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The Franciscan Sisters of Siessen (God Bless them) are asking people, worldwide for “concerted” prayers in the event that the terrorists who slaughtered 16 at the Missionaries of Charity home for the aged in Aden, Yemen on March 4, where they kidnapped him, intend to crucify Father Tom Uzhummalil on Good Friday tomorrow. The Franciscan Sisters of Siessen, based in South Africa, posted on Facebook: “Was informed that the Salesian priest, Fr.Tom who was kidnapped by ISIS from the Missionaries of Charity Home in Yemen is being tortured and is going to be crucified on Good Friday.

On Good Friday, March 25, pro-lifers across the country will take part in “A Way of the Cross for Victims of Abortion” at their local abortion facility, and you’re invited to take part! We’re calling on pro-lifers like you to join us in hosting a “Way of the Cross for Victims of Abortion” at your local abortion facility. And, we’re providing you with all the tools you need to make it happen in your area, including an ecumenical prayer service book, templates to promote your event through e-mail and in churches, advice on practical considerations and more! Though the devotion...

The Good Thief, The Catholic Answer Msgr. Charles Pope 5/15/2015 Q. In St. Luke’s Gospel, there is mention of the Good Thief on the cross near Jesus who repents. No name is given him, but most say his name is “Dismas.” Is this true?—B. Q., PhiladelphiaA. Here’s a reply from Msgr. Charles Pope: We don’t know. The story itself is very moving, and there is naturally a human tendency to want to know more. Thus traditions and legends often arise in cases like these. But the historical accuracy of such things is often difficult to assess. “St. Dismas” is a...

Where Is Jesus Between His Death and Resurrection? By: Msgr. Charles PopeWhere is Christ after He dies on Friday afternoon and before He rises on Easter Sunday? Both Scripture and Tradition answer this question. Consider the following excerpt from a second century sermon as well as this meditation from the Catechism of the Catholic Church.Ancient Homily for Holy Saturday (ca. 2nd century A.D.):Today a great silence reigns on earth, a great silence and a great stillness. A great silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up...

ABSTRACT: Jesus of Nazareth underwent Jewish and Roman trials, was flogged, and was sentenced to death by crucifixion. The scourging produced deep stripelike lacerations and appreciable blood loss, and it probably set the stage for hypovolemic shock as evidenced by the fact that Jesus was too weakened to carry the crossbar (patibulum) to Golgotha. At the site of crucifixion his wrists were nailed to the patibulum, and after the patibulum was lifted onto the upright post, (stipes) his feet were nailed to the stipes. The major pathophysiologic effect of crucifixion was an interference with normal respirations. Accordingly, death resulted primarily...

“Eloi, Eloi, Lema Sabachthani?” (Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12; Psalm 22; Mark 15:1-47)“Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” This is one of the seven words from the cross, that is, one of the seven times Jesus spoke during his crucifixion. “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” This saying of Jesus is recorded for us in two of the four gospels, in Matthew and Mark, where it is the only word from the cross that is recorded. For the other words from the cross, we have to go to Luke and John. “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” I think what is so striking about this word from...

WAY OF THE CROSS FROM ROME 04/03 at 8:00 PM ET; 04/04 at 3:00 AM ET Pope Francis presides over The Stations of the Cross, from the Coliseum in Rome.

The stage was set. The night was dark. The forces of evil, visible and invisible, viciously swarmed upon One Man. He is the only Man who with just one word could have instantly eradicated all His foes. But He opened not his mouth. There was nothing but deafening silence from the One who only had to speak and the blind saw, the lame leapt, the leper was healed, and the dead were raised. He quietly endured the shame of a jeering crowd, the interrogation, the trial, the questions, the scourging, the torture, the insults. His silence remained unbroken all the...

Finding the Good in Good Friday By: Msgr. Charles PopeWhen I was younger, and through my seminary years, I had usually seen the crucifix and Jesus’ suffering on the Cross in somber tones. It was my sin that put Him there, had made Him suffer. The Cross was something that compelled a silent reverence and suggested to me that I meditate deeply on what Jesus had to go through. I would also think of Mary, John, and the other women beneath the Cross mournfully beholding Jesus as He was slowly and painfully dying. These were heavy and somber notes but...

