Stay with Us, Lord ...
V. Mane nobiscum, Domine, alleluia
R. Quoniam advesperascit, alleluia
These words, chanted by the religious in the Divine Office during this liturgical season of Paschaltide, are taken from the account of the Emmaus Road, recorded in St. Luke's Gospel.
As the two travelers walked and talked with the Christ they did not recognize, evening fell, and they bid Him to stay with them for the night:
"Stay with us, because it is towards evening and the day is now far spent." (Luke 24:29)
Mane nobiscum, quoniam advesperascit et inclinata est iam dies. (Vulgate)
We are now in that period after Easter, but before Ascension Thursday, during which time - the same St. Luke tells us - Jesus "presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to [the apostles] during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God." (Acts 1:3)
It is a touching gesture, then, that during this time when the Church liturgically relives these 40 days, She presents us with this recurring refrain to be sung after daily prayer: stay with us, Lord, alleluia; because it is towards evening, alleluia.
Before you ascend to the Throne, O mi Jesu, stay with us just a little while longer; the evening is coming fast, and we find such consolation in your presence! Indeed, as the princes of the Holy Church are even now in conclave, in the process of electing the next successor of St. Peter, who - by all accounts - may be the pope who reigns over (even assists in?) one of the darkest periods of human history, surely the "day is now far spent."
Now is a very appropriate time to utter the words with an intensity perhaps never felt in the Church's history: mane nobiscum, Domine.
The relation of this narrative to the Eucharist also makes its presence felt:
"When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight ... Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread." (Luke 24:30-31, 35)
Stay with us, Lord, as you have stayed with us for so many centuries - here, in the tabernacle atop the high altar.
Perhaps, then, this would be an especially good time to pay a visit to Our Lord; if there is a chapel of adoration nearby, why not stop in for a Holy Hour? If there is a church nearby where you can at least pray before the tabernacle, why not do so tonight?
Stay with us, Lord, but most of all ... grant us the grace to stay close to you in these days. The Passion of the Mystici Corporis is about to begin, Domine Deus, and so we pray anew: ne permittas me separari a te!
R. Quoniam advesperascit, alleluia
These words, chanted by the religious in the Divine Office during this liturgical season of Paschaltide, are taken from the account of the Emmaus Road, recorded in St. Luke's Gospel.
As the two travelers walked and talked with the Christ they did not recognize, evening fell, and they bid Him to stay with them for the night:
"Stay with us, because it is towards evening and the day is now far spent." (Luke 24:29)
Mane nobiscum, quoniam advesperascit et inclinata est iam dies. (Vulgate)
We are now in that period after Easter, but before Ascension Thursday, during which time - the same St. Luke tells us - Jesus "presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to [the apostles] during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God." (Acts 1:3)
It is a touching gesture, then, that during this time when the Church liturgically relives these 40 days, She presents us with this recurring refrain to be sung after daily prayer: stay with us, Lord, alleluia; because it is towards evening, alleluia.
Before you ascend to the Throne, O mi Jesu, stay with us just a little while longer; the evening is coming fast, and we find such consolation in your presence! Indeed, as the princes of the Holy Church are even now in conclave, in the process of electing the next successor of St. Peter, who - by all accounts - may be the pope who reigns over (even assists in?) one of the darkest periods of human history, surely the "day is now far spent."
Now is a very appropriate time to utter the words with an intensity perhaps never felt in the Church's history: mane nobiscum, Domine.
The relation of this narrative to the Eucharist also makes its presence felt:
"When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight ... Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread." (Luke 24:30-31, 35)
Stay with us, Lord, as you have stayed with us for so many centuries - here, in the tabernacle atop the high altar.
Perhaps, then, this would be an especially good time to pay a visit to Our Lord; if there is a chapel of adoration nearby, why not stop in for a Holy Hour? If there is a church nearby where you can at least pray before the tabernacle, why not do so tonight?
Stay with us, Lord, but most of all ... grant us the grace to stay close to you in these days. The Passion of the Mystici Corporis is about to begin, Domine Deus, and so we pray anew: ne permittas me separari a te!
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