one abide not in Me, he shall be cast forth as a branch, and shall wither[1], and they shall gather him up[2], and cast him into the fire[3], and he burneth.”
“This is My commandment[4], that you love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
“In the world you shall have distress: but have confidence, I have overcome the world. Amen, amen, I say to you: if you ask the Father anything in My name, He will give it to you. Ask, and you shall receive.”
Then, lifting up[5] His eyes to heaven, Jesus said: “Father, the hour[6] is come, glorify[7] Thy Son, that Thy Son may glorify Thee[8]. As Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He may give eternal life to all whom Thou hast given Him[9]. Now this is[10] eternal life: that they may know Thee, the Only True God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. I have glorified Thee on the earth[11]: I have finished[12] the work which Thou gavest Me to do. And now glorify Thou Me, O Father, with Thyself,
- ↑ Wither. He shall be cut off from the communion of the Saints and of the faithful. He will die spiritually, and become a useless member of the Church of God.
- ↑ Gather him up. These withered branches, these dead members of the Church.
- ↑ Into the fire. Into hell, where he burns for ever without being consumed.
- ↑ My commandment. A new commandment hitherto unknown to you, which I, as your Redeemer, now give to you. The next sentence shows with what measure of love He loved His own.
- ↑ Lifting up. Our Lord offered up this prayer as our High Priest. As High Priest of the New' Covenant, He had just instituted the unbloody Sacrifice of the Mass, and was about to offer Himself for the salvation of the world in a bloody manner on the Cross: and now, before consummating His Sacrifice, He offered up this prayer; first that He Himself might be glorified; next, for His apostles; and finally for all the faithful, and His whole Church.
- ↑ The hour. For ray Passion and Death.
- ↑ Glorify, That I may rise from the grave, ascend into heaven, and send the Holy Ghost to the Church.
- ↑ Thee. That through my Church millions of men may learn to know Thee and love Thee.
- ↑ Given Him. To all who through Thy grace believe in Him and become His disciples.
- ↑ This is. This is what leads to eternal life.
- ↑ On the earth. By My obedience and My teaching.
- ↑ Finished. For the work of Redemption was already accomplished in will,by our Blessed Lord’s determination to suffer death willingly.
