Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
PASSOVER begins
at sunset ISRAEL INDEPENDENCE DAY
John,
Chapter 19, Verse 7-9
7 The
Jews answered, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die,
because he made himself the Son of God.” 8 Now
when Pilate heard this statement, he became even more AFRAID, 9and went back into the praetorium
and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” Jesus did not answer him.
Pilate was afraid of
diabolical and fanatical men but not of God. Let us not be like Pilate. How
often are we though when we go about our daily business? Pilate symbolically
washed his hands to remove his guilt. Did it work? To remind myself of this as
I wash my hands throughout the day during the washing, I say the Hail Mary and
ask our Lady to help me not betray the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ. I try to remember He became hopeless to give us hope.
Good Friday of the Lord’s
Passion[1]
WHAT does the Church commemorate on this day?
The death of Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father, and the Savior of the world, Who on this day was scourged, crowned with thorns, and most cruelly crucified between two thieves; through which bitter and ignominious passion and death He accomplished the redemption of mankind.
LESSON. Exodus xii. 1-11.
In those days: The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: This month shall be to you the beginning of months: it shall be the first in the months of the year. Speak ye to the whole assembly of the children of Israel and say to them: On the tenth day of this month let every man take a lamb by their families and houses. But if the number be less than may suffice to eat the lamb, he shall take unto him his neighbor that joineth to his house, according to the number of souls which may be enough to eat the lamb. And it shall be a lamb without blemish, a male, of one year: according to which rite also you shall take a kid. And you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month: and the whole multitude of the children of Israel shall sacrifice it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood thereof, and put it upon both the side posts, and on the upper doorposts of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh that night roasted at the fire, and unleavened bread with wild lettuce. You shall not eat thereof anything raw, nor boiled in water, but only roasted at the fire: you shall eat the head with the feet and entrails thereof. Neither shall there remain anything of it until morning. If there be anything left, you shall burn it with fire. And thus, you shall eat it: you shall gird your reins, and you shall have shoes on your feet, holding staves in your hands, and you shall eat in haste: for it is the Phase (that is the Passage) of the Lord.
After this is read:
THE
PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,
According to St. John xviii. and xix.
At that time Jesus went forth with His disciples over the brook Cedron, where there was a garden into which He entered with His disciples. And Judas also, who betrayed Him, knew the place: because Jesus had often resorted thither together with His disciples. Judas therefore having received a band of soldiers and servants from the chief priests and the Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus, therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth and said to them: Whom seek ye?
They answered Him: Jesus of
Nazareth. Jesus saith to them: I am He. And Judas also who betrayed Him, stood
with Him. As soon therefore as He had said to them: I am He: they went backward
and fell to the ground. Again, therefore He asked them: Whom seek ye?
And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered: I have told you, that I am He. If therefore you seek Me, let these go their way. That the word might be fulfilled which He said: Of them whom Thou hast given Me I have not lost anyone. Then Simon Peter having a sword, drew it, and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And the name of the servant was Malchus. Jesus therefore said to Peter: Put up thy sword into the scabbard. The chalice which My Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it?
Then the band, and the tribune, and the servants of the Jews took Jesus, and bound Him: and they led Him away to Annas first, for he was father-in-law to Caiphas, who was the high priest of that year. Now Caiphas was he who had given the counsel to the Jews: That it was expedient that one man should die for the people. And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. And that disciple was known to the high priest and went in with Jesus into the court of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door without. The other disciple therefore who was known to the high priest, went out, and spoke to the portress, and brought in Peter. The maid therefore that was portress, saith to Peter: Art not thou also one of this man’s disciples?
He saith: I am not. Now the servants and ministers stood at a fire of coals, because it was cold, and warmed themselves. And with them was Peter also standing and warming himself. The high priest therefore asked Jesus of His disciples, and of His doctrine. Jesus answered him: I have spoken openly to the world: I have always taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither all the Jews resort: and in secret I have spoken nothing. Why askest Thou Me? ask them who have heard what I have spoken to them: behold they know what things I have said. And when He had said these things, one of the servants standing by, gave Jesus a blow, saying: Answerest Thou the high priest so? Jesus answered him: If I have spoken evil, give testimony of the evil: but if well, why strikest thou Me?
And Annas sent Him bound to Caiphas the high priest. And Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore to him: Art not thou also one of His disciples?
He denied it, and said: I am not One of the servants of the high priest, a kinsman to him whose ear Peter cut off, saith to him: Did not I see thee in the garden with Him?
Again, therefore Peter denied, and immediately the cock crew. Then they led Jesus from Caiphas to the governor’s hall. And it was morning: and they went not into the hall, that they might not be defiled, but that they might eat the pasch. Pilate therefore went out to them, and said: What accusation bring you against this man?
They answered and said to him: If He were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered Him up to thee. Pilate therefore said to them: Take Him you and judge Him according to your law. The Jews therefore said to him: It is not lawful for us to put any man to death. That the word of Jesus might be fulfilled which He said signifying what death He should die. Pilate therefore went into the hall again, and called Jesus, and said to Him: Art Thou the king of the Jews?
