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Chapter 79MedVC.1.79

Meditatio passionis Christi hora nona

Christ's First Words on the Cross

Christ, hanging on the cross, begins his work and prayer by teaching and interceding, first praying for his crucifiers and then entrusting his mother to John.

The Lord, however, hanging on the cross up to the moment his spirit departed, was not idle but was at work and praying. Christ was teaching useful things for our sake. Therefore he spoke the words that are written and found in the Gospel. The first was at the very moment of the crucifixion, when he prayed for those who crucified him.✦ saying: Father, forgive, for they do not know what they do.✦ This word shows great patience and great love, and it was also a sign of inexpressible charity. The second was to his brother. when he said: Woman, behold your son, and to John: Behold, your mother.✦

The Middle Words of Mercy and Dereliction

Christ speaks tenderly to his mother, promises paradise to the repentant thief, cries out in dereliction, and declares his thirst, revealing both mercy and bodily agony.

Now he called her "mother," so that the tenderness of his burning love wouldn't cause her any further grief. The third word was to the repentant thief, when he said: "Today you will be with me in Paradise."✦ The fourth was: "Eli, Eli, lamma sabacthani?"✦✦ That is: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"✦ As if to say: "Father, you loved the world so much that, when you handed me over for its sake, you seemed to have forsaken me." The fifth was when he said: "I thirst."✦ In this word there was great compassion from his mother, and from his companions, and from John; and for those worst of men there was great joy. For although it could be explained that he thirsted for the salvation of souls, in truth he truly thirsted, because through the outpouring of his blood he was entirely dried up within, and even parched.

The Sixth Word and the Father's Answer

Christ declares 'It is finished,' professing perfect obedience, and the Father responds with loving invitation to return to his bosom.

And though those wicked men could find no way to do him greater harm, they still seized a new opportunity to torment him. So they gave him vinegar mixed with gall to drink.✦1 Cursed is their fury, because it was relentless, and they harmed him as much as they could.✦ The sixth word was "It is finished" — as if he were saying: "Father, the obedience you gave me, I have perfectly fulfilled."✦ "Look, Father, command me, your son, to do whatever else you will: I am ready to fulfill whatever remains."2 "For I am ready for scourges."✦3 "But all that is written about me is being brought to completion. If it pleases you, Father, take me back to you now."✦4 And the Father said to him: "Come, most beloved son — you have done all things well. I don't want you to be troubled any longer. Come, for I will receive you into my bosom and into my arms."✦5

The Seventh Word and the Death of Christ

In his final moments Christ cries out the seventh word, entrusting his spirit to the Father, bows his head, and dies.

And now, in the manner of those who are dying — now closing his eyes, now opening them, now bowing his head, now turning it to one side, then to another, as all his strength was failing — at last he added the seventh word, crying out loudly and with tears, saying: "Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit."✦ And these things I have said. — Matthew.✦ , 27, 46.✦ — John.✦ , 19, 28.✦ He gave up his spirit, and with his head bowed over his chest, turned toward the Father as if giving thanks, because he was calling him back — he handed his spirit over to him.✦✦ His own.

The Cry Heard Below and the Mother's Grief

The centurion confesses faith at Christ's death cry, while the Virgin Mary and the beloved disciples are overwhelmed with sorrow and helpless anguish.

At this cry the centurion who was standing there turned and said: "Truly this was the Son of God." For when he heard that Jesus had cried out before he died, he believed in him — since when people are dying they cannot cry out.✦ That cry was so great that it was heard all the way down to the depths below. O what must the mother's soul have been then, when she saw him in his agony, failing, growing weak, weeping, and dying! I believe that she was either overwhelmed by the sheer weight of anguish, and was as if rendered senseless. She had become like one gasping for breath, or as if half-dead — and indeed far more so now than when she had met him carrying the cross.✦ What now, faithful Magdalene, beloved disciple? What now, John, loved above all? What now, the other two sisters of our Lady?✦ What were they doing? But what could they do, filled to the brim with bitterness, overwhelmed with sorrows, drunk with wormwood?✦

Contemplation of the Dead Christ

The crowd departs, but the sorrowful mother and the women remain near the cross, contemplating Christ's total suffering and awaiting help to bury him.

