon Him our nature; He transfers our sorrow into His own divine soul, our infirmity has passed into Him, and it is thus that He strengthens us by the example which He gives us, and by the grace which He merits for us.

BY THE GRIEF OF YOUR HOLY SOUL, HEAL THE SORROW OF MINE

O my Saviour, by the grief of Your holy soul, heal the sorrow of mine. Let us accustom ourselves, after the example of Jesus Christ, always to call to mind, in our triumphs as vividly as we can, the thought of death. Let us, by frequent meditation acquire the habit of associating these two ideas which seem so opposed to each other: earthly glory and pleasure, eternal confusion; the cross and mortification, eternal glory and delight.”
– Laverty & Sons (eds), 1905

 

O GRACIOUS MASTER, INFUSE IN OUR HEARTS THE SPOTLESS LIGHT OF YOUR DIVINE WISDOM

A PRAYER FOR LENT
O gracious Master, infuse in our hearts the spotless light of Your Divine Wisdom and open the eyes of our mind that we may understand the teachings of Your Gospel.

Instil in us also the fear of Your blessed commandments, so that having curbed all carnal desires, we may lead a spiritual life; both thinking and doing everything to please You.

For You, O Christ, our God, are the enlightenment of our souls and bodies; and to You we render glory, together with Your eternal Father, and with Your all-holy, life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.

 

SONNET TO CHRIST CRUCIFIED

I am not moved, my God, to give You love by
thoughts of heaven that You’ve promised me;
nor am I moved by thoughts of dreaded hell
for that alone, to cease offending thee.
I’m moved to see You on the Cross and mocked
with every breath; I’m moved to see Your
body racked with wounds; I’m moved by
Your affronts and by Your death.
I’m moved, in sum, by love for You so great
that I would love You were not heaven there,
and I would fear You, if there were no hell.
You need give me no prize to love You thus,
for even if what I hope I hoped not,
as I now love You I would love You still.

 

ST FAUSTINA’S STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Begin each station with:

“Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for my sins and those of the whole world.”

• FIRST STATION
Jesus is condemned to death

My Jesus, so meek and uncomplaining, teach me resignation in trials. Have mercy on me and on the whole world.

• SECOND STATION
Jesus carries His Cross

My Jesus, this Cross should be mine, not Yours: my sins crucified You. Have mercy on me and on the whole world.

• THIRD STATION
Our Lord falls for the first time

My Jesus, by this first fall, never let me fall into mortal sin. Have mercy on me and on the whole world.

• FOURTH STATION
Jesus meets His Mother

My Jesus, may no human tie, however dear, keep me from following the road of the Cross. Have mercy on me and on the whole world.

• FIFTH STATION
Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry His Cross

Simon unwillingly assisted You; may I with patience suffer all for You. Have mercy on me and on the whole world.

• SIXTH STATION
Veronica wipes the Face of Jesus

My Jesus, You did imprint Your Sacred features upon Veronica’s veil; stamp them indelibly upon my heart. Have mercy on me and on the whole world.

• SEVENTH STATION
The second fall of Jesus

By Your second fall, preserve me, dear Lord, from relapse into sin. Have mercy on me and on the whole world.

• EIGHTH STATION
Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem

My greatest consolation would be to hear You say: “Many sins are forgiven You, because You have loved so much.” Have mercy on me and on the whole world.

• NINTH STATION
Third fall of Jesus

O Jesus, when weary upon life’s long journey, be my strength and my perseverance. Have mercy on me and on the whole world.

• TENTH STATION
Jesus is stripped of His garments

My soul has been robbed of its robe of innocence; clothe me, dear Jesus, with the garb of penance and contrition. Have mercy on me and on the whole world.

• ELEVENTH STATION
Jesus is nailed to the Cross

You forgave Your enemies; my God, teach me to forgive mine. Have mercy on me and on the whole world.

• TWELFTH STATION
Jesus dies on the Cross

You are dying, my Jesus, but Your Sacred Heart still throbs with love for Your sinful children. Have mercy on me and on the whole world.

• THIRTEENTH STATION
Jesus is taken down from the Cross

Receive me into your arms, O Sorrowful Mother; and obtain for me perfect contrition for my sins. Ask your Son to have mercy on me and on the whole world.

• FOURTEENTH STATION
Jesus is laid in the Sepulchre

When I receive You into my heart in Holy Communion, O Jesus, make it a fit and abiding place for Your Adorable Body. Have mercy on me and on the whole world.

 

TRADITION’S SACRED USE HAS TAUGHT (HYMN FOR LENT)

A HYMN FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

Tradition’s sacred use has taught
That we observe this holy fast,
With steadfast will and contrite heart,
Till forty days and nights have passed.

Henceforth more sparing let us be
Of food and drink, of words and sleep;
Henceforth beneath a stricter guard
Our mirth and wand’ring senses keep.

Hear us, O Trinity most blest!
O Unity, to you we cry:
May we through abstinence on earth
Enjoy immortal fruit on high. Amen.

• Prayer for the Second Sunday of Lent:

You see, O Lord, that ourselves we can do nothing. Guard us within and without, so that our bodies maybe sheltered from all dangers and our minds freed of all evil thought. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.