at Home

by Fr. Stephen Vrazel

Acknowledgements: Design and layout by MC Sylvester

Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved. Note: This book is just a rough guide. Everything is entirely optional. You can add to it or take away from. Do what is best for your family!

ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE DAY

Remember to fast For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards.

Keep silence from 12pm to 3pm Sanctifying the “tre ore” (three hours) that our Lord was on the cross is an old tradition, and it is quite beautiful. hung on the cross for these hours, and as much as you are able, keep silence for these hours. This might be particularly welcome (albeit challenging) if you have small children.

Make use of devotions Pray the Stations of the Cross, the Seven Sorrows of Mary, the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, or the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

Some films you may consider watching as a family:

The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005) 2h 30min Based on the C. S. Lewis series, four kids travel through a wardrobe to the land of Narnia and learn of their destiny to free it with the guidance of a mystical lion who pays the ultimate price for the freedom of others

The Robe (1953) 2h 15min During the 1st century, Roman tribune Marcellus Gallio is ordered to crucify Jesus of Nazareth but is tormented by his guilty conscience afterwards

Ben Hur (1959) 3h 32min The story of a Jewish prince who is betrayed and sent into slavery by a Roman friend, but then regains his freedom and comes back for revenge.

The Passion of the Christ (2004) 2hr 10min Mel Gibson’s well-known film of the passion and death of Jesus. Please keep in mind that due to the accuracy of this portrayal, this film is extremely violent and not suggested for younger viewers. EVENING SERVICE PREPARATION

Plan ahead Be sure you read this program in its entirety well before the prayer service. Please feel free to adapt it as you like, but there are lots of options that require some planning beforehand. Don’t be caught off guard.

Designate a leader for all the This would generally be the head of the household—though there are many family situations where there might be reason to choose someone else. However, if the husband/father is simply uncomfortable with leading prayer, he should recognize that it is his duty to lead his family to Christ and try coming out of his comfort zone a little bit.

If you have enough capable family members, divide the reading of the Passion up into parts. You’ll need a narrator, someone to read Jesus’ words, someone to read other speaking parts (voice), and someone to be the crowd.

Have a prayerful setting Be sure to set up a special place in your home for family prayer, something that can center everyone’s attention. If you have the capability, you could make a picture slideshow on your television of images of the Christ’s suffering and death.

Set up an altar on which to put a crucifix or cross, preferably a large one. If you don’t have one, you can make one. You can put candles on either side of it. This cross will be used for veneration. If you would like to unveil it at the time for veneration (see below), then cover it with a cloth (violet is the appropriate color). It is best if you are able to stand or prop up the cross so that it may be seen clearly after the veneration takes place.

Pick a specific time of day While many parishes gather in the evening on Good Friday for pastoral reasons, the proper time to celebrate the Passion of the Lord is at 3:00 in the afternoon, the hour when Jesus died. Maybe this year will be the first time you will have had the opportunity to commemorate the Passion in the mid-afternoon hour.

Incorporate music Any music selections below are just suggestions. Feel free to choose whatever you like. If you don’t have strong singers (or simply want some accompaniment), use a recording of the song.

If you will be praying by yourself Remember that you have permission to speak the prayers, sing the songs, and read the readings out loud. You don’t have to, but it might help you to enter into prayer more deeply. GOOD FRIDAY PRAYER SERVICE

There is no opening song in today’s liturgy, so you can imitate this at home by simply gathering in silence. If you have kept the hours from 12 to 3 silent, this will flow very naturally.

To give things a clear beginning, all should kneel for a time in the beginning. The priest and deacons actually lie prostrate in the church at this time. There is nothing to prevent you from doing this yourself. It will probably help dispose you and your family to a prayerful celebration.

There is also no sign of the cross. Don’t worry, we’ll get to the cross shortly.

When the leader determines that it is time to begin, all stand for the opening prayer.

Opening Prayer Leader: Remember your mercies, O Lord, and with your eternal protection sanctify your servants, for whom Christ your Son, by the shedding of his Blood, established the Paschal Mystery. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. All: Amen.

