Liturgical Leaflet for an Active Participation in the Celebration of the Eucharist

19 April 2019 GOOD FRIDAY Years A, B, C

THE SACRIFICIAL
DEATH THAT GIVES
LIFE TO THE WORLD

A s we meditate on the suffering and death of the

Lord Jesus, we realize all the destructive power of
sin and Jesus’ immense love for sinful mankind.
Sin wounds, kills, destroys! Sin does all these to us. It
did all these to Jesus though he never committed even the
slightest sin. Love, instead, heals, gives life, and builds up.
But love may cost a lot. It cost Jesus his dear life which
he offered with supreme freedom and generosity so that
all human beings might be freed from the devastation
of sin.
Let us participate in this commemoration of the Lord’s
Passion with hearts full of repentant and grateful love for
him, and with the sincere determination to avoid sin at
all costs. That will be the clearest sign of our appreciation
for Christ’s boundless love.

LITURGICAL NOTE
Good Friday is the only day in the Liturgical Year Second Reading) which was carried out in the most
in which the Church does not celebrate the Eucharist. dramatic manner in the first “Good Friday” of history
The reason for such an exception is the fact that this with the immolation of the new and true Paschal
is a day of mourning for the death of the Lord Jesus, Lamb (the Gospel).
while the Eucharist is always a celebration of his The VENERATION OF THE
resurrection. The Church does not see fit to have any CRUCIFIX originated in Jerusa-
form of “celebration” while holding such a commemo- lem where people gathered on
ration. That is why we have only a prayerful meditation Calvary to venerate the Cross
on the sufferings of Jesus and the role that we have to which Jesus had been nailed
had in causing them through our sins. and which, according to tradition,
Today’s liturgical service is held in the afternoon, had been miraculously recovered
starting at about 3 o’clock, the time of the day when by Queen Helena. Eventually this devotion spread
Jesus died. (See Mk 14:33.) It consists of three parts: throughout the Church as a natural response to the
(a) the Liturgy of the Word, (b) the Veneration of reading of the Passion.
the Crucifix, and (c) the Communion Rite.
At the COMMUNION RITE
The LITURGY OF THE the ciborium containing the hosts
WORD is all about the redemptive consecrated on Holy Thursday is
suffering of the Messiah. This suf- brought to the altar now covered
fering of an innocent Victim had with a linen cloth.
been foreseen by the prophet The rite and the entire com-
Isaiah in the mysterious figure of memoration of the Passion ends with a prayer of
the “Servant of the Lord” (First blessing and no formal dismissal.
Reading). His saving martyrdom was accepted by him
as an act of perfect obedience to the Father (see N.B. Today the celebrant wears RED vestments.
 PART ONE
cause of him, kings shall stand many, and their guilt he shall
speechless; for those who have bear.
LITURGY OF not been told shall see, those Therefore I will give him
THE WORD who have not heard shall pon- his portion among the great,
der it. and he shall divide the spoils
R1 –Who would believe what with the mighty, because he
we have heard? To whom has surrendered himself to death
the arm of the Lord been re- and was counted among the
vealed? wicked. And he shall take
R2 –He grew up like a sapling away the sins of many, and win
before him, like a shoot from pardon for their offenses.
the parched earth. There was
in him no stately bearing to The Word of the Lord!
make us look at him, nor ap- All – Thanks be to God!
pearance that would attract Responsorial Psalm Ps 31
The priest goes to the altar.
us to him. He was spurned
and avoided by people, a man R –Father, into your hands
He prostrates himself or kneels I commend my spirit!
in front of it. All pray silently for of suffering, accustomed to
a while. infirmity, one of those from
whom people hide their faces, R. M. Velez
Then the priest goes to the
chair with the ministers. He faces spurned, and we held him in
 D A/C# G/B

  
the people and, with hands joined, no esteem.
sings or says the following prayer. R1 –Yet it was our infirmi-
ties that he bore, our suffer-
P –Remember your mercies, ings that he endured, while Fa-ther, in---to your hands
O Lord, and with your eternal we thought of him as stricken,  A D

      
salvation sanctify your ser- as one smitten by God and af-
vants, for whom Christ your flicted.
