As the Church continues her Lenten Meditation on the Passion of Our Lord, She presents before us for our contemplation the Burial Should of Jesus. This is the same as the Shroud of Turin, of whose authenticity I am convinced (and I am far from the only one). Though never entered into the Universal Calendar, the celebration of these feast occurs in many places, particularly those with a historical connection to the Shroud.
The date of the Friday of the second week of Lent for this Feast seems quite appropriate. Not only does it occur right after the Sunday of the Transfiguration (another manifestation of our Lord’s glory), but it also places it right at the end of the week in which the Divine Office gives the history of the Patriarch Jacob (focusing almost entirely on his receiving his father’s blessing and his visions of God while in exile) and on the very day that the Liturgy turns it’s attention to the Patriarch Joseph. Joseph is not only a type of Christ, both in his virtue and his “death” and resurrection that brings salvation to Israel and the Gentiles, but he also, in a lesser way, foreshadows the Jewish High Priest and the Scapegoat Ritual of Yom Kippur (His multicolored robe is like the High Priest’s vestments, and he is sent away bearing the anger and resentment of his brothers, that they might have peace.) Moreover, St. Bede the Venerable’s homily in the Third Nocturn of Matins goes into great depth on the meaning of Friday and the Sabbath, fitting for a Feast concerning the Lord’s burial, and the Shroud that covered His Holy Body while He rested on that Sabbath in the tomb.
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, every one 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. 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.
Third Lesson
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. Therefore will I distribute to him very many, and he shall divide the spoils of the strong, because he hath delivered his soul unto death, and was reputed with the wicked: and he hath borne the sins of many, and hath prayed for the transgressors.
Fourth Lesson
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons of St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan. (On Luke xxiii.)
What is the meaning of this, that, not His Apostles but Joseph, and as saith John, Nicodemus, performed the burial of Christ? The one was a just and bold man, the other a master in Israel. Such it beseemed Christ to have to lay Him in the grave even He from Whom all justice and all rule proceed. Hereby no ground is left for dispute, and the Jews are confuted by witnesses from their own midst. For had the Apostles buried Him, they might have said that He had been taken away, rather than buried. The just man covereth the Body of Christ with linen, the guileless anointeth it with ointment. These distinctions we find not idle, for the clothing of the Church is the righteousness of her Saints (Apoc. xix. 8), and guilelessness bringeth her grace.
Fifth Lesson
Do thou, if thou also wilt be just, clothe in the mind’s eye the Body of the Lord, with that glory which is Its Own. Though thou believest It to have been dead, in thy faith cover It with the fulness of the Godhead Which belongeth unto It. Anoint It with myrrh and aloes, that thou mayest be a good savor of Christ. The linen which the just Joseph gave was fine, and perchance the same as the great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth, wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air, figures of the Gentiles, which appeared unto Peter. (Acts x. 11,12.) With Christ was mystically buried in that ointment of spikenard the Church, who bindeth together in her Communion all peoples, how divers soever they be.
Sixth Lesson
This Joseph is called by Luke just, and by Matthew rich. And well is he called Rich which recieveth the Body of Christ. By receiving the source of all riches, he bade farewell to lack of faith. He that is just is rich. A just man therefore wrapped the Body in the linen, while an Israelite “brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred-pound weight,” – that is to say, the measure of perfect faith. “Then took they the Body of Jesus, and wound It in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury” – (John xix. 38-42,) wound it, not in the nooses of treachery, but in the bands of loyalty. And they laid It in that garden, whereunto the Church is so oftentimes compared, because of the manifold and divers fruits of good works and flowers of grace which do grow in her.
Seventh Lesson
The Lesson is taken from the Holy Gospel according to Mark (xv. 42.)
At that time: When the even was come, because it was the Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, an honourable Counsellor, which waited for the kingdom of God, came, and so on.
Homily by the Venerable Bede, Priest at Jarrow. (For Tuesday in Holy Week.)
