THE CLOCK OF THE PASSION - Meditation and prayers on the last 24 hours of the earthly life of Jesus Christ, written by St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori.

St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori.
 

 

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FOR THE USE OF PERSONS DEVOTED TO THE PASSION OF OUR LORD

 

THE CLOCK OF THE PASSION

BY

ST. ALPHONSUS MARIA DE LIGUORI

 

 

St. Alphonsus (1696-1787) devised the Clock of the Passion as a meditation for Passion-tide during Lent to follow Jesus the last twenty-four hours of His life on this earth. His intent was to motivate each person to cherish a tender devotion towards Jesus Christ in His Passion. The events are put in sequence as found in Scripture and Sacred Tradition.

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Prayer by St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

O my Jesus! I pray Thee make me always remember Thy Passion; and grant that I also, a miserable sinner, overcome at last by so many loving devices, may return to love Thee, and to show Thee, by my poor love some mark of gratitude for the excessive love which Thou, my God and my Saviour, hast borne to me. Amen.

 

 

 6 P.M.

After having taken leave of His holy Mother,
Jesus celebrates His Last Supper with His Disciples. 

               
Mother of Sorrows, who on the day of the Last Supper
didst bid a sad farewell to thy Son going to Jerusalem to suffer,
 Pray for us. 

 

After having taken leave of His holy Mother, Jesus celebrates His Last Supper with His Disciples. Admire the excess of His charity, and at the remembrance of it, thank our Lord Jesus Christ for His sufferings and merits, of which he granted us a share at this time; say to Him with love and devotion:

†Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which Thou didst desire to suffer the dolours of thy Passion! I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery. I beseech Thee, by Thy divine merits, O Jesus, to vouchsafe to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy. 

 

 

7 P.M.

Jesus washes the feet of His Disciples, and institutes the Sacrament of His Love.

Through Thy ineffable love manifested in the institution of the Sacrifice and Sacrament of Thy most precious Body and Blood, Have mercy on us. 
 

Admire the humility with which Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, and His love which induces Him to give Himself to us to be our food.

†Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which Thou didst institute the divine sacrament of the altar! I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; I implore Thee, Jesus! by Thy divine merits, to vouchsafe to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.

 

8 P.M.

Jesus makes His last Discourse after the Supper,
and then goes to the Garden of Olives


Jesus, conversing with men,   Have mercy on us.  
 

Adore the sacred heart of Jesus, all inflamed with the love of men, and giving to His disciples the food of His holy doctrine.

†Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which Thou gavest Thy last instructions, which only breathed the most tender charity, and which were followed by the admirable example of the sacrifice of Thyself! I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; I beseech Thee through Thy divine merits, O Jesus! to vouchsafe to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy. 

 

9 P.M.

 Jesus prays with his face on the ground: "O my Father,"
says He, "if it be possible, let this chalice pass from Me;
nevertheless, not My will, but Thine be done." 


Jesus, praying in the Garden of Olives, Have mercy on us. 
 

Jesus prays with his face on the ground: "O my Father," says He, "if it be possible, let this chalice pass from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Thine be done."

Admire the perfect submission of Jesus. 

†Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which Thou didst accept with so much love, the chalice of Thy Passion! I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; I beseech Thee through Thy divine merits, O Jesus! to vouchsafe to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.

 

10 P.M.

Jesus begins His agony, and sweats blood and water.


Jesus, in Thine agony bathed in a bloody sweat, Have mercy on us. 
 

Adore the sacred heart of Jesus as the source of eternal life. 
 
†Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which Thou didst vouchsafe for our sakes to be seized with fear and filled with anguish! I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; I beseech Thee through Thy divine merits, O Jesus! to vouchsafe to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy. 

 

11 P.M.

Jesus is strengthened by an angel.


Jesus Strengthened by an angel,   Have mercy on us.  
 

Adore the Divine Saviour as the truth that enlightens the world, and the life that animates it.

†Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which Thou didst vouchsafe, for the sake of our weakness, to accept the consolations of an angel! I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; I implore Thee through Thy Divine merits, O Jesus! to remember me at the the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.

 

 At Midnight

Jesus is betrayed by the kiss of Judas, and bound with chains.


Mother of Sorrows, who didst learn that He was betrayed by Judas, and led away captive,   Pray for us. 
 

Adore the Divine Saviour in His slavery of love.

†Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which Thou didst choose to be bound, in order to draw us to Thee by the sweet chains of Thy love! I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; I beseech Thee, through Thy divine merits, O Jesus! to vouchsafe to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.

 

1 A.M.

Jesus is led to Annas.
 
Through Thy being bound, and brought before the tribunals
of Annas and Caiphas,   Have mercy on us.
 

Adore Jesus, as the teacher of truth, reduced by His love to the greatest abasement.

†Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which Thou didst choose to be delivered up to the fury of wicked men; oh, grant that I may humble myself for the love of Thee! I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; beseech Thee, through Thy divine merits, O Jesus! to vouchssfe to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.

 

2 A.M.

Jesus is accused before Caiphas, where He receives a blow on His face, and answers meekly to him that struck Him.

Through the blows, buffets, and opprobrious usage Thou didst endure
the night before the Crucifixion,   Have mercy on us.
 

Admire the ineffible gentleness of Jesus. 

†Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which Thou didst choose to suffer this insult, in order to teach us to be meek and humble of heart. I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; and I beseech Thee, through Thy divine merits, O Jesus! to vouchsafe to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.

 

3 A.M.

Whilst Jesus is insulted in the prison,
He is also denied by St. Peter for the third time.


Jesus, blindfolded,   Have mercy on us. 
 

Admire the profound sorrow of Jesus on seeing Himself forsaken by all His disciples, and beholding the cowardice of St. Peter, and the malice with which the Jews bandage His eyes, and strike Him and turn Him into ridicule.

†Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which Thou didst vouchsafe by one look of compassion to touch the heart of Thy disciple; oh, do Thou pierce mine with love and sorrow for my sins! I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; and beseech Thee, through Thy divine merits, O Jesus! to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.

 

4 A.M.

Jesus summoned before the Great Council,
is declared worthy of death.
 
Mother of Sorrows, who didst hear the unjust sentence
pronounced against Him,   Pray for us.  
 

Admire the modesty and the patience of our Divine Saviour.

†Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which Thou didst choose by Thy silence to suffer the opprobrium of passing for a blasphemer and for a criminal worthy of death. I adore Thee, O Eternal Word! and I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; I beseech Thee, through Thy divine merits, O Jesus! to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy. 

 

5 A.M.

Jesus is led before Pilate, in whose presence He is accused.
 
Through Thy presentation to the pagan judge, Pilate,
in the quality of a notorious criminal,   Have mercy on us.
 

Salute Him and adore Him as your master, your Saviour, and your king. 

†Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which Thou didst vouchsafe, for the love of us, to suffer this fresh outrage. I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; and beseech Thee, through Thy divine merits, O Jesus! to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.

 

6 A.M.

Jesus, in the presence of Herod, is clothed in a white robe, and treated as a fool.
 
Through Thy being sent before Herod, and scornfully treated
by that wicked king and his soldiers,   Have mercy on us.
 

Adore the Son of God, in whom His divine power is thus veiled. 

†Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which Thou didst choose to be loaded with insults; oh, let my consolation be to be despised for Thy sake! I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; I beseech Thee, through divine merits, O Jesus! to vouchsafe to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.

 

7 A.M.

Jesus is conducted to Pilate, and Barabbas is preferred to Him.
 
Through the barbarous clamors of the people to have Barabbas the murderer released, and the innocent Jesus put to death,
Have mercy on us. 
 

Adore the heart of Jesus, inexhaustible treasure of every good, open to all, and too little known by men.

†Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which Thou didst choose to suffer this insulting preference. Oh, detach my heart from all created things! I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; I beseech Thee, through Thy divine merits, O Jesus! to vouchsafe to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.

 

8 A.M.

Jesus is cruelly scourged at the pillar,
His blood flows on every side.
 
Through the cruel and contumelious scourging Thou didst endure
at the pillar,   Have mercy on us.
 

Admire the immense love to which the wounds of our Saviour bear witness. 

†Blessed be the hour, O my Saviour Jesus Christ, in which Thou didst choose to be torn by scourges, and to shed Thy precious blood in order to blot out my sins. I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; and I beseech Thee, through Thy divine merits, O Jesus! to vouchsafe to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.

 

9 A.M.

Jesus is crowned with thorns, and afterwards
insulted by the soldiers.
 
Through the pressing of a crown of sharp pointed thorns
on Thy sacred head,   Have mercy on us.
 

Adore the divine King of your heart, in this cruel state in which He suffers for you.

†Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which Thou didst vouchsafe to suffer this painful crowning for our sakes! Oh, pierce my heart with sorrow and regret for having offended Thee! I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; and I beseech Thee, through Thy divine merits, O Jesus! to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.

 

10 A.M.

Pilate condemns Jesus to death,
and abandons Him to the cruelty of the Jews.


Jesus, condemned to an ignominious death,   Have mercy on us. 
 

Adore the Holy of holies, treated as a criminal, and led to Calvary with the Cross on His shoulders. 

†Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which Thou didst vouchsafe, for the love of us, to be condemned to death, and delivered up to thy cruel enemies. Thou didst then walk laden with a heavy cross, in order to help me to carry mine with patience; I thank Thee for it, I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; and I beseech Thee, through Thy divine merits, O Jesus! to vouchsafe to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.

 

11 A.M. 

  Jesus is stripped of His garments and fastened to the Cross. 
 
Through the shameful stripping of Thy clothes, and exposing
Thy naked Body to the multitude,   Have mercy on us.
 

Adore this Divine Lamb, immolated as a victim on the altar of the Cross.

†Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which Thou didst choose to be stripped of Thy garments and sacrificed as a lamb that is slain, to be offered in Holocaust. Oh, give me a heart capable of returning this great love! I unite all my actions and all my suffering to this adorable mystery; and I beseech Thee, through Thy divine merits, O Jesus! to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.  

 

12 P.M.

Jesus prays for His executioners,
and promises Paradise to the good thief.
 
Through Thy excessive charity in praying for Thy persecutors and murderers, and promising paradise to the penitent thief,
Have mercy on us. 
  

Adore the Divine Shepherd, who gives His life for His sheep.

†Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which Thou didst vouchsafe to give Thyself up as a victim of expiation for us; oh, may Thy cross soften Thy judgment, and comfort my soul at the hour of my death! I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; and I implore Thee through Thy divine merits, O Jesus! to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.  

 

1 P.M. 

 Jesus offers His Soul up to His Divine Father, and recommends His holy Mother to His beloved disciple, whom He also recommends to His holy Mother.


Through Thy agony, in which Thou didst commend Thy blessed soul into the hands of Thy heavenly Father,   Have mercy on us.

 

Admire the entire resignation of our most holy Redeemer upon the Cross; give Him eternal thanksgiving for the love which induced Him to entrust us in the person of St. John to the care of His Divine Mother.

†Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, In which Thou didst ordain that Mary should become our Mother! Oh, grant that the love of Thee and of her may inflame my heart! I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; I beseech Thee, through Thy divine merits, O Jesus to vouchsafe to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy.

 

2 P.M.

Jesus cries out, " My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" Then He says, "I thirst" and having taken the vinegar, He says, "It is consummated."


Jesus, in Thy thirst given gall and vinegar
to drink,   Have mercy on us.
 

Admire the inalterable patience of the Son of God, and sympathise with this burning thirst which He feels for our salvation.

†Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which Thou didst vouchsafe to give us such touching examples of resignation and of zeal for the salvation of souls, and for the accomplishment of the will of Thy heavenly Father. I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; and I beseech Thee, through Thy divine merits, O Jesus! to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy. 

 

3 P.M.

Jesus crying out with a loud voice, bends down
His head and expires.


Jesus, commending Thy spirit into the hands of
Thy Father,  Have mercy on us. 
 

Admire the last sigh of God your Saviour, and the sacrifice that He makes of Himself on the Cross for our salvation. 

†Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which Thou didst vouchsafe to die for us, in order to consummate the great work of our redemption. I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; and I beseech Thee, through Thy Divine merits, O Jesus! to remember me at the hour of my death and to grant me pardon and mercy. 

 

4 P.M.

A soldier pierces the sacred side of Jesus with a lance,
after which, Joseph and Nicodemus take down His holy Body from the Cross, and place it in the arms of His afflicted Mother.
 
Through the piercing of Thy Side with a lance, and the water and blood
which issued therefrom,   Have mercy on us.
 

Adore this sacred wound, from which flowed forth blood and water.

†Blessed be the hour, O my Lord Jesus Christ, in which Thou wert pleased, through Thy wound, to open to us Thy sacred heart, the source of salvation and grace; oh, let Thy divine unction flow upon us through the hands of Mary, to whom Thou didst leave us as her adopted children! I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; and I beseech Thee, through Thy Divine merits, O Jesus! to vouchsafe to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy. 