(All are seated)

Liturgy of the Word (If your children will have difficulty staying focused through all the readings, consider reading only the Passion or part of the Passion.)

First Reading: A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

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 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 grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot from the parched earth; there was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him, nor appearance that would attract us to him. He was spurned and avoided by people, —> a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, Responsorial Psalm: one of those from whom people hide their faces, R. Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. spurned, and we held him in no esteem. In you, O LORD, I take refuge; Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, let me never be put to shame. our sufferings that he endured, In your justice rescue me. Into your hands I commend my spirit; while we thought of him as stricken, you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God. as one smitten by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our offenses, R. Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. crushed for our sins; upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, For all my foes I am an object of reproach, by his stripes we were healed. a laughingstock to my neighbors, and a dread to my We had all gone astray like sheep, friends; each following his own way; they who see me abroad flee from me. but the LORD laid upon him I am forgotten like the unremembered dead; I am like a dish that is broken. the guilt of us all. R. Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; But my trust is in you, O LORD; like a lamb led to the slaughter I say, “You are my God. or a sheep before the shearers, In your hands is my destiny; rescue me he was silent and opened not his mouth. from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors.” Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away, and who would have thought any more of his destiny? R. Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. When he was cut off from the land of the living, Let your face shine upon your servant; and smitten for the sin of his people, save me in your kindness. a grave was assigned him among the wicked Take courage and be stouthearted, and a burial place with evildoers, all you who hope in the LORD. though he had done no wrong nor spoken any falsehood. R. Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. But the LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity. Second Reading: A reading from the letter to the Hebrews. If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, Brothers and sisters: Since we have a great high priest and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through who has passed through the heavens, him. Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. Because of his affliction For we do not have a high priest he shall see the light in fullness of days; who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, and their guilt he shall bear. yet without sin. Therefore I will give him his portion among the great, So let us confidently approach the throne of grace and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty, to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help. because he surrendered himself to death and was counted among the wicked; In the days when Christ was in the flesh, and he shall take away the sins of many, he offered prayers and supplications and win pardon for their offenses. with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, Reader: The word of the Lord. and he was heard because of his reverence. Son though he was, he learned obedience All: Thanks be to God. from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

Reader: The word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God. (All stand for the Passion) Narrator: This was to fulfill what he had said, “I have not lost any of those you gave me.” Gospel Acclamation: Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, (Omit if not sung) struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory. Jesus said to Peter,

V. Christ became obedient to the point of death, Jesus: “Put your sword into its scabbard. even death on a cross. Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?” Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every Narrator: So the band of soldiers, the tribune, and the other name. Jewish guards seized Jesus, bound him, and brought him to Annas first. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, The Passion: who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had counseled the Jews Narrator: The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according that it was better that one man should die to John. rather than the people. Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Narrator: Jesus went out with his disciples across the Now the other disciple was known to the high priest, Kidron valley and he entered the courtyard of the high priest with Jesus. to where there was a garden, But Peter stood at the gate outside. into which he and his disciples entered. So the other disciple, the acquaintance of the high priest, Judas his betrayer also knew the place, went out and spoke to the gatekeeper because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. and brought Peter in. So Judas got a band of soldiers and guards Then the maid who was the gatekeeper said to Peter, from the chief priests and the Pharisees and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Voice: “You are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to him, Narrator: He said, went out and said to them, Voice: “I am not.” Jesus: “Whom are you looking for?” Narrator: Now the slaves and the guards were standing Narrator: They answered him, around a charcoal fire that they had made, because it was cold, Crowd: “Jesus the Nazorean.” and were warming themselves. Peter was also standing there keeping warm. Narrator: He said to them, The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his doctrine. Jesus: “I AM.” Jesus answered him,

Narrator: Judas his betrayer was also with them. Jesus: “I have spoken publicly to the world. When he said to them, “I AM,” I have always taught in a synagogue they turned away and fell to the ground. or in the temple area where all the Jews gather, So he again asked them, and in secret I have said nothing. Why ask me? Ask those who heard me what I said to them. Jesus: “Whom are you looking for?” They know what I said.”

Narrator: They said, Narrator: When he had said this, one of the temple guards standing there struck Jesus and Crowd: “Jesus the Nazorean.” said,

Narrator: Jesus answered, Voice: “Is this the way you answer the high priest?”

