Peter and Judas

Of set purpose St Peter and Judas the traitor are contrasted: for if the second betrayed Him, the first denied Him, and only in their subsequent reactions lies the key to their far-differing fates: St Peter wept for his sins, repented in hope, and was forgiven; Judas revolted at his crime, but his sorrowful despair led to suicide and eternal death.  St Philip Neri had a curious but significant aspiration, "Trust me not, Lord, for this day I will betray Thee" - meaning that we all sin, the just man seven times a day, and in the words of the Apostle, let him who stands take heed lest he fall, pride coming afore it, and a haughty spirit before destruction: rather in lowliness let us grieve our unhappy state, trusting not in ourselves but in the Redeemer Who pardons every crime if once we turn back to Him with the intent not to sin again.  Better to fall and get up a thousand times, each time trusting in the newness of the Lord's mercies, relying upon His strength when we fear to fail, than utterly to despair and turn away from God, suffering the unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost that is final impenitence, whose secret root is pride in folly, and refusal to believe in divine Omnipotence.  The tragedy of Judas is that he believed far too much of himself, and far too little of the Lord; whereas St Peter threw himself upon the mercy of Christ, and blossomed in grace evermore.

These thoughts are with me; their seed was planted earlier, but seem fitting for this Spy Wednesday (as the Irish call it), when Judas betrayed Our Innocent Saviour.  In preparation for the Triduum, I went to confession again, confessing the same old sins - but remembering the words retold me by a priest who had said to his confessor that he was grieved to always come back with the same troubles, and was reminded that at least he hadn't any new sins to include in the list!  My confessor (a kindly retired priest) simply had me trust in the Lord, Whom we fete this week as our Redeemer, and to pray for Him to come, that we might be Christ to others, and encourage others to do likewise.

Spy Wednesday

I arrived at the Pro. at about ten to five o'clock, just after the consecration at Fr Terence's private Low Mass, the remainder of which I then heard, before going to the sacristy to vest for to serve the next Low Mass. Even with the reading of the St Luke Passion, this Mass only took forty minutes; Fr Terence came back to the sanctuary to read the Passion together with his confrere.

But then, after Mass, we had to carry a very heavy long kneeler over to the parish centre, which was being set up for the Good Friday Liturgy; I can now well imagine the weight of the Cross. More organization went on, with carrying of chairs and candles, and the stripping of the altar at the Pro. (since there will be no Mass there tomorrow).

Tourists coming by - as happens daily - were glad to find a spot for Mass, and delighted to see that "everything old is new again".

I thought I was now able to escape, but no! Fr Rowe wanted me to come round to his place to get the music organized for Easter Sunday at Kelmscott and Bunbury... so, after dropping Aaron at the train station and buying some Chimay to bring along, I ended up having dinner with three priests, and then practising the Vidi aquam, Ad regias Agni dapes, Missa Orbis factor, and various other ditties, before folding the Tenebræ booklets for Father.

It was after 10pm by the time I left and stopped off at the 24 hour supermarket on my way home; I nearly fell asleep in my car (after I parked, I hasten to add). And now, very soon, to bed...

But I cannot let this day pass without recalling with horror the wickedness of Judas, who this day so shamefully betrayed Our Lord for filthy lucre, as foretold by Zacharias the prophet (xi, 12-13; St Matthew xxvi, 15) - recalling that the Christian who sins sins worse than unhappy Judas, for the Christian ought know better.


R/. Revelabunt cæli iniquitatem Judæ, et terra adversus eum consurget: et manifestum erit peccatum illius in die furoris Domini, * Cum eis qui dixerunt Domino Deo: Recede a nobis, scientiam viarum tuarum nolumus.
V/. In die perditiones servabitur, et ad diem ultionis ducetur. * Cum eis qui dixerunt Domino Deo: Recede a nobis, scientiam viarum tuarum nolumus.
R/. Revelabunt cæli iniquitatem Judæ, et terra adversus eum consurget: et manifestum erit peccatum illius in die furoris Domini, * Cum eis qui dixerunt Domino Deo: Recede a nobis, scientiam viarum tuarum nolumus.

(R/. The heavens will reveal the iniquity of Judas and the earth will rise up against him; his sin will be manifest on the day of the Lord’s wrath. * He will be with those who have said to the Lord God, Depart from us, we do not desire the knowledge of your ways!
(V/. He will be kept for the day of destruction; to be led forth on the day of wrath. * He will be with those who have said to the Lord God, Depart from us, we do not desire the knowledge of your ways!
(R/. The heavens will reveal the iniquity of Judas and the earth will rise up against him; his sin will be manifest on the day of the Lord’s wrath. * He will be with those who have said to the Lord God, Depart from us, we do not desire the knowledge of your ways!)