Without exception, they all drew near to lick him. So here the Lord hangs on the cross, dead; the whole crowd returns; only the most sorrowful mother remains, along with those four women, and they place themselves to sit near the cross, gazing on their beloved, waiting for help from the Lord — how they might then draw him down and bury him. But if you have truly contemplated your Lord, you can see that from the sole of his foot to the top of his head there is no wholeness in him — there is no limb, no bodily sense, that does not carry the deepest suffering.✦ Or if the suffering has not yet been fully felt, then you have the events of the crucifixion and death that took place at the sixth and the ninth hour — things that seem, for the present, to be written for my smallness or for your rudeness. But for your part, strive to cling to all of this with devotion, with faith, and with care. Now let us speak of what happened after his death.

Read the original Latin

Dominus autem in cruce pendens usque ad Sf exitum spiritus non fuit otiosus, sed faciebat et '",, orat. Chrhii docebat utilia pro nobis. Unde dixit scplem "°-^- verba, quoe scripta reperiuntur in Evanpelio. Primum fuit in ipso crucifixiouis aclu, cum oravit pro suis cruciiixoribus. dicens i: Pater, ignosce quia nescinnt quid faciunt. Quod verbum magnoe patientiae magnique amoris indicium proestat, et etiam fuit indicibilis cbaritatis. Secundum fuit ad raatrem. cum dixit*: Mulier, ecce filius tuus, et ad Joannem: Ecce Mater iua.

Nou vocavit eam matrem, ne proe amoris vehementis teneriludine amplius ipsa doleret. Tertium fuit ad latronem poenilentem, cum dixit ': noclie mecuvi eris in Paradiso. Quartum fuit *: Eli, Eli, lamma sabacthani? hoc est: Deus ineus, Deus meus, ut quid dereliquisti me? quasi dicat: Paler, lantum dilexisti mundum, ut dum me pro jpso tradidisti, derehquisse me videaris. Quintum fuit cum dixit ^: Sitio. In quo verbo fuit magna compassio matris, et sociorum ejus, et Joannis; et illis pessimis magna fuit laelitia. Nam licet exponi posset, quod sitiebat animarum salulem; tamen in veritaie sitivit, quia sanguinis effusione erat totus exsiccatus intus, et etiam arefactus.

Et cum illi maligni cogitare non possent, in quo ei plus nocerent; tamen vexandi novam materiam acceperunt. Unde dederunt ei Libere acetum mixtum cum felle. Maledictus eorum furor, quia pertinax, et quantum poterant, nocuerunt. Sextum vcrbum fuit ': Consummatum est; quasi diceret: Paler, obedientiam quam mihi dedisti, perfecte complevi. Adlmc, Pater, eliam quidquid vis, mihi filio tuo proBcipe: paratus sum quidquid restat ulterius adimplere. Ego enim ' in flagella paratus sum. Sed totum quod de me scriptum est, consummatura est: si tibi placet, Pater, revoca me modo tibi. Et Pater ad eum: Veni, dilectissime fili mi, omuia bene fecisti; nolo quod amplius anxieris; veni, quia in sinu meo et inter brachia mea te suscipiam.

Et ex tunclanguere more morientium, modo claudendo oculos, modo aperiendo, et caput inclinare, modo in unam partem, modo in aliam, deficientibus omnibus viribus, Tandem addidit septimum verbum cum clamore valido et lacrymis, dicens *: Pater, in manus tuas commendo spiritum meum. Et hcec dixxui, 43. — ♦ Mattk. , xxvir, 46. — " Jonn. , xix, 28. xxiif, r7>//,", 3 entisit spiritum, '" et inclinato capile super pectus versus Patrera, quasi gratias agens quod ipsum rcvocabat, tradidil ci spirilum. suum.

Ad hunc clamorera conversus fuit Centurio, qui ibi erat, et dixit i': Vere filius Uei erut isie, audiens quodclamans expirasset: namalii homines, cum moriuntur, clamare non possunt: et ideo in eum credidit. Fuit autem ita maguus ille clamor, quod usque in infcrnum fuit anditus. 0 qualis tunc erat anima matris, cum sic poenose videbat eum deficere, languere, lacrymari et mori! Credo quod vel propter angustiarum multitudinem absorpta erat, et quasi insen. sibilis facta, vel semimortua facta est, nunc quidem multo raagis quam cum obviavit ei crucem portanti. Quid nunc Magdalena fidehs, et dilecta discipula, quid Joannes prne omnibus dilectus, quid aliae duae sorores Domina? faciebant? Sed quid facere poterant repletae amaritudine, completae doloribus, inebriatae absinlhio?

