August 18 - St. John Eudes

 

              St. John Eudes

John was born in the year 1601, of pious and respectable parents, at a village commonly known as Ri, in the diocese of Seez. While still a boy, when he was fed with the bread of Angels, he cheerfully made a vow of perpetual chastity. Having been received at the College of Caen, directed by the Fathers of the Society of Jesus, he was conspicuous for a remarkable piety; and, committing himself to the protection of the Virgin Mary, when still a youth he signed with his own blood, the special covenant he had entered into with her. Having completed his courses of letters and of philosophy with great distinction, and having spurned opportunities of marriage which had been arranged for him, he enrolled himself with the Congregation of the Oratory de Bérulle, and was ordained priest at Paris. He was on fire with a marvellous love towards his neighbour: for he took the most constant pains in caring for both the souls and bodies of those smitten with the Asiatic plague, in many different places. He was made Rector of the Oratorian house at Caen, but since he had been thinking for a long time of educating suitable young men for the ministry of the Church, earnestly asking for the divine assistance, with a brave spirit he most regretfully departed from the associates with whom he had lived for twenty years.

     Accordingly, associating five priests with himself, in the year 1643, on the feastday of the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary, he founded a Congregation of Priests, to whom he gave the most holy names of Jesus and Mary, and opened the first seminary at Caen; and a great many others followed immediately in Normandy and Brittany, also founded by him. For the recalling of sinful women to a Christian life, he founded the Order of Our Lady of Charity; of which most noble tree, the Congregation of the Good Shepherd of Angers is a branch. Furthermore, he founded the Society of the Admirable Heart of the Mother of God, and other charitable institutions. He was the author of many excellent treatises, and laboured as an Apostolic Missionary to the very end of his life, preaching the Gospel in very many villages, towns, and cities, and even in the royal court.

     His matchless zeal was very conspicuous in promoting the salutary devotion towards the most sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, whose liturgical worship he was the first of all to devise, although not without some divine inspiration. He is therefore held to be the father, the teacher, and the apostle of that worship. Courageously withstanding the doctrines of the Jansenists, he preserved unalterable obedience towards the Chair of Peter, and he constantly prayed to God, both for his enemies as well as for his brethren. Broken by so many labours, rather than by years, desiring to be freed and to be with Christ, on the 19th day of August, 1680, frequently repeating the sweet names of Jesus and Mary, he died in peace. As he became illustrious by many miracles, Pope Pius X added him to the list of the Blessed, and as he still shone forth with new signs and wonders, Pope Pius XI, in the holy year and on the day of Pentecost, placed him among the Saints, and extended his Office and Mass to the universal Church.

Hymn

This the confessor of the Lord, whose triumph

Now all the faithful celebrate, with gladness

On this feast day year by year receiveth

Merited honors.

Saintly and prudent, modest in behaviour,

Peaceful and sober, chaste was he, and lowly.

While that life's vigour, coursing through his members,

Quickened his being.

Sick ones of old time, to his tomb resorting,

Sorely by ailments manifold afflicted,

Oft-times have welcomed health and strength returning,

At his petition.

Whence we in chorus gladly do him honour,

Chanting his praises with devout affection,

That in his merits we may have a portion,

Now and forever.

His be the glory, power and salvation,

Who over all things reigneth in the highest,

Earth's mighty fabric ruling and directing,

Onely and Trinal.

Amen.

Magnificat of Saint John Eudes

My soul doth magnify the admirable Heart of Jesus and Mary,

And my spirit rejoices in my great Heart.

Jesus and Mary have given me their Heart,

This immense Heart in order that all in me

May be performed in its love.

Infinite thanks to them for their ineffable gift.

This heart infinitely merciful has done great things for me;

It has possessed me from the womb of my mother.

Infinite thanks for His ineffable gifts.

The abyss of my misery has called on the abyss of His Mercy.

Infinite thanks for His ineffable gifts.

This Heart infinitely meek has presented me

With blessings of its sweetness.

Infinite thanks for His ineffable gifts. 

       August 19 - Mass Propers

              St. John Eudes

Twelfth week after Pentecost within the 

         Octave of the Assumption

      Double/White Vestments

             Missa 'Os Justi'

      

INTROIT -  Psalm 36: 30-31

The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak judgment: the law of his God is in his heart. Ps. Be not emulous of evildoers: nor envy them that work iniquity. Glory be to the Father.

