Long before this Coronavirus crisis, Good Friday was, and remains, the only day when Mass is not celebrated. We venerate the Holy Cross after the reading of the Passion according to Saint John. In the 16th century, St. Philip Neri started a tradition of visiting four major and three minor basilicas in Rome (Seven Church Pilgrimage) during Holy Week. Later, believers around the world began to visit seven churches, other than the Roman basilicas, on Good Friday while meditating on the seven last words of Jesus on the Cross:
+ Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do ... (Luke 23: 34)
+ Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise ... (Luke 23: 43)
+ Woman, behold your son! (John 19: 26)
+ My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? (Matthew 27: 46, Mark 15: 34)
+ I thirst! (John 19: 28)
+ It is finished! (John 19: 30)
+ Father, into Your hand I commit my spirit. (Luke 23: 46).
In the Gospel of John, “It is finished” are Jesus’ last words. How were these words of Jesus received by His mother Mary and the few disciples at the foot of His cross? It’s unlikely that they were interpreted as a sign of giving up on His mission while He was actively dying for our sins. Jesus’ warning early on to His disciples about His suffering and death along with His complete surrender in Luke 23: 46 speak volumes about the Crucified Jesus' absolute trust in His Father, our Father. We too are called to surrender ourselves completely to God’s will, especially in times of despair.
For St. Thomas Aquinas, “the cross exemplifies every virtue and teaches us all we have to know about Christian discipleship” (Colatio 6 super Credo in Deum). As we venerate the cross today, let us remember to thank God for the sacrifice of His only begotten Son. And let us pray also for the Holy Spirit to open our minds and hearts to become better disciples of Jesus, willing and ready to embrace our cross today and every day.