Syncretism and other nonsense.

We have a very interesting non-Catholic who has been commenting on Catholic Debate Forum accusing the Church of pagan roots. 

First, he said that the Church got its practice of eating fish on Friday from pagans who ate fish on Friday in honor of Freya.  Freya was a Scandinavian goddess that was never an influence on Christianity or its customs.  Beside the fact that the Scandinavian peoples ate fish on a regular basis, not just on Friday.  He also mentioned a couple of other gods who were supposedly honored by fish consumption.  Even if that were true, what has that to do with the Christian practice of eating fish on Fridays?  Nothing whatsoever.

The practice of the Catholic Church is to not eat meat on Fridays.  The Church observed this custom from early in its existence (its founding by Christ in the first century).  It is a custom in consideration of the poor.  The poor could rarely afford to eat meat.  European poor often ate bread, porridge, and vegetables on a regular basis.  If they were fortunate, they lived near rivers, the Mediterranean or other seas in which obtaining fish only cost time and ingenuity.

Fish became a customary alternative to meat not only because the poor usually ate fish, when they could afford it (usually much more often than they could afford meat), but fish was not considered to be meat.  Fish are cold blooded and that in itself made people think that their flesh was not the same as meat.

Another point about eating fish is that Jesus called His followers to be "fishers of men." Jesus chose Peter and Andrew, James and John to be apostles.  Both sets of brothers were fishermen by trade.  Thus, His call to be "fishers of men" was not lost on them.

And, the early church used the fish rather than the cross as a secret code that they were Christians.  The illustration above shows how the word fish in Greek can, ironically, be used as an acronym for Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior.  The early Christians saw this as an affirmation of their faith in Christ.

Colors of Mardi Gras

This silly person then tried again to link Catholicism with paganism by saying that "carnival/Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday" was another syncretism (which he erroneously considers the custom of eating fish on Friday to be) to make it "easier to join the Church."  It is quite obvious to anyone who actually knows anything about history that Mardi Gras comes from the Church's practice to rid their houses of any luxury food items such as meat, fats, sugar, eggs, milk, etc. the day before (thus fat Tuesday which is what mardi gras means in French, by the way) Ash Wednesday.  Thus, it was called Mardi Gras in French or Fat Tuesday in English, because they would consume all these items on that day.  It was the practice of many parts of the Church until modern times to not eat these items, including meat, for the entire 40 days of Lent.  They would then have a grand celebration on Easter Sunday with any of the items they could afford from which they had abstained during Lent.

Carnival actually comes from the Latin carne vale which is roughly translated "farewell to flesh" also has its roots in the Church celebration before Lent.  It is not a pagan custom adapted to Christian practice; it is quite the opposite.  The Christian practice was adapted and customized by the cultures (such as Rome) around the Church.  In Rio, carnivale has become a huge party with drinking and costumes.  Mardi Gras in New Orleans came there by the French and Spanish Catholics who settled there (also where the cajun language came from).  These customs has been taken too far in some places  and seriously misrepresent the Church's intent before the celebration of the holy days of Lent.  The roots of the celebration, wherever it is, came from the Church, not the other way around. The accusation that these customs have their roots in paganism or that the Church is pagan comes from ignorant anti-Catholics from the 19th century on that attempted and still attempt to discredit Christ's Church.

Even if this (mardi gras or eating fish) were syncretisms to "make it easier to join the Church" what would be the harm in that?  We should make it easy for those seeking the truth to embrace and love the Lord through the Church He Himself established.  We welcome one and all--the sinner as well as the saint.  Christ said that the physician is called to heal the sick.  What better nurse to the Great Physician than His Church?

By the way, the traditional colors of Mardi Gras represent justice (purple), faith (green), and power (gold).  Very Christian indeed.

