Distributed by St. Ignatius into Fifty-One Subjects of Prayer Corresponding to the Three Last Weeks of the Exercises

1. The angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin and announces to her the conception of the Word of God: “The angel entering, said to her, Hail, Mary, full of grace. Thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son,” and so on.

2. The angel confirms what he has just announced by the example of the miraculous conception of St. John the Baptist: “Thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age,” and so on.

3. The Holy Virgin replies to the angel: “Behold the servant of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word.”

1. Mary goes to visit Elizabeth. What impression the approach of Mary, and her voice, made on St. John! “When Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost, and said, ‘Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.’”

2. The Holy Virgin, in the transport of her joy, breathes forth the sentiments of her soul in the canticle, “My soul doth magnify the Lord,” and so on.

3. Mary remains with Elizabeth three months and returns to her own home.

1. The Blessed Virgin sets out from Nazareth with St. Joseph, her spouse, to go to Bethlehem: “Joseph went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth, to Bethlehem… to be enrolled with Mary, his spouse, who was with child.”

2. “Mary brought forth her first-born Son, and wrapped Him up in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger.”

3. “Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest,’” and so on.

1. An angel reveals the birth of Jesus Christ to the shepherds: “I bring you good tidings of great joy… This day is born to you a Saviour,” and so on.

2. The shepherds hasten to Bethlehem: “They came with haste, and they found Mary and Joseph, and the Infant lying in a manger.”

3. The shepherds return, “glorifying and praising God,” and so on.

1. The Child is circumcised.

2. “His name is called Jesus, which was so called by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.”

3. The Child, after His circumcision, was placed in His Mother’s arms, who feels the most tender compassion at seeing the blood of her Son flow.

1. Three kings, wise men, guided by a star, come to adore Jesus Christ: “We have seen His star in the east, and are come to adore Him.”

2. “And falling down at the feet of the Child, they adored Him; and opening their treasures, they offered Him gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

3. Having received an answer in sleep that they should not return to Herod, they went back another way into their country.

1. Mary and Joseph carry the Child to the Temple of Jerusalem to present Him to God as their first born and make the offerings prescribed by the law: “a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.”

2. Simeon came into the Temple, “and took the Child into his arms, and blessed God, and said, Now dost Thou dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word, in peace,” and so on.

3. “Anna, coming in at the same hour, confessed to the Lord; and spoke of Him to all that looked for the redemption of Israel.”

1. Herod, wishing to kill the newborn Jesus, orders all the children about Bethlehem to be massacred. But before that, an angel had warned Joseph to go into Egypt: “Arise, and take the Child and His Mother, and fly into Egypt.”

2. Joseph sets out for Egypt: “He arose, and took the Child and His Mother by night, and retired into Egypt.”

3. “He was there until the death of Herod.”

1. An angel warned Joseph to return to the land of Israel: “Arise; take the Child and His Mother, and go into the land of Israel.”

2. Joseph immediately “arose, and came into the land of Israel.”

3. Archelaus, son of Herod, reigned in Judea at that time, which induced Joseph to retire to Nazareth.

1. Jesus was subject and obedient to Mary and Joseph.

2. “He advanced in wisdom and age and grace with God and men,” and so on.

3. It appears that He Himself worked at a trade, since it is said in St. Mark (Chapter 6), that the Jews said of Him, “Is not this the carpenter?”

1. Jesus having attained the age of twelve years went from Nazareth to Jerusalem.

2. He remained in Jerusalem, without Mary and Joseph knowing it.

3. Having sought Him for three days, they found Him in the Temple among the doctors. They asked Him why He had remained in Jerusalem; He replied, “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”

1. Jesus having bid adieu to His Mother set out from Nazareth, and went to the banks of the river Jordan, where John, His precursor, was baptizing.

2. He is baptized by St. John, who at first excuses himself as unworthy to exercise this function toward Him; but Jesus Christ obliges him, saying, “Do it, for it becometh us to fulfil all justice.”

