Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday)
This text is taken from The Liturgical Year, authored by Dom Prosper Gueranger (1841-1875)
THE NIGHT OFFICEThe Office of Matins and Lauds, for the last three days of Holy Week, differs, in many things, from that of the rest of the year, all is sad and mournful, as though it were a funeral-service: nothing could more emphatically express the grief that now weighs down the heart of our holy mother the Church. Throughout all the Office of Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, she forbids herself the use of those formulas of joy and hope, wherewith, on all other days, she begins her praise of God. The
Domine, labia mea aperies (0 Lord, thou shalt open my lips): the
Deus, in adjutorium meum intende (Incline unto mine aid, God): the
Gloria Patri, at the end of the Psalms, Canticles, and Responsories — all are taken away. So likewise are those soul-stirring additions, which have been gradually made, in the different ages; and nothing is left, but what is essential to the form of the Divine Office: Psalms, Lessons, and Chants expressive of grief. Each Canonical Hour ends with the Psalm
Miserere, and with a commemoration of the Death and Cross of our Redeemer.
The name of Tenebræ has been given to the Matins and Lauds of the last three days of Holy Week, because this Office used formerly to be celebrated during the night: and even when the hour was anticipated, the name of Tenebræ was kept up for another reason, namely, that it began with daylight, but ended after the sun had set. There is an impressive ceremony, peculiar to this Office, which tends to perpetuate its name. There is placed in the Sanctuary, near the Altar, a large triangular candlestick, holding fifteen candles. These candles, and the six that are on the Altar, are of yellow wax, as in the Office for the Dead. At the end of each Psalm or Canticle, one of these fifteen candles is extinguished; but the one, which is placed at the top of the Triangle, is left lighted. During the singing of the Benedictus, at Lauds, the Six candles on the Altar are also put out. Then the Master of Ceremonies takes the lighted candle from the Triangle, and holds it upon the Altar, whilst the Choir repeats the antiphon after the Canticle: after which, he hides it behind the Altar during the recitation of the Miserere and the Prayer, which follows the Psalm. As soon as this Prayer is finished, a noise is made with the seats of the stalls in the choir, which continues until the candle is brought from behind the Altar, and shows, by its light, that the Office of Tenebræ is over.
He, the Light of the world, powerful in word and work, who, but a few days ago, was proclaimed King by the citizens of Jerusalem, is now robbed of all His honours; He is, says Isaias, the Man of sorrows, — a leper; (Isaiah 53:3-4) He is, says the royal prophet, a worm of the earth, and no man; (Psalm 21:7) He is, as He says of Himself, an object of shame even to His own Disciples, for they are all scandalized in Him, (Mark 14:27) and abandon him, yea, even Peter protests that he never knew Him. This desertion on the part of His Apostles and Disciples is expressed by the candles being extinguished, one after the other, not only on the Triangle, but on the Altar itself. But Jesus, our Light, though despised and hidden, is not extinguished. This is signified by the candle which is momentarily placed on the altar; it figures our Redeemer suffering and dying on Calvary.
In order to express His burial, the candle is hid behind the altar; its light disappears. A confused noise is heard in the House of God, where all is now darkness. This noise and gloom express the convulsions of nature, when Jesus expired on the cross: the earth shook, the rocks were split, the dead came forth from their tombs. But the candle suddenly reappears; its light is as fair as ever; the noise is hushed, and homage is paid to the Conqueror of Death.
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THE MORNINGThis is the first day of the
Azymes, or Feast of the Unleavened Bread. At sunset, the Jews must eat the Pasch in Jerusalem. Jesus is still in Bethania; but He will return to the City before the hour for the Paschal supper. The Law commands this; and, until He has abrogated the Law by the shedding of His Blood, He wishes to observe its ordinances. He therefore sends two of His Disciples to get everything ready for the Pasch, without, however, telling them the great Mystery, wherewith it is to terminate. We who know it, and that it was at this Last Supper that was instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist, we can understand why Ge sends Peter and John, in preference to any of the other Disciples, to prepare what is needed. (Luke 22:8) Peter, who was the first to confess the Divinity of Jesus, represents faith: and John, who leaned upon the breast of the Man-God, represents love.
The mystery, which is to be instituted at tonight’s Supper, is revealed to love by faith. It is this that Jesus would have us learn from His choice of the two Apostles; but they themselves see not the intention of their Master.
