By Kari Bergmann
‘It is finished’; and he bowed his head and handed over his spirit.
“On Good Friday, the entire Church fixes her gaze on the Cross at Calvary. Each of us should try to understand at what cost, Christ won our redemption. In the solemn ceremonies of Good Friday, in the Adoration of the Cross, in the chanting of the 'Reproaches', and in the reading of the Passion, we unite ourselves to our Saviour, and we contemplate our own death to sin in the Death of our Lord.”
On this most solemn day of the year, we should make every effort to enter into the mystery of Christ’s passion. On Good Friday we should minimize any worldly distractions so that we can make space to contemplate our Lord’s sacrifice. Challenge each member of your household to put away all electronic devices (apart from when assisting in prayer and contemplation), books, games, music, and even the news (something with far more gravitas than the coronavirus requires our attention today). We all know those things that are likely to distract us, so whenever possible we should remove the temptation. This is something that even younger children can participate in. You can present them with more reflective activities like reading religious books, Biblical colouring sheets, helping out with household chores, or you could all go on a family walk together.
If you are spending the day at home you could arrange a mini-silent retreat with your household, breaking the silence just to pray together, share meals, and perhaps watch a religious film. If you have younger children you can instead try to observe a few minutes of silence around 3pm when Jesus died on the cross. As you know, this is a day of fasting and abstinence meaning that we should not eat meat and only have two small meals and one regular sized meal (unless age or medical condition exempts us). However, we should also try to deny ourselves in other ways. This could mean putting away technology and distractions as mentioned before, but it can also mean completing acts of service for others, extra time spent in prayer, and almsgiving.
If you are not intending to watch a Celebration of the Passion online, this would be a good opportunity to read the Passion aloud with members of your household. Family members can read different parts, you can find a Celebration of the Passion online here: http://www.ibreviary.com/m/preghiere.php?tipo=Rito&id=541
Additionally, if you have a cross or a crucifix at home you can venerate the cross together. Traditionally, a priest would process to the altar of the church with a covered cross and stop three times, each time exposing more of the cross. At home you can select a leader from your household to hold the cross where everyone can see it and say, three times “Behold the wood of the Cross on which hung the salvation of the world” to which the rest of the household would reply “Come, let us adore.” After this each person can venerate the cross by kneeling or bowing before the cross and then kissing or touching it.
“Adoration or veneration of an image or representation of Christ's cross does not mean that we actually adore the material image, of course, but rather what it represents. In kneeling before the crucifix and kissing it we are paying the highest honour to our Lord's cross as the instrument of our salvation. Because the Cross is inseparable from His sacrifice, in reverencing His Cross we, in effect, adore Christ. “
Lastly, you can pray the Stations of the Cross, the Divine Mercy chaplet, or the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. All of these prayer focus on Christ’s Passion and all would enhance your solemn reflections on this day.
A good family activity could be baking hot cross buns. There are different theories as to where the tradition of eating the buns originated but they seem to have been around since at least the 14th century. While baking together you can explain to your children that the cross represents the crucifixion of Jesus, and the spices inside signify the spices used to embalm him at his burial. This is a good opportunity to discuss why Jesus died on the cross and his promise to return at Easter. Here is a recipe for hot cross buns: https://www.taste.com.au/recipes/hot-cross-buns-3/7589988d-d90e-47bc-ac30-4aa3a2bc492b If you’re less inclined to bake you can simply buy some hot cross buns and have the same conversation.
Another activity to help children understand Good Friday and Easter is a simple jellybean activity. A simple poem is used to show that each colour of jellybean symbolizes something related to Christ’s Passion and Resurrection. Children can make these packs to give to all members of the household on Easter as a small act of service for others. If children are struggling with needed to wait until Easter to enjoy this treat you can explain to them that this is an important time of waiting in anticipation for Christ’s return from the dead. It is not yet time to celebrate, we are holding a solemn vigil until we can rejoice saying, “He is risen!”
You can find the instructions and the poem here: https://rachelwojo.com/jelly-bean-poem-easter-gift/
The Way of the Cross is going online. It will be live-streamed using Facebook from the Mount Waverley Chadstone Inter-Church Council Facebook page which can be found at: https://fb.me/mwcicc or search Facebook for MWCICC.
If you don’t have internet access, you can join the Way of the Cross using Zoom on a telephone (either landline or mobile) by dialling in on Good Friday from 11.10am (for an 11.15am start). First, call the Zoom local number (03) 7018 2005. Next, when the call connects you will be prompted to enter the meeting number, which is 930 421 677, and press the # key.
Once you’ve entered that number you’ll hear what’s happening, or be asked to wait if it hasn’t started yet. It’s that simple!
On YouTube: Bishop Barron on the Power of the Cross -10 minutes
Bishop Barron unpacks the meanings of the Cross and suffering in this short video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VZEnDWcpzg
On Formed: Understanding the Stations of the Cross -34 minutes
This video with Dr. Tim Gray and Dr. Ben Akers, explores the history and meaning of the stations of the Cross.
You taught us, Lord, that the greatest love a man can show is to lay down his life for his friends. But your love was greater still, because you laid down your life for your enemies. It was while we were still enemies that you reconciled us to yourself by your death. What other love has ever been, or could be, like yours? You suffered unjustly for the sake of the unjust. You died at the hands of sinners for the sake of the sinful. You became a slave to tyrants, to set the oppressed free.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Amen.
Lyrics of which are attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux: O Sacred Head Surrounded