3. The Holy Ghost descends upon Jesus Christ, and the voice of the Eternal Father is heard in heaven: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

1. Jesus Christ, after His baptism, retired into the desert and fasted there forty days and forty nights.

2. There He was tempted three times by the enemy of our salvation: “The tempter coming, said to Him, ‘If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread… Cast Thyself down from this pinnacle… All these will I give Thee, if, falling down, Thou wilt adore me.’”

3. “Angels came and ministered to Him.”

1. St. Peter and St. Andrew appear to have been called three times; first, to a simple knowledge of Jesus Christ ( John 1); then, to follow Jesus Christ only for a time, intending to return to and continue their trade of fishermen (Luke 5); finally, to follow Him constantly, and not to leave Him any more (Matt. 4; Mark 1).

2. He called the sons of Zebedee, as is related in St. Matthew, Chapter 4; Philip, as St. John relates, Chapter 1.; and Matthew, as he himself relates, Chapter. 9.

The other Apostles were called also, although there is no express mention in the Gospels of the order and circumstance of their vocation.

1. On this, three reflections may be made: (1) that the Apostles were taken from a low and poor station; (2) that they were raised to a supereminent dignity with admirable sweetness; (3) that they were honored with supernatural gifts, as numerous as they were extraordinary, and by that placed above all the patriarchs of the Old Testament and all the saints of the New.

1. Jesus Christ is invited, with His disciples, to the marriage taking place at Cana.

2. His Mother tells Him that the guests are in want of wine: “They have no wine.” She said to the waiters, “Whatsoever He shall say to you, do ye.”

3. The Lord changes the water into wine: “so manifesting His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.”

1. He drives out of the Temple all the buyers and sellers, having armed Himself with a scourge made of little cords.

2. He pours out the money of the changers and overthrows the tables.

3. With more meekness, He says to those who sold doves, “Take these things hence, and make not the house of My Father a house of traffic.”

1. Jesus Christ proposes to His beloved disciples eight kinds of beatitudes.

2. He exhorts them to make a good use of the gifts and talents they have received from God: “So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

3. He shows that He does not come to destroy the Law but, on the contrary, to perfect it by developing the precepts against homicide, theft, fornication and perjury; by ordaining that we love even our enemies: “I say to you, Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you.”

1. A violent tempest arose on the sea while Jesus slept.

2. His disciples, being afraid, awake Him. He reproaches them with their want of confidence: “Why are you fearful, O ye of little faith?”

3. He commands the winds and the sea to be still, and immediately there is a profound calm. All those who witnessed it, struck with astonishment, cried out, “What manner of man is this, for the winds and the sea obey Him?”

1. Jesus Christ, being still on the mountain, orders His disciples to return to their boat, “and having dismissed the multitude, He went up into the mountain to pray alone.”

2. During the night, a tempest arises. The boat of the Apostles is violently tossed by the waves. Jesus goes toward them, and to reach the boat He walks upon the waters. “The Apostles, seeing Him, were afraid, and thought it was a spirit.”

3. Jesus says to His Apostles, “It is I; fear not.” After He had reassured them by these words, St. Peter asks permission to join Him. Jesus having permitted him, Peter, walking on the waters, goes to meet Him; but feeling afraid, he begins to sink. The Lord reproves him for the weakness of his faith, and entering the boat, the wind ceases.

1. Jesus, having assembled His disciples, gives them power to cast out devils and to cure all sorts of diseases.

2. He teaches them prudence and patience: “I send you as sheep amidst the wolves. Be ye, therefore, wise as serpents and simple as doves.”

3. He explains in what manner they must conduct their apostolic mission: “Freely have you received, freely give.” “Do not possess silver nor gold.” Moreover, He tells them expressly what they are to teach: “Go and preach that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

1. Jesus being at table in the house of a Pharisee, a woman, a sinner of the city, enters the room, carrying an alabaster vase full of perfumes.

