Declamation
Tears at the Foot of the Cross
Thirty three years ago, he was my baby, bore Him, warmed Him, watched over Him, dressed him, nursed Him,
cradled Him in my arms. Thirty three years ago. Now He is dead, dead! Nailed to the cross like a thief, broken, bleeding
like a slaughtered beast. What have He done to them? to the priests, to the governor and the people who shouted and
screamed? What has He done to them? When all words that came out of His mouth were kind words and love even for
his enemies. Now He is gone and I shall never know the healing touch and gladness of Him again. My son, my little one.
Oh Jesus, is it cold out there my son? I cannot reach you where you are nailed, only your feet, your broken feet. Where
my hand reached my bosom. I will wait for you, hungry, yearning like the night I bore you and pressed you close to me to
protect you from the chilling night wind inside the stable. Now my hand can only stretch but cannot hold you. My arms
cannot enfold you, I cannot get up to you. I am cramped and cold and beaten. I cannot reach you in your cross where you
are hanging. They shouted for your blood. They screamed for your life. They cried out for your death. Now you are dead
but your death shall change everything. I can see the end of war in your day...someday.I can see the end of hatred and
the coming of love. I can see a newer courage. A new kind of duty. I can see the joy of women and little children.
Someday I can see cities and great spaces of land full of happiness. I can see love shining in every face. In your death,
there shall be no more hatred.... no more killing..... no more pain......no pain... No lust...No death...Only life...only love....
only You and Your kingdom, my Son.
Tears at the Foot of the Cross
Thirty three years ago, he was my baby, bore Him, warmed Him, watched over Him, dressed him, nursed Him,
cradled Him in my arms. Thirty three years ago. Now He is dead, dead! Nailed to the cross like a thief, broken, bleeding
like a slaughtered beast. What have He done to them? to the priests, to the governor and the people who shouted and
screamed? What has He done to them? When all words that came out of His mouth were kind words and love even for
his enemies. Now He is gone and I shall never know the healing touch and gladness of Him again. My son, my little one.
Oh Jesus, is it cold out there my son? I cannot reach you where you are nailed, only your feet, your broken feet. Where
my hand reached my bosom. I will wait for you, hungry, yearning like the night I bore you and pressed you close to me to
protect you from the chilling night wind inside the stable. Now my hand can only stretch but cannot hold you. My arms
cannot enfold you, I cannot get up to you. I am cramped and cold and beaten. I cannot reach you in your cross where you
are hanging. They shouted for your blood. They screamed for your life. They cried out for your death. Now you are dead
but your death shall change everything. I can see the end of war in your day...someday.I can see the end of hatred and
the coming of love. I can see a newer courage. A new kind of duty. I can see the joy of women and little children.
Someday I can see cities and great spaces of land full of happiness. I can see love shining in every face. In your death,
there shall be no more hatred.... no more killing..... no more pain......no pain... No lust...No death...Only life...only love....
only You and Your kingdom, my Son.
Tears at the Foot of the Cross
Thirty three years ago, he was my baby, bore Him, warmed Him, watched over Him, dressed him, nursed Him,
cradled Him in my arms. Thirty three years ago. Now He is dead, dead! Nailed to the cross like a thief, broken, bleeding
like a slaughtered beast. What have He done to them? to the priests, to the governor and the people who shouted and
screamed? What has He done to them? When all words that came out of His mouth were kind words and love even for
his enemies. Now He is gone and I shall never know the healing touch and gladness of Him again. My son, my little one.
Oh Jesus, is it cold out there my son? I cannot reach you where you are nailed, only your feet, your broken feet. Where
my hand reached my bosom. I will wait for you, hungry, yearning like the night I bore you and pressed you close to me to
protect you from the chilling night wind inside the stable. Now my hand can only stretch but cannot hold you. My arms
cannot enfold you, I cannot get up to you. I am cramped and cold and beaten. I cannot reach you in your cross where you
are hanging. They shouted for your blood. They screamed for your life. They cried out for your death. Now you are dead
but your death shall change everything. I can see the end of war in your day...someday.I can see the end of hatred and
the coming of love. I can see a newer courage. A new kind of duty. I can see the joy of women and little children.
Someday I can see cities and great spaces of land full of happiness. I can see love shining in every face. In your death,
there shall be no more hatred.... no more killing..... no more pain......no pain... No lust...No death...Only life...only love....
only You and Your kingdom, my Son.