Jesus answered: Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or have others told it Thee of Me? Pilate answered: Am I a Jew?
Thy own nation and the chief priests have delivered Thee up to me. What hast Thou done?
Jesus answered: My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would certainly strive that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now My kingdom is not from hence. Pilate therefore said to Him: Art Thou a king then?
Jesus answered: Thou sayest that I am a king. For this was I born, and for this came I into the world, that I should give testimony to the truth. Every one that is of the truth, heareth My voice. Pilate said to Him: What is truth?
And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and saith to them: I find no cause in Him. But you have a custom that I should release one unto you at the pasch: will you therefore that I release unto you the king of the Jews?
Then cried they all again, saying: Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber. Then, therefore, Pilate took Jesus, and scourged Him. And the soldiers platting a crown of thorns, put it upon His head: and they put on Him a purple garment, and they came to Him, and said: Hail, king of the Jews! And they gave Him blows. Pilate, therefore, went forth again, and saith to them: Behold I bring Him forth unto you, that you may know that I find no cause in Him. Jesus therefore came forth, bearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. And he saith to them: Be hold the man. When the chief priests, therefore, and the servants had seen Him, they cried out, saying: Crucify Him, crucify Him. Pilate saith to them: Take Him you and crucify Him; for I find no cause in Him. The Jews answered him: We have a law; and according to the law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God. When Pilate therefore had heard this saying, he feared the more. And he entered into the hall again, and he said to Jesus: Whence art Thou?
But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore said to Him: Speakest Thou not to me? knowest Thou not that I have power to crucify Thee, and I have power to release Thee?
Jesus answered: Thou shouldst not have any power against Me, unless it were given thee from above. Therefore, lie that hath delivered Me to thee, hath the greater sin. And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release Him. But the Jews cried out, saying: If thou release this man, thou art not Caesar’s friend. For whosoever maketh himself a king, speaketh against Caesar. Now when Pilate had heard these words, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment-seat, in the place that is called Lithostrotos, and in Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the parasceve of the pasch, about the sixth hour, and he saith to the Jews: Behold your king. But they cried out: Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him. Pilate saith to them: Shall I crucify your king?
The chief priests answered: We have no king but Caesar. Then, therefore, he delivered Him to them for to be crucified. And they took Jesus and led Him forth. And bearing His own cross, He went forth to that place, which is called Calvary, but in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and with Him two others, one on each side, and Jesus in the midst. And Pilate wrote a title also, and he put it upon the cross. And the writing was, Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews. This title, therefore, many of the Jews did read, because the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, in Greek, and in Latin. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate: Write not, The king of the Jews; but that He said, I am the king of the Jews. Pilate answered: What I have written, I have written. The soldiers, therefore, when they had crucified Him, took His garments (and they made four parts, to every soldier a part), and also His coat. Now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said then one to another: Let us not cut it, but let us cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the Scripture might be fulfilled saying: They have parted My garments among them, and upon My vesture they have cast lots. And the soldiers indeed did these things. Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen. When Jesus therefore had seen His mother, and the disciple standing, whom He loved, He saith to His mother: Woman! behold thy son. After that, He saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour the disciple took her to his own. Afterwards Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled said: I thirst. Now there was a vessel set there full of vinegar. And they putting a sponge full of vinegar, about hyssop, put it to His mouth. Jesus, therefore, when He had taken the vinegar, said: It is consummated. And bowing His head, He gave up the ghost. [Here all kneel, and pause a little, to meditate on the redemption of mankind. ~\ Then the Jews (because it was the Parasceve), that the bodies might not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath-day (for that was a great Sabbath-day), besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. The soldiers, therefore, came and they broke the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with Him. But after they were come to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers with a spear opened His side, and immediately there came out blood and water. And he that saw it hath given testimony, and his testimony is true. And he knoweth that he saith true, that you also may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture might be fulfilled: You shall not break a bone of him. And again, another Scripture saith: They shall look on Him Whom they pierced. And after these things, Joseph of Arimathea (because he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly lor fear of the Jews) besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate gave leave. He came therefore and took away the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus also came, he who at the first came to Jesus by night, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred-pound weight. They took therefore the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now there was in the place where He was crucified a garden: and in the garden a new sepulcher, wherein no man yet had been laid. There, therefore, because of the Parasceve of the Jews, they laid Jesus; because the sepulcher was nigh at hand.
When the Passion is finished the
Priest prays first:
1, for the Church.
2, for the pope.
3, for the bishops, priests,
deacons and the body of the faithful.
4, for the civil rulers and the catechumens.
5, for preservation from famine
and sickness.
6, for heretics and schismatics.
7, for Jews and heathen.