2. Standing behind at the feet of Jesus, she waters them with her tears, wipes them with her hair, kisses them and anoints them with perfumes.

3. Jesus defends Himself against the Pharisee, to whom He says: Many sins are forgiven this woman because she hath loved much.” Then He said to her, “Thy faith hath made thee safe; go in peace.”

1. The disciples ask Jesus to send away the multitude who had followed Him into the desert.

2. Jesus tells His disciples to give Him the loaves they had brought. Having blessed them, He breaks them and gives them to His disciples to distribute to the people, whom He had first ordered to be seated.

3. All the multitude eat and after they are satisfied, there remain twelve baskets of the pieces.

1. Jesus takes with Him His three dearest disciples, Peter, James and John. “He was transfigured before them. And His face did shine as the sun; and His garments became white as snow.”

2. Jesus speaks of His passion to Moses and Elias.

3. Peter asks permission to erect three tents on the mountain. A voice is heard from heaven: “This is My beloved Son, hear ye Him.” The disciples, being afraid, fell on their faces. Jesus reassured them, touched them, and raised them, saying to them, “Arise, and fear not… Tell the vision to no man till the Son of Man be risen from the dead.”

1. Jesus, having heard that Lazarus was ill, remains two days in the place where He was, so that the miracle He wished to work in his favor might be more striking.

2. Before raising him, He rouses and animates the faith of his two sisters: “I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in Me, although he be dead, shall live.”

3. Jesus begins by shedding tears; He addresses a fervent prayer to His heavenly Father; then He raises the dead. On which it may be observed, that it was done by the most positive command: “Lazarus, come forth.”

1. Jesus eats at the house of Simon the leper, and Lazarus is one of the guests.

2. Mary anoints the head of Jesus with precious perfumes.

3. Judas murmurs at the action of Mary: “What is the use of this profusion?” Jesus excuses Magdalen: “She hath wrought a good work upon Me.”

1. The Lord orders His Apostles to go and seek and bring Him an ass with its foal: “Loose them, and bring them to Me. And if any man shall say anything to you, say ye, that the Lord hath need of them, and forthwith he will let them go.”

2. The Apostles having laid their garments on the ass, the Lord mounted on it.

3. The people assemble in crowds to receive Him. All hasten to cover the way with their garments and the branches of trees, singing: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!”

1. Jesus teaches every day publicly in the Temple.

2. The preaching over, He returns to Bethania, not any one in Jerusalem receiving Him.

1. Jesus Christ eats the paschal lamb with His disciples and warns them of His approaching death: “Amen, I say to you, that one of you is about to betray Me.”

2. Jesus washes their feet, even those of Judas, and begins with Peter. He, considering the majesty of Jesus Christ and his own lowness, opposes it at first: “Lord, dost Thou wash my feet?” He did not yet know that it was a lesson of humility that their Divine Master was giving them, who told them of it in these words: “I have given you an example, that as I have done to you, so do you also.”

3. Then He institutes the most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist to be the pledge of His love. These are His words: “Take ye and eat, this is My body,” and so on. The supper ended, Judas goes out to sell Him to the chief priests.

1. The supper being ended, and having returned thanks to His Father, Jesus sets out to go to the mountain of Olives with His eleven disciples, who are filled with fear. He leaves eight of them at Gethsemani: “Sit you here, till I go yonder and pray.”

2. Taking with Him Peter, James and John, He repeats three times the same prayer: “My Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from Me. Nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.” The greater His sorrow became in this mortal agony, the more earnest He became in prayer.

3. He allows Himself to be reduced to such an excess of fear and terror that He said, “My soul is sorrowful even unto death.” He sweated blood abundantly, according to the testimony of St. Luke: “His sweat became as drops of blood, trickling down upon the ground.”

1. Our Lord allows Judas to betray Him by a kiss, and the soldiers to seize Him like a malefactor: “Ye are come out as it were to a robber with swords and clubs to apprehend Me. I sat daily with you teaching in the Temple, and you laid not hands on Me.” Then, having interrogated them in these terms, “Whom seek ye?” all His enemies fall backward to the ground.