Oration
The Two Standards by Horacio de la Costa, S.J
Life is a Warfare: a warfare between two standards: the Standard of Christ and the Standard of Satan. It is a
warfare older than the world, for it began with the revolt of the angels. It is awarfare wide as the world; it rages in every
nation, every city, in the heart of every man. Satan desires all men to come under his Standard, an4d to this end lures
them with riches, honors, power, all that ministers to the lust and pride of man. Christ on the contrary, invites all to
fightunder His Standard. But He offers no worldly allurement; only Himself. Only Jesus; only theSon of Man; born an
outcast, raised in poverty, rejected as a teacher, betrayed by His friend,crucified as a criminal. And therefore His followers
shall not be confounded forever; they are certain of ultimate victory; against them, the gates of Hell cannot prevail. The
powers of darkness shall splinter before their splendid battalions. Battle-scarred but resplendent, they shallenter into glory
with Christ, their king .Two armies, two Standards, two generals… and to every man there comes the imperious cry of
command: Choose! Christ or Satan? Choose! Sanctity or Sin? Choose! Heaven or Hell? And in the choice he makes, is
summed up the life of every man.
The Two Standards by Horacio de la Costa, S.J
Life is a Warfare: a warfare between two standards: the Standard of Christ and the Standard of Satan. It is a
warfare older than the world, for it began with the revolt of the angels. It is awarfare wide as the world; it rages in every
nation, every city, in the heart of every man. Satan desires all men to come under his Standard, and to this end lures them
with riches, honors, power, all that ministers to the lust and pride of man. Christ on the contrary, invites all to fightunder
His Standard. But He offers no worldly allurement; only Himself. Only Jesus; only theSon of Man; born an outcast, raised
in poverty, rejected as a teacher, betrayed by His friend,crucified as a criminal. And therefore His followers shall not be
confounded forever; they are certain of ultimate victory; against them, the gates of Hell cannot prevail. The powers of
darkness shall splinter before their splendid battalions. Battle-scarred but resplendent, they shallenter into glory with
Christ, their king .Two armies, two Standards, two generals… and to every man there comes the imperious cry of
command: Choose! Christ or Satan? Choose! Sanctity or Sin? Choose! Heaven or Hell? And in the choice he makes, is
summed up the life of every man.
The Two Standards by Horacio de la Costa, S.J
Life is a Warfare: a warfare between two standards: the Standard of Christ and the Standard of Satan. It is a
warfare older than the world, for it began with the revolt of the angels. It is awarfare wide as the world; it rages in every
nation, every city, in the heart of every man. Satan desires all men to come under his Standard, and to this end lures them
with riches, honors, power, all that ministers to the lust and pride of man. Christ on the contrary, invites all to fightunder
His Standard. But He offers no worldly allurement; only Himself. Only Jesus; only theSon of Man; born an outcast, raised
in poverty, rejected as a teacher, betrayed by His friend,crucified as a criminal. And therefore His followers shall not be
confounded forever; they are certain of ultimate victory; against them, the gates of Hell cannot prevail. The powers of
darkness shall splinter before their splendid battalions. Battle-scarred but resplendent, they shallenter into glory with
Christ, their king .Two armies, two Standards, two generals… and to every man there comes the imperious cry of
command: Choose! Christ or Satan? Choose! Sanctity or Sin? Choose! Heaven or Hell? And in the choice he makes, is
summed up the life of every man.
The Two Standards by Horacio de la Costa, S.J
Life is a Warfare: a warfare between two standards: the Standard of Christ and the Standard of Satan. It is a
warfare older than the world, for it began with the revolt of the angels. It is awarfare wide as the world; it rages in every
nation, every city, in the heart of every man. Satan desires all men to come under his Standard, and to this end lures them
with riches, honors, power, all that ministers to the lust and pride of man. Christ on the contrary, invites all to fightunder
His Standard. But He offers no worldly allurement; only Himself. Only Jesus; only theSon of Man; born an outcast, raised
in poverty, rejected as a teacher, betrayed by His friend,crucified as a criminal. And therefore His followers shall not be
confounded forever; they are certain of ultimate victory; against them, the gates of Hell cannot prevail. The powers of
darkness shall splinter before their splendid battalions. Battle-scarred but resplendent, they shallenter into glory with
Christ, their king .Two armies, two Standards, two generals… and to every man there comes the imperious cry of
command: Choose! Christ or Satan? Choose! Sanctity or Sin? Choose! Heaven or Hell? And in the choice he makes, is
summed up the life of every man.