After the prayers the priest, from the epistle side of the altar, extends towards the people the veiled crucifix, uncovered at the top, and sings with a loud voice, Behold the wood of the cross, whereon hung the Saviour of the world. This elevation of the crucifix refers to Jesus, Who delivers us from everlasting death. After the response of the choir the priest advances to the corner of the altar, uncovers the right arm of the crucifix, and sings in a higher tone than before, Behold the wood of the cross. The choir again answers. Then at the middle of the altar he uncovers the whole crucifix, and, elevating it, sings in a still higher tone, Behold the wood of the cross, to which the answer is given as at first. The covering of the crucifix signifies that the crucified Savior was at first unknown and despised by the world; the gradual uncovering of it represents the gradual propagation of the knowledge and adoration of Jesus among mankind. The uncovered crucifix is then laid upon a cushion in front of the altar, and the priest puts off his shoes and proceeds to kiss the cross, kneeling three times to remind the faithful that Christ crucified, the Fountain of life, the Centre of the Church, is in her midst, and will remain with her to the end of time. When the adoration is ended, the cross is replaced on the middle of the altar, the candles are lighted, and the Blessed Sacrament is brought in procession from the place where it was deposited the day before. There is no Mass said to-day. For there is no consecration either of bread or wine, but the priest receives one of the hosts consecrated the day before.
Why is there no Mass said?
Because to-day
the Church directs her attention exclusively to the bloody sacrifice. During
the day do for the love of Jesus all the good you can; for example, to the
poor, to the sick, to prisoners, to unfortunate but worthy debtors, make the
Way of the Cross, visit the holy sepulcher, and meditate upon the passion of
Christ. The passion of Christ gives us unusual strength in combat with
temptation. On this point St. Augustine says,
In all my adversities I
have not found any remedies so powerful as the passion and wounds of Jesus. In
them I sleep securely, and rest without fear. To meditate rightly on the passion
of Christ consider what Jesus suffered from the Jews, the gentiles, and even
His own disciples, who all forsook Him. Then earnestly reflect that He, the Son
of God, holiness and innocence itself, suffered not for His own sake, but to
deliver mankind from sin, death, and hell, to free them of guilt and
punishment, and to convert them from being children of the devil to be children
of God. He came into the world, suffered, and died that we might have life. The
man who seriously ponders these things must have a heart of stone if he be not
moved to hatred of sin and to love of Jesus. But this is not the perfect fruit
of meditation on the passion of Jesus. By contemplating His passion, we ought
to become like Him. As often, therefore, as you think on the passion of Christ,
whether in making the Stations of the Cross, or in reciting the Rosary, or
before an image of the suffering Redeemer, endeavor not only to have pity for
His sufferings, not only to give Him assurance of your love, but also to
impress upon your heart the virtues practiced by Him in His passion, and to
imitate them.
Lenten Calendar[2]
Read:
Lent is over. The
joy of Easter is almost here, but today we still must journey with the Cross.
Many of us have chosen to sacrifice something during Lent. However, there are
those in the world that do not have that choice; many struggle to put food on
the table, give their children an education, take care of ailing parents, and
much more. Through our own sacrifices we stand in solidarity with those who
struggle as we work to ease their suffering.
Reflect:
One thing we can
take away from this Lent and from our encounter with the Passion of Christ is
that at the heart of every sacrifice is love. When we freely sacrifice
something during Lent, the goal is to do it for the love of God. How can we
continue to lovingly sacrifice once Lent is over?
One way is to pay
attention to the people in your life, while another way is to stand in
solidarity with those who suffer while working to ease their burden.
Pray:
Pray the Stations of the Cross today.
Act:
Attend the Good
Friday liturgy in your parish today. (No Mass is celebrated on Good
Friday.)
Timeline of Holy Week[3]
·
Good
Friday: Preparation Day for Passover (Jn 19:14)
·
Early
in the morning, the Sanhedrin meets, they lead Jesus to Pilate. (Mk 15:1; Mt
27:1-2; Lk 23:1; Jn 18:28)
·
Pilate
sends Jesus to Herod (Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee) (Lk 23:6-7)
·
Herod
mocks Jesus and then clothes him in gorgeous apparel, and sends Jesus back to
Pilate (Lk 23:6-12)
· Pilate examines
Jesus and finds him not guilty of the Jew’s charges against him. Pilate has
Jesus flogged and plans to release him. (Lk 23:13-16; Jn 19:1-13)
· Jesus is crowned
with thorns. (Jn 19:1-6)
· Jesus is sentenced
to death and is crucified at 12:00 noon.
· Jesus dies at 3:00 and is buried in the tomb. (Mt 27:46; Mk 15:34; Lk 23:44)
Good Friday is the most difficult day of Passion Week. Christ's journey turned treacherous and acutely painful in these final hours leading to his death. According to Scripture, Judas Iscariot, the disciple who had betrayed Jesus, was overcome with remorse and hanged himself early Friday morning. Meanwhile, before the third hour (9 a.m.), Jesus endured the shame of false accusations, condemnation, mockery, beatings, and abandonment. After multiple unlawful trials, he was sentenced to death by crucifixion, one of the most horrible and disgraceful methods of capital punishment known at the time. Before Christ was led away, soldiers spit on him, tormented and mocked him, and pierced him with a crown of thorns. Then Jesus carried his own cross to Calvary where, again, he was mocked and insulted as Roman soldiers nailed him to the wooden cross. Jesus spoke seven final statements from the cross. His first words were, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." His last words were, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." Then, about the ninth hour (3 p.m.), Jesus breathed his last breath and died. By 6 p.m. Friday evening, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus' body down from the cross and lay it in a tomb.[4]
Five most Hateful
Sins[5]
As
this is Good Friday try to see our Lord weighted down with our sins which he
carried with him on the way of the cross; that beam was indeed heavy for it was
our sins and it tore a great unrecorded wound in his shoulder. I wonder, “What
are the five most hateful sins that our Lord bore in that cross?” In an article
by Zac Poonen, he proposed that the five most hated sins by our Lord are:
·
Hypocrisy: To be a hypocrite is to give others the impression
that we are holier than we actually are. It is the same as being false or
telling a lie. Jesus pronounced a curse on hypocrites seven times in Mt.