Jesus, who knew all things, tells them by what sign they are to know the house, which He intends to honour with His presence: they have but to follow a man, whom they will see carrying a pitcher of water. The house to which this man is going, belongs to a rich Jew, who recognizes Jesus as the Messias. The two Apostles apprise him of their Master’s wishes; and
immediately he puts at their disposal a large and richly furnished room. It was fitting, that the place, where the most august mystery was to be instituted, should be something above common. This room, where the reality was to be substituted for all the ancient figures, was far superior to the temple of Jerusalem. In it was to be erected the first altar for the offering up of the clean oblation, foretold by the Prophet; (Malachi 1:11) in it was to commence the Christian Priesthood: in it, finally, fifty days later on, the Church of Christ, collected together and visited by the Holy Ghost, was to make herself known to the world, and promulgate the new and universal Covenant of God with men. This favoured sanctuary of our Faith, is still venerated on Mount Sion. The Infidels have profaned it by their false worship, for even they look on it as a sacred place; but as though Divine Providence, which has mercifully preserved unto us so many traces of our Redeemer, would give us an earnest of better days to come, this venerable sanctuary has been recently thrown open to several Priests of the Church, and they have even been permitted to offer up the Holy Sacrifice in the very place where the Eucharist was instituted.
The Upper Room
During the course of the day, Jesus has entered Jerusalem, with the rest of His Disciples: He has found all things prepared.
The Paschal Lamb, after being first presented in the Temple, has been brought to the house, where Jesus is to celebrate the Supper: it is prepared, together with the wild lettuce and the unleavened bread. In a few hours, the Divine Master and his Disciples will be standing round the table, their loins girt, and staves in their hands; and, for the last time, they will observe the solemn rite prescribed by God to his people, when they first went forth from Egypt.
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THE MASS OF MAUNDY THURSDAYThe Church intends, on this day, to renew, in a most solemn manner, the mystery of the Last Supper: for our Lord Himself, on this occasion of the institution of the Blessed Sacrament, said to bis Apostles: Do this for a commemoration of Me. (Luke 22:19) Let us, therefore, resume the Gospel narrative.
Jesus is in the Supper chamber, where the Paschal Lamb is to be eaten. All the Apostles are with Him; Judas is there, also, but his crime is not known to the rest. Jesus approaches the table, on which the Lamb is served. His Disciples stand around Him. The ceremonies prescribed by God to Moses are religiously observed. At the beginning of the repast, Jesus speaks these words to His Apostles: “With desire I have desired to eat this Pasch with you, before I suffer.” (Luke 22:15) In saying this, He does not imply that the Pasch of this year is intrinsically better than those that have preceded it;
but, that it is dearer to Him, inasmuch as it is to give rise to the institution of the new Pasch, which He has prepared for mankind, and which He is now going to give them as His last gift: for as St. John says, having loved His own who were in the world, he loved them unto the end? (John 13:1) During the repast, Jesus, who reads the hearts of all men, utters these words, which cause great consternation among the Disciples: “Amen I say to you, that one of you is about to betray me: — he that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, he shall betray me.” (Matthew 26:21 & 23) The sadness, with which He speaks, is enough to soften any heart; and Judas, who knows his Master’s goodness, feels that they imply a merciful pardon, if he will but ask it. But no: the passion of avarice has enslaved his soul, and he, like the rest of the Apostles, says to Jesus: Is it I, Rabbi? Jesus answers him in a whisper, in order not to compromise him before his brethren: Thou hast said it! But Judas yields not. He intends to remain with Jesus, until the hour comes for betraying Him. Thus, the august mystery, which is on the point of being celebrated, is to be insulted by his presence!
The legal repast is over. It is followed by a feast, which again brings the Disciples around their Divine Master. It was the custom in the East, that guests should repose two and two on couches round the table; these have been provided by the disciple, who has placed his house at Jesus’ service. John is on the same couch as Jesus, so that it is easy for him to lean his head upon his Master’s breast. Peter is on the next couch, on the other side of Jesus, who is thus between the two Disciples, whom He had sent, in the morning, to prepare the Pasch, and who, as we have already observed, represent faith and love This second repast is a sorrowful one, in consequence of Jesus having told the guests, that one of them is a traitor. The innocent and affectionate John is overwhelmed with grief, and seeks consolation on the Heart of this dear Lord, whom some one is about to deliver to His enemies.
