Friday, 29 March 2024 : Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Psalm 30 : 2 and 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17 and 25

In You, o Lord, I take refuge, may I never be disgraced; deliver Me in Your justice. Into Your hands I commend My Spirit; You have redeemed Me, o Lord, faithful God.

I have become an object of reproach for My foes, a horror for My neighbours, a fear to My friends. Those who see Me in the streets flee from Me. I am like the dead, unremembered; I have become like a broken pot, thrown away, discarded.

But I put My trust in You, o Lord, I said : “You are My God;” My days are in Your hand. Deliver Me from the hand of My enemies, from those after My skin.

Make Your face shine upon Your servant; save Me in Your love. Be strong and take courage, all you who hope in the Lord.

Friday, 29 March 2024 : Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Isaiah 52 : 13 – Isaiah 53 : 12

It is now when My Servant will succeed; He will be exalted and highly praised. Just as many have been horrified at His disfigured appearance : “Is this a Man? He does not look like One.” So will nations be astounded, kings will stand speechless, for they will see something never told, they will witness something never heard of.

Who could believe what we have heard, and to whom has YHVH revealed His feat? Like a root out of dry ground, like a sapling He grew up before us, with nothing attractive in His appearance, no beauty, no majesty. He was despised and rejected, a Man of sorrows familiar with grief, a Man from Whom people hide their face, spurned and considered of no account.

Yet ours were the sorrows He bore, ours were the suffering He endured, although we considered Him as One punished by God, stricken and brought low. Destroyed because of our sins, He was crushed for our wickedness. Through His punishment we are made whole; by His wounds we are healed. Like sheep we had all gone astray, each following His own way; but YHVH laid upon Him all our guilt.

He was harshly treated, but unresisting and silent, He humbly submitted. Like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearer He did not open His mouth. He was taken away to detention and judgment – what an unthinkable fate! He was cut off from the land of the living, stricken for His people’s sins. They made His tomb with the wicked, they put Him in the graveyard of the oppressors, though He had done no violence nor spoken in deceit.

Yet it was the will of YHVH to crush Him with grief. When He makes Himself an offering for sin, He will have a long life and see His descendants. Through Him the will of YHVH is done. For the anguish He suffered, He will see the light and obtain perfect knowledge. My just Servant will justify the multitude; He will bear and take away their guilt.

Therefore I will give Him His portion among the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong. For He surrendered Himself to death and was even counted among the wicked, bearing the sins of the multitude and interceding for sinners.

(Usus Antiquior) Good Friday, Solemn Afternoon Liturgy of the Passion and Death of Our Lord (Feria I Classis) – Friday, 29 March 2024 : Passion Reading

Liturgical Colour : Black

John 18 : 1-40 and John 19 : 1-42

Passio Domini nostri Jesu Christi Secundum Joannem

In illo tempore : Egressus est Jesus cum discipulis Suis trans torrentem Cedron, ubi erat hortus, in quem introivit ipse et discipuli Ejus. Sciebat autem et Judas, quit tradebat eum, locum : quia frequenter Jesus convenerat illuc cum discipulis Suis. Judas ergo cum accepisset cohortem, et a pontificibus et pharisaeis ministros, venit illuc cum laternis et facibus et armis.

Jesus itaque sciens omnia, quae ventura erant super Eum, processit, et dixit eis : Quem quaeritis? Responderunt Ei : Jesum Nazarenum. Dicit eis Jesus : Ego Sum. Stabat autem et Judas, qui tradebat Eum, cum ipsis. Ut ergo dixit Eis : Ego Sum : abierunt retrorsum, et ceciderunt in terram. Iterum ergo interrogavit Eos : Quem quaeritis? Illi autem dixerunt : Jesum Nazarenum. Respondit Jesus : Dixi vobis, quia Ego Sum : si ergo Me quaeritis, sinite hos abire. Ut impleretur sermo, quem dixit : Quia quos dedisti mihi, non perdidi ex Eis quemquam.

Simon ergo Petrus habens gladium eduxit eum : et percussit pontificis servum : et abscidit auriculam ejus dexteram. Erat autem nomen servo Malchus. Dixit ergo Jesus Petro : Mitte gladium tuum in vaginam. Calicem, quem dedit mihi Pater, non bibam illum? Cohors ergo et tribunus et ministri Judaeorum comprehenderunt Jesum, et ligaverunt Eum : et adduxerunt Eum ad Annam primum, erat enim socer Caiphae, qui erat pontifex anni illius.

Erat autem Caiphas, qui consilium dederat Judaeis : Quia expedit, unum hominem mori pro populo. Sequebatur autem Jesum Simon Petrus et alius discipulus. Discipulus autem ille erat notus pontifici, et introivit cum Jesu in atrium pontificis. Petrus autem stabat ad ostium foris. Exivit ergo discipulus alius, qui erat notus pontifici, et dixit ostiariae : et introduxit Petrum. Dicit ergo Petro ancilla ostiaria : Numquid et tu ex discipulis es hominis istius? Dicit ille : Non sum. Stabant autem servi et ministri ad prunas, quia frigus erat, et calefaciebant se : erat autem cum eis et Petrus stans et calefaciens se.