23:13-29. Jesus told the Pharisees that their inner life was ""full
of self-indulgence"" (Mt. 23:25) - which meant that they lived only
to please themselves. God looks at our hearts. (Sorrowful mystery: agony in the garden)
·
Impurity: Impurity enters into our hearts mainly through our
eyes and our ears. Anyone who seeks to be pure must therefore be especially
careful about what he sees and what he hears. Jesus hated impurity so much that
He told His disciples that they should be willing to pluck out their right eye
and cut off their right hand rather than sin with those members (Mt. 5:27-29).
When do doctors recommend the amputation of the right hand or the surgical
removal of an eye? Only when things have become so bad that without the removal
of these organs, the whole body would die. This is what we need to understand
in relation to sin as well. Sin is so serious that it can imperil our very
life. Most believers have not realized this and that is why they are careless
in the way they use their tongues and their eyes. (Sorrowful mystery: scourging at the pillar)
·
Spiritual
Pride: We all know
the parable of the self-righteous Pharisee who despised others even in his
prayer (Lk. 18:9-14)! Jesus hated the pride with which he thought of his
spiritual activities and with which he despised makes believers constantly
judge other believers. Jesus taught that the greatest person in heaven would be
the humblest (Mt. 18:4). The greatest virtue found in heaven is humility. This
is why it is the first of the seven virtues (Humility, Generosity, Chastity,
Patience, Temperance, Understanding and Wisdom) of Mary Christ’s mother. (Sorrowful mystery: crowning of the thorns)
·
Unbelief: Bible speaks of an unbelieving heart as an EVIL heart
(He. 3: 12) Jesus rebuked His disciples seven times for unbelief. (See Mt.
6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8; 17:17-20; Mk.16:14; Lk.24:25). It seems that He almost
never rebuked His disciples for anything else!! Unbelief is an insult to God,
because it implies that God does not care or provide for His children even as
much as evil fathers on earth care and provide for their children. (Sorrowful mystery: the crucifixion)
Good
Friday Service.[6] The sacrifice of the altar is not offered on the day
commemorating the sacrifice of the cross, and though communion may be
distributed, the faithful are discouraged from receiving it without good
reason. Instead, a mournful service is conducted. The priest, vested in black,
reads several passages from the Bible, including the Passion account from the Gospel
of John. Afterwards, the "Solemn Prayers" or "Collects" are
offered on behalf of all classes of men, from the Church to the heathen. This
is followed by the veneration of the cross, during which time the dolorous
"Reproaches" are chanted. The service concludes with the "Mass
of the Presanctified," a solemn communion rite.
Forty
Hours' Devotion
It is traditionally
believed that the duration of time from Christ's death until His Resurrection
is forty hours, from 3 p.m. on Good Friday until 7 a.m. Easter Sunday. As early
as the 100s it was customary for some of the faithful to fast and keep vigil
during this entire period.
Other Good Friday Customs
If a devotion of forty hours could not be
done, many Catholics observed Good Friday as a day of austerity as best they
could. Fasting more than was required was common. Attending the Three
Hours' Devotion, or Seven Last
Words of Christ, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. (the hours our Lord hung
upon the cross), has also been popular. Liturgically speaking, this is a
relatively new observance, begun in Peru in the early 1700s, but it is a very
effective one. An older tradition that has lamentably been forgotten, on the
other hand, is that of the Holy Sepulcher, a special
shrine set up to house either the Blessed Sacrament or a crucifix which the
faithful could visit on Good Friday and Holy Saturday.
Good Friday-Start Divine Mercy Novena[7]
Unlike
other novenas, where people ask for something from God through the intercession
of His Holy Saints, Divine Mercy Novena is intended to be prayed for graces
and/or salvation to be given to other people. Jesus asked that this novena be
prayed prior to the Feast of Divine Mercy (the Sunday after Easter), beginning
on Good Friday. He gave Sr. Faustina an intention to pray for on each day of
the Novena, saving for the last day the most difficult intention of all, the
lukewarm and indifferent of whom He said: "These souls cause Me more
suffering than any others; it was from such souls that My soul felt the most
revulsion in the Garden of Olives. It was on their account that I said: 'My
Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass Me by.' The last hope of salvation
for them is to flee to My Mercy." In her diary, Faustina wrote that Jesus
told her: "On each day of the novena you will bring to My heart a
different group of souls and you will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy
... On each day you will beg My Father, on the strength of My passion, for the
graces for these souls."