Os justi meditabitur sapientiam, et lingua ejus loquetur judicium: lex Dei ejus in corde ipsius. Ps. Noli æmulari in malignantibus: neque zelaveris facientes iniquitatem. Gloria Patri.

COLLECT

O God, Who didst wonderfully inflame blessed John, Thy Confessor, to promote the public worship of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, and through him didst will to found new religious families in Thy Church: grant, we beseech Thee, that we who venerate his merits may also be taught by the example of his virtues. Through the same Lord.

Second Collect - Commemoration of the Octave of the Assumption

Almighty, everlasting God, Who took up, body and soul, the immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of Your Son, into heavenly glory, grant, we beseech You, that, always devoting ourselves to heavenly things, we may be found worthy to share in her glory. Through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son…

EPISTLE - Ecclesiasticus 31: 8-11

Blessed is the man that is found without blemish, and that hath not gone after gold, nor put his trust in money nor in treasures. Who is he, and we will praise him? for he hath done wonderful things in his life. Who hath been tried thereby, and made perfect, he shall have glory everlasting: he that could have transgressed, and hath not transgressed: and could do evil things, and hath not done them: therefore are his goods established in the Lord, and all the Church of the Saints shall declare his alms.

GRADUAL - Psalm 91: 13, 14

The Just shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow up like the cedar of Libanus in the house of the Lord. To show forth Thy mercy in the morning, and Thy truth in the night.

ALLELUIA - James 1: 12

Alleluia. Alleluia. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he hath been proved, he shall receive the crown of life. Alleluia.

GOSPEL - Luke 12: 35-40

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: Let your loins be girt and lamps burning in your hands, and you yourselves like to men who wait for their lord, when he shall return from the wedding: that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord, when he cometh, shall find watching: amen I say to you that he will girt himself and make them sit down to meat, and passing will minister unto them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But this know ye, that if the householder did know at what hour the thief would come, he would surely watch. and would not suffer his house to be broken open. Be you then also ready, for at what hour you think not the Son of man will come.

Madonna and Child with St. Jerome and St. Gregory the Great (Pinturicchio, Louvre)

Homily by Pope St Gregory the Great

Dearly beloved brethren, the words of the Holy Gospel, which have just been read, lie open before you, and, lest their very plainness should make them seem to some to be hard, we will go through them with such shortness as that neither may they which understand not remain unenlightened, nor they which understand be wearied. The Lord saith Let your loins be girded about. Now, we gird our loins about, when by continency we master the lustful inclination of the flesh. But, forasmuch as it sufficeth not for a man to abstain from evil deeds, if he strive not to join thereto the earnest doing of good works, it is immediately added And your lights burning. Our lights burn when, by good works, we give bright example to our neighbour; concerning which works the Lord saith Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father Which is in heaven. 

Here, then, are two commandments, to gird our loins about, and to keep our lights burning the cleanness of purity in our body, and the light of the truth in our works. Whoso hath the one and not the other, pleaseth not thereby our Redeemer; that is, he pleaseth Him not which doth good works, but bridleth not himself from the pollutions of lust, neither he which is eminent in chastity, but exerciseth not himself in good works. Neither is chastity a great thing without good works, nor good works anything without chastity. And if any man do both, it remaineth that he must look by hope toward our Fatherland above, and not have for his reason wherethrough he turneth himself away from vice, the love of honour in this present world.

 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. The Lord cometh at the hour of judgment He knocketh when, by the pains of sickness, He biddeth us know that death is nigh. To Him open we immediately, if we receive Him in love. Whoso feareth to leave this body, will not open to the Judge when He knocketh, for he dreadeth to see that Judge, Whom he knoweth that he hath despised. But whosoever knoweth that his hope and works are built upon a good foundation, when he heareth the Judge knock, openeth to Him immediately, for to such an one that coming is blessed, yea, when the hour of death is at hand, such an one haileth with gladness a glorious reward.

OFFERTORY - Psalm 88: 25

My truth and My mercy shall be with him: and in My name shall his horn be exalted.

SECRET

In memory of Thy Saints, O Lord, we offer Thee the sacrifice of praise, by which we trust to be freed from both present and future evils. Through our Lord.

