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If we put the clues together, can we figure out precisely when Jesus died? Yes, we can! We recently celebrated Good Friday and Easter, the annual celebrations of Jesus' death and resurrection. We all know that this happened in Jerusalem in the first century. That separates Jesus from mythical pagan deities, who were supposed to live in places or times that none could specify. Just how specific can we be with the death of Jesus? Can we determine the exact day? We can. And here's how . . .  Clue #1: The High Priesthood of Caiaphas The gospels indicate that...

On Saturday, Barack Obama was accused of nationalizing U.S. elections for Democratic partisan advantage through the president's issuance of a new executive order on the electoral process.

Pilate: What is truth? in "The Passion of the Christ" OUR FAITH IN ACTION The Pontius Pilate of "The Passion of the Christ" is a more multi-dimensional man than traditionally portrayed in film. Not just a mean-spirited bureaucrat, he is an all-too-human proxy for modern man. Sadly, we may see a little of Pilate in ourselves. A product of the Roman military, Pilate is a "results-oriented" ruler who finds himself in a most uncomfortable situation; he must determine Christ's fate. Should he give the enemies of Christ the blood they desire? Should he stand up for the rights of an...

“O Dearest Jesus, What Law Hast Thou Broken?” (Luke 23:1-56)“O Dearest Jesus, What Law Hast Thou Broken?” Short answer: None. But then why all this pain and sorrow and death on this day when Jesus is sentenced and crucified and buried? What could possibly be good about this Good Friday? The hymn we sang will lead us into the answers. O dearest Jesus, what law hast Thou broken That such sharp sentence should on Thee be spoken? Of what great crime hast Thou to make confession, What dark transgression? These, of course, are rhetorical questions. The expected answer is obviously...

Pope Francis’ Via Crucis at the Colosseum: full text of meditations CWN - March 26, 2013The Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff has released the meditations for the Way of the Cross at which Pope Francis will preside. The Way of the Cross will take place on Good Friday evening in the Colosseum. The meditations on the 14 traditional stations were prepared by Lebanese youth under the direction of Cardinal Béchara Boutros Raï, the patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church. The meditations include illustrations by a 19th-century Palestinian Franciscan artist.

Meditating on Good Friday with St. Francis de Sales But could God not have provided the world with a remedy other than that of His Son's death? Certainly, He could have done so, and by a thousand other means. Could He not have pardoned human nature with absolute power and pure mercy, not invoking justice or the intervention of any creature? Doubtless He could, and who would have dared to question or criticize Him? No one, for He is Sovereign Master and can do all He wills. Besides, if He had wanted some creature to undertake our redemption, could He...

It’s interesting how things work. Recently, I got a link across the transom to the story of Ken Kirby, a 52-year-old police officer who had a massive heart attack and rushed to the hospital. When he got there, he had no heart beat. He was dead. Apparently, Officer Kirby and his wife had been fighting a lot in the time just before that. She was distraught, of course. Having no other treatments to offer, the emergency room staff turned to prayer. Well, 45 minutes after his arrival, Ken Kirby recovered. He was back from the dead. This police officer, a...

No Greater Love… Apr 6th, 2012by Gary Zimak.   Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)On this day, approximately 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ suffered and died on a cross so that you and I can one day live in the eternal happiness of His kingdom. He gave everything, holding nothing back. As we look over our lives, what have we done to express our gratitude? Speaking for myself, I have to admit that the answer is “not much”. As a matter of fact, not only haven’t I...

Don’t Just Feel Sorry For Jesus… Apr 4th, 2012by Gary Zimak  For several years, my reaction to Our Lord’s Passion was the same:How could the authorities do this to Jesus?How could people cry out “Crucify Him”?What did He ever do to deserve this?How could Peter and Judas betray their friend?These people were really nasty!But eventually the sadness passed (usually by the evening of Good Friday) and nothing really changed in my life. As I started to learn more about my faith, however, I realized that my sins were responsible for the Lord’s suffering. Although that was a big revelation, the...

Click below to listen to our special Good Friday podcast. Also be sure to come back tomorrow and Sunday for special podcasts on Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday!  Crucifixion: History, Archaeology, and Why Jesus Died This Way (Good Friday Podcast)(Right click to download) Today we celebrate the crucifixion of Jesus. In places around the world, images of the Christ crucified will be contemplated and venerated. Indeed, the image of the cross is quite familiar to us. It is part and parcel of Christian iconography. Perhaps, it is too familiar. Put frankly, the cross has in many ways been sanitized. To some...

