DAY TWO OF THE EASTER TRIDUUM - THE SOLEMN LITURGY AND STATIONS OF THE CROSS OF GOOD FRIDAY 2011...........

Catholic-Christian churches throughout the World today, April 22, 2011,* are somberly lit, as congregations of the Faithful gather at mid-day or in afternoon and evening, to commemorate the Passion and Death of the One sent by The Divine, to be the Suffering Servant of Perfect Sacrifice for Humankind, Jesus The Christ; God's Co-Eternal Son, Who Becomes our Redeemer and Reconciles the Father's Kingdom With Believers in His Paschal Mystery.  On this most sacred, sorrowful, poignant, and sacrificial, Day in the History of Salvation, Holy Mass is not celebrated, but is supplanted prayerfully, liturgically, and in worship, by a Solemn Liturgy in three parts.  A Proclamation of the Passion Narrative, from John's Gospel; The Veneration of the Cross, denoting the wood of Crucifixion upon which Christ's Body was Hung until Death; and The Rite of Holy Communion of the Eucharist, pre-sanctified last night, as the consecrated hosts of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, we celebrate as a Sacrament of the Church.  The already consecrated ciboria are carried from the Sacred Triduum Altar of Repose, to the Altar of Sacrifice, and after communal proclamation of The Lord's Prayer, the Holy Communion  is distributed.  Until the Easter Vigil Service after sunset Holy Saturday night tomorrow, the only other way Eucharist can be received is as Viaticum, meaning "bread for the journey", by the Sick and the Dying.  So in just a few hours, the People of God will gather; and Fr. Pius, Fr. Tony Traynor, and I, will come together with them to carry out this solemn and somber liturgical commemoration  of the Passion and Death of The Christ, for the Sins of the World.  This is the date in history when God's Beloved and Obedient Son, truly Became the Perfect Lamb of Sacrifice and Atonement.  At the Service's conclusion, the large, bare, wooden, Lenten Cross, in the church sanctuary, draped only in a red cloth, will be laid at the foot of the altar and the church will be open, for those who come to pray, mediate, and venerate, throughout the afternoon and early evening.  Then at 7 pm, I will conduct the Stations of the Cross, recalling the path of suffering Jesus followed to Crucifixion and Death, as His Paschal Mystery.  Please God, all you who are Catholic-Christians will take time on this Good Friday, to give thanks and remembrance for the Sacrifice offered by Jesus The Christ for the Forgiveness of Your Sins and the Salvation of Your Souls.........."Jesus Remember 'Us' When Yo Come Into Your Kingdom",**   Fr.  Troy

* the 90th day since my right foot amputation.

**Taize Prayer