Professional Documents
Culture Documents
JOHN
M. KELLY
LIBDADY
University of
St.
Michael
College, Toronto
"CONSUMMATUM EST.
(Michael Angela.)
V
SDevotioft
OF
SJ.
SJ.
MDCCCXCIX.
"
And
will
shall look
upon
Me whom
for
and they
shall
mourn
Him
Him
as the
manner
is
to grieve for
xii. 10.
first-born."
ZACHARIAS
Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in Him may not perish, but may have life
"And
as
must
the
everlasting."
ST.
JOHN
iii.
14, 15.
PREFATORY NOTE.
who
IT
is
parallel
in
between the
Man upon
the Cross.
if
The
inference seems
warranted, that
and agony of Christ our Lord, a worm and no man," we are to be saved from perishing,
we must not
but
must
try
expel the
venom of
evil
They shall
Me whom
Can
to the
we
find
fulfilment of this
by the devotion,
popular, of the
"
now
happily become so
"
Three Hours
Agony on
Good Friday
B
The
object which
is
this
little
book
is
in
tended to serve
first
twofold.
It
purports
in the
place,
by means of an
historical
intro
duction, and
author
or
Three Hours, from which, wisely unwisely, the modern adaptations have
Secondly,
it
notably diverged.
aims at pro
who
any
private
compassion
offered
and
to
supplication
which
is
being
God
all
by so
religious
devout
munities
congregations
at
and
many com
is
the
same
hour.
all
This
by the use of
of
Father Mesia
little
volume of meditations
practice
and
instructions.
Further, the
not
Good
"5
Friday alone.
be
seen
It
is
from the
Introduction
which
in
had
its
origin
which met
for the
purpose on every
Friday of the year. That confraternity was honoured with the appropriate name of the
Escuela de Cristo, the School of Christ
surely there
is
;
and
may
It
so readily be learned
upon the
Cross.
Words
in
His agony are a compendium of all that He did and suffered during the thirty-three years
that
He
lived
upon
earth.
In
referring to
some
Three
Hours
"
service
among
met
with,
in
connection
"Three
with
the
first
introduction of the
Hours,"
nearly
4
s,
Knightsbridge.
of quotation here, as an
all
Christians
must be agreed.
tion
who were
:
writer says
Hard-headed men
Parliament,
better
of
business,
sexes,
Members who
of
are
known
and speedily dispelled by the awe and fervour of an unwonted solemnity, making itself visible here
and there
in
The
service
Ought
it
to
be
encouraged
the
It
has
its
dangers unquestionably
resulting
danger, amongst
all
others,
from the
tendency of
mere emotion, leaving the heart colder and more callous than it was. But then, on the other hand,
the
feelings
must be roused
if
the
appeals
of
religion are to
do any good. Feelings are the raw material of character, and the system of the
Church
them
to seed.
offers a
to account
By
the Life of
set of
Wounds,
translated
by
Italian,
little
have been
book.
Also a
rough bibliography of writers upon the Seven Words, founded mainly on a list given in
Cancellieri s Settimana Santa, has been
in
added
in
an Appendix.
the
works
of Venerable
belonging
is
known attempt
Cross.
It will
to
number and
be noticed that
differs
order
of
enumeration
slightly
from that
now commonly
adopted.
S.J.
HERBERT THURSTON,
Feast of St. Gregory the Great, 1899.
HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION.
THERE
printed
is
a tiny
little
booklet
in
English,
I8O6,
1
in
is
London
as far back as
in
which
words of the
title-page,
of the
Agony
Good Friday
Rome, from
from
12
all
in
(sic) at
viz.,
the
3
8th to the
2 ist
hour,
to
who
Anno
1789.
composed
at
Lima
in Peru, in the
Spanish Language.
1
By
This little volume (96 pp. 32mo) was "printed by Grosvenor Keating, Brown, and Co., No. 37 Duke Street,
This edition is unknown to De Backer in 1806. Square," and Sommervogel, who only mention the two later editions, one of Dublin in 1844, and the other of London (Dolman)
1854.
(sic)
Messia,
SJ."
Seeing
how
popular the
in
times,
not
only
among
Father
Mesia
world,
own
but
seemed
volume with an
introduction,
and
The
ways
plan prescribed in
it
differs in so
many
from
the
arrangement now
usually
followed, that
favourite
Good Friday
introduced
first
Peru, on January
of the district.
It is needless to
life.
dwell upon
At an
early age he
Jesuit, and spent many years in the College of San Pablo, Lima, where he filled
became a
The English
made from
the Italian,
9
various posts of authority.
as a
He
we
is
described
1
"His
man
of truly apostolic
spirit
are told,
"
his
daily sermon
visits to
in
him a moment
to
rest.
In
spite
fell
of
the
as
many
he
ties
to
him
which he resided,
in
was
2
engaged unceasingly
works
of
charity."
It
much
when
Before he was called by obedience to labour in the we are told that he spent some time in studying the native languages of Peru, and in preaching to the Indians.
capital,
2
General
M.
de
Mendiburu,
Diccionario
Historico-
Father Mesia s Life Biografico del Peru, vol. v. p. 310. was written by a fellow-Jesuit, Father Juan Jose de Salazar, and was printed the year after his death, The book seems to to be rare, and I have unfortunately been unable
very procure sight of a copy.
It
was unknown
in
to Carayon,
and
seems to
be incorrectly described
the folio
edition of
De
Backer.
10
of Quito, 1 an uproar took place at the idea of
his leaving the city,
and
it
occasion
with
public
St.
Mark,
&c.,
many As an illustration
other distinctions.
he enjoyed, we
may mention
man
who
is
described as a
of stern and in
confessor,
to his
cited
and
"paid
decisions."
The
1725, at a
Jesus
its
There were seemingly two Provinces of the Society of in these regions, one called the Province of Peru, which had its head-quarters at Lima ; the other known from
principal residence as the Province of Quito,
Most Reverend
Father,
opinion
upon
to
in
it.
The
matter
is
have a
safe conscience,
and
to settle everything
I
accordance with
justice,
and
was resolved to
take no step of any sort which was not guided by so Christian a rule as is the prudent, learned, and
I remain, with holy decision of your Reverence. deep veneration and obedience, &c., at the feet of
your Reverence,
CASTELLFUERTE.
in
He
is
modern work on
conspicuous for
Peruvian history as a
man
"
and
his
uprightness.
He
rendered
many
services to religion,
moral tone
of
his
showing great devotedness in assisting the families of those who were ruined by the
earthquake of I687/
1
Mendiburu,
I.e. p.
313.
12
It
is
in
its
origin.
It
has been
to con
still
more disastrous
the city of
visitation
which
in
1746
laid
Lima
in ruins, first
suggested to
and public act of atonement. The earthquake of 1687 actually took place on the 2oth of
October, but six months before, on the night
of the ist of April, which that year
fell
in
them out of
their
streets.
If
am
1
de los
mas notabihs Terremotos, &c., edited by Colonel of It seems charac Cavalry M. de Odriozola, pp. 25 and 199.
the South American republics, that all the literary are not ecclesiastics, are invariably either colonels
teristic of
men who
or generals.
Colonel de Odriozola,
if
mistake not,
is
13
in the printed
"Relations,"
was undoubtedly one of the preachers who bade the people take warning, and threatened
them with
further chastisements
if
they neg
according
still
After
this,
to the
more
portent
An image
of our
Lady
tears
and to be bathed
in
moisture, in a
way
of which
given.
I
any expression
no
doubt
that
opinion
regarding
the
the
believers
in
it
were
was repeatedly observed by crowds of people between the beginning of July and the time
of the earthquake, and even afterwards.
A
to
good deal of popular excitement seems have resulted, and after the awful catastrophe
of October
2oth,
the
terrified
inhabitants,
14
1 half of which were in ruins, erected
some
temporary
the
city.
enshrined, and
popular devotion.
this terrible
To
recall the
memory
of
on the anniversary of its occurrence, which was preceded by an eight days mission. The closing ceremony took
tion
was
instituted
of
Father
Mesia
was
Cathedral Chapter
took part.
Much
Desde
Las Columnas en impetu violento Las que sustentan arcos y linteles Maquinas, al furioso movimento La Mole muderan pues el desmonte, Si Edificio caera, se alzara Monte.
(Barnuero,
Lima Fundada,
canto
vi.
stanza Ixxx.)
may
contained in a diary
terrible
more
earthquake
of I746.
writer states
On
this
in the
evening the
Holy
Crucifix of Contrition
week
mission
insti
This
is
usually conducted
and during
it
upon
1
suitable subjects to
is
crowded congregations,
There
mention of
it,
leaflet entitled,
entes en esta
Memorias y Noticias de los Sucesos sobresaliciitdad de Lima, 1723; and in the Life of
in the
Father Francis del Castillo, S.J., by Buendia, p. 643. Also poem of Peralta Barnuero, entitled, Lima Fundada,
vi. st.
bk.
90.
De annuos ruegos seran sacros fervores Asi havran dado en Oblaciones pias
Culto a eternos Divinos Protectores
;
En que el recuerdo hard con accion clara Lo triste en el dolor, gozo en el Ara.