"For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made the right with God through Christ."(2 Corinthians 5:21, NLT) How Good Friday Can Transform our Personal Identity1) Jesus lived ___SINLESSLY___: He is the only One who could possibly pay for sin with His life."(God) made Him who knew no sin..." (2 Cor. 5:21a, NASB) 2) Jesus died ___INTENTIONALLY___: He both became sin and took our sin on the cross."...to be sin on our behalf." (2 Corinthians 5:21b, NASB) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a...

And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.  And sitting down they watched him there;  And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. . . . . Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My...

April 6, 2012   Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord   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...

Cuba's Communist government has declared Good Friday next week to be a public holiday following an appeal from Pope Benedict. The Pope made the request during his recent visit to the island. Good Friday is the day Catholics commemorate the death of Christ, and is a central part of Easter celebrations. It is the first time it has been recognised as a public holiday in Cuba since the 1960s, when religious holidays were abolished. President Raul Castro took the decision in light of the success of the Pope's "transcendental visit", the Cuban government said in a statement. The holiday will...

University Stops Closing School for Christian and Jewish Holidays American Center for Law and Justice The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), focusing on constitutional law, today urged the president of New York's Stony Brook University to reverse a troubling decision that ends a long-standing practice of closing school in observance of major Christian and Jewish holidays. The ACLJ calls the move "an unnecessary, ill-advised change that demonstrates hostility to members of all religious faiths." "This schedule change demonstrates hostility toward religion and departs from the American tradition of the government accommodation of religious practices," said Jordan Sekulow, Executive...

Featured Term (selected at random):PROSTRATION To cast oneself down in front of anyone in adoration or contrition, petition or submission. At the services on Good Friday the ministers lie prostrate before the altar. It is also part of the ordination service for bishops, priests, and deacons. Prostration may also be required during the final profession of vows in some religious orders. Kneeling on both knees with head bowed is a form of prostration. All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

“We Have Now Received Reconciliation” (Romans 5:6-11)Our text this evening is the same as it was earlier today, a portion of Romans 5. At noon, under the theme “Christ Died for the Ungodly,” we focused on these verses: “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die--but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Now tonight we continue on from that point: “Since, therefore,...

“Christ Died for the Ungodly” (Romans 5:6-11)“Christ Died for the Ungodly.” What an awesome, profound statement that is! The words come from Romans, the fifth chapter, reading as follows: “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die--but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” “Christ died for the ungodly.” Every term here has great meaning. Let’s start with the term, “the ungodly.” That...

Indonesian police foiled Islamic extremists’ plan to bomb a church ahead of Easter celebrations in Serpong, just outside of the Indonesian capital of Jakarta. On Thursday, authorities discovered about 150 kg (3330 pounds) of explosives not far from Christ Cathedral Church. Bombs were found beneath a gas pipeline and in bags near the church entrance. Police safely diffused the explosives after 10 painstaking hours, according to officials. The militant cell had planned to detonate the explosives remotely using a mobile phone at 9 a.m. on Good Friday, just when service at the 3,000-seat Catholic church would begin. Authorities were led...

Next for the day is the crucifixion itself. It’s recorded in all four Gospels and I will post the relevant passages in their entirety, in as close to chronological order as possible based on research done. Here are links to the Scripture passages which record the crucifixion and burial account: Matthew 27:32-61 , Mark 15:21-47 , Luke 23:26-56 , John 19:16-42 . Luke 23:26-33 26 And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. 27And there followed him a...

"I'm gonna have to take your eggs and spread them around..." "And then the Easter Muslim said....'all you infidel bunnies must die, unless you bow down to Allah'..." And who's the evil wittle puppet, working to destroy our fweedoms? A man walking along a road in the countryside comes across a shepherd and a huge flock of sheep. He tells the shepherd, "I will bet you $100, against one of your sheep, that I can tell you the exact number in this flock." The shepherd thinks it over; it's a big flock so he takes the bet. "973," says the...

April 22, 2011Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion Reading 1Responsorial PsalmReading 2Gospel Reading 1Is 52:13—53:12See, my servant shall prosper,he shall be raised high and greatly exalted.Even as many were amazed at himC so marred was his look beyond human semblanceand his appearance beyond that of the sons of manC 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...

Reflecting on the Celebration of Our Lord's Passion Opening Prayer: Let us pray.Father, look with love on your people,the love which our Lord Jesus Christ showed uswhen he delivered himself upand suffered the agony of the cross,for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,one God, for ever and ever.  Amen. We enter the liturgy on Good Friday in silence.  We don't need a "gathering rite."  It is as though we have been "gathered" since the night before.  The first act of the liturgy is for the Presider and ministers to lay face down before the cross, in silence. ...

