The Station is at the Church of St. Clement, built above the very house of the third successor of St. Peter, whose name is found in the Canon of the Mass. This sanctuary, a parish of Rome in the fifth century, is a most faithful example of an old Roman basilica, although it was rebuilt in the XIIth century. There are found, under the altar, the remains of the holy Martyr and of St. Ignatius of Antioch.
Our Lord foretells in the Gospel that the Jews will lift Him up on the cross, and thrice He asserts that they will die in their sin, because they have not believed in Him and done His works.
The wrath of God, which fell a first time on Jerusalem at the time of the captivity of Babylon (Epistle), was renewed against Israel at the burning of the Temple. Like guilty Christians, they would only be able to return to the Lord by penance, while the heathen are called instead to believe in Jesus, to become part of His people by baptism.
"Let us mortify our flesh by abstinence from food and let us fast from sin by following justice" (Collect).
Redeem me, O Lord, and have mercy on me: for my foot hath stood in the direct way: in the churches I will bless the Lord. * Judge me, O Lord, for I have walked in my innocence: and I have put my trust in the Lord, and shall not be weakened.
(Psalm 25:11-12,1 from the Introit of Mass)
Praesta, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus: ut familia tua, quae se, affligendo carnem, ab alimentis abstinet, sectando justitiam, a culpa jejunet.
Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that Thy family, while afflicting the flesh by fasting from food, may follow justice and abstain from sin.
(Collect)
No comments:
Post a Comment