8
with great
fruit to souls.
16And on
the
same day
in
the morning, in
memory
caused to
Oct. 2oth,
life
the
under the
of
Our Lady
of the Warning.
On
this festival
communicate
in
many
as ten, twelve,
and even fourteen thousand persons, but in this year, 1747, both on account of the multitude of
devout persons who have died, as also on account of the large numbers who have left the city, the
Hosts consumed
hardly amounted
in distributing
Holy Communion
to four thousand.
Now
although
in
would be
is
Holy
in
Crucifix
of
Contrition,"
alluded
1
to
the
foregoing
extract,
s
we
arms
The
statue
as
La
17
should
trace
the
first
tion of the
tised
on
the
name
of the
"
School of
in
were
venerated
both
the
above-mentioned
known
The
were
well
we can
some
may
The need
of
some
special form of
p.
643
These facts are attested by the Life of Father Castillo, and by an earlier passage in the document already
;
cited
J.
Cf. the Preface by Father Terrcmotos, p. 125. E. Uriarte, S.J., contributed to the Spanish Edition of Cardinal Bellarmine s De Septem Verbis prolatis in Cruce.
in
i8
may
very possibly
have been further brought home to the inhabi tants of Lima by one of the numerous minor
shocks
citizens
of
earthquake
which
alarmed the
Be
this
however as
may, we
shall
do well to turn
now
referred
which, being
founded
"
on
the
earliest printed
copy of the
entire.
Three
Hours,"
may
be quoted
No
made
who introduced
It
this
devotion
Lima.
in
began
the
at mid-day,
and and
this
continued
Friday
:
till
three
the
afternoon on
Good
and so
felt
it
great was
spiritual joy
consolation
by those
who
assisted
him on
occasion, that
afterwards
made
At
first
privately in his
There were earthquakes in 1688, 1694, 1697, 1698, I have before me the 1713, 1715, 1724, and 1725. Even on this Relacion of that of 1699. contemporary occasion sixteen persons perished in the ruins, and much
1699,
to property.
19
but the year following, so much was it thronged by a concourse of people, anxious to assist at a devotion so properly adapted to the day,
;
own church
to
go
From thence
nearly
all
and monasteries of
from thence over
religious
But as the genius of mankind is various, no sooner had this devotion transplanted itself into
different places,
it
not seen
one could scarcely believe it to be the same devo which had begun at Peru, the method was now become so confused and difficult, whereas at
tion
first
it
easy.
To
apply a
it
remedy
1
so
great
an
inconvenience,
was
may be noticed between the which must be considered most authoritative, that edited by Father Uriarte in 1886, and another copy which I have before me, published by the Propaganda Catolica of Still further removed from the original Madrid, in 1877. text of Father Mesia, is a French version of the devotion, printed by Gunner, at the end of a little book on the
edition
Considerable differences
whatever
Stations of the Cross. This last bears hardly any resemblance to the first form of the meditations as originally
thought necessary to translate the author s book, and give an explanation of the manner in which
it
by himself, in order that by and publishing both, a more general uni printing
practised
was
prevail in the performance of a which was so rapidly extending itself among the faithful in other cities and provinces.
formity might
devotion
Good
wished
high veneration
that,
among
the faithful,
it
were to be
would emulate
Three Hours of
ever
the
Agony Redeemer
;
of
the
Jesus
Christ,
our
is
blessed
:
method whereof
as follows
A
lights
crucifix,
being
placed on the
with a convenient
number of
priest,
who
is
the director
of the function, placing himself before the altar, or else in the pulpit, begins by
making the
sign of
the cross;
and
is
for a Christian to
of
charity,
He
21
He
then proceeds to explain, as well what the Saints have said as what they have learned by revelation,
on the
utility
of
in
His
be
to
Much may be accompanied by Him at ours. learned on this article from Albert the Great and
St.
Bernard, from
St.
the
Lives
of St. Catharine of
Pazzi,
Sienna,
Gertrude,
others.
St.
M. Magdalene de
and many
Blessed Lady of Dolours, and all the assistants being seated, he begins to read the Introduction,
at
the
conclusion
silence,
whereof
all
tate, in
on some point of
The
priest
then
some
remaining on their recite alternately with him ten Paters and knees, Aves, or any other prayer that may be found at the
priest rises,
this
method
is
observed
22
We
confine himself so strictly to time as not to fall short of, or exceed three hours for, as the intent
:
of this devotion
at
is,
that
it
the
time
of
it
that
Jesus Christ
so the
must be performed slower or faster in proportion to the measure of the time that remains; and if he perceives that there remains more than
recital
sufficient,
of the canticles as
Three Hours.
word,
When
this
term approaches,
many pauses
of tenderness
and devotion, the last apostrophe at the end of the book. Should there yet remain any time, he
says the salutations to the five sacred
wounds of
at the
may be
also
found
end
but
if
On
there be no time to spare, they are omitted. the dial-hand s approaching the point of
all
Three,
manner, that when the clock strikes they sing, Crudfixus et mortuus est ; at which words the
priest
rises,
has expired!
Then
and
23
of sorrow for sin
to
Jesus
Christ,
to
His most
Holy Mother
all
of
when
finishes with a
Act of Contrition. 1
It will
be noticed from
this
account that
now
cn-n-
monly
to
is
followed.
What we
are
now accustomed
musical
series
of discourses with
interludes, the
congregation
of a
kneeling
only
during the
recital
The
original conception
meditation made by
upon
their knees
for the
most
part,
points
being read
aloud
for
convenience sake at
dis
suitable intervals.
the
some
Even
Spain
this plan
1
Preface,
xi.
24
gone some
description
slight modification.
The
following
by
which belongs presumably to the first decade of this century, will be read with interest
:
The
our
Saviour
Cross
is
to
and
partakes of
impressive
members
devotional
of the people.
kept,
is
is
generally
and made impervious to daylight. large crucifix is seen on the high altar, under a black canopy,
with six unbleached wax-candles,
which cast a
of the
as
rest
church.
the
The
females of
all
ranks
occupy,
usual,
centre of the nave, squatting or kneeling on the matted ground, and adding to the dismal appear ance of the scene, by the colour of their veils and
dresses.
who joined
Mr. Blanco White, a Spanish priest of English descent, the Church of England for a while, and ultimately died an Agnostic, was a prominent figure in Oxford society between 1830 and 1840. He is more than once referred to
in Cardinal
Catholics.
Newman s
25
in his Just as the clock strikes twelve, a priest cloak and cassock ascends the pulpit, and delivers
a preparatory address of his own composition. He then reads the printed meditation on the Seven
Words, or Sentences spoken by Jesus on the Cross, of time as that, allotting to each such a portion
with the interludes of music which follow each
of the readings, the whole
hours.
priate,
may
The music
and
if
is
generally
a sufficient
to
well repays
male part of
in fact,
composed
of Cadiz,
in
some gentlemen
and
liberality
their taste
thus procuring this master-piece of harmony It has been lately for the use of their country.
in
published
Germany under
the
title
of Sette
Parole}
Haydn
music
for the
sym
After some phonies for instruments only. years, however, he modified this plan, arrang3
Letters
from Spain,
By
"Don
Lucadio
Doblado" (i.e.,
26
ing the music for a chorus, with a libretto the
remains uncertain.
much
words have no apparent connection with the coplas originally composed by Father Mesia.
Haydn
the
himself has
of his
left
us a brief account of
occasion
in the
Parole
ing
it
in
March, 1801
It
was about
was asked
by one of the Canons of Cadiz to compose a piece of instrumental music on the Seven Words of Jesus
on the Cross.
At
that time
it
by the
mise-en-scene.
The
walls,
windows, and
black
1
cloth,
and the
religious
In Pohl
are
Before
century
Haydn
;
Monatshefte fur Musikgeschichte, 1876, p. 149), In the present J. Gliick, H. Schiitz, and C. G. Schroter. century there have been Count Castelbarko, Joseph Lutz, The last-named, Mercadante, Gounod, and Th. Dubois.
cf.
whose
beautiful,
if
performed
his
Farm
Street,
London,
first
published
work
in 1870.
27
in the centre. lightened by one large lamp hanging doors were closed, and the At mid-day all the
music commenced.
one of the Bishop ascended the pulpit, recited Seven Words, and gave a meditation on it. When and it was ended, he came down from the pulpit
knelt before the altar.
filled
and left the by the music. The Bishop mounted a third time, and so on, pulpit for a second time, and on
each occasion,
after
the
close
of
the
recommenced
playing.
My
of composition had to be adapted to this method not an easy task to produce It was execution.
seven Adagios in succession, each of which must take about ten minutes to perform, without wearying
the audience
;
and
could not
keep
In this account
it is
Pohl
Biographic Joseph
Haydn
s,
vol.
i.
p.
214.
When
sold the right of reproducing this composition in France to a Parisian publisher, he for a long time remained
Haydn
without payment.
At last, when he had almost given up the hope of seeing his money, a box arrived one day from Paris. Haydn got his servant to open it, and found to his
"What astonishment that it contained a chocolate tart. he grumbled. However, to me ? possible use can this be he proceeded to cut it open to give a portion to the servant for his trouble, when out there tumbled a roll of silver
"
pieces.
