Sainte Thérèse of Lisieux and Cardinal Pell

Cardinal George Pell is enjoying his first days of freedom at a Carmelite monastery in a Melbourne suburb after serving 409 days in solitary confinement for a crime of which the Australian High Court has now unanimously ruled he was wrongly convicted.

In a judgment delivered on Tuesday, the court of seven justices overturned decisions by two lower courts that had sentenced him to six years in prison, concluding that the Vatican’s former prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy had been convicted on evidence that “did not establish” the “requisite standard of proof” of guilt.



Kerry  Myers / CC BY

Such a unanimous verdict is very rare for the country’s highest court.

Cardinal Pell, 78, was jailed in February 2019 based on the testimony of a man who accused the cardinal of assaulting him and a fellow choirboy at Melbourne’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral in the 1990s. The other choirboy withdrew his allegations before his death.

In a statement, Cardinal Pell said he bore no ill will toward his accuser and did not want his acquittal to add to the bitterness in the community.

Cardinal Pell has a special devotion to St Thérèse. Providentially, the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux and her parents – St Louis and Zélie Martin – have arrived in Melbourne and will reside during Holy Week at the Carmelite Monastery in Kew, which is the national shrine for St Therese of Lisieux during Holy Week.

Totus tuus ego sum 

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam 

The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross

The last post featured the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary. here is a reminder of the Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross.

Father, forgive them. J-J Tissot

Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.



[34] Jesus autem dicebat : Pater, dimitte illis : non enim sciunt quid faciunt. Dividentes vero vestimenta ejus, miserunt sortes.
And Jesus said: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. But they, dividing his garments, cast lots.
[Luke 23]

...this day thou shalt be with me in paradise.

Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise.



[43] Et dixit illi Jesus : Amen dico tibi : Hodie mecum eris in paradiso.
And Jesus said to him: Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise.
[Luke 23]

Behold thy mother. J-J Tissot

Woman, behold thy son... Behold thy mother.



[26] Cum vidisset ergo Jesus matrem, et discipulum stantem, quem diligebat, dicit matri suae : Mulier, ecce filius tuus.
When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith to his mother: Woman, behold thy son.
[27] Deinde dicit discipulo : Ecce mater tua. Et ex illa hora accepit eam discipulus in sua.
After that, he saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own.
[John 19]

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? J-J Tissot

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?



[34] Et hora nona exclamavit Jesus voce magna, dicens : Eloi, eloi, lamma sabacthani? quod est interpretatum : Deus meus, Deus meus, ut quid dereliquisti me?
And at the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying: Eloi, Eloi, lamma sabacthani? Which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? [Mark 15]

I thirst. J-J Tissot

I thirst.



[28] Postea sciens Jesus quia omnia consummata sunt, ut consummaretur Scriptura, dixit : Sitio.
Afterwards, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said: I thirst. [John 19]

It is consummated.  J-J Tissot

 It is consummated.


[30] Cum ergo accepisset Jesus acetum, dixit : Consummatum est. ... 
Jesus therefore, when he had taken the vinegar, said: It is consummated. ...
[John 19]

Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. J-J Tissot

 Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.


[46] Et clamans voce magna Jesus ait : Pater, in manus tuas commendo spiritum meum. Et haec dicens, expiravit.
And Jesus crying out with a loud voice, said: Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. And saying this, he gave up the ghost.[Luke 23]

Totus tuus ego sum 

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam 

The Seven Sorrows of Our lady - Commemoration

The Mass this morning  (Friday in Passion Week) commemorated the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Here are the Seven Sorrows, with illustrations by J-J Tissot.

[34] And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted;
Et benedixit illis Simeon, et dixit ad Mariam matrem ejus : Ecce positus est hic in ruinam, et in resurrectionem multorum in Israel, et in signum cui contradicetur :

[35] And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed.
et tuam ipsius animam pertransibit gladius ut revelentur ex multis cordibus cogitationes.[Luke 2]

[13] And after they were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and fly into Egypt: and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him.
Qui cum recessissent, ecce angelus Domini apparuit in somnis Joseph, dicens : Surge, et accipe puerum, et matrem ejus, et fuge in Aegyptum, et esto ibi usque dum dicam tibi. Futurum est enim ut Herodes quaerat puerum ad perdendum eum.

[14] Who arose, and took the child and his mother by night, and retired into Egypt: and he was there until the death of Herod:
Qui consurgens accepit puerum et matrem ejus nocte, et secessit in Aegyptum [Matt 2]

[43] And having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not.
consummatisque diebus, cum redirent, remansit puer Jesus in Jerusalem, et non cognoverunt parentes ejus.

[44] And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day's journey, and sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance.
Existimantes autem illum esse in comitatu, venerunt iter diei, et requirebant eum inter cognatos et notos.

