Friday, April 2, 2010
Good Friday
Good Friday is the Friday of Holy Week, and commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus. Good Friday is a fast day in the Catholic Church, and falls within the Paschal Triduum. In 2010, Good Friday falls on April 2.
Introduction
Good Friday is the Friday within Holy Week, and is traditionally a time of fasting and penance, commemorating the anniversary of Christ's crucifixion and death. For Christians, Good Friday commemorates not just a historical event, but the sacrificial death of Christ, which with the resurrection, comprises the heart of the Christian faith. The Catholic Catechism states this succinctly:
Justification has been merited for us by the Passion of Christ who offered himself on the cross as a living victim, holy and pleasing to God, and whose blood has become the instrument of atonement for the sins of all men (CCC 1992).
This is based on the words of St. Paul: "[Believers] are justified freely by God's grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as an expiation, through faith, by his blood... (Romans 3:24-25, NAB). The customs and prayers associated with Good Friday typically focus on the theme of Christ's sacrificial death for our sins.
The evening (at sunset) of Good Friday begins the second day of the Paschal Triduum. The major Good Friday worship services begin in the afternoon at 3:00 (the time Jesus likely died). Various traditions and customs are associated with the Western celebration of Good Friday. The singing (or preaching) of the Passion of St. John's gospel consists of reading or singing parts of John's gospel (currently John 18:1-19:42 in the Catholic Church). The Veneration of the Cross is also common in the Western Church. This is when Christians approach a wooden cross and venerate it, often by kneeling before it, or kissing part of it. In addition to these traditions, Holy Communion with the reserved host is practiced. In the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, no Masses are said on Good Friday or Holy Saturday, therefore the reserved host from the Holy (Maundy) Thursday Mass is used. This is called the "Mass of the Pre-Sanctified." Many Churches also offer the Stations of the Cross, also called the "Way of the Cross," on Good Friday. This is a devotion in which fourteen events surrounding the death of Jesus are commemorated. Most Catholic Churches have fourteen images of Jesus' final days displayed throughout the parish, for use in public Stations of the Cross services. Another service started by the Jesuit Alphonso Messia in 1732, now less common, the Tre Ore or "Three Hours," is often held from noon until 3:00 PM, and consists of seven sermons on the seven last words of Christ. This service has been popular in many Protestant churches. Good Friday, along with Ash Wednesday, is an official fast day of the Catholic Church.The Eastern Churches have different customs for the day they call "the Great Friday." The Orthodox Church begins the day with Matins (Morning Prayer), where the "Twelve Gospels" is chanted, which consists of 12 passages drawn from the Passion narratives. In the morning, the "Little Hours" follow one after the other, consisting of Gospel, Epistle, and Prophet readings. Vespers (Evening Prayer) ends with a solemn veneration of the epitaphion, an embroidered veil containing scenes of Christ's burial. Compline (Night Prayer) includes a lamentation placed on the Virgin Mary's lips. On Good Friday night, a symbolic burial of Christ is performed. Traditionally, Chaldean and Syrian Christians cease using their customary Shlama greeting ("peace be with you") on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, because Judas greeted Christ this way. They use the phrase "The light of God be with your departed ones" instead. In Russia, the tradition is to bring out a silver coffin, bearing a cross, and surrounded with candles and flowers. The faithful creep on their knees and kiss and venerate the image of Christ's body painted on the "winding sheet" (shroud).
History
The celebration of Good Friday is ancient, and some of the practices associated with Good Friday are attested to by Egeria in the 4th century. The day gradually became a time of penance and fasting as the anniversary of the death of Christ. The name "Good Friday" possibly comes from "God's Friday," although the exact reason for the current name is unclear. The custom of venerating the cross on Good Friday probably originated in Jerusalem in the 7th or 8th century, and continues to this day in many Western Churches. Pre-sanctified Masses are referenced in the documents of the Quinisext Council, which was held in AD 692, which means the practice pre-dates the seventh century. The Council mentions pre-sanctified liturgies as occurring primarily during Lent. Various churches observe Good Friday in addition to Catholics and Eastern Christians. Anglicans, Methodists, and Lutherans all observe Good Friday to varying degrees.
