Apr. 10 - Good Friday With Mary

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MariaChristi

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Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Anyone who has seen Mel Gibson’s film “The Passion of the Christ” was perhaps touched deeply by it – I certainly was – each time I watch it I see more. However, the scene that brought me to tears the first time I saw the film is the scene I continue to carry in my heart regarding Mary our Mother.

It is when Mary tells John as they are in the crowd watching Jesus carry His Cross, that she needs to get closer to Jesus, and so John takes her to another street or passageway and from a short distance she sees Jesus fall and begins to run towards Him. The camera then produces a “flashback” to a scene in which Jesus is a child and Mary sees him fall and she runs to him and enfolds the young child in her arms. The camera then returns to show Mary running to Jesus fallen beneath His Cross.

That scene is forever etched in my mind and heart because it speaks to me of the Mother whose heart is ever given to her child. How can we ever thank God Who is Love for loving us so much He gave us His only begotten Son? How can we ever thank Jesus enough for giving Mary to us? How can we ever thank Mary enough for her continual “Yes” to God and her love for us? We cannot – ever give thanks enough, except by God’s Grace. Without Him, we can do nothing.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful. Kindle in us, the Fire of Your Love. As you overshadowed Mary and conceived in her womb, Jesus, the Word Made Flesh, so in Baptism and in Confirmation you overshadowed us that we might, by the power of your grace, live in Him with Mary. Enable us to die to self continually that we might truly live Jesus. Purify our hearts, that we may learn as Mary learned to Love as God has loved us.

“O Jesus, living in Mary, come and live in Your servants, in the spirit of Your holiness, in the fullness of Your power, in the perfection of Your ways, in the truth of Your virtues, in the communion of Your mysteries. Rule over every adverse power, in your Spirit, for the glory of the Father. Amen.” – Prayer of Fr. Jean Jacques Olier, S.S. (1608-1657)

Our Lady of Sorrows, Mother and Model of the Church, pray for us. “At the Cross her station keeping, stood the mournful Mother weeping close to Jesus to the end.”
 
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Dear po18guy,

Thanks for your “heart” – may you and all of us, remain close to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, always.
 
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If Mary was tempted, as even Jesus was in the desert, this took place above all beneath the cross. And the temptation was very deep and painful because the reason for it was Jesus himself. She believed in the promises, she believed that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God; she knew that if Jesus had appealed to the Father, he would have sent him “more than twelve legions of angels” (Matt 12 :53).

But she saw that Jesus didn’t do this. If he freed himself from the cross, he would also free her from this dreadful sorrow, but he didn’t do it. Yet Mary didn’t cry out, “Come down from the cross; save yourself and me!” Nor did she cry, “My son, you have saved others, why don’t you now save yourself too?” Even though it isn’t difficult to understand that similar thoughts and wishes must have spontaneously come to her mother’s heart.

She no longer even asked Jesus, “Son, why have you treated us so?” As she did when, having lost him, she later found him in the Temple (Luke 2:48). Mary was silent. “She lovingly consented to the immolation of this Victim which she herself had brought forth,” a text of Vatican Council II tells us. She celebrated his Passover with him.

Father Raniero Cantalamessa

Excerpt from Mary, Mirror of the Church, a Liturgical Press Book, (1992) p.99

Read more on mariedenazareth.com:​

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
 
Dear hazcompat,

Thanks for your reply – and also for the page number of the book for reference: “Mary, Mirror of the Church”, a Liturgical Press Book, (1992) p.99. It is not a book I’ve read - the final line of the excerpt, however, is significant:
Mary was silent. “She lovingly consented to the immolation of this Victim which she herself had brought forth,” a text of Vatican Council II tells us. She celebrated his Passover with Him.
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It is significant to me because it highlights the “silence” of Mary amid the terrible “noise of the crowd”. It reminded me of a book-length poem entitled, “A Woman Wrapt in Silence”. I read it many years ago and was happy to see it is still in print. See HERE

Mary’s silence, it seems to me was the fruit of her having listened to all Jesus said and did, and pondered all in her heart. May we spend some time in prayerful silence with Mary today. The First Reading for today from Isaiah 52: 13 - 53:12 includes this:
“…Though He was harshly treated, He submitted and opened not His mouth:
like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, He was silent and opened not His mouth…”
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Our Lady of sorrows, Mother and Model for the Church, pray for us.
 