Son, by the shedding of his R2 –But he was pierced for our I commend my spi--rit!
Blood, established the Pas- offenses, crushed for our sins.
chal Mystery. Upon him was the chastise-
ment that makes us whole, by * In you, O Lord, I take ref-
Who lives and reigns for his stripes we were healed. uge; let me never be put to
ever and ever. R1 –We had all gone astray shame. In your justice rescue
All –Amen! like sheep, each following his me. Into your hands I com-
own way; but the Lord laid mend my spirit; you will re-
1st Reading Is 52:13-53:12 upon him the guilt of us all. deem me, O Lord, O faithful
The prophet Isaiah spoke R2 –Though he was harshly God. R.
of the “Servant of the Lord,” treated, he submitted and * For all my foes I am an ob-
whose suffering would bring opened not his mouth. Like a ject of reproach, a laughing-
forgiveness to His people lamb led to the slaughter or a stock to my neighbors, and a
and whom God would exalt sheep before the shearers, he dread to my friends; they who
above all the great ones. This was silent and opened not his see me abroad flee from me.
is a prophecy of the suffering mouth. I am forgotten like the unre-
and resurrection of Jesus R1 –Oppressed and con- membered dead; I am like a
Christ, the obedient Servant demned, he was taken away, dish that is broken. R.
of God and Redeemer of all and who would have thought * But my trust is in you, O
mankind. any more of his destiny? When Lord; I say, “You are my God.
he was cut off from the land In your hands is my destiny;
[This passage may be read by turns.] of the living, and smitten for rescue me from the clutches of
Characters: G–God; R 1– the sin of his people, a grave my enemies and my persecu-
Female Reader ; R 2–Male was assigned him among the tors.” R.
wicked and a burial place
Reader with evildoers, though he had * Let your face shine upon
R –A proclamation from the done no wrong nor spoken any your servant; save me in your
falsehood. But the Lord was kindness. Take courage and be
Book of the Prophet Isa- pleased to crush him in infir- stouthearted, all you who hope
iah mity. in the Lord. R.
G –See, my servant shall G –If my servant gives his life
prosper, he shall be raised as an offering for sin, he shall 2nd Reading Heb 4:14-16;
high and greatly exalted. Even see his descendants in a long 5:7-9
as many were amazed at him life, and the will of the Lord Against the backdrop of
– so marred was his look be- shall be accomplished through the temple liturgy, the author
yond human semblance, and him. Because of his affliction of the Letter to the Hebrews
his appearance beyond that he shall see the light in fullness presents Jesus Christ as the
of the sons of man – so shall of days. Through his suffer- sinless High Priest. In such ca-
he startle many nations. Be- ing, my servant shall justify pacity, he has offered himself
2 19 April 2019
as the spotless Victim and has done, the short interventions of guards seized Jesus, bound
thereby become the Mediator the Narrators, such as “He said,” him, and brought him to An-
of the New Covenant. “He replied,” etc. should be omit- nas first. He was the father-in-
ted for a better rendering. The law of Caiaphas, who was high
R –A proclamation from the sentences to be omitted are within priest that year. It was Caia-
Letter to the Hebrews parentheses. phas who had counseled the
Brothers and sisters: Jews that it was better that one
Characters: man should die rather than the
Since we have a great high J–Jesus; N 1 –Female Nar-
priest who has passed through people.
rator; N 2 –Male Narrator; N2 –Simon Peter and another
the heavens, Jesus, the Son P –Pilate;Pt–Peter;
of God, let us hold fast to our disciple followed Jesus. Now
C–Crowd, Chief priests and the other disciple was known
confession. For we do not have other characters.
a high priest who is unable to to the high priest, and he en-
sympathize with our weak- P –The Lord be with you! tered the courtyard of the
nesses, but one who has simi- All – And with your spirit! high priest with Jesus. But
larly been tested in every way, Peter stood at the gate outside.
