Reflections for the 5th Week of Lent

Duties to Teachers
"It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is your God." St. John, 8:54.

Years ago a flying instructor in Kansas City, Missouri, went up with one of his students in a training plane. The student already had several lessons and was doing good work at the controls, so good that the instructor, seated in the cockpit, dropped off to sleep....

Adapted from Talks on the Commandments
by Fr. Arthur Tonne, OFM (© 1948)

The Crucifixion
"It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is your God." St. John, 8:54.

"He was crucified." The Creed.

The story is told of a French artist who was engaged to paint a picture of the crucifixion for a famous church. As he was given plenty of time, he spent more than a year working on and off at his task....

Adapted from Talks on the Creed
by Fr. Arthur Tonne, OFM (© 1946)

Virtue in General
"He who is of God hears the words of God." St. John, 8:47.

Charles the Ninth, king of France, was interested in spiritual things. One day he asked the celebrated poet, Torquato Tasso, this question: "Who, do you think, is the happiest being?"...

Adapted from Prayers, Precepts and Virtues
by Fr. Arthur Tonne, 1949

Alter Christus - Fulget Crucis Mysterium
"FULGET CRUCIS MYSTERIUM"

Ever since the first Good Friday on Calvary, Christ's holy Cross dominates the world: it is the standard of the King, round which all Christians must rally to fight His battles, the throne from which He reigns and would draw all hearts to Him, the glowing furnace whence ever radiate the mystery and the lessons of His love...

Adapted from Alter Christus, Meditations for Priests
by F.X. L'Hoir, S.J. (1958)
Meditation 16.

Why Christ Comes to Us
"Amen, amen, I say to you, if anyone keep my word, he will never see death." St. John, 8:51.

Did you ever hear of the Boiler Kid? His real name was Fred Snite. A former student at Notre Dame University, young Snite was stricken with infantile paralysis while traveling in China many years ago. The doctors said he would live about a week. But he continued to live past those projections...

Adapted from Talks on the Commandments, (1948)
by Fr. Arthur Tonne, O.F.M.