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Dear Cath,

Thanks so much for your “faith-full and loving heart” also.

How we need to be mindful of Jesus through Mary today of all days! Earlier this morning, I spent some time pondering the words of the Ancient hymn, “Stabat Mater”. It is a long poem many sing at Stations of the Cross devotions. For anyone unfamiliar with this Hymn, here are a few excerpts:
From the hymn, “Stabat Mater”: — Entire hymn can be read at: Stabat Mater: A Sorrowful Hymn About The Passion

… Through her heart, His sorrow sharing, All His bitter anguish bearing, Now at length the sword had passed.
Oh, how sad and sore distressed Was that Mother highly blest, Of the sole begotten One!

…Is there one who would not weep… …Can the human heart refrain, From partaking in her pain, In that Mother’s pain untold?

Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,
She beheld her tender Child,
All with bloody scourges rent.

…O thou Mother: fount of love! Touch my spirit from above, Make my heart with thine accord.

Make me feel as thou hast felt; Make my soul to glow and meltWith the love of Christ my Lord.

Holy Mother, pierce me through;
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Savior crucified.

Let me share with thee His pain, Who for all my sins was slain, Who for me in torment died.

Let me mingle tears with thee, Mourning Him who mourned for me, All the days that I may live.

Let me share thy grief divine. Let me to my latest breath, In my body bear the death Of that dying Son of thine.

Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence, Be Thy Mother my defense, Be Thy Cross my victory…Amen
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Dear QuietTrad,

Thanks for your “faith-full and loving heart” seeking to stand with our Mother at the foot of His Cross. You are not alone, for Mary is always near, to help us – and especially those of us who have drifted too far from her at any time. She is the Mother of Mercy, and knows our weaknesses. She is constantly interceding for us, with Jesus, for Mary is Full of Grace and Love as our Mother.

By God’s Grace, let us not remember the troubles of the past but rather lay them at the feet of Jesus and Mary trusting in their love, and continue asking for grace to grow like them in humility of heart. Let us remember Jesus’ words to St. Paul, “My Grace is sufficient for you!” and also St. Paul’s response: “When I am weak then I am strong” - Paul learned that his only real strength was in the Lord.

Jesus, we trust in Your Mercy. Mary, Mother of Mercy intercede for all your children until we join you and Jesus in our heavenly home!
 
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Dear Swiftdove and Stephie,

Thank you both for your “hearts” to let us know your love for Jesus through Mary on this Good Friday. By God’s Grace, may we all grow closer to The Sacred Heart of Jesus and The Immaculate Heart of Mary during this Sacred Triduum.
 
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It is amazing. Normally, during Holy Week, I am at work and no way to attend Holy Thursday, and Good Friday services. Being at home, with Mother Mary, I had an opportunity to (at least) tune into this important part of the Triduum. I submit that much good can come out of this disaster.

God bless,
Stephie
 
Dear Stephie,

Thanks for your reply. Yes, God is always working Good! (cf Rom 8:28) Even in the terrible suffering He has permitted in this pandemic in so may parts of the world – I think I heard 184 countries have been infected with the virus – God is giving grace to “see by faith” that suffering can lead us to a closer union with Jesus through Mary.

As our Holy Triduum teaches us: Holy Thursday evening Jesus gave us the unbloody Sacrifice of His Eucharistic Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity; Good Friday, He gave us the same Sacrifice but through the Bloody Sacrifice of His death on the Cross. Holy Saturday, He went to the souls of the Just in the place of the dead, for them to hear the Good News that He had lifted the burden of sin and set us free.

How grateful we need to be! What fervent prayerful and sincere reparation to Jesus through Mary we need to offer! Let us spend time with our Mother on this Holy Saturday that she may help us to learn to love as Jesus has loved us.
 
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