திருச்சிலுவைப் பாதை பாடல்


எல்லோரும்:
எனக்காக இறைவா எனக்காக
இடர்பட வந்தீர் எனக்காக
1. பழிகளைப் சுமத்திப் பரிகசித்தார் - உயிர்
    பறித்திட எண்ணித் தீர்ப்பளித்தார்

2. தாளாச் சிலுவையைச் சுமக்க வைத்தார் - உம்மை
    மாளாத் துயரால் துடிக்க வைத்தார்

3. விழுந்தீர் சிலுவைப் பளுவோடு - மீண்டும்
    எழுந்தீர் துயர்களின் நினைவோடு

4. தாங்கிட வொண்ணாத் துயருற்றே - உம்மைத்
    தாங்கிய அன்னைத் துயருற்றாள்

5. மறுத்திட முடியா நிலையாலே - சீமோன்
    வருத்தினார் தன்னை உம்மோடு

6. நிலையாய்ப் பதிந்தது உம் வதனம் - அன்பின்
   விலையாய் மாதின் சிறு துணியில்

7. ஓய்ந்தீர் பளுவினைச் சுமந்ததினால் - அந்தோ
    சாய்ந்தீர் நிலத்தில் மறுமுறையும்

8. விழிநீர் பெருக்கிய மகளிருக்கு - அன்பு
    மொழி நீர் நல்கி வழி தொடர்ந்தீர்

9. மூன்றாம் முறையாய் நீர் விழுந்தீர் - கால்
    ஊன்றி நடந்திட மெய் நொந்தீர்

10. உடைகள் களைந்திட உமை தந்தீர் - ரத்த
     மடைகள் திறந்திட மெய் நொந்தீர்

11. பொங்கிய உதிரம் வடிந்திடவே - உம்மைத்
      தொங்கிடச் செய்தார் சிலுவையிலே

12. இன்னுயிர் அகன்றது உமைவிட்டு - பூமி
      இருளினில் ஆழ்ந்தது ஒளி கெட்டு

13. துயருற்றுத் துடித்தார் உளம் நொந்து - அன்னை
      உயிரற்ற உடலினை மடி சுமந்து

14. ஒடுங்கிய உமதுடல் பொதியப்பட்டு - நீர்
     அடங்கிய கல்லறை உமதன்று

15. முன்னர் பன்முறை உரைத்தது போல் - நீர்
     மூன்றாம் நாளில் உயிர்த்தெழுந்தீர்

Synod on the New Evangelization and the Transmission of the Christian Faith



From 7 to 28 October 2012, some 300 Bishops from around the world will come together in Rome for the XIII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, to reflect on the theme of “The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith”.

The first of a series of documents relating to the Synod, the Lineamenta (draft guidelines), was recently published.

To read the Lineamenta please click here

Message to Priests - Lent 2011


Esteemed Brothers,

This time of grace, which is given to us to live, calls us to a renewed conversion. The ministerial Priesthood is always new and through this gift the Lord Jesus is made present in our lives and, through our lives, in the lives of all men.

Conversion, for us Priests, above all else means to conform our lives more closely to the preaching that we offer daily to the faithful, becoming in this way ‘a piece of the living Gospel’ that everyone can read and accept. The foundation of that behaviour is, without doubt, the conversion of our own identity: we must convert ourselves to that what we are! The identity, welcomed and received sacramentally in our wounded humanity, demands the progressive confirmation of our hearts, our minds, our behaviours to everything that we are in the image of Christ the Good Shepherd that has been sacramentally imprinted in us.

We must enter into the Mysteries that we celebrate, especially in the most Holy Eucharist, and to allow ourselves to be formed by them. It is in the Eucharist that the Priest rediscovers his true identity! It is in the celebration of the Divine Mysteries that one can catch sight of ‘how’ to be a shepherd and ‘what’ is necessary to truly serve each other.

A de-Christianised world requires a new evangelisation, yet a new evangelisation requires ‘new’ priests. Not Priests in the superficial sense, like every passing fashion, but in the sense of a heart profoundly renewed by every Holy Mass, renewed by the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Priest and Good Shepherd.

Particularly urgent is the conversion from noise to silence, from the anxious need ‘to do’ to the desire to ‘remain’ with Jesus participating ever more consciously with His being. Every pastoral action must always be an echo and expansion of that what the Priest is! We must convert ourselves to communion, rediscovering what it really is: communion with God and the Church and with each other.

The ecclesial communion is characterised fundamentally by a renewed conscience that is lived out and announces the same doctrine, the same tradition, the same history of holy men and therefore the same Church. We are called to live Lent with a profound ecclesial awareness, rediscovering the beauty of being in an exodus of people, that includes all the Ordained Priesthood and all people, that looks to their own shepherd as a model of secure reference and with an expectation of renewed and luminous testimony.

