CATHOLIC MUSIC VIDEO: “O Sacred Head Surrounded”

Jesus Carries the Cross, adapted from image at loc.gov

O Sacred Head, surrounded
by crown of piercing thorn!
O Bleeding Head, so wounded,
reviled and put to scorn!
Our sins have marred the glory
of Thy Most Holy Face,
yet Angel Hosts adore thee
and tremble as they gaze
[lyrics continue below video]

I see thy strength and vigor
all fading in the strife,
and death with cruel rigor,
bereaving thee of life;
O agony and dying!
O love to sinners free!
Jesus, all grace supplying,
O turn thy face on me.

In this thy bitter passion,
Good Shepherd, think of me
with thy most sweet compassion,
unworthy though I be:
beneath thy cross abiding
for ever would I rest,
in thy dear love confiding,
and with thy presence blest.

From a medieval Latin hymn attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux of the 12th century.

CATHOLIC FAITHLINK: “PERFECT TIMING” – Presentation Ministries (Cincinnati)

Last Supper by Duccio, adapted from image at openi.nlm.nih.gov

“… The early Church realized that Jesus’ timing of the first two Masses (Eucharists) was very significant. Led by the Spirit (Jn 16:13), they devoted themselves to the breaking of the bread, that is, the Mass (Acts 2:42). Wherever the Church has emphasized devotion to the Mass throughout its history, it has seen the love, power, and glory of God. Therefore, let us fully enter into the Sunday celebration of the Mass. May it be the center of our Sunday and of our life. Let us pray the Mass daily or as often as possible. Let us visit the Blessed Sacrament frequently. A life eucharistically centered is a life centered on the crucified and risen Christ.”

CATHOLIC PRAYER & MUSIC VIDEO: Divine Mercy Chaplet in Song

File Photo of Sunrise at Joshua Tree National Park

The Divine Mercy Chaplet in song, produced by Trish Short, and featuring scenes from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy. More details follow below the video.

The primary prayers of the Divine Mercy Chaplet include:

Opening Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary, The Apostles Creed …

Utilizing a Rosary, on each large bead starting a decade:
“Eternal Father, we offer You the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Your dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ … In atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.”

On each of the ten small beads within a decade:
“For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion … have Mercy on us, and on the whole world.”

Concluding prayer:
“Holy God, Holy Might One, Holy Immortal One, have Mercy on us, and on the whole world.” (three times)

There are some additional optional prayers, and a closing Sign of the Cross

[provisional posting; please check back for more links and details]

CATHOLIC MUSIC VIDEO: Stabat Mater (At the Cross Her Station Keeping)

File Photo of Pieta at Saint Peter's Basilica, Depicting the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Mother of Sorrows, Holding the Body of the Crucified Christ, Sculpture by Michaelangelo, adapted from image at cia.gov

Stabat Mater dolorosa
Juxta Crucem lacrimosa,
Dum pendebat Filius.Cujus animam gementem,
Contristatam et dolentem,
Pertransivit gladius.



FAITHLINK: Catholic Prayer: Stabat Mater (At the Cross Her Station Keeping) – CatholicCulture

Stabat Mater dolorosa
Juxta Crucem lacrimosa,
Dum pendebat Filius.

Cujus animam gementem,
Contristatam et dolentem,
Pertransivit gladius.

O quam tristis et afflicta
Fuit illa benedicta
Mater Unigeniti!

Quem maerebat, et dolebat,
Pia Mater, dum videbat
Nati paenas inclyti.

Quis est homo, qui non fleret,
Matrem Christi si videret
In tanto supplicio?

Quis non posset contristari,
Christi Matrem contemplari
Dolentem cum Filio?

Pro peccatis suae gentis
Vidit Jesum in tormentis,
Et flagellis subditum.

Vidit suum dulcem natum
Moriendo desolatum,
Dum emisit spiritum.

Eia Mater, fons amoris,
Me sentire vim doloris
Fac, ut tecum lugeam.

Fac, ut ardeat cor meum
In amando Christum Deum,
Ut sibi complaceam.

Sancta Mater, istud agas,
Crucifixi fige plagas
Cordi meo valide.

Tui nati vulnerati,
Tam dignati pro me pati,
Paenas rnecum divide.

Fac me tecum pie flere,
Crucifixo condolere,
Donec ego vixero.

Juxta Crucem tecum stare,
Et me tibi sociare
In planctu desidero.

Virgo virginum praeclara,
Mihi jam non sis amara:
Fac me tecum plangere.

Fac, ut portem Christi mortem
Passionis fac consortum,
Et plagas recolere.

Fac me plagis vulnerari
Fac me cruce inebriari,
Et cruore Filii.

Flammis ne urar succensus
Per te, Virgo, sim defensus
In die judicii.

Christe, cum sit hinc exire,
Da per Matrem me venire,
Ad palmam victoriae.

Quando corpus morietur,
Fac, ut animae donetur
Paradisi gloria.

At the cross her station keeping,
Stood the mournful Mother weeping,
Close to Jesus to the last.

Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,
All His bitter anguish bearing,
Now at length the sword had pass’d.

Oh, how sad and sore distress’d
Was that Mother highly blest
Of the sole-begotten One!