But the Apostles little expect a third Supper. Jesus has not told them of his intention; but he had made a promise, and he would fulfill it before his Passion. Speaking, one day, to the people, he had said:
The time has come for the fulfillment of this his loving promise. But as it was both his Flesh and his Blood that he promised us, he waited till the time of his sacrifice. His Passion has begun; he is sold to his enemies; his life is already in their hands: — He may at once, therefore, offer himself in sacrifice, and give to his Disciples the very Flesh and Blood of the Victim.
As soon as the second repast was over, Jesus suddenly rises, and, to the astonishment of his Apostles, takes off his upper garment, girds himself, as a servant, with a towel, pours water into a basin, and prepares to wash the feet of the guests. It was the custom, in the East, to wash one’s feet, before taking part in a feast; it was considered as the very extreme of hospitality, when the master of the house himself did this service to his guest. Jesus is about to regale his Apostles with a Divine Banquet; he wishes to treat them with every possible mark of welcome and attention.
But in this, as in every other action of his, there is a fund of instruction: He would teach us, by what he is now doing, how great is the purity, wherewith we should approach the Holy Table. He that is washed, says he, needeth not hut to wash his feet; (John 13:10) as though he would say: “The holiness of this Table is such, that they who come to it, should not only be free from grievous sins, but they should, moreover, strive to cleanse their souls from those lesser faults, which come from contact with the world, and are like the dust that covers the feet of one that walks on the high-way.” We will explain further on, the other teachings conveyed by this action of our Lord.
It is with Peter, the future Head of his Church, that Jesus begins. The Apostle protests; he declares that he will never permit his Master to humble himself so low as this: but he is obliged to yield. The other Apostles, (who, as Peter himself, are reclining upon their couches,) receive the same mark of love: Jesus comes to each of them in turn, and washes their feet. Judas is not excepted: he has just received a second warning from his merciful Master; for Jesus, addressing himself to all the Apostles, said to them: You are clean; but not all. (John 13:10): but the reproach produced no effect upon this hardened heart. Having finished washing the feet of the Twelve, Jesus resumes his place, side by side with John.
Then taking a piece of the unleavened bread, that had remained over from the feast, he raises his eyes to heaven, blesses the bread, breaks it, and distributes it to his Disciples, saying to them: “Take ye, and eat ; this is My Body.” (Matthew 26:26) The Apostles take the bread, which is now changed into the Body of their Divine Master; they eat; — and Jesus is, now, not only with them, but in them. But, as this sacred mystery is not only the most holy of the Sacraments, but, moreover, a true Sacrifice; and as a Sacrifice requires the shedding of blood; — our Jesus takes the cup, and changing the wine into his own Blood, he passes it round to his Disciples, saying to them: “Drink ye, all, of this ; for this is My Blood of the new testament, which shall he shed for many, unto remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:27-28) The Apostles drink from the sacred chalice thus proffered them; when it comes to Judas, he too, partakes of it, but he drinks his own damnation, as he ate his own judgment, when he received the Bread of Life. (1 Corinthians 11:29) Jesus, however, mercifully offers the traitor another grace, by saying, as he gives the Cup to his Disciples: “The hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.” (Luke 22:21)
Peter is struck by Jesus thus frequently alluding to the crime, which is to be committed by one of the Twelve. He is determined to find out who the traitor is. Not daring himself to ask Jesus, at whose right hand he is sitting, he makes a sign to John, who is on the other side, and begs him to pat the question. John leans on Jesus’ breast, and says to him in a whisper: Lord, who is it? Jesus answers him in an equally suppressed tone: He to whom I shall reach bread dipped. And having taken one of the pieces of bread that remained over from the repast, he dipped it, and gave it to Judas. It was one more grace offered and refused, for the Evangelist adds: And after the morsel, Satan entered into him (John 13:27) Jesus again addresses him, saying: “That which thou dost, do quickly.” (John 13:27) The wretch then leaves the room, and sets about the perpetration of his crime.
Such is the history of the Last Supper, of which we celebrate the anniversary on this day.