2. Peter strikes one of the servants of the high priest and wounds him. Jesus says to Peter, “Put up thy sword into the scabbard”; and He cures the servant.

3. Jesus is arrested, abandoned by His disciples, dragged to the house of Annas. Peter follows Him a short time after and there denies Him the first time.SS. Matthew, Mark and Luke do not separate in their narrative the first denial from the other two, as if all three took place in the house of Caiphas. St. John seems to place the first before Annas; an opinion embraced by St. Augustine, whom St. Ignatius here follows (see De Ligny’s Life of Christ, pt. 3, ch. 46). Jesus receives a blow from another servant of the high priest, who reproaches Him with being wanting in respect: “Answerest Thou the high-priest so?”

1. Jesus bound is led from Annas to Caiphas. There Peter denies Him twice. But the Lord casts a look at His apostle; “and he going out wept bitterly.”

2. Jesus remains bound all the night.

3. The guards who surround Him insult and torment Him. They blindfold Him, strike Him, and say in derision, “Christ, prophesy unto us, and say who it is that struck Thee.” They insult Him by a thousand blasphemies.

1. Jesus is led before Pilate and calumniously accused at his tribunal: “We have found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar.”

2. Pilate, having examined Him several times, answers the Jews, “I find no cause in this man worthy of death.”

3. The Jews ask for the release of Barabbas in preference to that of Jesus Christ: “Not this man, but Barabbas.”

1. Pilate sends Jesus to Herod, king of Galilee, supposing that He was a Galilean.

2. Herod questions Him to satisfy his curiosity. Jesus answers nothing, though the Jews load Him with accusations.

3. Herod and his court insult Him, and in derision He is clothed in white.

1. Herod sends Jesus Christ back to Pilate. From this day, Herod and Pilate, who had been enemies before, became reconciled.

2. Pilate orders Jesus Christ to be scourged; the soldiers crown Him with thorns and place an old purple mantle on His shoulders; afterward they insult Him, saying in derision: “Hail, king of the Jews!” at the same time they strike Him.

3. Jesus comes out of the hall of justice crowned with thorns and clothed in purple. Pilate, showing Him to the Jews, says, “Behold the man!” The priests seeing Him, say, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

1. Pilate being seated on his tribunal, judged Jesus and delivered Him up to the Jews, who renounced Him for their King, saying, “We have no king but Caesar.”

2. Jesus bears His cross until, His strength failing Him, they compel a man named Simon, a Cyrenian, to carry it behind Him.

3. He is crucified between two thieves. At the top of the cross this inscription is placed: “Jesus of Nazareth, king of the Jews.”

1. They blaspheme against Jesus Christ in different ways: “Thou that destroyest the Temple of God… come down from the cross,” and so on. The soldiers divide His garments.

2. Jesus pronounces seven words on the cross. He prays for His murderers. He pardons one of the thieves crucified with Him. He recommends His Mother to St. John and St. John to His Mother. He cries, “I thirst”; then the soldiers give Him vinegar and water to drink. He complains to His Father of the abandonment in which He left Him. He says, “All is consummated.” Finally, before dying, He pronounces these words: “Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit.”

3. At His death, the sun is darkened, the rocks rent, the graves opened, the veil of the Temple is torn from top to bottom. His side being pierced by a spear, blood and water flow from it.

1. Our Lord, being now dead, is taken down from the cross by Joseph and Nicodemus, in presence of His holy Mother, who is overpowered by the most lively grief.

2. His body, being embalmed, is carried to the sepulcher, and enclosed in it.

3. Guards are placed at the tomb.

Jesus Christ appears first to His Blessed Mother after His resurrection. The Gospel leads us to think so, by saying that Jesus Christ appeared to several persons; if we do not find in this general expression a sufficiently sure proof, we deserve that reproach of Our Saviour to His disciples: “Are ye still without understanding?”