Commemoration of the Octave of the Assumption

May the offering of our devotion rise unto You, O Lord, and by the intercession of the most blessed Virgin Mary, who was taken up into heaven, may our hearts, on fire with love, strive ever upward to You. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord…

COMMON PREFACE

It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation that we should at all times and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, eternal God: through Christ our Lord. through Whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, Dominations worship, Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the Heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with them we entreat Thee, that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted, while we say in lowly praise…

COMMUNION - Matthew 24: 46-47

Blessed is that servant, whom when his Lord shall come he shall find watching: amen I say to you, he shall place him over all his goods.

POSTCOMMUNION

Refreshed by meat and drink from heaven, O God, we humbly entreat Thee, that we may be protected by the prayers of him in whose memory we have partaken. Through our Lord.

Commemoration of the Octave of the Assumption

Having partaken, O Lord, of the sacrament of salvation, grant, we beseech You, that through the merits and intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary, who was taken up into heaven, we may be delivered from all the evils that threaten us. Through Jesus Christ…

ST..JOACHIM -- FATHER OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

 

                      

                      AUGUST 16

                 SAINT JOACHIM

CONFESSOR, FATHER OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

                Epistle and Gospel

Epistle Ecclesiasticus 31: 8-11

Blessed is the man that is found without blemish, and that hath not gone after gold, nor put his trust in money nor in treasures.  Who is he, and we will praise him?  for he hath done wonderful things in his life.  Who hath been tried thereby, and made perfect, he shall have glory everlasting:  he that could have transgressed, and hath not transgressed:  and could do evil things, and hath not done them:  therefore are his goods established in the Lord, and all the Church of the Saints shall declare his alms.

Gospel - Matthew 1: 1-16

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.  Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; and Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; and Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; and Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; and Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; and Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; and Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; and Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; and Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; and Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:  and after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; and Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; and Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; and Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

From time immemorial the Greeks have celebrated the feast of St. Joachim the day following our Lady's birthday. The Maronites kept it on the day after the Presentation in November, and the Armenians on the Tuesday after the Octave of the Assumption of the Mother of God. The Latins at first did not keep his feast. Later on it was admitted and celebrated sometimes on the day after the Octave of the Nativity, September 1:6, sometimes on the day following the Conception of the Blessed Virgin, December 9. Thus both East and West agreed in associating St. Joachim with his illustrious daughter when they wished to do him honour. About the year 1510, Julius II placed the feast of the grandfather of the Messias upon the Roman Calendar with the rank of double major; and remembering that family, in which the ties of nature and of grace were in such perfect harmony, be fixed the solemnity on March 20, the day after that of his son-in-law, St. Joseph. The life of the glorious patriarch resembled those of the first fathers of the Hebrew people; and it seemed as though he were destined to imitate their wanderings also, by continually changing his place upon the sacred cycle. Hardly fifty years after the Pontificate of Julius II the critical spirit of the day cast doubts upon the history of St. Joachim, and his name was erased from the Roman breviary. Gregory XV, however, re-established his feast in 1622 as a double, and the Church has since continued to celebrate it. Devotion to our Lady's father continuing to increase very much, the Holy See was petitioned to make his feast a holiday of obligation, as it had already made that of his spouse, St. Anne. In order to satisfy the devotion of the people without increasing the number of days of obligation, Clement XII in 1738 transferred the feast of St. Joachim to the Sunday after the Assumption of his daughter, the Blessed Virgin, and restored to it the rank of double major. On August 1, 1879, the Sovereign Pontiff, Leo XIII, who received the name of Joachim in baptism, raised both the feast of his glorious patron and that of St. Anne to the rank of doubles of the second class. The following is an extract from the decree Urbi et Orbi, announcing this decision with regard to the said feasts: 

Ecclesiasticus teaches us that we ought to praise our fathers in their generation; what great honor and veneration ought we then to render to St. Joachim and St. Anne, who begot the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, and are on that account more glorious than all others.' By your fruits are you known,' says St. John Damascene; you have given birth to a daughter who is greater than the angels and has become their Queen.' 

Now since, through the divine mercy, in our unhappy times the honor and worship paid to the Blessed Virgin is increasing in proportion to the increasing needs of the Christian people, it is only right that the new glory which surrounds their blessed daughter should redound upon her happy parents. May this increase of devotion towards them cause the Church to experience still more their powerful protection.

