Another example of the way in which the Paschal Mystery of the Incarnate Word was so impressed upon her is her “Canticle of the Passion.” In this antiphonal song, a mesmerizing array of biblical passages from the Psalms, Lamentations, the Gospels (and elsewhere) is composed into one song of Christ’s victorious work of love.

Here is the Catholic Encyclopedia’s article on St. Catherine, and below is her canticle, copied from this post by Bro. Peter Martyr, OP of our studium in DC. With Our Lady’s Presentation of the Child in the Temple the other day, the Light of Christmas illumines the Cross of the Passion: Simeon’s eyes see the salvation who is the Light of the Nations, and he declares that a sword shall pierce the Mother’s heart (Lk 2.22-35). With Lent but a few weeks away, St. Catherine’s Canticle of the Passion is a beautiful and hope-filled meditation:

My friends and loved ones * draw near to me and stand aloof
I am shut up and I cannot come forth * mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction
and my sweat became like drops of blood * falling down on the ground
For dogs have compassed me * the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me
I gave my back to the smiters * and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair
I hid not my face from shame * and from those who spit on me
I am feeble and sore broken * I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart
The soldiers platted a crown of thorns * and put it on my head
They pierced my hands and my feet * I may tell all my bones
They gave me poison to eat * and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink
All they that see me laugh me to scorn * they shoot out the lip, they shake the head
They look and stare upon me * they part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture
into your hands I command my spirit * redeem me, Lord, God of truth.
Remember your servant, O Lord. * when you come into your kingdom
Jesus cried with a loud voice * yielded up the ghost

The Mercy of the Lord * I will sing for ever
Surely he hath borne our griefs * and carried our sorrows
He was wounded for our transgressions * he was bruised for our iniquities
All we like sheep gave gone astray * we have turned every one to his own way
And the Lord hath laid on him * the iniquities of us all
Awake, why do you sleep, O Lord? * arise, and do not cast us off for ever
Awake, why do you sleep, O Lord? * arise, and do not cast us off for ever
Behold, God is my Savior * I will trust, and not be afraid
We ask you, come to help your servants * whom you have redeemed by your perilous blood.

V. Have mercy on us, O benign Jesus.
R. Who in Thy clemency didst suffer for us.

Look down, we beseech Thee, O Lord, on this Thy family for which Our Lord Jesus Christ did not hesitate to be delivered into the hands of the wicked, and suffer the torments of the Cross.

Last week’s Sunday lessons presented Jesus in the synagogue healing a possessed man. To be possessed is to have one’s freedom utterly constricted; it is to be bound by an oppressive force. Despite Our Lord’s miraculous exorcism, the people are astonished more so by the authority with which such a one teaches — no mere scribe, he is the Word of God. He is the one about whom Moses prophesied: God will raise up (read: resurrect) one from amongst our kinsmen, one like Moses, to whom the people would listen. The way in which we hear the authoritative voice of the Good Shepherd — who has been resurrected — is by hearing those to whom he has imparted his authority in a particular way. “Authority” literally (in Greek) means out of one’s being; God alone is the perfect, self-subsistent authority. But by virtue of His Son’s incarnate mission, he is able to impart a particular, ministerial share in his authority to continue audibly and visibly after his resurrection and until he comes again. This he does through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, most particularly according to the rank of bishop. When bishops speak in unison, there is an especially charismatic resonance of the Good Shepherd’s teaching voice — not simply an opinion or commentary, but the Word of Life Himself.

Here is a link to a site where the author, Thomas Peters, collects all the bishops who have formally spoken about the HHS mandate. He has 126 letters. Many of them were required to be read at all Sunday Masses. That is really astounding.

]]> http://www.csvfblog.org/2012/01/7992/feed/ 0 http://www.csvfblog.org/2012/01/st-thomas-aquinas/ http://www.csvfblog.org/2012/01/st-thomas-aquinas/#comments Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:16:20 +0000 Fr. Bruno M. Shah, O.P. http://www.csvfblog.org/?p=7988 Please stay tuned for information about our St. Thomas Lecture this year, which will be in March, around his old feast day. For now, here is a post from one of our student brothers on the Saint.

And if you’re unfortunately tempted to think this is just the opinion of a new guard conservative, consider these words by Cardinal Mahoney and think again:

In probably the most expansive decision on the part of the US Federal government ever, the Department of Health and Human Services has issued an “interim final rule” to require virtually all private health plans to include coverage for all FDA-approved prescription contraceptives, female sterilization procedures, and related “patient education and counseling for all women with reproductive capacity.”

These are listed among “preventive services for women” that all health plans will have to include without co-pays or other cost sharing–even if the insurer, the employer or other plan sponsor, or the woman herself object to such coverage….

And I cannot imagine a more direct and frontal attack on freedom of conscience than this ruling today. This decision must be fought against with all the energies the Catholic Community can muster….

As Bishops we do not recommend candidates for any elected office. My vote on November 6 will be for the candidate for President of the United States and members of Congress who intend to recognize the full spectrum of rights under the many conscience clauses of morality and public policy. If any candidate refuses to acknowledge and to promote those rights, then that candidate will not receive my vote.