Holy Thursday 2007
Holy Thursday readings
Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est
The love of Christ has gathered us as one rejoice in him with joy that he imparts Let us revere and love the living God and love each other with unfeigning hearts
And so when we are gathered here as one let quarrels die and envious rancour cease. Be our resolve all bitterness to shun and in our midst be Christ his love and peace
O lead us master by your saving grace to where the blessed glory in your sight then let us see and love you face to face gathered once more in everlasting light
Text: James McCauley, noted late Catholic writer and poet and music: by the distinguished Catholic composer, Richard Connolly: both Australians.
Click Here to Download
THOUGHT
Holy Thursday has always been the liturgy that touches my heart profoundly in Holy Week. On this night Our Lord gave the world the gift of himself in the Eucharist, the gift of the sacramental priesthood and the command to love and to serve unconditionally.
Let us pray for His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI as our chief Pastor and successor of St Peter on earth, that the Lord will preserve and guide him and give him strength in carrying out his onerous task.
Let us pray in a special way for our priests in these troubled times and let us pray for all those who have dedicated their lives to the Religious Life and the service of the Church.
There are so many problems and "issues" today that cause division amongst so many in the Church. Let us be guided by the Holy Spirit so that He will lead us to the truth in the decisions that need to be made.
Let us pray for world peace particularly in the Middle East and especially for all the innocent people in this troubled region: the mums, dads and children of the Jews, Moslems and Christians alike who are caught in the middle of this conflict and have to endure so much simply due to the fact that the human race has drifted so far from Almighty God. Let us also pray for the troops and personnel who are doing so much under difficult circumstances to help bring stability and democracy to Iraq.
It is on Holy Thursday particularly when we spend that one hour in the presence of Our Lord after the mass of The Last Supper that I feel the need for Jesus to enter my heart and my entire life.
Wood carving in the church of the Abbey Church of St Michel de Cuxa, France, sculptor unknown. Photo courtesy of Mr P de Lasala.
PRAYER
Help us all Lord Jesus that we may pray:
Jesus my Lord my God and my all
How can I love Thee as I ought?
And how revere this wondrous gift so far surpassing hope or thought?
Sweet Sacrament we Thee adore.
O make us love Thee more and more
Click Here to Download
Faith of Our Fathers CD gratefully acknowledged.
Frank Patterson tenor.
Sadly Frank Patterson died of a brain tumour six years ago RIP.
MUSIC TO HELP US ON OUR WAY
O Sacrament Most Holy O Sacrament Divine
All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine
Click Here to Download
Faith of Our Fathers CD gratefully acknowledged.
The Last Supper from the restored High Altar of St Benedicts Broadway, Sydney, Australia. Photo courtesy of P. de Lasala.
QUIET MUSIC FOR REFLECTION
ADORO TE DEVOTE
Regensburger Domspatzen gratefully acknowledged
Adoro te devote, latens Deitas,
Quae sub his figuris vere latitas;
Tibi se cor meum totum subiicit,
Quia te contemplans, totum deficit.
Visus, tactus, gustus in te fallitur,
Sed auditu solo tuto creditur;
Credo quidquid dixit Dei Filius,
Nil hoc verbo veritatis verius.
In Cruce latebat sola Deitas.
At hic latet simul et humanitas:
Ambo tamen credens, atque confitens,
Peto quod petivit latro paenitens.
Godhead here in hiding, whom I do adore,
Masked by these bare shadows, shape and nothing more,
See, Lord, at thy service low lies here a heart
Lost, all lost in wonder at the God thou art.
Seeing, touching, tasting are in thee deceived:
How says trusty hearing? that shall be believed;
What God's Son has told me, take for truth I do;
Truth himself speaks truly or there's nothing true.
On the cross thy godhead made no sign to men,
Here thy very manhood steals from human ken:
Both are my confession, both are my belief,
And I pray the prayer of the dying thief.
St Thomas Aquinas
Click Here to Download
Salzburg Cathedral Choir conducted by Prof Janos Czifra
W.A. Mozart Ave Verum.
Used with kind permission of Professor Jnos Czifra
This exquisite work was composed shortly before Mozarts death in 1791 at the age of 35years.
Ave, verum corpus
natum de Maria Virgine,
Vere passum immolatum
in Cruce pro homine,
Cujus latus perforatum
unda fluxit et sanguine,
Esto nobis praegustatum
in mortis examine.
Hail, true body
born of the Virgin Mary,
Who truly suffered sacrifice
on the Cross for man,
From whose pierced side
blood streamed and flowed,
Be for us a foretaste
Of the test of death
Click Here to Download
Mary Immaculate Church Manly Australia. Photo taken during exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