We must convert ourselves to the daily participation of the Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. Christ made possible and efficacious our Salvation with His perfect vicarious substitution. In the same way, every Priest, alter Christus, is called, as were the great saints, to live first hand the mystery of their substitution for the service of all especially in the faithful celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This Sacrament is sought for ourselves and generously offered to everyone, along with Spiritual Direction, such that in the daily offering of our lives we repair the sins of the world. Serene, penitent, Priests before the Blessed Sacrament bring the light of evangelical and ecclesial wisdom in contemporary circumstances which seam to challenge our faith. In this way, they become authentic prophets able, in their turn, to launch to the world the only real challenge: that of the Gospel that calls us to conversion.

Sometimes the fatigue is really great and we experience the feeling of being only a few before the needs of the Church. However, if we do not convert, we will always be less because only a renewed, converted, ‘new’ priest can become an instrument through which the Holy Spirit calls other new Priests.

To the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the Apostles, we trust this Lenten journey imploring from Divine Mercy that, based on the model of our Heavenly Mother, also our Priestly heart will become a ‘Refugium peccatorum’.

S. Em. R. Cardinal Mauro Piacenza
Prefect of the Congregation For the Clergy

My Kindness Shall Not Depart From Thee

For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall my covenant of peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee. (Isaiah 54:10)
மலைகள் நிலை சாயினும் குன்றுகள் இடம் பெயரினும் உன்மீது நான் கொண்ட பேரன்போ நிலை சாயாது: என் சமாதான உடன்படிக்கையோ அசைவுறாது, என்கிறார் உனக்கு இரக்கம் காட்டும் ஆண்டவர். (எசாயா 54:10) 
By: Rob Gardner
For a little while
Have I forsaken thee;
But with great mercies will I gather thee.
In a little wrath I hid my face from thee
For a moment.
But with everlasting kindness will I gather thee,
And with mercy will I take thee ‘neath my wings,
For the mountains shall depart,
And the hills shall be removed,
And the valleys shall be lost beneath the sea,
But know, my child,
My kindness shall not depart from thee!

Though thine afflictions seem
At times too great to bear,
I know thine every thought and every care.
And though the very jaws
Of hell gape after thee I am with thee.
And with everlasting mercy will I succor thee,
And with healing will I take thee ‘neath my wings.
Though the mountains shall depart,
And the hills shall be removed,
And the valleys shall be lost beneath the sea,
Know, my child,
My kindness shall not depart from thee!
How long can rolling waters
Remain impure?
What pow’r shall stay the hand of God?
The Son of Man hath descended below all things.
Art thou greater than He?

So hold on thy way,

For I shall be with thee.

And mine angels shall encircle thee.

Doubt not what thou knowest,

Fear not man, for he

Cannot hurt thee.

And with everlasting kindness

will I succor thee,

And with mercy will I take thee

‘neath my wings.

For the mountains shall depart,

And the hills shall be removed,

And the valleys shall be lost

beneath the sea,

But know, my child,

My kindness shall not depart from thee!

My kindness shall not depart from thee!

(These stations of the Cross were written by John Cardinal Newman


Begin with an Act of Contrition:
"I am truly sorry for having sinned because you are infinitely good and sin displeases you. I will avoid the occasions* of sin and strive in all things to do your holy will."
(*To avoid the occasions of sin means to avoid those people, places and even thoughts that cause temptation.)

THE FIRST STATION
Jesus is Condemned to Death.
 
V. We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee
R. Because by the holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
 
Leaving the house of Caiphas, and dragged before Pilate and Herod, mocked, beaten, and spit upon, His back torn with scourges, His head crowned with thorns, Jesus, who on the last day will judge the world, is himself condemned by unjust judges to a death of ignominy and torture.
Jesus is condemned to death. His death-warrant is signed, and who signed it but I, when I committed my first mortal sins? My first mortal sins, when I fell away from the state of grace into which Thou did place me by baptism; [it was these sins] that were your death-warrant, O Lord. The Innocent suffered for the guilty. Those sins of mine were the voices which cried out, " Let Him be crucified." That willingness and delight of heart with which I committed them was the consent which Pilate gave to this clamorous multitude. And the hardness of heart which followed upon them, my disgust, my despair, my proud impatience, my obstinate resolve to sin on, the love of sin which took possession of me--what were these contrary and impetuous feelings but the blows and the blasphemies with which the fierce soldiers and the populace [inflicted on] Thee, thus carrying out the sentence which Pilate had pronounced !
 
Our Father, Hail Mary.
v. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
R. Have mercy on us.

