As we begin the holy discipline of Lent, the Church once again calls us to contemplate the events and instruments of Our Lord’s Passion. While never in the universal calendar, the Feast of the Holy Crown of Thorns was held in various places, especially in Churches that held relics of the crown (including Notre Dame in Paris; the relic is in the museum of the Louvre at present).
As with the other feasts of the Passion, the date of this feast varied. In some places, it was kept on the Friday after Ash Wednesday, in others, on the Friday after the first Sunday of Lent, or on the Tuesday of either week. As I mentioned last week, either Tuesday or Friday are appropriate days to contemplate liturgically Our Lord’s Passion. As for which week, both are appropriate: today, the thought of Our Lord receiving such an ignominious crown on His Head comes mere days after we have received ashes on our own heads, and in the same week that the Church in her Office contemplates the binding of Isaac, for whom was substituted a ram with thorns about it’s head. In the case of it being held during the Friday following, it comes during the Ember Days, whereupon Mother Church of old ordained her priests, who were to suffer and sacrifice for the sake of the souls entrusted to them. In either case, the Office for this feast makes frequent mention of the Crown of Glory that we shall receive if we persevere to the end.
The reading from this Office that are not from Holy Scripture are taken exclusively from the writings of St. Bernard of Clairvaux. Famous for his fiery preaching that inspired the Second Crusade, his wisdom that gave the Knights Templar their rule of life, and his tender devotion to Our Lord and Lady, we are truly blessed to have such a field marshal in our crusade against the World, the Flesh, and the Devil.
Finally, note that during Lent, every day has a proper Mass. When a feast that takes precedence over the Lenten Weekday occurs, the Lenten day was commemorated in the prayers and Last Gospel of the Mass (replacing the usual reading from the beginning of the Gospel of John), as well as in the Ninth Lesson of Matins. As I am publishing this on the Friday after Ash Wednesday, I have included the Propers for that day here.
Lessons at Matins
First Lesson
The Lesson is taken from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (liii).
Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? And he shall grow up as a tender plant before him, and as a root out of a thirsty ground: there is no beauty in him, nor comeliness: and we have seen him, and there was no sightliness, that we should be desirous of him: Despised, and the most abject of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with infirmity: and his look was as it were hidden and despised, whereupon we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrows: and we have thought him as it were a leper, and as one struck by God and afflicted. But he was wounded for our iniquities, he was bruised for our sins: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his bruises we are healed.
Second Lesson
All we like sheep have gone astray, everyone hath turned aside into his own way: and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was offered because it was his own will, and he opened not his mouth: he shall be led as a sheep to the slaughter, and shall be dumb as a lamb before his shearer, and he shall not open his mouth. He was taken away from distress, and from judgment: who shall declare his generation? because he is cut off out of the land of the living: for the wickedness of my people have I struck him.
Third Lesson
And he shall give the ungodly for his burial, and the rich for his death: because he hath done no iniquity, neither was there deceit in his mouth. And the Lord was pleased to bruise him in infirmity: if he shall lay down his life for sin, he shall see a long-lived seed, and the will of the Lord shall be prosperous in his hand. Because his soul hath laboured, he shall see and be filled: by his knowledge shall this my just servant justify many, and he shall bear their iniquities.
Fourth Lesson
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons of St. Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux (2nd for Twelfth Day)
“Go forth, o ye daughters of Zion.” You we address as daughters of Zion, O worldly souls, frail, sickly children, daughters and not sons, beings in whom there is no muscle, and no manliness. Go forth from your dream of carnal sensuality to understand something with your mind. Go forth from your bondage to the lusts of the flesh, unto the freedom of spiritual intelligence. Go forth out of your country, and from your kindred, and from your father’s house, and behold King Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him, that crown of want and woe. But albeit his stepmother crowned him with a crown of woeful thorns, he is yet to be crowned by his household with a crown of righteousness, when “the Son of Man shall send forth His Angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend,” (Matth. xiii. 4,) when “the Lord will enter into judgement with the ancients of His people,” (Isa. iii. 14,) and “the world shall fight with Him against the unwise.” (Wis. V. 21.) The Father also crowneth Him with a crown of glory, as saith the Psalmist: “Thou hast crowned him with glory and honor, o Lord,” (Ps. viii. 6.) Daughters of Zion! Behold Him with the crown wherewith His mother crowned Him!
Fifth Lesson
(42nd Sermon on the Song of Songs.)