28
In
any
the
is
rate,
it
strictly
None
rapidly
devotion
spread
very
Gesu, and this Pope granted a Plenary Indul gence, Confession and Communion being of
course presupposed, to
it.
all
who
assisted
1
at
In
1818, according
to
Cancellieri,
the
service
in
was held
Rome
known
at first to a
it
was taken up by the Ritualists, and since then has become strangely popular even with
Anglicans of Evangelical views.
St.
Paul
Good Friday
for
Many
Settimana Santa, Appendix. 2 It does not seem easy to obtain accurate information as to the date of the introduction of the Three Hours Service
followed suit
also,
of course,
churches,
a
into
number of the
parish
The following letter, which is Anglican churches. quoted in the Guardian for March 3Oth, 1864, may be given
for
what
it is
worth.
who was
present,"
says
"I
Church is indebted to Mr. Mackonochie for the revival or an adaptation of an admirable ancient Office in commemo ration of the Three Hours on the Cross. At all events such an Office was held at St. Alban s [Holborn], and I gladly
direct attention to its details.
The service began at 2 p.m. with the Litany of the Church. Mr. Mackonochie from the pulpit then explained the outline of the Office, and, with the First some general remarks help of the choir, conducted it.
were made upon the whole subject, then the word from the Cross was chanted by the whole choir. This word was taken as a text for a short address or meditation. Then,
by
invitation, the congregation knelt for a short space in meditation on the points put forth by the preacher, whilst, as he said, the organ played soft music. Lastly a hymn on the Passion to a popular tune was sung. And this
first portion of the Office. The same order was followed throughout, and a few words of exhortation concluded the service, which, I was astonished to find, over It was a most passed the allotted time by half an hour. Catholic and beautiful office, and which any clergyman may In an editorial note it is added "We have adopt. heard that there was somewhat of a similar service at St. Matthias Stoke Newington, which was crowded with
completed the
."
The services referred to took place in 1864, The first English Cathedral apparently for the first time. to adopt the "Three Hours" was St. Paul s, where a
worshippers."
its
introduction
had been
first
It
was held
for the
attempt was made by a Protestant Associa tion to organize a demonstration outside the Cathedral to protest against the service, but the police authorities inti
An
30
besides the
more
where the devotion has long been popular. In most of these, if I mistake not, the modern
practice
is
seven or eight
sermons, interrupted by
is left
free
between
each
Word
There
as
far
as
have
seen,
an
in attribut
Father Mesia.
Neither
is
there
room
for
doubt that the received history of its develop ment, by which it is supposed to have spread
from
Peru to Spain, from Spain to
Italy,
is
difficulty,
however, has
Sermo Trihorarius de
Prcecipuis
Dominica
Curiously
as
this
title
seems
to
now
book stands
alone,
with the
name
of Father Mesia.
as used
In the
first
place,
Sermo Trihorarius,
by a Latinist of that age, might as easily mean a sermon about the Three Hours as a
three hours
sermon.
It
would
not, I think,
for a preacher
Domini Mysteriis factis in SepulcJiro, where, of course, Sermo Triduanus would not mean a sermon three days long, but a sermon
Christi
word Trihorarins
it
refers to the
dura
is
hours together.
in
much more
now.
Giacomo
his
diary,
printed by Muratori,
1
Rerum
32
1
Sicilian,
the
presence of
the
Pope
"
He
in
the mysteries
by the authority and writings of the Hebrews and the Arabs, quoting their very words in
their
it
own
language.
The
discourse, although
less delighted
Everybody commended the preacher, the Pontiff and the Cardinals among
native tongue. the
first."
It
this
impressiveness of
potamia,"
that blessed
felt for
word Meso
the
first
time
in
our day.
Still
more
startling
33
a Franciscan Observant, preached upon the
Passion in the
Duomo
of Florence in 1685,
half.
and a
it
Cancellieri
for
was common
Spanish preachers to
a remark which
satires of
is
Father
Isla, in his
Fray Gerundio.
to
me
decisive
in
on
any claim which might be advanced behalf of Fra Nicolas Orano, is the
Even by the
is
biblio
own
John a
S.
The same
elaborately
John
S.
Antonio
gives
an
classified list of
Fra Orano
sermon
is
alluded
all
to,
but
To
appearance,
We
are justified
then,
it
seems to
s
me,
in refusing to
34
evidence
is
such Three
time.
Hour sermons
other allusion
is
previously to his
The only
any
Father
have found to
similar practice,
J.
a statement
made by
E. de Uriarte,
s
is
Bellarmine
to.
Seven
a
There
little
Constituciones y Reglas para el gobierno de la Real Congregation de Indignos Esclavos del SS. Sacramento en su Oratorio publico
. .
.
de la
Calle
for
del
Olivar (Constitutions
of the
and
Rules
the administration
Royal
Confraternity of the
Slaves of the
their
in
public
it
which
until three in
the afternoon,
reverence of those
same
the Cross.
In order
35
to arouse the devotion of those present, there
Seven Words
(las
Meditaciones de
our
las Siete
Palabras) which
time."
1
Lord
spoke at that
until
I
is
better
evidence
that
am
has
inclined to believe
the date
1648
been accidentally
writer seems to
Words,"
The
as to a
is
intelligible
after
knowledge of any recognized set of medita tions to which the words could apply in
1648.
Cardinal
Bellarmine
are
great
a purpose.
Finally, there
is
no
difficulty in
supposing
that the
same idea may have occurred inde pendently to two or even to many persons.
In
Father Mesia
case the
germ
fructified
and spread. In Fra Orano s, the idea was still-born. That the Peruvian Jesuit had been
1
Ch.
iii.
and that
his
more than
day,
thirteen
evidence.
came
found
in
known
as
we
learn
that
in
the
by Constantine over the site of the Holy Sepulchre, there was celebrated at the, end of
the fourth century a three hours
service on
Good
be feared
comparison
her
with
of
St.
Silvia
and
present service
MS.
First published by Signer Gamurrini, in 1887, from a It has been reprinted by Duchesne as an at Arezzo.
Appendix
collections.
to his Origines
in other
An
English translation
may be
found
among
37
But when (on Good Friday) the
come, the people assemble
Cross,
it is
sixth
hour has
tightly that
The
Bishop
done but
Gospels which have reference to the Passion of our Saviour. And at the several lections and
. . .
prayers
there
is
such
emotion
displayed
is
and
lamentation of
hear.
all
the people as
is
wonderful to
small,
For there
no one, great or
who
not weep on that day during those three hours, in a way which cannot be imagined, that
does
And
ninth
is
Gospel according to
St.
up the ghost
prayer
is
and when
said
dismissed.
When we remember
rigour
the
fast
extraordinary
of
the
Lenten
amongst these
Eastern Christians,
five
many
of
of
whom
passed
whom seem
to have
able to
38
we
shall better
be
this
carried
of
the
preceding
early
night
had
been
spent
by
both
these
Christians
old,
in
of Jerusalem,
young
and
on the
Mount
morning they
had
returned
to
the
city
of slumber in
a.m., the
begun, as
St. Silvia
informs
True
sacred
Cross.
The Bishop
in
sat,
holding the
wood
his
around him.
in turn,
his forehead
wood
of
on.
These things sound incredible, but they all rest upon the high authority of St. Silvia s narrative, and they are con firmed by the statements of St. Epiphanius and St. Jerome,
39
the Passion
in the
"
now
Three
Hours,"
let
the
Hymns
earlier
fragments of
Melito of Sardis. 1
raised
against
we not
it
by Father Mesia,
cannot
"
new-fangled, or even
un-
HERBERT THURSTON.
1
Dean Farrar on
the
Name
of Jesus Christ
for ever.
Amen.
Lord Jesus
Christ,
who
Thy
life s
close,
spake
seven
Thou wouldst
I
forgive
and
or their
lust,
fruits,
envy,
Lord
God,
as
Jesus
Christ,
Son of the
"
Living
forgive
Thou
saidest,
Father,
those
of
who
as
crucify
to
Me,"
make me
for
love
Thee
forgive
all
And
Thou
behold
saidest
Thy
and
Mother,
to
"Woman,
"
thy
Son,"
Thy
love
disciple,
Behold thy
Mother,"
make Thy
me
in
to
Thy
Mother.
"To-day
And
as
Thou
Me
u
Paradise,"
make me
Thou
shalt be
saidest,
"
To-day thou
Me
in
Paradise."
And
as
Thou
Eli, Eli,
Lama
Sabacthani,"
which
is,
My
My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" make me to say in all times of sorrow and
God,
"
tribulation,
Lord,
my
on
me
my King
me
Thou
with
and
my
"I
redeemed
Thine
own
Blood."
And
in
as
saidest,
thirst,"
that
is,
Souls,
who were
coming, make
me
always to
love
my
whole
heart.
And
Thou
"
saidest,
Father,
43
into
Thy hands
in
commend
hour,
to
"
My
Spirit,"
make me
say fully
I
my
last
be able to
and
freely,
Father, into
commend my
spirit.
Receive
hast
as
to Thee, because
Thou
now
that
set 1 a certain
time to
my
life."
