DO YOU HAVE THE GUTS FOR GOOD FRIDAY?

 "It is accomplished; and bowing his head he gave up his spirit."


Today, "Good Friday" (in the English-speaking world), the whole Church mourns the death of our Savior.

The title for this day varies in different parts of the world  For example:

- "Holy Friday" for Latin nations
- In Germany, it is "Friday of Mourning"
- In Norway, it is "Long Friday."

This is traditionally a day of Mourning, and sadness, spent in fasting and prayer. We find ways to slow down and contemplate our lives and the sacrifice of Our Lord on this solemn day...

- Many people take off from work and school to join the devotions and liturgy of the day.

 - Families might leave the house dark and maintain silence during the hours of noon — 3p.m. (the time Jesus hung on the cross), keeping from loud conversation or activities throughout the remainder of the day.

 - Other ways to keep the day solemn is restricting outside entertainment—TV, music, computer, phones, social media, games, as they distract us from the spirit of the day.

 - A small home altar can be set up, by draping a black or purple cloth over a small table or dresser and placing a crucifix and candles on it. This is especially good if it's not possible to attend services.
Then, the family can gather during the three hours, praying different devotions like the rosary, Stations of the Cross, the Divine Mercy devotions, and meditative reading and prayers on the passion of Christ.

Throughout Lent we have tried to join in solidarity with Christ's suffering through physical mortification - usually some form of abstinance and fasting.
Today, we will do a little more.

 Most will be eating less at the already meager meals of fasting, or eating standing up.
Some people just eat bread and non-meat soups, or just bread and water. P
Other will go thr whole way and practicing the "black fast," (only water, and perhaps black tea or coffee).

For secularists, non-Christians, and indeed, many so-called Christians, these Catholic observances may seem mysterious, abstract, and even ridiculous.
But WE remember what Our Blessed Lord endured for US...and we reckon it's the very least we can do for HIM.
So just what did he endure?

 Let's look at a brief analysis from The Journal of the American Medicine Association...

"Jesus of Nazareth underwent Jewish and Roman trials, was brutally flogged with whips (scourging), and was sentenced to death by crucifixion.

 The scourging produced deep, stripelike lacerations on his upper body, which bled profusely and led to appreciable blood loss. 
This set the stage for hypovolemic shock, as evidenced by the fact that Jesus was too weak to carry the crossbar of the cross (patibulum) to Golgotha.
At the site of crucifixion, his wrists were nailed to the patibulum with large-headed spikes.. to prevent them from tearing loose.
Once the patibulum was hoisted onto the upright post (stipes), his feet were then nailed together to the stipes with the same large spikes.
He was then left to hang by these nails, to dangle, essentially, from the cross.

The major pathophysiologic effect of crucifixion was an interference with normal respiration. In this hanging position, one cannot breathe normally, so death resulted primarily from hypovolemic shock (blood loss), and exhaustive asphyxia.

This horrific method of torture resulted in a prolonged, agonizing demise. To hasten and ensure death, a soldier's spear was thrust upwards into Jesus' side.
Modern medical interpretation of the historical evidence indicates that Jesus was dead when taken down from the cross."

When you consider that He went through this for us,... a little less food, fewer worldly distractions, and some comtemplative thought hardly seem inconvenient.

HAVE A GOOD FRIDAY

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