The VerbumQUO (mar31quo.htm)

SATURDAY
March 31, 2007
vol 18, no. 90

To Spend Each Day At Least One Hour with Thee


The VerbumQUO for today is "hora" the Latin noun for "hour", taken from today's Gospel of St. John 12 for Saturday in Passion Week. The hour is near; this is so as Jesus announces: "The hour is come that the Son of Man should be glorified." Tomorrow Hosannas; hosannas which will turn to hisses as the week labors on. It is time to watch with Him for we know not the day nor the hour.

by
Michael Cain
Editor, The Daily Catholic

      Editor's Note: The editor has re-launched this series up to Holy Thursday in order to highlight one word from the Proper of the day's Mass. Taking the Latin Verbum and Quotidianum, which mean respectively "Word" and "Daily", we have coined the word "Verbumquo" by contracting quotidianum to quo and running it together as VerbumQUO for this feature series, thus "The Daily Word," as in the sum of the message, the 'quotient', if you will. It is also our hope that in choosing the Latin word with its meaning and etymology more will be attuned to hearing the word read at the altar and better comprehend the beauty of the Mother tongue. Hopefully in this Time of Passiontide we can gain a higher appreciation and contemplation on how the Daily Proper of the Holy Mass applies in our lives in alignment with the will of Christ and His Blessed Immaculate Mother and His Mystical Bride, His Holy Roman Catholic Church.