Ash Wednesday Meal

Tonight I look forward to eating a full meal.  Yes, I did fast; I am not old enough yet to be "excused."  Went to Mass this morning, but immediately gave it to stress and irritation by getting angry with my teenage daughter.  The problem was resolved after our walk home and lots of deep breaths.  Then came the apologies and prayers for forgiveness.  (sigh)

Well, tonight we are having Macaroni and Cheese and Romaine Salad--Lenten meal 2

Alton Brown's Baked Macaroni and Cheese

 

1/2 pound elbow macaroni

3 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons flour

1 tablespoon powdered mustard

3 cups milk

1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced

1 bay leaf

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1 large egg

12 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded

1 teaspoon kosher salt

Fresh black pepper

Topping:

3 tablespoons butter

1 cup panko bread crumbs

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large pot of boiling, salted water cook the pasta to al dente.

While the pasta is cooking, in a separate pot, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and mustard and keep it moving for about five minutes. Make sure it's free of lumps. Stir in the milk, onion, bay leaf, and paprika. Simmer for ten minutes and remove the bay leaf.

Temper in the egg. Stir in 3/4 of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Fold the macaroni into the mix and pour into a 2-quart casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese.

Melt the butter in a saute pan and toss the bread crumbs to coat. Top the macaroni with the bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and rest for five minutes before serving.

Romaine Salad

Prepackaged Romaine Salad (Romaine, carrots, cabbage)

Cherry or grape tomatoes cut in half

Chopped dill weed, parsley, and chives 

 

 Toss all ingredients

Vinegrette

1/3 c. Balsamic vinegar

2/3 c. Extra virgin olive oil

2 tsp. Brown sugar optional

salt and pepper to taste

Enjoy! 

Ash Wednesday

Somebody on facebook said it well, "Catholics wear ashes to mark themselves as sinners, not holy or special. It's a scarlet letter, not a gold medal."
  

"For dust you are and to dust you shall return." (Genesis 3:19)

Rules for Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Lenten Fast, Again

This is a repeat of my post from last February, just before Ash Wednesday.  I thought it could use repeating since most people seem to forget from year to year.

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence.  All Catholics who have reached age 18 and are not yet 60 are required to fast on these days.  All Catholics who are age 14 and older must abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent.

 

Fast and Abstinence Requirements for Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

--Eat only one regular size meal.

--Eat two smaller meals (or less) that do not equal your main meal.

--Do not eat or snack between meals.

--Do not eat any meat, soup made with meat, gravy, or broth, or any other dish prepared with meat.

 

However, if you cannot, for health reasons, fast think of another sacrifice you can make on those days.  My son is a type 1 diabetic, he is now 19 but he can not fast.  I suggested that he "abstain" from his iPod and computer for the day.  That is a sacrifice for him.

Let's not forget the most important things to remember during Lent: Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving.

 

Added 2014:  Why do Catholics fast (Ash Wednesday and Good Friday) and abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent? [For a full answer go to this article at Catholic.com.]  Here are a few snippets:

"Lent bears particular relationship to the 40 days Christ spent fasting in the desert before entering into his public ministry (Mt 4:1-11)."

 

"Fasting is a biblical discipline that can be defended from both the Old and the New Testament."

 

"Abstinence from certain foods is also a biblical discipline."

 

"By having the sign of the cross made with ashes on their foreheads, Catholics mourn Christ's suffering on the cross and their own sins, which made that suffering necessary."

Approaching Lent

Wow, I can't believe it has been so long since I have posted on my blog.  Life gets so complicated and time passes too quickly.  However, we had a wonderful Friday meatless meal that I wanted to share for Lent.

Lenten Dinner 1 (for Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, or any Friday meal):

Soup and Salad Menu--Serve with Sour Dough or a good crusty bread and butter

Lobster (or shrimp) Bisque (8 servings)

6 Tbls butter
6 Tbls all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 tsp paprika
4 1/2 cups milk
1 1/4 cups chicken stock (may use vegetable stock but I have not tried it)
1/4 cup white wine
3 Tbls minced onion
3 Tbls shredded carrot
3 cups cooked lobster meat, shredded (I used frozen cooked shrimp because Lobster is almost impossible to find in the middle of Oklahoma)
1 Tbls Cognac (I used sherry because I had no cognac, it was delicious)
1/2 cup heavy cream