 
Mother of Sorrows, who didst receive into thy maternal bosom the lifeless Body of Thy Son, taken down from the cross,   Have mercy on us.

 

 5 P.M.

Jesus is placed in the holy Sepulchre.


Jesus laid in the sepulcher,     Have mercy on us. 
 

Adore Jesus Christ, who remains in our tabernacle as it were enclosed in a holy sepulchre.

†Blessed be the hour, O my Jesus Christ, which Thou wert pleased to resign Thyself into the hands of Joseph and Nicodemus to be buried which foreshowed so well the generosity with which Thou dost abandon Thyself into the hands of the priests, in order that Thou mayest Thy own self provide the better for my wants. O my Jesus! grant me a share in the compassion of Thy holy Mother, arm me with the courage of Thy two disciples against human respect; but above all give me the ardent love of Mary Magdalen, in order that I may seek Thee until I have found Thee risen again to die no more. I unite all my actions and all my sufferings to this adorable mystery; and I beseech Thee, through Thy Divine merits, O Jesus! to vouchsafe to remember me at the hour of my death, and to grant me pardon and mercy. 


 

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THE CLOCK OF THE PASSION BY ST. ALPHONSUS MARIA  DE LIGUORI
http://catholicharboroffaithandmorals.com/Passion%20Clock.html





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One of the most beautiful Hymns sung especially during the Lenten Season - ATTENDE DOMINE et miserere - Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy - Mulej Ismagħna u ħenn għalina. ... &... Pope, Saint John Paul II's ABBA PATER...Pater Noster

Attende Domine is a Lenten hymn of supplication. This hymn is primarily used during the Lenten Season. The recording from the CD 'Immortal Gregorian Chants' , includes only 3 out of 5 stanzas. The entire hymn and translation is as follows:

Attende Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi.

Ad te Rex summe, omnium Redemptor,
oculos nostros sublevamus flentes:
exaudi, Christe, supplicantum preces.

Attende Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi.

Dextera Patris, lapis angularis,
via salutis, ianua caelestis,
ablue nostri maculas delicti.

Attende Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi.

Rogamus, Deus, tuam maiestatem:
auribus sacris gemitus exaudi:
crimina nostra placidus indulge.

Attende Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi.

Tibi fatemur crimina admissa:
contrito corde pandimus occulta:
tua, Redemptor, pietas ignoscat.

Attende Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi.

Innocens captus, nec repugnans ductus;
testibus falsis pro impiis damnatus
quos redemisti, tu conserva, Christe.

Attende Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi. 

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The English translation:

Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy, because we have sinned against Thee.

To Thee, highest King, Redeemer of all,
do we lift up our eyes in weeping:
Hear, O Christ, the prayers of your servants.

Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy, because we have sinned against Thee.

Right hand of the Father, corner-stone,
way of salvation, gate of heaven,
wash away our stains of sin.

Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy, because we have sinned against Thee.

We beseech Thee, God, in Thy great majesty:
Hear our groans with Thy holy ears:
calmly forgive our crimes.

Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy, because we have sinned against Thee.

To Thee we confess our sins admitted with a contrite heart
We reveal the things hidden:
By Thy kindness, O Redeemer, overlook them.

Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy, because we have sinned against Thee.

The Innocent, seized, not refusing to be led;
condemned by false witnesses
because of impious men
O Christ, keep safe those whom Thou hast redeemed.

Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy, because we have sinned against Thee.

Attende Domine - Catholic Hymns, Gregorian Chant


... and ... In Maltese

MULEJ ISMAGĦNA 

Mulej, ismagħna, u ħenn għalina:
Maħfra għal dnubietna agħtina.

Sultan tal-glorja, maħbub Feddej tagħna,
għajnejna mdemmgħa, lejK bl-ilfiq indawwru;
Int Ġesù twajjeb, ilqa' it-talb tagħna

Mulej, ismagħna, u ħenn għalina:
Maħfra għal dnubietna agħtina.

Mulej sogħbiena, quddiemek ninxteħtu;
B'widnejk miftuħa, isma' l-biki tagħna:
Tisħonx għalina, u ħtijietna aħfrilna.

Mulej, ismagħna, u ħenn għalina:
Maħfra għal dnubietna agħtina.

Lilek nistqarru, d-dnubiet li għamilna;
Niedma quddiemek, nuru l-ħtijiet tagħna:
Ħa jkollok ħniena, Feddej Ġesù, minna.