And
Thou
saidest,
It is
finished,"
which
signifies
the sorrows
Thou
now
ended,
make me
deserve,
when
my
soul
My
now
;
have
resolved to
make an end
of thy pains
saints
My
and and
enter into
My
Kingdom,
to feast,
rejoice,
more."
for ever
and ever
Amen.
printed editions read,
The
tempus jam.
vitse
mere,"
THE DEVOTION
TO THE
JESUS
CHRIST
OUR REDEEMER.
SJ.
Creator,
come
:
From Thy
Come, take possession of our souls, And make them all Thy own.
Thou who
Best
gift
The
of God above, Living Spring, the Living Fire, Sweet Unction and True Love.
art sevenfold in
Thou who
Thy
;
grace,
Finger of
God s
right
hand
Oh, guide our minds with Thy blest With love our hearts inflame
;
light,
And
er decays,
Far from us drive our deadly foe True peace unto us bring ;
And
through
all perils
lead us safe
Through Thee may we the Father know Through Thee th Eternal Son, And Thee, the Spirit of them both, Thrice-blessed Three in One.
All glory to the Father be,
The same
Then
is
words
Lamb,
is
Whoever
not lose
to listen
him
moments, but
let
It has seemed better to be content with a prose rendering of the Spanish verses, the original of which will be given in each case in a footnote.
Sobre
Presto, presto
venga a
oir.
PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTION.
As
faithful
Christians
who
love
our Saviour
Jesus, and who have been bought and redeemed, at the price of His most precious Blood, Death,
and Passion, from the slavery of sin and the devil, we ought to contemplate, with the greatest attention and reverence, the anguish and torments which our beloved Redeemer suffered on the Cross during
the three hours of His agony
sively
torments so exces
to
St.
cruel
that,
according
Bernard,
no
or created
foot to the
crown
Him
head
well,
to foot
torn by whips
by blows
His shoulders and His whole body and scourges His breast weakened His head horribly pierced by thorns His
His
His mouth parched His tongue tormented with bitterness from the gall and vinegar His feet and hands
veins emptied of their blood
with thirst
whilst the
wounds they
have made are gradually lengthened by the weight of His body His heart afflicted, and His soul
ready to depart, overwhelmed with insupportable sorrow and anguish. And yet in truth it was not
this
which most
afflicted
Him
it
will
that delivered
up to the torments of the Cross. What pierced His Heart most during His agony was the knowledge He had of our sins, and of the
small return
Him
we should make
for so
much
love.
It
was our ingratitude that caused Him to feel the agony of death. Ah who can reflect on it without
!
horror
Where
is
he who
will
sin
During
long
hours
of
terrible
He
offered
Blood
as
a sacrifice to His
During these three hours, although with our eyes we do not see Him, He had us incessantly present to His
mind, to offer Himself for each individual of us, if each had been the only creature in the world, and the sole object of His love. During these
as
three hours
its
He
saw the
least of
all
circumstances as clearly as
He
does at
the
49
moment
passion
we
commit
them,
being
so
deeply
com
in
He
offered
During these three hours He wrested the handwriting that was against us out of
the hands of the devil, the prince of this world,
nailed
it
to
the
Cross,
and effaced
it
with His
Blood.
His
bitter agony,
all
During these three hours, at the price of He purchased from His Eternal
the treasures His Bounty had to give,
Father
viz., all
good thoughts, holy inspirations, and Divine helps, with which we have been favoured.
the
blessed
!
mindfulness of
Re
deemer
the
employed for our deliverance from guilt, during which we were present not only to the memory of our loving Saviour on Mount Calvary, but near to
His Sacred Heart burning with love and infinite O Christian souls how can we repay
!
charity.
we
try to
Him ?
address ourselves to the Eternal
Let
us, therefore,
Father, our God and our Judge. Inspired with confidence by the agony of Jesus our Redeemer,
let
us say to
:
Him,
in all humility
!
and
affection
of our hearts
Eternal Father
souls,
supreme Judge
is
whose
justice
incompre-
50
hensible
!
since
Thou
Thy most
our
innocent
Son should
bear
the
burden of
immense
which
He
is
appeased.
Lord,
grant
now abundantly
satisfied,
by the three
Thy Son Jesus suffered through for us, may deserve to obtain
He asks in our name, viz., the pardon of our and the powerful assistance of Thy grace, now,
at the
all
and
Here
down
to meditate
during which time some appropriate music sung, together with the following verses
:
may be
played or
Come
to
A Itar
to
speak
to
your
souls to-day. 1
When
First
Word.
1
Al Calvario, almas,
llegad,
Que
Hoy
KNOW
DO.
sitting exalted in
Hitherto
He
chair, gibbet of the Cross. has kept profound silence, and now
the
He opens His Divine lips to teach the world in seven words the most sublime doctrine of His love.
Be
powers
will
attentive,
:
it is
demand
Jesus,
full
Divine Master
speak
ings of
speak,
O
is
Lord,
Thy
All nature
its
Creator.
;
The
earth
is
covered with a
thick
darkness
Lord
in
such
men
deserve for
them,
as
it
was upon
We
might imagine
52
that
all
demanded
justice
quo,
and vengeance of the Eternal Father: UsqueDomine, sanctus et vents, non vindicas sanguinem Filii tui ! How long, O Lord, just and holy, wilt
Thou
for
delay to wreak
the Blood of
sinners
for all
Him ?
We
might
imagine that at the moment this cry made itself heard, Divine Justice was about to discharge the
thunders of
its
anger to avenge
itself
on criminal
mankind.
But the Redeemer of the world, displaying His infinite charity, raises His nearly sightless eyes to
His Eternal Father, testifying His obedience, and says My Father and my Lord, restrain the arm of
:
Thy justice. I conjure Thee by this Cross upon which I die, by the Blood I shed without ceasing, I entreat, I demand of Thee to pardon sinners the crimes which
have placed
Me on
this Cross.
Father
do.
/ forgive them,
they
know
not
what
they
hearken attentively to this first word. Listen to Jesus, as He calls upon His Father
sinful soul
!
also from
;
all eternity.
Behold
than
you are
no
less
Eternal Father!
I,
can
then
call
Thee my
Father,
?
who am
so
What
strange blind-
53
ness
has separated
folly
me
from Thee
What an
and
Into
?
unaccountable
to despise
Thy
caresses
Thy
what a miserable
have
my
in
!
sins
brought
me
Whither do
my
passions lead
me?
when
What
I
wretched condition
Thee.
in
I find
myself
offend
am
miserable
?
my
sins
to
whom
shall I turn
my
eyes
I will
turn
Father of Mercy.
But
he
how can
and appear
soul
whom
Yes, return,
O
I
afflicted
I
return
;
for
God
is
will return
but
miserable wretch as
am
my
:
fails
me on
account
of
my
iniquities
looks of anger
it
is
Him.
Go,
I
;
go
for
He
is
your Father
is
and
this Jesus,
:
to pardon you,
Jesus,
feet
and
offers
His Blood
for
your
sins.
O
I
me
!
those blessed
lips,
that
may
kiss
them with my
and
do not die of
my tears. What is it Thou who my crimes? and is it possible love for Thee ? Wretch that I am
54
how
great
is
the hardness of
my
heart.
Go
then
with confidence,
obtain pardon.
repenting soul. Go, sinner, and Behold, Heaven, moved with pity,
Father, behold at
Thy feet
miserable sinners ! remember not, O Lord, that they have crucified Me, but rather that I die for them : instead of their sins, remember My love : not their
ingratitude, but the
Blood that
have shed.
Look
them
life
I offer for
not
on this Cross.
Father
do.
forgive them,
they
know
what
they
infinite charity of
O what sublime doctrine could never extinguish has He not taught us in this first word ! Hearken,
!
soul, how He excuses those who crucified how He pardons His most cruel enemies, and in them all sinners who have offended Him, and who by their offences have nailed Him to the Cross. Father ! forgive them, they know not what
O my
Him
they do.
Learn,
O my
soul,
you may
Learn to
excuse the offences of your neighbour, even though he should be your enemy ; never put an unfavour-
55
able interpretation on his actions, but attribute his
errors to ignorance, inadvertency, zeal, or
cause,
terrible
rather
than an
is
evil
intention.
burthen
laid
!
Father to pardon the many criminal words and actions wherewith you insult and crucify Him, and
you nourish rancour in your heart, and refuse pardon a trivial word, or slight affront, for His sake. O unaccountable obstinacy What feeling
yet
to
!
of Christianity can
remain
in
the
soul
of
If
him
who
those
enemy?
who
you,
flatter
you,
who
offend
what difference
?
there
Why
then do you
a Christian
Reflect seriously
on
this
truth,
and be assured
to
you
If
;
you
refuse to
in the
refuse to
shall
you
will
be treated by your Lord. You hear no consoling word from His lips, nor will
to a certainty
He
com
Forgive then,
Christian,
if
you would
be forgiven by Jesus.
innumerable sins
- 65
Divine Majesty, I do forgive all my enemies, not only once, but a thousand times for love of Thy most
holy Son.