THE SECOND STATION
Jesus receives His Cross
 
V. We adore thee o Christ and we bless thee.
R. Because by thy Holy Cross thou has redeemed the world.
 
A STRONG, and therefore heavy Cross, for it is strong enough to bear Him on it when He arrives at Calvary, is placed upon His torn shoulders. He receives it gently and meekly, nay, with gladness of heart, for it is to be the salvation of mankind.
True; but recollect, that heavy Cross is the weight of our sins. As it fell upon His neck and shoulders, it came down with a shock. Alas ! what a sudden, heavy weight have I laid upon Thee, O Jesus. And, though in the calm and clear foresight of Thy mind --for Thou sees all things--Thou was fully prepared for it, yet Thy feeble frame tottered under it when it dropped down upon Thee. Ah ! how great a misery is it that I have lifted up my hand against my God. How could I ever fancy He would forgive me unless He had Himself told us that He under- went this bitter passion in order that He might forgive us. I acknowledge, O Jesus, in the anguish and agony of my heart, that my sins it was that struck Thee on the face, that bruised Thy sacred arms, that tore Thy flesh with iron rods, that nailed Thee to the Cross, and let Thee slowly die upon it.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...

THE THIRD STATION
Jesus falls the first time beneath the Cross.

V. We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee,
R. Because by thy holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
 
JESUS, bowed down under the weight and the length of the unwieldy Cross, which trailed after Him, slowly sets forth on His way, amid the mode cries and insults of the crowd. His agony in the Garden itself was sufficient to exhaust Him; but it was only the first of a multitude of sufferings. He sets off with His whole heart, but His limbs fail Him, and He falls.
   
Yes, it is as I feared. Jesus, the strong and mighty Lord, has found for the moment our sins stronger than Himself. He falls-yet He bore the load for a while; He tottered, but He bore up and walked onwards. What, then, made Him give way ? I say, I repeat, it is an intimation and a memory to thee, O my soul, of thy falling back into mortal sin. I repented of the sins of my youth, and went on well for a time; but at length a new temptation came, when I was off my guard, and I suddenly fell away. Then all my good habits seemed to go at once; they were like a garment which is stripped off, so quickly and utterly did grace depart from me. And at that moment I looked at my Lord, and lo! He had fallen down, and I covered my face with my hands and remained in a state of great confusion.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...

THE FOURTH STATION
Jesus meets His Mother.
 
V. We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee,
R. Because by thy Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

JESUS rises, though wounded by His fall, journeys on, with His Cross still on His shoulders. bent down; but at one place, looking up, He sees His mother. For an instant they just see each other, and He goes forward.
Mary would rather have had all His sufferings herself, could that have been, [rather] than not have known what they were by [staying away]. He, too, gained a refreshment, as from some soothing and grateful breath of air, to see her sad smile amid the sights and the noises which were about Him. She had known Him beautiful and glorious, with the freshness of Divine Innocence and peace upon His countenance; now, she saw Him so changed and deformed that she could scarce have recognized Him, save for the piercing, thrilling, peace-inspiring look He gave her. Still, He was now carrying the load of the world's sins, and, all-holy though He was, He carried the image of them on His very face. He looked like some outcast or outlaw who had frightful guilt upon Him. He had been made sin for us, who knew no sin; not a feature, not a limb, but spoke of guilt, of a curse, of punishment, of agony.
Oh, what a meeting of Son and Mother! Yet there was a mutual comfort, for there was a mutual sympathy. Jesus and Mary--do they forget that Passion-tide through all eternity?
Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, etc.

THE FIFTH STATION
Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his Cross.
 
V. We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee,
R. Because by thy Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
 
AT length His strength fails utterly, and He is unable to proceed. The executioners stand perplexed. What are they to do? How is He to get to Calvary? Soon they see a stranger who seems strong and active--Simon of Cyrene. They seize on him, and compel him to carry the Cross with Jesus. The sight of the Sufferer pierces the man's heart. Oh, what a privilege ! O happy soul, elect of God ! he takes the part assigned to him with joy.
This came of Mary's intercession. He prayed, not for Himself, except that He might drink the full chalice of suffering and do His Father's will; but she showed herself a mother by following Him with her prayers, since she could help Him in no other way. She then sent this stranger to help Him. It was she who led the soldiers to see that they might be too fierce with Him. Sweet Mother, even do the like to us. Pray for us ever, Holy Mother of God, pray for us, whatever be our cross, as we pass along on our way. Pray for us, and we shall rise again, though we have fallen. Pray for us when sorrow, anxiety, or sickness come upon us. Pray for us when we are prostrate under the power of temptation, and send some faithful servant of yours to succor us. And in the world to come, if found worthy to expiate our sins in the fiery prison*, send some good Angel to give us a season of refreshment. Pray for us, Holy Mother of God.
Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, etc.

THE SIXTH STATION
Jesus and Veronica
 
V. We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee,
R. Because by thy Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
 
AS Jesus toils along up the hill, covered with the sweat of death, a woman makes her way through the crowd, and wipes His face with a napkin. In reward of her piety the cloth retains the impression of the Sacred Countenance upon it.
The relief which a Mother's tenderness secured is not yet all she did. Her prayers sent Veronica as well as Simon--Simon to do a man's work, Veronica to do the part of a woman.* The devout servant of Jesus did what she could. As Mary Magdalene had poured the ointment at the Feast, so Veronica now offered Him this napkin in His passion "Ah," she said, "would I could do more! Why have I not the strength of Simon, to take part in the burden of the Cross! But men only can serve the Great High Priest, now that He is celebrating the solemn act of sacrifice." O Jesus ! let us one and all minister to You according to our places and powers. And as You did accept from Thy followers refreshment in Thy hour of trial, so give to us the support of Thy grace when we are hard pressed by our Foe. I feel I cannot bear up against temptation, weariness, despondency, and sin. I say to myself, what is the good of being religious? I shall fall, O my dear Savior, I shall certainly fall, unless You do renew for me thy vigor like the eagle's,and breathe life into me by the soothing application and the touch of the Holy Sacraments which [He instituted for us].
Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, etc.
 
(*Cardinal Newman's attitude toward gender roles is that of his culture. Don't forget this was written in England over 100 years ago. Nevertheless he uses this gender distinction to make a good point, we should minister where we are and use the talents and abilities that God has given to us.
We have to take into account our circumstances without regard to gender. If we are in good health perhaps we could do good works by using our physical strength, such as building a house for the poor. If we are not strong, still we can visit the sick. If we are very ill, very weak and confined to home or bed, then we can aid others with prayer. The point is that every man and woman can work where they are to help others and use what talents and abilities they have.)

THE SEVENTH STATION
Jesus falls a second time.
 
V. We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee,
R. Because by thy Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
 
THE pain of His wounds and the loss of blood increasing at every step of His way, again His limbs fail Him, and He falls on the ground.
What has He done to deserve all this? This is the reward received by the long-expected Messiah from the Chosen People, the Children of Israel. I know what to answer. He falls because I have fallen. I have fallen again. I know well that without Thy grace, O Lord, I could not stand; and I fancied that I had kept closely to Thy Sacraments; yet in spite of my going to Mass and to my duties, I am out of grace again. Why is it but because I have lost my devotional spirit, and have come to Thy holy ordinances in a cold, formal way, without inward affection. I became lukewarm, tepid. I thought the battle of life was over, and became secure. I had no lively faith, no sight of spiritual things. I came to church from habit, and because I thought others would observe it. I ought to be a new creature, I ought to live by faith, hope, and charity; but I thought more of this world than of the world to come -- and at last I forgot that I was a servant of God, and followed the broad way that leads to destruction, not the narrow way which leads to life. And thus I fell [away] from You.
Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, etc.

THE EIGHTH STATION
Jesus comforts the Women of Jerusalem
 
V. We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee,
R. Because by thy Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
At the sight of the sufferings of Jesus the Holy Women are so pierced with grief that they cry out and bewail Him, careless what happens to them by so doing. Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not over Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children."
Ah ! can it be, O Lord, that I shall prove [to be] one of those sinful children for whom You bid their mothers to weep. "Weep not for Me," He said, "for I am the Lamb of God, and am making atonement at My own will for the sins of the world. I am suffering now, but I shall triumph; and, when I triumph, those souls, for whom I am dying, will either be my dearest friends or my deadliest enemies." Is it possible? O my Lord, can I grasp the terrible thought that You really did weep for me--weep for me, as You did weep over Jerusalem? Is it possible that I am one of the reprobate? Is it possible that I shall lose by Thy passion and death, not gain by it? Oh, withdraw not from me. I am in a very bad way. I have so much evil in me. I have so little of an earnest, brave spirit to set against that evil. O Lord, what will become of me? It is so difficult for me to drive away the Evil Spirit from my heart. You alone can effectually cast him out.
Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, etc.

THE NINTH STATION
Again, a third time, Jesus falls.
 
V. We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee,
R. Because by thy Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
 
JESUS had now reached almost to the top of Calvary; but, before He had gained the very spot where He was to be crucified, again he fell, and is again dragged up and goaded onwards by the brutal soldiery.
We are told in Holy Scripture of three falls of Satan, the Evil Spirit. The first was in the beginning; the second, when the Gospel and the Kingdom of Heaven were preached to the world; the third will be at the end of all things. The first is told us by St. John the Evangelist. He says: " There was a great battle in heaven. Michael and his Angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought, and his angels. And they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. And that great dragon was cast out, the old serpent, who is called the devil and Satan." The second fall, at the time of the Gospel, is spoken of by our Lord when He says, " I saw Satan, like lightning, falling from heaven." And the third by the same St. John: There came down fire from God out of heaven,...and the devil . . . was cast into the pool of fire and brimstone."
These three falls--the past, the present, and the future--the Evil Spirit had in mind when he moved Judas to betray our Lord. This was just his hour. Our Lord, when He was seized, said to His enemies, "This is your hour and the power of darkness." Satan knew his time was short, and thought he might use it to good effect. But little dreaming that he would be acting in behalf of the world's redemption, which our Lord's passion and death were to work out, in revenge, and, as he thought, in triumph, he smote Him once, he smote Him twice, he smote Him thrice, each successive time a heavier blow. The weight of the Cross, the barbarity of the soldiers and the crowd, were but his instruments. O Jesus, the only-begotten Son of God, the Word Incarnate, we praise, adore, and love Thee for Thy ineffable condescension, even to allow Thyself thus for a time to fall into the hands and under the power of the Enemy of God and man, in order thereby to save us from being his servants and companions for eternity.
Or this
This is the worst fall of the three. His strength has for a while utterly failed Him, and it is some time before the barbarous soldiers can bring Him to. Ah ! it was His anticipation of what was to happen to me. I get worse and worse. He sees the end from the beginning. He was thinking of me all the time He dragged Himself along, up the Hill of Calvary. He saw that I should fall again in spite of all former warnings and former assistance. He saw that I should become secure and self-confident, and that my enemy would then assail me with some new temptation, to which I never thought I should be exposed. I thought my weakness lay all on one particular side which I knew. I had not a dream that I was not strong on the other. And so Satan came down on my unguarded side, and got the better of me from my self-trust and self-satisfaction. I was wanting in humility. I thought no harm would come on me, I thought I had outlived the danger of sinning; I thought it was an easy thing to get to heaven, and I was not watchful. It was my pride, and so I fell a third time.
Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, etc.

