Holy Wednesday, March 22, 2016
Jeremiah, Chapter 33, Verse 9
Then this city shall become joy for me, a name of praise
and pride, before all the nations of the earth, as they hear of all the good I
am doing for them. They shall fear
and tremble because of all the prosperity I give it.
God promised the restoration of
Jerusalem which was fulfilled in 1948. Furthermore God imagines the world
without war; this is why He sent His son to bring peace to the world. Yet, we
are still at war for our enemy is not just evil men but the devil and his
cohort.
Therefore, when our enemy brings
forth horse and chariot and all manner of evils; do not be afraid for the
victory has already been won! Trust in Jesus who will send St. Michael the
Archangel to defend us and cover us with his strong shield and lead us safely
through the midst of our enemy.
Our prayer then is having fought
the good fight and having a lifetime of devotion to the Blood of Jesus that
when the last hour of our earthly life draws near and we await the awful moment
when our soul must leave our bodies it will be St. Michael that will defend us
in our most vulnerable moments protecting us from the satanic hosts when they
make their final assault upon our souls.
Prayer for Help against
Spiritual Enemies[1]
Glorious Saint Michael, Prince of the heavenly
hosts, who stands always ready to give assistance to the people of God; who
fought with the dragon, the old serpent, and cast him out of heaven, and now
valiantly defends the Church of God that the gates of hell may never prevail
against her, I earnestly entreat you to assist me also, in the painful and
dangerous conflict which I sustain against the same formidable foe.
Be with me, O mighty Prince! That I may courageously
fight and vanquish that proud spirit, whom you, by the Divine Power, gloriously
overthrew, and whom our powerful King, Jesus Christ, has, in our nature,
completely overcome; so having triumphed over the enemy of my salvation, I may
with you and the holy angels, praise the clemency of God who, having refused
mercy to the rebellious angels after their fall, has granted repentance and
forgiveness to fallen man. Amen.
Wednesday of Holy Week[2]
Spy Wednesday. The account
of Christ's Passion according to St. Luke during the daily Mass; and the
nocturnal office of Tenebrae, a sustained reflection on the treachery of
Judas, the privation of holiness, and the need for conversion. Attending Tenebrae.
Tenebrae consists of the divine office of Matins and Lauds for Maundy
Thursday. It is generally held on the night of "Spy Wednesday" of
Holy Week, so-called because it is believed to be the night on which Judas
Iscariot betrayed our Lord. The service thus explores the nature of Judas'
betrayal, the mental anguish of our suffering Lord, and the desecration of what
was once holy and beautiful. Its ceremonies include the use of a "hearse,"
a triangular candelabrum that holds fifteen candles which are successively extinguished
during the liturgy until the entire church is enveloped in darkness. Only one
candle remains lit at the end, which is hidden by the Epistle side of the altar
before the Miserere is chanted. The service concludes with a banging
noise, followed by silence. The extinction of the fourteen candles calls to
mind the fourteen holy men mentioned in the Bible who, from the foundation of
the world to the very threshold of Christ's coming, were slain by their own
wicked brethren. The hiding of the fifteenth candle, on the other hand,
signifies the murder and resurrection of Christ Himself, while the banging
noise commemorates the confusion of nature when its Creator died (Mt. 27.51).
Prayers for the Dead[3]
Relationships never end and
neither should our prayers for the dead. In addition to prayers we should also
offer up Masses for them and offer indulgences for their benefit. The dead
cannot pray for themselves but they can pray for us and we in turn should pray
for them.
According to the almanac
today we are having a Full Worm Moon; plan to spend some time fishing with your
children or grandchildren and talk about the matters in their hearts.
[3]
Hahn, Scott, Signs of Life; 40 Catholic Customs and their biblical roots. Chap.
40. Prayers for the Dead.
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