What are the Western Catholic Fast Guidelines for Good Friday?
Fasting means eating only one full meatless (no animal flesh) meal on this day. However, one may still eat a breakfast and even a lunch in addition to a full meal if the two additional small meals do not add up to a second full meal. Snacking is not allowed. Drinking coffee, tea, juices, etc, between meals is permitted on fast days. The requirements are slightly different for those of certain ages. Fasting is only required of those from ages 18-59, although parents are expected to teach their children the reasons behind their fasting, etc. Those with health conditions are excluded.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Where is God?!
Good Friday
At Christmas, we proclaim the birth of Jesus. We proclaim his title “Emmanuel”, meaning “God with us.” Its hard to identify that same beautiful baby in the manger with the terribly disfigured and tortured man nailed to the cross. But we must put these two images together if we are to have a complete picture of Jesus. Jesus is the Son of God born into this world as a human just like you and me. He was born not only with the best features that are available to mankind, but also born with the ability to suffer, to grieve, to cry, to feel pain, to experience failure and rejection and even the ability to die.
How can we say that God is truly with us, if he is with us only in good times? No. He is both God of our joys as well as our sorrows. He is God of our health as well as our sickness. He is God of life as well as God of our death. Here on the cross, hangs God. Here is Emmanuel. He is truly one with us. He is one with us not only in sharing a human life just like the rest of us but also one with us in death.
In a way, Good Friday is God’s answer to human suffering and pain. When faced with disaster and tragedy, many people often ask: “Where is God?” Today’s liturgy gives the clear answer. Here is God. Here lies our Almighty God who chose to be like us, to walk in our shoes, to share our joys and sorrows and also to experience our pain and suffering. Here lies the creator of the universe, He who formed the stars of the heaven and shaped the earth and all that was on it. Now on the cross, he lies dead. He is crucified by our own sinfulness, our indifference, our ambitions, our greed, our selfishness. Jesus could have chosen a natural death that comes after a long life. This is the death of a good man. But Jesus chose to die on the cross, the death of a criminal. God is one with us not only when we are good. God is one with us in our sinfulness even though he has no sin. This is so hard to understand. Perhaps, we can understand this only when we measure God’s love against our own inadequate and limited love.
Many parents often tell their children: “I will love you if you are good.” “If you are naughty, I will not love you.” Although I understand the reason why parents say these things, nevertheless, the picture that children get is that they are loved only when they are good. They begin to feel that they unloved when they are naughty and do bad things. In turn, these children also grow up learning only how to love conditionally. Love is the reward for goodness. One needs to earn love.
Today, we are told that all of this is not true. Love is not only the reward for goodness. One cannot earn love. God shows us that love is given to both saint and sinner. God loves us even while we were still sinners. The cross is proof of this. The cross is the symbol of God’s unconditional love. The cross shows that God is even prepared to take the place of the worst kind of sinners by being executed like a criminal. This is the message of the cross. God is telling us: “Whether you feel good or bad about yourself. I still love you. I love you so much that I’m prepared to give my life for you. I am with you not only when things are going well between us. I am with you also when you have forgotten me, when you have turned your back on me, when you have rejected me. I am with you always both in life and in death. I am with you here and now.”
At Christmas, we proclaim the birth of Jesus. We proclaim his title “Emmanuel”, meaning “God with us.” Its hard to identify that same beautiful baby in the manger with the terribly disfigured and tortured man nailed to the cross. But we must put these two images together if we are to have a complete picture of Jesus. Jesus is the Son of God born into this world as a human just like you and me. He was born not only with the best features that are available to mankind, but also born with the ability to suffer, to grieve, to cry, to feel pain, to experience failure and rejection and even the ability to die.
