The liturgy applies to Jesus’ descent into the night of death the words of Psalm 23 (24): “Lift up your heads, O gates; be lifted up, O ancient doors!” The gates of death are closed, no one can return from there. There is no key for those iron doors. But Christ has the key. His Cross, his radical love, is the key that opens them. The love of the One who, though God, became man in order to die –this love has the power to open those doors. This love is stronger than death.
Pope Benedict XVl
Become silent, aware of the awesome presence of God who never ceases to be with us.
Bless yourself in the + Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall, world without end. Amen.
Here I am Lord, I come to do your will Read: Psalm 30:2,6,12-13,15-17,25
Personal Prayer and recollection; As well as thanking and giving praise to God, we remind ourselves of the needs of our family, friends, community, wider world and we remember especially all those affected by Covid-19 and we remember our own personal needs.
We know that you are with us Lord. You never leave us or abandon us in our need. I now open my ears and my heart to listen to your voice coming to me through the Holy Gospel
Read: The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John 18:1-19;42
Silent meditation on the Gospel: Is there a sentence or paragraph that seems to resonate with me? What is my reaction to it?
Maybe read over that part of the text a couple of times, reflecting and praying with it. If you wish you can use the Lectio Divina process outlined here.
Give thanks to God for what he has revealed to you during your prayer time.
Conclude your prayer time with: Our Father; Hail Mary; Glory be.
Act of Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that You
are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment
receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.
May abundant blessing, O Lord, we pray, descend upon your people, who have honoured the Death of your Son in the hope of their resurrection: may pardon come, comfort be given, holy faith increase, and everlasting redemption be made secure. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen
