In commemoration of the Ides of March and true to our purpose here, and with apologies to William Shakespeare, we present our take on the soliloquy by Marc Antony in the work "Julius Caesar" who was of course done in by his "good and honorable friend" Brutus. Here we substitute Judas for the latter, and put the true Divine One in the place of Caesar. For half a century after the Roman ruler was done in, a New Ruler came on the scene - One Who would rule forever in Eternity and in our hearts. But 2000 years later so many have forgotten, have denigrated the greatness of this Son of Man, forgetting all He promised and favor those of the world who seek to annihilate His memory and all He bequeathed to mankind.
   Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend us your ears, we have come to praise Jesus and His Holy Church, not to denigrate Them. The evil that men do lives after them; for those who are loyal the good is interred in their souls. So let it be with forces of satan, he will be avenged. The Iscariot hath told you the Master was to be king of the world - an ambitious goal. If it were so, it was a grievous fault. And grievously hath Our Lord answered it. Here, under leave of Judas and the rest - for the world would perceive that Judas is an honorable man, so are they all - the Scribes and Pharisees - honorable men. Come we to speak in the aftermath of Christ's death. He was our friend, faithful and just to all. But Judas says He was not the king he thought Christ to be, and the world would perceive Brutus is an honorable man. Jesus brought many souls home, whose ransoms did the spiritual coffers fill. Did this in Christ seem unkingly? When that the poor have cried, Jesus hath wept. Monarchs should be made of sterner stuff. Yet Judas says he was a king who would not rule as men desired, and the world would perceive Judas is an honorable man. You all did see that on the mountain top, satan thrice presented Him the kingly worldly crowns, which He did thrice refuse. Was this the embodiment of a king? Yet Judas says his own ambitions were not fulfilled, and sure the world perceives he is an honorable man. We speak not to disprove that Judas spoke this way, but we are here to speak what we do know. You all did love Him once, not without cause. What cause withholds you then to mourn for Him? To follow Him, to die for Him? O judgement, thou art fled to brutish beasts, and men have lost their reason! Our heart is there with the Sacred Heart and His Mother's Immaculate Heart, and we must pause to ponder.

    For yesterday the Word of Christ might have stood against the world. Now He is reviled. And none so poor to do Him reverence. O people, if we were disposed to stir your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage, we should do Judas wrong, and his master satan, who, the world doth perceive as honorable men. Rather than doing wrong, we wish to wrong the dead, to wrong ourselves, then to wrong what the world perceives as honorable men. But here's a testament with the seal of Christ. We found it in our faith. 'Tis His Will. Let but the commons hear this testament, which, pardon us, we do not mean to read for they would go and kiss dead Jesus' wounds, and dip their napkins in His sacred blood, Yea, beg a hair of Him for memory, and dying, mention it within their wills, bequeathing it as a rich legacy unto their issue.

    Have patience, gentle friends, we must not read it. It is not meet you know how Jesus loved you. You are not wood, you are not stones, but men; and, being men, hearing the Will of God, it will inflame you, it will make you mad. For it is not your will, but His. 'Tis good you know not that you are His heirs, for if you should, O what would come of it? Would you convert? Would you comply? If say you 'yes' would you be patient? Will you stay with Him awhile for He is Present in the Blessed Sacrament? Yes, Alive and well! Yet we fear, we have o'ershot ourselves to tell you of it. We fear we wrong those the world perceives as honorable men whose sins have stabbed Jesus; we do fear it.

    If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. You all do know this mantle - this Sacred Host in which He dwells. We remember the first time we ever received Him in Holy Communion confected from the bread and the cup, where wine turned to His blood, rushing out into our hearts - pierced by a lance to pour forth blood and water as a font of Mercy for all. If Judas was so unkindly knocked or no - For Judas, as you know, was Jesus' Apostle. Judge, how dearly Jesus loved him! This was the most unkindest cut of all. For when the noble Christ saw him betray, ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms, even at the base of Olivet to the parapet of Calvary, which all the while ran blood, and mankind fell. From the time of satan as the serpent to our present time, indeed, what a fall was there, our countrymen! Then we, and you, and all of us fell down, whilst bloody treason flourished over us. O now you weep, and we perceive you feel the dint of pity. These are gracious drops. Kind souls, what, weep you when you but behold our Jesus' vesture wounded? Do you not now realize how His dear Mother felt and still so deeply feels when again o'er and o'er He is wounded by our sins? Our cold-hearted indifference to Him and His Church?

    Good friends, sweet friends, let us not stir you up to such a sudden flood of mutiny. They that have done this deed are perceived by the world as honorable men. They who demean Him, His Heavenly Mother, and His Holy Church and her members are perceived by the world as honorable men. They who disregard His laws for worldly gains are perceived by the like as honorable men. For you on hearing this impatience doth rule, yet hasten not. What private griefs they have, alas, we know not, that made them do it. For in satan's eyes they are wise and honorable, and will no doubt with reasons answer you. We come not, friends, to steal away your hearts. We are not clever as satan is, but, as you know us all, plain simple disciples who strive to do His Will; to speak here of love for Him. For we have neither wit, nor words, nor worth, action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech, to stir men's blood. We only speak right on. We tell you that which you yourselves do know, show you sweet Jesus' wounds, and bid them speak for us from every scourged and bloody wound of Jesus that should move the stones of Rome to rise and mutiny. Alas, you rally, dear Church Militant.

    Yet hear us, countrymen, yet hear us speak. Why, friends, you go to do you know not what. Wherein hath Christ thus deserved your loves? Alas, you know not. We must tell you then. You have forgot His Will we told you of. Here is His Will, and given by Christ to all. To every child of God He gives - to every several man - life everlasting!

    Moreover, He hath left you all His Church, His Laws, His Sacraments, and new-planted orchards of the New Testament. On this side Tiber He hath left the Vicar of Christ to you. And to your heirs for ever - the promise that the gates of hell shall not prevail. Here was Jesus. When comes such another? Never, you shout, so be it. We wait for His Second Coming as the cup overflows from the deeds of those who the world perceives as honorable men. But His Holy Church knows the truth and the truth shall survive. Now let it work and be obedient, be alive. For satan lurks, mischief, thou art afoot. Take thou what course thou wilt.

     The Ides of March bodes the warning knell to all that the evil one's time is growing short as is the promised Era of Peace - the New Advent - the glorious Reign of the Sacred Heart - a time ushered in by the Triumph of Mary's Immaculate Heart when satan will be bound and chained by the prayers and good deeds of all who stay the course. For those who wander, for those who neglect God's warning, for those who the world, not God, perceives as honorable men: Beware the Ides of March!

Michael Cain, editor

For previous editorials this year, go to PAST CATHOLIC PewPOINTS           

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