Pontifex ergo interrogavit Jesum de discipulis Suis et de doctrina Ejus. Respondit ei Jesus : Ego palam locutus sum mundo : Ego semper docui in synagoga et in Templo, quo omnes Judaei conveniunt : et in occulto locutus sum nihil. Quid me interrogas? Interroga eos, qui audierunt, quid locutus sim ipsis : ecce, hi sciuntm quae dixerim Ego. Haec autem cum dixisset, unus assistens ministrorum dedit alapam Jesu, dicens : Sic respondens pontifici? Respondit ei Jesus : Si male locutus sum, testimonium perhibe de malo : si autem bene, quid me caedis?

Et misit eum Annas ligatum ad Caipham pontificem. Erat autem Simon Petrus stans et calefaciens se. Dixerunt ergo ei : Numquid ei tu ex discipulis Ejus es? Negavit ille et dixit : Non sum. Dicit ei unus ex servis pontificis, cognatus ejus, cujus abscidit Petrus auriculam : Nonne ego te vidi in horto cum illo? Iterum ergo negavit Petrus : et statim gallus cantavit.

Adducunt ergo Jesum a Caipha in praetorium. Erat autem mane : et ipsi non introierunt in praetorium, ut non contaminarentur, sed ut manducarent pascha. Exivit ergo Pilatus ad eos foras et dixit : Quam accusationem affertis adversus Hominem hunc? Responderunt et dixerunt ei : Si non esset hic malefactor, non tibi tradidissemus Eum. Dixit ergo eis Pilatus : Accipite eum vos, et secundum legem vestram judicate Eum. Dixerunt ergo ei Judaei : Nobis non licet interficere quemquam. Ut sermo Jesu impleretur, quem dixit, significans, qua morte esset moriturus.

Introivit ergo iterum in praetorium Pilatus, et vocavit Jesum et dixit ei : Tu es Rex Judaeorum? Respondit Jesus : A temetipso hoc dicis, an alii dixerunt tibi de Me? Respondit Pilatus : Numquid ego Judaeus sum? Gens Tua et pontifices tradiderunt Te mihi : quid fecisti? Respondit Jesus : Regnum Meum non est de hoc mundo. Si ex hoc mundo esset Regnum Meum, ministri Mei utique decertarent, ut non traderer Judaeis : nunc autem Regnum Meum non est hinc.

Dixit itaque Ei Pilatus : Ergo Rex es Tu? Respondit Jesus : Tu dicis, quia Rex sum Ego. Ego in hoc natus sum et ad hoc veni in mundum, ut testimonium perhibeam veritati : omnis, qui est ex veritate, audit vocem Meam. Dicit Ei Pilatus : Quid est veritas? Et cum hoc dixisset, iterum exivit ad Judaeos, et dicit eis : Ego nullam invenio in Eo causam. Est autem consuetudo vobis, ut unum dimittam vobis in Pascha : vultis ergo dimittam vobis Regem Judaeorum? Clamaverunt ergo rursum omnes, dicentes : Non Hunc, sed Barabbam. Erat autem Barabbas latro.

Tunc ergo apprehendit Pilatus Jesum et flagellavit. Et milites plectentes coronam de spinis, imposuerunt capiti Ejus : et veste purpurea circumdederunt Eum. Et veniebant ad Eum, et dicebant : Ave, Rex Judaeorum. Et dabant Ei alapas.

Exivit ergo iterum Pilatus foras et dicit eis : Ecce, adduco vobis eum foras, ut cognoscatis, quia nullam invenio in Eo causam. (Exivit ergo Jesus portans coronam spineam et purpureum vestimentum.) Et dicit eis : Ecce Homo. Cum ergo vidissent eum pontifices et ministri, clamabant, dicentes : Crucifige, crucifige Eum. Dicit eis Pilatus : Accipite Eum vos et crucifigite : ego enim non invenio in Eo causam. Responderunt ei Judaei : Nos legem habemus, et secundum legem debet mori, quia Filium Dei se fecit. Cum ergo audisset Pilatus hunc sermonem magis timuit.