Christ above in torment hangs;
She beneath beholds the pangs
Of her dying glorious Son.

Is there one who would not weep,
Whelm’d in miseries so deep
Christ’s dear Mother to behold?

Can the human heart refrain
From partaking in her pain,
In that Mother’s pain untold?

Bruis’d, derided, curs’d, defil’d,
She beheld her tender child
All with bloody scourges rent.

For the sins of His own nation,
Saw Him hang in desolation,
Till His spirit forth He sent.

O thou Mother! fount of love!
Touch my spirit from above;
Make my heart with thine accord.

Make me feel as thou hast felt;
Make my soul to glow and melt
With the love of Christ our Lord.

Holy Mother! pierce me through;
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified.

Let me share with thee His pain,
Who for all my sins was slain,
Who for me in torments died.

Let me mingle tears with thee,
Mourning Him who mourn’d for me,
All the days that I may live.

By the cross with thee to stay,
There with thee to weep and pray,
Is all I ask of thee to give.

Virgin of all virgins best,
Listen to my fond request
Let me share thy grief divine.

Let me, to my latest breath,
In my body bear the death
Of that dying Son of thine.

Wounded with His every wound,
Steep my soul till it hath swoon’d
In His very blood away.

Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
Lest in flames I burn and die,
In His awful Judgment day.

Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence,
Be Thy Mother my defence,
Be Thy cross my victory.

While my body here decays,
May my soul Thy goodness praise,
Safe in Paradise with Thee.

CATHOLIC MUSIC VIDEO: “Were You There”

Cross Atop Rocky Cliff

From a Negro Spiritual, performed by the Choir from the Old Cardiff Arms Park in Wales

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?


Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when the sun refused to shine?

Were you there when they rolled the stone away?
Were you there when they rolled the stone away?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they rolled the stone away?

Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?

CATHOLIC MUSIC VIDEO: “O Sacred Head Surrounded”

Jesus Carries the Cross, adapted from image at loc.gov

O sacred head, surrounded
by crown of piercing thorn!
O bleeding head, so wounded,
reviled and put to scorn!
Our sins have marred the glory
of thy most holy face,
yet angel hosts adore thee
and tremble as they gaze
[lyrics continue below video]

I see thy strength and vigor
all fading in the strife,
and death with cruel rigor,
bereaving thee of life;
O agony and dying!
O love to sinners free!
Jesus, all grace supplying,
O turn thy face on me.

In this thy bitter passion,
Good Shepherd, think of me
with thy most sweet compassion,
unworthy though I be:
beneath thy cross abiding
for ever would I rest,
in thy dear love confiding,
and with thy presence blest.

From a medieval Latin hymn attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux of the 12th century.

CATHOLIC FAITHWATCH: Stations of the Cross

Jesus Carries the Cross, adapted from image at loc.gov

[embedded facebook post from Saint Michael’s Catholic Church in Stillwater, Minnesota, should load below, depicting Stations of the Cross with text captions]

I. Jesus is Condemned to Death

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by Your Holy Cross You have Redeemed the world. [genuflect]

II. Jesus Takes Up His Cross

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by Your Holy Cross You have Redeemed the world. [genuflect]

III. Jesus Falls the First Time

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by Your Holy Cross You have Redeemed the world. [genuflect]

IV. Jesus Meets His Afflicted Mother

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by Your Holy Cross You have Redeemed the world. [genuflect]

V. Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry the Cross

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by Your Holy Cross You have Redeemed the world. [genuflect]

VI. Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by Your Holy Cross You have Redeemed the world. [genuflect]

VII. Jesus Falls the Second Time

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by Your Holy Cross You have Redeemed the world. [genuflect]

 

VIII. Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by Your Holy Cross You have Redeemed the world. [genuflect]

IX. Jesus Falls the Third Time

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by Your Holy Cross You have Redeemed the world. [genuflect]

X. Jesus Is Stripped of His Garments

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by Your Holy Cross You have Redeemed the world. [genuflect]

XI. Jesus Is Nailed to the Cross

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by Your Holy Cross You have Redeemed the world. [genuflect]

XII. Jesus Dies on the Cross

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by Your Holy Cross You have Redeemed the world. [genuflect]

XIII. Jesus Is Taken Down From the Cross

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by Your Holy Cross You have Redeemed the world. [genuflect]

XII. Jesus Is Laid in the Tomb

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by Your Holy Cross You have Redeemed the world. [genuflect]

CATHOLIC VIDEO: Pope Francis Way of the Cross in Rome

Pope Francis file photo, adapted from image (c) VIS

The Holy Father #PopeFrancis presides over the Way of the #Cross on Good Friday, at the Coliseum in Rome.

CATHOLIC FAITHLINK: “Sermon 3 on the Passion [Excerpt]” – Saint Leo the Great

Cross Atop Rocky Cliff

“The Lord put on our weakness to clothe our inconstancy with the firmness of His strength. He came from Heaven to this world like a wealthy and generous merchant and, through a marvelous exchange, concluded a deal: taking what belonged to us, He granted us what belonged to Him. In exchange for what was cause of our shame He gave us honor, for pain, Healing, for death, Life … “