How can we say that God is truly with us, if he is with us only in good times? No. He is both God of our joys as well as our sorrows. He is God of our health as well as our sickness. He is God of life as well as God of our death. Here on the cross, hangs God. Here is Emmanuel. He is truly one with us. He is one with us not only in sharing a human life just like the rest of us but also one with us in death.
In a way, Good Friday is God’s answer to human suffering and pain. When faced with disaster and tragedy, many people often ask: “Where is God?” Today’s liturgy gives the clear answer. Here is God. Here lies our Almighty God who chose to be like us, to walk in our shoes, to share our joys and sorrows and also to experience our pain and suffering. Here lies the creator of the universe, He who formed the stars of the heaven and shaped the earth and all that was on it. Now on the cross, he lies dead. He is crucified by our own sinfulness, our indifference, our ambitions, our greed, our selfishness. Jesus could have chosen a natural death that comes after a long life. This is the death of a good man. But Jesus chose to die on the cross, the death of a criminal. God is one with us not only when we are good. God is one with us in our sinfulness even though he has no sin. This is so hard to understand. Perhaps, we can understand this only when we measure God’s love against our own inadequate and limited love.
Many parents often tell their children: “I will love you if you are good.” “If you are naughty, I will not love you.” Although I understand the reason why parents say these things, nevertheless, the picture that children get is that they are loved only when they are good. They begin to feel that they unloved when they are naughty and do bad things. In turn, these children also grow up learning only how to love conditionally. Love is the reward for goodness. One needs to earn love.
Today, we are told that all of this is not true. Love is not only the reward for goodness. One cannot earn love. God shows us that love is given to both saint and sinner. God loves us even while we were still sinners. The cross is proof of this. The cross is the symbol of God’s unconditional love. The cross shows that God is even prepared to take the place of the worst kind of sinners by being executed like a criminal. This is the message of the cross. God is telling us: “Whether you feel good or bad about yourself. I still love you. I love you so much that I’m prepared to give my life for you. I am with you not only when things are going well between us. I am with you also when you have forgotten me, when you have turned your back on me, when you have rejected me. I am with you always both in life and in death. I am with you here and now.”
Announcements - April 3 & 4
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Easter Greetings
Fr. Michael, Fr. George, Sr. Theresa and the PPC members wish all parishioners, the joys of the Risen Christ and a Blessed Easter.
Fr. Michael, Fr. George, Sr. Theresa and the PPC members wish all parishioners, the joys of the Risen Christ and a Blessed Easter.
Parish Office Closed for Holidays
The Parish Office would be closed on Easter Sunday, 4 April.
Misa Paska dalam Bahasa Malaysia
akan dirayakan pada 4hb April (Ahad)
Jam 11:30 pagi
Perhimpunan/ Jamuan Paska untuk Migran
Tarikh: 4hb April 2010 (Ahad)
Masa 12:30 tengahari
Lenten Campaign 2010
All families are invited to collect the Lenten Campaign envelopes from your respective BECs or take from the Bulletin boxes.
Kindly return all Lenten envelopes by 28 March 2010 (Palm Sunday).
Sunday SchoolNo Sunday school classes this weekend, 4.4.2010 being Easter Sunday.
Catechism classes will resume on 28-3-2010
FormationParish Formation - "Year of the Priests"
Theme: "The Hour of the Laity: Understanding our common Priesthood in Christ"
Date: 10-4-2010 (Saturday)
Speaker: Dr. Sherman Kuek
Time: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
Venue: Visitation Hall
Registration Fee: RM5/1 per pax. Please register with Doreen @ 017-3326007
ALPHA Course
(Planning Meeting)
Date: 16-4-10 (Friday)
Time: 7.30 pm
Venue: Visitation Hall (downstairs)
Calling all Alpha Facilitators and past participants who are interested in joining the new team for a meeting with Fr. Michael
Sacraments
RCIA Journey 2010/2011 If you know of anyone who would like to know about our Catholic faith, do invite them to join us in the forthcoming RCIA Journey which will begin in June 2010.
