Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 3 April – Monday in Holy Week
“Her heart was crucified
with the same nails
which Crucified Our Lord’s Body …”
St Francis de Sales
MONDAY in HOLY WEEK
Our Lord’s Third Word …
St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritas
“OUR LORD’S THIRD WORD was one of consolation.
He spoke it to His sacred Mother who was at the foot of the Cross, pierced by a sword of sorrow [Lk 2:35] but certainly not swooning, nor with faint heart, as artists have falsely and
impertinently painted her.
The Evangelist clearly says the contrary, insisting that she
remained standing with an incomparable firmness [Jn. 19:25].
That courage did not keep her from the grieving which she endured with the generous and magnanimous heart belonging to her alone.
O God! what agonies were hers!
They are inexplicable and inconceivable.
Her heart was crucified with the same nails which Crucified Our Lord’s Body, for now she would be without both Child and husband.
Seeing her in this distress, our dear Saviour said a word of consolation to her. But this consoling and tender word was not given to lift her heart from such great desolation.
The heart of this perfectly submissive and resigned holy Virgin needed to be extremely strong and Our Lord, Who knew her so well, dealt with her accordingly.
Indicating St John, His Heart’s beloved disciple, He said: Woman, there is your son. [Jn. 19:26.] He gave him to her to care for her, for this holy Virgin was not thinking of herself at all. Her every thought was centered around her Divine Son’s Sorrows, Sorrows which she herself pondered in her soul [cf Lk 2:35, 51] while at theFfoot of His Cross.” – (Sermons fof St Francis de Sales for or Lent).
AnaStpaul 