Et ingressus est praetorium iterum : et dixit ad Jesum : Unde es Tu? Jesus autem responsum non dedit ei. Dicit ergo Ei Pilatus : Mihi non loqueris? nescis, quia potestatem habeo crucifigere Te, et potestatem habeo dimittere Te? Respondit Jesus : Non haberes potestatem adversum Me ullam, nisi tibi datum esset desuper. Propterea, qui Me tradidit tibi, majus peccatum habet. Et exinde quaerebat Pilatus dimittere Eum. Judaei autem clamabant dicentes : Si hunc dimittis, non es amicus Caesaris. Omnis enim, qui se regem facit, contradicit Caesari. Pilatus autem cum audisset hos sermones, adduxit foras Jesum, et sedit pro tribunali, in loco, qui dicitur Lithostrotos, hebraice autem Gabbatha. Erat autem Parasceve Paschae, hora quasi sexta, et dicit Judaeis : Ecce Rex vester. Illi autem clamabant : Tolle, Tolle, crucifige Eum. Dicit eis Pilatus : Regem vestrum crucifigam? Responderunt pontifices : Non habemus regem nisi Caesarem. Tunc ergo tradidit eis illum, ut crucifigeretur.

Susceperunt autem Jesum et eduxerunt. Et bajulans sibi Crucem, exivit in Eum, qui dicitur Calvariae, locum, hebraice autem Golgotha : ubi crucifixerunt Eum, et cum Eo alios duos, hinc et hinc, medium autem Jesum.

Scripsit autem et titulum Pilatus : et posuit super Crucem. Erat autem scriptum : Jesus Nazarenus, Rex Judaeorum. Hunc ergo titulum multi Judaeorum legerunt, quia prope civitatem erat locus, ubi crucifixus est Jesus. Et erat scriptum hebraice, graece et latine. Dicebant ergo Pilato pontifices Judaeorum : Noli scribere Rex Judaeorum, sed quia ipse dixit : Rex sum Judaeorum. Respondit Pilatus : Quod scripsi, scripsi.

Milites ergo cum crucifixissent Eum, acceperunt vestimenta Ejus (et fecerunt quatuor partes : unicuique militi partem), et tunicam. Erat autem tunica inconsutilis, desuper contexta per totum. Dixerunt ergo ad invicem : Non scindamus eam, sed sortiamur de illa, cujus sit. Ut Scriptura impleretur, dicens : Partiti sunt vestimenta Mea sibi : et in vestem Meam miserunt sortem. Et milites quidem haec fecerunt.

Stabant autem juxta Crucem Jesu Mater Ejus et soror Matris Ejus, Maria Cleophae, et Maria Magdalene. Cum vidisset ergo Jesus Matrem et discipulum stantem, quem diligebat, dicit Matri Suae : Mulier, ecce filius tuus. Deinde dicit discipulo : Ecce Mater tua. Et ex illa hora accepit eam discipulus in sua.

Postea sciens Jesus, quia omnia consummata sunt, ut consummaretur Scriptura, dixit : Sitio. Vas ergo erat positum aceto plenum. Illi autem spongiam plenam aceto, hyssopo circumponentes, obtulerunt ori Ejus. Cum ergo accepisset Jesus acetum, dixit : Consummatum est. Et inclinate capite tradidit Spiritum.

(Kneel)

Judaei ergo (quoniam Parasceve erat), ut non remanerent in cruce corpora sabbato (erat enim magnus dies ille sabbati), rogaverunt Pilatum, ut frangerentur eorum crura et tollerentur. Venerunt ergo milites : et primi quidem fregerunt crura et alterius, qui crucifixus est cum Eo. Ad Jesum autem cum venissent, ut viderunt Eum jam mortuum, non fregerunt Ejus crura, sed unus militum lancea latus Ejus aperuit, et continuo exivit Sanguis et aqua.

Et qui vidit, testimonium perhibuit : et verum est testimonium ejus. Et ille scit, quia vera dicit : ut et vos credatis. Facta sunt enim haec, ut Scriptura impleretur. Os non comminuetis ex Eo. Et iterum alia Scriptura dicit : Videbunt in quem transfixerunt.

Post haec autem rogavit Pilatum Joseph ab Arimathaea (eo quod esset discipulus Jesu, occultus autem propter metum Judaeorum), ut tolleret Corpus Jesu. Et permisit Pilatus. Venit ergo et tulit Corpus Jesu. Venit autem et Nicodemus, qui venerat ad Jesum nocte primum, ferens mixturam myrrhae et aloes, quasi libras centum. Acceperunt ergo Corpus Jesu, et ligaverunt illud linteis cum aromatibus, sicut mos est Judaeis sepelire. Erat autem in loco, ubi crucifixus est, hortus : et in horto monumentum novum, in quo nondum quisquam positus erat. Ibi ergo propter Parasceven Judaeorum, quia juxta erat monumentum, posuerunt Jesum.

English translation

The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. John

At that time Jesus went forth with His disciples over the brook Cedron, where there was a garden, into which He entered with His disciples. And Judas also, who betrayed Him, knew the place, because Jesus had often resorted there together with His disciples. Judas therefore having received a band of soldiers and servants from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.

Jesus therefore, knowing that all things that should come upon Him, went forth and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who betrayed Him, stood with them. As soon therefore as He had said to them, “I am He.”, they went backward and fell to the ground. Again therefore He asked them, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. If therefore you seek Me, let these go their way.” That the word might be fulfilled which He said, “Of those whom You have given me, I have not lost anyone.”

Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the servant of the High Priest and cut off his right ear. And the name of the servant was Malchus. Jesus therefore said to Peter, “Put up your sword in the scabbard. The chalice which My Father had given Me, shall I not drink it?” Then the band and the tribune and the servants of the Jews took Jesus, and bound Him. And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was father-in-law to Caiphas, who was the high priest that year.

Now Caiphas was he who had given the counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that One Man should die fo the people. And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. And that disciple was known to the High Priest and went in with Jesus into the court of the High Priest. But Peter stood at the door outside. The other disciple therefore, who was known to the High Priest, went out and spoke to the portress and brought in Peter. The maid therefore that was the portress said to Peter, “Are you not also one of this Man’s disciples?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and ministers stood at a fire of coals, because it was cold, and warmed themselves. And with them was Peter also, standing, and warming himself.

The High Priest therefore asked Jesus of His disciples and of His doctrine. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in the synagogue and in the Temple, where all the Jews resort, and I have spoken nothing in secret. Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard what I have spoken unto them. Behold, they know what things I have said.” And when He had said these things, one of the servants, standing by, slapped Jesus, saying, “Is that how You answer the High Priest?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, give testimony of the evil, but if well, why did you strike Me?”

And Annas sent Him bound to Caiphas the High Priest. And Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore to him, “Are you not also one of His disciples?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the servants of the High Priest (a kinsman to the one whose ear Peter cut off) said to him, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” Again therefore Peter denied, and immediately, the cock crew.

They then led Jesus from Caiphas to the governor’s hall. And it was morning, and they did not go into the hall, that they might not be defiled, so that they could eat the Passover. Pilate therefore went out to them and said, “What accusation did you bring against this Man?” They answered and said to him, “If He were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered Him unto you.” Pilate therefore said to them, “Take Him yourself, and judge Him according to your law.” The Jews therefore said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put any man to death.” This is so that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which He said, signifying by what kind of death He should die.

Pilate therefore went into the hall again and called Jesus and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Did you say this thing of yourself, or have others told it to you of Me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You up to me, what have You done?” Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, My servants would certainly strive that I should not be delivered to the Jews, but now My Kingdom is not from hence.”

Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a King then?” Jesus answered, “You said I am a King. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, that I should give testimony of the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no cause in Him. But you have a custom that I should release one unto you at the Passover. Will you, therefore, that I release unto you the King of the Jews?” Then they cried all again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a robber.

Then therefore Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers put together a crown of thorns, putting it upon His head, and they put on Him a purple garment. And they came to Him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and they slapped Him.

Pilate therefore went forth again and said to them, “Behold, I bring Him forth unto you, that you may know that I find no cause in Him. (Jesus therefore came forth, bearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment.) And he said to them, “Behold the Man!” When the chief priests, therefore, and the servants had seen Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourself, and crucify Him, for I find no cause in Him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to the law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.” When Pilate, therefore, had heard this saying, he feared all the more.

And he entered into the hall again, and he said to Jesus, “Where did You come from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore said to Him, “Do You not want to speak to Me? Do You know that I have the power to crucify You, and I have the power to release You?
” Jesus answered, “You should not have any power against Me, unless it were given to you from above. Therefore, he that had delivered Me to you had the greater sin.
” And from henceforth, Pilate sought to release Him. But the Jews cried out, saying, “If you release this Man, you are not the friend of Caesar. For whoever made Himself a King spoke against Caesar.” Now, when Pilate heard those words, he brought Jesus forth and sat down in the seat of judgment, in the place that is called Lithostrotos, and in Hebrew Gabbatha. And it was the eve of the Passover, about the sixth hour, and he said to the Jews, “Behold your King.” But they cried out, “Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” Then therefore, he delivered Him to them to be crucified.

And they took Jesus and led Him forth. And bearing His cross, He went forth to that place which is called Calvary but in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and with Him two others, one on each side and Jesus in the middle of them.

And Pilate also wrote a title, and he put it upon the Cross. And the writing was, ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.’ This title therefore was read by many of the Jews, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near to the city. And it was written in Hebrew, in Greek and in Latin. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, the King of the Jews, but that He said, I am the King of the Jews.” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.

The soldiers therefore, when they had crucified Him, took His garments (and they made four parts, to every soldier a part) and also His coat. Now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They then said to one another, “Let us not cut it, but let us cast lots for it, whose it shall be.” This is so that the Scripture may be fulfilled, which said, ‘They have parted My garments among them, and upon My vesture they have cast lots.’ And the soldiers indeed did these things.

Now there stood by the Cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore had seen His mother and the disciple standing whom He loved, He said to His mother,

“Woman, behold your son.” After that, He said to the disciple, “Behold your Mother.” And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own house.

