On this day in 1521, the first Christian Mass was celebrated in the Philippines. Humabon, Chief of Cebu and many of his subjects were converted. Ferdinand Magellan gifted Humabon’s wife with an image of the Infant Jesus which in 1565 was recovered by one of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi’s men. This providential find made Legazpi to name Cebu in honor of the “Santissimo Nombre de Jesus” (Most Holy Name of Jesus); still the official name of the Archdiocese of Cebu. (In “2000 Years of Vatican Treasures”, 1994, p235)
The Holy Mass, a renewal of Calvary
The Holy Mass and the Sacrifice of the Cross are one and the same sacrifice, although separated in time. Re-enacted is the total loving submission of Our Lord to his Father’s will.
This unbloody offering is identical to the sorrowful and bloody circumstances on Calvary: Christ’s oblation. The Priest and Victim are one.
The external manifestation of the Passion and Death of Jesus proceeds in the Mass, sacramentally, by means of the transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ.
In the Mass, the priest serves as the instrument of Christ, the Eternal and High priest. Christ offers himself in every Mass. “... even though it is celebrated privately by a priest, every Mass is not a private action, but the action of Christ and of the Church.
In the sacrifice that she offers, the Church learns to offer herself as a universal sacrifice, and applies the unique and infinite redeeming virtue of the sacrifice of the Cross for the salvation of the whole world.” (cf Paul VI, Encyclical, “Mysterium Fidei”, 4, 3 September 1965)
How do we attend and take part in the Mass? “Are you at Mass with the same dispositions that Our Lady had on Calvary? Do we realize that here it is the presence of the one and the same God and the consummation of the same sacrifice?” (St Jean Vianney [The ‘Curé d’Ars’], “Sermon on Sin”) A total identification with God’s will, perfect love, an offering of oneself, a desire to co-redeem.
Ref: Cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:185-6
Holy Mass
“A very important characteristic of the apostolic man is his love for the Mass.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 528)
“‘The Mass is long’, you say, and I reply: ‘Because your love is short.’” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 529)
“When you approach the tabernacle remember that he has been waiting for you for twenty centuries.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 537)
Practise and ‘live’ the Holy Mass!
You may be helped by a consideration which that priest, in love, used to repeat to himself: “Is it possible, my God, to take part in the Holy Mass and not be a saint?”
And he would continue, “Each day, in fulfilment of an old promise, I will remain hidden in the Wound of Our Lord’s Side!”
Shouldn’t you do the same?
Ref: Cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Forge”, 934
Jesus condemned as a blasphemer
“The high priest tore his clothes, and said, ‘He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses?’” (Mt 26:65) How detestable was the hypocrisy of Caiphas and his party! Under an appearance of piety and zeal, they masked their mortal hatred of our Lord and their long-conceived plan of putting him to death.
They sought a flimsy excuse for their conduct so as not to enrage the people. Caiphas thought he could find one by begging Jesus to say if he is ‘really’ the Son of God.
If Jesus said ‘no’, he can condemn him as an impostor since the people believe him to be God. If he said ‘yes’, Caiphas would sentence him as a blasphemer. He would then make people believe he was overwhelmed with horror at the sin. The wicked can be very ingenious!
“What is your verdict? They answered, ‘He deserves death’.” (Mt 26:66) The judges who pronounced this sentence were men inflamed with hatred because Jesus had righteously confessed the truth.
In this world, the crafty often calumniate and oppress the innocent. God permits this for wise and merciful reasons. In this instance, Caiphas was the instrument by which Jesus should sacrifice his life in reparation to his Father for the sins of mankind.
The wicked death sentence opened to us all the gates of eternal life.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp106-7
Jesus mocked by the soldiers and servants of Caiphas
Caiphas, triumphant at having condemned Jesus, retired for the day. He left his captive to the insolence of his servants and soldiers who immediately dragged him into an underground prison for criminals. The hatred they knew their masters had for Jesus fired them up. They tried to outdo one another in ridicule, scorn, blasphemy, curses on him.
This horror lasted all night. Try to imagine our Lord’s suffering and humiliation; and our difficulties will be nothing. The days we spent among vulgar, ungrateful, and ill-tempered people will be less unbearable.
“Then did they spit on his face.” (Mt 27:30) If this were not in the Gospel, we could not believe that men could be so brutal and cruel. Or that God made man could have allowed and borne such an insult. But our Lord allowed it repeatedly, silently, as Isaiah had prophesied: ‘I have not turned away my face from them that spat upon me.’ And yet men often complain and long to take revenge when injured even if they deserve it.
We ought to fall at the feet of Jesus and cry out with St Bernard, ‘What, shall my Master and King be insulted and spat upon by his vilest subjects, and shall I be honored, who have deserved for my sins to be cast with the refuse of the human race to the bottom of hell? No, never! Let me rather be forgotten and despised, that I may obtain mercy in eternity.’
In grief and silence we will contemplate the King of Glory seated on a block of wood -- blindfolded, hands bound, surrounded by coarse, half-intoxicated men, who alternately strike him on the face and cry out, “Prophesy, who is it that struck thee?” (Mk 14:65; Mt 26:58)
When we meditate on the three degrees of humility [read 5 September], we resolve that we be despised and thought nothing of by the world with our Master, rather than be esteemed and highly exalted before men.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp110-111
• Our Lady of the Holy Cross, at Jerusalem, where is kept a part of Our Lady’s veil, given by St Helena. — Onuohrius, lib. vii.. Eccl. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Our Lady of the Holy Cross (Jerusalem). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
• Our Lady of the Holy Cross. Namesake of college in New Orleans. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
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