Friday, October 26

A Rosary Meditation … The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery, the Crucifixion. “My daughter, seek with all the powers of thy mind during thy whole life to remember the mysteries manifested to thee in this chapter.” (“The Mystical City of God” by Mary of Agreda) These are the Blessed Virgin’s instructions to Mary of Agreda. “This chapter” refers to the information passed on concerning the crucifixion. There are mysteries and then there are mysteries. This, the Crucifixion of God, is a mystery beyond most. Like the Trinity, the Resurrection, or the Real Presence this Mystery knows no bounds and so is worthy of a life-time of contemplation. There is so much that could be said that words fail. This has such an impact on each individual human life that we can’t conceive the half of it, and couldn’t if we were given a million lives to do so. But God, knowing our limitations, and while wanting us to dwell on this Mystery in love for Jesus, gives us the point to which all meditation must lead. He makes knowing easy for us because He understands our need. And so the point He shares with us is this: “For God so loved the world, as to give His only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in Him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting.” John 3:16.

Today … I’m told that every Sunday is a mini-Easter and so it is. If every Sunday is a mini-Easter then every Friday is a little Good Friday. “Good” because of what He did for us, the provision He made for us, the mercy and love and blood He showered us with. How do you keep Good Friday? Do you make the Stations of the Cross? Visit the Blessed Sacrament? Is there a devotion special to your heart that, on Good Friday, you practice? Why not do that today? Why not celebrate, in a Good Friday sort of way, the love He celebrated for you on the cross?

St. Francis said about Good Friday … “We adore you and we bless you, Lord Jesus Christ, here and in all the churches which are in the whole world, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.”