But there is one circumstance of the deepest interest to us, and to which we have, so far, only made an indirect allusion. The institution of the Holy Eucharist, both as a Sacrament and Sacrifice, is followed by another: the institution of a new Priesthood. How could our Saviour have said: “Except you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his Blood, you shall not have life in you.” (John 6:54) unless He had resolved to establish a ministry upon earth, whereby he would renew, even to the end of time, the great Mystery he thus commands us to receive? He begins it to-day, in the cenacle. The twelve Apostles are the first to partake of it: but observe what he says to them: “Do this for a commemoration of Me.” (Luke 22:19)
By these words, he gives them power to change bread into his Body, and wine into his Blood; and this sublime power shall be perpetuated in the Church, by holy Ordination, even to the end of the world. Jesus will continue to operate, by the ministry of mortal and sinful men, the Mystery of the Last Supper. By thus enriching his Church with the one and perpetual Sacrifice, he also gives us the means of abiding in him, for he gives us, as he promised, the Bread of heaven. Today, then, we keep the anniversary, not only of the institution of the Holy Eucharist, but, also, of the equally wonderful Institution of the Christian priesthood.To offer the faithful an outward expression of the greatness and the unity of this Supper, which our Saviour gave to his Disciples, and, through them, to us, the Church forbids her priests to say private Masses on this day, except in cases of necessity. She would have but one Sacrifice to be offered in each church, at which the other Priests are to assist, and receive Holy Communion from the hands of the Celebrant. When approaching the altar, they put on the stole, the emblem of their priesthood.
The Mass of Maundy Thursday is one of the most solemn of the Year; and although the Feast of Corpus Christi is the day for the solemn honouring the mystery of the Holy Eucharist,still, the Church would have the anniversary of the Last Supper to be celebrated with all possible splendour. The colour of the vestments is white, as it is for Christmas Day and Easter Sunday; the decorations of the Altar and Sanctuary all bespeak joy: and yet, there are several ceremonies during this Mass, which show that the holy Spouse of Christ has not forgotten the Passion of her Jesus, and that this joy is but transient. The Priest entones the angelic hymn, Glory be to God in the highest! and the Bells ring forth a joyous peal, which continues during the whole singing of the heavenly canticle: but, from that moment, they remain silent, and their long silence produces, in every heart, a sentiment of holy mournfulness. But why does the Church deprive us, for so many hours, of the grand melody of these sweet bells, whose voices cheer us during the rest of the year?
It is to show us, that this world lost all its melody and joy when its Saviour suffered and was crucified. Moreover, she would hereby remind us, how the Apostles, (who were the heralds of Christ, and are figured by the bells, whose ringing summons the faithful to the house of God,) fled from their Divine Master and left him a prey to his enemies.The Holy Sacrifice continues as usual; but at the solemn moment of the Elevation of the Holy Host and the Chalice of Salvation, the Bell is silent, and, outside the Church, there is not given to the neighbourhood the usual signal of the descent of Jesus upon the altar. When the time of the holy Communion is near, the priest does not give the kiss of peace to the deacon, who, according to the Apostolic tradition, should transmit it, by the subdeacon, to those that are about to communicate. Our thoughts turn to the traitor Judas, who, on this very day, profaned the sign of friendship by making it an instrument of death. It is out of detestation for this crime, that the Church omits, today, the sign of fraternal charity: it would too painfully remind us of sacrilegious hypocrisy.
Another rite, peculiar to today, is the Priest’s consecrating two Hosts during the Mass. One of these he receives in Communion; the other he reserves, and reverently places it in a chalice, which he covers with a veil. The reason of this is, that, tomorrow, the Church suspends the daily Sacrifice. Such is the impression produced by the anniversary of our Saviour’s Death, that the Church dares not to renew, upon her altars, the immolation which was then offered on Calvary: — or rather, her renewal of it will be by the fixing all her thoughts on the terrible scene of that Friday Noon. The Host reserved from today’s Mass, will be her morrow’s participation. This rite is called the Mass of the Presanctified, because, in it, the priest does not consecrate, but only receives the Host consecrated on the previous day. Formerly, as we shall explain more fully further on, the holy Sacrifice was not offered up on Holy Saturday, and yet the Mass of the Presanctified was not celebrated, as it was on the Friday.