Afterwards, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scriptures might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst.” Now there was a vessel set there, full of vinegar. And they, putting a sponge full of vinegar about a hyssop, put it to His mouth. Jesus therefore, when He had taken the vinegar, said, “It is consummated.” And bowing His head, He gave up the Spirit.

(Kneel)

Then the Jews (because it was the eve of the Passover), that the bodies might not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath day (for that was a great Sabbath day), sought for Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. The soldiers therefore came, and they broke the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with Him. But after they came to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers with a spear opened His side, and immediately there came out Blood and water.

And he who saw it had given testimony, and his testimony is true. And he knew that what he said is true, that you may also believe. For these things were done that the Scripture might be fulfilled : ‘You shall not break a bone of Him.’ And again another Scripture said : ‘They shall look on Him Whom they pierced.’

And after these things, Joseph of Arimathea (because he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews) sought for Pilate that he might take away the Body of Jesus. And Pilate gave him leave for that. He came therefore and took away the Body of Jesus. And Nicodemus also came (he who at the first came to Jesus by night), bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pound in weight. They took therefore the Body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths, with the spices, as the manner of how the Jews buried their dead. Now there was in the place where He was crucified a garden, and in the garden a new sepulchre, in which no man had yet been laid. There, therefore, because of the eve of the Jewish Passover, they laid Jesus, because the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

(Usus Antiquior) Good Friday, Solemn Afternoon Liturgy of the Passion and Death of Our Lord (Feria I Classis) – Friday, 29 March 2024 : Second Tract

Liturgical Colour : Black

Psalm 139 : 2-10, 14

Eripe me, Domine, ab homine malo : a viro iniquo libera me.

Verse : Qui cogitaverunt malitias in corde : tota die constituebant praelia.

Verse : Acuerunt linguas suas sicut serpentis : venenum aspidum sub labiis eorum.

Verse : Custodi me, Domine, de manu peccatoris : et ab hominibus iniquis libera me.

Verse : Qui cogitaverunt supplantare gressus meos : absconderunt superbi laqueum mihi.

Verse : Et funes extenderunt in laqueum pedibus meis : juxta iter scandalum posuerunt mihi.

Verse : Dixi Domino : Deus meus es tu : exaudi, Domine, vocem orationis meae.

Verse : Domine, Domine, virtus salutis meae : obumbra caput meum in die belli.

Verse : Ne tradas me a desiderio meo peccatori : cogitaverunt adversus me : ne derelinquas me, ne umquam exaltentur.

Verse : Caput circuitus eorum : labor labiorum ipsorum operiet eos.

Verse : Verumtamen justi confitebuntur Nomini Tuo : et habitabunt recti cum vultu Tuo.

English translation

Deliver me, o Lord, from the evil man, rescue me from the unjust man.

Verse : Who have devised iniquities in their heart, all the day long they designed battles.

Verse : They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent, the venom of asps is under their lips.

Verse : Keep me, o Lord, from the band of the wicked, and from unjust men deliver me.

Verse : Who have proposed to supplant my steps, the proud have hidden a net for me.

Verse : And they have stretched out cords for a snare for my feet, they have laid for me a stumbling block by the wayside.

Verse : I said to the Lord, ‘You are my God. Hear, o Lord, the voice of my supplication.’

Verse : O Lord, Lord, the strength of my salvation, overshadow my head in the day of battle.

Verse : Give me up not from my desire to the wicked, they have plotted against me. Do not forsake me, Lord, lest at any time they should triumph.

Verse : Their heads encompassing about me, the labour of their lips shall overwhelm them.

Verse : But the just shall give glory to Your Name, and the upright shall dwell with Your countenance.

(Usus Antiquior) Good Friday, Solemn Afternoon Liturgy of the Passion and Death of Our Lord (Feria I Classis) – Friday, 29 March 2024 : Second Lesson

Liturgical Colour : Black

Exodus 12 : 1-11

In diebus illis : Dixit Dominus ad Moysen et Aaron in terra Aegypti : Mensis iste vobis principium mensium primus erit in mensibus anni. Loquimini ad universum caetum filiorum Israel, et dicite eis : Decima die mensis hujus tollat unusquisque agnum per familias et domos suas. Sin autem minor est numerus, ut sufficere possit ad vescendum agnum, assumet vicinum suum, qui junctus est domui suae, juxta numerum animarum, quae sufficere possunt ad esum agni.

Erit autem agnus absque macula, masculus, anniculus : juxta quem ritum tolletis et haedum. Et servabitis eum usque ad quartam decimam diem mensis hujus : immolabitque eum universa multitudo filiorum Israel ad vesperam. Et sument de sanguine ejus, ac ponent super utrumque postem et in superliminaribus domorum, in quibus comendent illum. Et edent carnes nocte illa assas igni, et azymos panes cum lactucis agrestibus.

