This year for Lent we will take up again the Meditations published on PassioXP in 2019. And I will link to the available posts on the Lenten Stational Churches — a favorite devotion of PassioXP Blog. Stay tuned and spread the word on these posts, sharing always helps.

Update on the Catena Aurea project: There are just a few more Sundays to go in our editing phase. A final edit will be needed to ensure there are no inconsistencies remaining in the formatting. Then the image pages will be completed. A priest friend is designing the covers of each volume. It is very exciting. To support the continued work of this project, feel free to donate HERE. May God reward you for your prayers and your continued support. I wouldn’t be able to do this work without all of you — and every contact with each of you is a great support in continuing this work.

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— Feria II post Dominicam Secundam — Statio ad S. Clementem —

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The kiss of Judas will ever remain the ultimate in base treachery.  The name Judas has such a special odium that no one in his right mind would give that name to an infant.  It is reserved for the foulest deed one can perform against a friend, a family, a nation, or a society.  The act of kissing performed by Judas on the greatest Friend mankind ever had, begs man’s power of description.  Oh, horrible perfidy!

It is related in Holy Scripture that one of the generals in David’s army named Joab perpetrated a foul deed, in that upon meeting Anasa, who also commanded an army, he stooped forward to kiss him and at that very moment thrust a dagger into his side and killed him.  Solomon, David’s famous son, when he succeeded to the throne, had Joab slain for his treachery.

Note how much more evil was Judas’ act of treachery than was Joab’s. Joab with a treacherous kiss murdered a fellow man; Judas by his kiss paved the way for the death of the Son of God.  Joab on the other hand dispatched his victim in one quick thrust; Judas by his awful deed set the stage for the torture and painful death of his Lord and God.

It is related that when the assassins of Julius Caesar fell upon him with their daggers, the great conqueror of men and nations stood motionless, displaying not the slightest sign of emotion or fear.  When Brutus, whom Caesar loved with the affection of a father, also approached and drew his dagger to strike his great benefactor, that blow caused Caesar more pain then all the other wounds, and he could not refrain from uttering the now famous words: “Thou too, Brutus, my son!”  If Caesar was pained by the baneful treachery of his friend Brutus, how must the Son of God have felt when one of His own disciples betrayed Him to His enemies by a kiss.  Might the Master not have said: “You too, Judas, My son! Is this what I have merited for My kindness to you?  Did I not choose you to be My follower, disciple, and apostles?  Did I not wash your feet?  Did I not give you My Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity as a food?  Oh thankless, heartless Judas!”

Look into your heart today and see if you have ever betrayed your Master by mortal sin.  Each time you prefer creatures to Christ you betray Him.. Each time you choose sin to Christ’s law, you betray Him.  Spend some time today quietly thinking over the picture of Judas pressing his lips to those of the sinless Christ.  If you identify yourself in Judas, throw yourself quickly into the arms of your God and beg His pardon.