Good Friday - Christus factus est - Christ was obedient unto death, even death on a cross

Christus factus est pro nobis obediens usque ad mortem, mortem autem crucis. Propter quod et Deus exaltavit illum et dedit illi nomen, quod est super omne nomen.

Christ became obedient for our sakes unto death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name.

“See, my servant shall prosper, he shall be raised high and greatly exalted…Though harshly treated, he submitted and did not open his mouth; Like a lamb led to slaughter or a sheep silent before shearers, he did not open his mouth…But it was the Lord’s will to crush him with pain. By making his life as a reparation offering, he shall see his offspring, shall lengthen his days, and the Lord’s will shall be accomplished through him,” (Isaiah 52:13, 53:7,10).

“Holy Week challenges us to step outside ourselves so as to attend to the needs of others: those who long for a sympathetic ear, those in need of comfort or help. We should not simply remain in our own secure world, that of the ninety-nine sheep who never strayed from the fold, but we should go out, with Christ, in search of the one lost sheep, however far it may have wandered. Holy Week is not so much a time of sorrow, but rather a time to enter into Christ’s way of thinking and acting. It is a time of grace given us by the Lord so that we can move beyond a dull or mechanical way of living our faith, and instead open the doors of our hearts, our lives, our parishes, our movements or associations, going out in search of others so as to bring them the light and the joy of our faith in Christ.” - Pope Francis (General Audience March 27th 2013)

White Crucifixtion by Chagall - Source and further information HERE

"The imagery of the Crucifixion has become so familiar it no longer shocks. We look at our crucifixes and see the twisted body, hanging bloodied and bowed, pierced through with nails, crowned with thorns, and barely register the suffering. The historically-minded will tell you that the crown of thorns was added only in the thirteenth century, that the poignant twist of the body is not found before the ninth-century cross of Lothair, but these are mere details. It takes a Julian of Norwich, with her account of the drying of Christ’s flesh on Calvary, or his drops of blood the size of herring-scales, to make us connect our theology and our feelings. It was not always so." - iBenedictines - continue reading here.

You can view various depictions and reflections on the Crucifixion HERE.

 

Christ of St. John of the Cross (View of the crucified Christ from above) DALI (1951)

 

The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ from the gospel according to St John




 

From Ignatian Spirituality:

It was on the Friday that they ended it all.

Of course, they didn't do it one by one.

They weren't brave enough.

All the stones at the one time or no stones thrown at all.

 

They did it in crowds.... in crowds where you can feel safe

and lose yourself and shout things you would never shout

on your own, and do things you would never do if you felt

the camera was watching you.

 

It was a crowd in the church that did it,

and a crowd in the civil service that did it,

and a crowd in the street that did it,

and a crowd on the hill that did it.

 

And he said nothing.

 

He took the insults, the bruises, the spit on the face,

the thongs on the back, the curses in the ears.

He took the sight of his friends turning away,

running away.

 

And he said nothing.

 

He let them do their worst until their worst was done,

as on Friday they ended it all....

and would have finished themselves had he not cried,

"Father, forgive them all."

 

And the revolution began.

 

 

You can read our series of reflections on the Stations of the Cross below:

 

We adore you O Christ and we bless you

Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

I - Jesus is condemned to death

II - Jesus receives his cross

III - Jesus falls the first time

IV - Jesus meets his mother

V - Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his cross

VI - Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

VI - Jesus falls the second time

VIII - Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

IX - Jesus falls the third time

X - Jesus is stripped of his garments

XI - Jesus is nailed to the cross

XII - Jesus dies on the cross

XIII - Jesus is taken from the cross

XIV - Jesus is laid in the tomb

 

Good Friday is the mirror held up by Jesus so that we can see ourselves in all our stark reality, and then it turns us to that cross and to his eyes and we hear these words, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." That is us! And so we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. We see in that cross a love so amazing so divine that it loves us even when we turn away from it, or spurn it, or crucify it. There is no faith in Jesus without understanding that on the cross we see into the heart of God and find it filled with mercy for the sinner whoever he or she may be.

- Sr Louise PDDM

What shall I give you, Lord, in return for all Your kindness?
Glory to You for Your love.
Glory to You for Your mercy.
Glory to You for Your patience.
Glory to You for forgiving us all our sins.
...Glory to You for coming to save our souls.
Glory to You for Your incarnation in the virgin's womb.
Glory to You for Your bonds.
Glory to You for receiving the cut of the lash.
Glory to You for accepting mockery.
Glory to You for Your crucifixion.
Glory to You for Your burial.
Glory to You for Your resurrection.
Glory to You who were preached to men and women.
Glory to You in whom they believed.
Glory to You who were taken up into heaven.
Glory to You who sit in great glory at the Father's right hand.
Glory to You whose will it is that the sinner should be saved through Your great mercy and compassion.

Ephraem of Syria (ca. 306-373)
 

 

Stabat Mater dolorosa
Iuxta crucem lacrimosa
Dum pendebat Filius

Cuius animam gementem
Contristatam et dolentem
Pertransivit gladius

O quam tristis et afflicta
Fuit illa benedicta
Mater unigeniti!

Quae moerebat et dolebat,
Et tremebat cum videbat
Nati poenas incliti

 

Reflections from Phil at Blue Eyed Ennis for the Triduum