But, although the Church suspends, for a few short hours, the oblation of the perpetual Sacrifice, — she would not that her Divine Spouse should lose aught of the homage, that is due to him in the Sacrament of his Love. Catholic piety has found a means of changing these trying hours into a tribute of devotion to the Holy Eucharist. In every Church is prepared a richly ornamented side-chapel or pavilion, where, after today’s Mass, the Church places the Body of her Divine Lord. Though veiled from their view, the faithful will visit him in this his holy resting-place, pay him their most humble adorations, and present him their most fervent supplications. Wheresoever the Body shall he, there shall the eagles be gathered together. (Matthew 24:28) In every part of the Catholic world, a concert of prayer, more loving and earnest than at any other period of the Year, will be offered to our Jesus, in reparation for the outrages he underwent, during these very hours, from the Jews. Around this anticipated Tomb will be united both his long-tried and fervent servants, and those who are newly converted, or are preparing for their reconciliation.At Rome, the Station is in the Lateran Basilica. The metropolitan Church both of the Holy City and the World was deservedly chosen for this great Day of the Reconciliation of Sinners and the Consecration of the Chrism. The Papal function, however, now takes place at the Vatican; and, as we have already stated, the Apostolic Benediction is given by the Sovereign Pontiff from the loggia’ of Saint Peter’s.
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THE EVENINGJudas has left the cenacle, and, profiting of the darkness, has reached the place where the enemies of his Saviour are assembled. Jesus then turns to his faithful Apostles, and says to them: “Now is the Son of Man glorified.” (John 13:31) Yes, his Passion is to be followed by triumph and glory; and the Passion has already begun, for Judas has commenced his work of betraying him. Meanwhile, the Apostles, — forgetting the trouble, into which they had been thrown by Jesus’ telling them, that one of the Twelve was about to betray him, — begin to dispute among themselves, which of them should seem to be greater. (Luke 22:24) They have not forgotten the words spoken by Jesus to Peter, when he made him the Rock, on which he would build his Church; and here, at the Supper, they have seen their Divine Master wash the feet of Peter first. On the other hand, John’s affectionate familiarity with Jesus, during this same Supper, has made some of them argue, that he who was most loved, would be most honoured.
Jesus puts an end to this dispute, by giving to these future Pastors of his Church a lesson of humility. There shall, it is true, be a Head among them; but, says our Redeemer, “let him that is the greater among you, become as the younger; and he that is the leader, as he that serveth.” He bids them look at him: he is their Master, and yet, says he, “I am in the midst of you, as he that serveth.” (Luke 22:26-27) Then turning towards Peter, he thus addresses him: “Simon, Simon! behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and thou, being once converted, confirm thy brethren.” (Luke 22:31-32)
This last interview is, as it were, our Saviour’s testament; he provides for his Church, before leaving her. The Apostles are to be Peter’s brethren, but Peter is to be their Head. This sublime dignity is to be enhanced by the humility of him that enjoys it: he shall be “The Servant of the Servants of God.” The Apostolic College is to be exposed to the fury of hell; but Peter alone is to confirm his brethren in the faith. His teaching shall ever be conformable to Divine Truth; it shall be ever Infallible: Jesus has prayed that it may be so. Such a prayer is all-powerful; and thereby, the Church, ever docile to the voice of Peter, shall for ever maintain the doctrine of Christ. Jesus, after having provided for the future of his Church by the words he addressed to Peter, thus speaks affectionately to all the eleven: “Little children I yet a little while I am with you. Love one an other. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one for an other.” Peter says to him: “Lord! whither goest thou?” — “Whither I go,” answers Jesus, “thou canst not now follow me; but thou shalt follow hereafter.” — “Why cannot I follow thee now?” again asks Peter: “I will lay down my life for thee.” — “Wilt thou,” replies Jesus, “lay down thy life for me? Amen, amen, I say to thee: the cock shall not crow, till thou deny me thrice.” (John 13:33-38)
Peter’s love for Jesus had too much of the human about it, for it was not based on humility. Presumption comes from pride: it almost always results in a fall. In order to prepare Peter for his future ministry of pardon, as also to give us a useful lesson, God permits that he, who was soon to be made Prince of the Apostles, should fall into a most grievous and humiliating sin.But let us return to the instructions contained in the last words spoken by our Jesus before he leaves his disciples. “I am,” says he, “the Way, the Truth, and the Life. If you love me, keep my Commandments. I will ask the Father, and he shall give you another Paraclete, that he may abide with you for ever. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, do I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it he afraid. If you loved me, you would indeed he glad, because I go to the Father. I will not now speak many things with you, for the prince of this world cometh, and in me he hath not anything. But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father hath given me commandment, so do I, — arise, let us go hence.” (John 14) Deeply impressed by these words, the Disciples arise, and, after the hymn of thanksgiving has been said, they accompany Jesus to Mount Olivet.