Non comedetis ex eo crudum quid nec coctum aqua, sed tantum assum igni : caput cum pedibus ejus et intestinis vorabitis. Nec remanebit quidquam ex eo usque mane. Si quid residuum fuerit, igne comburetis. Sic autem comedetis illum : Renes vestros accingetis, et calceamenta habebitis in pedibus, tenentes baculos in manibus, et comedetis festinanter : est enim Phase (id est transitus) Domini.

English translation

In those days, the Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This month shall be to you the beginning of months. It shall be the first in the months of the year. Speak to the whole assembly of the children of Israel, and say to them : On the tenth day of this month let every man take a lamb by their families and houses. But if the number is less than what is sufficient to eat the lamb, he shall take unto him his neighbour that is joined to his house, according to the number of souls which may be enough to eat the lamb.”

“And it shall be a lamb without blemish, a male, of one year, according to which rite you also will take a kid. And you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, and the whole multitude of the children of Israel shall sacrifice it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood thereof, and put it upon both the side posts, and on the upper door posts of the houses, in which they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh that night roasted in the fire, and unleavened bread with wild lettuce.”

“You shall not eat thereof anything raw, nor boiled in water, but only roasted at the fire. You shall eat the head with the feet and entrails thereof. Neither shall there remain anything of it until morning. If there be anything left, you shall burn it with fire. And thus you shall eat it, you shall gird your reins, and you shall have shoes on your feet, holding staves in your hands, and you shall eat in haste, for it is the Passover (that is, the Passage) of the Lord.”

(Usus Antiquior) Good Friday, Solemn Afternoon Liturgy of the Passion and Death of Our Lord (Feria I Classis) – Friday, 29 March 2024 : First Tract

Liturgical Colour : Black

Habakkuk 3

Domine, audivi auditum Tuum, et timui : consideravi opera Tua, et expavi.

Verse : In medio duorum animalium innotesceris : dum appropinquaverint anni, cognosceris : dum advenerit tempus, ostenderis.

Verse : In eo, dum conturbata fuerit anima mea : in ira, misericordiae memor eis.

Verse : Deus a Libano veniet, et Sanctus de monte umbroso et condenso.

Verse : Operuit caelos majestas Ejus : et laudis Ejus plena est terra.

English translation

O Lord, I have heard Your hearing and was afraid. I have considered Your works and trembled.

Verse : In the midst of two animals You shall be made known, when the years shall draw nigh, You shall be known. When the time shall come, You shall be manifested.

Verse : When my soul shall be in trouble, You will remember mercy, even in Your wrath.

Verse : God will come from Libanus, and the Holy One from the shady and thickly covered mountain.

Verse : His majesty covered the heavens, and the earth is full of His praise.

(Usus Antiquior) Good Friday, Solemn Afternoon Liturgy of the Passion and Death of Our Lord (Feria I Classis) – Friday, 29 March 2024 : First Lesson

Liturgical Colour : Black

Hosea 6 : 1-6

Haec dicit Dominus : In tribulatione sua mane consurgent ad me : Venite, et revertamur ad Dominum : quia ipse cepit, et sanabit nos : percutiet, et curabit nos. Vivificabit nos post duos dies : in die tertia suscitabit nos, et vivemus in conspectu Ejus. Sciemus, sequemurque, ut cognoscamus Dominum : quasi diluculum praeparatus est egressus Ejus, et veniet quasi imber nobis temporaneus, et serotinus terrae.

Quid faciam tibi Ephraim? Quid faciam tibi Juda? Misericordia vestra quasi nubes matutina, et quasi ros mane pertransiens. Propter hoc dolavi in prophetis, occidi eos in verbis oris Mei : et judicia tua quasi lux egredientur. Quia misericordiam volui, et non sacrificium, et scientiam Dei plus quam holocausta.

English translation

Thus says the Lord, “In their affliction, they will rise early to Me. Come, and let us return to the Lord, for He had taken us, and He will heal us. He will strike, and He will cure us. He will revive us after two days, and on the third day He will raise us up and we shall live in His sight. We shall know and we shall follow on, that we may know the Lord. His going forth is prepared as the morning light and He will come to us as the early and the latter rain to the earth.”

“What shall I do to you, o Ephraim? What shall I do to you, o Judah? Your mercy is as a morning cloud and as the dew that goes away in the morning. For this reason I have hewed them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of My mouth, and your judgments shall go forth as the light. For I desired mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than holocausts.”