I
Pardon me,
I
Lord,
;
did when
offended Thee
and
on account
be heard,
of
my
ingratitude, I
do not deserve
His
to
Thy most
my
I
stead.
Through
I did.
therefore crave
Thy pardon
of pity
!
forgive
me, Lord,
O God
Thy
kneel
down and
may
I
confess,
Thy enemy
knew
to
me and I
what I
did.
Sweetest Jesus of
my
soul,
pray
Thy
Pues que
fui
vuestro enemigo,
confieso,
Mi
Jesus,
el
como
Rogad por
Seguro
perdon consigo.
;
Cuando
No
supe
lo
57
what follows
for ever,
cruci
pardon of our
sins
which Thou
Make
I
believe in
all
God
I
:
hope
I
in
God
love
God above
all-gracious
things
am
is
grieved for
having
He
Him
God. I firmly purpose not to offend any more. O Mary admirable Mother the Advocate of
!
my
sins,
and grace
-58-
Good
Thief.
devout
soul,
one repentant, the other hardened ; one one saving yielding to grace, the other defiant
;
it.
de
plorable heedlessness of
mankind
My
:
soul,
who
observe by
:
thief,
or
damn
bad one?
will
How many
are there
here present
thief in Hell
who
?
that
thou
livest
so
negligently;
thou,
Which
one?
of the thieves
thief,
wicked rebellious
or the penitent
If the latter,
59
humility?
and proud
Depart from me, thou bad thief. Ah there is mercy sinner, but a humble one
:
!
for thee.
As the bad
insults
denies and
Him,
so
all
as
if
He had
unjustly
so the
good
thief:
enlightened by
Him
O my
can
God, how
himself
potent
against
Thy
light
Who
of
steel
Thy appeal?
those
tender invitations
thy
Saviour.
Open
your hearts to them, and let them sink deep. The happy thief turns towards Jesus, and with a
plaintive voice says, Lord,
in Thee
in Thee alone
Thy Kingdom.
blessed sinner
Who
is
Man
thy
God
and thy Redeemer ? Stand confounded, ye judges, with shame and confusion, to hear a thief confess
Jesus Christ on the Cross, whilst you so obstinately
deny
Him
notwithstanding
all
His miracles.
confess
How
with
!
many
who
Him
dost
deny
Him
by
their
works
What
sort
of a confession of Christ
thou
6o
make,
man, that
or thou,
far
woman,
lost to
in
like
before you
you have scarcely made it back into your vices and iniquities.
thief,
is
What
sort
of a confession
this?
Does your
the
No
the
thief,
for
his Lord,
imploring pardon
granted
sins,
He
instantly
his
request,
all
absolved
him
from
his
and
remitted
merited.
Me My
This day, said He, thou shalt be with in Paradise. Yes, this day this Friday of
sorrows.
O
will
!
great day
is
present
who
not
make
profit
!
of this hour?
you find your self by the side of your Redeemer on this great day, when He holds the key of Heaven in His hand, and throws the door of salvation open to all
happy sinner
blessed penitent
poor sinners.
no more days of sorrow for man Jesus has taken them all upon Himself. To-day pain is at an end,
for Jesus
dregs.
has drained the chalice of pain to the To-day there is no more danger of Hell
for those
who
has taken
Hell for
6r
Paradise
all
is is
opened
to repenting sinners.
To-day
!
mercy all is glory. Come then, O sinners however enormous your crimes may be, come and enjoy this propitious time; it will cost you
little
from a penitent heart. Is it possible that on such a day as this, you can remain obdurate ? O most
merciful
Jesus
at
find
Thee more
to bestow
liberal,
more generous,
gifts.
or
more ready
Thy manifold
most lovable
Thy
pity to
inflame
that
all
Thy
how
order
the
converted to Thee.
Hell
is
Behold,
great
God
filling every day, not only with Jews, Heretics and Infidels, but even with Christians.
What
day,
lost
!
heartrending thought
Saviour,
even
souls
this
will
very
O my
What
be
pity,
how many
so
be
Thy Blood
in
vain.
should
shed
for
many
pity
souls
Have Look
Lord, have
on
Christians.
favourably on
devil to boast of so
Thy flock. Suffer not the many triumphs. Let all be on which Thou so liberally offerest
Let
all
pardon to
all.
be saved,
thief,
Lord
all
and,
may we
confess
Thee
to be our
God and
our Redeemer.
May we
62
all
may we
firmly
purpose to
confession
amend our
of
lives,
For this end, our wrong-doing. us a sincere sorrow, that to-day Lord, grant
us in
Thy Kingdom.
has been read,
kneel
Reverently,
Jesus, the
If
to the
repentant thief,
also,
my
Then
Good
Thief.
Have
pity
on me,
Lord, and in
remember
Heavenly Kingdom.
believe in God.
Reverente
buen Ladron
Os
Dais lugar
en
ei Cielo,
-6 3
SON,
BEHOLD
Our Lord, from the height of His Cross, is whose looking down upon His blessed Mother,
heart
is
sunk
in
He
opens before her a new abyss of anguish by giving her all mankind to be her children in the person
of St. John.
O
must
most
it
afflicted
Mother
tender
heart?
Thy Son
in
Jesus
commends
them
all
for
thy
children
!
His
losest
place.
O
most
heartrending
exchange
Jesus,
thou
in
thy
amiable Son
sinners, nay,
and
His stead
receivest
sinners, as
have
Him
Lady, what a
their sins.
most
heart, already
stab.
What
!
committed to
thy care
-64
thy child
sinners,
!
in
them
to
also.
Mother
to be their
Mother
incomparable
!
mercy of the compassionate Mother of Jesus who, full of love and gentleness, presses the whole world
to
her
bosom, with
all
tender solicitude
of Sinners,
so
and
maternal affection.
shall
Refuge
how
so
we express our
gratitude for
great,
By what
obedience,
services, can we render ourselves worthy of so great a favour? O happy sinners! reflect
by what
Mother.
Mary, who
full
is
the a
Mother of God
Mother,
sanctity
also.
of grace
purity,
and
!
and
this
what a contrast between so holy a Mother and such perverse children between a
Alas
:
corrupt.
great
Queen of Heaven, take us now under thy protection, and make us children worthy of thee. Where is the
Christian,
who
confidence ought not to acknowledge thee for his Mother. Hell trembled at hearing the words
of Jesus
:
Hearken,
O man
sinners,
all.
the
Hell
is
the
the
Mother of
Mother of
feet
blessed
Lady,
kiss
thy sacred
-6s
thousand times, and exclaim with a voice that I wish might echo through heaven and earth,
However unworthy
Mary, yet,
day behold
possible, as
I am
to
I may
one
if
thee,
and
to
love thy
thou
thyself lovest
Him.
gives
devout
to
all
souls,
look
up
Jesus
who
Mother
you on you
His
the
riches of
will
never obtain
Through her
we
His
obtain pardon from her Son, together with all O Jesus, inexhaustible precious graces.
fountain of love and generosity, what a boundless love must have been Thine to love us with so
much
said
tenderness.
to
thee, Ecce
art
Since Jesus,
O my
soul,
has
!
surely thou
tate
bound
medi
Consider her
raise thy
O my
I
lift
up thine
eyes,
am
me
as such.
on
account of your sins. Sympathize with her in the she She prays for you sorrow she feels for you.
:
Beseech her implores mercy and pardon for you. by her sorrows to look upon you as her child, and
to obtain for
you
all
66
thyself
my Mother
also.
Ah
eyes of thine
Remember
the inexpressible anguish which we cost thee at the foot of the Cross. Let not the excessive grief
thou didst then suffer be all in vain. May thy sorrows and thy holy patronage prove a powerful
assistance
to
me
in
!
my
on
last
agony.
To-day,
O
my
amiable Mother
child,
in
love
and sorrow
Cross here.
that
I
Welcome,
die
at
feet
happy death
feet
Would
the
of
Mary
full
my
of Jesus so
of love
for
Here
Jesus in His last moments gives us to-day to His O Mary, who can understand what Virgin Mother.
thou then must have suffered ? accept
me for thy
child
and
be to
me a Mother,
as I
now promise
thee loyal
obedience. 1
Oh
Maria
Quien podra
:
Sed vos mi Madre, Senora, Que os prometo desde ahora Finamente obedecer.
-6 7 Mother,
In thanksgiving to Jesus for having given us Mary for our let us recite five times the following prayer :
Most sweet
for
Jesus,
we
return
Thee
infinite
thanks
to
blessed
Mother,
Mary,
sorrowful
sinful children
Mary, our Mother, pray for thy now, and at the hour of our death.
Then,
68
MY GOD! MY
GOI)!
FORSAKEN ME
all
Redeemer
for the
of the
world, after
He
for sinners,
Mother
of His
He
began to
holy Soul, the greatest pains and desolations, even the agony and pangs of death. Weakened as He
was,
of
He
good
wicked,
;
born obstinacy of
mercies
;
infidels
number
the
of souls
profit
who would be
lost eternally,
and
all
little
His
sufferings.
