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| We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. ... That hope we have as an anchor of the soul--an anchor that can neither break nor drag. . |
The Station is in the church of St. Susanna, virgin and martyr of Rome. The first Christian place of worship was built here in the 4th century. It was probably the titulus of Pope Caius (283-296). Caius was St. Susanna's uncle, and tradition claims that the church stands on the site of her martyrdom.
Bl. Columba Marmion O.S.B.
Night Office
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Third
Week of Lent Year I SATURDAY
First Reading Hebrews 6:9-20
Responsory
Heb 6:19-20; 7:24-25
Jesus,
our forerunner, has passed beyond the veil on our behalf; he has become a high
priest for ever, of the order of Melchizedek. + For all eternity he lives and
intercedes for us.
V.
Because he can never lose his priesthood, there is no limit to his power to
save all who come to God through him. + For all eternity ...
Second Reading From the writings of Blessed Columba
Marmion, O.S.B. (Le Christ dans ses mysteres, 440-442)
The anchor of hope
Christ,
the supreme high priest of the human race, having conferred on us a legal
title, bears us up with him in hope to heaven.
We
must never forget that it is only through him that we can gain entrance there.
No human being can penetrate the holy of holies except with him; no creature
can enjoy eternal happiness except in the wake of Jesus; it is his precious
merits that win us infinite bliss. For all eternity we shall say to him,
"Because of you, Jesus Christ, because of the blood you shed for us, we
stand before God's face. It is your sacrifice, your immolation, that wins our
every moment of glory and happiness. To you, the Lamb that was slain, be all
honor and praise and thanksgiving!"
In
this interval of time until Christ comes to fetch us as he promised, he is preparing
a place for us, and above all he is supporting us by his prayer. Indeed,
what is our high priest doing in heaven? The Letter to the Hebrews gives the
answer: he has entered heaven in order to stand now in God's presence on our
behalf. His priesthood is eternal, and therefore eternal too is his work as
mediator. How infinitely powerful is his influence! There he stands before his
Father, unceasingly offering him that sacrifice recalled by the marks of the
wounds he has voluntarily retained; there he stands, alive for ever, ever
interceding for us.
As
high priest he is unfailingly heard, and for our sake he speaks again the
priestly prayer of the last supper: Father, it is for them that I pray
they are in the world ... guard those whom you have given me I pray
for them, that they may have in themselves the fullness of joy ... Father,
I will that they may be with me where I am.
How
could these sublime truths of our faith fail to inspire us with unwavering
confidence? People of scanty faith though we are, what have we to fear? And
what may we not hope for? Jesus is praying for us, and praying always. Let us
then trust absolutely in the sacrifice, the merits and the prayer of our high
priest. He is the beloved Son in whom the Father delights; how could he be
refused a hearing, after showing his Father such love?
Father,
look upon your Son. Through him and in him grant us to be one day where he is,
so that through him and with him and in him we may also render to you all honour
and glory.
Responsory
Christ
came as the high priest of the good things to come. Not with the blood of goats
or calves, but with his own blood + he entered the holy place once for all, and
won our eternal salvation.
V.
He did not enter a holy place fashioned by man: he entered heaven itself. + He
entered the ...
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