The Thirteenth Station
Volume XXV, Number 6 – March 31, 2021
Dear CatholiCity Citizen,
As our longtime readers know, we try to stay out of your way during Holy Week and Easter, so this message will be relatively brief, and focused on helping you spiritually during the remainder of Holy Week.
A Perfect HymnI found the most beautiful Stations of the Cross for you to stream at home (if you can't get to church) or even use with a headset in church. All fourteen stations end with perfectly related lyrics from one of the most sublime hymns ever composed.
The melody never leaves my sorrowful heart.
I understand that many of you may have never meditated on Our Lord's passion in this traditional way (or have not done so since childhood), so here it is:
I am praying for you every day through Easter and I am looking forward to hand-carrying your personal intentions to a special Mass on Divine Mercy Sunday with Father John Anthony Boughton at the National Blue Army Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in New Jersey.
There is still time to submit your intentions before April 11th (scroll down until you see the entry box).
Finally...
The Thirteenth StationSomeday I will share the extraordinary story of how, with your participation, we became America's largest distributor of the previously-unknown Purple Scapular.
As you can see, Jesus and Mary wanted us to meditate on the Thirteenth Station (Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross) when they gave the world this divine "insurance policy" against natural disasters, malevolent intruders, and supernatural chastisements.
Why does Our Lady want us to gaze upon this aspect of Our Lord's atonement whenever we enter into our homes?
"Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me; weep instead for yourselves and your children, for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, 'Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.' At that time people will say to the mountains, 'Fall upon us!' and to the hills, 'Cover us!' For if these things are done when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?" -Jesus of Nazareth (Luke 23:28-31)
Stations of the Cross: The MovieIf you're interested, here is the movie review I wrote when The Passion of the Christ was released in 2004. If you have the courage to watch it again this weekend, I believe it will provide you with "pre-viewing" insight.
Please Pray with MeYou can choose the Latin or English version (or both) of my favorite prayer for after reception of the Holy Eucharist. Join me and tens of thousands around the world, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit...
Anima Christi, sanctifica me
Corpus Christi, salva me
Sanguis Christi, inebria me
Aqua leteris Christi, lava me
Passio Christi, conforta me
O bone Jesu, exaudi me
Intra tua vulnera absconde me.
Ne permittas me separari a te
Ab hoste maligno defende me.
In hora mortis meae voca me
Et jube me venire at te
Ut cum sanctis tuis laudem te
In secula seculorum. Amen.
Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water flowing from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
Kind Jesus, hear my prayer
Hide me within your wounds,
And keep me close to you.
Defend me from the evil enemy
And call me at the hour of my death
To the fellowship of your saints,
That I might sing your praise with them
for all eternity. Amen.
Although I will stay out of your inbox until after Divine Mercy Sunday, you will remain in my prayers every day, as always, so I won't miss you.
No photo of me this time. Just the risen Lord.
With Saint John,
Bud Macfarlane
Founder
