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Text Box: IMAGES OF THE FALL AND OF THE SALVATION It is good that the feast of The Exaltation (Elevation) of The Holy Cross, and one of the feasts of The Seven Sorrows of The Blessed Ever Virgin Mary, occur within a few days of each other. It was on the wood of the tree that the fruit of man’s downfall was gathered by the issue of the side of the first man. It was on the wood of the cross that the fruit of the womb of the Mother of the Church redeemed mankind. When Adam ate the forbidden fruit, he poisoned man and alienated man from God. But the fruit of the cross purged the poison. From the side of the first man came Eve, who lead her husband Adam away from God, a path he willingly followed. Her womb was fruitful in the flesh, but mostly barren in the spirit. From the side of the Man - God flowed the path to God, the Church, His bride, which nurtures the children of God. As it hung upon the tree all mankind was drawn to the forbidden fruit. And in being lifted up upon the cross Our Saviour brought all to Himself. The food of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil brought death. But the food of the tree of life brought eternal salvation. Through the tree of Eden man was delivered to his enemies. Through the tree of the cross he was delivered from his enemies. Her Son said, behold thy son, behold thy mother. The lance of Longenus was the sword of Simeon, piercing the heart of God and the heart of His Mother. In holding all of mankind to her heart does she soothe the wound by bringing her new children to her only begotten Son. Next the cross in tears unceasing, Worn by sorrow aye increasing, Stood the Mother ‘neath her Son

Text Box: Though her soul already riven, Simeon’s sword divinely driven, Edged with anguish, lo! Hath run. Sad, afflicted as no other, Was that chosen blessed Mother, Having none but Christ begot. Faithful Mother! Upward gazing, Heart and hands to Son upraising, Mourns and grieves His cruel lot. Hard the man his tears refraining, Watching Mary uncomplaining, Bear a sorrow like to none. Hard the man that shares no sorrow, With a Mother fain to borrow Every pang that writhes her Son. Tortured, scourged in expiation Of the sins that marred His Nation, Mary watched His every pang. She beheld her dear Begotten, Stretched in death by all forgotten, As on hoisted rod He hang. Mother, fount of love, the purest, Floods of sorrow thou endurest, Turn them toward this heart of mine. With these waters purge its guileness, Burn with love its innate vileness, With the flame of love divine. Hallowed Mother, do this favor, Those five wounds that gored my Saviour Deeply on my heart engrave. Pains thou gladly with Him sharest, Anguish that thou bravely bearest, Fully share with me, I crave. Blend thy tears with mine in wailing, Sorrow for my sins prevailing, Till the break of endless dawn. Next the cross to take my station, By thy side in desolation, Thus, I long with thee to mourn. Maiden of all maidens fairest, Sate me with the grief thou bearest: Spurn me not, be thou kind. Mine it be Christ’s throes in sharing, Mine it be His anguish bearing,

Text Box: These His wounds to keep in mind. May His scars my body carry. May His cross and blood not tarry Soul of mine to satiate! Thus inflamed with love consuming, Shall I not thy aid presuming Safe the reck’ning day await? When in death my eyes are losing, Ope them, Lord, to see reposing Victory’s crown in Mary’s hand. When my frame by death is broken, And my doom by Thee is spoken, Be it, Lord, the better land. O Lord Jesus Christ, we beseech Thee that now and at the hour of our death the Blessed Virgin, Thy Mother, whose most sacred soul the sword pierced in the hour of Thy passion, may intercede for us at the throne of Thy mercy. Sweet the wood, sweet the nails, sweet the load that hangs thereon: to bear up the King and Lord of heaven nought was worthy save thou, O holy cross. +

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