“Christian! I am with thee still,
Always loving, always near;
Whether good betide or ill,
I am with thee—never fear.
Didst thou dream that I forsook thee
In My Passion’s bitter smart?
Christian, no! ’Twas then I took thee
Closest to My tender Heart.
When Mine Agony oppress’d Me,
When the Bloody Sweat ran down,
Were the woes that most distress’d Me,
Christian, thinkest thou, Mine Own?
When My Soul was sorely troubled,
Then ’twas most I thought of thee;
All My sharpest griefs were doubled
By the load thou laidst on Me.
Every where thine image met Me,
E’en as though were none beside;
Could I leave thee or forget thee,
When ’twas thou for whom I died?
Now My grief and shame are ended;
Death is vanquish’d, Glory won,
Satan baffl’d, Man befriended,
God propitious in His Son.
Did thy craven spirit fail thee
When it lost Me out of sight?
Did the pangs of doubt assail thee,
Doubt of Mine inherent Might?
Did not legions without number
Burn to stay My Passion’s course?
Did My Godhead seem to slumber
When ’twas I that stemm’d Its force?
Death itself could not restrain Me—
Weak its hold though sharp its strife;
Nor the narrow Tomb contain Me—
How could cerements bind The Life?
Lo! I stand before thee glorious;
I am Risen, and am here,
Over sin and hell victorious;
I am with thee—never fear.”
(Taken from Lyra Liturgica, “Christ’s Abiding Presence with His Elect,”
based on the Introit of the Mass for Easter Day: Resurrexi, et adhuc tecum sum.)
Christ is risen; indeed, He is arisen, alleluia! — Happy Eastertide and a most blessed feast of St. Vincent Ferrer!
My current web hosting service is discontinuing the plan that I signed up with, so I’ll soon be moving my account to another, hopefully more stable, place, which may result in a bit of a mess on some of the webpages, requiring cleanup. Please pray that the process can go smoothly! . . .
“O Glorious Apostle and worker of miracles, St. Vincent Ferrer, a new angel of the Apocalypse and our kind protector, receive our humble prayers and obtain for us a copious shower of divine favors. By that love with which thy heart was inflamed, obtain for us from the Father of mercies the pardon of all our sins, confirmation in the faith, and perseverance in good works; so that living as good and fervent Christians we may become worthy of thy powerful patronage. Extend thy patronage also to our bodies, and free us from our infirmities. Protect our lands from the violence of tempest and hail, and keep misfortune far from us. Thus, blessed by thee in the goods of soul and body, we shall be ever devout to thee, and one day see thee in heaven, there with thee to praise God forever and ever. Amen.”