(Usus Antiquior) Good Friday, Solemn Afternoon Liturgy of the Passion and Death of Our Lord (Feria I Classis) – Friday, 29 March 2024 : Prayer after Prostration

Liturgical Colour : Black

Prayer after Prostration

Deus, qui peccati veteris hereditarium mortem, in qua posteritatis genus omne successerat, Christi Tui, Domini nostri, passione solvisti : da, ut, conformes eidem facti; sicut imaginem terrenae naturae necessitate portavimus, ita imaginem caelestis gratiae sanctificatione portemus. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum, Filium Tuum, Qui Tecum vivis et regnas in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

O God, by the Passion of Christ Your Son, our Lord, You have banished the inheritance of death due to original sin, which had fallen on all posterity. Grant, that by being made alike to Him, as of necessity we bear the likeness of our human nature, so by being made holy, we may manifest the likeness of heavenly grace. Through the same Christ our Lord, Your Son, who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

Thursday, 28 March 2024 : Holy Thursday, Mass of the Lord’s Supper (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this evening we are all celebrating the beginning of the important events of the Paschal or Easter Triduum in which we immerse ourselves into the very moments when the Lord Our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, had His Last Supper with His disciples the night before He was to suffer and die on the Cross at the pinnacle of His Passion. On this commemoration of the Last Supper, we celebrate the moment when the Lord instituted two important Sacraments of the Church, namely that of the Eucharist as well as the Holy Orders, especially that of the ministerial Priesthood. And at the same time, at that moment the Lord also mandated to His disciples what they all ought to do as His followers, which is why this Thursday is also known as Maundy Thursday, after the ‘Mandatum’ that the Lord gave to His disciples.

On this day, at the moment of the Last Supper, the Lord revealed to His disciples yet again how He would have to suffer grievously for the sake of the world and for all of us mankind, and how He would be betrayed by one of His own, persecuted, tortured and eventually die on the Cross. It was also at that moment, in which the Lord revealed that He would lay down His life, and get His Body broken, and His Blood shed for everyone, and He gave His Most Precious Body and Blood to all through His disciples, as He instituted the Eucharist by the sharing and giving of His Body and Blood when He prayed over the bread and wine that He and His disciples shared and partook in during that Last Supper. The bread and the wine had been transformed into the essence of the Lord’s own Most Precious Body and Blood, at the very first Mass.

That Last Supper itself was in fact part of the celebration of the Jewish Passover as how it was celebration two millennia ago, which in itself was based on the original first Passover that happened in the land of Egypt at the moment when the Lord brought out all the people of Israel out of the land of their slavery. That is what we heard from our first reading today, from the Book of Exodus in which the Lord told Moses and Aaron how they should be marking and celebrating the Passover, with the proper preparations before the event, and most importantly the provision of an unblemished lamb which had to be set aside and prepared, and then slaughtered, so that the blood of that Passover lamb can be used to mark the houses of the Israelites, and so that the lamb itself could be shared during the Passover meal.

In the Last Supper, what is obviously missing is the Passover lamb, which was not mentioned anywhere in the accounts of the Supper. From the earlier accounts of the preparation of this Supper, it was clear that this Last Supper was the Passover meal, as the Lord asked His disciples to find a place for them all to have the Passover meal, also known as the ‘Seder’. That particular meal then, was a peculiar one because the Passover lamb, the centrepiece of the whole meal was not mentioned. The truth and reality is that, the Lord Himself was the Passover Lamb, as He was to be the Paschal Lamb of sacrifice, the One Who would offer Himself as the worthy offering and sacrifice, for the atonement of all of our sins. Through His willing offering of His own Most Precious Body and Blood, slain for us, broken up for us, and His Blood outpoured upon us, He has marked us all for salvation, just as how the blood of the Passover lamb marked the houses of the Israelites that Death might pass them all by.

Therefore the Last Supper marked for us the beginning of the new Christian Passover, the one true and eternal Passover, the heavenly banquet which the Lord has prepared for each and every one of us. In that Passover, Christ Our Lord Himself is the Passover Lamb, Who offered Himself as the Sacrificial Victim, as the One Who willingly gave Himself so that through His suffering and death, He could lead us all into a new and everlasting life, a new existence filled with God’s love and grace. All of us who have share in His Body and Blood, given to us through the Eucharist, all have received the Bread of Life Himself, and as He Himself had said, that we who have eaten and shared of this Bread of Life will never perish but have eternal life. He did all these as He went through His Passion or suffering, all the things which He had done for us, out of His ever generous and ever present love.

The bread used in the Passover meal is known as the matzo, a type of unleavened bread used because the Israelites ate in haste when they were on their way out of the land of Egypt. The unleavened bread are wrapped in layers of cloth, which came with it deep symbolism to the Lord’s Passion, suffering and death, because this bread which the Lord took, blessed and then gave to His disciples is His own Most Precious Body, free from all blemish and corruption of sin, represented by the unleavened bread, which would soon be broken and slain on the Altar of the Cross, and those who are familiar with the detail of the Seder or Passover meal will know how the three matzo bread represent God’s work of salvation made through His Son, Our Lord and Saviour Himself.

The first bread which remained hidden in the layers of cloth throughout the meal represents God the Father Whose works were shown to us through Christ, Who manifested His love and compassion to us, and while the Father is not visible to us, it is the Son Who has revealed Him to us. The third bread is the representation of the Holy Spirit, through Whom God made His work tangible to us, through the Incarnation of His Son, and through all the works that the Holy Spirit had done in our midst, assisting the Father and the Son in the work of salvation. Lastly, the second bread which is broken, is the very representation of Jesus Christ Himself, the Son of God, Who would be slain, broken and put to death for our sake, and this broken bread represent His death, which also represents His burial, when half of that second bread is put and wrapped back with the cloth.

