Thursday of the Fourth Week in Lent

Thursday of the Fourth Week in Lent

Station at the Church of Saints Sylvester and Martin

The Station is a sanctuary situated on the Esquiline. A holy priest had given his house to Pope St. Sylvester to turn into a church. It was one of the 25 parish churches in the fifth century. In the sixth, Pope St. Symmachus built a new church next to the first on a higher level, and dedicated both to St. Sylvester and St. Martin of Tours. Since a thorough restoration was ordained in the XVIth century by St. Charles Borromeo, it is called "S. Martino ai Monti ".

This church was chosen wherein to read the Gospel which speaks of resurrection, because in the name of the blessed Trinity, St. Martin raised three persons from the dead; a symbol of the baptized, who are born to a new life in the name of the blessed Trinity.

The Epistle and Gospel announce to us the great mystery of the resurrection of Jesus Christ which is drawing nigh, and in the celebration of which at Easter public penitents participated. The Sunamite woman and the widow of Naim had lost their sons. Eliseus, who is a figure of Jesus, raises the first to life and Christ gives back the second to his mother.

This is what God in His mercy will do in the holy Sacrament of Penance for souls which have died by sin. He restores them to the life of grace and gives them back to the Church, their mother. Let us prepare ourselves for our Easter confession, which will more abundantly fill our souls with supernatural life.

Let us moderate by fasting our earthly appetites in order that we may better enjoy heavenly things (Collect).

Laetetur cor quaerentium Dominum: quaerite Dominum, et confirmamini: quaerite faciem ejus semper. * Confitemini Domino, et invocate nomen ejus: annuntiate inter gentes opera ejus.
Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord : seek ye the Lord, and be strengthened: seek His face evermore. * Give glory to the Lord, and call upon His name: declare His deeds among the nations.
(Psalm 104:3-4,1 from the Introit of Mass)

Praesta, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus: ut, quos jejunia votiva castigant, ipsa quoque devotio sancta laetificet; ut, terrenis affectibus mitigatis, facilius caelestia capiamus.

Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God: that we, who are chastised by fasting, may rejoice with holy devotion, and that our earthly affections being weakened, we may more easily understand the things of heaven

(Collect)

Pictures of the Stational Churches: http://frcoulter.com/pics/station-churches/lent4/lent4.html#Thursday