[45] And not finding him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking him.
Et non invenientes, regressi sunt in Jerusalem, requirentes eum. [Luke 2]

Jesus meets His Blessed Mother

[27] And there followed him a great multitude of people, and of women, who bewailed and lamented him.

Sequebatur autem illum multa turba populi et mulierum, quae plangebant et lamentabantur eum. [Luke 23]

[25] Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen.
Stabant autem juxta crucem Jesu mater ejus, et soror matris ejus, Maria Cleophae, et Maria Magdalene.

[26] When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith to his mother: Woman, behold thy son.
Cum vidisset ergo Jesus matrem, et discipulum stantem, quem diligebat, dicit matri suae : Mulier, ecce filius tuus.

[27] After that, he saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own.
Deinde dicit discipulo : Ecce mater tua. Et ex illa hora accepit eam discipulus in sua. [John 19]

[46] And Joseph buying fine linen, and taking him down, wrapped him up in the fine linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewed out of a rock. And he rolled a stone to the door of the sepulchre.
Joseph autem mercatus sindonem, et deponens eum involvit sindone, et posuit eum in monumento quod erat excisum de petra, et advolvit lapidem ad ostium monumenti. [Mark 15]

Mary beholds her Son in the sepulchre

[47] And Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of Joseph, beheld where he was laid.
Maria autem Magdalene et Maria Joseph aspiciebant ubi poneretur. [Mark 15]

Totus tuus ego sum 

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam

He that hath ears to hear...

[15] Qui habet aures audiendi, audiat.

He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

 [Matthew 11]

In these times of abandonment by our shepherds, the Lesson from today's Mass [Feria Quinta infra Hebdomadam Passionis ~ IV. classis] seems hauntingly prophetic.


Léctio Daniélis Prophétæ
Dan 3:25, 34-45

In diébus illis: Orávit Azarías Dóminum, dicens: Dómine, Deus noster: ne, quǽsumus, tradas nos in perpétuum propter nomen tuum, et ne díssipes testaméntum tuum: neque áuferas misericórdiam tuam a nobis propter Abraham diléctum tuum, et Isaac servum tuum, et Israël sanctum tuum: quibus locútus es, póllicens, quod multiplicáres semen eórum sicut stellas cœli et sicut arénam, quæ est in lítore maris: quia, Dómine, imminúti sumus plus quam omnes gentes, sumúsque húmiles in univérsa terra hódie propter peccáta nostra. Et non est in témpore hoc princeps, et dux, et prophéta, neque holocáustum, neque sacrifícium, neque oblátio, neque incénsum, neque locus primitiárum coram te, ut póssimus inveníre misericórdiam tuam: sed in ánimo contríto et spíritu humilitátis suscipiámur. Sicut in holocáusto aríetum et taurórum, et sicut in mílibus agnórum pínguium: sic fiat sacrifícium nostrum in conspéctu tuo hódie, ut pláceat tibi: quóniam non est confúsio confidéntibus in te. Et nunc séquimur te in toto corde, et timémus te, et quærimus fáciem tuam. Ne confúndas nos: sed fac nobíscum iuxta mansuetúdinem tuam et secúndum multitúdinem misericórdiæ tuæ. Et érue nos in mirabílibus tuis, et da glóriam nómini tuo, Dómine: et confundántur omnes, qui osténdunt servis tuis mala, confundántur in omni poténtia tua: et robur eórum conterátur: et sciant, quia tu es Dóminus, Deus solus, et gloriósus super orbem terrárum, Dómine, Deus noster.  R. Deo grátias.

Lesson from the Prophecy of Daniel
Dan 3:25, 34-45.

In those days, Azaria prayed to the Lord, saying: O Lord, our God, for Your Name’s sake, do not deliver us up forever, we beseech You, or make void Your covenant. Do not take away Your mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham, Your beloved, Isaac Your servant, and Israel Your holy one, to whom You promised to multiply their offspring like the stars of heaven, or the sand on the shore of the sea. For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation, brought low everywhere in the world this day because of our sins. We have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader, no holocaust, sacrifice, oblation, or incense, no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with You. But with contrite heart and humble spirit let us be received; as though it were holocausts of rams and bullocks, or thousands of fat lambs, so let our sacrifice be in Your presence today, that it may please You; for those who trust in You cannot be put to shame. And now we follow You with our whole heart, we fear You and we pray to You. Do not let us be put to shame, but deal with us in Your kindness and great mercy. Deliver us by Your wonders, and bring glory to Your Name, O Lord: let all those be routed who inflict evils on Your servants; let them be shamed and powerless, and their strength broken; let them know that You alone are the Lord God, glorious over the whole world, O Lord, our God.  R. Thanks be to God.

Totus tuus ego sum 

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam

Rosary, Benediction and Consecration of England

With the closure of our churches and the almost total suppression of the sacraments, by our own shepherds, some of the faithful may derive benefit from the live-streaming of Masses by the SSPX.

