St. Vincent Ferrer, O. P. –
A Very Devout Contemplation
Which Includes the
Whole Lifetime of Jesus Christ Our Savior
from the Parts of
the Mass
Every Christian
ought to believe what the Master, Jesus, on Holy Thursday ordained and
instituted the holy sacrament of the Mass, to the holy apostles present, and he
commanded them that they were to do the same with great reverence and perpetual
memorial, according to what St. Luke says (Lk 22:19), and St. Paul to the
Corinthians: "Do this in memory of me," (1 Cor 11:24) Namely: you should want to recall and remember
devoutly, by hearing Mass, the entire blessed life of Jesus Christ. For this reason the priest, when elevating
the chalice, says: "As often as you shall do these actions, do this in
memory of Me." He does not say:
"In memory of my passion," but "in my memory," signifying
that the Mass comprehends not only the sacred death of Jesus Christ, but also,
quietly [tacite] his blessed life, beginning from his incarnation up to the
holy Ascension.
Someone might say:
This command was given and imposed only to priests and not to laypeople. I reply that this command was also given to
the laity. To the priests it was
ordained that they remember the holy life of Jesus Christ by devoutly
celebrating Mass, to the laity however by devoutly hearing, attentively
listening and contemplating.
And I find that
the Son of God, descending from heaven and assuming human flesh in the virginal
womb of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, up to the day on which he ascended to heaven
did thirty principal deeds which is comprehended and reprised in the Mass. And they are the following.
1. The first work which our Master and Savior Jesus Christ,
did for us in this world, was his sublime and wonderful incarnation, when
descending from heaven he placed himself in the bosom of the Virgin Mary, by
which he put on our vesture, that is our humanity; for the divinity was hidden
under the humanity. And this wonderful work is symbolized and represented in
the Solemn Mass, when the priest enters the sacristy, signifying the entry of
the Son of God into the bosom of the Virgin Mary, where he was clothed with our
humanity.
Here the devout
Christian ought to contemplate three things: first, that just as in the
sacristy there are relics, jewels, and other ecclesiastical decorations, so in
this glorious sacristy, that is in the Virginal womb, there were relics, namely
the power of God the Father working, wisdom and the person of God the Son
incarnating himself and the grace of the Holy Spirit informing. There were jewels namely grace and virtues,
for in the Virgin Mary dwells the fullness of grace and virtues; and ornaments with which our high priest is
about to celebrate Mass, on Good Friday, on the altar of the True Cross, in the
sacred and sanctified body of Jesus Christ, from the purest and most chaste
blood of the Virgin Mary formed and incarnated.
Second is that
when the priest is vested in the sacristy, no lay person sees him; but they
believe that he is vested and the hope that he will come forward shortly. For which it must be noted that when [dum]
our high priest Jesus Christ vested himself in the virginal womb of the Virgin
Mary, no one from the Jewish people saw him or knew him; in the same way that
his Incarnation was hidden and kept secret, the believers however believed and
hoped that he would vest himself, that is be incarnated and born of the Virgin,
just as it had been prophesied by many prophets.
Third is that the
priest in the sacristy puts on seven vestments. Namely the cassock, if he is a
simple priest -- a rochet if is he is a bishop, a scapular if he is a monk;--
amice, alb, cincture, maniple, stole and chasuble. So, our great high priest vested himself in the womb of the
Virgin Mary, who is called a sacristy, seven vestments, namely the seven gifts
of the Holy Spirit, by which the most sacred Body of Jesus Christ is vested and
dressed, (Isaiah 11:2-3) This is the
first work in the symbolism of the Mass.
2. The second work which our Savior Jesus did was when on
the night of his birth day, God and man he came out from the virginal womb and
revealed himself to the whole world, ant the night, which had been dark, is
illuminated like the day. And he wished
to be born before Joseph and Mary, and placed in the middle of two animals, the
ass and the ox. And a multitude of
angels were singing: "Glory to God in the highest!" And the shepherds worshiped.