THE TENTH STATION
Jesus is striped, and drenched with gall.
 
V. We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee,
R. Because by thy Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
 
AT length He has arrived at the place of sacrifice, and they begin to prepare Him for the Cross. His garments are torn from His bleeding body, and He, the Holy of Holiest, stands exposed to the gaze of the coarse and scoffing multitude.
O You who in Thy Passion was stripped of all Thy clothes, and held up to the curiosity and mockery of the rabble, strip me of myself here and now, that in the Last Day I come not to shame before men and Angels. You did endure the shame on Calvary that I might be spared the shame at the Judgment. You had nothing to be ashamed of personally, and the shame which You did feel was because You had taken on Thee man's nature. When they took from Thee Thy garments, those innocent limbs of Yours were but objects of humble and loving adoration to the highest Seraphim. They stood around in speechless awe, wondering at Thy beauty, and they trembled at Thy infinite self-abasement. But I, O Lord, how shall I appear if You shalt hold me up hereafter to be gazed upon, stripped of that robe of grace which is Yours, and seen in my own personal life and nature? O how hideous I am in myself, even in my best estate. Even when I am cleansed from my mortal sins, what disease and corruption is seen even in my venial sins. How shall I be fit for the society of Angels, how for Thy presence, until You burn this foul leprosy away in the fire of Purgatory?
Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, etc.
 
THE ELEVENTH STATION
Jesus is nailed to the Cross.

V. We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee,
R. Because by thy Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
 
THE Cross is laid on the ground, and Jesus stretched upon it, and then, swaying heavily to and fro, it is, after much exertion, jerked into the hole ready to receive it. Or, as others think, it is set upright, and Jesus is raised up and fastened to it. As the savage executioners drive in the huge nails, He offers Himself to the Eternal Father, as a ransom for the world. The blows are struck--the blood gushes forth.
Yes, they set up the Cross on high, and they placed a ladder against it, and, having stripped Him of His garments, made Him mount. With His hands feebly grasping its sides and cross-woods, and His feet slowly, uncertainly, with much effort, with many slips, mounting up, the soldiers propped Him on each side, or He would have fallen. When He reached the projection where His sacred feet were to be, He turned round with sweet modesty and gentleness towards the fierce rabble, stretching out His arms, as if He would embrace them. Then He lovingly placed the backs of His hands close against the transverse beam, waiting for the executioners to come with their sharp nails and heavy hammers to dig into the palms of His hands, and to fasten them securely to the wood. There He hung, a perplexity to the multitude, a terror to evil spirits, the wonder, the awe, yet the joy, the adoration of the Holy Angels.
Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, etc.

THE TWELFTH STATION
Jesus dies upon the Cross.

V. We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee,
R. Because by thy Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
 
JESUS hung for three hours. During this time He prayed for His murderers, promised Paradise to the penitent robber, and committed His Blessed Mother to the guardianship of St. John. Then all was finished, and He bowed His head and gave up His Spirit.
The worst is over. The Holiest is dead and departed. The most tender, the most affectionate, the holiest of the sons of men is gone. Jesus is dead, and with His death my sin shall die. I protest once for all, before men and Angels, that sin shall no more have dominion over me. This Lent I make myself God's own for ever. The salvation of my soul shall be my first concern. With the aid of His grace I will create in me a deep hatred and sorrow for my past sins. I will try hard to detest sin, as much as I have ever loved it. Into God's hands I put myself, not by halves, but unreservedly. I promise Thee, O Lord, with the help of Thy grace, to keep out of the way of temptation, to avoid all occasions of sin, to turn at once from the voice of the Evil One, to be regular in my prayers, so to die to sin that You may not have died for me on the Cross in vain.
Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, etc.