For scheduled live-streaming in Great Britain, please visit: 

Live-streamed ceremonies this week 

Today, for instance, we were able to assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for Passion Sunday at 09 : 00 am.

Later, at 6 : 00 pm, we were able to follow Benediction, the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary and the re-consecration of England to the Blessed Virgin Mary, following the example of King Richard II in the 14th century, when England became known as Our Lady's Dowry.

Beata Dei Genitrix Maria, Virgo perpetua, templum Domini, sacrarium Spiritus Sancti:
sola sine exemplo placuisti Domino nostro Jesu Christo:ora pro populo, interveni pro clero, intercede pro devoto femineo sexu.

Blessed Mother of God Mary, ever a Virgin, temple of the Lord, shrine of the Holy Ghost:
alone without peer thou didst please our Lord Jesus Christ:
pray for the people, intervene for the clergy, intercede for consecrated women.

Totus tuus ego sum 

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam

An Act of Spiritual Communion

In the absence of access to our churches and the sacraments, here is a second prayer of immense importance for the faithful in this time of trial. The prayer is reproduced in two versions:

Corpus Dómini nostri Jesu Christi custódiat ánimam tuam in vitam ætérnam. Amen. J-J Tissot

By St. Alphonsus Maria de' Ligouri

MY Jesus, I believe that Thou art present in the Blessed Sacrament. I love Thee above all things and I desire Thee in my soul. Since I cannot now receive Thee sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though Thou wert already there, I embrace Thee and unite myself wholly to Thee; permit not that I should ever be separated from Thee. Amen.

By Raphael Cardinal Merry del Val

AT Thy feet, O my Jesus, I prostrate myself and I offer Thee repentance of my contrite heart, which is humbled in its nothingness and in Thy holy presence. I adore Thee in the Sacrament of Thy love, the ineffable Eucharist. I desire to receive Thee into the poor dwelling that my heart offers Thee. While waiting for the happiness of sacramental communion, I wish to possess Thee in spirit. Come to me, O my Jesus, since I, for my part, am coming to Thee! May Thy love embrace my whole being in life and in death. I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, I love Thee. Amen.

Totus tuus ego sum 

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam

An act of perfect contrition

In the absence of access to our churches and the sacraments, here is a prayer of immense importance for the faithful in this time of trial. The prayer is reproduced in Latin with a translation and notes.

Cuius pedes lacrymis / Peccatrix irrigavit. J-J Tissot

Deus meus, ex toto corde poenitet me omnium meorum peccatorum, eaque detestor, quia peccando, non solum poenas a Te iuste statutas promeritus sum, sed præsertim quia offendi Te, summum bonum, ac dignum qui super omnia diligaris. Ideo firmiter propono, adiuvante gratia Tua, de cetero me non peccaturum peccandique occasiones proximas fugiturum. Amen.

Oh my God, from all my heart I am sorry for all my sins, and I detest them, not only because in sinning, I deserve the penalties that you have justly established, but especially because I have offended Thee, who art the greatest good, and worthy beyond all my love. Therefore I firmly purpose, with the help of Thy grace, from henceforth to sin no more and flee the next occasions of sinning. Amen.

My God, I am from the depths of my heart pained with sorrow for all my sins and I detest them; because in sinning, not only have I deserved the punishments justly instituted by Thee, but especially because I have offended Thee, the highest good and Who art worthy to be loved above all things. I firmly propose, with the help of Thy grace, henceforth to sin no more and to flee the next occasions of sinning.

Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee. J-J Tissot

Notes

diligaris: second-person singular present passive subjunctive of dīligō, lēxī, lēctus, 3, a.: to love
peccaturum masc accus sing fut participle from peccō, āvī, ātus, 1, n.: to commit a fault, sin, transgress, offend
poenas: accus fem plural from poena , ae, f.: penalty, punishment
pœnitet (me omnium meorum peccatorum): from paenĭtĕo (less correctly poen-), ui, no sup., ēre, 2, v. a. and impers. Impers.AIt repents one, etc., i. e. I, you, etc., repent; I, etc., repent, am sorry, grieve, rue, etc. With accusative of person, genitive of thing or infinitive, to regret. Mē paenitet alicuius reī.
praesertim, adv.from prae-sero; cf. praecipue, from praecipio, qs. connected beforehand, serves to add an important argument or condition (hence most freq. joined with cum and si), especially, chiefly, principally, particularly
promeritus sum: first person sing, perfect, indicative,  from 2nd conjug deponent prōmereor, meritus sum, 2, dep. a. and n.: to merit for one's self by favors given; deserve, merit, put under obligation
statutas: accus fem plural of perfect participle, from statuō, statuī, statūtus, 3, a.: to station, place, set; to place at or on the altar; found, build; set up; restore, stay; of the mind, resolve, determine, decide.
summum: accus sing neut, from summus, superlative of superus , a, um: adj. (super), above, upper, supreme

Totus tuus ego sum 

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam