杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

Tens of thousands of faithful from Rome and around the world joined 杏MAP导航 Francis in St Peter鈥檚 Basilica on Good Friday for the liturgical commemoration of the Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Good Friday is the only day of the year on which Holy Mass is not celebrated. In its place, the Church celebrates the Solemn Liturgy of the Passion of the Lord, consisting of three parts: the Liturgy of the Word, culminating in the chanting of the Passion according to St John; the Adoration of the Cross; and Holy Communion.

Jesus on the Cross, prototype of the despised

After the proclamation of the Passion, Father Raniero Cantalamessa, the Preacher to the Pontifical Household delivered the homily, taking as his starting point the passage 鈥淗e was despised and rejected by men鈥�. This 鈥渕ysterious man of sorrow鈥� found in the prophecy from Isaiah is given 鈥渁 name and a face鈥� in the Passion: 鈥渢he name and face of Jesus of Nazarath鈥�. "Today", said Fr Cantalamessa, 鈥渨e want to contemplate the Crucified One specifically in his capacity as the prototype and representative of all the rejected, the disinherited, and the 鈥榙iscarded鈥� of the earth, those from whom we turn aside our faces so as not to see them鈥�.

Fr Cantalamessa said that, 鈥淥n the Cross, Jesus of Nazareth becomes the symbol鈥� of that 鈥減art of humanity that is 鈥榟umiliated and insulted鈥�.鈥� This is not the most important meaning of the Cross, he said; the most important meaning is 鈥渟piritual and mystical鈥�, 鈥渢hat death redeemed the world from sin鈥�. However, the meaning that can be found in Jesus as representative of the lowly and despised 鈥渋s the one that all people, believers and non-believers, can recognize and receive鈥�.

Easter is your feast

Christ鈥檚 death on the Cross is not the end of the Gospel story. 鈥淚t says something else鈥�, Fr Cantalamessa explained; 鈥淚t says that the Crucified One is risen鈥�. The feast of Easter, he said, 鈥渋s the feast of the reversal [of roles] directed by God and accomplished in Christ鈥�. So, he said, we can say 鈥渢o the poor and the outcast鈥� Easter is your feast鈥�.

Father Cantalamessa also spoke in his homily to the rich of the world, those on 鈥渢he other side of the equation鈥�, reminding them that they too, like all men and women, will one day face death.

Church must stand with the poor

The Church, Fr Cantalamessa insisted, 鈥渉as received the mandate from its founder to stand with the poor and the weak鈥�; besides promoting peace鈥�, she also has the duty 鈥渘ot to remain silent in the face of the situation that is there for everyone to see鈥�. 鈥淣o religion can remain indifferent鈥� to the plight of the poor, he said, especially when 鈥渁 few privileged people鈥� have more than they need; 鈥渂ecause the God of all religions is not indifferent to this鈥�.

Returning to the passage from Isaiah, with which he began, Father Cantalamessa concluded his homily by recalling that the prophecy of the 鈥渉umiliation of the Servant of God鈥� 鈥渃oncludes with a description of His final exaltation鈥�.  鈥淚n two days鈥� he said, 鈥渨ith the announcement of Jesus鈥� resurrection, the liturgy will give a name and a face to this victor. Let us keep watch and meditate in expectation鈥�.