V. Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae;
R. Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.

Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus,
et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.

V. Ecce ancilla Domini.
R. Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.

Ave Maria, gratia plena . . .

V. Et Verbum caro factum est.
R. Et habitavit in nobis.

Ave Maria, gratia plena . . .

V. Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genetrix.
R. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.

Oremus:
Gratiam tuam, quaesumus, Domine, mentibus nostris infunde; ut qui, Angelo nuntiante, Christi Filii tui incarnationem cognovimus, per passionem eius et crucem, ad resurrectionis gloriam perducamur. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum.
R. Amen.

V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary;
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women and
blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now, and in the hour of our death. Amen.

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord:
R. Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary, full of grace . . .

V. And the Word was made flesh:
R. And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary, full of grace . . .

V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His passion and cross be brought to the glory of His resurrection, through the same Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.

Questions for Reflection

Do you believe that God has a plan for your life? If so, how does that effect the choices you make and how you live? If not, what should you be doing to cultivate your belief in God’s saving plan for you and the world?

Do you see Jesus as the meaning of your life? If so, how? If not, what are you prepared to do in order to develop this understanding?

How can you better imitate the faith that led Mary to maker her “fiat”?

From Eden to Nazareth / Little Child, Eternal God
The Catholic Passion, 10–13

In God’s plan of salvation, Mary is the Virgin Mother of God, prepared from all eternity by God to be “full of grace”—immaculately conceived to bear his only Son, Jesus.

The mystery of the incarnation, the coming of God “in the flesh” to save us from our sins, is the centerpiece of the Catholic faith. Jesus Christ is “true God and true man.”

Tradition
St. Cyril of Alexandria
St. Romanus St. Hippolytus

Questions for Reflection

As you think about God’s plan of salvation, do you see better the “logic” of Catholic beliefs about Mary? Why do you think these beliefs are distorted and misunderstood by many non-Catholics?

Why is it important for Jesus to be fully human? Why is it important for Jesus to be fully divine?

What does it mean to you that Jesus was like us in all things but sin?

The Imitation of Christ
The Catholic Passion, 13–17

“God became man that we might become God.”  Thanks to the incarnation, we can become “deified” or “divinized.” This means that with the help of God’s grace we can become more more godlike or divine.

Caro quasi vox (Christ’s flesh is like a voice”). Christ’s life on earth, as recorded in the gospels, is intended to be a model for our lives on earth. 

Love is the whole meaning of Christ’s life on earth—to reveal God’s love for humanity, and his desire that we live in love with one another and with God.

Tradition
Johannes Scheffler (“Silesius Angelus”)
Blessed Columba Marmion
St. Augustine
St. Catherine of Siena

Questions for Reflection

What does the expression, “God became man that we might become God” mean to you?

What measures do you take to respond to God’s desire that you be “perfect” as he is, and that you become holy or sanctified?

Do you reflect on the events in Christ’s life every day by reading the gospels or meditating on the mysteries of the rosary?

His Love Is No Hoax
The Catholic Passion, 17–21

In God’s plan Jesus had to suffer and die for our sins.

Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross were true historical events that can be understood in terms of the political and religious climate of the day. Although individual Romans and Jews purused their own motives in the torture and killing of Jesus, the Jewish people can never be held responsible collectively for the death of Jesus. All sinners are the authors of Christ’s passion and death.

In his suffering and death, Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy of the “suffering servant.”

Christ’s sacrifice on the cross frees us from sin and the penalty for sin, death. His sacrificial death reconciles the human race to God.

Tradition
William of Saint-Thierry
St. Bonaventure
Blessed Angela of Foligno

Stabat Mater dolorosa
iuxta Crucem lacrimosa,
dum pendebat Filius.

Cuius animam gementem,
contristatam et dolentem
pertransivit gladius.

O quam tristis et afflicta
fuit illa benedicta,
mater Unigeniti!

Quae maerebat et dolebat,
pia Mater, dum videbat
nati poenas inclyti.

Quis est homo qui non fleret,
matrem Christi si videret
in tanto supplicio?

Quis non posset contristari
Christi Matrem contemplari
dolentem cum Filio?

Pro peccatis suae gentis
vidit Iesum in tormentis,
et flagellis subditum.

Vidit suum dulcem Natum
moriendo desolatum,
dum emisit spiritum.

Eia, Mater, fons amoris
me sentire vim doloris
fac, ut tecum lugeam

Fac, ut ardeat cor meum
in amando Christum Deum
ut sibi complaceam.

Sancta Mater, istud agas,
crucifixi fige plagas
cordi meo valide.

Tui Nati vulnerati,
tam dignati pro me pati,
poenas mecum divide.

Fac me tecum pie flere,
crucifixo condolere,
donec ego vixero.

Iuxta Crucem tecum stare,
et me tibi sociare
in planctu desidero.

Virgo virginum praeclara,
mihi iam non sis amara,
fac me tecum plangere.

Fac, ut portem Christi mortem,
passionis fac consortem,
et plagas recolere.

Fac me plagis vulnerari,
fac me Cruce inebriari,
et cruore Filii.

Flammis ne urar succensus,
per te, Virgo, sim defensus
in die iudicii.

Christe, cum sit hinc exire,
da per Matrem me venire
ad palmam victoriae.

