On the threshold of his Passion, Jesus stands in the presence of his Father. How could it have been otherwise, since the secret dialogue of love with his Father had never ceased ? « The hour has come », the hour anticipated from the start, announced to the disciples, this hour which resembles no other, which contains and sums up all the hours, which will soon be completed in the arms of the Father. Here it is this hour which is suddenly dreaded. From this fear nothing is hidden from us. But then, in the depth of his despair, Jesus seeks refuge in prayer with his Father. (André Louf, trappist monk, Abbott (1929-2010)).
In Gethsemane, that evening, the struggle becomes an exhausting combat, so harsh that on the face of Jesus sweat changes to blood. And Jesus dares a final time, facing his Father, to express the troubles which beset him : « Father, if it is your will, take this cup away from me ; however, be it not my will which is done but yours. » Two wills which collide for a moment, to flow into an abandonment of love, as Jesus has just annonced : « The world must know that I love my Father and that I do everything my Father has commanded. » (André Louf, trappist monk, Abbott (1929-2010)).
Jesus is alone facing the prospect of the enormous suffering which is about to befall him. The « hour » both expected and dreaded of the final clash with the forces of evil, and of the great ordeal has arrived. But the cause of his anguish is even deeper : he fills himself burdened with all the evil and all the misdeeds of the world. (Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher of the Vatican).
It is not he who committed this evil, but it is the same thing, because he freely assumed it : « he himself bore our faults in his body », i.e. (according to the sense of this expression in the Bible), in his own person, at the same time in his soul, his body, and his heart. (Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher in the Vatican).
Jesus, who instead of the joy he could have had, endured a cross, of which he despised the infamy, and who is henceforth sitted on the right hand of the throne of God. Think of him who, on behalf of sinners, endured such a contradiction, so as not to fail your souls through negligence. You hafven’t yet resisted up to shedding blood in the fight against sin. (Hebrews 12).
Words and music : G. du Boullay N°09-12-EN From John 15
Ch. Dwell in me, dwell in my love.
The fruit that you
Can bear will last forever.
As the Father has loved me, +
So have I loved you ;
Remain in my love :
If you keep my commandments,
You will remain in my love.
I shall call you no longer servants but friends,
Because I have made everything known to you that I have learnt from my Father.
I chose you to go out and to bear fruit,
Fruit that will last.
They came to a place called Gethsemane. Jesus said to his disciples : « sit here while I pray. » (Mark 14 : 32)
lord, in communion with the Holy Father and the whole Church, in these the first days of the year, we pray to You for peace in the world, in our countries, in our hearts :
« Lord, make us instruments of peace ! »
He took Peter, James and John with him. Distress and anguish came over him, and He said to them, « the sorrow in my Heart is so great that it almost crushes me. Stay here and keep watch. » (Mark 14 : 33-34)
« Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
where there is hatred, that I may sow your love.
Where there is offence, that I may sow your forgiveness.
Where there is disagreement, that I may sow your unity.
Where there is error, that I may sow your truth.
R/ En toi, j’ai mis Seigneur ma confiance. Ne me délaisse pas, Dieu de ma joie. (bis)
He went a little farther on , threw himself on the ground, and prayed that, if possible, he might not have to go through that time of suffering. « Father », he said, « my Father ! All things are possible for you. Take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet not what I want, but what you want ! » (Mark 14 : 35-36)
« Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
where there is doubt, that I may sow your faith.
Where there is despair, that I may sow your hope.
Where there is darkness, that I sow your light.
Where there is sadness, that I may sow your joy.
R/ Tu entends mon cri tendre Père, Dieu d’infini miséricorde.
Hour + 28
« Then He returned and found his three disciples asleep. He said to Peter : « Simon, are you asleep ? Weren’t you able to stay awake even for one hour ? » (Mark 14 : 37)
R/ Espere Israël, espere dans le Seigneur, maintenant et à jamais (bis).
Lord, grant us not to dwindle in our faith, our hope and our charity. Grant us to remain vigilant.
Hour +35
« Keep watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation : the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. » (Mark 14 : 38)
« Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,…
O Lord, may I not so much look
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
R/ Garde moi, mon Seigneur, j’ai fait de toi mon refuge.
« He went away once more, and prayed, saying the same words. » (Mark 14 : 39)
« Lord, make me an instrument of your peace…
because it is in giving that we receive,
it’s in forgetting oneself that we are found,
it is in forgiving that we are forgiven,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. »
I am all my King’s
and He is all mine.
His Divine Heart, who loves me,
attracts me in Himself,
I am all my King’s !
Apart from the Heart of Jesus,
nothing delights me further more.
In this Divine Abode,
One only lives for love.
I will reside there,
whether I live or die ;
I will remain forever
His victim of love.
It is my greatest desire,
to consume my life,
like a lit candle,
in front of my Well Beloved.
I am a burning candle,
for the Blessed Sacrament.
Visit me often,
O my only Love !
Come gently, without a word,
into my heart that is sighing…
Because You are my friend
To whom I rendered all.
When we love you,You would want us
to offer ourselves
to the flames of love,
in order to burn day and night.
Not half a heart
From this perfect Friend.
I am all my King’s
and He is all mine.
Hour + 49
« When He came back the third time He said to them « Are you still sleeping and resting ? Enough ! The hour has come ! Look the Son of man is now being handed over the power of sinners. » (Mark 14 : 41).
Now, Ô sovereign Master,
You may let your servant go
in peace according to Your word.
Because my eyes have seen the salvation
that you have prepared in the face of all peoples :
Light that is revealed to all nations
and that give glory to you people Israël.
Hour + 42
« Get up and let us go. Look, here is the man who is betraying me ! » (Mark 14 : 42).
R. Jesus, agneau de Dieu
Tantum ergo Sacramentum
Veneremur cernui !
Et antiquum documentum
Novo cedat ritui !
Præstet fides supplementum
Sensuum defectui !
Genitori Genitoque
Laus et jubilatio,
Salus, honor, virtus quoque
Sit et benedictio !
Procedenti ab utroque
Compar sit laudatio .
Amen .
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