Prep:
In a large pan over med-high heat, melt butter and then stir in flour, salt, pepper, and paprika.
Slowly whisk in the milk, chicken stock, and white wine, stirring until smooth and slightly thickened.
Add onions, carrots, and lobster meat (or shrimp); simmer 10 minutes.  Stir in cognac (or sherry) and cream, heat through, and serve hot.
(original recipe can be found here)

Avocado and Romaine Salad (makes 4 servings)

1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
1 Tbls fresh chives, chopped
1 1/3 cup avocado, chopped
3 cups chopped Romaine hearts
2 tsp fresh parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon fresh dill weed, chopped
Balsamic vinegar dressing (below)

Toss all ingredients and drizzle with dressing.
(Original recipe here.)

Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

1/4 c. Balsamic Vinegar
3/4 c. Extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp. brown sugar (optional)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
garlic powder to taste

Whisk ingredients together.  Let flavors meld in the refrigerator until ready to use.  Whisk again before serving.
(Inspired by Emeril Lagasse's Simple Balsamic Vinegrette)

Don't Forget, It's Friday

Ash Wednesday--Don't forget to go get your ashes

Living in Oklahoma is an interesting life journey for a Catholic.  Ash Wednesday is one of those times that you stick out like a sore thumb--that is if you remember to go to church.  I lost track of time this morning and we missed 11:30 services.  However, we will be going tonight at 6 (at our parish) or 6:30 (at our Catholic War Veterans' meeting).  But then we miss out on most of the nasty remarks or 'helpful' people who try to wipe the 'smudge' from your forehead.  (Click on The Mom for a great story by a friend of mine).  I think the comments and people's nasty wet thumbs are part of the penance of Ash Wednesday. 
     
"...in the books both in the Old Law and in the New that the men who repented of their sins bestrewed themselves with ashes and clothed their bodies with sackcloth. Now let us do this little at the beginning of our Lent that we strew ashes upon our heads to signify that we ought to repent of our sins during the Lenten fast" (Quote here.)
--St. Aelfric, c. 8th century.

This is the day, after all, that we remember "That thou art dust, and unto dust you shall return."  No, it is not a holy day of obligation, but it is definitely a beneficial reminder of humility and mortality.  Go to church!

Just another Day

Gentle Reader,
Today I am writing to write.  I don't have a particular subject.

I was thinking alot about something someone said to me on a forum on which I am a member.  I find that you get false impressions of people.  I have to keep that in mind about myself, also.  A man, whom I thought was at least friendly to me, told me I should "see a shrink" because he thought I was being obsessive about another member.  Actually I was being "obsessive" about the false things she was saying about what Baptists believe, believe it or not.

You see, I grew up in the Baptist faith, General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC) to be precise.  I believe the GARBC, though quite small compared to, say, the Southern Baptist Convention or the Independent Baptist Churches, would be considered a "mainstream" Baptist faith.  I grew up believing in the Trinity the exact same way it is taught in the (Catholic) Church.  I grew up believing in the divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ in exactly the same way that the Church teaches it.  I grew up loving and believing in the Holy Scriptures, the way the Church does. 

My Baptist faith was actually the foundation of my Catholic faith.  I came to love the Lord and the Scriptures in the Baptist faith.  I came to love and adore the Real Presence of Our Lord, and respect and love His mother, in the Church.  I have come to have an affection for the Tradition of the Mass.  It all seems to me to be the maturity of the grounding in the faith I received as a child.  As an adult (in my thirties), I asked the Church and the Holy Spirit to "PROVE IT!" if the Catholic Faith was the one founded by Jesus Christ in the Gospels.  Over years of soul searching, and dozens, if not hundreds, of hours of prayer, the Holy Spirit answered me.

So, when defending THE Faith founded by Our Lord Jesus Christ and indwelled with the Holy Spirit, sometimes I still go off on a tangent letting people know Baptists aren't all as bad as some of the crazies on the internet.  I still have that affection for my faith upbringing that one has for their first love, or that treasured childhood toy.  I still love the faith I grew up with, but I grew up.  I live and love every day knowing that I now have the fullness of Faith. 