Secretly he
remained in the glorious sacristy, that is in the Virgin Mary, after his birth,
openly and publicly he declared himself.
This is symbolized when the priest comes out from the sacristy. The Deacon represents the Virgin Mary, the
Sub-deacon, St. Joseph, two acolytes the ox and the ass. The light which they carry signifies the
brightness which showed forth at the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Priests who with candles and with a loud
voice sing "Glory to the Father…" when the priest goes out from the
sacristy, they represent the multitude of angels singing: "Glory is given
to God, etc." The cymbals sound
and the bells ring, which signifies the great joy of the shepherds when they
were celebrating with the sound of flutes [tibiarum] the birth of our Savior
and high priest. When he exits from the
sacristy, dressed in gleaming vestments, the priest symbolizes the purity of
Jesus Christ who pure and shining remained without the stain of sin.
3. The third
wonderful work which Jesus Christ did was when on the eight day after his
nativity he willed to be circumcised. For original sin circumcision happened, for which in no way was Jesus
Christ obliged, since he was without any stain of sin, but accepting it he
taught us a great example of humility, wishing to appear a sinner and in the
likeness of sin.
And this the
priest symbolizes when making a profound bow he confesses that he is a sinner,
saying: "I confess to almighty God, " etc. Although the priest be
sacramentally absolved, he is nevertheless bound to declare himself a sinner,
even if he were holier than John the Baptist; for demonstrating and signifying
that Jesus Christ, who is the beginning and fullness of all sanctity and
perfection, wished to appear a sinner, subjecting himself to the law of
circumcision, so that he might put an end to it and complete it; or signifying
the mystical body of the Church and all of mankind.
4. The fourth work which he did was when he
summoned the three kings form the East, led by a star, which led them up to the
manger of the ox and ass, in the middle of which they adored and confessed him
to be God and Lord of the universe, offering him gold, frankincense and
myrrh.
This is symbolized
when the priest, after the confession, ascends the altar and kisses it,
profoundly bowing his head saying,:
" Take away from us, O Lord, we beseech You, all our iniquities
that we may enter with pure minds into the Holy of Holies,"(1) and just as three kings brought three
gifts, the priest offers, by bowing himself, the incense of devout prayer, the
gold of adoration with great reverence, and the bitter myrrh, signing himself
with the sign of the Holy Cross in memory of the sorrowful and bitter passion
of Jesus Christ.
5. The fifth work
which Jesus Christ did in this world, was when he wished to be presented in the
temple. His glorious mother brought him
there and presented him, and there were present Simenon and that holy widow,
Anna, praising God.
This the priest
symbolizes when he comes to the side of the altar, receives the missal and
reads the Entrance Antiphon [Introit] of the Mass. The Deacon and Sub-deacon and assistant symbolize the glorious
Simeon and the prophetess Anna. The
Acolytes and the others, who should not approach the altar, symbolize the
Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, and the other ancients and parents, who were
standing at a distance hearing and devoutly paying attention. Truly the virgin
Mary was entirely worthy that she would approach the altar, but she chose not
to, to give an example to the laity who also as holy and justified, ought not
ascend to the altar unless because of an urgent necessity, otherwise not
without sin.[non sine damno.] When
the holy man Simeon received the
glorious Son of God, he sang four verses (Lk 2:29-32), signifying the four
actions which the priest does; namely, the reading of the Introit; Kyrie
eleison, which is the same as imploring the mercy of God the Father for himself
and others, the Glory to God, and the Prayer.
6. The sixth work
which Our Lord Jesus Christ did in this world, was when he fled from the
promised land to the land of Egypt, yielding the place to the fury of Herod.
And here he remained with his glorious mother and St. Joseph for seven years.
And this is
represented in a solemn Mass when the Sub-deacon with one acolyte goes to read
the Epistle, the priest remaining at the altar with another and a Deacon; and
then the take themselves from the altar, and are seated; and sitting, they do
seven things, which represents the seven years when Jesus Christ remained in
Egypt: First, the epistle is read, second the Responsory, third the Alleluia (a
Hebrew word which means "We praise God," fourth, a sequence
[prosa]; fifth a blessing is given to
the Deacon, -- he performs the last act
standing, signifying that in the seventh year Jesus Christ returned to his own
land.
