Day: April 19, 2019

Feast of Good Friday

by Fr. Francis Xavier Weninger, 1876

“Now there stood by the cross, Mary His mother.”–John xix, 25. 

Yesterday, beloved in Christ, the example of Judas the traitor was held up to us as a terrible warning upon which every sinner might meditate, and, perhaps, realize the consequences of such total atrocity and utter hardness of heart. That warning might be, for many, the very last grace vouchsafed by God! Oh, may it not be in vain! What reason has not the sinner to strike his breast, and cry out: “O God, be merciful to me, for my sins have been as great, perhaps, as those of Judas, and more frequent!” Yes, sinners, it is even so; for Judas, wretch though he was, did not try to pervert his fellow-laborers, the Apostles; while you, how many innocent souls have you not led astray, both by word and example? How many souls, most dear and precious to the Heart of Jesus, have you not turned away from Him?” Woe to him by whom scandals come. It were better for that man that a millstone be hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depths of the sea.” And yet, my brethren, if, among my hearers there are any who have been guilty of grievous sin, I would say to them, do not despair. Even though each passing year has witnessed the commission of crimes, each one more terrible than the last; nay, even if you have lived as an incarnate devil, do not despair. Look upon Mary beneath the cross. Call upon her; she will take you under her maternal protection; lead you to her divine Son, who can refuse her nothing; and obtain for you the grace of a true conversion; for is she not the one chosen by God, and destined to be the Mother of mercy, the refuge of sinners? Continue reading →

Devotion to Our Lord on the Cross

My Crucified Jesus, mercifully accept the prayer which I now make to Thee for help in the moment of my death when at its approach all my senses shall fail me.

When therefore O sweetest Jesus my weary and downcast eyes can no longer look up to Thee, be mindful of the loving gaze which I now turn on Thee and have mercy on me. 

When my parched lips can no longer kiss Thy most sacred wounds, remember then those kisses which now I imprint on Thee and have mercy on me.

When my cold hands can no longer embrace Thy Cross, forget not the affection with which I embrace it now and have mercy on me.

And when at length my swollen and lifeless tongue can no longer speak remember that I called upon Thee now.

Jesus Mary Joseph, to you I commend my soul. Amen.

Eternal Father I offer Thee the Wounds of our Lord Jesus Christ to heal the wounds of our souls.

Prayer in Memory of the Passion and Death

O Jesus, Who by reason of Thy burning love for us hast willed to be crucified and to shed Thy most Precious Blood for the redemption and salvation of our souls, look down upon us here gathered together in remembrance of Thy most sorrowful Passion and Death, fully trusting in Thy mercy; cleanse us from sin by Thy grace, sanctify our toil, give unto us and unto all those who are dear to us our daily bread, sweeten our sufferings, bless our families, and to the nations so sorely afflicted, grant Thy peace, which is the only true peace, so that by obeying Thy commandments, we may come at last to the glory of heaven. Amen

Hours of the Passion

The Passion Clock is an unique memento of the Passion which they employ during the Sacred Triduum to aid the devotion of the faithful. The purpose of clock is to tell the story of the Passion, recounting the events of each of the 24 hours from the Last Supper to Our Lord’s entombment in the sepulcher on the evening of Good Friday.

Here’s how it works. All 24 hours are marked on the clock face, which is divided into two halves, one for the night hours (6pm – 6am) and one for the day hours (6am – 6pm), the time being notated according to both the old Roman method and the modern system. The events of the Passion are written out in a circular timeline, each event lining up with the hour in which it occurred.

One can imagine how the clock must bring the reality of the Passion into sharp relief, memorializing in the hearts of the faithful every moment of Our Lord’s hours of suffering.
With to accompany Our Lord in a new and profound way during the blessed hours of His most holy Passion.

THE CLOCK OF THE PASSION
by St. Alphonsus Liguori

First Twelve Hours

P.M.

5-7

Jesus, having taken leave of Mary, celebrates His last supper.

8

9

Jesus washes the feet of the Apostles, and institutes the Most Holy Sacrament.

10

Discourse of Jesus; He goes to the Garden of Olives.

11

MIDNIGHT

Prayer of Jesus in the garden.

1

Agony.

2

The sweating of Blood.

3

4

Jesus is betrayed by Judas, and is bound.

Jesus is led before Annas.

Jesus is taken before Caiphas, and receives a blow in the face.

Jesus is blindfolded, struck, and scoffed at.

Forward for the Last Twelve Hours.

INSTRUCTION ON GOOD FRIDAY

The Church’s Year
By Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine

This day was formerly for the Jewish people a day of preparation for Easter, and was called by them the Parasceve; for us Christians it is the anniversary of the death and burial of our Lord who on this day, being Himself both High-Priest and Victim, offered Himself upon the cross for the salvation of the world.

Why do Catholics hold this day in such veneration?

Because it is one of the greatest days from the beginning of the world to its end. On this day the designs which God had from all eternity were perfected, as Jesus Himself expressed when He said, All is consummated; for on this day He was given up to the Gentiles by the Jews, was scourged, crowned with thorns, loaded with the cross, dragged to Calvary amid taunts and sneers, there nailed to the cross between two thieves, and by His painful death finished the great work of redemption.

Why did Christ suffer so much to redeem, us?

To show us what an immense evil sin is, on account of which He underwent such cruel sufferings that He might satisfy divine justice. His love for us was so great that He gave the last drop of His blood to save us. He rendered satisfaction for all men without exception, that none might be lost, that every one might possess eternal life. Look up today, and every day of thy life, to Christ on the cross, and see how God punishes sin, since He did not even spare His only-begotten Son, who took upon Himself our sins, and for them died this cruel death. What death is due to thee, if thou dost not despise and flee from sin? Continue reading →