Mulej, ismagħna, u ħenn għalina:
Maħfra għal dnubietna agħtina.

Bħal ħaruf ġwejjed, b'Demmek ridt tifdina,
Għalkemm bla ħtija, l-mewt Int ħadt għalina:
La darba fdejtna, Int ħarisna, Kristu.

Mulej, ismagħna, u ħenn għalina:
Maħfra għal dnubietna agħtina.

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How can I not include Pope, Saint John Paul II's ABBA PATER...Pater Noster...which starts to the melody of ATTENDE DOMINE...but with different lyrics, from Romans 8:15 ...

Abba Pater -Juan Pablo II - 4  


Attende, Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi.

Non enim accepistis Spiritum servitutis
sed accepistis spiritum adoptionis filiorum
in quo clamamus: Abba Pater.

(Romani 8,15)

 

Tu sei mio figlio, io oggi ti ho generato.
(Salmo 2,7)

 

Io gli saro Padre, Egli mi sara Figlio.
(2 Sam 7,14)

 

Sono parole profetiche: esse parlano di Dio, che é Padre nel senso piu alto e piu autentico della parola. Dice Isaia: 

"Signore, tu sei nostro Padre: noi siamo argilla e tu Colui che ci da forma; tutti noi siamo opera delle tue mani".

(Isaia 64,8)

 

Shema Israel!

 

Sion ha detto: "Il Signore mi ha abbandonato, il Signore mi ha dimenticato". Si dimentica forse una donna del suo bambino? Anche se ci fosse una donna che si dimenticasse, Io invece non ti abbandonero mai.

(Isaia 49,14-15)

 

Shema Israel!

 

É significativo che nei brani del profeta Isaia la paternità di Dio si arricchisca di connotazioni che si ispirano alla maternità.

Gesù annuncia molte volte la paternità di Dio nei riguardi degli uomini riallacciandosi alle numerose espressioni contenute nell'Antico Testamento.
Per Gesù, Dio non é solamente il Padre d'Israele, il Padre degli uomini, ma il Padre suo, il Padre mio.

(Udienza generale, Citt del Vaticano, 16 ottobre 1985)

 

Pater noster qui es in coelis,
sanctificetur nomen tuum.
Adveniat regnum tuum,
fiat voluntas tua,
sicut in coelo et in terra.
Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie,
et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostri,
et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo.
(Matteo 6,9-13)
(San Pietro, Roma, 22 marzo 1995)


 

 

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Pope Francis: Return honour to marriage, family

 

 

Behold, how good & how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity (Psalm 133:1)

 

Kemm hi ħaġa sabiħa u ħelwa, li l-aħwa jgħammru flimkien (Salm 133:1)





 

Mela dak kollu li tridu li l-bnedmin jagħmlu lilkom, agħmluh ukoll intom lilhom (Mattew 7:12)

 

 

 

 

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THE FATHER LOVES US ! THE FATHER LOVES ME ! - SERMON on the Gospel of Jn 16:23b-28 -- "...ask my Father in my name..." - "...titolbu lil Missieri f'ismi jagħtihulkom..." --- & --- with reference on the book by FRANCISCO DE OSUNA - THE THIRD SPIRITUAL ALPHABET

Jn 16:23b-28 -- "...ask my Father in my name..." - "...titolbu lil Missieri f'ismi jagħtihulkom..."

Tassew tassew ngħidilkom, kull ma titolbu lil Missieri f'ismi jagħtihulkom. [Ġw:16:24] Sa issa ma tlabtu xejn f'ismi. Itolbu u taqilgħu, biex il-ferħ tagħkom ikun sħiħ.
Jiena rbaħt id-dinja
[Ġw:16:25] "Dan għedthulkom bit-tixbihat. Għad tasal siegħa meta ma nkellimkomx aktar bit-tixbihat, imma bil-miftuħ inħabbrilkom dwar il-Missier. [Ġw:16:26] Dakinhar intom titolbu f'ismi, u ma ngħidilkomx li jien nitlob lill-Missier għalikom, [Ġw:16:27] għax il-Missier stess iħobbkom, billi intom ħabbejtu lili u emmintu li jiena ġejt mingħand Alla. [Ġw:16:28] Ħriġt mingħand il-Missier u ġejt fid-dinja. Se nerġa' nħalli d-dinja u mmur għand il-Missier."