He continues his instructions as they go along. He takes occasion from their passing by a vine to speak of the effect produced by divine grace in the soul of man. I am the true vine, he says, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me, that heareth not fruit, he will take away, and every one that beareth fruit, he will purge it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine; so neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the Vine, you are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing. If any one abideth not in me, he shall be cast forth as a branch, and shall wither, and they shall gather him up, and cast him into the fire, and he burneth. You have not chosen me: but I have chosen you, and have appointed you, that you should go, and should bring forth fruit, and your fruit should remain.” (John 15)
He next speaks to them of the persecutions that await them, and of the hatred the world will have of them. He renews the promise he had made them of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, and tells them that it is to their advantage that he himself should leave them. He assures them, that they shall obtain whatever they ask of the Father in his name. “The Father,” He adds, “loveth you because you have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again I leave the world, and I go to the Father.” The Disciples say to him: “Now we know that thou knowest all things, and thou needest not that any man should ask thee. By this we believe that thou comest forth from God.” — “Do you now believe?” answered Jesus: “Behold! the hour cometh, and it is now come, that you shall be scattered every man to his own, and shall leave me alone. (John 16) All you shall be scandalized in me this night: for it is written: ” I will strike the shepherd,” and the sheep of the flock shall be dispersed.” But after I shall be risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.” (Matthew 26:31-32)
Peter again protests that he will be faithful to his Master; the rest may abandon him, if they will, but he will keep with him to the last I It should, indeed, be so, for he has received so much more from Jesus than the others have: but he is again humbled by being told of his coming speedy fall. Jesus then calmly raising up his eyes to heaven, says: “Father the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son may glorify thee. I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do; I have manifested thy name to the men whom thou hast given me. They have known that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them; I pray not for the world. And now I am not in the world, and these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father! keep them in thy name, whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we also are. While I was with them, I kept them in thy name. Those whom thou gavest me, have I kept; and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition, that the Scripture may be fulfilled. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, as I also am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them, from evil. Not for them only do I pray, but for them also who, through their word, shall believe in me: that they all may be one, as thou. Father I in me, and I in thee: that they also may be one in us: that the world may know, that thou hast sent me. Father! I will, that where I am, they also, whom thou hast given me, may be with me; that they may see the glory which thou hast given me, because thou hast loved me before the creation of the world. Just Father I the world hath not known me; but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have made known thy name to them, and will make it known, that the love, wherewith thou hast loved me, may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17)
Such are the out-pourings of the loving Heart of our Jesus, as he crosses the Brook Cedron, and ascends, with his Disciples, the Mount of Olives. Having come as far as Gethsemani, he goes into a garden, whither he had often led his Apostles and rested there with them. Suddenly, his Soul is overpowered with grief; his Human Nature experiences, as it were, a suspension of that beatitude, which results from its union with the Divinity. This his Humanity will be interiorly supported, even to the very last moment of his Passion; but it must bear everything that it is possible for it to bear. Jesus feels such intense sadness, that the very presence of his Disciples is insupportable; he leaves them, taking with him only Peter, James, and John, who, a short time before, had been witnesses of his glorious Transfiguration: — will they show greater courage than the rest, when they see their Divine Master in the hands of his enemies? His words show them what a sudden change has come over him. He whose language was, a few moments before, so calm, his look so serene, and his tone of voice so sweet, — now says to them: “My soul is sorrowful even unto death: stay you here, and watch with me.” (Matthew 26:38)