Prayer:
The different souls prayed for on each
day of the novena are:
All mankind, especially sinners; The
souls of priests and religious; All devout and faithful souls; Those who do not
believe in Jesus and those who do not yet know Him; The souls of separated brethren;
The meek and humble souls and the souls of children; The souls who especially
venerate and glorify Jesus' mercy; The souls who are detained in purgatory; and
The souls who have become lukewarm.
This is prayed along with the Divine
Mercy Chaplet.
·
First Day - Today bring Me all mankind,
especially all sinners.
Most
Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive
us, do not look upon our sins, but upon our trust which we place in Your
infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate
Heart, and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by Your love which
unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Eternal
Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners,
all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His
Sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of
Your mercy for ever and ever. Amen.
·
Second Day - Today Bring Me the Souls of
Priests and Religious.
Most
Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in us,
that we may perform worthy works of mercy, and that all who see us may glorify
the Father of Mercy who is in heaven.
Eternal
Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company [of chosen souls] in Your
vineyard - upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the
strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they
are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to
guide others in the way of salvation, and with one voice sing praise to Your
boundless mercy for ages without end. Amen.
·
Third Day - Today Bring Me All Devout and
Faithful Souls.
Most
Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy, You impart Your graces in the
great abundance to each and all. Receive us into the abode of Your Most
Compassionate Heart and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by that
most wondrous love for the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so
fiercely.
Eternal
Father, turn Your Merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of
Your Son. For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, grant them Your blessing and
surround them with Your constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love
or lost the treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of
Angels and Saints, may they glorify Your boundless mercy for endless ages.
Amen.
·
Fourth Day - Today Bring Me The Pagans and
Those Who Do Not Know Me.
Most
Compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the
abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of pagans who as yet do not
know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together
with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the
abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.
Eternal
Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of pagans and of those who as
yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of
Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great
happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of
Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.
·
Fifth Day - Today Bring to Me the Souls of
Heretics and Schismatics.
Most
Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it
of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of
heretics and schismatics. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church,
and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but
bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy.
Eternal
Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of heretics, and schismatics,
who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces obstinately
persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of
Your Own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake,
since they, too, are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Bring
it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages. Amen.
·
Sixth Day - Today Bring Me The Meek and
Humble Souls and the Souls of Little Children.
Most
Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said, "Learn from Me for I am meek and
humble of heart." Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart
all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send
all heaven into ecstasy, and they are the heavenly Father's favorites. They are
a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in
their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate
Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy.
Eternal
Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek and humble souls, and upon the souls
of little children, who are enfolded in the abode of the Most Compassionate
Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their
fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy
and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the
delight you take in them: bless the whole world, that all souls together may
sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.
·
Seventh Day - Today Bring Me The Souls Who
Especially Venerate and Glorify My Mercy.
Most
Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most
Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the
greatness of Your Mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God
Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward,
confident in Your Mercy. These souls are united to Jesus and carry all mankind
on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy
will embrace them as they depart from this life.
Eternal
Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your
greatest attribute, that of Your fathomless mercy, and who are enclosed in the
Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands
are full of deeds of mercy and their spirit, overflowing with joy, sings a
canticle of mercy to You, O Most High! I beg You O God: Show them Your mercy
according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be
accomplished in them the promise of Jesus, who said to them, "I Myself
will defend as My own glory, during their lifetime, and especially at the hour
of their death, those souls who will venerate My fathomless mercy."
·
Eighth Day - Today Bring Me The Souls Who Are
In the Prison Of Purgatory.
Most
Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into
the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who
are very dear to You, and yet who must make retribution to Your justice. May
the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the
flames of purifying fire, that in that place, too, the power of Your mercy may
be praised.
Eternal
Father, turn Your most merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who
are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the
sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His
most sacred Soul was flooded, manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under
Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way than through the Wounds of
Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to
Your goodness and compassion. Amen.
·
Ninth Day - Today Bring Me The Souls Who Have
Become Lukewarm.
Most
Compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the
abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love let
these tepid souls, who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be
once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of
Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love; and bestow upon them
the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power.
Eternal
Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless
enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You
by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: let
them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen
Jesus, I trust in You.
The Sign of the Cross[8]
The most basic Christian gesture in prayer is and always will be the
Sign of the Cross. (Pope Benedict
XVI) “…by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Gal
6:14) Martyrs made the Sign as they were taken to their deaths.
The Sign of the cross is used in
every single liturgy of the Church: sacraments, exorcisms, consecrations, and
blessings[9]
1.
"The
sign of the cross is a symbolic expression of the principal mysteries of
Christianity, a confession of the Catholic faith. It reminds us of the
Crucified, of the price of our redemption, and of the value of our soul; it
enkindles love of God, strengthens hope, and animates us to follow Christ on
the way of the Cross. It indicates that in the cross we are to find our honor,
our salvation, and our life; that we should prefer the folly and weakness of
the cross to all the wisdom and power of the world, that, as disciples of the
Crucified, we should combat under the banner of the cross and by this sign
triumph over all our enemies."
2.
St.