The Greek word “Paraskeue,” used by the Evangelist, signifieth “the Preparation,” and was the name by which the Greek-speaking Jews were used to call Friday, as being the day whereon those things were got ready which would be needed during the rest of the Sabbath, even as it was anciently commanded concerning the manna: “On the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.” (Exod. xvi. 5.) Even thus is it written that on Friday “God created man.” (Gen. i. 27.) And “thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made.” (ii. 1-3.) And He was pleased to call the seventh day the Sabbath, that is to say, the Day of “Rest.” (Exod. xx. 10.) In like manner also did the crucified Savior complete upon Friday the work of the new creation, and “when… He had received the vinegar, He said: It is finished” – even as it were “The evening and the morning are about to be numbered as the sixth day, and My work whereby I have re-made the world, I have ended.” And on the seventh day, the Sabbath Day, He rested from all His work which He had made, awaiting in the grave till the eighth day should come, for him to rise again.
Eighth Lesson
“Joseph of Arimathea, an honorable Counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and crave the Body of Jesus.” Very honorable was this Joseph in the eyes of the world, but his honor now is because of his good work toward God. It was meet that he who laid the Lord in the grave should by his good life have earned such a ministry, and by the power of his honorable position in the world should have been able to obtain it. A person unknown or obscure would not have been able to go unto the President and to obtain from him the Body of the Crucified.
Ninth Lesson (Homily of the Lenten Feria)
The Lesson is taken from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (xxi:33-46)
In that time, Jesus said to the multitude of Jews and the chief priests: Hear ye another parable. There was a man an householder, who planted a vineyard, and made a hedge round about it. And so on.
Homily by St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan. (Bk. ix on Luke xx)
Many derive diverse spiritual meanings from the term vineyard, but Isaias giveth us to know that the vineyard of the Lord of Sabaoth is the house of Israel. (v. 7). Who but God planted that vineyard? He it was that let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country; not that the Lord, Who is everywhere present, moveth from place to place; but because He is nigh unto them that seek Him, and from such as regard Him not He standeth afar off. For a long time He tarried away, lest He might seem to ask too early for the fruits of His vineyard. For where kindness is greatest, there ingratitude is worst.
Therefore it is well written in Matthew, for our instruction, that He hedged it round about, that is, He girded it with the fortifications of His own Divine protection, that it might not easily lie open to the ravages of spiritual wild beasts. And digged a wine-press in it. What sense are we to put upon the wine-press, unless it be that the Psalms are here described under that title, because in them the mysteries of the Lord's Passion flow over like new wine, working under the power of the Holy Ghost? Whence also, they upon whom the Holy Ghost was outpoured were deemed to be drunken (Acts ii. 13.) God therefore digged a wine-press, whereinto the reasonable grapes of inward fruitfulness poured their spiritual richness.
And built a tower that is, He raised up the goodly structure of the Law. And so this His vineyard, thus fortified, furnished, and garnished, He gave over to the Jews. And when the time of the fruit drew near, He sent His servants to the husbandmen. Well doth He call it the time of the fruit, not the time of the in-gathering. For the Jews yielded Him no fruit; the Lord had no ingathering from that vineyard of which He said: When I looked that it should bring forth grapes, it brought forth wild grapes. (Isa. v. 4.) Not that wine that maketh glad the heart of man, not with the new wine of the spirit, reeked that wine-press, but with the blood of the Prophets, brutally shed.
The Mass
Introit (Phil ii: 8-9) Our Lord Jesus Christ humbled Himself unto death, even unto death upon the Cross: Therefore God has also exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above all names. (Ps. lxxxviii: 2) I will sing the mercies of the Lord for all eternity: for generation after generation His truth will be in my mouth.
Collect O God, who hast left us a relic of Thy passion in the holy shroud in which Thy body, taken down from the Cross, was wrapped by Joseph [of Arimathea]: grant, we beseech Thee; that through Thy death and burial, we may be brought to the glory of resurrection. Thou who livest and reignest.....
Grant, we beseech You, almighty God, that with the sacred fast to purify us, we may with sincere hearts reach the coming feast.