7. The seventh work
which he did in this world, was when, having returned from Egypt into the
promised land after the death of Herod, led by his Mother and St. Joseph into
the temple of Jerusalem, and there he stayed. And on the third day, his Mother and Joseph discovered him in the middle
of the teachers, listening to them and asking questions.
And this
represents the priest, when rising from his seat, goes to the altar and with
devout attention listens to the singing of the Gospel, signifying that in the
temple Jesus Christ listened to the Jews and he having been questioned prudently was instructing them in the
faith of the Messiah. And so, the
gospel ended, the priest intones the Credo,
"I believe in one God."
8. The eighth work
which our Savior Jesus Christ did in this world, was that when he was found by
his mother and St. Joseph in the temple,
so much was their joy that they were not able to keep from tears;
which Jesus Christ seeing, out of
humility and love,, left the teachers and came with them to Nazareth where, that
he might console them of the sadness which they had had at his omission, he
served them, according to the gospel which says: "He was subject to
them," (Lk 2:51).
And this humble
service the priest symbolizes when, having said the Creed, he turns himself to
the people saying, The Lord be with you; and then he arranges [disponit] the
host and chalice, and the other things pertaining to the holy sacrifice, in
symbolizing the deference of Jesus Christ toward the Virgin Mary and St.
Joseph; as it is said by St. Paul and St. Matthew ch. 20, " the Son of man
is not come to be ministered unto, but to minister," (Mt 20:28)
9. The ninth work
which he did in this world was when thirty years old, he left Nazareth where he
was serving his mother and St. Joseph, and in many ways: for with the other
boys he used to go to the spring, which was a long way from Nazareth just as
the monastery of the Çaydia is from the town of Valencia. Of this service the Master of Church History
(Peter Comestor, 1178) makes explicit mention.
Also he would help St. Joseph in his carpentry work, just as Matthew
says in ch. 13:55, and Mark ch. 6:3, and according to the Gloss, by St.
Nicholas of Lyra in these gospels. And
after he had completed thirty years, he left them and went to the Jordan River,
and received baptism which baptism indeed was not necessary for him, but he
accepted it so that through contact with his sacred body there might be
communicated to the water the regenerative power for saving those believing and
obeying him.
And this the
priest symbolizes when he washes his fingers, not because of necessity, since
he is pure in conscience through sacramental confession, and clean by a natural
bath, but to commemorate the testimony of humility which Jesus Christ gave wishing
to be baptized.
10. The tenth work
which our Savior did in this world was, according to Luke, Mark and Matthew,
that after the baptism he went into the desert and fasted forty days and forty
nights, neither eating nor drinking, but the whole time staying in prayer, not praying for himself but for us.
And this is
symbolized when the priest at the middle of the altar bows profoundly and says,
"In a spirit of humility…,"(2) praying that in the Holy
Sacrifice, we might become a sacrifice [hostia] which is pleasing to the Lord
our God. This prayer commemorates the
prostrations and humiliations which the Savior was doing in the desert, praying
and beseeching. The priest however turns himself around to the people saying:
"Pray brethren…," for me that my sacrifice and yours may be
acceptable before God. And those
attending then should say, "The Holy Spirit come over you, etc…" (3)Note that the prayer of
Jesus Christ in the desert was secret; so in this step, the priest prays
secretly so that not even the deacon nor the Sub-deacon can hear.
11. The eleventh
work which Jesus the Savior did was that after he had fasted he began to
preach, crying out: "Do penance, and the kingdom of God is at hand."
And the priest
symbolizes this by saying, in a loud voice, "Lift up your hearts."(4) By teaching us that Jesus Christ taught
both by mouth and by example. And so as
he sings the Preface he holds his hands up, and not down. [elevatas et not
demissas.]