Francis de Sales: "We raise the hand first to the forehead, saying, 'In
the name of the Father,' to signify that the Father is the First Person of the
Most Holy Trinity, of whom the Son is begotten and from whom the Holy Ghost
proceeds. Then saying, 'and the Son,' the hand is lowered to the breast, to
express that the Son proceeds from the Father, who sent Him down to the womb of
the Virgin. Then the hand is moved from the left shoulder or side to the right,
while saying, 'and of the Holy Ghost,' thereby signifying that the Holy Ghost,
as the Third Person of the Holy Trinity, proceeds from the Father and the Son,
that He is the Love that unites both, and that we, through His grace, partake
of the fruits of the passion. Accordingly, the sign of the cross is a brief
declaration of our faith in the three great mysteries: of our faith in the
Blessed Trinity, in the passion of Christ, and in the forgiveness of sin, by
which we pass from the left side of curse to the right of blessing."
3.
The
Sign of the Cross is likened by the Fathers to the true cross of Christ.
4.
The
Sign of the Cross is source of all blessings and graces, the weapon and armor
of our defense against the evil spirit... as sign of Christ's victory over sin,
death, and hell.
5.
God
has imparted to the sign of the cross an efficacy, because of honors and merits
of the Crucified. This efficacy is greater if sign of cross made with devout
and believing disposition, recollection of mind, devotion of heart, love
towards the Crucified.
Meditation[10]
As Jesus neared the end of
His public life, the opposition of the Jewish leaders became more violent and
their desire to kill Him more determined. Our Lord, however, continued to teach
in the temple, where large crowds came to hear Him. The admiration of the
people intensified the hatred of the priests, and they planned to ensnare Jesus
in His speech that they might have grounds for condemnation. While His enemies
plotted His downfall, Our Lord spent the night in prayer on the Mount of
Olives. The contrast between the character of Christ and that of His enemies
could not be more pronounced. Yielding to base passion, they were openly
seeking the death of the Messiah. Jesus, on the contrary, in the spirit of
generous charity, was spending His days in teaching and His nights in prayer. Does our conduct in difficult circumstances
resemble that of Christ? When we are unjustly accused, criticized, or
condemned, do we calmly continue our work and have recourse to God in prayer?
Perhaps we seek vengeance upon those who oppose us by wishing them evil or
persuading others to despise and condemn them. Let us leave our reputation in
the hands of God and imitate Christ's efforts to benefit those who hated and
condemned Him.
"The Lord is the protector of
my life: of whom shall I be afraid?"
Things to
Do: If you wish to
gain the courage to embrace the small crosses in your life with joy, pray the
Stations of the Cross. This is an excellent practice that should not only be
confined to Lent but ought to be prayed on Fridays throughout the year. An
excellent version with beautiful meditations composed by Pope John Paul II is
his Stations of the Cross at the
Colosseum.
Some recommended versions are: Eucharistic Stations of the Cross, and the more traditional Stations
of the Cross written by Saint Alphonsus Liguori can be found in most Catholic
bookstores. Here are some guidelines for praying the Stations of the Cross
in your home.
Passover[11]
Passover (Hebrew: פסח) is a seven-day Jewish
festival which celebrates the Israelites fleeing from Egypt about 3300 years
ago. Passover is called such because the
Israelites marked their door frames with a sign. It is believed because of this sign God
passed over their houses during the plague of the firstborn. The Israelites
were servants from the days of Jacob until Moses. They lived through famine in most of
Mesopotamia, including Israel. The
Israelites built store cities for grain in Egypt (possibly, the pyramids). After 210 years of servitude in Egypt, the
Israelites had become 'servant-minded' and did not believe that they could
flee. They fled via the Wilderness of
Sinai, where they resided for forty years.
Passover Facts
·
Traditionally, in accordance
with Biblical Law, all Orthodox Jews remove all leaven bread, cakes,
flour-containing products, and flour-derived products from the Jewish home in
the weeks before Passover. These
products include beer, whiskey, flour, and all patisseries produce. Any products remaining on the Eve of Passover
are given away to non-Jews, sold or burnt.
·
On Passover, Jews are to eat
only unleavened bread (Matzah), baked from flour and water and prepared (mixed
and baked) within eighteen minutes.
Unleavened bread symbolizes Israelites leaving Egypt in such haste they
could not wait for their bread dough to rise.
·
On the first day of Passover, it
is customary to hold a Seder Night celebration with family and friends. During this celebration, the Haggadah is
typically read and sang. The Haggadah includes telling the story of fleeing of
the Israelite slaves from Egypt, the fact that their dough could not rise due
to the hurried exit, blessings over Matzah, and songs of praise and happiness.
·
Traditionally, for Seder a plate
is prepared containing the following: an egg - symbolizing the Chaggigah
sacrifice; a shankbone, symbolizing
Passover Lamb; salt water, symbolizing
the tears of the Israelite slaves; a
bitter herb, symbolizing the bitterness of enslavement; charoset (a mixture of ground apple,
cinnamon, wine and sugar) signifying the cement used in the building
works; a vegetable to be dipped in the
salt water.
·
The first and seventh days of
Passover are considered festivals in which work is not permitted. The
intermediate days are Chol Hamoed in which families typically go on hikes and
tours or visit friends.