Prayer

Father of Mary, we thank thee. All creation owes thee a debt of gratitude, since the Creator was pleased that thou shouldst give Him the Mother He had chosen for Himself. Husband of holy Anne, thou showest us what would have been in paradise; thou seemest to have been reinstated in primeval innocence, in order to give birth to the Immaculate Virgin; sanctify Christian life, and elevate the standard of morals. Thou art the Grandfather of Jesus: let thy paternal love embrace all Christians who are His brethren. Holy Church honors thee more than ever in these days of trial; she knows how powerful thou art with the Eternal and Almighty Father, who made thee instrumental, through thy blessed daughter, in the temporal generation of his Eternal Son.

 Dom Gueranger - The Liturgical Year

FEAST OF OUR LADY'S ASSUMPTION INTO HEAVEN

 

       Holy Day of Obligation   

Double of the First Class with a common Octave

        White Vestments

   Missa ‘Signum magnum’

 

INTROIT - Apocalypse 12: 1

Signum magnum appáruit in cælo: múlier amícta sole, et luna sub pédibus ejus, et in cápite ejus coróna stellárum duódecim. Ps. 97. 1. Cantáte Dómino cánticum novum: quia mirabília fecit. V. Gloria Patri.

A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Ps. Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: because He hath done wonderful things. V. Glory be to the Father.

COLLECT

Omnipotens sempitérne Deus, qui Immaculátam Virginem Maríam, Fílii tui Genitrícem, córpore et ánima ad cæléstem glóriam assumpsísti: concéde, quǽsumus; ut ad supérna semper inténti, ipsíus glóriæ mereámur esse consórtes. Per eúmdem Dóminum nostrum.

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast taken up the Immaculate Virgin Mary, the Mother of Thy Son, with body and soul into heavenly glory: grant, we beseech Thee, that we may always, intent on higher things, deserve to be partakers of her glory. Through the same our Lord.

EPISTLE 

Judith 13: 22-25; 15. 10 benedíxit te Dóminus in virtúte sua, quia per te ad níhilum redégit inimícos nostros. Benedícta es tu, fília, a Dómino Deo excélso, præ ómnibus muliéribus super terram. Benedíctus Dóminus, qui creávit cælum et terram, qui te diréxit in vúlnera cápitis príncipis inimicórum nostrórum; quia hódie nomen tuum ita magnificávit, ut non recédat laus tua de ore hóminum, qui mémores fúerint virtútis Dómini in ætérnum, pro quibus non pepercísti ánimæ tuæ propter angústias et tribulatiónem géneris tui, sed subvenísti ruínæ ante conspéctum Dei nostri.  Tu glória Jerúsalem, tu lætítia Israël, tu honorificéntia pópuli nostri.

The Lord hath blessed thee by His power, because by thee He hath brought our enemies to nought. Blessed art thou, O daughter, by the Lord the most high God, above all women upon the earth. Blessed be the Lord, who made heaven and earth, who hath directed thee to the cutting off the head of the prince of our enemies; because He hath so magnified thy name this day, that thy praise shall not depart out of the mouth of men who shall be mindful of the power of the Lord, for ever: for that thou hast not spared thy life, by reason of the distress and tribulation of thy people; but hast prevented our ruin in the presence of our God. Thou art the glory of Jerusalem, thou art the joy of Israel, thou art the honour of our people.

GRADUAL - Psalm  44: 11-12, 14

Audi, fília, et vide, et inclína aurem tuam, et concupíscet rex pulchritúdinem tuam. V. Tota decóra ingréditur fília regis, textúræ áureæ sunt amíctus ejus.

Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear: and the King shall greatly desire thy beauty. V. The daughter of the King comes in, all beautiful: her robes are of golden cloth.

ALLELUIA

Allelúia, allelúia. V. Assúmpta est María in cælum: gaudet exércitus  Angelórum.  

Alleluia.

Alleluia, alleluia. V. Mary has been taken up into heaven: the choirs of angels rejoice. Alleluia.

GOSPEL Luke 1: 41-50

In illo témpore: Repléta est Spíritu Sancto Elísabeth et exclamávit voce magna, et dixit: Benedícta tu inter mulíeres, et benedíctus fructus ventris tui. Et unde hoc mihi ut véniat mater Dómini mei ad me? Ecce enim ut facta est vox salutatiónis tuæ in áuribus meis, exsultávit in gáudio infans in útero meo. Et beáta, quæ credidísti, quóniam perficiéntur ea, quæ dicta sunt tibi a Dómino. Et ait María: Magníficat ánima mea Dóminum: et exsultávit spíritus meus in Deo salutári meo; quia respéxit humilitátem ancíllæ suæ, ecce enim ex hoc beátam me dicent omnes generatiónes. Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est, et sanctum nomen ejus, et misericórdia ejus a progénie in progénies timéntibus eum.