12. The twelfth work
which Jesus Christ did in this world was that not only was he teaching by word
and deed, but he confirmed his sacred teachings with miracles. For only God can work such things, namely
raise the dead, give sight to the blind, heal the paralytics.
And this the
priest commemorates when three times he
says, "Holy," denoting that Jesus Christ worked miracles not through
his human power, but in virtue of the three divine persons, Father and Son and
the Holy Spirit, of one all powerful God.
Finally he says: "Hosanna," that is "Saving," to
demonstrate that Christ worked miracles so that he might save us.(5)
13. The thirteenth
work which he did in this world was when after he had preached and worked many
miracles, at thirty-three years of age, he came to Jerusalem so that he might
dine with his disciples. And secretly
many things were necessary for the redemption of mankind, especially two, namely the institution of
the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar and the great sermon which is prolonged
in St. John , from chapter thirteen to seventeen.
And this is
symbolized when the priest quietly reads the Canon, only the deacon hearing,
just as only the apostles heard the sermon of Christ.
14. The fourteenth
work was when, these two thing done, he entered into the garden [to] Jericho, and there offered three prayers,
demonstrating that in so far as man he prayed to God the Father for three
conditions of persons, namely for the holy fathers who were in purgatory, for
those present in the world at that time, and for those in the future. After the third prayer he sweat blood,
warning that those who were to come, with special fervor ought to pray because
of the great dangers and trials which shortly will come upon them and which
they will not be able to overcome unless by fervid prayers and in the strength
of patience.
The priest
symbolizes these three prayers by making three signs of the cross
over the
chalice, saying, "Blessed, ascribed, ratified…" and finally two
other
crosses, of which one over the chalice saying "And of the blood,"
that we might know that in his Passion he prayed for himself insofar as
he was
a man, and for us sinners.(6)
15. The fifteenth
work was when after the aforesaid
prayer a great multitude of people, came forward with a great clamor, with
swords and clubs, to seize Jesus. And
he calmly [benevolenter] was willing to be seized and bound and led before
Pilate who sentenced him to death on the cross: from which sentence he wished
not to appeal, but gently assumed and carried his blessed cross.
And this is
represented in the Mass when the priest takes the host for consecrating it,
which he holds in his hands, saying, "And lifting up his eyes to
heaven," etc.(7) And then there is a great sounding of
bells and of the bell wheel [rotae](8) signifying the tumult and sounds of the Jews
when they arrested Jesus. Then the
priest makes the sign of the cross over the host saying: "Bless and break," etc.signifying
the sentence of death passed by Pilate.
16. The sixteenth
work was when, sentenced to death, Jesus Christ was led to death on Calvary and
there he was crucified between two thieves, one on his right who is called
Dismas, the other on the left named Gestas.
And this is
signified when the priest elevates the host in which is Christ, God and man and
he holds it with both hands. The right
signifies the good thief, the left the bad.
After this he elevates the chalice, signifying that Jesus Christ on the
cross offered and sacrificed his precious blood to God the Father for the
redemption of mankind. For which reason
the priest elevating the precious blood, ought to say to himself, "We
offer to you Lord the inestimable price of our redemption."
17. The seventeenth
work which Jesus Christ did was that, when he was crucified, he did not cease
praying. And first he said in a loud
voice, "Eli! Eli! Lama sabachtani." – My God My God why have you
abandoned me!" To which words St.
Jerome adds: "Look on me.:" And he continued prayer up to the verse:
"Into your hands I commend my spirit." And there were 150 versicles (syllables?) Christ in the Cross said as many syllables
as there are psalms, 150.
And while he was
on the cross the wicked Jews did not cease laying on him injuries and curses,
and others, saying, "Vah, you who destroy the temple of God, etc.,"
(Mt 27:40). Others: " If you be the Son of God, come down
from the cross." Others finally, "He saved others; himself he cannot
save," (v. 42). And the Lord
calmly did not reply, but continued in prayer with great patience.