Passover Top Events and Things to Do
·
Attend a Seder dinner or learn
how to make your own Seder.
·
Make Matzahs. You can watch how to make Matzahs on youtube.
· Watch a movie that depicts Passover. Our picks: The Ten Commandments (1956) and The Prince of Egypt (1998).
Israel
Independence Day
Yom Haazmaut (Hebrew: יום העצמאות) is Israel's Independence Day. Israel declared independence on May 14th, 1948. This was only a few hours before the British Mandate of Palestine was to draw to an end. Yom Haazmaut is a public holiday in Israel. All commercial establishments are closed, apart from Restaurants, Cafes and Bars. Israelis celebrate Yom Haazmaut with an opening ceremony, comprising lighting of the Masuot (twelve torches, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel). The honor of lighting each torch is given to outstanding Israelis, such as brave soldiers and policemen, scientists, artists, senior citizens and the like. Yom Haazmaut always occurs the day after Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day to honor fallen soldiers and soldier victims of terrorists). There are typically firework displays at night, airplane displays and bands during the day. Israeli citizens spend Yom Haazmaut with family and friends, often in a Park, on a beach or at home. The Israel Prize is given in scientific fields to notable scientists, artists and people who made a lifetime contribution to the State of Israel.
Yom HaAtzma'ut (Israel) Facts & Quotes
·
Many
Jewish prophets in the Bible prophesied that the Children of Israel would
return to their land. Isaiah, Jeremiah and Zachariah made notable
prophecies. For example, Jeremiah 29:10. This is what the Lord says:
'When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill
my good promise to bring you back to this place'.
·
In
the 19th century, Theodor (Benjamin Zeev) Herzl was the visionary of the State
of Israel in his book Altneuland, 'The Old New Land' in 1902.
Tel Aviv (old hill/ new spring) was established in 1909.
·
According
to Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Kook and many others in the Religious Zionist camp, the
founding of the State of Israel was considered to be Atchalta DeGeulah the
beginning of the final redemption.
·
In
the Talmud (Sanhedrin 98a) it is stated by Rav Aba Ein lecha meg'uleh mizu,
there is no greater indication of the end of days than that which the prophet
Ezekiel (Ezekiel 36:8) prophesizes, Now mountains of Israel, your branches
shall come forth and your fruit will be offered to my people Israel.
· The return of Jews to the Holy Land was also mentioned by Isaiah: On that day (the day of the redemption) a great shofar will be sounded, and those who are lost in the land of Ashur (Assyria) and those who are dispersed in the Land of Egypt will return to the Holy Land. (Isaiah 27:13).
Yom HaAtzma'ut
(Israel) Top Events and Things to Do
·
Attend
a Yom Haazmaut Party, held at many local Israeli/Jewish Communities on the Eve
of Yom Haazmaut. Typically, Israeli food is served, followed by a
fireworks display. A live broadcast of the Yom Haazmaut ceremony from Har
Herzl, Jerusalem may be watched and culminates in the singing of the Hatikvah,
the Israeli National Anthem.
·
Attend
a lecture on the connection between Jews, Israel and the Bible. Yeshivah
University holds many public lectures on this topic.
·
Attend
a Yom Haazmaut Concert. There are many venues for Yom Haazmaut concerts
including popular ones at New York City and Stamford (CT).
·
Take
part or view the Bible Quiz (Chidon Hatanach)
Novena for the Poor
Souls[12]
O Mother most
merciful, pray for the souls in Purgatory!
PRAYER OF ST. GERTRUDE THE GREAT O Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in Purgatory and for sinners everywhere— for sinners in the Universal Church, for those in my own home and for those within my family. Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE
DYING O Most Merciful Jesus, lover of souls, I pray Thee, by the agony of Thy
most Sacred Heart, and by the sorrows of Thine Immaculate Mother, to wash in
Thy Most Precious Blood the sinners of the whole world who are now in their
agony and who will die today. Heart of Jesus, once in agony, have mercy on the
dying! Amen.
ON EVERY DAY OF
THE NOVENA V. O Lord, hear my prayer, R. And let my cry come unto Thee. O God,
the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant unto the souls of Thy
servants and handmaids the remission of all their sins, that through our devout
supplications they may obtain the pardon they have always desired, Who livest
and reignest world without end. Amen.
FRIDAY O Lord
God Almighty, I beseech Thee by the Precious Blood which Jesus Thy divine Son
did shed this day upon the tree of the Cross, especially from His sacred hands
and feet, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and particularly that soul for whom I
am most bound to pray, in order that I may not be the cause which hinders Thee
from admitting it quickly to the possession of Thy glory, where it may praise
Thee and bless Thee for evermore. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.
St. Bernard of
Clairvaux wrote,
“Timid prayer does not pierce heaven, because immoderate fear binds the soul so that prayer, far from flying upward, cannot even come out. Being lukewarm, it grows weak in its flight and falls because it has no strength. Prayer that is faithful, humble, and fervent will undoubtedly pierce heaven and it will certainly not return fruitless.”