(Disclaimer to any family or friends reading this:  This was/is a personal journey and should not be seen as a reflection on you or your faith in any way shape or form.)

God Bless you as Holy week and the Triduum approaches.

Pictures:  Bible, Jesus in Leonardo's painting of the Last Supper, Jesus (with the Sacred Heart) and Mary (with the pierced Immaculate Heart)

Adoration

I just came back from Holy Thursday Eucharistic adoration.  My body aches from the waist down.  My knees and my lower back are screaming at me.  All I can think about is how much more pain more saviour was in when He suffered for me.  I deserve so much more (pain, that is) but He suffered it for me.  There is no way to express my thankfulness to Him.  Even the hour I spent with Him this evening seems totally inadequate.

I prayed and prayed, and just sat in the exquisite silence of the sanctuary.  Sitting up front you never have the problem of having someone block your view, or being distracted by their figetting.  At one point I think I may actually have experienced a brief glimpse of an ecstacy.  But it was kind of like that luxurious dream that makes you so happy that you immediately wake up, and you try to go back to that place again.  Unfortunately, I couldn't get back there once I thought about it too much.  The experience took my breath away.  No one can ever convince me that my Lord was not there with me.

As I said prayed the 20 mysteries of the Rosary, I could see each one in the shadows reflected in the Host.  Jesus seemed to be reinacting the mysteries right there for me.  I know it may sound a little strange to some, but it is a "you had to be there" moment I will cherish for a long time.

Anyway, one more sad day of remembrance tomorrow.  My daughter wants to see the Passion of the Christ.  She has never seen it before.  I said we could watch it on Good Friday.  I hope it is not too intense for my soft hearted 9 yo.  Actually, I should also be worried about my 11 yo--they don't come any soft-hearted than he.  It may be too much for Him.  We'll see if we can use it as a meditation and not tramatize anyone. 

God Bless you all on this Good Friday.

Pictures:  Top, Monstrance containing the True Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.  Right, the Ecstacy of St. Catherine of Siena.

Encouragement for modern times

Take heart brothers and sister.  From the beginning of the Church, The Church has felt deeply the struggle against the twisting of Christ's message and the Church He left behind.  I found this passage from St. Eusebius very encouraging.  Note:  He wrote his history just after Christianity became the approved religion in the Rome Empire.

 I hope it helps others out there, too.  I highly recommend Eusebius' 'History of the Church' as reading material for Lent.  It makes me glad I live in modern America.  Right now anyway, we can not be persecuted like Catholics were in the first 3 centuries after the Pentecost.

"But this propaganda brought...no lasting success, for Truth asserted herself, and with the march of time shone with increasing light. For by her activity the machinations of her foes were promptly shown up and extinguished, though one after another new heresies were invented, the earlier ones constantly passing away and disappearing, in different ways at different times, into forms of every shape and character. But the splendour of the Catholic and only true Church, always remaining the same and unchanged, grew steadily in greatness and strength, shedding on every race of Greeks and non-Greeks alike the majestic, spotless, free, sober, pure light of her inspired citizenship and philosophy.  Thus the passage of time extinguished the calumnies against the whole of our doctrine, and our teaching remained alone, everywhere victorious and acknowledged as supreme in dignity and sobriety, in divine and philosophic doctrines, so that no one today could dare to subject our Faith to vile abuse or o any such misrepresentation as in the past those who conspired against us were in the habit of doing."

--Eusebius, "The History of the Church (from Christ to Constantine)", pg. 110 (London: Penguin Books, trans. c. 1965, Rev. 1988), trans. G.A. Williamson.

Picture:  Reliquary of St. Eusebius

Lent and Ash Wednesday

Don't forget to go to Ash Wednesday Mass or Service tomorrow.  It is a wonderful part of the Church season of Lent.  It reminds us that this is our temporary home and that we are meant to be with Our Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven someday.