At that time, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: and she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord. And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord; and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour; because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because He that is mighty hath done great things to me, and holy is His name, and His mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear Him.

OFFERTORY 

Genesis 3: 15

Inimicitias ponam inter te et Mulíerem et semen tuum et Semen illíus.

I will put enmities between thee and the Woman, and between thy seed and her Seed.

SECRET

Ascéndat ad te, Dómine, nostræ devotiónis oblátio, et, beatíssima Vírgine María in cælum assúmpta intercedénte, corda nostra, caritátis igne succénsa, ad te júgiter adspírent. Per Dóminum nostrum.

May the offering of our devotion ascend to Thee, O Lord; and through the intercession of the most blessed Virgin Mary, who was taken up into heaven, may our hearts be inflamed with the fire of love, and continually long for Thee.  Through our Lord.

PREFACE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN

Vere dignum et justum est, aéquum et salutáre, nos tibi semper, et ubíque grátias ágere: Dómine sancte, Pater omnipotens, ætérne Deus: Et te in Assumptióne beátae Maríæ semper Vírginis collaudáre, benedícere et prædicáre. Quæ et Unigénitum tuum Sancti Spíritus obumbratióne concépit: et virginitátis gloria permanénte, lumen ætérnum mundo effúdit, Jesum Christum Dóminum nostrum. Per quem majestátem tu am laudant Angeli, adórant Dominatiónes, tremunt Potestátes. Cæli, cælorúmque Virtútes, ac beáta Séraphim, sócia exsultatióne concélebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces, ut admítti júbeas, deprecámur, súpplici confessióne dicéntes:

It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty and eternal God: and that we should praise, bless and proclaim Thee in the Assumption of the blessed Mary ever virgin: who conceived Thine only begotten Son by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost; and losing not the glory of her virginity, gave forth to the world the eternal Light, Jesus Christ our Lord through Whom the angels praise Thy majesty, Dominations worship, Powers stand in awe: the Heavens and the hosts of heaven, with blessed Seraphim unite, exult, and celebrate; and we entreat that Thou wouldst bid our voices also to be heard with theirs, singing in lowly praise:

COMMUNION Luke 1: 48-49

Beatam me dicent omnes generatiónes, quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est.

All generations shall call me blessed, because He that is mighty hath done great things to me.

POSTCOMMUNION

Sumptis, Dómine, salutáribus sacraméntis, da quǽsumus: ut, méritis et intercessióne beátæ Vírginis Maríæ in cælum assúmptæ, ad resurrectiónis glóriam perducámur.  Per Dóminum.

Now that we have received, O Lord, the Sacrament of salvation, grant, we beseech Thee, that through the merits and the intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary, who was taken up into heaven, we may be brought to the glory of the resurrection. Through our Lord.

Lindsay Clancy courtroom stunned after cop shares rumor that psychologist COACHED Massachusetts mom !!

  

 

 

Lindsay Clancy watched as a police officer admitted the state’s apparent theory that a doctor had coached her to claim that she killed her children because she was hearing voices

 

Lindsay Clancy courtroom stunned after cop shares rumor that psychologist COACHED Massachusetts mom on what to say after killings of her three young children!!!

 

Jurors shot up straight in their chairs.

The public gallery, packed close to the brim with female observers and members of the media, was instantly on high alert.

The stunning moment came during day 12 of Lindsay Clancy’s trial when a police officer admitted the state’s apparent theory that a doctor had coached the mom-of-three to claim that she killed her children because she was hearing voices.

On January 24, 2023, Clancy strangled her three children, Cora, five, Dawson, three, and Callan, eight months, with exercise bands in the basement of their home in the wealthy suburb of Duxbury, Massachusetts.

She then cut her wrists and neck and jumped from a second-floor bedroom window in a suicide attempt.

Clancy, a former labor and delivery nurse, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to three counts of first-degree murder.

She claims that she was in the throes of severe postpartum depression and psychosis and heard a voice commanding her to kill the children and herself, telling her it was her ‘last chance.’

