I'd never really understood why the Church only 'Keeps Watch' on Holy Thursday untill midnight, when we know from Holy Scripture that Jesus was probably awake the whole night, between His agonies in Gethsemane, Caiaphas trial and in the long night standing chained in Caiaphas dungeon pit.
After pondering on this in my morning Holy Hour Adoration I felt a little nudge from the Holy Spirit to read Blessed Catherine Emmerich's vision of Jesus Passion: The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ: The Passion: Chapter XI. Mary in the House of Caiaphas (sacred-texts.com)
In Chapter XI it clearly states that The Blessed Virgin Mary did not stay in vigil at Caiaphas's house during that night. The text mentions that Our Lady left the court and was then carried away by the Holy Women.
So this must be why the Church only keeps vigil with Jesus untill midnight. It must be God's Will that on Holy Thursday night, the Church then goes and stays with Our Blessed Mother for the second half of the Holy Thursday night vigil in her home. We know from Jesus Himself that Mary's home is our home, our own hearts, because from the Cross Jesus asked us to take The Blessed Virgin Mary as our own Mother and we know from scripture that from John's example that means taking Mary into our own homes, our own hearts:
John 19:25-27
"Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home."
I'd heard that Mel Gibson's Passion of Christ movie was based around these visions of Blessed Catherine Emmerich and indeed you do see Mary Magdalene with Our Lady, in a domestic home, after being present at Caiaphas's house earlier that evening. In the film depiction, by the dawn of Good Friday Mary and Magdalene are both asleep but I can't imagine that Our Lady got any sleep that night.
We know from the Bible that at the point Jesus Sacred Heart was pierced and the Cross that Our Lady's Immaculate Heart was pierced too, from Simeon's prophecy: Luke 2:35.
I feel the Holy Spirit prompting me that Our Lady was awake the whole of Holy Thursday night and I feel God has given me the Grace of staying up with my Blessed Mother, to keep vigil with her. It's not everyone's Grace, God is not a cruel God, many people have dependants, church/work roles and responsibilities on Good Friday, so it's not for everyone.
But... if you feel the Holy Spirit prompt you this Holy Thursday night, after watching with Our Lord in your local Catholic Church untill midnight, why not try accompanying your Blessed Mother to her home, our own homes and keep vigil with her during this Sacred night, during which her own Immaculate Heart suffered so much.
And for all those who God calls to this special Grace, why not consider putting a little light in your window during your Holy Thursday home Adoration night vigil with Our Lady. God the Father will surely be able to see it all the way from heaven.
Be the Light shining in the darkness, this Holy Thursday.
Two Hearts.
Through Mary to Jesus.
Yorumlar