Day: April 11, 2020

Easter Sunday

by Dom Prosper Gueranger 1870

CAPITULA

O God, to Whom we owe this the first of days, whereon Thou wouldst manifest to all created things both the visible light, and Him Who is the witness of eternal Light, that on this one and the same day there might rise the light of the seasons and the Light of souls: and which day, being the first of our Lord’s creation, and (by a heavenly calculated revolution) the one chosen as fittest for His Besurrection, both begins and ends the mystery of the Paschal Solemnity: mercifully, O Lord, for now is the acceptable time, the day of salvation, mercifully look upon Thy servants, whom Thou hast redeemed from the spiritual bondage of sin by the victory of our Lord’s Passion. Look upon them whom Thou hast freed from the destroying Angel, by sprinkling them with the Blood of Thy Lamb. Be unto us our guide in the wilderness of this life; that, during the day, Thou mayest be to us a cloud protecting and shadowing us from the heat of temptation; and, during the night, a pillar of fire, enlightening us amidst the darkness of sin. Here save us, that so Thou mayst lead us to our rest. Continue reading →

Easter Sunday

by Dom Prosper Gueranger 1870

EVENING

The Day of Jesus’ Resurrection is fast drawing to its close. It is the Day honoured by God with the greatest of all miracles: it is the most important Day that has ever dawned upon the world since Light was first created: but the Night will soon be upon us, shadowing the brightness of the great Day. Four times has our Redeemer appeared. He would now manifest Himself to the whole of His Apostles, and thus enable them to know by their own experience what they have, a few hours since, learned from Peter’s testimony. But, leaving, for a few moments longer, these men, whom He honours with the name of Brethren, and who now believe in His Resurrection, He would first console two hearts that are grieving on His account, though their grief comes from their want of faith.
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Easter Sunday

by Dom Prosper Gueranger 1870

AFTERNOON

The day is fast advancing, and Jesus has not yet shown Himself to His Disciples. The holy women are overpowered with joy and gratitude at the favour they have received. They have told it to the Apostles, assuring them that not only have they seen Angels, but Jesus Himself; that He has spoken to them; that they have kissed His sacred feet. But all their assurances fail to convince these men, who are oppressed with what they have seen of their Master’s Passion. They are cruelly disappointed, and their disappointment makes them deaf to everything, that speaks of consolation. And yet, we shall soon find them laying down their very lives in testimony of the Resurrection of that Master, Whose name and remembrance is now a humiliation to them. Continue reading →

Easter Sunday

by Dom Prosper Gueranger 1870

THE MORNING

The Night between Saturday and Sunday has well nigh run its course, and the day-dawn is appearing. The Mother of Sorrows is waiting, in courageous hope and patience, for the blissful moment of her Jesus’ return. Magdalene and the other holy Women have spent the Night in watching, and are preparing to start for the Sepulchre. In Limbo, the Soul of our Crucified Lord is about to give the glad word of departure to the myriads of the long-imprisoned holy Souls, who cluster round Him in adoring love. Death is still holding his silent sway over the Sepulchre, where rests the Body of Jesus. Since that day when he gained his first victim, Abel, he has swept off countless generations; but never had he held in his grasp a Prey so noble as this that now lies in the Tomb near Calvary. Never had the terrible sentence of God, pronounced against our First Parents, received such a fulfilment as this; but, never had Death received such a defeat as the one that is now preparing. It is true, the power of God has, at times, brought back the dead to life; the son of the Widow of Naim, and Lazarus, were reclaimed from the bondage of this tyrant Death: but he regained his sway over them all. But his Victim of Calvary is to conquer him for ever, for this is He of Whom it is written in the Prophecy: I, O Death! will be thy death (Osee, xiii. 14)! Yet a few brief moments, and the battle will be begun, and Life shall vanquish Death. Continue reading →

HOLY SATURDAY

by Dom Prosper Gueranger 1870

THE MORNING. A night has passed over the Tomb, wherein lies buried the Body of the Man-God. Death is triumphant in that silent cave, and holds captive Him that gives life to every creature: but his triumph will soon be at an end. The Soldiers may watch, as best they will, over that Grave: they cannot hold Jesus prisoner, as soon as the moment fixed for His Resurrection comes. The holy Angels are there, profoundly adoring the lifeless Body of Him, Whose Blood is to reconcile all things, both on earth, and in heaven (Coloss. i. 20). This Body, though, for a brief interval, separated from the Soul, is still united to the Person of the Son of God; so, likewise, the Soul, during its separation from the Body, has not, for an instant, lost its union with the Word. The Divinity remains also united with the Blood that lies sprinkled on Calvary, and which, at the moment of the Resurrection of the Man-God, is to enter once more into his sacred veins. Continue reading →