Lesson (Isa. lxii: 11; lxiii: 1-7)
Thus says the Lord God: Say to the children of Sion: Behold the Lord hath made it to be heard in the ends of the earth, tell the daughter of Sion: Behold thy Savior cometh: behold his reward is with him, and his work before him. Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bosra, this beautiful one in his robe, walking in the greatness of his strength. I, that speak justice, and am a defender to save. Why then is thy apparel red, and thy garments like theirs that tread in the winepress? I have trodden the winepress alone, and of the Gentiles there is not a man with me: I have trampled on them in my indignation, and have trodden them down in my wrath, and their blood is sprinkled upon my garments, and I have stained all my apparel. For the day of vengeance is in my heart, the year of my redemption is come. I looked about, and there was none to help: I sought, and there was none to give aid: and my own arm hath saved for me, and my indignation itself hath helped me. And I have trodden down the people in my wrath, and have made them drunk in my indignation, and have brought down their strength to the earth. I will remember the tender mercies of the Lord, the praise of the Lord for all the things that the Lord hath bestowed upon us.
Gradual (Ps. lxviii. 21-22)
Insult has broken my heart, and I am weak, I looked for sympathy, but there was none; for comforters, and I found none. Rather they put gall in my food, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
Tract (Isa. liii: 4-5)
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 were healed.
Gospel (Mark xv:42-46)
At that time, when evening was now come (because it was the Parasceve, that is, the day before the sabbath), Joseph of Arimathea, a noble counselor, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, came and went in boldly to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus. But Pilate wondered that he should be already dead. And sending for the centurion, he asked him if he were already dead. And when he had understood it by the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. And Joseph, buying fine linen and taking him down, wrapped him up in the fine linen and laid him in a sepulcher which was hewed out of a rock. And he rolled a stone to the door of the sepulcher.
Credo
Offertory (Lev. xvi: 2,5) Aaron entered into the tabernacle in order to offer a holocaust upon the altar for the sins of the sons of Israel, clothed in a linen tunic.
Secret
May these offerings be acceptable to Thee, O lord.: Whose Son didst graciously stand forth in His glorious passion for the salvation of the world. Thou who livest and reignest...
II. of the Feria
O God, may this sacrifice which is offered, stay in us and accomplish lasting effects.
Preface of the Holy Cross
It is truly meet and just, right and availing unto salvation, that we should in all times and in all places give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty and everlasting God. Who didst set the salvation of mankind upon the tree of the Cross, so that whence came death, thence also life might rise again, and that he who overcame by the tree might also be overcome on the tree; through Christ our Lord. Through whom the angels praise Thy majesty, the dominations adore, the powers are in awe, the virtues of highest heaven and the blessed seraphim unite in blissful exultation. With them we praise Thee; grant that our voices too may blend, saying in adoring praise:
Communion (Mark xv: 46)
Joseph, buying fine linen and taking him down, wrapped him up in the fine linen shroud.
Postcommunion Be satisfied, O Lord, with the holy offerings of Thy servant: we ask Thee; that the death of Thy Son in time, which mystery we venerate, may give us confident assurance of perpetual life. Thou who livest and reignest with the same God the Father...
II. of the Feria
Grant, we beseech You, O Lord, that we who have received the pledge of everlasting salvation, may properly direct our course so that we may be able to attain our goal.
Last Gospel (of the Lenten Feria) (Matt 21:33-46)
At that time, Jesus spoke this parable to the multitude of the Jews and the chief priests: There was a man, a householder, who planted a vineyard, and put a hedge about it, and dug a wine vat in it, and built a tower; then he let it out to vine-dressers, and went abroad. But when the fruit season drew near, he sent his servants to the vine-dressers to receive his fruits. And the vine-dressers seized his servants, and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent another party of servants more numerous than the first; and they did the same to these. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But the vine-dressers, on seeing the son, said among themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and we shall have his inheritance.’ So they seized him, cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. When, therefore, the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-dressers? They said to Him, He will utterly destroy those evil men, and will let out the vineyard to other vine-dressers, who will render to him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus said to them, Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, has become the cornerstone; by the Lord this has been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes’? Therefore I say to you, that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and will be given to a people yielding its fruits. And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but upon whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder. And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard His parables, they knew that He was speaking about them. And though they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the people, because they regarded Him as a prophet.
