Billy McDermott, Roman Catholic

(Matthew 27:33 – 54) (NAB) (33) And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of the Skull), (34) they gave Jesus wine to drink mixed with gall. But when he had tasted it, he refused to drink. (35) After they had crucified him, they divided his garments by casting lots; (36) then they sat down and kept watch over him there. (37) And they placed over his head the written charge against him: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. (38) Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and the other on his left. (39) Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads (40) and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, if you are the Son of God, (and) come down from the cross!” (41) Likewise the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him and said, (42) “He saved others; he cannot save himself. So he is the king of Israel! Let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. (43) He trusted in God; let him deliver him now if he wants him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” (44) The revolutionaries who were crucified with him also kept abusing him in the same way. (45) From noon onward, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. (46) And about three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (47) Some of the bystanders who heard it said, “This one is calling for Elijah.” (48) Immediately one of them ran to get a sponge; he soaked it in wine, and putting it on a reed, gave it to him to drink. (49) But the rest said, “Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to save him.” (50) But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit. (51) And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, (52) tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. (53) And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many. (54) The centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesus feared greatly when they saw the earthquake and all that was happening, and they said, “Truly, this was the Son of God!”

(Luke 23:26 – 31) (NAB) (26) As they led him away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus. (27) A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. (28) Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children, (29) for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.’ (30) At that time people will say to the mountains, ‘Fall upon us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ (31) for if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?”

(Matthew 27:27 – 31) (Isaiah 53:4 – 7) (NAB) (27) Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus inside the praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around him. (28) They stripped off his clothes and threw a scarlet military cloak about him. (29) Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” (30) They spat upon him and took the reed and kept striking him on the head. (31) And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him off to crucify him. (53:4) Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, While we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted. (5) But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed. (6) We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; But the LORD laid upon him the guilt of us all. (7) Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; Like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, he was silent and opened not his mouth.

(Matthew 27:2, 11 – 26) (NAB) (2) They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate, the governor. (11) Now Jesus stood before the governor, and he questioned him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” (12) And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no answer. (13) Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?” (14) But he did not answer him one word, so that the governor was greatly amazed. (15) Now on the occasion of the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the crowd one prisoner whom they wished. (16) And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called (Jesus) Barabbas. (17) So when they had assembled, Pilate said to them, “Which one do you want me to release to you, (Jesus) Barabbas, or Jesus called Messiah?” (18) For he knew that it was out of envy that they had handed him over. (19) While he was still seated on the bench, his wife sent him a message, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man. I suffered much in a dream today because of him.” (20) The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas but to destroy Jesus. (21) The governor said to them in reply, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They answered, “Barabbas!” (22) Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus called Messiah?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” (23) But he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” They only shouted the louder, “Let him be crucified!” (24) When Pilate saw that he was not succeeding at all, but that a riot was breaking out instead, he took water and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. Look to it yourselves.” (25) And the whole people said in reply, “His blood be upon us and upon our children.” (26) Then he released Barabbas to them, but after he had Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified.

(Matthew 26:36 – 50) (NAB) (36) Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” (37) He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to feel sorrow and distress. (38) Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me.” (39) He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.” (40) When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “So you could not keep watch with me for one hour? (41) Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (42) Withdrawing a second time, he prayed again, “My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass without my drinking it, your will be done!” (43) Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open. (44) He left them and withdrew again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing again. (45) Then he returned to his disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand when the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners. (46) Get up, let us go. Look, my betrayer is at hand.” (47) While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a large crowd, with swords and clubs, who had come from the chief priests and the elders of the people. (48) His betrayer had arranged a sign with them, saying, “The man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him.” (49) Immediately he went over to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and he kissed him. (50) Jesus answered him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then stepping forward they laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.

My Jesus, I believe that You are in the Blessed Sacrament.  I love You above all things, and I long for You in my soul.  Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.  As though You have already come, I embrace You and unite myself entirely to You; never permit me to be separated from You.—” . . . Make as may spiritual communions as possible, . . . “ - Our Lord to Sr Benigna Consolata (d. 1916)

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 your wounds hide me.
Suffer me not to be separated from You.
From the malicious enemy defend me
In the hour of my death call me and bid me to come unto You.
That with Your saints I may praise You forever and ever.
Amen.

attending Morning Mass now

Ave, María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum.  Benedícta tu in muliéribus, Et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.  Sancta María, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatóribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.