He
-69 disciples,
and the
cruel persecutions
which His im
sacred
Head
entering His temples ; His merciful eyes halfclosed by blood and dust His shoulders lacerated
;
by stripes, His chest oppressed, and His feet and hands transpierced by heavy nails. In truth, O my
Saviour,
Thy
!
sorrows
are
as
infinite
as
Thy
;
patience
In this state
Father for
He
avail
own
fault,
would
He
entered upon His agony, and the depth of His sorrow increased every moment as He realized
that
any consolation. Finding Himself thus abandoned, even by His Father, and sinking under the load of sins which crushed
Him
to suffer without
Him
He
at length fell
into so
great, so sensible, so
bitter a dereliction,
and so
He
Me?
My My O most lovable
God !
God I why
Saviour,
Thy
my
the
sins.
terrible
suffered
lest
on account of thy wilfulness. Tremble God should abandon thee also, and being
fly
for
? Why, Ut quid dereliquisti me ? Why hast Thou forsaken me ? Ah why ? Answer thy Saviour, who
O my
soul, art
thou so perverse
He hangs in agony on His Cross thou lose thy soul ? why wilt thou render the Blood I have shed for thy redemption of no
asks thee as
:
Why
wilt
avail ?
Ah
why ?
in
them
and
moment
of degrading pleasure,
air,
vanishes in disappointment?
Ut quid?
answer
Him
then.
sorrow.
persist in
O my soul O my Jesus!
my
Ut quid?
Why do
wrecking
soul,
when
behold Thee
damn
Thy
myself whilst
Blood
for
art
I
shedding
Thy
Precious
so shamefully abuse
it
mercy?
tears
bespeak
not,
me
holy dereliction.
Here
all
The
beloved
Son of God
this.
sees
!
Himself abandoned by
Ah
cursed be
my
sins that
to
Whoever wishes
console
:
Jesus in
His
him
sincerely say
My
no more. 1
us, recite five times
Most sweet Jesus by Thy most holy derelic nor tion, abandon us not, neither during our lives,
at
our death.
Then
to our
Lady
Mary,
protect us
Mother of grace, Mother of mercy, now and at the hour of our death.
Then,
Desamparado
se ve
De Ah
su Padre el Hijo
!
amado
Que
A Jesus
en su dolor,
:
THIRST.
Can any one fail to understand the causes which aggravated the thirst of our most sweet Saviour in that hour of anguish ? His tongue, the
instrument of so
roof of His
many
;
His loving lips were parched the bitterness of His tortures ; the moisture of by His body had been drained from Him through
all
mouth
Indescribable,
His wounds and through His sweat of blood. therefore, was the thirst which
tormented
Him
until
He
uttered
the
word,
thirst.
it
kind of
but
thirst
thirst is
an
far
insatiable
for
our
bodily
salvation
thirst
greater
than
the
which
Thou
endurest,
thirst for
be quenched by the tears of converted sinners. As if He had said In the midst of the torment and
:
now
73
no other consolation for me but the sighs and tears of
penitent souls.
Weep
then,
O
!
lovers of Jesus
He
oh,
thirsts
He
and
my
my
agonizing Saviour.
Ah
who
is
he,
who
will
much
He
thirsts
for the
salvation
extermination of sin.
will give
I thirst,
?
O my Saviour, who
will
Thee refreshment wandering sheep to Thee ? I the thirst that torments Thee
I will
who
is
bring back a
will,
Lord.
Since
will
endeavour to lead
them
home.
I
;
will
teach
Thy ways
to
the
will
that
thirst.
O my
Saviour, from
a
still
thirst?
love.
From
more
Lord,
Remember,
have legions of Virgins, Martyrs, and Confessors, who will die for most fervent
wilt
Thou
of
love
Mary, Thy Mother, dies for love of Thee Thy dear Magdalen, Thy spouses Catharine, Teresa, Ludgarde, and innumerable
Thee.
;
Sitio
I thirst.
!
Love never
says,
//
is
enough.
Christians
74
we must
die
with
Jesus,
:
so
ardent
die to the
bears
so
little
love towards
Him.
that the
O my God, Thy Apostles will convert whole kingdoms and millions of souls to Thee. I thirst I desire still more. The great St. Dominic,
converted
St.
Francis,
and
many
other
zealous
Saints,
Lord,
will
win souls to
Thee by
their miracles
and preaching, even from the remotest earth. The renowned Sitio I thirst.
parts of the
St.
Ignatius
and
of heretics,
will
and sinners
of
and
into
will
his
sons
carry
;
the
fire
Thy
Sitio
!
love
distant
nations a
and the
to
illustrious
Xavier
I
convert
for
still
new world
Thee.
thirst
more.
obdurate sinners
reflect
on the vehe
feels
ment
for
thirst
your salvation,
Is
it
and the
little
anxiety
still
it
causes
you.
possible that
you can
thirst after
world,
which cause you to run on so rapidly to your destruction ? Oh, sin no more, since you behold
Jesus so ardently desirous of your salvation.
Let
your tears now wash away the stains of your sin; to what other purpose would you reserve them?
Bewail them then with your
thus quench His
thirst.
tears,
and you
will
O my
Saviour,
who can
75 quench
in
it,
since love
never
says,
It
is
enough.
thirst
Be Thou
suffer
Thy
communicating
and
all
contrition.
Here
Jesus
wishest,
is
Christ
says
He
is
thirsty,
and
if
thou
which
to
Him
comfort
Him.
The
Him He
how
Him
your heart,
My
I give
feels the
pain of thirst
Him my
heart.
Then,
I believe in
57.
tiene
no
la
bebe
Como
La
- 76-
IT IS
CONSUMMATED.
The
the
now accomplished
cancelled
;
immense debt of
sinners
is
the just
at a price proportionate to
is
value; a covenant
;
concluded between
is
God
;
and man
overthrown
our ador
And now
Redeemer of
of His agony
He
is
now
and
offers
His sweet
life
for sinners.
Enter,
O my
made
soul!
enter into
all
His blessed
Heart,
and from
thence behold
to
His Eternal Father, even to the end of the He accepts them, makes them His own world.
;
it
is
through
His
Passion
and
Death
that
all
these
prayers
is
answer
which
given
all
the
sover
it
endure, are
here
determined
it
is
owing
77
to
all
Heaven
by His
will
Lord,
omniscience,
now beholds
:
all
your temptations
your
secret
falls,
and
combats
He
foresees
all
the
to
soul.
events
of
of
if
His
Death
and Passion
the
your
soul,
has suffered in
resolving
Him thanks for what He And now Jesus, for you. particular
it
you Return
alone were
only
designs, paused, as
anything more remained to be done or suffered for sinners. Quid ultra debui facere et non fed?
do
for sinners
than
?
have
done
for
O
all
Redeemer of my
that
Me
to
do
hast exhausted
Thy
charity,
Thou
So then our Blessed Saviour, considering that nothing further remained for Him to do, either in
obedience to the
will
out,
Consummatum
esf,
It
consummated.
Him now
the salvation of
and
in
It
is
at
this
moment
apostles,
He
to
bequeaths
power
to
His
fortitude
martyrs, purity to
virgins,
It is
and courage
that
to confessors
field
and
penitents.
now
He
beholds the
of His
Church enriched
:
His temples
idols
over
the
He
who
will
obtain salvation.
left
undone.
for for
All
is
consummated*
Thy immense
and
man.
all
Oh
let
me make
accom
Thee some
plished.
return for
that
Thou
I
hast
Grant,
Thy most
say with
most sincere
I
compunction, //
consummated.
scandals and
my
Con-
my
an end,
summatum
course of
Consider,
est:
love
of
Thee my
passes
criminal
life is
Christians,
what
at
:
this
moment
in
the
Heart
of
Jesus
Christ
Oh,
79
what
fire
is
!
what love
what tenderness
obtain
all
Behold,
now
is
of Divine
the graces
you,
it
Jesus
tells
consummated,
for
accomplished,
to
nothing
more remains
affections
me
?
do.
Whither do
fire
my
me
:
carry
:
me
!
seized
my
heart
burns within
!
inexpressible joy
to
Ah
ye stony hearts
come,
approach
hearts
!
the
fire
its
greatest
intensity in the
Heart of Jesus
it
cast yourselves
still
into it;
oh,
may
inflame
you
more and
!
love.
Amen.
O my
Saviour
may
my
heart
with
Thy
all
Here
With a
us that
is
tells
His Passion has paid the price of sin. Jesus about to breathe His last and expire ; where is the
who would
not die of sorrow ?
tu
l
1
Christian soul
Dios
Y dice,
La redencion consume.
go
five
In thanksgiving for the work of our Redemption, recite times the following Act
:
thank Thee,
my
it
our redemption.
O my
Saviour,
that
may
avail to
my
salvation.
Then,
I believe in
57.
8i
COMMEND
MY
In this
last
SPIRIT.
gave
us
the
proof of
His
love,
by
at
teaching
the
us
what
is
of
;
supreme importance
that
is,
moment
of death
that
we should
commit
ourselves
with
and
affectionate Father.
It
is
Jesus Christ
learn
then,
who
teaches us
how
to die.
Let us
of our
Christians,
Saviour, what death is. Oh, what an awful passage look only at the effect it produces on it must be
\
His Sacred Humanity is changed beyond recognition His face grows pale, His lips livid, His whole body trembles with anguish and
:
Man-God
exhaustion.
