- St. Guntramnus (Guntran) (592). Male repentant murderers and divorcees. (Historical) King
- St. John of Capistrano (1456). Patron or Patroness, Priest. Male jurists. (Traditional)
MAUNDY THURSDAY.
ON Thursday, the eve of the Passion, Jesus Christ took bread, and having blessed it, broke and distributed it to His apostles, saying to them, “Take and eat: THIS IS MY BODY, which shall be delivered for you.” Then taking the chalice, He blessed and gave it to them, saying. “Drink ye all of this, for this is the chalice of my blood which shall be shed for you.” He thereafter added, “This do in remembrance of me.” These words, in all their precision, simplicity, and clearness, contain the institution of the adorable Sacrament of the Eucharist, an irrefragable proof of the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in this Sacrament, and the demonstration of His perpetuity in the Church. But rather than indulge in reasoning, let us set forth briefly the principal effect. Jesus Christ, before instituting it, had said that this sacrament would communicate life eternal to those receiving it; and this, in one aspect at least, and so far as it is given to man to understand the mysteries of God, is comprehensible. Sin had implanted in man the germ of death and vice. By reason of his disobedience man had become incapable of good, or even of a holy thought, as the great Apostle tells us. Now, in God is the source of being, life, good, virtue, and all excellence. God, by communicating Himself substantially to man by means of this august sacrament, implants the germ of immortality and virtue. Man, if limited to his own powers, could not even think out a useful way of becoming virtuous, for whence should he take the principle of virtue and the means of putting it in practice? He would consequently have to incur eternal loss, since salvation without virtue is a thing utterly impossible. But once pervaded with the principle of grace by an intimate union with God, he has but to let it develop and to cultivate the good seed sown in him. Thus does the diamond, of itself colorless and dim, absorb the light when exposed thereto, becoming a sparkling centre of light, and shining with a radiant lustre. The more vivid the light, the more brightly will the diamond shine, if it be pure. In like manner, the more man launches himself into the Divine substance, the more will he therewith be inundated by holy communion; the more potent also will his life become in virtues strong and manifold, and, consequently, in sure claims to salvation.
REFLECTION: With what respect, love, and ardor ought we not to receive this divine food, “which maketh to live forever.”
ST. GONTRAN, KING.
ST. GONTRAN was son of King Clotaire, and grandson of Clovis I. and St. Clotildis. Being the second son, whilst his brothers Charibert reigned at Paris, and Sigebert in Austrasia, residing at Metz, he was crowned king of Orleans and Burgundy in 561, making Chalons his capital. When compelled to take up arms against his ambitious brothers and the Lombards, he made no other use of his victories, under the conduct of a brave general called Mommol, than to give peace to his dominions. The crimes in which the barbarous manners of his nation involved him he effaced by tears of repentance. The prosperity of his reign, both in peace and war, condemns those who think that human poly cannot be modeled by the maxims of the Gospel, whereas nothing can render a government more flourishing. He always treated the pastors of the Church with respect and veneration. He was the protector of the oppressed, and the tender parent of his subjects. He gave the greatest attention to the care of the sick. He fasted, prayed, wept, and offered himself to God night and day as a victim ready to be sacrificed on the altar of His justice, to avert His indignation which he believed he himself had provoked and drawn down upon his innocent people. He was a severe punisher of crimes in his officers and others, and, by many wholesome regulations, restrained the barbarous licentiousness of his troops; but no man was more ready to forgive offenses against his own person. With royal magnificence he built and endowed many churches and monasteries. This good king died on the 28th of March, in 593, in the sixty eighth year of his age, having reigned thirty-one years and some months.
REFLECTION: There is no means of salvation more reliable than the practice of mercy, since our Lord has said it: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall find mercy.”
WORD OF THE DAY
JUDAS ISCARIOT. Son of Simon, the only Apostle who did not come from Galilee. His special interest was money, so he was in charge of the common fund of the Apostles (John 13:29). It was an unfortunate assignment, according to John. He referred to Judas as “a thief … who used to help himself to the contributions” (John 12:6). Moreover, Judas remonstrated sharply with Jesus for allowing Mary Magdalene to anoint his feet with a costly ointment, arguing that the money should have gone to the poor (John 12:1-8). His inordinate greed motivated him to betray Jesus. He knew that the high priest, Caiaphas, was anxious to arrest the Master, so he made a deal with the chief priests to identify Jesus at an opportune time for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16). The Apostles were startled at the Last Supper when Jesus said, “I tell you most solemnly, one of you will betray me” (John 13:21). Judas lived up to the terms of his agreement with Caiaphas by leading a number of armed men into Gethsemane and kissing Jesus as a symbol of identification, whereupon they arrested Jesus (Matthew 26:47-56). Scripture reports that when Judas learned that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse (Matthew 27:3-5). There is no way of knowing his motives. He returned the silver, protested that Jesus was innocent, and, when his protest was ignored, went out and hanged himself. The Gospel writers made no attempt to explore Judas’ betrayal. They simply said that Satan had entered into him and they all referred to him as the betrayer (Luke 22:3). His place in the Apostles was taken by Matthias (Acts 1:26). (Etym. Greek ioudas from Hebrew yehudhah, let him [God] be praised. Greek iskariōtēs.)
Modern Catholic Dictionary, Fr. John Hardon SJ (Get the real one at Eternal Life — don’t accept an abridged or edited version of this masterpiece!)
HOLY WEEK MEDITATIONS
Special meditations focused on Holy Week: VISITS TO THE SEPULCHRE
HOLY WEEK MEDITATIONS
Special meditations focused on Holy Week: MAUNDY THURSDAY
LENT MEDITATION DAY 44
Enjoy daily meditations this lent from Fr. Richard Clarke, SJ. Short and powerful, written in 1880 for busy lay people to reap rewards through lent. (includes audio): Lent Day 44: Maundy Thursday— Jesus’ Mystical Death in the Blessed Eucharist.
March is the Month of St. Joseph
Daily devotional meditations on Saint Joseph: March 28th — St. Joseph’s Venerable Age.
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