    The VerbumQUO for today's Proper of Saturday in Passion Week is "hora", the Latin noun for "hour" and is taken from today's Gospel from Saint John 12: 10-36 in which our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ proclaims that He must conquer death by dying and, through the triumph of the cross, the King of kings will be glorified for those who believe, are baptized and obey their King, He will usher them into the light - the light of His heavenly kingdom at each's appointed hour:
In illo tempore: Cogitaverunt autem principes sacerdotum ut et Lazarum interficerent : quia multi propter illum abibant ex Judæis, et credebant in Jesum. In crastinum autem turba multa, quæ venerat ad diem festum, cum audissent quia venit Jesus Jerosolymam, acceperunt ramos palmarum, et processerunt obviam ei, et clamabant : Hosanna, benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini, rex Israël. Et invenit Jesus asellum, et sedit super eum, sicut scriptum est : Noli timere, filia Sion : ecce rex tuus venit sedens super pullum asinæ. Hæc non cognoverunt discipuli ejus primum : sed quando glorificatus est Jesus, tunc recordati sunt quia hæc erant scripta de eo, et hæc fecerunt ei. Testimonium ergo perhibebat turba, quæ erat cum eo quando Lazarum vocavit de monumento, et suscitavit eum a mortuis. Propterea et obviam venit ei turba : quia audierunt fecisse hoc signum. Pharisæi ergo dixerunt ad semetipsos : Videtis quia nihil proficimus ? ecce mundus totus post eum abiit. Erant autem quidam gentiles, ex his qui ascenderant ut adorarent in die festo. Hi ergo accesserunt ad Philippum, qui erat a Bethsaida Galilææ, et rogabant eum, dicentes : Domine, volumus Jesum videre. Venit Philippus, et dicit Andreæ : Andreas rursum, et Philippus dixerunt Jesu. Jesus autem respondit eis, dicens : "Venit hora, ut clarificetur Filius hominis. Amen, amen dico vobis, nisi granum frumenti cadens in terram, mortuum fuerit, ipsum solum manet : si autem mortuum fuerit, multum fructum affert. Qui amat animam suam, perdet eam ; et qui odit animam suam in hoc mundo, in vitam æternam custodit eam. Si quis mihi ministrat, me sequatur, et ubi sum ego, illic et minister meus erit. Si quis mihi ministraverit, honorificabit eum Pater Meus. Nunc anima mea turbata est. Et quid dicam ? Pater, salvifica Me ex hac hora. Sed propterea veni in horam hanc. Pater, clarifica nomen tuum." Venit ergo vox de cælo : "Et clarificavi, et iterum clarificabo." Turba ergo, quæ stabat, et audierat, dicebat tonitruum esse factum. Alii dicebant : Angelus ei locutus est. Respondit Jesus, et dixit : "Non propter Me hæc vox venit, sed propter vos. Nunc judicium est mundi : nunc princeps hujus mundi ejicietur foras. Et ego si exaltatus fuero a terra, omnia traham ad Me ipsum." Hoc autem dicebat, significans qua morte esset moriturus. Respondit ei turba : Nos audivimus ex lege, quia Christus manet in æternum : et quomodo tu dicis : Oportet exaltari Filium hominis ? Quis est iste Filius hominis ? Dixit ergo eis Jesus : "Adhuc modicum, lumen in vobis est. Ambulate dum lucem habetis, ut non vos tenebræ comprehendant ; et qui ambulant in tenebris, nescit quo vadat. Dum lucem habetis, credite in lucem, ut filii lucis sitis." Hæc locutus est Jesus, et abiit et abscondit se ab Eis.
At that time the chief priests thought to kill Lazarus also: Because many of the Jews, by reason of him, went away and believed in Jesus. And on the next day, a great multitude that was come to the festival day, when they had heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, Took branches of palm trees and went forth to meet Him and cried Hosanna. Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord, the king of Israel. And Jesus found a young ass and sat upon it, as it is written: Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold thy King cometh, sitting on an ass' colt. These things His disciples did not know at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him and that they had done these things to Him. The multitude therefore gave testimony, which was with Him, when He called Lazarus out of the grave and raised him from the dead. For which reason also the people came to meet Him, because they heard that he had done this miracle. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves: Do you see that we prevail nothing? Behold, the whole world is gone after Him. Now there were certain Gentiles among them, who came up to adore on the festival day. These therefore came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired Him, saying: Sir, we would see Jesus. Philip cometh and telleth Andrew. Again Andrew and Philip told Jesus. But Jesus answered them, saying: The hour is come that the Son of man should be glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falling into the ground die, itself remaineth alone. But if it die it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it and he that hateth his life in this world keepeth it unto life eternal. If any man minister to Me, let him follow Me: and where I am, there also shall My minister be. If any man minister to Me, him will My Father honor. Now is My soul troubled. And what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour. But for this cause I came unto this hour. Father, glorify Thy name." A voice therefore came from Heaven: "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again." The multitude therefore that stood and heard said that it thundered. Others said: An angel spoke to Him. Jesus answered and said: "This voice came not because of Me, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of the world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to Myself." Now this he said, signifying what death He should die. The multitude answered Him: We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever. And how sayest Thou: The Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man? Jesus therefore said to them: "Yet a little while, the light is among you. Walk whilst you have the light, and the darkness overtake you not. And he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither be goeth. Whilst you have the light, believe in the light, that you may be the children of light." These things Jesus spoke: and He went away and hid Himself from them.

    There is little stretch in today's VerbumQUO for it almost sounds as it is, hora - pronounced OR-AH - "hour." Let's look briefly at Webster's definition and the etymology of the word that reaches back into the Greek:

    "Hour", noun [From Latin hora, from Greek hora meaning a season, hour.] 1. The twenty-fourth part of the day; sixty minutes. See MEASURE. Table 6, Abbreviated hr. or h. (plural: hrs).] 2. The time of the day, as indicated by a timepiece. 3. Fixed time; a particular time or occasion; also, a short indefinite period of time. 4. A measure of distance estimated by the time normally consumed in traveling it. 5. Astron. Fifteen degrees of longitude. See MEASURE, Table 8 6. pl. Ecclesial a The times of the day set for prayer. The hours (also called canonical hours) in their order from dawn to after nightfall are matins (with lauds), prime, terce, sext, none, vespers, and compline. b. The prayers appointed for such times."

    As we can see, in regards to measure, Christ's reference here is a fixed time ordained by His heavenly Father for the specific time designated when the Jews would revolt against Him Who was and is and will ever be the Messias. He must be put to death and, the cruel twist for the Jews, is that by plotting His death, they gave comfort for century upon century after to those who believe in Him and are baptized. Christ provides for them one last chance before He steals away to hide but for, quite possibly an hour or so, before He begins preparation for the Jewish feasts and the hour of His betrayal.