THE THIRTEENTH STATION
Jesus is taken from the Cross, and laid in Mary's Bosom.
 
V. We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee,
R. Because by thy Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
 
THE multitude have gone home. Calvary is left solitary and still, except that St. John and the holy women are there. Then come Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, and take down from the Cross the body of Jesus, and place it in the arms of Mary.
O Mary, at last you has possession of thy Son. Now, when His enemies can do no more, they leave Him in contempt to thee. As His unexpected friends perform their difficult work, You look on with unspeakable thoughts. Thy heart is pierced with the sword of which Simeon spoke. O Mother most sorrowful; yet in thy sorrow there is a still greater joy. The joy in prospect nerved thee to stand by Him as He hung upon the Cross; much more now, without swooning, without trembling, You did receive Him to thy arms and on thy lap. Now you art supremely happy as having Him, though He comes to thee not as He went from thee. He went from thy home, O Mother of God, in the strength and beauty of His manhood, and He comes back to thee dislocated, torn to pieces, mangled, dead. Yet, O Blessed Mary, you art happier in this hour of woe than on the day of the marriage feast, for then He was leaving thee, and now in the future, as a Risen Savior, He will be separated from thee no more.
Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, etc.

THE FOURTEENTH STATION
Jesus is laid in the Tomb.

V. We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee,
R. Because by thy Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

BUT for a short three days, for a day and a half-- Mary then must give Him up. He is not yet risen. His friends and servants take Him from thee, and place Him in an honorable tomb. They close it safely, till the hour comes for His resurrection.
Lie down and sleep in peace in the calm grave for a little while, dear Lord, and then wake up for an everlasting reign. We, like the faithful women, will watch around Thee, for all our treasure, all our life, is lodged with Thee. And, when our turn comes to die, grant, sweet Lord, that we may sleep calmly too, the sleep of the just. Let us sleep peacefully for the brief interval between death and the general resurrection. Guard us from the enemy; save us from the pit. Let our friends remember us and pray for us, O dear Lord. Let masses be said for us, so that the pains of Purgatory, so much deserved by us, and therefore so truly welcomed by us, may be over with little delay. Give us seasons of refreshment there; wrap us round with holy dreams and soothing contemplations, while we gather strength to ascend the heavens. And then let our faithful guardian Angels help us up the glorious ladder, reaching from earth to heaven, which Jacob saw in vision. And when we reach the everlasting gates, let them open upon us with the music of Angels; and let St. Peter receive as, and our Lady, the glorious Queen of Saints, embrace us, and bring us to Thee, and to Thy Eternal Father, and to Thy Co-equal Spirit, Three Persons, One God, to reign with Them for ever and ever.
Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, etc.
 
LET US PRAY
God, Who by the Precious Blood of Thy only-begotten Son did sanctify the Standard of the Cross, grant, we beseech Thee, that we who rejoice in the glory of the same Holy Cross may at all times and places rejoice in Thy protection, Through the same Christ, our Lord.
(End with one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father..., for the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff).

Jokes - சிரிப்பு

7 reasons why children are more adorable than you!
 

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales.
The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small.
The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.
Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible.
The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah".
The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?"
The little girl replied, "Then you ask him".

A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work.
As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.
The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."
The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like."
Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, "They will in a minute."

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds.
After explaining the commandment to "honour" thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?"
Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, "Thou shall not kill."

One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head.
She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, "Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?"
Her mother replied, "Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white."
The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, "Momma, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?"

The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture.
"Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, 'There's Jennifer, she's a lawyer,' or 'That's Michael, He's a doctor.'
A small voice at the back of the room rang out, "And there's the teacher, she's dead."

The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray:
"Take only ONE . God is watching."
Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies.
A child had written a note, "Take all you want. God is watching the apples."
 

தீவிரமாக யோசிப்போர் சங்கம் (எங்களுக்கு வேறு எங்கும் கிளைகள் கிடையாது)

செருப்பு இல்லாம நாம நடக்கலாம்
ஆனா,
நாம இல்லாம செருப்பு நடக்க முடியாது.

இட்லி மாவை வச்சு இட்லி போடலாம்.
சப்பாத்தி மாவை வச்சு சப்பாத்தி போடலாம்.
ஆனா,
கடலை மாவை வச்சு கடலை போட முடியுமா?

ராவெல்லாம் முழ்ச்சு கெடந்து யோசிப்போர் சங்கம்
என்னதான் மனுசனுக்கு வீடு, வாசல், காடு, கரைன்னு எல்லாம் இருந்தாலும்,
ரயிலேறனும்னா,
ஃப்ளாட்பாரத்துக்
கு வந்துதான் ஆகனும். இதுதான் வாழ்க்கை.


பஸ் ஸ்டாப் கிட்ட வெய்ட் பண்ணா பஸ்ஸு வரும்.
ஆனா,
ஃபுல் ஸ்டாப் கிட்ட வெய்ட் பண்ணா ஃபுல்லு வருமா?
நல்லா யோசிங்க! குவாட்டர் கூட வராது!!!

