First Friday and First Saturday of the month of April

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First Friday & First Saturday of

April

(Good Friday & Holy Saturday)

It so happened that the FIrst Friday and First Saturday of this month were respectively on Good Friday and Holy Saturday this year, so we went for the Holy Hour of Reparation on Maundy Thursday instead, when the Blessed Sacrament was transferred to the Altar of Repose and there was an adoration till midnight at our chapel.

"Could you not, then, watch one hour with me?"

Mt. 26:40

Taken from 20 Holy Hours, Chapter XVI: Meditation on the Holy Thursday Dungeon and the Tabernacle Prison by Fr. Mateo Crawley-Boevey, SS.CC.

Page 236

Come, draw near this evening, for we wish to look on the Word in another phase of His glory, that of the prison of Holy Thursday. Contemplate with great faith, the scene that astounded the angelic choirs: instead of a royal palace, an underground prison; for a scepter, the reed of contempt, and finally, for this King's court, soldiers drunk with wine, intoxicated with satanic hate!

Together let us look upon our King Jesus in this prison the butt of mockery, sarcasm, and blows: meek, but majestic in His humility, a supplication for love and for pity in His eyes, and dire anguish portrayed on His beautiful face, bathed in His blood, and yet always thirsting for the gall of sorrow!

Such is the state we find You in, Jesus, after twenty centuries have gone by. You are in the same prison of love and glorious ignominy, a prison that Your Heart wishes to perpetuate forever.

The pomp of Your royal but bloody Majesty is always the same, immortal King. Nothing is altered, neither the chains of love that make You our prisoner, nor the wretched attendants who load You with insults and with ignominy, nor the hatred of the judges and the cruelty of the jailors.

But above all, Your Heart has not changed, O Jesus. It remains what it always was, always the same, immutable in Its merciful resolution to remain our captive even to the consummation of the world.

Indeed, divine Master, it is we who should and would change our rebellion into an altogether glorious captivity and transform the chains of sin into the chains of burning love uniting us faithfully to You.

Deus propitius esto mihi peccatori.

Jesu mitis et humilis corde, Fac cor nostrum secundum Cor Tuum. (ter)

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Anne, Therese, I love You; Save Souls!