The Popish Plot
vLent 2019: Good Friday, "Old Rugged Cross"
'Tis Good Friday, act two of the Paschal Triduum (A.K.A. Easter Triduum): Good Friday-link & Wikipedia-link Good Friday; Wikipedia-link Paschal Triduum.
Commentary: Wayback Machine.
Scripture of the Day
Liturgical Readings—Friday of the Passion of the Lord
The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-two, verse thirteen thru chapter fifty-three, verse twelve;
Psalm Thirty-one, verses two & six; twelve & thirteen; fifteen, sixteen, & seventeen; & twenty-five;
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter four, verses fourteen, fifteen, & sixteen & chapter five, verses seven. eight, & nine;
The Gospel according to John, chapter eighteen, verse one thru chapter nineteen, verse forty-two.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, our Gospel today is John’s great account of the Passion of Jesus. The ultimate good—God incarnate—appeared, and we collectively responded not with exultation but with murderous violence. On Calvary, the Author of life was crucified and killed.Video reflection by Deacon Bernard Nojadera: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The crucifixion is the fullest expression of the divine anger at sin. We are meant to see on that cross not simply a violent display but rather our own ugliness. What brought Jesus to the cross? Stupidity, anger, mistrust, institutional injustice, betrayal of friends, denial, unspeakable cruelty, scapegoating, and fear.
But in the brutality of the cross we also see the fullest expression of the divine solidarity with sinners. God himself has come to stand with us in our dysfunction and absorb into his forgiveness all of the deadly sins. Yes, we know, with disquieting certitude, that we are sinners. But, with Paul, we willingly boast of our weakness, for we know with equal clarity that we are redeemed sinners.
Reflect: As you look at the Crucifix today, what do you see and what do you believe?
Reflection from Array of Hope:
Today is the day that Love made history. After living on this earth for thirty-three years, preaching the Gospel, and performing many great miracles, Christ performed the ultimate act of love and died on the cross for us. He freely chose to be humiliated, violated, and sacrificed for our sake. Who else would do that for us?Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 89
In the Acts of the Apostles, St. Peter states that “Jesus [was] delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God.” His death was no accident, and so much was at stake. God knew that the only way to bring His people back to Him would be through His son’s sacrifice. It’s hard to fathom this kind of sacrificial love, but this is the love that God freely pours out to each one of us. Would you do the same for the ones you love?
Today, do the Stations of the Cross and commemorate Christ's Passion. Let us look to the Cross and adore the one who is hung on it. Let us praise our Lord for loving us the way no one else can, for truly caring about us and redeeming us from our sins. Because of Him, we are one with God again and will one day be united with Him for all eternity in Heaven.
The Book of Numbers, chapter twenty, verses one thru thirteen.
Commentary: The Waters of Meribah (Numbers, 20:1-13).
†
Otherwise, 19 April would be the commemoration of Saint Expeditus of Melitene, Martyr (died 303, A.K.A. Elpidius), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian & Maximian, a victim of the Great Persecution: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Persecution.
'Twould also be the commemoration of Saint Crescentius of Florence, Deacon (died circa 396): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link (List § "One of several saints… deacon of Saint Zenobius").
Commentary: Wayback Machine.
'Twould also be the commemoration of Saint Ursmar of Lobbes, Bishop & Abbot, O.S.B. (circa 640-713), second (II) abbot of Lobbes Abbey & co-founder of Aulne Abbey: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Lobbes & Wikipedia-link Aulne.
'Twould also be the commemoration of Saint Ælfheah of Canterbury, Bishop & Martyr, O.S.B. (circa 953-1012, A.K.A. of Winchester; also spelt Alphage), abbot of Bath Abbey, Bishop of Winchester, & later Archbishop of Canterbury; martyred by Vikings under the command of Thorkell the Tall: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Bath.
'Twould also be the commemoration of Saint Leo IX, Pope (1002-1054, "the Pilgrim Pope;" A.K.A. Bruno of Egisheim-Dagsburg), one hundred fifty-second (CLII) Bishop of Rome, who for all his holiness could not prevent the Great Schism (1054): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Pontiff-link & Wikipedia-link Pontiff; & Wikipedia-link Schism.
'Twould also be the commemoration of Blessed James Duckett, Martyr (died circa 1601), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.
Papal Quote o' the Day
"The journey also brings sacrifices, but these must not stop us. Jesus is on the Cross: you want to kiss Him? You cannot help bending over the Cross & letting yourself be pricked by some thorns of the crown that is on the Lord's head."Little Flower Quote o' the Day
—Pope Venerable John Paul I (1912-1978)
"It is true, you are the Mother of Jesus, but you have given Him to me; & He, from the Cross, has given you to be our Mother—thus we are richer than you!"Saint Quote o' the Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"Imagine a judge having before him his own son who committed murder. He killed a boy. Now there's no doubt whatever of the son's guilt. The father-judge, bound to execute justice, sentences his son to death. That is justice. Then he says to the son, 'Now I will take your place, I will die for you.' That would be mercy. But that is not the complete picture. Suppose that at the moment the son was sentenced to death, the boy that the son had murdered walked in alive. The son would say, 'How can you condemn me for murder? You said I killed this boy? You see, he's alive. I'm innocent, I should be free.' That's precisely the condition that we are in. We were guilty of sin but our Lord rose from the dead, took our guilt upon Himself, & washed it away. Now we can say, 'See, He's alive, He's not dead. I'm free.' So that's why He came."
—Venerable Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)
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