On the Spirituality Page, keeping with the passion theme, I’ve posted links to THE GOSPEL OF LENT AND THE PASSION OF CHRIST, a series of meditations on the gospel texts used in the pre -Vatican II lectionary.  Another work is entitled  WE PREACH CHRIST CRUCIFIED, meditations for boys.  Bing an Aquinas dilettante, I’ve also linked to a work called LENT WITH ST THOMAS AQUINAS, compiled by Father Philip Hughes.  Finally, I’ve linked to a work called CROWN OF GLORY by Alban Goodier, S.J., whose cause for beatification is currently underway.

   Thus she, nor could the Panther well enlarge
  With weak defence against so strong a charge;
  But said: For what did Christ his Word provide,
  If still his Church must want a living guide?                      300
  And if all saving doctrines are not there,
  Or sacred penmen could not make them clear,
  From after ages we should hope in vain
  For truths, which men inspired could not explain.

   Before the Word was written, said the Hind,
  Our Saviour preach'd his faith to human kind:
  From his apostles the first age received
  Eternal truth, and what they taught believed.
  Thus by Tradition faith was planted first;
  Succeeding flocks succeeding pastors nursed.                       310
  This was the way our wise Redeemer chose
  (Who sure could all things for the best dispose),
  To fence his fold from their encroaching foes.
  He could have writ himself, but well foresaw
  The event would be like that of Moses' law;
  Some difference would arise, some doubts remain,
  Like those which yet the jarring Jews maintain.
  No written laws can be so plain, so pure,
  But wit may gloss, and malice may obscure;
  Not those indited by his first command,                            320
  A prophet graved the text, an angel held his hand.
  Thus faith was ere the written word appear'd,
  And men believed not what they read, but heard.
  But since the apostles could not be confined
  To these, or those, but severally design'd
  Their large commission round the world to blow,
  To spread their faith, they spread their labours too.
  Yet still their absent flock their pains did share;
  They hearken'd still, for love produces care,
  And, as mistakes arose, or discords fell,                          330
  Or bold seducers taught them to rebel,
  As charity grew cold, or faction hot,
  Or long neglect their lessons had forgot,
  For all their wants they wisely did provide,
  And preaching by epistles was supplied:
  So great physicians cannot all attend,
  But some they visit, and to some they send.
  Yet all those letters were not writ to all;
  Nor first intended but occasional,
  Their absent sermons; nor if they contain                          340
  All needful doctrines, are those doctrines plain.
  Clearness by frequent preaching must be wrought:
  They writ but seldom, but they daily taught.
  And what one saint has said of holy Paul,
  "He darkly writ," is true, applied to all.
  For this obscurity could Heaven provide
  More prudently than by a living guide,
  As doubts arose, the difference to decide?
  A guide was therefore needful, therefore made;
  And, if appointed, sure to be obey'd.                              350
  Thus, with due reverence to the Apostle's writ,
  By which my sons are taught, to which submit;
  I think those truths their sacred works contain,
  The Church alone can certainly explain;
  That following ages, leaning on the past,
  May rest upon the Primitive at last.
  Nor would I thence the Word no rule infer,
  But none without the Church-interpreter.
  Because, as I have urged before, 'tis mute,
  And is itself the subject of dispute.                              360
  But what the Apostles their successors taught,
  They to the next, from them to us is brought,
  The undoubted sense which is in Scripture sought.
  From hence the Church is arm'd, when errors rise,
  To stop their entrance, and prevent surprise;
  And, safe entrench'd within, her foes without defies.
  By these all festering sores her Councils heal,
  Which time or has disclosed, or shall reveal;
  For discord cannot end without a last appeal.
  Nor can a Council national decide,                                 370
  But with subordination to her guide;
  (I wish the cause were on that issue tried.)
  Much less the Scripture; for suppose debate
  Betwixt pretenders to a fair estate,
  Bequeath'd by some legator's last intent;
  (Such is our dying Saviour's Testament:)
  The will is proved, is open'd, and is read;
  The doubtful heirs their differing titles plead:
  All vouch the words their interest to maintain,
  And each pretends by those his cause is plain.                     380
  Shall then the Testament award the right?
  No, that's the Hungary for which they fight;
  The field of battle, subject of debate;
  The thing contended for, the fair estate.
  The sense is intricate, 'tis only clear
  What vowels and what consonants are there.
  Therefore 'tis plain, its meaning must be tried
  Before some judge appointed to decide.