Tuesday, September 18, 2012

A Queen Does Penance

Anne d'Autriche and her sons with St. Scholastica and St. Benedict by Philippe de Champaigne
Anne of Austria, the mother of Louis XIV, joined the Benedictine nuns in an act of penance and reparation.
That afternoon, la musique du Roi, Louis XIV"s own musicians, presented their homage to Jesus Christ, the Eucharistic King enthroned upon the altar. Then, before Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Anne of Austria advanced to the middle of the choir, knelt in adoration, and with a cord about her neck and a burning taper in her hand, read the Amende Honorable, or act of reparation, composed by Mother Mectilde. As the Queen gave utterance to Mother Mectilde's prayer, it was the voice of France that reached the ears of God, making reparation for the countless offenses, sacrileges, and outrages perpetrated against the Sacred Host.(Read entire post.)
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