Hezbollah is planning an attack on Western targets, a Lebanese news website reported on Tuesday, basing its claims on information intercepted by a Western intelligence agency. According to the Beirut Observer article published Tuesday, Western intelligence officials believe Hezbollah intends to strike Western targets, citing the unusual movement of suspected Hezbollah and Iranian Revolutionary Guards operatives.

The Canticle of the Passion The Canticle is chanted in some Dominican monasteries on the Fridays of Lent. My friends and My neighbors * have drawn near and stood against Me. I was delivered up and came not forth; * My eyes languished through poverty. And my sweat became as drops of blood, * trickling down and upon the ground. For many dogs have encompassed Me * the council of the malignant hath besieged Me. I have given My body to the strikers * and My cheeks to them that plucked them. I have not turned away My face from...

Lent And Holy Week (A Primer) Posted by Frank -Feast of St. Vincent Ferrer  We are officially past the half-way point of the Lenten Season.  Before you know it, it will be Holy Week. As a convert who entered the Church on Holy Saturday in the Year of Our Lord 2008, I'll never forget that experience. Those who serve as sponsors for the Catechumens and Candidates never forget it either.But if you are like me, it is good to be reminded of not only what is taking place on that day, but for the whole season. The recollection of what...

Police investigating the attempted murder of three PSNI officers during 12 July riots have seized guns in north Belfast.

BELFAST, Northern Ireland – Police battled Irish nationalists for control of a Belfast road Monday as a day dominated by peaceful Protestant parades across Northern Ireland turned violent when night fell.

Officers were responding to reports of rioting at Lecky Road on the Bogside shortly after 0100 BST on Tuesday when the shots were fired.

BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) — Northern Ireland leaders condemned Irish nationalist rioters Tuesday who wounded 82 police officers during two nights of street clashes sparked by the province's annual parades by the British Protestant majority.

When a town in Iowa seeks to rename Good Friday "Spring Holiday," you know America has problems. Those of us who affirm the Judeo-Christian values that have constituted the basis of America's values since before the founding of the United States expect such things on the two coasts. The West Coast and the East Coast (at least down to Virginia) have largely abandoned the God-based morality of the Declaration of Independence and all the Founders. Yes, all the Founders. Even the so-called deists, while not theologically Christian, were ethical monotheists, i.e., strong affirmers of ethics rooted in the will of...

ROME – On Good Friday, two days before Easter, a prayer titled “Let us Pray for the Conversion of the Jews” was recited in Latin by traditionalist Catholic congregations in Italy, plus 16 sections of the Society of Saint Pius. The ultra-conservative society, whose excommunication was lifted by Pope Benedict XVI last year, has yet to be fully reintegrated into the Catholic Church, because of its refusal to accept the reforms of the Second Vatican Council. In 2007, in an effort to bring the traditionalist elements of the Church back into the fold, Benedict issued a “Motu Proprio” declaration allowing...

Elizabeth Scalia is a contributing writer to First Things Magazine as the blogger known as The Anchoress. The question has come my way several times in the past week: "How do you maintain your faith in light of news stories that bring light to the dark places that exist within your church?" When have darkness and light been anything but co-existent? How do we recognize either without the other? I remain within, and love, the Catholic Church because it is a church that has lived and wrestled within the mystery of the shadow lands ever since an innocent man was...

Any theory about on which days of the week our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified and resurrected stands or falls by its answering for the day He was BURIED on: "That Day great day sabbath" of the passover, Abib 15, from its BEGINNING "EVENING HAVING HAD COME", Mk15:42 Mt 27:57 Lk23:50 Jn19:31,38 -- UNTIL its ENDING having begun "MID-AFTERNOON" "by the time of the Jews' prepararions" "the Sabbath (Seventh Day of the week) drawing near", Lk23:54 Jn19:42 -- "That Day having been The Preparation which is The Fore-Sabbath" : the Sixth Day of the week, 'Friday'. Any theory about on...

“Torn Curtain” (Hebrews 9:11-14; 10:19-25; Luke 23:44-46)At just about the time that Jesus breathed his last, something very unusual happened not far away there in Jerusalem. “The curtain of the temple was torn in two,” our text in Luke 23 tells us. Matthew and Mark, in their gospels, likewise report this occurrence, and they add the fact that the curtain was torn in two “from top to bottom.” Now that’s strange, isn’t it? What does Jesus dying have to do with the curtain of the temple being torn in two? Was it just a coincidence? Or is there some connection?...