P –The Passion of our Lord So the other disciple, the ac-
yet without committing sin. So Jesus Christ according to John
let us confidently approach the All – Glory to you, O Lord! quaintance of the high priest,
throne of grace to receive mercy went out and spoke to the gate-
and to find grace for timely help. N 1 –Jesus went out with his keeper and brought Peter in.
In the days when Christ disciples across the Kidron Then the maid who was the
was in the flesh, he offered valley to where there was a gatekeeper said to Peter,
prayers and supplications garden, into which he and his C –You are not one of this
with loud cries and tears to the disciples entered. Judas, his
betrayer, also knew the place, man’s disciples, are you?
One who was able to save him because Jesus had often met Pt –I am not.
from death, and he was heard there with his disciples. So Ju- N1 – (He said.) Now the slaves
because of his reverence. Son das got a band of soldiers and and the guards were standing
though he was, he learned obe- guards from the chief priests around a charcoal fire that
dience from what he suffered; and the Pharisees and went they had made, because it was
and when he was made perfect, there with lanterns, torches, cold, and were warming them-
he became the source of eternal and weapons. Jesus, knowing selves. Peter was also standing
salvation for all who obey him. everything that was going to there keeping warm.
The Word of the Lord! happen to him, went out and The high priest questioned
All – Thanks be to God! said to them, Jesus about his disciples and
J –Whom are you looking about his doctrine. Jesus an-
Verse before the Gospel for? swered him,
N2 –(They answered him,) J –I have spoken publicly to
All – (Praise to you, Lord Jesus C –Jesus the Nazarene.
Christ, King of endless the world. I have always
J –I AM. taught in a synagogue or
glory!) N2 –(He said to them.) Judas
Christ became obedient his betrayer was also with in the temple area where
to the point of death, even them. When he said to them, all the Jews gather, and in
death on a cross. “I AM,” they turned away and secret I have said nothing.
Because of this, God fell to the ground. So he again Why ask me? Ask those
greatly exalted him and asked them, who heard me what I said
bestowed on him the J –Whom are you looking to them. They know what I
name which is above ev- for? said.
ery other name. N2 –(They said,) N2–When he had said this, one
(Praise to you, Lord Jesus C –Jesus the Nazarene. of the temple guards standing
Christ, King of endless N2 –(Jesus answered,) there struck Jesus and said,
glory!) J – I told you that I AM. So if C – Is this the way you answer
you are looking for me, let the high priest?
these men go. N2 – (Jesus answered him,)
Gospel Jn 18:1-19:42 N2 –This was to fulfill what he
In his Passion narrative, J – If I have spoken wrongly,
had said, “I have not lost any testify to the wrong; but if
St. John emphasizes Jesus’ of those you gave me.”
self-offering in obedience to I have spoken rightly, why
N 1 –Then Simon Peter, who do you strike me?
the Father’s plan. He is the had a sword, drew it, struck N1 –Then Annas sent him
new Paschal Lamb who fulfills the high priest’s slave, and cut
off his right ear. The slave’s bound to Caiaphas the high
the Old Testament prophecies, priest.
thereby becoming a source of name was Malchus. Jesus said
to Peter, Simon Peter was standing
salvation for all human be- near a charcoal fire, keeping
ings. The very moment of his J – Put your sword into its
scabbard. Shall I not warm. And they said to him,
crucifixion becomes his “ex- drink the cup that the Fa- C – You are not one of his dis-
altation.” ther gave me? ciples, are you?
N.B. The Passion narrative may N 1 –So the band of soldiers, N1 –(He denied it and said,)
be read by roles. When this is the tribune, and the Jewish Pt –I am not!
Good Friday 3
N1 – One of the slaves of the N1 –(Pilate said to him,) N2 – Consequently, Pilate tried
high priest, a relative of the P – What is truth? to release Jesus; but the Jews
one whose ear Peter had cut N2– When he had said this, he cried out,
off, said, again went out to the Jews and C – If you release him, you are
C – Didn’t I see you in the gar- said to them, not a friend of Caesar! Every-
den with him? P – I find no guilt in him. But one who makes himself a king
N 1 –Again, Peter denied it. you have a custom that I re- opposes Caesar.