Even
which
He
wrung from
manner,
Him
with
valido et lacrymis.
If a
clamore
in
this
O
G
think on
death
82
with
? You are mortal you and yet you lead a careless die, and dissipated life you appear not to be the least
such indifference
concerned about
thought on
so
it,
terrible
moment.
Christians
would you know what death is, consider it in Look upon His agony, His struggles, His Jesus.
exhaustion.
Is
it
of so
so
much
bitterness
and sorrow
or postpone
as the
serious
affair
an hour so
Ah
who
can form a just conception of what passed in the mind of our dear Saviour at the prospect of His approaching dissolution ? The conflict that
passed in His Soul at the thought of its separation from His immaculate Body, formed out of the
pure flesh
of
Mary His
Virgin
Mother,
must
whole frame of His Sacred Humanity. O powerful stroke of death, that could even make a Man-God
tremble
!
May Thy
sacred
name be
!
and
tarily
praised,
merciful Jesus
for
permitted
Thyself
to
suffer
me
to support
mine with
patience and resignation to the Divine will of Thy Heavenly Father and for having suffered all the
:
peaceful
83
my
death more
and
easy.
Our
point
suffering
of expiring, exclaimed
Father^
into
Thy
hands
us
to
I commend My
understand that
spirit ;
it
accepted death, and to teach us the most sublime and safe method to die. Father^
choice
into
He
Thy hands
!
/ commend My
a
spirit.
Oh, what
!
heavenly
what
Divine
lesson
Christ
Jesus, by recommending His spirit into the hands of His Eternal Father, pays Him, not only the greatest act of honour and glory, but also testi
fies
faithful, just
and
holy,
who never
who
fidence in
Him, who
salvation,
mercy and
His hands.
eternal
itself into
by
this
how we should
O
with
Thy most
Him,
:
lovable
deliver
it
Son
Jesus,
and
in
imitation of
I also
my
soul
into
Thy
merciful
hands
receive
then,
-84 Behold the Lord, and keep it for ever. innumerable dangers of offending Thee, where with I am encompassed on all sides. Look on
my
from
combats and temptations, and preserve me Never suffer me, most merciful falling.
surrendered
Thy Son
Jesus,
my my
soul
into
Thy
on
my
I
life.
Have
pity
me, Lord
with
all
into
Thy hands
all
commend my
spirit,
that I
am and
that I possess.
as before, during
Then
all
kneel
which
soul is
now
surrendered,
amend
not thy
life, into
whose hands
this
thou fall ?
O my
Thy
Jesus,
from
moment
1 place
my
soul in
keeping.
Do
me
A
Su
su Eterno Padre ya
espiritu le
Si tu vida
no
se
encomienda enmienda
En que manos parara ? En las tuyas desde ahora Mi alma entrego, Jesus mio No me mires con desvio En aquella fatal hora.
-8 5
The following is then read to excite sentiments of love and sorrow upon what occurred at the Death of our Lord
:
Jesus our Redeemer, having commended His Soul into the hands of His Eternal Father, and
seeing
that
the
hour
of
His
death
was
fast
approaching, wished to let the whole world know that He died voluntarily for the love of man and
in
obedience to the will of His Heavenly Father. For that reason, before He breathed His last, He bent His Sacred Head upon His breast, not con
love.
incomprehensible
His Eternal Father, His His poverty and His humility. goodness to man,
to
It was, in the first place,
by His obedience
this inclination of
Head
to to
bend
take
in death.
He bowed
His Head
His
last
farewell of
as
He
an ungrateful world, and breathe into it, had done at its creation, the breath of a
new
His
life.
He
inclined His
Head
by
this signal of
His tender
last
caresses. Finally,
His Head
and most tender look might towards His beloved Mother Mary, be directed
was bent that His
who remained
at
how much He
86
reverenced her, and to give her His last sigh, as if it were to teach us how much it behoves
us to direct the last sigh of our
lives to God, O Divine under the sweet guidance of Mary. Master of my life, may Thy infinite charity be for
Thou
hast
to.
Body shuddered
holy Soul.
his office
in separating itself
Already Death had begun to execute by robbing the most beautiful of all countenances of its natural complexion. Now a
film settled
now
upon the eyes ; now the nostrils grew the lips became livid ; now the
fall
in
and
The could no longer draw His breath. inanimate creation, perceiving its Creator expiring,
expressed the poignancy of
its
He
anguish by terrible
;
portents.
the
moon grew
rent,
red as blood
earth groaned
the
whole
!
world
in
horror.
Stay,
will
Jesus
stay yet a
for
while,
and
die
with
Thee and
;
Thee.
diest
Lord
if
Thou
me,
let
me
-87
also die
live
for
love of Thee.
do not wish
to
any longer,
Thee,
and,
O my
by
God,
for fear of
offend
ing
my
sins,
crucifying
Thee
again.
Alas
I
Thy blessed Death Thy Heavenly Father is waiting Thy Spirit the Angels to hail Thy victory with repeated Alleluias ; long the holy Patriarchs in Limbo await Thy coming, to
with open arms to receive
;
release
them from
prison,
to the
just
mansions of
never-ending
the
Thee
Thou
that
hast purchased
them
amending their lives, they may escape the wrath and come, and obtain eternal salvation
;
to
all
mankind
that they
are waiting
in
anxious expectation, so
fetters of sin.
Our
and
Saviour, considering
looks for
full
and tenderness
for sinners,
delivers
up His Soul into the hands of His Eternal His Life and His Father yes, He offers up
:
of
all
it
must be time
to
such
is
Thy
will.
Die then,
Redeemer
88
of
my
soul,
and when,
after
Thy
departure hence,
Thou may
goest to
Thy
Father, beseech
Him
that
we
that
never
the
but
through
of
Thy
Precious
Passion
and Death, we may live and die in Thy grace and in Thy love. He can refuse Thee nothing, dear Jesus Thou must be heard for Thy reverence
!
in behalf of those
whom Thou
Thy
hast redeemed,
and
who
are
all
so dear to
Heart.
!
O
fully
incomprehensible Majesty
alone,
Thou
Lord of
glory,
Thou
alone canst
comprehend and
Death
he
Man,
and
and dumb
beholds his
God
moved
either
to sighs or tears.
He
God
has
suffered an ignominious Death on the Cross, in How terrible order that he might live eternally.
a responsibility
is
!
this
holy Friday
O
!
Three
open
Hours of agony
for love of you,
see,
your
God
is
expiring
and yet no one is found who dies Wo to us sinners of love and sorrow for Him.
!
He
dies,
and no one
dies
offended Him.
We
stand before
Thy
face,
God,
O
this
we may
with
love
and sorrow
for
-89 Let us long to die with Jesus, Christian souls, long to die of love and sorrow for having offended
Him.
the third hour draws near its close the Credo is sung, such wise that the words Crticifixus et mortuus est may be reached as the clock strikes ; and thereupon each one
in
As
present should
make
The
following words
is
may
also be sung
Now
no more.
my Redeemer My God, my
Alas
!
dead,
Father,
nailed to a Cross.
O my
it
was for
thee that
Jesus died.
Ya murio mi Redentor, Ya murio mi Padre amado, Ya murio en la cruz clavado Mi Dios, mi Padre, mi amor. Ay Ay Ay Triste de mi Ay Ay Ay Mi corazon,
!
! !
ADDENDA.
Should
the
three
hours
are
completed, the following prayers are recited, otherwise they may be omitted.
To
the Sacred
Wound
in the
Left Foot.
O
in
Lord Jesus
Wound
heartfelt
Thy
return
:
Thee
I
grant me,
beseech
and by the suffering it caused Thy afflicted Mother, the pardon of all the sins I have committed against Thee by my sinful steps.
Thee, by
this pain,
Our
II.
Father, &c.
the Sacred
Glory be
to the
Father; &c.
Right Foot.
To
Wound
in the
O
in
Lord Jesus
Wound
heartfelt
Thy Right
Thee
I
thanks for so
much
pain
grant me,
suffering
beseech
it
Thee, by
this pain,
and by the
caused
Mother, a firm hope, together with Thy the pardon of all the sins I have committed against Thee by my words and actions.
afflicted
Our
Father, &c.
Glory be
to the
Father,
6%
92
III.
To
the Sacred
Wound
in the
Left Hand.
O
in
Thy
Lord Jesus Christ, I adore the Sacred Wound Left Hand, and I return Thee heartfelt
thanks for so
much
pain
grant me,
suffering
I
it
beseech
Thee, by
this pain,
and by the
caused
Thy
Mother, an ardent charity, together with the pardon of all the sins I have committed
afflicted
against
Thee by my
Father, &c.
sight
and
my
other senses.
Our
IV.
Glory be
to the
Father, &c.
To
the Sacred
Wound
in the
Right Hand.
O
in
Lord Jesus Christ, I adore the Sacred Wound Thy Right Hand, and I return Thee heartfelt
thanks for so
much
pain
grant me,
suffering
I
it
beseech
Thee, by
this pain,
and by the
caused
Thy
for
afflicted
my sins, and pardon for all the offences 1 may have committed against Thee by the abuse of my
Our
memory, and understanding. Father, &c. Glory be to the Father, &c.
the Sacred
will,
V.