Sermon on the Gospel of John 16:23b-28 --- with reference on the book THE THIRD SPIRITUAL ALPHABET, that St Teresa of Avila read, that transformed her life. Authored by Francisco de Osuna. This book is almost impossible to find in English. 

 

Click over white arrow for video to start

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNAYcb0-RSc


THE BOOK from Amazon...
http://www.amazon.com/Francisco-De-Osuna-Spiritual-Spirituality/dp/080912145X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367879004&sr=8-1&keywords=third+spiritual+alphabet#reader_080912145X

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Contents list - OSUNA web resources

http://www.contemplativespirituality.org/resrecollect.html

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http://books.google.com.mt/books?id=2EUCQbUkNXAC&printsec=copyright#v=onepage&q&f=false

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http://www.gloria.tv/media/S4piQZe9Mex

The Importance of GratitudeThe cure for a modern ill

By Robert J. Siscoe
In the year 1527, a Spanish monk named Francisco de Osuna published a spiritual treasure called The Third Spiritual Alphabet. This book, which is little known today, was partially responsible for the Golden Age of Spanish mysticism, which produced such saints as Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross. The book teaches a method of prayer called recogidos, which encourages the practice of recollection as a means of union with God. St. Teresa of Avila speaks of this book in her autobiography. She said it was given to her by her uncle when she was in her early 20’s, during a time when she was struggling with the spiritual life, and unsure if she should remain in the convent. She describes herself during this period of life as thinking “more about pleasures of sense and vanity than of my soul's profit.” It was the Third Spiritual Alphabet that changed her life. So impressed was she by the method of prayer, and the practical advice given in the book, that she “took it as her master”. She wrote “I was delighted with the book and determined to follow that way of prayer with all my might”. Within the space of only nine months, she began to experience passive and contemplative prayer, which detached her from creatures and filled her with a greater love of God. St. Teresa’s copy of The Third Spiritual Alphabet is preserved to this day in the Carmel of St. Joseph, in Avila.

Near the beginning of the book, the author discusses an aspect of the spiritual life which is often overlooked by spiritual writers, namely, the importance of gratitude to God. While this virtue is necessary for men of all ages, it is of particular importance for us today. For in our time, when the devil is unchained, when the Church is infested by the errors of liberalism and modernism, when the enemy is in charge of the citadel, and the world appears to be on the verge of catastrophe, how easy is it for us to forget to be thankful to God, and thereby to fail in the gratitude we owe to Him? Yet, as the author explains, if we fail to give thanks to God for the gifts we have received, regardless of the circumstances in which we live, the gifts themselves will grow stale and putrefy; and rather than serve as a means by which we can glorifying God and merit an eternal reward, our gifts themselves will produce rotten fruits and be the cause of our damnation.

He teaches that the gifts of God flow into our soul like water, and must be returned by thanksgiving. He compares the water of God’s gifts to a stream, and explains that our thanksgiving keeps the waters flowing, thereby enabling them to remain pure. If we fail to give sufficient thanks for what we have received, the flow will stop, and like water trapped in a marsh, will become putrid. He writes “if you hoard the gifts and do not return thanks to God, you will be like a bad river that fails to return to the sea because its waters are stopped up in pools and marshes where they grow stale and putrid, unfit for fish, swarming with dirty poisonous things”. He explains that by failing to return sufficient thanks to God, our gifts will corrupt, and instead of producing “the fish of good works”, they will “procreate vanity, boasting, and spiritual presumptuousness”, resulting in the gifts themselves becoming an abomination before God – “and the stench of the gifts putrefying in the pools and marshes of your malice will be an abomination before God”.

St. Thomas explains that gratitude is a special part of the cardinal virtue of Justice. Justice moves us to render to each one what is their due. Gratitude, being a part of justice, requires that we render thanks to our benefactor (one who has given us gifts). Now, since God is, as St. Thomas teaches, “the first principle of all good”, and since all the good we possess has been given to us freely by God, it is a matter of justice that we render to God thanks for what we have received. Failing to do so is an act of injustice toward God. St. Ambrose said “No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks”.

The degree of gratitude owed is determined by the greatness of the gift received. St. Thomas said “Thanksgiving in the recipient corresponds to the favor of the giver: so that when there is greater favor on the part of the giver, greater thanks are due on the part of the recipient” (1).

