Introduction: We enter into the 4th week of the Spiritual Exercises

Preparatory Prayer [46]: I will beg God our Lord for grace that all my intentions, actions, and operations may be directed purely to the praise and service of His Divine Majesty.

Preludes [219]:

First, is the history. Here it is how after Christ expired on the cross His body remained separated from the soul, but always united with the divinity. His soul, likewise united with the divinity, descended into hell. There he sets free the souls of the just, then comes to the sepulcher, and rising, appears in body and soul to His Blessed Mother.

Mental Representation: This is a mental representation of the place. Here it will be to see the arrangement of the holy sepulcher and the place or house of our Lady. I will note its different parts, and also her room, her oratory, etc.

Grace:  I will ask God for what I desire: Here it will be to ask for the grace to be glad and rejoice intensely because of the great joy and the glory of Christ our Lord. The joy of the Resurrected Christ. Once crucified; now He returns victorious.

Note [229]: Ignatius tells us to strive to feel joy and happiness at the great joy and happiness of Christ our Lord…thinking of those things that cause pleasure, happiness, spiritual joy, for instance the glory of heaven; Instead of penance, to attend to temperance and moderation…

(I want a joy that comes from the things of God…not one that comes from sensible or quickly passing things. Spiritual joy is permanent, long lasting, and much more delightful. I want to be glad and rejoice intensely because of the great joy and the glory of Christ our Lord )

Points []:

1. This is to see the persons present at the Resurrection, and to reflect upon myself, and strive to draw some profit from them.
2. This is to listen to their conversation, and likewise seek to draw fruit from it.
3. This is to see what they are doing, and to seek to draw some fruit from it.

4. This will be to consider the divinity, which seemed to hide itself during the passion, now appearing and manifesting itself so miraculously in the most holy Resurrection in its true and most sacred effects.
5. Consider the office of Consoler that Christ our Lord exercises, and compare it with the way in which friends are wont to console each other.

Colloquy.  Close with a colloquy, or colloquies, as the circumstances suggest, and at the end say the Our Father.

Additional Points for Considerations:

Mary was “most blessed among women”. She understood the value of suffering and sacrifices. Her exemplary cooperation with God: “I am the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to thy Word”.

At the Presentation: Mary considers in her heart the passion.

At the Wedding of Cana: Mary embraces her Son’s sacrifice without delay. Christ responds: “Women, my hour has not yet come.”

Christs deflects attention away from Mary and keeps her unknown:  “Those who hear the word of God and keep it” (Lk 11,28).

Ignatius assumes Christ appeared first to Mary. The Catechism says: In Mary the Church has already reached that perfection whereby she exists without spot or wrinkle (LG, CCC 829). By her suffering she was unique: In a wholly unique way she cooperated by her obedience, faith, hope and burning charity in the Savior’s work of restoring supernatural life to souls. For this reason, she serves as a Mother to all people. (LG/CCC968)

Mary experienced the Passion more than the other disciples; she also experienced the joy of the resurrection more so.

Easter Hymn:

Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia.

The Son you merited to bear, alleluia,

Has risen as he said, alleluia.

Pray to God for us, alleluia.