என்னதான் பொண்ணுங்க பைக் ஓட்டினாலும்,
ஹீரோ ஹோன்டா, ஹீரோயின் ஹோன்டா ஆய்டாது!!
அதேமாதிரி,
என்னதான் பசங்க வெண்டைக்காய் சாப்பிட்டாலும்,
லேடீஸ் ஃபிங்கர், ஜென்ட்ஸ் ஃபிங்கர் ஆய்டாது!!!

டிசம்பர் 31க்கும்,
ஜனவரி 1க்கும்
ஒரு நாள்தான் வித்தியாசம்.
ஆனால்,
ஜனவரி 1க்கும்,
டிசம்பர் 31க்கும்,
ஒரு வருசம் வித்தியாசம்.
இதுதான் உலகம்.

பஸ் ஸ்டாண்ட்ல பஸ் நிக்கும்.
ஆட்டோ ஸ்டாண்ட்ல ஆட்டோ நிக்கும்.
சைக்கிள் ஸ்டாண்ட்ல சைக்கிள் நிக்கும்.
ஆனா...
கொசுவத்தி ஸ்டாண்ட்ல கொசு நிக்குமா??
யோசிக்கனும்...!!


தத்துவம் 1:
இஞ்ஜினியரிங் காலேஜ்ல படிச்சா இஞ்ஜினியர் ஆகலாம்.
ஆனா
பிரசிடன்சி காலேஜ்ல படிச்சா பிரசிடன்ட் ஆக முடியுமா?

தத்துவம் 2:
ஆட்டோக்கு 'ஆட்டோ'ன்னு பேர் இருந்தாலும்,
மேன்யுவலாத்தான் டிரைவ் பண்ண முடியும்.

தத்துவம் 3:
தூக்க மருந்து சாப்பிட்டா தூக்கம் வரும்,
ஆனா
இருமல் மருந்து சாப்பிட்டா இருமல் வராது!

(என்ன கொடுமை சார் இது!?!)

தத்துவம் 4:
வாழை மரம் தார் போடும்,
ஆனா
அதை வச்சு ரோடு போட முடியாது!

(ஹலோ! ஹலோ!!!!)

தத்துவம் 5:
பல்வலி வந்தால் பல்லை புடுங்கலாம்,
ஆனா கால்வலி வந்தால் காலை புடுங்க முடியுமா?
இல்லை தலைவலி வந்தால் தலையைதான் புடுங்க முடியுமா?

(டேய்! எங்க இருந்துடா கிளம்புறீங்க?!)

தத்துவம் 6:
லாஸ்ட் பட் நாட் லீஸ்ட்...
சன்டே அன்னைக்கு சண்டை போட முடியும்,
அதுக்காக,
மன்டே அன்னைக்கு மண்டைய போட முடியுமா?

(ஐயோ! ஐயோ!! ஐயோ!!! காப்பாத்துங்க!!!)

பில் கேட்ஸோட பையனா இருந்தாலும்,
கழித்தல் கணக்கு போடும்போது,
கடன் வாங்கித்தான் ஆகனும்.


கொலுசு போட்டா சத்தம் வரும்.
ஆனா,
சத்தம் போட்ட கொலுசு வருமா?


பேக் வீல் எவ்வளவு ஸ்பீடா போனாலும்,
ஃப்ரன்ட் வீல முந்த முடியாது.
இதுதான் உலகம்

T Nagar போனா டீ வாங்கலாம்.
ஆனால்
விருது நகர் போனா விருது வாங்க முடியுமா?

என்னதான் பெரிய
வீரனா இருந்தாலும்,
வெயில் அடிச்சா,
திருப்பி அடிக்க முடியாது.

இளநீர்லயும் தண்ணி இருக்கு,
பூமிலயும் தண்ணி இருக்கு.
அதுக்காக,
இளநீர்ல போர் போடவும் முடியாது,
பூமில ஸ்ட்ரா போட்டு உரியவும் முடியாது.

உங்கள் உடம்பில்
கோடிக்கணக்கான செல்கள் இருந்தாலும்,
ஒரு செல்லில் கூட
ஸிம் கார்ட் போட்டு பேச முடியாது.

ஓடுற எலி வாலை புடிச்சா
நீ 'கிங்'கு
ஆனா...
தூங்குற புலி வாலை மிதிச்சா
உனக்கு சங்கு.

நிக்கிற பஸ்ஸுக்கு முன்னாடி ஓடலாம்
ஆனா
ஒடுற பஸ்ஸுக்கு முன்னாடி நிக்க முடியாது.

வண்டி இல்லாமல் டயர் ஓடும்.
ஆனால்...
டயர் இல்லாமல் வண்டி ஓடுமா?

இது மல்லாக்க படுத்துகிட்டு யோசிக்க வேண்டிய விஷயம். 

