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Day 7

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (19:31-37)

Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, ‘None of his bones shall be broken.’ And again another passage of scripture says, ‘They will look on the one whom they have pierced.’

RESPONSORY

When the soldiers came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers opened his side with a lance, -- and immediately there came out blood and water.

For these things came to pass that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not a bone of him shall you break.” -- and immediately there came out blood and water.

From his Mysteries of Christianity by Matthias Scheeben (+1888)

It is well known that the Fathers, following the example of the apostles, regard Christ as the new, true Adam, of whom the first Adam was only the type. They also teach that the bride of Christ, the Church, as the new Eve, proceeded from the side of the new Adam somewhat as the first Eve proceeded from the side of the first Adam. For the divine vital principle which constitutes the Church the bride of Christ was drawn from the side of the new Adam, dying and sunk in the sleep of love. This vital principle is none other than the Holy Spirit who, as He receives His own essence from the divinity of God’s Son, also enters into the Church through and from the Son’s humanity, in order to impregnate it with the power of the Son of God. Further, the purifying and life-giving blood stream flowing from the heart of Christ over and into His Church is at once the vehicle and the symbol of the temporal, and consequently of the eternal, outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Thus the side of the first Adam, as type of the side or the heart of the new Adan, is likewise a type of the side or the heart of the Son of God in His divinity. Scripture says that God formed the woman out of the rib taken from the side of Adam; the Fathers teach that Christ formed the Church out of the water and blood streaming from His side: in like manner we may say that the Father and the Son have taken and formed the Holy Spirit from their side, their heart. And as Eve can, in a figurative sense, be called simply the rib of Adam, since she was formed from the rib of Adam, St. Methodius goes so far as to assert that the Holy Spirit is the costa Verbi, particularly since He not only has His origin from the side of the Logos, but remains there, and is thence communicated to creatures in order to form the bride of Christ from Him. “By the rib,” says St. Methodius, “we rightly understand the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth; and they who are en-lightened by drawing upon Him are reborn unto incorruptible life. . . . For He, the septiform Spirit of truth, is quite properly called the rib of the Logos; and after the ecstasy, that is, after the death of Christ, God takes from Him and forms her [the Church] who is to be Christ’s helpmate.” However, since Christ does not give up, as Adam did, a rib from His side, but His very blood for the formation of His bride, we shall do better to say that the Holy Spirit is sprung from the heart’s blood of the Father and the Son. In this manner of expression His procession appears as substantial as in the other figure, but in a more inherently true and vivid fashion, since it is represented as arising immediately from the very source of love and life, and directly implies love and life. Thus His production is exhibited as an effusion rather than a formation, and so this analogy is in fullest accord with the analogy previously derived from the outpouring of the breath of life.

Musical Selection

Summa laus Jesu Christo sit per aevum, qui dum ligni maledíctum factus est propter hóminem. *Ad óvile Patris lapsus tractus est homo. V. Cuius dum mílitis láncea latus foderétur, sanguis efflúxit per quem

morte devícta. *Ad óvile Patris. V.Glória Patri et Fílio et Spirítui Sancto. Sicut érat prímo et nunc et

semper *Ad óvile Patris

The highest praise be given through all eternity to Jesus Christ. While He was made a reviled object on the cross for man’s sake, *Fallen man was led to the fold of the Father. V. When His side was pierced by the soldier’s spear, the blood flowed forth, through which, after death was vanquished, *Fallen man. V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As was first, and now, and always *Fallen man.

Collect

God of life and love,

from the pierced heart of your Son

flowed water and blood,

cleansing the world

and giving birth to your Church.

Renew within your people

the love poured out on us in baptism,

and through the blessing-cup we share

keep us always faithful

to your life-giving covenant.

We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God for ever and ever. Amen. (Sacred Heart of Jesus; ICEL 1998)

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