0:1, 11–18)

1. Early in the morning, Mary Magdalen and the mother of James and Salome leave Jerusalem to go to the sepulcher. They say to one another, “Who shall roll us back the stone from the door of the sepulcher?”

2. They see the stone removed and in the tomb an angel, who says to them, “Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. He is risen; He is not here.”

3. Jesus appears to Magdalen, who had remained alone at the tomb, the other women having gone away.

1. The pious women of whom we have spoken are returning to Jerusalem, filled with fear and joy, to tell the Apostles what they had heard of the resurrection of their Master.

2. As they walk together, Jesus appears to them, and says, “All hail!” They kneel at His feet and adore Him.

3. The Lord speaks to them tenderly: “Fear not. Go tell My brethren that they go into Galilee; there they shall see Me.”

1. St. Peter, having learned from the holy women that Jesus was risen, goes in all haste to the sepulcher.

2. He enters and sees only the linen clothes in which the body of Our Saviour had been wrapped.

3. While St. Peter wondered at this event, the Lord appeared, as it was afterward said, “The Lord hath risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.”

1. He appears to two disciples who are talking of Him on their way to Emmaus.

2. He reproaches them with their incredulity and explains to them the mysteries of His passion and resurrection. “O foolish, and slow of heart to believe in all things which the prophets have spoken! Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and so to enter into His glory?”

3. His disciples beg Him to remain with them. He remains. Then taking bread and breaking it, He gives it to them and disappears. They return to Jerusalem, and relate to the Apostles how they had seen the Lord, and had recognized Him by the breaking of the bread.

1. All the disciples, except Thomas, are shut up in a house because they feared the Jews.

2. Jesus Christ enters the room where they all are, the doors being closed. “He stood in the midst, and said to them, Peace be to you.”

3. He gives them the Holy Spirit, and says to them, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them.”

1. St. Thomas, not having been with the other Apostles when Jesus appeared to them the first time, had protested that he would not believe unless he saw: “If I see not, I will not believe.”

2. Eight days after, the Apostles being still together, and Thomas with them, the doors being closed, Jesus appears a second time, and says to St. Thomas, “Put in thy finger hither… and be not faithless, but believing.”

3. Thomas answers, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus replies, “Blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed.”

1. Jesus appears to seven of His disciples who were fishing. They had taken nothing all night; but having cast their net by the order of Jesus Christ, “now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.”

2. John knew Jesus Christ by this miracle and said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” Immediately Peter, casting himself into the sea, hastens to Jesus.

3. Jesus gives them bread and fish to eat. Then, having asked Peter three different times if he loved Him, He gives him the care of His flock, saying to him, “Feed My lambs, feed My sheep.”

1. The disciples, by order of their Master, go to Mount Thabor.

2. There He appears to them again, saying, “All power is given to Me in heaven and on earth.”

3. Sending them to preach throughout the whole world, He gives them this command: “Go, teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

Jesus afterward shows Himself to more than five hundred disciples assembled together.

He shows Himself to James alone.

We read in several pious books that He appeared to Joseph of Arimathea alone. This is probable, and we may piously meditate on it.

1. His soul also makes its presence felt by the patriarchs and the just in limbus; and after having delivered them, He showed Himself to them many times.

2. He shows Himself very frequently to His disciples after His resurrection and converses with them.

3. He appears again, after His ascension, to St. Paul, who declares it himself: “And last of all, He was seen also by me, as by one born out of due time.”

1. Jesus Christ, having shown Himself many times to His Apostles during forty days, and having convinced them by many signs that He was really living, “speaking to them of the kingdom of God,” He orders them to return to Jerusalem until they shall have received the Holy Ghost.

2. He led them to the Mount of Olives; and “while they looked on, He was raised up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.”

3. While they were looking at Him ascending into heaven, two men dressed in white (whom we believe to have been angels) appeared to them, and said, “Men of Galilee, why stand you looking up to heaven? This Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come as you have seen Him going into heaven.”