The time is now for us to marshal everything we’ve got to see this through. Prayer Warriors (those who join) will be challenged to enter into a period of prayer and mortification. “Mortification,” at its essence, means to “die to yourself.” This will be our time to let go of bad and sinful habits and to embrace better and healthier and Godly habits.
The research in the behavioral sciences says that 90 days is about the time needed to change bad habits. We will also be using some of the tried and true very powerful supernatural elements. Namely, the Brown Scapular, 54 Day Rosary Novena, and the 33 Day Preparation for Marian Consecration.
We believe supernatural strength increases to the degree we are detached from worldliness. “He must increase, but I must decrease” was the call of St. John the Baptist. This is our time to “make straight a path for the Lord.” To put aside everything that stands in the way of Christ to fill us up completely with His Divine Life. THIS is the way we become “strong in the Lord and in His mighty power!” God will surely hear and answer this throng of tens of thousands detached from the world and resolute in our plea to end the culture of death. I am certain of it!
Nineveh 90 – Ten Elements
For these 90
days, resolve to let go of repetitive sin you struggle with (e.g., acts of
impurity, over-eating, alcohol, etc.)
1. Wear Brown
Scapular (Scapular
Medal allowed) – Akin to Sackcloth
2. Daily Mass
(If you are able)
3. Confession
(at least once a month … immediately following grave sin)
4. Support System: Create
or join a “Nineveh 90 Squad” of 3+ people. Maybe create a Facebook group. Also,
try to join together with an “Accountability Buddy.”
5. Daily Prayer
(Developing a quality Catholic Prayer Life)
7. Angelus (6, Noon,6)
8. Rosary
9. Holy Hour (or at
least 20 minutes of quiet prayerful reflection time. Does not need to be before
the Blessed Sacrament. This is normally done at home or your favorite prayer
space … maybe create a “God Cave” in your home)
10. Bedtime Prayers
For 90
Days, Commit to …
·
Regular
and challenging exercise
·
Seven
hours of sleep is essential
·
No alcohol
·
No desserts & sweets
·
No soda or sweetened drinks
·
Limit television or movies (news allowed)
·
Only music that lifts the soul to God
·
Limit televised sports (maybe one per week)
·
Limit recreational computer time (only use for personal needs and
fulfillment. May be needed for Nineveh 90 too)
·
54 Day
Rosary Novena (Basic
Training in Holiness)
o Prayer
Intentions for 54 Day Rosary Novena:
§
End to abortion
§
Personal holiness
§
For the conversion of loved ones.
· 33 Day Preparation for Consecration to Mary
Sundays and Solemnities: May be a day of relaxed discipline, but not abandoned. (Sleep in an extra hour, cream in your coffee, a dessert, a beer, etc.)
Fasting: Wednesdays and
Fridays (Water/Juice and bread only, if medically allowed, otherwise as
is outlined
by the USCCB)
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
PART ONE:
THE PROFESSION OF
FAITH
SECTION
ONE
"I
BELIEVE" - "WE BELIEVE"
CHAPTER THREE
MAN'S RESPONSE TO GOD
Article 1
I BELIEVE
II.
"I Know Whom I Have Believed"16
To believe in God alone
150 Faith is first of all a personal adherence of man to God.
At the same time, and inseparably, it is a free assent to the whole truth that
God has revealed. As personal adherence to God and assent to his truth,
Christian faith differs from our faith in any human person. It is right and
just to entrust oneself wholly to God and to believe absolutely what he says.
It would be futile and false to place such faith in a creature.
To believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God
151 For a Christian, believing in God cannot be separated from
believing in the One he sent, his "beloved Son", in whom the Father
is "well pleased"; God tells us to listen to him. The Lord
himself said to his disciples: "Believe in God, believe also in me." We
can believe in Jesus Christ because he is himself God, the Word made flesh:
"No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the
Father, he has made him known." Because he "has seen the
Father", Jesus Christ is the only one who knows him and can reveal him.
To believe in the Holy Spirit
152 One cannot believe in Jesus Christ without sharing in his
Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who reveals to men who Jesus is. For "no one
can say "Jesus is Lord", except by the Holy Spirit", who
"searches everything, even the depths of God. No one comprehends the
thoughts of God, except the Spirit of God." Only God knows God
completely: we believe in the Holy Spirit because he is God.
The Church never ceases to proclaim her faith in one only
God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: The Families of St. Joseph
Porters
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Manhood of
the Master-week 8 day 6
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
· Make reparations to the Holy Face
·
30
Days with St. Joseph Day 28
·
Feast
of St. Teresa of Jesus
[1] Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896.
[2] http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/april-19.cfm
[3]https://www.catholicconvert.com/wp-content/uploads/Timeline-of-Holy-Week.pdf
[7]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/prayers/view.cfm?id=1032
[8] Hahn, Scott, Signs of Life; 40
Catholic Customs and their biblical roots. Chap. 2. The Sign of the Cross.
[9]http://www.stjosephstoledo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=96:october-18-2009-homily-the-sign-of-the-cross&catid=14:homilies&Itemid=13
[11]http://www.wincalendar.com/Passover
[12]Schouppe S.J., Rev. Fr. F. X..
Purgatory Explained
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