He leaves them, and goes to a grotto, which is about a stone’s throw distant. Even to this day it exists, perpetuating the memory of the terrible event. There does our Jesus prostrate himself, and prays, saying: “Father I all things are possible to thee. Remove this chalice from me: — but not what I will, hut what thou wilt.” (Mark 14:36) Whilst thus praying, a Sweat of Blood flows from his body and bathes the ground. It is not merely a swooning, — it is an Agony, that he suffers. God sends help to his sinking frame, and it is an Angel that is intrusted with the office. Jesus is treated as man; his Humanity, exhausted as it is, is to receive no other sensible aid than that which is now brought him by an Angel, (whom tradition affirms to have been Gabriel.) Hereupon he rises, and again accepts the Chalice prepared for him. But what a Chalice! — every pain that body and soul can suffer; the sins of the whole world taken upon himself, and crying out vengeance against him; the ingratitude of men, many of whom will make his Sacrifice useless. Jesus has to accept all this, and at the very time, when he seems to be left to his Human Nature. The power of the Divinity, which is in him, supports him ; but it does not prevent him from feeling every suffering, just as though he had been mere Man. He begins his Prayer by asking, that the Chalice may be taken from him; he ends it by saying to his Father: “Not my will but thine he done.” (Luke 22:42)
Jesus then rises, leaving the earth covered with the Blood of his Agony: — it is the first Bloodshedding of his Passion. He goes to his three Disciples, and, finding them asleep, says to them: What! could you not watch one hour with me? (Matthew 26:40) This was the beginning of that feature of his sufferings, which consists in his being abandoned. He twice returns to the grotto, and repeats his sorrowful, but submissive, prayer; twice he returns to his Disciples, whom he had asked to watch near him, but, at each time, finds them asleep. At length, he speaks to them, saying: “Sleep ye now, and take your rest! Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man shall be betrayed into the hands of sinners.” Then resuming the energy of his divine courage, he adds: “Rise! let us go! Behold, he is at hand that will betray Me.” (Matthew 26:45-46)
Whilst speaking these last few words, a numerous body of armed men enter the Garden with torches in their hands. Judas is at their head. The betrayal is made by a profanation of the sign of friendship. Judas! dost thou betray the Son of Man with a kiss? (Luke 22:48) These piercing words should have made the traitor throw himself at his Master’s feet, and ask pardon; but it was too late: he feared the soldiers. But the servants of the High Priest cannot lay hands on Jesus, unless he, their Victim, permit them to do so. With one single word, he casts them prostrate on the ground. Then permitting them to rise, he says to them, with all the majesty of a King: “If you seek Me, let these go their way. You are come out, as it were against a thief, with swords and clubs. When I was daily with you in the temple, you did not stretch forth your hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” Then turning to Peter, who had drawn and used his sword, he says to him: “Thinkest thou, that I cannot ask my Father, and he will give me presently twelve legions of Angels? How then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled?” (John 18:8, Luke 22:52-53, Matthew 26:53-54)
And now, Jesus permits himself to be led. Whereupon, his Apostles run away in fear. Peter and another Disciple follow him, but as far off as they can. The soldiers lead Jesus by the same road, along which he had passed on the previous Sunday, when the people met him, with palm and olive branches in their hands. They cross the brook Cedron; and there is a tradition of the Church of Jerusalem, that the soldiers as they passed the bridge, threw Jesus into the water. Thus was fulfilled the prophecy of David: He shall drink of the torrent in the way? (Psalm 109:7)
They reach the City walls. The gate is opened, and the divine Prisoner enters. . It is night, and the inhabitants know not the crime that has been committed. It is only on the morrow, that they will learn, that Jesus of Nazareth, the great Prophet, has fallen into the hands of the Chief Priests and Pharisees. The night is far advanced; but many hours must elapse before the dawn of day. The enemies of Jesus have arranged to take him, in the morning, to Pontius Pilate, and accuse him as being a disturber of the peace: but in the meanwhile, they intend to condemn him as guilty in matters of religion I Their tribunal has authority to judge in cases of this nature, only they cannot pass sentence of death upon a culprit, how guilty soever they may prove him. They, consequently, hurry Jesus to Annas, the father in-law of the High Priest Caiphas. Here is to take place the first examination. These blood-thirsty men have spent these hours in sleepless anxiety. They have counted the very minutes since the departure of their minions for Mount Olivet. They’re not without some doubt as to whether their plot will succeed. At last, their Victim is brought before them, and he shall not escape their vengeance!
Here let us interrupt our History of the Passion, till the morrow shall bring us to the solemn hour, when the great Mystery of our instruction and salvation was accomplished.
What a day is this that we have been spending! How full of Jesus’ love! He has given us his Body and Blood to be our Food; he has instituted the Priesthood of the New Testament; he has poured out upon the world the sublimest instructions of his loving Heart. We have seen him struggling with the feelings of human weakness, as he beheld the Chalice of the Passion that was prepared for him; but he triumphed over all, in order to save us. We have seen him betrayed, fettered, and led captive into the holy City, there to consummate his Sacrifice. Let us adore and love this Jesus, who might have saved us by one and the least of all these humiliations; but whose love for us was not satisfied unless he drank, to the very dregs, the Chalice he had accepted from his Father.