Now, if we consider the times in which we live, and how few have the true Faith today, we can understand how much gratitude those with the Faith owe to God who has given them this “pearl of great price” (Mt 13:46). While our gratitude can never equal the gifts we have received, we must at least do what we can to return thanks. “A poor man is certainly not ungrateful if he does what he can”, wrote St. Thomas. “For since kindness depends on the heart rather than on the deed, so too gratitude depends chiefly on the heart”. (2)

What will happen if those who have been given the gift of Faith fail to render thanks to God? As we saw above, when thanksgiving is not returned, the very gifts themselves grow stale and putrid, and produce only rotten fruits. What bad fruits would we expect to find in those who have the faith, yet fail in sufficient gratitude? We can arrive at an answer to this question by considering the two-fold effect that the light of faith produces: this supernatural light enables us to see the truth clearly, and consequently makes us more keenly aware of the evil and errors that surround us.

Now this two-fold effect of supernatural faith can produce good fruits, or bad fruits. According to St. Thomas, the good fruit is the purification of the heart. (3) But if we fail in giving due thanks to God, our waters will putrefy, and the light of faith, by which we more clearly perceive the evils of the world, will produce bitterness and rancor; and rather than purifying the heart and making man happy, these “fruits of corruption” will render him miserable. Similarly, if we fail to give thanks to God, even the clear knowledge of truth will produce corrupt fruits. Rather than making us humble, wondering why the good God has given us the Faith in an age of apostasy, we will become frustrated with those who can’t see the truth, and like the Pharisees of old, we will fail in charity toward them, and our putrefied waters “will procreate vanity, boasting, and spiritual presumptuousness”, thereby rendering us an abomination to God.

To remedy this evil, Francisco de Osuna advises us to be thankful in all things. He wrote: “Do not be like this, brother; awaken your soul to thank God for his kindness, thus heeding the council of our letter: ‘Let all your works abound in fervent thanks’.”

He teaches three methods of thanksgiving. The first is by deeds. This is seen in the martyrs who gave their life for Christ, and also in those who use their talents in the service of God. In our day, thankfulness in deeds can be shown in many ways, such as studying the Faith and professing it with courage. The second way of giving thanks proceeds from the heart. It consists in frequent loving affections for favors received, for those promised, and even, he adds, “for the ones lost through sin, for you are to be no less grateful for them than for those you safeguard”. He teaches that this second form of gratitude is maintained by meditating on the gifts God has given us. This will keep us from falling into pride on the one hand, and false humility on the other. Through pride we attribute the good we possess to ourselves rather than God, and by false humility we deny that God has given us any gifts for which we should be thankful. Both of these evils are remedied by meditating on the gifts we have received from God - the source of all good. “Do not let a day slip by without considering God’s favors” wrote Osuna; “praise and exalt His generosity. Faithfully remember the gifts bestowed by nature as well as those you enjoy by chance and grace…”. The third method of giving thanks is through words, by which we thank and praise God for the favors we have received. He wrote: “it is profitable to speak of God’s favors, for just [as] thinking about how we lack them moves us to fearful grief, [so too] realizing how blessed we are moves us to the most sublime joy”.

We should give thanks for all things, not only for the gifts of grace and spiritual favors received, but even gifts of nature – “you ought to bless the Lord therefore, for everything you see in yourself, knowing that all things are a blessing from him” (Osuna). We should remember to thank God for the things that we take for granted, such as our sight: “You yourself can appreciate this”, wrote Osuna, “if you consider the price you would pay for a pair of eyes if you were blind”. If sight was restored to a blind man, how thankful would he be for the rest of his life? Should we be any less thankful for being given our sight from birth?

He explains that we should give thanks to God in all things and at all times; not only in times of prosperity, but in times of adversity as well. Commenting on the inspired words of St. Paul, which tell us to give thanks to God “always for all things” (Eph 5:20), Osuna wrote: “We must interpret the apostle’s instructions on giving thanks in everything in two ways: We should always thank God for everything that happens to us, not only for what we consider good, but also that which wearies and distresses us and is contrary to our will”. Commenting on these same words of the Bible, St. Jerome wrote: “Only he who knows himself governed by God’s providence can keep this commandment”. “You should especially remember”, wrote Osuna, “that virtue for the good Christian is gratitude in the midst of persecution, and if you lack this virtue, you do not deserve to be called a faithful Christian.”

