Good Friday

After this, aware that everything was now finished, 
in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, 
Jesus said, “I thirst.”
There was a vessel filled with common wine.
So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop 
and put it up to his mouth.
When Jesus had taken the wine, he said,
“It is finished.”

And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

For many people in the world today is 'just' another Friday, the beginning of yet another weekend. I look around and there is a sense of nothingness, emptiness... people washing their cars, getting ready for a bank holiday outing... people not knowing that what happened today, happened for them too. 

When I was little the 'Triduum' was lived with great excitement, an excitement that through the years has been transformed into a deeper understanding of the Paschal Mystery.

It is beautiful to see that same sentiment which I used to feel in my own children and it combines with the knowledge that has matured in us as adults through faith. The beauty of passing on the faith is that your faith stays young as it grows!

To mothers or fathers of one or many children, here is a little advice, don't give up taking your children with you to the Triduum. Some years it will go amazingly and you will feel closer than ever to heaven, others you will be asking yourself if there is any point in going if you can't listen or pray and you don't get anything out of it.

Remember the children will eventually grow up (that happens sooner than you might think... our oldest is 16 already!!) and thanks to yours and your husband's patience, persistence and sacrifice, your child/children will more and more participate in the greatness of it all.

Yesterday, after the Mass of the Lord's supper, we had our own family liturgy of the washing of feet. We talked about how difficulty can be, at times, to serve and love one another in the every day life.

After the 'Veneration of the Cross' that will take place at 3 o'clock, we all have our last meal and the fasting will start until after the Easter Vigil. The younger children will have some fruit, cereal or something really bland as according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church they don't need to fast until the age of 14.

In the evening we will watch the passion from 'Jesus of Nazareth', with the whole family and once the younger ones are in bed we'll watch 'the Passion of the Christ'.