A golden treatise of mental prayer/A meditation for Saturday: of the piercing of our Blessed Saviour's side with a spear; his taking down from the cross; the lamentation of the women; and other things about his burial
A MEDITATION FOR SATURDAY.
This day thou shalt meditate upon the piercing of our Blessed Saviour's side with a spear; the taking down of Christ from the cross; the lamentations of the women; and other things which did occur about his burial.
First, take notice, how that Christ, after he gave up the ghost upon the cross, his enemies much rejoiced at his death. But yet, there was not an end of their insatiate cruelty, but still their increasing malice raged against him, being dead. They divided, and cast lots for his garments, and with a spear pierced his precious side.
O barbarous caitiffs! O adamantine hearts! did you think those torments he suffered before his death were not sufficient, that you would not vouchsafe to spare him being dead? what madness did possess your souls? lift up your eyes and behold his dead face, his eyes sunk, his hanging head, and his whole body being wan and pale. Although your hearts be harder than adamant, yet let this pitiful aspect mollify them.
Behold the centurion struck a lance into his sacred side, with such violence that the very cross did tremble, out of whose side did gush abundance of blood and water, for the redemption of all mankind. O river of paradise, running forth to water the whole earth! O precious wound which rather the love thou didst bear to us sinful men, than the enemies' weapon did inflict! O gate of heaven, window of paradise, place of rest, tower of fortitude, sanctuary of the just, nest of doves, tomb of pilgrims, flourishing bed of the spouse! Hail, sacred wound, which piercest devout hearts; hail, rose of incredible beauty; hail, precious stone of inestimable valor; hail, door, through which lieth open a free passage to the heart of Christ, an argument of his love, and pledge of eternal felicity!
Consider, that in the evening, Joseph and Nicodemus came with ladders to loose and take down the body of our Saviour; but the Blessed Virgin, after all these torments, perceiving her Son to be taken from the cross, and disposed for the grave, she took him when he was let down, in her arms, humbly beseeching that holy company, that they would suffer her to come near his body, and to bestow her last kiss and embracings upon him, which upon the cross she could not do, which they would not, nor could deny; for if her friends had deprived her of him dead, which her enemies did her, of him living, they had redoubled the anguish of her soul.
When she saw her Son in this case, what grief, what dolors can we imagine she then did suffer? angels of peace come and lament with this blessed Virgin, lament heaven, lament stars, lament all creatures of the world. She embraced the mangled body of her Beloved Son, she hugged him in her arms, (for love administered this strength,) she thrust her face amongst the thorns to come to kiss his mouth, whereby she wounded her face with the sharp pricks which she washed with flowing tears.
O sweet Mother, is this thy Beloved Son? is this he whom thou didst conceive with great glory, and bring forth with great joy? is this that bright mirror in which thou wert wont to see thyself? all that were present did likewise mourn, the other Mary's, which were there, mourned, the noblemen lamented, heaven and earth, with all creatures, mourned with the Blessed Virgin.
That holy Evangelist lamented, who often embracing the body of his dear Master, said, my good Lord and Master, who shall hereafter teach and instruct me? with whom now shall I consult on doubtful occasions? upon whose lap shall I now rest myself? who shall now reveal unto me celestial secrets? what sudden change is this? yesterday I rested upon thy sacred breast, where thou didst communicate to me the joys and glory of everlasting life, and now in recompense of that benefit I embrace thee dead in my arms? is this that countenance which I beheld glorious and transfigured upon the mount of Thabor? is this that face which I saw brighter and more glittering than the sun?
And that Blessed sinner, St. Mary Magdalen lamented, who often kissing the feet of her Saviour, said, O the true light of mine eyes, the only remedy and solace of my soul. If I sin again, who shall hereafter receive me into favor? who shall defend me from the calumnies of the Pharisees? O how altered are these feet from those I washed with my tears! O beloved of my heart, why do I not die with thee? O life of my soul, how can I say I love thee, when I living, see thee dead before me?
Thus, this blessed company did mourn and lament, watering with abundant tears the body of Jesus. The sepulchre being ready, they spiced his holy body with sweet spices, they wrapped it up in a fine linen cloth, bound his head with a handkerchief, laid it upon a bier, carried it to the place of burial, and put it into a new monument.
The monument was covered with a stone, and the face of Mary obscured with a cloud of sorrow. When there again she bade her Son adieu, she then began to be more and more sensible of her solitude; for, then she saw herself to be deprived of the greatest good. But her heart remained buried with her treasure in the grave.