And immediately the cock lease one prisoner to you at N2– When Pilate heard these
crowed. Passover. Do you want me to words, he brought Jesus out
N2 –Then they brought Jesus release to you the King of the and seated him on the judge’s
from Caiaphas to the praetori- Jews? bench in the place called Stone
um. It was morning. And they N2 –(They cried out again,) Pavement, in Hebrew, Gab-
themselves did not enter the C – Not this one but Barab- batha. It was preparation day
praetorium, in order not to be bas! for the Passover, and it was
defiled so that they could eat N1 –Now Barabbas was a rev-
the Passover. So Pilate came about noon. And he said to the
olutionary. Then Pilate took Jews,
out to them and said, Jesus and had him scourged.
P – What charge do you bring P – Behold your king!
The soldiers wove a crown out N2 – (They cried out,)
against this man? of thorns and placed it on his
N2 –(They answered and said to C – Take him away, take him
head; they clothed him in a away! Crucify him!
him,) purple cloak, and came to him
C – If he were not a criminal, N2 – (Pilate said to them,)
and said, P – Shall I crucify your king?
we would not have handed him C – Hail, King of the Jews!
over to you. N2 – (The chief priests an-
N1 –And they struck him re- swered,)
N2 –(At this, Pilate said to them,) peatedly. Once more Pilate
P –Take him yourselves, and C – We have no king but Cae-
went out and said to them, sar!
judge him according to your P –Look, I am bringing him
law. out to you, so that you may N1 – Then Pilate handed him
C – We do not have the right over to them to be crucified.
to execute anyone, know that I find no guilt in
him. So they took Jesus, and, carry-
N1 –The Jews answered him ing the cross himself, he went
in order that the word of Jesus N2 – So Jesus came out, wear-
ing the crown of thorns and out to what is called the Place
might be fulfilled that he said of the Skull, in Hebrew, Gol-
indicating the kind of death he the purple cloak. And Pilate
said to them, gotha. There they crucified
would die. him, and with him two others,
So Pilate went back into the P – Behold, the man!
N2 – When the chief priests one on either side, with Jesus
praetorium and summoned in the middle.
Jesus and said to him, and the guards saw him, they
cried out, N2 – Pilate also had an inscrip-
P – Are you the King of the tion written and put on the
Jews? C – Crucify him, crucify him!
N2 – (Pilate said to them,) cross. It read, “JESUS THE
N1 –(Jesus answered,)
J – Do you say this on your P – Take him yourselves and NAZARENE, THE KING OF
own or have others told crucify him. I find no guilt in THE JEWS.”
you about me? him. Now many of the Jews read
N1 –(Pilate answered,) N2 – (The Jews answered,) this inscription, because the
P –I am not a Jew, am I? C – We have a law, and ac- place where Jesus was cruci-
Your own nation and the chief cording to that law he ought to fied was near the city; and it
priests handed you over to me. die, because he made himself was written in Hebrew, Latin,
What have you done? the Son of God. and Greek. So the chief priests
N1 – (Jesus answered,) N1 – When Pilate heard this of the Jews said to Pilate,
J – My kingdom does not be- statement, he became even C – Do not write ‘The King of
long to this world. If my more afraid, and went back the Jews,’ but that he said, ‘I
kingdom did belong to into the praetorium and said am the King of the Jews.’
this world, my attendants to Jesus, N2– (Pilate answered,)
would be fighting to keep P – Where are you from? P – What I have written, I
me from being handed N1 –Jesus did not answer him. have written.