If you would like to do some reading on Ash Wednesday and Lent, please see the following:

On the traditions of Ash Wednesday:
http://www.fisheaters.com/customslent2.html
http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2010-02-17

Catholic Encyclopedia on Lent:  http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09152a.htm
Meaning of Lent:  http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0527.html

I found a terrific article on Lent and the Catholic traditions, such as fasting and abstinence:  http://www.catholicbible101.com/lentenfasting.htm

Why do Catholics Abstain?  Go here:  http://www.cuf.org/Faithfacts/details_view.asp?ffID=61

Beyond Lent (from a friend's blog):  http://cathapol.blogspot.com/2006/03/fasting-and-lent.html

Stations of the Cross

What a wonderful devotion for Lent--the Stations of the Cross. I thought I'd post a nice, short version of the Stations of the Cross for anyone who can't get to Church to pray the Stations or would just like a version they could pray at home. I have included material in the public domain.


THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS
by Cardinal Newman,
in his Meditations and Devotions, Longman's and Green (1893) pp. 155-68.
-----------------
Begin with an Act of Contrition.
-----------------

FIRST STATION
Jesus condemned to Death


V. We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee,

R. Because by thy Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

THE Holy, Just, and True was judged by sinners, and put to death. Yet, while they judged, they were compelled to acquit Him. Judas, who betrayed Him, said, "I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood." Pilate, who sentenced Him, said, "I am innocent of the blood of this just person," and threw the guilt upon the Jews. The Centurion who saw Him crucified said, "Indeed this was a just man.' Thus ever, 0 Lord, You art justified in Thy words, and do overcome when You are judged. And so, much more, at the last day "They shall look on Him whom they pierced" ; and He who was condemned in weakness shall judge the world in power, and even those who are condemned will confess their judgment is just.

Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, Glory be

----------------------

THE SECOND STATION
Jesus receives His Cross

V. We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee,

R. Because by thy Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

JESUS supports the whole world by His divine power, for He is God; but the weight was less heavy than was the Cross which our sins hewed out for Him. Our sins cost Him this humiliation. He had to take on Him our nature, and to appear among us as a man, and to offer up for us a great sacrifice. He had to pass a life in penance, and to endure His passion and death at the end of it. O Lord God Almighty, who does bear the weight of the whole world without weariness, who bore the weight of all our sins, though they wearied Thee, as You are the Preserver of our bodies by Thy Providence, so be You the Savior of our souls by Thy precious blood.

Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, etc.
-----------------------

THE THIRD STATION
Jesus falls under the weight of the Cross the First Time.

V. We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee,

R. Because by thy Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

SATAN fell from heaven in the beginning; by the just sentence of his Creator he fell, against whom he had rebelled. And when he had succeeded in gaining man to join him in his rebellion, and his maker came to save him, then his brief hour of triumph came, and he made the most of it. When the Holiest had taken flesh, and was in his power, then in his revenge and malice he determined, as he himself had been struck down by the Almighty arm, to strike in turn a heavy blow at Him who struck him. Therefore it was that Jesus fell down so suddenly. O dear Lord, by this Thy first fall raise us all out of sin, who have so miserably fallen under its power.

Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, etc.
----------------------------

THE FOURTH STATION
Jesus meets His Mother.

V. We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee,

R. Because by thy Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

THERE is no part of the history of Jesus but Mary has her part in it. There are those who profess to be His servants, who think that her work was ended when she bore Him, and after that she had nothing to do but disappear and be forgotten. But we, O Lord, Thy children of the Catholic Church, do not so think of Thy Mother. She brought the tender infant into the Temple, she lifted Him up in her arms when the wise men came to adore Him, She fled with Him to Egypt, she took Him up to Jerusalem when He was twelve years old. He lived with her at Nazareth for thirty years. She was with Him at the marriage-feast. Even when He had left her to preach, she hovered about Him. And now she shows herself as He toils along the Sacred Way with His cross on His shoulders. Sweet Mother, let us ever think of thee when we think of Jesus, and when we pray to Him, ever aid us by thy powerful intercession.

Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, etc.
------------------------

THE FIFTH STATION
Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry the Cross.