Inside Plymouth County Superior Court on Wednesday morning, Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Dan Lawlor was forced to admit that investigators discussed a ‘theory’ that a psychologist hired by the defense had planted the seed of that story in Clancy’s mind.

A few days after the killings, forensic psychologist Dr. Paul Zeizel had visited Clancy at Brigham Women’s Hospital where she was receiving treatment.

During that visit, he let Clancy use his cell phone to call her husband, Patrick.

In that call, which marked the first time the couple had spoken since that tragic night, Clancy told her husband that she had heard voices on the day of the killings. 

During a fiery cross-examination from defense attorney Kevin Reddington, the officer admitted that one of the state’s theories was that Dr. Zeisel told Clancy inside the hospital room to say she had been hearing voices, so as to help create a defense case.

Animatedly gesturing to Clancy sitting in her wheelchair at the defense table, Reddington pointed out that no one ‘could get access’ to the mom-of-three when she was hospitalized, with officers - including Sgt. Lawlor - stationed outside the door.

Clancy’s parents and her previous attorney weren’t allowed to see her. And Reddington had to get a court order so that Dr. Ziezel could visit her.

‘Did you know that the prosecutor is saying that MY doctor told her to call Patrick to say she heard voices?’ he asked the officer.

Assistant DA Shanan Buckingham leaped to her feet and objected, while a stunned look shot across Sgt. Lawlor’s face.

Judge William Sullivan quickly summoned a sidebar.

For around 10 minutes, all eyes in the courtroom were transfixed on the judge’s bench as the defense and prosecution battled it out. 

Over the white noise, Buckingham’s voice could be heard growing louder and louder.

Reddington crossed his arms, bounced up and down on his toes, and shook his head while she spoke. He then began gesticulating animatedly with his arms when it was his turn to speak.

The 18 men and women - who had likely only heard that stunning allegation for the first time in that moment - were transfixed, staring at the heated exchange, scribbling down notes and whispering to one another.

Clancy, dressed in a khaki green blouse in her wheelchair, also watched intently but gave away no emotion—in a courtroom where her every move and expression has fallen under intense scrutiny.

A local priest who had joined Clancy’s parents, Paula and Mike Musgrove, in the gallery turned and briefly spoke with them.

Ultimately, the jury was sent out of the room so that the two sides could spar in open court during voir dire questioning of Sgt. Lawlor.

As the panel walked out, Reddington returned to the defense table and whispered to Clancy. The former delivery nurse nodded in response, before raising her eyebrows.

Under questioning, Sgt. Lawlor testified that he saw Dr. Zeizel enter Clancy’s hospital room.

He admitted that he wasn’t sure if the doctor closed the door or left it open, but confirmed he could not hear anything that was being said inside.

He also admitted that he had been working with the prosecution team on the case and had spoken about possible theories with them.

Sgt. Lawlor said he remembered speaking about the theory that the doctor told Clancy to make those claims to other police officers.

But he claimed he didn’t recall ever speaking to the prosecution team about it.

‘The conversation also included the fact that it was the psychologist who planted that seed in her mind?’ Reddington pressed him.

‘That would be the theory,’ the officer admitted.

During a brief recess before he repeated the account to the jury, Sgt. Lawlor sheepishly paced the corridor outside the courtroom, his facial expression downtrodden.

He then quickly passed through the courtroom doors to escape the prying eyes of the public and the media.

It was a stunning admission that the officer nervously repeated when the jury returned to the courtroom.

When pressed by Reddington, he also admitted that there was no investigative basis to the theory—that it was only speculation.

Dr. Paul Zeizel, a highly experienced, well-respected forensic psychologist who works with Reddington, was not in the courtroom to witness the accusation against his professionalism play out.

The psychologist has so far attended several days of the trial, often sitting with Clancy’s parents in the row behind her two nurses.

The defense’s move to expose the so-called theory comes as prosecutors have tried to cast doubts on Clancy’s claims that she was suffering from postpartum psychosis at the time of the killings.

As part of this, they have raised questions about Clancy being alone in the hospital room with Dr. Zeizel, hinting that this was the first time she mentioned hearing voices.

To date, friends, family members, and medical professionals have testified that Clancy never told them she was hearing voices prior to the killings.

But exposing the theory during the officer’s testimony might mark a blow to the state’s case as the defense was able to show the jury that investigators found no evidence to support it.

As the officer was excused and left the courtroom, Reddington leaned back in his chair and smiled.

The trial continues.

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