over to the Jews. But as it So Pilate said to him, N1– When the soldiers had
is, my kingdom is not P –Do you not speak to me? crucified Jesus, they took his
here. Do you not know that I have clothes and divided them into
N1– (So Pilate said to him,) power to release you and I four shares, a share for each
P – Then you are a king? have power to crucify you? soldier. They also took his tu-
N1 – (Jesus answered,) N1 – (Jesus answered him,) nic, but the tunic was seamless,
J –You say I am a king. For J – You would have no power woven in one piece from the
this I was born and for this over me if it had not been top down. So they said to one
I came into the world: to given to you from above. another,
testify to the truth. Every- For this reason the one C – Let’s not tear it, but cast
one who belongs to the who handed me over to lots for it to see whose it will
truth listens to my voice. you has the greater sin. be,
4 19 April 2019
N1 – in order that the passage mathea, secretly a disciple 2. For the Pope
of Scripture might be fulfilled of Jesus for fear of the Jews,
that says: “They divided my asked Pilate if he could remove L –Let us pray also for our
garments among them, and for the body of Jesus. And Pilate most Holy Father Pope Fran-
my vesture they cast lots.” This permitted it. So he came and cis, that our God and Lord,
is what the soldiers did. took his body. who chose him for the Order
N2– Standing by the cross of N2–Nicodemus, the one who of Bishops, may keep him
Jesus were his mother and his had first come to Jesus at safe and unharmed for the
mother’s sister, Mary the wife night, also came, bringing a Lord’s holy Church, to gov-
of Clopas, and Mary of Mag- mixture of myrrh and aloes ern the holy People of God.
dala. When Jesus saw his moth- weighing about one hundred (Silent Prayer)
er and the disciple there whom pounds. They took the body of
he loved, he said to his mother, Jesus and bound it with burial P –Almighty ever-living
J – Woman, behold, your son! cloths along with the spices, God, by whose decree all
N2– Then he said to the dis- according to the Jewish burial things are founded, look with
ciple, custom. favor on our prayers and in
J – Behold, your mother! N1– Now in the place where he your kindness protect the
N2– And from that hour the had been crucified there was Pope chosen for us, that, un-
disciple took her into his home. a garden, and in the garden der him, the Christian people,
N1– After this, aware that ev- a new tomb, in which no one
had yet been buried. So they governed by you their maker,
erything was now finished, in may grow in merit by reason
order that the Scripture might laid Jesus there because of the
Jewish Preparation Day, for of their faith. Through Christ
be fulfilled, Jesus said, the tomb was close by. our Lord.
J – I thirst. All – Amen!
N1–There was a vessel filled The Gospel of the Lord!
with common wine. So they All – Praise to you, Lord Jesus
put a sponge soaked in wine on Christ! 3. For all orders and degrees
a sprig of hyssop and raised it of the Faithful
to his mouth. When Jesus had Homily L –Let us pray also for our
taken the wine, he said, Bishop N., for all Bishops,
J –It is finished! Solemn Intercessions
Priests, and Deacons of the
N1– And bowing his head, he The solemn intercessions are Church and for the whole of
handed over the spirit. a response to the Liturgy of the
(Pause. All kneel down Word. The deacon or lay minister the faithful people.
in silence for a while.) stands at the lectern. With his (Silent Prayer)
N2– Since it was Preparation hands joined, he sings or says P –Almighty ever-living
Day, in order that the bodies the introduction in which each God, by whose Spirit the
might not remain on the cross intention is stated. All kneel and whole body of the Church is
on the sabbath, for the sab- pray silently for a while. Then the sanctified and governed, hear
bath day of that week was a priest, with hands extended, sings
or says the prayer at the chair or our humble prayer for your
solemn one, the Jews asked ministers, that, by the gift of
Pilate that their legs be bro- the altar.
ken and that they be taken
your grace, all may serve you
faithfully. Through Christ our
down. So the soldiers came 1. For Holy Church Lord.
and broke the legs of the first
and then of the other one who L – Let us pray, dearly be- All – Amen!
