A Poem, a Prayer, and a Passage, #4
A Poem: “Mass of Ages”
by Peter Kwasniewski
O Beauty, ever ancient, ever new,
O Word in festal garb of flowing chant,
O narrow Way, embarked upon by few,
O hidden Stream of grace where streams are scant:
Your rites give life by flowing from the Life,
Your motions channel music of the spheres,
Your quietude transcends our mortal strife,
Your timeless now unites our scattered years.
I touch your garment’s fringes to be healed,
I cling to you, that I may cling to Him.
I seek the treasure buried in the field,
I find the shining chalice, never dim.
This rule of prayer enshrines the sacred Truth.
The ever-youthful God sustains its youth.
A Prayer: “Act of Reparation for Sins against Our Lord in the Sacred Liturgy”
O Lord Jesus Christ, Sovereign High Priest of the New and Eternal Covenant, Who didst ordain Thine Apostles to make present Thy Holy Sacrifice, Who through them didst entrust to Thy Church the memorial of Thy saving Passion, Who didst make the sacred mysteries of Thy love the font and apex of our life in Thee, Who didst bestow Thy Spirit to guide Thy Church into the fullness of truth—namely, into that right worship in spirit and in truth that Thy Father desirest of all men:
Thou hast ensured that holy things be offered and received worthily and reverently by establishing for us, century by century, a sacred liturgy free from all error, savoring in the highest degree of that holiness and devotion which raises the mind to God. Upon Thy beloved Bride Thou hast lavished robes of beauty, jewels of eloquence, a diadem of glory, that she may ever be the living image of Thy beauty, chanting Thy words and glorifying Thy Name, secretly communing in Thy favors and showing forth to the world Thy surpassing wonders.
Lord Jesus, wicked and violent men have grievously spurned this gift of Thine. They have profaned Thy temple, wasted Thy sanctuary, dismantled Thy tabernacle, and treated Thy divine liturgy as Thou wast treated in Thy bitter Passion, when they stripped off Thy garments and made Thee into a laughing-stock, humiliated in the sight of all.
While Thou hast never forsaken Thy Church nor allowed her tradition to perish, yet how many, claiming to act in Thy Name, have forsaken Thee, the fountain of living water, and have digged to themselves broken cisterns that can hold no water and give no life.
Have mercy on us, we beseech Thee, for the countless sins, offenses, and negligences committed against Thee in Thy sacred liturgy. Have mercy on us for the violence done to this majestic work of Thy merciful love; for the arrogant rejection of this precious gift of Thy Most Sacred Heart; for the ignorance and hubris of would-be reformers who dared lay hands on Thy heritage. Have mercy on bishops, priests, deacons, and laity who offer and receive unworthily and irreverently.