I got a new treadmill yesterday, which I promptly set up and tried out on a very basic level.  This morning, however, I decided actually to do a workout, which absolutely kicked my butt!  I’m very glad I got it, because I am far from in shape.  (I promise that this post will eventually make sense with the title.  Really!)

I then decided to practice some chant, as I’ll be singing for the First Friday Mass of the Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem, which is at their brand-new Priory of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Charles Town, WV.  We’ll be singing the propers for the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (1st class), as well as the hauntingly beautiful Mass XIII.  As I started to practice the propers, I came upon the Alleluia of the day, “Tollite jugum meum,” pictured below:

“Alleluia, alleluia.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  Alleluia.” (Mt 11:29)

As tired as I was from that workout, it was nothing compared to how tired Our Lord was in His Sorrowful Passion. No matter how tired I am in spirit, He will take that upon His shoulders so that I may take His yoke upon mine.

I was already meditating on His Passion when I sang the communion chant, “Unus miltum”—”But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water” (Jn 19:34).  How great a connection is there between the Sacred Heart and the Sorrowful Passion?  How much did that Heart bleed for us and for our sins, and how much more does that same Heart bleed for us today?  And, more appropriately, today is the traditional day for the Feast of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which is displaced to tomorrow this year because of the Sacred Heart.  What better day to celebrate the feast of the Sacred Heart than on the day traditionally reserved for the Precious Blood which poured from it?

Needless to say, I am looking forward to being sore all day today, because with each ache I will recall the Passion of Our Lord, His immense love for me, and my unpayable debt to Him (which He Himself paid for me).  As a friend prayed for me the other day, so I pray for you: “May the Precious Blood of Jesus cover you from the crown of your head to the soles of your feet.”

As you can see, I have a brand new blog.  It will use the standard layout while I’m developing one that looks like the rest of my site, so I apologize in advance for the visual confusion.  You are still on catholiccomposer.com. Actually, it’s done already.  The blog now looks like the rest of the site.  Woo hoo!