loved, for the holy Church of
was crucified with Jesus. God, that our God and Lord
But when they came to Jesus be pleased to give her peace, 4. For catechumens
and saw that he was already to guard her and to unite her
dead, they did not break his L –Let us pray also for (our)
throughout the whole world catechumens, that our God
legs, but one soldier thrust his and grant that, leading our
lance into his side, and imme- and Lord may open wide the
life in tranquility and quiet, ears of their inmost hearts and
diately blood and water flow- we may glorify God the Fa-
ed out. unlock the gates of his mercy,
ther almighty. that, having received forgive-
N1– An eyewitness has testi-
fied, and his testimony is true; (Silent Prayer) ness of all their sins through
he knows that he is speaking P –Almighty ever-living the waters of rebirth, they,
the truth, so that you also may God, who in Christ revealed too, may be one with Christ
come to believe. your glory to all the nations, Jesus our Lord.
N2– For this happened so that watch over the works of your (Silent Prayer)
the Scripture passage might mercy, that your Church,
be fulfilled: “Not a bone of it spread throughout all the P –Almighty ever-living
will be broken.” And again an- world, may persevere with God, who make your Church
other passage says: “They will steadfast faith in confessing ever fruitful with new off-
look upon him whom they have your name. Through Christ spring, increase the faith and
pierced.” our Lord. understanding of (our) cat-
N1–After this, Joseph of Ari- All –Amen! echumens, that, reborn in the
Good Friday 5
font of Baptism, they may be mutual love and striving to lock prisons, loosen fetters,
added to the number of your understand more fully the granting to travelers safety,
adopted children. Through mystery of your life, may be to pilgrims return, health to
Christ our Lord. made more perfect witness- the sick, and salvation to the
All – Amen! es to your love in the world. dying.
Through Christ our Lord. (Silent Prayer)
5. For the unity of Christians All – Amen! P –Almighty ever-living
L –Let us pray also for all God, comfort of mourners,
our brothers and sisters who 8. For those who do not strength of all who toil, may
believe in Christ, that our God believe in God the prayers of those who cry
and Lord may be pleased, as L –Let us pray also for those out in any tribulation come
they live the truth, to gather who do not acknowledge before you, that all may re-
them together and keep them God, that, following what joice, because in their hour
in his one Church. is right in sincerity of heart, of need, your mercy was at
(Silent Prayer) they may find the way to God hand. Through Christ our
P –Almighty ever-living himself. Lord.
God, who gather what is scat- (Silent Prayer) All – Amen!
tered and keep together what P –Almighty ever-living
you have gathered, look kind- God, who created all people PART TWO
ly on the flock of your Son, to seek you always by desir-
that those whom one Bap- ing you and, by finding you, VENERATION
tism has consecrated may be come to rest, grant, we pray, OF THE CRUCIFIX
joined together by integrity of that, despite every harmful
faith and united in the bond of obstacle, all may recognize A. UNVEILING OF THE CRUCIFIX
charity. Through Christ our the signs of your fatherly
Lord. love and the witness of the
All – Amen! good works done by those
who believe in you, and so in
6. For the Jewish people gladness confess you, the one
L –Let us pray also for the true God and Father of our
Jewish people, to whom the human race. Through Christ
Lord our God spoke first, that our Lord.
he may grant them to advance All – Amen!
in love of his name and in
faithfulness to his covenant. 9. For those in public office
(Silent Prayer) The unveiling of the Crucifix
L –Let us pray also for those can be done either in the sanctu-
P –Almighty ever-living in public office, that our God ary or in the course of a proces-
God, who bestowed your and Lord may direct their sion that starts at the entrance
promises on Abraham and his minds and hearts according of the church. If it is done in the
descendants, hear graciously to his will, for the true peace sanctuary, the priest remains
the prayers of your Church, and freedom of all. there and unveils the Crucifix in
that the people you first made (Silent Prayer) three progressive stages, pro-
claiming at every stage: “Behold
your own may attain the full- P –Almighty ever-living the wood of the Cross, on which
ness of redemption. Through God, in whose hand lies every hung the Savior of the world!”