And this the priest
symbolizes when holding his arms extended in the form of a cross, he prays
saying, "Mindful, therefore, Lord, we, Your ministers,," etc.(9)
18. The eighteenth
work which Jesus Christ did in this world was when although already wounded
with four wounds, namely in his hands and feet, nevertheless he wished, after
his death to be pierced with a lance in his sacred side, whence flowed out
blood and water. Which miraculously
happened, contrary to nature, for all his blood had already been poured out,
first in the scourging, then in the crowning of thorns, and in the nailing of
his hands and feet.
And these five
principal wounds are signified, when the priest makes the sign of the cross
five times over the host and precious Blood saying, "Through him, and with
him, etc."(10)
19. The nineteenth
work was when Christ crucified, crying out said the seven [last] words, which
is commemorated when the priest recites the Our Father, in which seven
petitions are contained. And indeed he
does not say it secretly, but singing, just as Christ on the cross spoke out
with a loud voice.
20. The twentieth
work was, that Christ wanted his most sacred humanity to be divided in three
parts; namely, the body on the cross, the blood shed in the tortures, and the
soul which descended to hell to the holy fathers.
And this is
represented in the Mass, when the priest divides the host in three parts. It must be noted however that he holds them
together, because, even though the most holy humanity of Christ had been divided,
never was the Divinity separated from it; moreover its was united to each part,
as St. Paul says: "What he assumed once, he never divided," [?]. It is similar to when a fragment of crystal
is exposed to the sun, and then it is smashed into many more fragments, the sun
lights up each part in the same way that it lights up the whole crystal; so each part of the humanity of Christ
personally and substantially was filled with Divinity, just as the fragment of
crystal is filled with the sun.
21. The twenty-first
work which Christ performed was when he converted the many kinds of persons,
wishing to show the fruit of his passion. And first, he converted the thief, a
man of bad life and wicked deeds; second, a centurion, a leader of soldiers who
said, "Indeed this man was the son of God," (Mk 15:39); and third,
ordinary people, according to which St. Luke said "And all the multitude
of them …saw the things that were done," namely the miracles which
happened, "returned striking their breasts," (Lk 23:48).
These various
persons are symbolized in the Mass when the priest three times says "Lamb
of God,"(11) first for every sinner, signifying that the
Lord Our God wishes to spare him just as he spared the thief, second signifying
that just as Jesus Christ illuminated the centurion, so the governors of the
people, whether spiritual or temporal he desires to illuminate them, and to
pardon them. And just as souls moved by
the passion of Christ come to salvation, so the priest, saying the third Lamb
of God, asks on behalf of the whole Christian people, that the Lord deign to
keep them in peace and in health, to pardon the sins of each, and to make them
worthy participants of his holy grace.
22. The
twenty-second work which Christ does in this world, was that after his holy
passion he did not immediately ascend into heaven, but through his most
profound humanity wished first to descend secretly to hell, that he might give
glory to the holy fathers, awaiting with great expectation. At the moment they saw him, they were filled
with great exultation, enjoying essential glory, now and forever free from any
pain.
And this the
priest prefigures when he puts a particle of the Host into the chalice to
denote how the soul of Christ descending to hell, so rejoiced the holy fathers
and confirmed them, that they hardly knew what happened to them in experiencing
such a fullness of happiness. And from
that sweetness and love they praised God saying, "Blessed be the Lord God
of Israel; because he hath visited and
wrought the redemption of his people," (Lk 1:68).
23. The twenty-third
work which Jesus Christ did in this world, was when after his painful death, he
willed and ordered his body to be taken down from the cross by his friends,
Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, and Gamaliel, having received permission from
Pilate, and they laid him to rest behind a large stone, which today still can
be seen in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. And then the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalen and the other devout persons
let out great cries of grief.
And this is
represented in the Mass when the priest, having given the sign of peace, (12)
for a short period of time during which he held the body of Christ in his
hands, ought to think of the sorrow of the Virgin Mary and of the others who
were mourning, and so should shed many tears, and to conceive a special sorrow
for his sins.