If we turn to the Bible, we find examples of holy men who blessed God and thanked Him, even in times of adversity. Job, for example, contrary to the advice given by his wife (Job 2:9), blessed God during the time of his misfortune, saying “the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: as it hath pleased the Lord so is it done: blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). Tobias remained thankful to God “all the days of his life”, even after being stricken blind! “Now this trial the Lord therefore permitted to happen to him, that an example might be given to posterity of his patience, as also of holy Job. For whereas he had always feared God from his infancy, and kept his commandments, he repined not against God because the evil of blindness had befallen him, but continued immoveable in the fear of God, giving thanks to God all the days of his life”. (Tobias 2:12-14)

In the book Uniformity with the Will of God, St. Alphonsus recounts the story of a holy monk, whose conformity to the will of God, and thankfulness to God in all things, transformed him into a great Saint. He wrote:

“Externally his religious observance was the same as that of the other monks, but he had attained such sanctity that the mere touch of his garments healed the sick. Marveling at these deeds, since his life was no more exemplary than the lives of the other monks, the superior asked him one day what was the cause of these miracles. He replied that he too was mystified and was at a loss how to account for such happenings. ‘What devotions do you practice?’ asked the abbot. He answered that there was little or nothing special that he did beyond making a great deal of willing only what God willed, and that God had given him the grace of abandoning his will totally to the will of God. ‘Prosperity does not lift me up, nor adversity cast me down,’ added the monk. ‘I direct all my prayers to the end that God's will may be done fully in me and by me’. ‘That raid that our enemies made against the monastery the other day, in which our stores were plundered, our granaries put to the torch and our cattle driven off -- did not this misfortune cause you any resentment?’ queried the abbot. ‘No, Father,’ came the reply. ‘On the contrary, I returned thanks to God -- as is my custom in such circumstances -- fully persuaded that God does all things, or permits all that happens, for his glory and for our greater good; thus I am always at peace, no matter what happens’. Seeing such uniformity with the will of God, the abbot no longer wondered why the monk worked so many miracles”.

Osuna speaks of two forms of thanksgiving. One form comes from us, while the other is infused into us by God as a reward for our fidelity. Speaking of the supernatural gratitude that comes to us from God, he wrote: “The soul is flooded with Our Lord’s love and it bursts forth and overflows on our lips, rushing forth in thanksgiving or such sweetness that the soul would like to be consumed, and it is exceedingly gladdened in the Lord, its tranquil conscience [is]witness to our feeling of being loved by God. The soul forgets about everything… the understanding considers only the source from which all this springs, and the will most lovingly thanks God. This thanksgiving is not hidden; in fact, we feel it so strongly in our exterior understanding and great joy, that we are sure everyone else can notice what is happening to us…”. This infused gratitude is the reward of those who remain faithful to God, rendering Him thanks even in the midst of trials.

Conclusion: In times of peace and prosperity it is easy to be thankful, but we must not forget to return thanks to God in difficult times as well, lest our waters stop flowing and grow putrid. Those who have received the gift of Faith in this time should be the most grateful men on earth; for it is they whom God has chosen during this Age of Darkness to give Him glory, and He expects us to render Him much thanks in return. Let us examine our conscience on this point, and if we find that our waters have begun to grow stale, we can begin at once to purify them by making acts of thanksgiving, and by having a Mass said in gratitude for all that we have received - even our crosses, which, when responded to properly, will sanctify our souls (1 Peter 5:10). May we not be like the nine lepers who failed to return thanks to God, but like the one who “fell on his face before his feet, giving thanks” (Luke 17:16). Let us begin now to purify or souls by rendering thanks to God for the gifts we have received, and “repay, little by little, all we owe to the One who has provided us every good thing… making ourselves worthy of greater gifts” (Osuna). In spite of the trials that we all endure, may we follow the example of the holy monk, and “in all things give thanks; for this is the will of God” (1 Thess 5:18).

Footnotes:
1) Pt II-II Q 106, A 2
2) Pt II-II Q 106, A3, reply 5
3) Acts 15:9, Summa Pt II-II Q7, A2

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IL-QIMA LEJN IT-TBATIJIET FIŻIĊI TA' KRISTU
FL-ISPIRITWALITÀ FRANĠISKANA - Noel Muscat ofm
http://i-tau.com/franstudies/articles/Passjoni%20Kristu%20Spir%20Frang%20copy.pdf
 



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