 |
| Preparation for the Passover lamb |
Our
Lord and Master, Jesus, with his Apostles and disciples, took their places to
celebrate the feast of the lamb. He observed all the ceremonies of the Law
(Exodus 12, 3), as prescribed by Himself through Moses. During this last Supper
He gave to the Apostles an understanding of all the
ceremonies of the figurative
law, as observed by the Patriarchs and Prophets. He showed them how beneath it
was hidden the real truth, namely, all that He himself was to accomplish as
Redeemer of the world. He made them understand, that now the law of Moses and
its figurative meaning was evacuated by its real fulfilment; that, as the light
of the new law of grace had begun to shine, the shadows were dispelled and the
natural law, which had been reconfirmed by the precepts of Moses, was now
placed permanently upon its real foundation, ennobled and perfected by his own
teachings; that the efficacy of the Sacraments of the new Law abrogated those
of the old as being merely figurative and ineffectual. He told them that, by
celebrating this Supper, He set an end to the rites and obligations of the old
Law, which was only a preparation and a representation of what He was now about
to accomplish, and hence having attained its end, had now become useless. This
instruction enlightened the Apostles concerning the deep mysteries of this last
Supper.  |
| The upper room house in Jerusalem |
On this occasion the Redeemer composed a new
canticle by which He exalted the eternal Father for having in his Son fulfilled
the figures of the old Law and for thus advancing the glory of his holy name.
Prostrate upon the earth, He humiliated Himself in his humanity before God,
confessing, adoring and praising the Divinity as infinitely superior to his
humanity. Then addressing the eternal Father, He gave vent to the burning
affection of his heart in the following sublime prayer:
 |
| Upper room staircase |
.
“My eternal Father and infinite God, thy divine and eternal will resolved to
create this my human nature in order that I may be the Head of all those that
are predestined for thy glory and happiness and who are to attain their true
blessedness by availing themselves of my works. For this purpose, and in order
to redeem them from the fall of Adam, I have lived with them thirty-three
years. Now, my Lord and Father, the opportune and acceptable hour for
fulfilling thy eternal will has arrived, the greatness of thy holy name is
about to be revealed to men and thy incomprehensible Divinity, through holy
faith, is to be made known and exalted among all nations.
It is
time that the seven sealed book be opened as Thou hast commissioned Me to do,
and that the figures of old come to a happy solution (Apoc. 5, 7). The ancient
sacrifices of animals, which prefigured the one I am now voluntarily to make of
Myself for the children of Adam, for the members of my mystical body, for the
sheep of thy flock, must now come to an end, and I beseech Thee in this hour to
look down with an eye of mercy. If in the past thy anger has been placated by
these ancient figures and sacrifices which I am now about to abrogate, let it
now, my Father, be entirely extinguished, since I am ready to offer Myself in
voluntary sacrifice to die for men on the Cross and give Myself as a holocaust
of my love (Eph. 5,2). Therefore, Lord, let the rigor of thy justice be relaxed
and look upon the human race with eyes of mercy. Let Us institute a new law for
men, by which they may throw down the bars of their disobedience and open for themselves
the gates of heaven. Let them now find a free road and open portals for
entering with Me upon the vision of thy Divinity, as many of them as will
follow my footsteps and obey my law.”
The
eternal Father graciously received this prayer of our Redeemer and sent
innumerable hosts of his angelic courtiers to assist at the wonderful works,
which Christ was to perform in that place.
No
woman was in this gathering, not even the Mother of God. But while this
happened in the Cenacle, most holy Mary in her retreat was raised to highest
contemplation, in which She witnessed all that passed as if She were present.
Thus She was enabled to co-operate and correspond as a most faithful Helpmate,
enlightened by the highest wisdom. By heroic and celestial acts of virtue She
imitated the doings of Christ, our Saviour. She composed new and admirable
canticles of praise for all that the sacred humanity of Christ was now about to
accomplish in obedience to the divine will and in accordance and in fulfilment
of the figures of the old Law.