It's Good Friday.  Why is it good?  Because Sunday's coming!  Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.  Behold the King of the Jews, dying for the salvation of all! Matthew 27:1-57 Jesus Handed Over to Pontius Pilate 1 When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. 2 And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Judas Hangs Himself 3 Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and...

Because of so much intolerance on the internet, lately....I say today is a good day for a..... Free For All!!

7 April 1944 Good Friday; at least I suppose it must be somewhere. I remember the 'Karfreitag' I spent in Heidelberg seven years ago. A party of us had an early supper and then went into Mannheim to the opera house to hear 'Parsifal,' which on this day would be playing in every opera house in Germany. I remember returning to Heidelberg, tired and slightly stunned by 5 hours of concentrated Wagner, the first time I had ever heard of 'Parsifal' in its entirety. The next time I heard it was about a year later at the Colon Opera House...

April 3, 2015Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion    Reading 1 Is 52:13—53:12 See, my servant shall prosper,he shall be raised high and greatly exalted.Even as many were amazed at him—so marred was his look beyond human semblanceand his appearance beyond that of the sons of man—so shall he startle many nations,because of him kings shall stand speechless;for those who have not been told shall see,those who have not heard shall ponder it. Who would believe what we have heard?To whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?He grew up like a sapling before him,like a shoot from...

The Easter Triduum: Entering into the Paschal MysteryThe Easter Triduum: Entering into the Paschal Mystery | Carl E. Olson The liturgical year is a great and ongoing proclamation by the Church of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and a celebration of the Mystery of the Word. Through this yearly cycle, the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, "the various aspects of the one Paschal mystery unfold"(CCC 1171). The Easter Triduum holds a special place in the liturgical year because it marks the culmination of the yearly celebration in proclaiming the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Latin word...

There are 3 ½ days when almost all shops are required to be closed under the Shop Trading Hours Repeal Act 1990. These days are: Christmas Day Good Friday Easter Sunday; and ANZAC Day, until 1.00 pm on 25 April.

Editor's note: This column was co-authored by Kristin Carey.Darkness fell across the land and the man they thought would be their savior cried out in a loud voice, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Soon after, he breathed his last. The people standing at the foot of the cross beat their breasts and walked away. From a distance, his mother and friends watched in somber silence as all this took place. His disciples were broken in spirit—no doubt confused, hurting and angry. Disappointed to say the least. They had followed this man for years, left their work...

MT. HOLLY, N.J. (WPVI) -- Police officers from across the state and South Jersey marched through Mt. Holly recreating a funeral procession from 40 years ago. March 28th marks the anniversary of the 1975 Good Friday massacre where a lone gunman fired shots from his Garden Street home. Mt. Holly Police Patrolman Donald Aleshire and Hainesport Police Patrolman William Wurst were killed at the scene. Mt. Holly Patrolman John Holmes was paralyzed and died from complications from his injuries in 1992. The alleged sniper, James Carhart, was found not guilty by reason of insanity. He remains in a psychiatric institution....

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (March 31, 2015) - Public school teachers in Cranston, Rhode Island, will be allowed to observe Good Friday despite objections from the city's school department. A court order issued Friday says teachers may take the day off as long as they submit a request no later than April 1. The order says the school department can neither discipline teachers for requesting the day off nor deduct their pay.

A series of reflections to be used by Pope Francis in Rome on Good Friday make connections between the crucifixion of Jesus and the modern-day use of the death penalty. The reflections, to be used by the pope at an annual public service in and near Rome’s historic Colosseum, pointedly ask: “When will the death penalty, still practiced in many states, be abolished?” That question is part of a service known as the “Way of the Cross,” a type of liturgical service frequently celebrated by Christians on Good Friday. The service follows Jesus through different stations of his torture and...

This year, 2015, Passover and Good Friday fall on the same date, Friday April 3rd. It has happened before. Any thoughts on the religious significance of this at this point in time?...........Israel-US relations are at the worst point that they have ever been, with this anti-semite in the White House.............