On Good Fridays past, that one day a year when no masses are celebrated, and all the Tabernacles of the world stand empty and dark, I have posted stunning meditations from Venerable Fulton Sheen's 1940 radio address.
This year, I offer a mediation by Archbishop Sheen, on video, from 1965. If you are unable to watch the entire talk, don't miss the story he tells of a dying, hateful man, beginning around the 40:00 mark:
Also, consider listening to Dr. Peter Auriemma, a physician and a deacon at my parish, who gives a detailed description of what Our Lord would have suffered during His Passion and Death -- from a medical perspective. Deacon Peter has been speaking on this subject since the 1980s, and you'll come away with a more profound understanding of precisely what Jesus experienced and endured in his human body in order to save us from our sins (the medical discussion begins at around the 10:00 mark):
There is no evil to be faced that Christ does not face with us. There is no enemy that Christ has not already conquered. There is no cross to bear that Christ has not already borne for us, and does not now bear with us. And on the far side of every cross we find the newness of life in the Holy Spirit, that new life which will reach its fulfillment in the resurrection. This is our faith. This is our witness before the world. – St. John Paul II
"There is no cross to bear that Christ has not already borne for us, and does not now bear with us." This image is so helpful for a cross I am carrying today. What a gift to picture Jesus bearing this cross already, then to picture Him walking beside me now. Not to mention the incredible teaching that we can unite our suffering, small as it is,to His suffering on the cross. Thank you for these meditations, Leila!
ReplyDeleteAnd perhaps also meditate this day, not only on Christ's loving ending of His life, but also His loving beginning. This day is a rare convergence of the Annunciation --- "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" --- and Good Friday. Early this morning, I meditated on these blessed beginnings and endings, made for the love of us.
ReplyDeleteDNBA, tell me more! I admit that I can't conceptualize the rare convergence of the Annunciation with today, but I'm willing to learn! Can you expand on that? Thank you! I love going deeper.
ReplyDeleteLeila - there is an excellent article at the Lepanto Institute on this : http://www.lepantoinstitute.org/uncategorized/march-25-the-alpha-and-the-omega/
DeleteThank you!! I am so thick! I just realized that today is March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation! LOL. That went right by me. Great link!
DeleteDUH!!! I just realized it's March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation!!! I missed that, ha ha! Sorry! That explains DNBA's comment. :)
ReplyDeleteJust got back from church, put the pierogi's on for dinner, and noted your confusion, Leila. Sorry. My thoughts are in my post on the matter. Thanks to SSK for that link; I forwarded it to some priest friends. I knew this was rare, but I had no idea HOW rare.
DeleteAnd in 2 years (2018) Ash Wednesday will coincide with Valentine's Day!
ReplyDelete