Christ our Lord. human heart and the rights of And the congregation responds:
All –Amen! peoples, look with favor, we “Come, let us adore!” and all
pray, on those who govern kneel down in silent adoration.
7. For those who do not believe with authority over us, that If the unveiling is done during
in Christ the procession to the sanctuary,
throughout the whole world, the celebrant unveils the Crucifix
L –Let us pray also for those the prosperity of peoples, the progressively first at the entrance
who do not believe in Christ, assurance of peace, and free- of the church, then in the middle
that, enlightened by the Holy dom of religion may, through of the church, and finally at the
Spirit, they, too, may enter on your gift, be made secure. entrance of the sanctuary. At
the way of salvation. Through Christ our Lord. every progressive unveiling and
(Silent Prayer) All – Amen! elevation he sings:
P –Almighty ever-living P –Behold the wood of the
God, grant to those who do 10. For those in tribulation Cross, on which hung the
not confess Christ that, by L –Let us pray, dearly be- Savior of the world!
walking before you with a loved, to God the Father al- All –Come, let us adore!
sincere heart, they may find mighty, that he may cleanse
the truth and that we our- the world of all errors, banish At every stage all kneel down
selves, being constant in disease, drive out hunger, un- in silent prayer.
6 19 April 2019
B. HOMAGE TO THE CRUCIFIX into a land of plenty, Resurrection of your Christ,
After the unveiling, the priest, you have prepared a preserve in us the work of
clergy and faithful approach to Cross for your Savior. your mercy, that, by partak-
venerate the Crucifix in a kind of (Repeat Refrain) ing of this mystery, we may
procession. Before reaching the have a life unceasingly de-
Crucifix, they either kneel or bow, 1&2: What more should I
have done for you and voted to you.
then they kiss the Crucifix and go Through Christ our Lord.
back to their seats to pray silently. have not done? Indeed, I
planted you as my most All –Amen!
Hymns sung during the beautiful chosen vine
Veneration of the Crucifix and you have turned CONCLUDING RITES
While the Veneration of the
very bitter for me, for The priest faces the people,
Crucifix is taking place, two in my thirst you gave extends his hands toward them,
groups or choirs (indicated by me vinegar to drink and and says the following prayer:
C1 and C2) can recite or sing the with a lance you pierced
following texts. your Savior’s side. Prayer over the People
It is suggested that C 1 be (Repeat Refrain) P –May abundant blessing,
only female voices and C 2 O Lord, we pray, descend
only male voices. PART THREE upon your people, who have
HOLY honored the Death of your
Psalm 66:2 Son in the hope of their res-
Antiphon COMMUNION urrection. May pardon come,
C1– We venerate your Cross, comfort be given, holy faith
O Lord! increase, and everlasting re-
C2– We praise and glorify demption be made secure.
your holy Resurrection, Through Christ our Lord.
for behold, because of All – Amen!
the wood of a tree, joy has
come to the whole world! N.B. • Today there is no bless-
ing and no formal dismissal. All
Verse depart in silence.
C1/2–May God have mercy on • Today and tomorrow, un-
us and bless us; may he til the solemn Paschal Vigil, we
let his face shed its light After the ciborium has been genuflect before the Crucifix.
upon us, and have mercy brought to the altar, the priest
on us. (Repeat Antiphon) celebrant introduces the Lord’s
Prayer in the following or similar
words: Tune in to
Reproaches
Radio Veritas (846 kHz)
In the Reproaches, in addition P –At the savior’s command
to the two choirs, two cantors may and formed by divine every Saturday
sing some of the verses. teaching, we dare to say: from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
All –Our Father . . . and feel a part of
1&2: My people, what have I P –Deliver us, Lord . . .
done to you? All – For the kingdom, the pow-
Or how have I grieved er, and the glory are yours,
you? Answer me! now and for ever.
1: Because I led you out of
the land of Egypt, The “Lamb of God” is omitted.
you have prepared a P –Behold the Lamb of
Cross for your Savior. God, behold him who
Refrain: takes away the sins of the
world. Blessed are those
1: Hagios o Theos, called to the Supper of
2: Holy is God, the Lamb.