24. The
twenty-fourth work was what Christ wished to be anointed with balsam and myrrh,
to be wrapped in a clean burial cloth, and placed into a tomb newly carved in
the stone, without any corruption or fracture.
And this is
represented in the Mass when the priest takes the body of Christ, because the
heart of the priest ought to be a new tomb, without corruption; and just as the
tomb of Christ was of solid rock, so should he be strong in faith and a good
life. And just as the body of Christ was wrapped in a clean shroud, so the
conscience of the priest ought to be cleaned and shine forth with chastity. And
just as the body of Christ was anointed with balsam and spices, so the heart of
the priest ought to be saturated with every kind of virtue, not just the priest
but also every Christian, hearing Mass, with these thoughts it is fitting to
nourish their devotion.
25. The twenty-fifth
work which Christ did was when he rose on the third day from death to life, and
his tomb was opened.
And this the
priest prefigures coming from the middle to the side of the altar, signifying
that Christ from the mortal world passed into immortal life. And showing the empty chalice, as it
signifies the open tomb, and Christ through his infinite power to have risen.
And the deacon folds the corporal, in remembrance that the holy shroud by which
the sacred body of Jesus was wrapped, had been found in the tomb.
26. The
twenty-sixth work was that after his resurrection Christ appeared to the
glorious Virgin Mary his mother, although of this in the Gospel there is no
mention; the holy doctors but expressly affirm it, and especially St. Ambrose
in his book On Virgins. And indeed it was exquisitely fitting that
Christ before any others visited and comforted his mother, who more than others
had suffered from his death.
And this the
priest prefigures by saying, with his face to the people, "The Lord be
with you."(13). And then he
reads the Postcommunion which is a prayer of great consolation, representing
the consoling words which Christ said to the his mother, and the great praise
which the holy fathers gave to her saying: "Queen of heaven rejoice," etc.(14)
27. The twenty-seventh
work which Christ did in this world, was when he appeared to the apostles
together in the upper room, and said: "Peace be with you."
And this is
represented in the Mass when the priest turning around to the people saying
again, "The Lord be with you," (15) which is the same as namely peace
be with you all.
28. The
twenty-eighth work was when he gathered the apostles and said; "Go ye into
the whole world, and preach …," (Mk 16:15).
And this is
symbolized at Mass when the priest says: "Go, the Mass is ended."
every believer returning to his work, because the holy sacrifice is
completed.
29. The twenty-ninth
work was when he fulfilled the promise made to Peter an the holy apostles,
namely, establishing St. Peter in possession of the papacy, saying, "Feed
by lambs," Then indeed, according to all the teachers, truly he
constituted him as the head of the universal church. And to the other apostles he said: "Receive the holy spirit;
whose sins you forgive," etc., giving power of forgiving sins which is
divine power.
And this is
represented at the end of Mass which the priest humbling himself profoundly,
bows his head as much as he can before the altar and says, : May it be pleasing
to you Blessed Trinity…"(16) petitioning the Trinity that the Holy
Sacrifice be acceptable to God, and be beneficial for all the people. Ant this bow which he makes kissing the
altar denotes the infinite mercy of our Gold who did not consider it unworthy
to humble his divine power, passing on to sinful men the power of forgiving
sins. And finally making the sign of
the cross over the people signifying that their sins are forgiven though the
sacred passion of Christ.
30. The thirtieth and last work of Christ in this world was
when, in the presence of his Mother and the holy apostles, and about fifty
people, according to St. Paul, standing on the Mount of Olives he wished to
ascend to heaven. And raising his hands
blessed all these who were lamenting his absence, and he returned to where he
had come from.
And this is
signified in the Mass when the priest, having given the blessing, returns to
the sacristy whence he had come.
And so the whole
life of our Redeemer in the sacred holy sacrifice of the Mass is covered.
To which glory may he lead us, he who lives and reigns forever and
ever. Amen.