Course 2, Chapter 12: Passion of our Lord

1. Relate the passion of our Lord.

The Saviour, accompanied by his disciples, had retired to the garden of Gethsemani. Now Judas knew that that was the place whither Jesus was accustomed to retire for prayer. The Saviour said to his apostles, remain here, whilst I go yonder and pray; pray ye, also, lest ye enter into temptation. Then leaving the others, he took with him Peter, James and John, and said to them: My soul is sorrowful even unto death; wait ye here, and watch with me; and having gone a little further, about the distance of a stone's throw from them, he knelt down and made this prayer: My Father, if thou wilt, take away this chalice from me; yet not my will, but thine be done.

After this prayer he rose and came to his disciples, and found them all three asleep. He said to Peter: Simon, sleept-st thou? wast thou not able to watch one hour with me? Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation; for the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He retired a second time, and made the same prayer. He then returned to his disciples, and again he found them sleeping; he retired again, and again made the same prayer. He then was in an agony, and the sweat as drops of blood came trickling to the ground, and an angel descended from heaven to strengthen him. He arose from prayer, and coming to his disciples said to them: Sleep ye now, and take rest. Behold, he that will betray me is at hand; rise up, let us go to meet him. And while he was yet speaking, came Judas, and with him a great

multitude, with swords and staves and lights, from the chief priests, and the scribes and the ancients. Now all this was to accomplish the words of the prophet, saying of the Messiah, he shall be reputed amongst the wicked and robbers. Judas had given them this sign, saying, whomsoever I shall kiss, he it is — lay hold on him and lead him away cautiously. Having arrived, he advanced toward Jesus and said to him: liabbi, hail! and he kissed him. Jesus said to him, my friend, wherefore hast thou come? Judas, is it by a kiss thou betrayest the Son of Man? Jesus then advanced towards the multitude and said to them: Whom seek ye V They replied: Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said to them: T am he. Immediately 'they were cast to the earth. Jesus, who had cast them down, suffered them to rise, and they seized him.*

Then Simon, who had a sword, drew it, and striking a servant of the high priest, cut off his right ear; but Jesus said to him: Put up again thy sword; and he cured him who had been wounded. Then all the disciples, leaving him, fled away. But they, holding Jesus, led him first to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiphas, the high priest, and thence to the house of Caiphas, where the priests and the scribes and 'the ancients were assembled. But Peter followed Jesus afar off, and entered the palace of the high priest.

Caiphas interrogated Jesus concerning his disciples and his doctrine. Jesus answered him: I have always spoken openly to the world, ask those who have heard me; then a servant gave Jesus a blow, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? They then suborned two false witnesses; but their testimony did not agree. When the high priest said to Jesus, I adjure thee by the living God, tell us if thou be the Christ, Jesus answered, I am. Then the high priest rent his garments and said: He has blasphemed; what further need have we of witnesses? what think ye '? All re plied, He is worthy of death. And going away, they

160 CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE.

left Jesus to the band of soldiers and the serv ants, who made him undergo every species of outrage.

In the meantime, a servant maid of the high priest perceived Peter, who was warming himself; she looked at him and said: You also were with Jesus of Naza reth Peter denied it three times in presence of the whole multitude. Jesus then looked on him, and the cock crowed the second time. Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him. Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times; he went forth and wept bitterly.

In the morning, the priests, the scribes, and the ancients assembled again, and again demanded of Jesus: Art thou the Christ? He replied, Yes, I am. They then condemned him to die, and led him to Pontius Pilate, to obtain permission to execute their sentence. Then Judas, seeing that Jems was condemned, repent ed of what he had done; he went to the temple and carried back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and ancients, and said to them: I have sinned in betraying the blood of the Just. They said to him: What is that to us? look thou to it. He went forth and hanged himself. With the money they bought the field of a potter, for the burial of strangers. All this happened to accomplish the words of the prophet, who had foretold of the Messiah, that he should be sold for thirty pieces of silver with which a potter's field would be bought.