    Regarding today's Gospel, the venerable Benedictine Abbot and candidate for eventual acknowledgment as a Doctor of the Church when She is fully restored - Dom Prosper Gueranger - presents the scenario in Bethania, just outside of Jerusalem in his Volume 6 for Passiontide and Holy Week for this day in The Liturgical Year:

        "Jesus is in Bethania, where a feast is being given in His honor. Lazarus, whom Jesus has restored to life, is present at this repast, which is given in the house of Simon the leper. Martha is busy looking after the various arrangements; her sister, Mary Magdalene, has a heavenly presentiment that the death and burial of her beloved Master are soon to be, and she has poured upon Him a precious perfume. The holy Gospel, which ever preserves such a mysterious reserve with regard to the Mother of Jesus, does not tell us that Mary was at Bethania on this occasion, but there can be no doubt of her being present. The apostles were also there, and partook of the repast. Whilst the friends of our Savior are thus grouped around Him, in this village, which is about two thousand paces from Jerusalem, the aspect of the faithless city becomes more and more threatening; and yet, though His disciples are not aware of it, Jesus is to enter the city tomorrow, and in a most public manner. The heart of Mary is a prey to sadness; Magdalene is absorbed in grief; everything announces that the fatal day is near. "

    Prefacing today's Gospel is the Epistle of the Prophet Jeremias on the very future of the Jewish who are about to put Jesus to death. Jeremias proclaims "forgive not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from Thy sight:" The Abbot adds veritable insight to this Epistle:

        "It makes us tremble to read these awful anathemas, which Jeremias, the figure of Christ, speaks against his enemies, the Jews. This prophecy, which was literally fulfilled at the first destruction of Jerusalem by the Assyrians, received a more terrible fulfillment at the second visitation of God's anger upon this city of malediction. This time, it was not because the Jews had persecuted a prophet; it was because they had rejected and crucified the very Son of God. It was to their long-expected Messias that they had rendered evil for good. It was not a saint like Jeremias, that had spoken good for them to the Lord, and besought Him to turn away His indignation from them; the Man-God Himself had, without ceasing, made intercession for them, and treated them with the tenderest mercy. But all was in vain; this ungrateful people seemed to hate their divine Benefactor in proportion to His love for them; and at length, in the transport of their fury, they cried out: 'His Blood be upon us and upon our children!' (St. Matthew 27: 25). What a frightful chastisement they entailed on themselves by this imprecation! God heard and remembered. Alas! the sinner, who knows Jesus and the worth of His Blood, yet who again sheds this precious Blood, does not he expose himself to the severity of that same justice which fell so heavily on the Jews? Let us tremble and pray: let us implore the divine mercy in favor of those many obstinately blind and hardened sinners, who are hastening to destruction. Oh! that by the fervor of our supplications addressed to the merciful Heart of our common Redeemer, we could obtain a reversion of their sentence, and secure them pardon!"

    What loving sentiment that expresses true Christian theology and Saint Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 13: 13 "the greatest of these is charity." And yet, despite this charity expressed, as well as kindness, there never was in Christ, His Apostles or disciples and any follower of Christ an ounce of compromise of the Truth. That is the difference between true Catholic theology in striving, though we be sinners, toward sanctity and the lukewarm attitude that permeates today's conciliar church where everything is open to compromise and placating man, no matter how sacrosanct the subject matter and dogma. Just as we wonder how can Novus Ordo 'Catholics' be so blind, so clueless to what has happened to their Faith, Dom Gueranger wonders how the Jews could not see the fulfillment of the Messias in Jesus:

