Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.
Easter Wednesday.
Station at Saint Laurence-without-the-Walls.
Indulgence of 30 Years and 30 Quarantines.
Semi-Double.
White Vestments.
The spelling of this Saint's name can be either Laurence or Lawrence.
English: Papal Basilica of Saint Laurence-without-the-Walls.
Italiano: Basilica Papale di San Lorenzo fuori le Mura.
Photo: February 2005.
Source: Own work.
Author: User:Panairjdde.
(Wikimedia Commons)
The Lenten Station is at Saint Laurence-without-the-Walls. The Church puts before her New-Born Children, as a model, the illustrious Roman Deacon, to whom this Basilica is Dedicated.
Like Saint Paul, yesterday, Saint Peter tells us that The Prophets foretold the Death of Jesus and that The Apostles were witnesses of His Resurrection (Epistle). The Alleluia further reminds us that "The Lord hath appeared to Peter"; while the Gospel shows us Saint Peter directing the fishing operations of his companions, in expectation of the hour, now fast approaching, when he will direct their labours as fishers of men. More devoted to Jesus than the others, he cast himself into the sea to rejoin Him, and it was he who drew to land the net, full of one hundred and fifty-three big fishes.
The Cloisters, San Lorenzo fuori-le-mura (Saint Laurence-without-the-Walls), Rome, Italy.
Artist: Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg (1783–1853).
Date: 1824.
Photo: April 2007.
Source: Own work.
Author: user:Rlbberlin.
(Wikimedia Commons)
According to The Fathers, these fishes, brought by Peter to The Feet of The Risen Christ, represented the Neophytes, for The Catechumens were born to Supernatural Life in The Font of Baptism. Called by God to receive His Kingdom (Introit), they eat The Bread of Angels, The Bread of Heaven (Offertory, Secret), which transforms them into New Creatures (Postcommunion), the "Agni Novelli" or "New-Born Lambs".
[The "Agnus Dei", or figures of The Lamb of God, stamped on the wax which remains from The Paschal Candle of the previous year, were formerly Blessed by the Pope on this day. Cherished in a spirit of Reverence and Faith, they are a protection against sickness and danger.]
Let us Celebrate these Festivities of The Resurrection of Our Lord in a Spirit of Holy Rejoicing, a foretaste of the joy we shall experience at The Eternal Pasch (Collect).
Mass: Veníte, benedícti.