சைக்கிள் ஓட்டுறது சைக்கிளிங்னா, ட்ரெய்ன் ஓட்டுறது ட்ரெய்னிங்கா? இல்ல பிளேன் ஓட்டுறது பிளானிங்கா?


என்னதான் நீ புது மாடல் மொபைல் வச்சிருந்தாலும்
மெஸேஜ் Forwardதான் பண்ண முடியும்,
Rewindலாம் பண்ண முடியாது.

"Tea"க்கும் "Cofee"க்கும் என்ன வித்தியாசம்?
"Tea"ல ஒரு "e" இருக்கும். "Coffee"ல 2 "e" இருக்கும.




தீவிரமாக யோசிக்காதோர் சங்கம் (எங்களுக்கும் வேறு எங்கும் கிளைகள் கிடையாது) -


1. மண்ணிலிருந்து மண்னெண்ணெய் எடுக்கலாம்; 
கடலிலிருந்து கடலெண்ணெய் எடுக்க முடியுமா? 


2. போலீஸ் ஸ்டேஷனுக்கு போன் போட்டா போலீஸ் வரும்; 
ரயில்வே ஸ்டேஷனுக்கு போன் போட்டா ரயில் வருமா? 


3. தண்ணியில கப்பல் போனா ஜாலி; 
கப்பல்ல தண்ணி போனா காலி! 


4. ஹோட்டலில் காசு கொடுக்கலேனா மாவாட்டச் சொல்லுவாங்க.... 
ஆனால் பஸ்ல காசு கொடுக்கலைன்னா பஸ் ஓட்டச் சொல்லுவாங்களா? 


5. யானை மேல நாம உட்கார்ந்தா சவாரி! 
நம்ம மேல யானை உட்கார்ந்தா ஒப்பாரி! 


6. பஸ் போயிடாலும் பஸ்ஸ்டாண்டு அங்கயேதான் இருக்கும். ஆனா சைக்கிள் போயிட்டா சைக்கிள்ஸ்டாண்டு கூடவே போயிவிடும். 


7. பாய்சன்(Poison) பத்துநாள் ஆனாலும் பாயாசம் ஆகாது.
ஆனால் பாயாசம் பத்துநாள் ஆனா பாய்சன்(Poison) ஆயிடும்.


8. தம் அடிச்சா புகை வரும். ஆனா புகையை அடிச்சா தம் வருமா? 


9. தண்ணி அடிச்சா மப்பு வரும். மப்பு அடிச்சா தண்ணி வருமா? 


10.எவ்வளவு பெரிய பல்டாக்டரா இருந்தாலும் கடிக்கிற செருப்போட பல்லைப் பிடுங்க முடியுமா? 


11. டீஸ்பூனால டீ கலக்கலாம். டேபிள் ஸ்பூனால டேபிளைக் கலக்க முடியுமா? 


12. மெழுகை வைத்து மெழுகுவத்தி செய்யலாம். ஆனா கொசுவை வைத்து கொசுவத்தி செய்ய முடியாது. 

இயேசுவினிடத்தில் நான்

பொற்கீரிடம் அணிவித்து ஆரவரத்தோடு அவையோர் சூழ
பொற்கீரிடம் சூடவேண்டிய உன் நெற்றியிலே
கசைகளோடு கள்வர்கள் உனைசுழ்ந்து கண்ணீர் மழ்கிய
உன் முகத்தில் காரி உமிழ்ந்தபோது உன்னை வேதனையால் துடிக்கவைத்த முற்கீரிடமாய் இருந்தேன் நான் !

மாலை மயங்கும் நேரத்திலே மந்தையிலிருந்து தவறிய
ஆட்டுக் குட்டியை கண்டு நல்லாயனைப் போல
அதனை அன்போடு சுமர்ந்த உன் தோள்களில் மக்களால்
மறுக்கப்பட்டு வெறுத்து ஒதுக்கப்பட்ட அவமான
சின்னமாகிய சிலுவையாய் இருந்தேன் நான் !

அன்று ஆலயத்தில் அறிஞர்கள் உன்னை
புகழக்கண்டு அக்களித்த உன்தாயின் இருதயத்தில்
இன்று நீ வடிக்கும் இரத்த துளிகளின்
காணமாய் உருவான வாளாய் இருந்து
உள்ளத்தை ஊடுவினேன் நான் !

நறுமணத் தைலம் வார்க்கப்பட்டு முத்தமிடபட்ட
உந்தன் கைகளிலும் காலகளிலும் எந்தன்
பாவத்தினால் உன் பொற்பாதங்களை ஆணியாய்
இருந்து குருதி சிந்த அதனைப்
பிளந்தெரிந்தவன் நான் !

இத்தனை துனபங்கள் நான்
தந்த பொழுதும் என் பாவங்கள்
போக்கிட பலியாய் உன்னையே தந்தாய்
நீ இது தான் இறைஅன்போ
என்று வியந்துபோனேன் நான் !

M. Arulraj
I Year B.A.
Thiruvaiyaru