It was indeed truly wonderful how the Lord’s instructions and rules regarding the Passover so many centuries before the time of Christ has already prefigured and prepared everyone for His coming and for all that He would do for the salvation of the whole world. Certainly no one could have foreseen or knew about it back then, and only after everything had happened, then those who have been blessed with hindsight and knowledge of the matter realised that God had been in the working all along, and the New Passover which Christ has brought unto us, which began at the Last Supper and culminated on His Crucifixion and death, all are in tandem and parallel with the original Passover, that while the original Passover marked the liberation of the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt, the New Passover marks our liberation from sin and death.

And if we pay attention more carefully to the details of what happened, the Last Supper was not properly concluded as per the Jewish Passover, as there were four cups of wine to be drunk during the occasion of the Passover meal, namely the Cup of Sanctification, the Cup of Deliverance, the Cup of Redemption and the Cup of Praise, in which the promises of God’s salvation and the memory of how God had saved His people out of their slavery by the Egyptians were remembered. When the Lord shared and drank from the cup of wine in the Last Supper, He also told them that the next time He would drink the fruit of the vine would be in the Kingdom of God, representing the moment when He would accomplish everything that He had come to do in this world, with His Passion and death.

The Passover as mentioned, culminated on the Cross, when the Lord mentioned that He was thirsty. Many of us may be puzzled of the significance of these phrase that the Lord mentioned at the time. But when the Lord had drunk of the sour wine or vinegar as mentioned in the Gospel, He then mentioned, ‘It is accomplished.’ This signified the moment when the Passover of the New Covenant that the Lord had established, was indeed accomplished perfectly and completely, as the Lord drank the Cup of Redemption, the fulfilment of the New Covenant made between God and mankind, sealed through none other than His own Most Precious Blood. It is through the Lord, Our Paschal Lamb and Our Eternal High Priest, Who had offered on our behalf such a great and worthy offering and sacrifice, that we have been redeemed.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, therefore, as we continue to journey through these important moments of the Easter Triduum, and as we traditionally keep vigil with the Lord after the Mass this evening, let us all therefore reflect upon our own lives and our disposition in faith. Let us all remember the great love which God has shown us through His Son, Who has given us all His own Most Precious Body and Blood, through which He instituted the Most Holy Eucharist, so that we can partake in Him and therefore gain admittance into the promise and assurance of eternal life, grace and true joy with Him. At the same time, we have also been reminded of the Mandatum or the commission which He has entrusted to us, to do as He had done, in serving and loving one another. In that, He has also instituted the Priesthood, for those whom He has called and chosen to be His servants and ministers to His people, to all of us.

However, this does not mean that for the rest of us we do not have things for us to do. As Christians, each and every one of us are expected to do our part and live our lives most worthily, in doing what we can so that more and more people may come to know the Lord through us, and be inspired by our own faith and commitment to God. All of us should continue to do our part so that in everything that we say and do, we will always continue to be good examples for others, and that we will continue to show God’s love in all things, in caring for the needy and for the marginalised, and in inspiring others who are downtrodden and troubled. Let our lives be the beacons of God’s light and truth, and be the bearers of hope for all those who are in darkness and sin.

May the Lord continue to bless us and guide us in our journey of faith so that especially throughout our Paschal Triduum observance, and all that we are commemorating in the coming few days, we will grow ever stronger in our faith, commitment and love for God. May the Lord bless us in our every good efforts and endeavours, now and always. Amen.

Thursday, 28 March 2024 : Holy Thursday, Mass of the Lord’s Supper (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

John 13 : 1-15

At that time, it was before the feast of the Passover. Jesus realised that His hour had come, to pass from this world to the Father; and as He had loved those who were His own in the world, He would love them with perfect love.

They were at supper, and the devil had already put into the mind of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Him. Jesus knew that the Father had entrusted all things to Him, and as He had come from God, He was going to God. So He got up from the table, removed His garment, and taking a towel, wrapped it around His waist. Then He poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel He was wearing.

When He came to Simon Peter, Simon asked Him, “Why, Lord, do You want to wash my feet?” Jesus said, “What I am doing you cannot understand now, but afterwards you will understand it.” Peter replied, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you can have no part with Me.”

Then Simon Peter said, “Lord, wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus replied, “Whoever has taken a bath does not need to wash (except the feet), for he is clean all over. You are clean, though not all of you.” Jesus knew who was to betray Him; because of this He said, “Not all of you are clean.”

When Jesus had finished washing their feet, He put on His garment again, went back to the table, and said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call Me Master and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I, then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you also must wash one another’s feet. I have just given you an example, that as I have done, you also may do.”