1: Hagios Ischyros, All – Lord, I am not worthy
2: Holy and Mighty, that you should enter un-
1: Hagios Athanatos, elei- the interactive radio program
der my roof, but only say
son himas! the word and my soul that helps you:
2: Holy and Immortal One, shall be healed. – discover the message
have mercy on us! of God’s Word, and
1&2: Because I led you out Prayer after Communion – how it can empower
through the desert forty P –Almighty ever-living your life, your family,
years and fed you with God, who have restored us to and your community.
manna and brought you life by the blessed Death and

Good Friday 7
 Who Is Responsible for the Death of Christ?
W ho is to be blamed or who is responsible for the
death of Christ, really? The question is clear
and the answer seems easy, for we can readily
submit a list of people who can unquestionably
be held responsible for what happened to Jesus.
The first on the list, of course, are the Jewish
authorities who repeatedly plotted to “destroy”
Jesus. They were the High Priest Caiaphas, the
Sadducees (who were the majority in the Sanhe-
drin) and a good number of Pharisees. They avidly
grabbed the opportunity presented by Judas’ offer
to deliver Jesus to them. They were the ones who
arrested Jesus, sentenced him to death in the trial
they held at night, pressed charges against him at
Pilate’s tribunal, and worked up the mob to demand
Jesus’ crucifixion.
There is little one can say in their defense. They
surely rejoiced and felt relieved in seeing nailed on
the cross the carpenter-turned-preacher who had since they were simple people who were just “doing
dared to question their integrity. their job,” and in those days being a “conscientious
The second on the line is Judas Iscariot, the objector” was not a viable option.
disciple who betrayed his Master for a handful In past centuries, and up to not so long ago,
of silver coins. Disappointed in his expectation many singled out the entire Jewish people as the
concerning the Messiah, he volunteered to hand “killers of Jesus” and even “killers of God.” Such
Jesus over to his enemies. It is true that Judas terrible labels have been the unfair “reason” that has
deeply regretted his betrayal and even returned the enabled barbarous individuals, organizations and
money he got in the vain hope of convincing the governments to harass and put to death millions of
religious authorities to stop their legal action. But Jews, for the simple reason that they belonged to
his attempt was like trying to stop an avalanche. the Jewish race.
He himself succumbed in the foolish attempt. His It is not fair to hold an entire nation or race
name remains among those tainted with the blood responsible for a crime planned and carried out
of the innocent Christ. almost exclusively and single-handedly by its
Then there comes Pilate, the proud and ruth- religious leaders of two thousand years ago.
less Roman procurator who signed Jesus’ death The Catholic hierarchy, through the recent
sentence. It is true that he did that reluctantly and popes, has dissociated itself most strongly from
after having publicly dissociated himself from that such unjust generalizations. The late Pope (now
crime. But it was his duty, as the representative of Saint) John Paul II has even publicly asked forgive-
the imperial authority, to prevent it. In that, Pilate ness for the injustices and persecutions perpetrated
failed miserably, out of cowardice, and almost by Christians and Christian leaders against the
surely to avoid being himself investigated for sev- Jews.
Who then is responsible for the death of
eral “irregularities” he had committed.
Christ? The answer to this searching question is
Closely associated with him, as a victim of the that all those who commit sin are responsible
manipulation orchestrated by the religious authori- for Christ’s death.
ties, is the mob that shouted the deadly slogan which Just as Jesus’ person, life and mission transcend
frightened Pilate: “Crucify him!” It is probable that the limits of the place and time in which he lived,
those making up the crowd did not fully understand and encompass the whole world, so does his death.
the issue in question. Therefore, they might be clas- Hence, those responsible for it are not just the
sified as “accessories” to the crime. historical characters mentioned above, but also
Finally, we should list the executioners – those all sinners of all races and times. Jesus, in fact,
who carried out the sentence in its different stages. died because of the sins of all mankind and in
But one might be tempted to almost acquit them order to save all sinners.

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