(Death, Heaven, Purgatory, Hell)
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
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From "The Lament of Mary"
by St. Simeon Metaphrastes
"O uncovered corse, yet Word of the
Living One! self-doomed to be uplifted on the cross for the drawing of all men
unto Thee, - what member of Thine hath no wound? O my blessed brows, embraced
by the thorn-wreath which is pricking at my heart! O beautiful and priestly
One, who hadst not where to lay Thine head and rest, and now wilt lay it only
in the tomb, resting-there-; sleeping, as Jacob said, a lion's sleep! O cheeks
turned to the smiter! O lips, new hive for bees, yet fresh from the sharpness
of vinegar and bitterness of gall! O mouth, wherein was no guile, yet betrayed
by the traitor's kiss! O hand, creative of man, yet nailed to the cross, and
since stretched out unto Hades, with help for the first transgressor! O
feet, once walking on the deep to hallow the waters of nature! O me, my son! .
. . Where is thy chorus of sick ones? - those whom Thou didst cure of their
diseases, and bring back from the dead? Is none here, but only Nicodemus, to
draw the nails from those hands and feet? - none here, but only Nicodemus, to
lift Thee from the cross heavily, heavily, and lay Thee in these mother-arms,
which bore Thee long ago, in thy babyhood, and were glad -then-? These hands,
which swaddled Thee then, let them bind Thy grave-clothes now. And yet, - O
bitter funerals! - O Giver of life from the dead, liest Thou dead before mine
eyes? Must -I-, who said "hush" beside Thy cradle, wail this passion upon Thy
grave? -I-, who washed Thee in Thy first bath, must I drop on Thee these hotter
tears? I, who raised Thee high in my maternal arms, - but -then- Thou leapedst,
- -then-Thou sprangest up in Thy child-play!"