Brethren, from the first moment of my conversion, I took care to gather a bundle of my Lord’s troubles and griefs, and put them between my breasts, to make up for the sheaf of merits which I knew I had not. I will tell how abundantly sweet was the smell of this bundle of myrrh. As long as I live, even for ever and ever, I will never forget those mercies whereby I was called to life. I have kept this healthy bundle by me, and no one will ever take it away from me, but it shall lie between my breasts. I have decreed that to think of these troubles and griefs is real wisdom; in them I have determined to find perfect righteousness, full knowledge, plentiful salvation, and abundant merit. From these His troubles and griefs I drink sometimes a draught of healthy bitters, and from the same again I draw the sweet oil of comfort. It is the thought of these troubles and woes of His that cheereth me when I am afflicted, and maketh me grave when it is well with me. As the pilgrim walketh along the King’s Highway of this present life, in joy and in sorrow, it is the memory of the woes of Jesus that keeps him moving straight and saveth him from the dangers that threaten him upon the one hand or upon the other. These griefs are what will gain my pardon from the judge of all the earth; He Who is dreadful to the mighty is shown by these griefs to be meek and lowly, manifesting as the Forgiving One, yea, One that a man may take ensample by, Him who is exalted above all Princes and dreadful among the kings of the earth.
Sixth Lesson
Therefore are these His griefs oftentimes in my mouth, and God knoweth that they be always in my heart. My pen useth to write of them, as is manifest. The highest flight of my philosophy is this, to know Jesus, and Him crucified. I do not ask, like the Bride, where He lieth to rest at noon, (Cant. i. 6,) since I have the joy to embrace Him as He lieth between my breasts. I ask not where He feedeth at noon, since I see Him on the Cross a Savior. On the Cross He is glorious, at my breast He is sweet; on the Cross, my Bread; at my breast, my milk, milk which filleth the bellies of sucklings, and the paps of mothers, and therefore He shall lie betwixt my breasts. Do ye also, dearly beloved brethren, do ye also gather you a bundle of this beloved myrrh, even the woe of Jesus, put it in the core of your heart, put it to guard the door of your breast, that it may lie betwixt your breasts also. If ye have before your eyes Him Whom ye bear about, the sight of the Lord’s afflictions will make your own lighter to carry, through the help of Him Who is the Bridegroom of the Church, and Who is above all God, blessed forever. Amen.
Seventh Lesson
The Lesson is taken from the Holy Gospel according to John (xix. 1.)
At that time: Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on His Head. And so on.
Homily by St. Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux. (50th on divers matters.)
Daughters of Zion, behold King Solomon, not here called “the Preacher,” or Y’dydyah (the delight of the Lord). By these three names was that King called, and therein is he a figure of our true Solomon, Jesus Christ, Who was Sh’lomoh, that is, “the Peaceful One” in His exile here, who will be Koheleth, that is, “the Preacher” when He delivered the last doom, and Who is Y’dydyah, that is, “the delight of the Lord” as the Universal King-gentle in his exile, righteous in His judgement, glorious in His kingdom; lovely in His exile, dreadful in His judgement, worshipful in His kingdom. Behold Him now “with the crown wherewith His Mother crowned Him.” This was a crown of mercy, and therein He may be followed. But His step-mother also crowned Him with a crown of sorrow, and therein He was made a reproach. By His step-mother I mean the Synagogue which showed herself not as His mother, but as His step-mother.
Eighth Lesson
His household will crown Him with a crown of righteousness, and therein will He be dreadful. His Father crowneth Him with a crown of glory, and therein He is lovely. Let sinners gaze upon Him in His crown of sorrow, the crown of thorns, and let the pricks thereof enter into themselves. Let the daughters of Zion, the souls that love Him, gaze upon Him in His crown of mercy, and follow in His steps. The wicked shall gaze upon Him in His crown of righteousness, and they shall perish. The Saints shall gaze upon Him in His crown of glory, and they shall be blessed forever. Others also that have followed Him shall be crowned after Him, but that by earnest working by the help of His grace. He alone was crowned by His mother, Who alone, with every emotion duly ordered, cam forth out of His mother’s womb, like a Bridegroom out of his chamber.
Ninth Lesson (Homily of the Lenten Feria)
Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (5:43-48; 6:1-4) In that time, Jesus said to his disciples: You have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thy enemy. And so on. Homily by St. Jerome, Priest at Bethlehem. (Bk. i, Comm. on Matth. v and vi)
But I say unto you: "Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you." There are many who judge of the commandments of the Lord by their own weakness, and not by the strength of His Saints; and so deem Him to have commanded things impossible. These are they who think that not to hate their enemies is all that they are able to do; and that to command us to love them, is to command more than man's nature can bear. It behoveth them to know, that this which Christ commandeth is not impossible, albeit perfect. This is what David did in respect of Saul and Absalom; the martyr Stephen also prayed for his enemies, even while they were stoning him; and Paul could wish that himself were accursed from Christ for his persecutors. Rom. ix. 3. And this, Jesus Himself did, as well as taught, when He said: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." (Luke xxiii. 34.)