Irremidiabiliter omnes Ilebant. Ecce ergo pendet Dominus in cruce mortuus; redit totamultitudo; remanet mater mceslissima cum illis qualuor; ponunt se ad sedendum juxta crucem, contemplantur dilectum suum, expeciant a Domino auxiliura, quomodo ipsum retrahere et sepelire tunc valeant. At tu, si contemplatus bene fueris Dominumtuum, considerare potes, quod ^^ aplantapedis iisqiie ad verticem non est in eo sanitas; non est in eo membrum, nec sensus corporis, qui summam afflictionem,. seu passionem non senserit, Habes ergo quae de crucifixione et morte, in sexta et nona hora contigerunt, quae modicitaU meae, vel tuos ruditati scribcnda videntur ad praesens. Tu autem studeas devote, fideliter et solficite his omnibus inhaerere. Nunc de his, quae post mortem contigerunt, dicamus

Scripture echoes

  1. ↩Luke.23.34 — Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided his garments by casting lots.
  2. ↩Luke.23.34 — Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided his garments by casting lots.
  3. ↩John.19.26-John.19.27 — When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son." John.19.27 — Then he said to the disciple, 'Behold, your mother.' And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
  4. ↩Luke.23.43 — And he said to him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
  5. ↩Matt.27.46 — And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'
  6. ↩Mark.15.34 — And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
  7. ↩Ps.22.1 — For the Director. Upon the Doe of the Dawn. A Psalm of David.
  8. ↩John.19.28 — After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, said, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, 'I thirst.'
  9. ↩Matt.27.34 — They gave him wine to drink mixed with gall; and when he tasted it, he was not willing to drink.
  10. ↩Ps.137.7 — Remember, O LORD, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem, how they said, 'Raze it, raze it, down to its foundations.'
  11. ↩John.19.30 — When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, 'It is finished,' and bowing his head he gave up his spirit.
  12. ↩Ps.37.18 — The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their inheritance will be forever.
  13. ↩Luke.22.42;John.17.4-John.17.5 — Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; but not my will, but yours be done. John.17.4 — I glorified you on earth, having completed the work that you gave me to do. John.17.5 — And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory I had with you before the world existed.
  14. ↩Mark.7.37 — And they were utterly astonished, saying, 'He has done all things well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.'
  15. ↩Luke.23.46 — And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." Having said this, he breathed his last.
  16. ↩Matt.27.46 — And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'
  17. ↩Matt.27.46 — And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'
  18. ↩John.19.28 — After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, said, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, 'I thirst.'
  19. ↩John.19.28 — After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, said, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, 'I thirst.'
  20. ↩John.19.30 — When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, 'It is finished,' and bowing his head he gave up his spirit.
  21. ↩Luke.23.46 — And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." Having said this, he breathed his last.
  22. ↩Matt.27.54;Mark.15.39 — Now the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that had taken place, were greatly afraid, saying, "Truly this was God's Son." Mark.15.39 — And when the centurion, who was standing opposite him, saw that he had breathed his last in this way, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God.
  23. ↩Luke.23.27 — And a great multitude of the people followed him, and also women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him.
  24. ↩John.19.25-John.19.27 — Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. John.19.26 — When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son." John.19.27 — Then he said to the disciple, 'Behold, your mother.' And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
  25. ↩Lam.3.15 — He has filled me with bitterness, he has sated me with wormwood.
  26. ↩Isa.1.6 — From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it—only wounds, welts, and raw sores; they have not been pressed out, nor bandaged, nor softened with oil.

Notes

  1. 1 ↩Libere is read as the adverb 'freely/openly' (i.e., they gave it to him freely), though the word could also be a scribal corruption. The sense is that they pressed the drink on him without hesitation.
  2. 2 ↩The opening word Adlmc is a scribal error or abbreviation of uncertain reading; it is omitted in translation as unintelligible. eliam is read as etiam ('also/even'). proBcipe is read as praecipe ('command/order'). The sense is Christ's declaration of readiness to obey the Father's will completely.
  3. 3 ↩The phrase echoes Ps. 37:18 Vulg. ('Ego in flagella paratus sum'), spoken by Christ as the suffering righteous one.
  4. 4 ↩consummatura est is rendered 'is being brought to completion' to capture the future-active participle's sense of imminent fulfillment, rather than a simple future ('will be completed'), which would lose the dramatic present-tense force of the Passion narrative.
  5. 5 ↩omuia is a scribal variant of omnia ('all things'). anxieris is read as a form of anxio/anxiatus ('to be troubled/anxious'); the precise morphology is uncertain but the sense is clear from context.

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