        "The enemies of Jesus have come to that pitch of hatred, which robs a man of his senses. Lazarus, who has been restored from death to life, is here standing before them; and instead of his resuscitation convincing them of Jesus' being the Messias, it sets them thinking how best to make away with this irresistible witness. O senseless men! that Jesus Who raised him to life when dead, can again bring him to life if you murder him. Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, which we are solemnly to commemorate tomorrow, adds to their jealousy and hatred. Behold say they, we prevail nothing: the whole world goes after Him. Alas! this ovation is to be soon followed by one of those reverses to which a populace is so subject. Meanwhile, however, we have certain Gentiles who desire to see Jesus. It is the beginning of the fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy: 'The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and shall be given to a nation yielding the fruits thereof' (St. Matthew 21: 43). Then shall the Son of man be glorified; then shall all nations, by their humble homage to the Crucified, protest against the sinful blindness of the Jews. But, before this comes to pass, it is requisite that the divine Wheat be cast into the ground and die. Then, the glorious harvest; and the beautiful seed shall yield a hundredfold."

    There, in today's Gospel is proof of the difference between the Church Christ established for all time on the Rock of Peter Petram (cf. St. Matthew 16: 18-19) and the imposter church that has forced the former into eclipse. Just as the wheat is now cast back into the ground and, yes, may even die, it will not be in vain. The dry martyrs and the blood martyrs of these times, though their names are not echoed in the ears or mouths of the world or its own fast approaching one world religion of satan, they are remembered to God and His saints, and on the hearts of all Traditional Catholics who, despite the inconveniences, persecutions and tribulations, strive to be obedient to the divine Harvester. Beautiful seed will sprout again and, we can only hope, we will see it from our own heavenly perch.

    The Abbot completes his meditation for today's Gospel by giving us an insight into Christ's human nature, for He was like us in all things save sin:

        "And yet, Jesus feels, in His human nature, a momentary fear at the thought of this death He is to undergo. It is not the agony in the garden; it is a trouble of soul. Let us listen to His words: Father! save Me from this hour. It is our God Who foresees all that He is about to suffer for our sake, and it fills Him with fear: He asks to be freed from it, thought His will has decreed and accepted it. He immediately adds: But for this cause I came unto this hour: Father! glorify Thy name. His soul is now calm; He once more accepts the hard conditions of our salvation. After this, His words bespeak a triumph; by virtue of the sacrifice about to be offered, satan shall be dethroned: the prince of this world shall be cast out. But the defeat of satan is not the only fruit of our Savior's immolation: man, earthly and depraved creature as he is, to be raised from this earth to Heaven. The Son of God is to be the heavenly loadstone, attracting man to Himself; And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to Myself. He forgets His sufferings, and the terrible death which just now troubled Him; He thinks but of the defeat of our implacable enemy, and of our being saved and glorified by His cross. These few words reveal the whole Heart of our Redeemer: if we attentively weigh them, they will suffice to inflame us with devotion as we celebrate the ineffable mysteries of Holy Week."

    We have reached that hour in Lent, when we should be prepared to enter Holy Week; to focus on Christ and His mission, to put aside all the unnecessary things of this world for at least a week. We have fasted daily to this point. The habit and resolution are hard; the spring brings new taunts and temptations, but we are still hidden in our Lenten shroud of penance and sacrifice. One more week to reap the fruits of sincere sinners striving to do the holy Will of God. It is not easy and, to replicate the actual Passion and Death, it will get steeper and longer. We have all four Gospels of the Passion to hear, and let us not hear it in the vein of 'hurry up' my legs are getting tired, but in the spirit of 'dwell with me, Lord, teach me how to pray and teach me how to embrace Thy sufferings unto my own as my humble, insufficient way of showing Thee how sorry I am for my sins, my imperfections, the lashes, scourges, thorns and nails I caused in my lifetime. Let the minute last an hour and seem like a second, catching me up in the contemplative hour to give me strength to persevere, to reach out and willingly accept my own cross and crosses for time is but a fleeting measure, and I ask time to make right my wrongs. If I am bereft of Thy ample graces, it is because I have not made wise use of my time on earth. Turn back the clock, and give me one more hour to make good. That's all the time I need, for in eternity, there is no hour; time is suspended forever. For now, strengthen me in body, mind and soul to spend each day at least one hour with Thee.

Michael Cain, editor, The Daily Catholic


    SATURDAY
    March 31, 2007
    vol 18, no. 90
    VerbumQUO