Sixth Day: O King of the Gentiles . . .

 

O Rex gentium, et desideratus earum, 
lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum:
veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.

O King of the gentiles and their desired One, 
the cornerstone that makes both one: 
come, and deliver man, whom you formed out of the dust of the earth.

Meditation: Both the Old and New Testaments refer to the king being anointed with oil. David was anointed. Jesus' feet were anointed with oil and tears at table before his passion. The sacraments of baptism, confirmation, ordination, and the sacrament of the sick include anointing with specifically blessed oils: the oil of catechumens, sacred chrism, and the oil of the sick. The anointing we receive at baptism and confirmation joins us to Jesus in a share of His Passion. Consider the great gift of anointing. What does it mean to me?

Prayer:
The Anima Christi appears on the fly-leaf of The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. It is an ancient prayer that was not written by Ignatius. However, it is obvious Ignatius knew the prayer and entered deeply into it.

Soul of Christ

Soul of Christ, sanctify me 
Body of Christ, save me 
Blood of Christ, inebriate me 
Water from the side of Christ, wash me  
Passion of Christ, strengthen me 
O good Jesus, hear me 
Within Thy wounds hide me 
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee 
From the malicious enemy defend me 
In the hour of my death call me 
And bid me come unto Thee 
That I may praise Thee with Thy saints 
and with Thy angels 
Forever and ever. Amen.  


Anima Christi (sung in Latin)

National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MhEsqPrdAY

Gate to the enclosure at the Charterhouse in Vermont.  The snow was slowing down after dropping seventeen inches.

 

 

F

Fr. Jack, SJ, MD