Quando corpus morietur,
fac, ut animae donetur
paradisi gloria. Amen.

At the Cross her station keeping,
stood the mournful Mother weeping,
close to Jesus to the last.

Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,
all His bitter anguish bearing,
now at length the sword has passed.

O how sad and sore distressed
was that Mother, highly blest,
of the sole-begotten One.

Christ above in torment hangs,
she beneath beholds the pangs
of her dying glorious Son.

Is there one who would not weep,
whelmed in miseries so deep,
Christ's dear Mother to behold?

Can the human heart refrain
from partaking in her pain,
in that Mother's pain untold?

Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,
she beheld her tender Child
All with scourges rent:

For the sins of His own nation,
saw Him hang in desolation,
Till His spirit forth He sent.

O thou Mother! fount of love!
Touch my spirit from above,
make my heart with thine accord:

Make me feel as thou hast felt;
make my soul to glow and melt
with the love of Christ my Lord.

Holy Mother! pierce me through,
in my heart each wound renew
of my Savior crucified:

Let me share with thee His pain,
who for all my sins was slain,
who for me in torments died.

Let me mingle tears with thee,
mourning Him who mourned for me,
all the days that I may live:

By the Cross with thee to stay,
there with thee to weep and pray,
is all I ask of thee to give.

Virgin of all virgins blest!,
Listen to my fond request:
let me share thy grief divine;

Let me, to my latest breath,
in my body bear the death
of that dying Son of thine.

Wounded with His every wound,
steep my soul till it hath swooned,
in His very Blood away;

Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
lest in flames I burn and die,
in His awful Judgment Day.

Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence,
by Thy Mother my defense,
by Thy Cross my victory;

While my body here decays,
may my soul Thy goodness praise,
safe in paradise with Thee. Amen.

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

O Jesu dulcis,
O Jesu pie,
O Jesu Fili Mariae,
miserere mei. Amen.

who has truly suffered,
and was sacrificed
on the cross for mankind,
whose side was pierced,
whence flowed water and blood,

Be for us a foretaste of heaven,
during our final trial,

O Jesu sweet,
O Jesu merciful,
O Jesu Son of Mary,
have mercy on me. Amen.

Questions for Reflection

Explain why all sinners are responsible for the death of Christ. Use the New Testament to defend your explanation.

Does knowing that Christ died for your sins change how you live? If not, what changes do you think you should make based on this knowledge?

Passing Over from Death to Life
The Catholic Passion, 21–23

Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross must be understood in light of the Jewish passover tradition. His death is a “paschal sacrifice.” He offers his body as the passover lamb is offered as a symbol of Israel’s redemption at the first passover.

Raising Adam
The Catholic Passion, 23–25

Jesus’ descended to the abode of the dead to open the gates of heaven to the holy souls who had gone before him.

The resurrection of Christ from the dead was a true, historical event. Because he was raised from the dead we can hope to one day be raised to heaven.

• Matthew 28:11–15
• John 20:13
• 1 Corinthians 15:3–8, 20–28
• Catechism, nos. 639–646

Tradition
Epiphanius

Victimae Paschali
laudes immolent Christiani.

Agnus redemit oves:
Christus innocens Patri
reconciliavit peccatores.

Mors et vita duello
conflixere mirando:
dux vitae mortuus,
regnat vivus.

Dic nobis Maria,
Quid vidisti in via?

Sepulcrum Christi viventis,
et gloriam vidi resurgentis:

Angelicos testes,
sudarium et vestes.

Surrexit Christus spes mea:
praecedet suos in Galilaeam.

Scimus Christum surrexisse
a mortuis vere:
Tu nobis, victor Rex miserere.
Amen. Alleluia.

Christians, to the
Paschal Victim offer sacrifice and praise.

The sheep are ransomed by the Lamb;
and Christ, the undefiled,
hath sinners to his Father reconciled.

Death with life contended:
combat strangely ended!
Life's own Champion, slain,
yet lives to reign.

Tell us, Mary:
say what thou didst see upon the way.

The tomb the Living did enclose;
I saw Christ's glory as He rose!

The angels there attesting;
shroud with grave-clothes resting.

Christ, my hope, has risen:
He goes before you into Galilee.

That Christ is truly risen
from the dead we know.
Victorious King, Thy mercy show!
Amen. Alleluia.

The Mission of the Resurrection
The Catholic Passion, 25–28

Jesus’ ascension means that his humanity has now entered into heavenly glory. He is now seated at the right hand of God.

Jesus will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.

• John 5:22
• Acts 10:42; 17:31
• 2 Timothy 4:1
• Revelation 20:12–13
• Catechism, no. 678

God mounts the throne amid shouts of joy,
the Lord, amid trumpet blasts
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Questions for Reflection

Have you ever had the experience of being rescued from the threat of  death or serious injury? Have you ever thought of your baptism as delivering you from death to life?

Do you understand that the Eucharist is intended to be a thanksgiving for the salvation won for us by Christ's self-sacrifice on the cross?

If, as Jesus said, love is to lay down your life for others and for God, how can you improve the way you love? 

Can you imagine offering your life as Blessed Charles de Foucauld did? 

How can you begin to rid yourself of selfishness and other habits that keep you from the kind of love that Jesus commands?