V. We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee,

R. Because by thy Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

JESUS could bear His Cross alone, did He so will; but He permits Simon to help Him, in order to remind us that we must take part in His sufferings, and have a fellowship in His work. His merit is infinite, yet He condescends to let His people add their merit to it. The sanctity of the Blessed Virgin, the blood of the Martyrs, the prayers and penances of the Saints, the good deeds of all the faithful, take part in that work which, nevertheless, is perfect without them. He saves us by His blood, but it is through and with ourselves that He saves us. Dear Lord, teach us to suffer with Thee, make it pleasant to us to suffer for Thy sake, and sanctify all our sufferings by the merits of Thy own.

Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, etc.
------------------------

THE SIXTH STATION
The Face of Jesus is wiped by Veronica.

V. We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee,

R. Because by thy Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

JESUS let the pious woman carry off an impression of His Sacred Countenance, which was to last to future ages. He did this to remind us all, that His image must ever be impressed on all our hearts. Whoever we are, in whatever part of the earth, in whatever age of the world, Jesus must live in our hearts. We may differ from each other in many things, but in this we must all agree, if we are His true children. We must bear about with us the napkin of St. Veronica; we must ever meditate upon His death and resurrection, we must ever imitate His divine excellence, according to our measure. Lord, let our countenances be ever pleasing in Thy sight, not defiled with sin, but bathed and washed white in Thy precious blood.

Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, etc.
------------------------

THE SEVENTH STATION
Jesus falls a second time.

V. We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee,

R. Because by thy Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

SATAN had a second fall, when our Lord came upon the earth. By that time he had usurped the dominion of the whole world -- and he called himself its king. And he dared to take up the Holy Savior in his arms, and show Him all kingdoms, and blasphemously promise to give them to Him, His Maker, if He would adore him. Jesus answered, "Begone, Satan !", and Satan fell down from the high mountain. And Jesus bare witness to it when He said, "I saw Satan, as lightning, falling from heaven." The Evil One remembered this second defeat, and so now he smote down the Innocent Lord a second time, now that he had Him in his power. O dear Lord, teach us to suffer with Thee, and not be afraid of Satan's buffetings, when they come on us from resisting him.

Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, etc.
------------------------

THE EIGHTH STATION
The Women of Jerusalem morn for our Lord.

V. We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee,

R. Because by thy Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

EVER since the prophecy of old time, that the Savior of man was to be born of a woman of the stock of Abraham, the Jewish women had desired to bear Him. Yet, now that He was really come, how different, as the Gospel tells us, was the event from what they had expected. He said to them "the days are surely coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed." [ Luke 23:29. NRSV]. Ah, Lord, we know not what is good for us, and what is bad. We cannot foretell the future, nor do we know, when You come to visit us, in what form You wilt come. And therefore we leave it all to Thee. Do to us and in us [whatever pleases you]. Let us ever look at Thee, and do You look upon us, and give us the grace of Thy bitter Cross and Passion, and console us in Thy own way and at Thy own time.

Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, etc.
------------------------

THE NINTH STATION
Jesus falls for third time.

V. We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee,

R. Because by thy Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

SATAN will have a third and final fall at the end in the everlasting fiery prison. He knew this was to be his end--he has no hope, but despair only. He knew that no suffering which he could at that moment inflict upon the Savior of men would avail to rescue himself from that inevitable doom. But, in horrible rage and hatred, he determined to insult and torture while he could the great King whose throne is everlasting. Therefore a third time he smote Him down fiercely to the earth. O Jesus, Only-begotten Son of God, the Word Incarnate, we adore with fear and trembling and deep thankfulness Thy awful humiliation, that You who art the Highest, should have permitted Yourself, even for one hour, to be the sport and prey of the Evil One.

Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, etc.
------------------------

THE TENTH STATION
Jesus is stripped of His Garments.

V. We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee,

R. Because by thy Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

JESUS would give up everything of this world, before He left it. He exercised the most perfect poverty. When He left the Holy House of Nazareth, and went out to preach, He had not where to lay His head. He lived on the poorest food, and on what was given to Him by those who loved and served Him. And therefore He chose a death in which not even His clothes were left to Him. He parted with what seemed most necessary, and even a part of Him, by the law of human nature since the fall. Grant us in like manner, O dear Lord, to care nothing for anything on earth, and to bear the loss of all things, and to endure even shame, reproach, contempt, and mockery, rather than that You shalt be ashamed of us at the last day.

Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, etc.
------------------------

THE ELEVENTH STATION
Jesus is nailed to the Cross.

V. We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee,

R. Because by thy Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

JESUS is pierced through each hand and each foot with a sharp nail. His eyes are dimmed with blood, and are closed by the swollen lids and livid brows which the blows of His executioners have caused. His mouth is filled with vinegar and gall. His head is encircled by the sharp thorns. His heart is pierced with the spear. Thus, all His senses are mortified and crucified, that He may make atonement for every kind of human sin. O Jesus, mortify and crucify us with Thee. Let us never sin by hand or foot, by eyes or mouth, or by head or heart. Let all our senses be a sacrifice to Thee; let every member sing Thy praise. Let the sacred blood which flowed from Thy five wounds anoint us with such sanctifying grace that we may die to the world, and live only to Thee.

Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, etc.
-----------------------

THE TWELFTH STATION
Jesus dies upon the Cross.

V. We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee,

R. Because by thy Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

"CONSUMMATUM est." It is completed -- it has come to a full end. The mystery of God's love towards us is accomplished. The price is paid, and we are redeemed. The Eternal Father determined not to pardon us without a price, in order to show us especial favor. He condescended to make us valuable to Him. What we buy we put a value on. He might have saved us without a price -- by the mere fiat of His will. But to show His love for us He took a price, which, if there was to be a price set upon us at all, if there was any ransom at all to be taken for the guilt of our sins, could be nothing short of the death of His Son in our nature. O my God and Father, You have valued us so much as to pay the highest of all possible prices for our sinful souls--and shall we not love and choose Thee above all things as the one necessary and one only good?

Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, etc.
------------------------

THE THIRTEENTH STATION
Jesus is laid in the arms of His Blessed Mother.

V. We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee,

R. Because by thy Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

HE is Thy property now, O Virgin Mother, once again, for He and the world have met and parted. He went out from Thee to do His Father's work--and He has done and suffered it. Satan and bad men have now no longer any claim upon Him- too long has He been in their arms. Satan took Him up aloft to the high mountain; evil men lifted Him up upon the Cross. He has not been in Thy arms, O Mother of God, since He was a child--but now thou have a claim upon Him, when the world has done its worst. For thou art the all-favoured, all-blessed, all-gracious Mother of the Highest. We rejoice in this great mystery. He has been hidden in thy womb, He has lain in thy bosom, He has been [nursed] at thy breasts, He has been carried in thy arms--and now that He is dead, He is placed upon thy lap. Virgin Mother of God, pray for us.

Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, etc.
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THE FOURTEENTH STATION
Jesus is laid in the Sepulcher.

V. We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee,

R. Because by thy Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

JESUS, when He was nearest to His everlasting triumph, seemed to be farthest from triumphing. When He was nearest upon entering upon His kingdom, and exercising all power in heaven and earth, He was lying dead in a cave of the rock. He was wrapped round in burying-clothes, and confined within a sepulcher of stone, where He was soon to have a glorified spiritual body, which could penetrate all substances, go to and fro quicker than thought, and was about to ascend on high. Make us to trust in thee, O Jesus, that You wilt display in us a similar providence. Make us sure, O Lord, that the greater is our distress, the nearer we are to Thee. The more men scorn us, the more You did honor us. The more men insult over us, the higher You wilt exalt us. The more they forget us, the more You did keep us in mind. The more they abandon us, the closer You wilt bring us to Yourself.
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LET US PRAY
God, who by the Precious Blood of Thy only-begotten Son did sanctify the standard of the Cross, grant, we beseech Thee, that we who rejoice in the glory of the same Holy Cross may at all times and places rejoice in Thy protection, through the same Christ, our Lord.

End with one Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary and Glory be..., for the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff. (This is required to qualify for the Plenary Indulgence.)