That ye may be the children of your Father Which is in heaven. If he that doeth the commandments of God becometh a son of God, then is he not a son by nature, but by his own choice. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues, and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. He that soundeth a trumpet before him, when he doeth alms, is an hypocrite. He that disfigureth his face, when he fasteth, to the end that he may show the emptiness of his belly in his looks, he also is an hypocrite.
He that prayeth in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that he may be seen of men, is an hypocrite. From all which, we gather that an hypocrite is one which doeth anything that he may have glory of men. To me also it seemeth that he which saith unto his brother: "Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye", (vii. 4) that he also is an hypocrite; for he proposeth to take upon him that office for vainglory's sake, that he himself may appear righteous. Therefore the Lord saith unto him: "Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye." Thus we see that it is, not the doing good, but the motive which moveth us to do good, which will meet with reward from God; and, if thou stray but a little from the right way, it is of small moment whether thou wander to the right hand or to the left, when once thou hast lost the straight path.
The Mass
Introit Go forth, ye daughters of Sion, and see King Solomon in the diadem wherewith his mother crowned him, preparing a cross for her Savior. (Cant. 3). (Ps. 8) Thou hast crowned him, o Lord, with glory and honour; and hast set him over the works of they hands. Gloria.
Collect
Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we who, in memory of the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, venerate His crown of thorns here upon earth, may deserve to be crowned by Him with glory and honour in the heavens.
May Your kindly favor, we beseech You, O Lord, accompany the fast we have begun, that we may be able to practice with a pure mind what we perform bodily.
Lesson (Cant. iii. 7-11; iv. 1, 8.)
Behold threescore valiant ones of the most valiant of Israel, surrounded the bed of Solomon? All holding swords, and most expert in war: every man's sword upon his thigh, because of fears in the night. King Solomon hath made him a litter of the wood of Libanus: The pillars thereof he made of silver, the seat of gold, the going up of purple: the midst he covered with charity for the daughters of Jerusalem. Go forth, ye daughters of Sion, and see king Solomon in the diadem, wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the joy of his heart. How beautiful art thou, my love, how beautiful art thou! Thy eyes are dove's eyes, besides what is hid within. Come from Libanus, my spouse. Come from Libanus, come: thou shalt be crowned.
Gradual
(Apoc. 14) A crown of gold was upon his head, wherein was engraved holiness, an ornament of honor, and a work of power. (Ps. 20) For thou hast prevented him with blessings of sweetness, thou hast set on his head a crown of precious stones.
Tract (Is. 61)
The Lord clothed him with the garments of salvation, and with the robe of justice he covered him, as a bridegroom decked with a crown. V. (Is. 28) The crown of tribulation hath flourished into a crown of glory, and a garland of joy. V. (Wis. 5) He hath received a kingdom of glory, a crown of beauty.
Gospel (John xix. 1-5.)
At that time, Pilate took Jesus, and scourged him. And the soldiers platting a crown of thorns, put it upon his head; and they put on him a purple garment. And they came to him, and said: Hail, king of the Jews; and they gave him blows. Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith to them: Behold, I bring him forth unto you, that you may know that I find no cause in him. Jesus therefore came forth, bearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment.
Credo
Offertory We adore thy crown, o Lord; we commemorate thy glorious passion.
Secret
O almighty King, confirm the strength of thy militant people, that we who in this race of our mortality receive joy from the crown of thy only-begotten Son, when the course of our warfare is accomplished may obtain the prize of immortality.
II. of the Feria
Grant, O Lord, we beseech You, that as we offer the sacrifice of Lent, our hearts may be made acceptable to You; and the sacrifice may give us greater willingness for self-denial.
Communion
Rejoice, O thou or mother, for the Lord shall give to thy head increase of graces, and protect thee with a nobble crown.
Postcommunion We humbly beseech thee, almighty God, that these sacraments which we have received may, through the most holy crown of thy Son, of which we celebrate the festival, procure for us healing and strength.
II. of the Feria
Fill us, O Lord, with the spirit of Your love, to unite in charity those whom You have filled with one and the same heavenly Bread.
Last Gospel (of the Lenten Feria) (Matt 5:43-48; 6:1-4)
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and shall hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who persecute and calumniate you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, Who makes His sun to rise on the good and the evil, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. For if you love those that love you, what reward shall you have? Do not even the publicans do that? And if you salute you brethren only, what are you doing more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do that? You therefore are to be perfect, even as you heavenly Father is perfect. Take heed not to do your good before men, in order to be seen by them; otherwise you shall have no reward with your Father in heaven. Therefore when you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and streets, in order that they may be honored by men. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be given in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you.
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