The Death of Jesus An essay by Alphonsus Liguori   The amiable Redeemer approaches the end of life. My soul, behold those eyes grow dim; that beautiful countenance becomes pale; that heart palpitates feebly; that sacred body is abandoned to death. Jesus, therefore, when he had taken the vinegar, said, “It is consummated” (John 19:30). When on the point of expiring, Jesus placed before his eyes all the sufferings of his life—the poverty, fatigues, pains, and injuries which he had suffered—and, again offering them all to his Eternal Father, he said, All is now accomplished—all is consummated. All that the...

Jesus died this day Obama has fooled a few God's kids don't buy it The Looking Spoon is a conservative humor/satire/art/commentary blog, visit www.thelookingspoon.com to see more posts and art

You know the Seven Last Words of Jesus while he was on the cross. I'm listing them here for your review, and printing them out so you won't have to go look them up. 1. Luke 23:34 -- Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. 2. Luke 23:43 -- I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise. 3. John 19:26-27 -- When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son." And to the disciple,...

Whether or not you are Christian, I believe that honoring the traditions of those who came before us remains an important component to being a true Conservative. That said, today is the most important day in all of Christendom. It is Good Friday, the day of commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, God come in the flesh of a mere man to atone for the sins of the elect. Today will be a day marked by the most solemn of all church services throughout the Christian year. As a Christian, this day of commemoration gives me great pause to...

John 20:18-20 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her. Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the LORD. Jesus never hid his scars from His disciples,...

The first reference found outside of the bible mentioning this darkness which fell over the land during the crucifixion of Christ, comes from a Samaritan historian named Thallus, who wrote around 52 A.D. His work was quoted by another early historian by the name of Julius Africanus who researched the topic of this darkness and wrote the following: "Upon the whole world there came a most fearful darkness. Many rocks were split in two by an earthquake, and many places in Judea and other districts were thrown down. It seems very unreasonable to me that Thallus, in the third book...

“Father, Forgive Them” (Luke 23:32-43)It’s Good Friday, and Jesus is led away to be crucified. Crucifixion was a method of execution that the Romans used, throughout their empire, but not on their own citizens, since it was the most brutal and degrading form of execution they could use. Crucifixion was extreme, slow, cruel, and, for them, not so unusual a punishment, done to common criminals, as a public display that served as a deterrent, to keep the masses under control and keep order in the realm. The Romans didn’t mess around. So Jesus is led out with two criminals to...

I tried to wish someone a "Happy Good Friday" today, but it just didn't sit right with me. Despite understanding His death (and resurrection) accomplished my justification, it's always struck me as a bit awkward to use the word "happy" when we commemorate the day because of Jesus' dying on the cross. Then I realized (making it even harder), Good Friday isn't just about Jesus dying on the cross; it's about His excruciating agony through the early morning. Hours of abuse, verbal and physical, pummeled him from all sides, from those He created and loved and longed to rescue. As...

What's so good about Good Friday? We'll look at the commemorated events of this week through modern lit -- John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany as well as John Updike's poem Seven Stanzas at Easter. Plus+ another week, another lamentation. Live at 3pmE/2pmTX/NoonP Listen live here. Call-in number: 347-327-9710

SCREW UP THE COUNTRY..... One day an old Catholic Priest was dying. He sent a message for Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi, both members of his congregation, to come to his home. When they arrived, they were ushered up to his bedroom. As they entered the room, he held out his hands and motioned for them to sit on each side of his bed. Then he grasped their hands, sighed contentedly, and smiled. For a long time no one said anything. Both the Obama and Pelosi were touched and flattered that the old man would want them with him...

April 2, 2010 Good Friday of the Lord's Passion Reading 1Responsorial PsalmReading 2Gospel Reading 1Is 52:13—53:12See, 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 semblance and 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...

RELIGIOUS leaders have used their Easter sermons and messages to condemn the rise of atheism, with Sydney Anglican Archbishop Peter Jensen describing the philosophy as an "assault on God". A day after Sydney Catholic Archbishop Cardinal George Pell criticised non-believers, Dr Jensen said in his Good Friday sermon at Sydney's St Andrew's Cathedral that atheism was a form idolatry. "As we can see by the sheer passion and virulence of the atheist - they seem to hate the Christian God - we are not dealing here with cool philosophy up against faith without a brain," Dr Jensen told worshippers. "Atheism...

First Day The New Jersey Center of Divine Mercy Friday, April 2: GOOD FRIDAY: 9:30 AMStations of the Cross, Holy Rosary, and Divine Mercy Chaplet Englewood Abortion Clinic