Registration forms are available at the Parish Office or contact:
a) Arthur Pinto @ 012-6104927 (English sessions every Tuesday)
b) Valerie Siow @ 012-6733227 (Mandarin sessions every Monday)
c) Theresa Soosay @ 016-3912484) (Tamil sessions on Sunday)
Next Infant Baptism on 11 April 2010Instruction for Godparents and parents on 10 April at 7.30 pm
Baptism forms are to be submitted by 7th April 2010.
Holy (Maundy) Thursday
Maundy Thursday, known officially in the Catholic Church as Holy Thursday, is the Thursday of Holy Week. Maundy Thursday commemorates the institution of the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Ordination, and begins the Paschal Triduum. In 2010, Holy Thursday falls on April 1.
Introduction
Jesus shared the final meal with his disciples, called the Last Supper, on the night before he was crucified. The institution of the Holy Eucharist occurred during this meal, as indicated from the gospel excerpt below:
Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom" (Matthew 26:26-29 RSV)
Since Scripture and Tradition tell us that Jesus was crucified on a Friday, Jesus shared the important Last Supper with his apostles on a Thursday. The synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) seem to suggest that the Last Supper was a Passover Meal. However, John suggests that Jesus was crucified before the Passover Meal, on the Day of Preparation. Perhaps the Last Supper was done in anticipation of the Passover Meal, or was a Kiddush or some other religious meal. The gospel of John does not record the Institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper, while the synoptic gospels do. However, John's gospel records Jesus washing the disciples' feet. Holy Thursday traditions are derived from all four gospels.
Thus Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday, is the Thursday of Holy Week, commemorating the Institution of the Holy Eucharist and the Sacrament of Ordination. Holy Thursday also celebrates the agony of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot, events that took place on the night before Jesus' crucifixion. The Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday begins the Triduum, which is the three-day celebration of the heart of the Christian faith: Christ's death and resurrection. The Paschal Triduum begins on the evening of Holy Thursday and concludes with the Evening Prayer (Vespers) of Easter. Thus the Triduum includes Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and reaches it high point at the Great Easter Vigil. The name "Maundy" comes from the Latin antiphon Mandatum Novum, i.e. "a new mandate." This new mandate from Jesus is taken from John 13:34: love one another as I have loved you.
Various traditions and customs are associated with Maundy Thursday, including the reciting of the creed by Catechumens from memory, the washing of feet, reconciliation of penitents, and the consecration of holy oil (chrism). The modern Western Holy Thursday service has an option for the blessing of chrism and the washing of feet. After the Maundy Thursday evening Mass the altars are stripped, the holy water stoups are emptied, and the Blessed Sacrament is carried through the church in procession to a place of reposition,. Traditionally the Pange Lingua (the last two stanzas which are known as Tantum Ergo) is sung during this procession. Adoration of the blessed sacrament for an extended period of time is then encouraged. The consecrated host is then used for Good Friday Masses. The alternate and uncommon name Shear Thursday comes from the ancient custom of trimming one's beard and hair that day as a sign of spiritual preparation for Easter.
History
A special commemoration of the Institution of the Eucharist on the Thursday of Holy Week is first attested to in the documents of the North African Council of Hippo (AD 393). References to Holy Thursday celebrations are abundant after this date. Since 1955 in the Catholic Church, the Maundy Thursday Mass is only celebrated in the evening, although in earlier times as many as three Masses a day were said. Traditionally, Maundy Thursday fell within the Lenten Season, although in post-Vatican II Catholic practice, Maundy Thursday is not liturgically a part of Lent, although it is still reckoned as part of the "forty days of Lent." In many Protestant churches, Holy Thursday is still liturgically part of Lent, since many Protestant churches do not recognize the Triduum as distinct from Lent.
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