To
Wound
in the
O
in
Lord Jesus
Wound
Thy Sacred Side, and I return Thee heartfelt thanks for so much pain and as Thy most Sacred
:
Heart was pierced by a sharp-pointed lance, and that of Thy afflicted Mother with the sword of grief, grant that mine may be so deeply penetrated
by the arrows of Thy
love, as cheerfully to suffer
Thee
sin.
Our
Father, &c.
Glory be
to the
Father, &c.
93
Let us say three Hail Marys and one Glory be to the Father, to our Blessed Mother Mary, in reverence for all she suffered during these Three Hours.
afflictions
most dolorous Mother by the many bitter Thou must necessarily have suffered at
!
the foot of the Cross during the three long hours of agony of thy Divine Son Jesus, but more
especially at the
moment
engrave,
beseech thee,
my
assist
me
in
and, through thy powerful inter cession at the throne of mercy, obtain for me a happy death.
my
last
agony
"
CONSUMMATUM
EST."
(Fra Angelico.)
SHORT PRAYERS
OF
ST.
GREGORY,
Lord Jesus Christ, I adore Thee hanging on the Cross, and wearing a crown of thorns.
1.
that
deliver
me
from the destroying angel. Amen. Then say, Our Father, &c., Hail Mary,
&<r.
2.
Lord Jesus
Christ, I adore
Thee wounded
of
my
soul.
Amen.
Our
3.
father,
&><:.
Lord Jesus
Thou
didst suffer
hour of death, and chiefly when Thy most Soul parted from Thy blessed Body; have holy mercy on my soul, at its quitting my body, and
bring
it
to eternal
life.
Amen.
Our
Father, &c.
-96
4-
the
Lord Jesus Christ, I adore Thee laid in Sepulchre, and embalmed with myrrh and
that
Thy Death
ing into
captives
to
Lord Jesus Christ, I adore Thee descend Hell, and delivering from thence Thy
:
never permit,
beseech Thee,
my
soul
go
thither.
Amen.
Our
6.
Father, &c.
Lord Jesus
Christ,
from the dead, and ascending into Heaven, and sitting at the right hand of Thy Father ; grant, I
beseech Thee, that I may follow Thee thither, and deserve to be presented to Him by Thee. Amen.
Our
7.
Father, 6^.
Lord Jesus
;
Christ,
who
art
the
Good
Shepherd mercy on
preserve the just, justify sinners, have all the faithful, and be propitious to me
Amen.
Our
Father,
6<r.
prater
left
Jesu mine
1
for love of
Thee,
be.
love what
Thy Will
giveth me,
WHATE
ER
it
Jesu mine
1
for love of
Thee,
it
love
WHENE
Kiss the wound of the
ER
be.
:
left foot,
and say
Jesu mine
1
for love of
Thee,
it
love
How MUCH
be.
:
Jesu mine for love of Thee, love what Thy Will giveth me, How LONG it be.
!
my
will is ever
For all things that befall me come from Thee; All bring Thee glory, all bring good to
me, Therefore in weal or woe, mine.
Thy
will
is
Then
To
Jesus sweetest Lord, I pray to Thee, grant me that which in Thy Heart
!
see
Suffering, that my love may steadfast be, And love, to suffer ever faithfully Suffering, to bear all suffering for Thee,
;
Love, to despise
all
APPENDIX.
BIBLIOGRAPHY, PRINCIPALLY FROM CANCELLIERI.
Ven. Bedse
[?],
De
VII.
Verbis
Christi Oratio.
Candidus, Monachus Fuldensis, De Passione Domini. (Migne, P.L. vol. cvi. p. 92.) S. Anselmus, Dialogits B. Marice et Anselmi de Passione Domini. (Migne, P.L. vol. clix. p. 284.)
[?],
Liber de
Domini
in Cruce.
Vallis,
De
et
Domini
in Cruce ^
vol.
Paris, 1609.
(Migne, P.L.
Vitis
1726.)
S.
Bernardi
[?],
Mystica
P.L.
De
VII.
Antwerp, 1532.
Ant.
de
Guevarra,
De
Mysteriis
Dominica
Antwerp, 1556.
Vine. Ciconia,
De
Ven.
J
ap.
by Arnold of Chartres was falsely attributed and printed among his works. This book is better known as the Monte Calvario. An English translation of it appeared in 1595, and again in 1618,
This
to St. Cyprian,
Orby Shipley
in 1868.
IOO
Gio. Batt. Domenichi, Sermoni sopra le parole, C. su le Croce, Ferrara per Bened.
che disse G.
Mammotello, 1592.
Franc. Panigarola, Discorsi sopra
le
VII. parole
da Cristo dette in Croce. Milano, 1601. H. Castela, Les Sept Flammes de r Amour sur les attache a la Croix. Sept Paroles de Jesus Christ
Paris, 1605.
Christ. Pelargi, Meditationes Passionales de VII. Frf. 1607. Verbis Christi in Cruce.
Eliac. Cochleri, Heptalogus Christi. 1608. Godfr. Kempens, Microcosmus reparatus, sive de
humani
et generis per Passionem J. C. reparatione, et Colon. 1611. in Cruce Verbis. VII. Paris,
Lips.
et 1651.
Antwerp, 1615.
Verbis in Cruce.
Christi
sen VII. Job. Frid. Stapels, Heptalogus Christi, Vitemb. 1616. folia semper-virentia.
Rob.
1634.
Bellarmini,
lib.
De
ii.
VII.
Verbis
Christo
in Cruce prolatis,
Novissimorum
Lipsiae, 1625.
De
Antwerp, Plantin,
1634.
101
Job. Hoepnerus,
Lips. 1641.
De
Descrtione J. C. in
Christi.
Cruet.
Ged. 1642.
Jesu
in
Franc. 1649. Cruce pendentis labia. Dcrnieres paroles de Jesus Christ en Croix,
Poeme
Heroique.
Paris
de Serus, 1655.
Adam
Vit. 1653. Spengleri, Heptalogus Christi. in VII. Christi Verba. Hermanni, Heptalogus
Job.
Frischmuth,
De
fiebili
Messia
in
et
Cruce
t.
Jense, 1663,
in
ii.
Anima J. C. ac Steph. Klotzius, De Crudatibus Hamb. et Frf. 1670. in Cruce. de derelictione Valent. Henr. Wolgleri, Phisiologia Passionis Christi, ubi de Tristitia, Sudore, Spinea Corona,
Myrrhino
et Hysopo,
d Aqua,
in Cruce.
Jo.
Sebast. Niermanus,
De
Jense, 1671.
le sette parole di
Cristo in Croce.
Roma, per
Fil.
M. Mancini, 1674.
De
Vit. 1677.
John
Flavel,
De
Tristi ac
Witt. 1677.
102
Franc. Elgersma, Cygnea Cantio VII. Verborum
Christi.
1679.
Christ. Locherwitz,
De
De
VII.
Verbis
Novissimis
Christi.
Arg. 1697.
De
I
Desertione
Salvatoris.
F.
Mayer,
Ad
ll.
M.
Screiberi,
Vindictee
Verborum
EH Eli.
Region, 1716.
M.T. Cruyer, Heptalogon in Ara Cruets a Chris to De Verbis Servatore prolatum. Frf. et Lips. 1726.
ultimis Christi morientis.
Philologica
Lond. 1738.
C.
Lugeri,
DC
Quarto Salvatoris
Crucifixi
Verbo.
Jenae, 1739.
Chr.
Matth. Pfaffius,
De
Precibus
Christi pro
Domini
Angeli Sangrini, De VII. J. C. Verbis Meditationes Septem. Eliseo Masini, Delle sette parole di Cristo in Croce.
103
Franc. Barberino Masserano, Discorsi sopra le che disse in Ebraico idioma Cristo S. N.
parole,
sopra la Croce.
Benedictus XIV.
De
Composta
dal
in
Lima
P. Alfonzo
Roma, 1789, per Gioach. Puccinelli. Esercizio di divizione in onore delle tre ore deir
Agonia di G. C. N. S. Composto in Lingua Spagnuola dal M. R. Padre, e Servo di Dio il P. Alonzo Messia della Comp. di Gesu, e nuovamente traslato nella Lingua nostra italiana dal
Cav. Giangiacomo della Pegna. Roma, 1795, P er Ant. Fulgoni. A. Fulgoni, Divoto Esercizio da Principiarsi nel
ore deir
Venerdi S. dalle ore 18 alle 21, in memoria delle tre Agonia di G. C. Roma, 1795.
or of books less exclu devoted to the Seven Words, there may be mentioned speciminis gratia :
sively
Luis de
Passion.
la
Palma,
S.J.,
The Watches of
:
tJu Passion.
H.
J.
And among
Anglicans
H. Scott Holland, Good Friday. W. J. Knox Little, The Three Hours Agony. A. G. Mortimer, The Seven Last Words.
ROEHAMPTON
BT 430 .M47 1899 SMC MEsia, Alonso. The devotion of the three hours agony on Good Friday 47230725