Jesus: “I told you that I AM. Narrator: Jesus answered him, So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” Jesus: “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” Voice: “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you Narrator: Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas, over to me. the high priest. What have you done?” Now Simon Peter was standing there keeping warm. And they said to him, Narrator: Jesus answered,

Crowd: “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” Jesus: “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, Narrator: He denied it and said, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. Voice: “I am not.” But as it is, my kingdom is not here.”

Narrator: One of the slaves of the high priest, Narrator: So Pilate said to him, a relative of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said, Voice: “Then you are a king?” Voice: “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?” Narrator: Jesus answered, Narrator: Again Peter denied it. And immediately the cock crowed. Jesus: “You say I am a king. Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, It was morning. to testify to the truth. And they themselves did not enter the praetorium, Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” in order not to be defiled so that they could eat the Passover. Narrator: Pilate said to him, So Pilate came out to them and said, Voice: “What is truth?” Voice: “What charge do you bring against this man?” Narrator: When he had said this, Narrator: They answered and said to him, he again went out to the Jews and said to them,

Crowd: “If he were not a criminal, Voice: “I find no guilt in him. we would not have handed him over to you.” But you have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at Passover. Narrator: At this, Pilate said to them, Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

Voice: “Take him yourselves, and judge him according to Narrator: They cried out again, your law.” Crowd: “Not this one but Barabbas!” Narrator: The Jews answered him, Narrator: Now Barabbas was a revolutionary. Crowd: “We do not have the right to execute anyone,” Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it Narrator: in order that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled on his head, that he said indicating the kind of death he would die. and clothed him in a purple cloak, So Pilate went back into the praetorium and they came to him and said, and summoned Jesus and said to him, Crowd: “Hail, King of the Jews!” Voice: “Are you the King of the Jews?” Narrator: And they struck him repeatedly. Narrator: Jesus answered, Once more Pilate went out and said to them,

Jesus: “Do you say this on your own Voice: “Look, I am bringing him out to you, or have others told you about me?” so that you may know that I find no guilt in him.”

Narrator: Pilate answered, Narrator: So Jesus came out, Narrator: They cried out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak. And he said to them, Crowd: “Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!”

Voice: “Behold, the man!” Narrator: Pilate said to them,

Narrator: When the chief priests and the guards saw him Voice: “Shall I crucify your king?” they cried out, Narrator: The chief priests answered, Crowd: “Crucify him, crucify him!” Crowd: “We have no king but Caesar.” Narrator: Pilate said to them, Narrator: Then he handed him over to them Voice: “Take him yourselves and crucify him. to be crucified. I find no guilt in him.” So they took Jesus, and, carrying the cross himself, he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, Narrator: The Jews answered, in Hebrew, Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, Crowd: “We have a law, and according to that law he one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.” Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, Narrator: Now when Pilate heard this statement, “Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews.” he became even more afraid, Now many of the Jews read this inscription, and went back into the praetorium and said to Jesus, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; Voice: “Where are you from?” and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, Narrator: Jesus did not answer him. So Pilate said to him, Crowd: “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that he said, ‘I am the King of the Jews’.” Voice: “Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you Narrator: Pilate answered, and I have power to crucify you?” Voice: “What I have written, I have written.” Narrator: Jesus answered him, Narrator: When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, Jesus: “You would have no power over me they took his clothes and divided them into four shares, if it had not been given to you from above. a share for each soldier. For this reason the one who handed me over to you They also took his tunic, but the tunic was seamless, has the greater sin.” woven in one piece from the top down. So they said to one another, Narrator: Consequently, Pilate tried to release him; but the Jews cried out, Crowd: “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it will be,” Crowd: “If you release him, you are not a Friend of Caesar. Narrator: in order that the passage of Scripture might be Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” fulfilled that says: “They divided my garments among them, Narrator: When Pilate heard these words he brought and for my vesture they cast lots.” Jesus out and seated him on the judge’s bench This is what the soldiers did. in the place called Stone Pavement, in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother It was preparation day for Passover, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and it was about noon. and Mary of Magdala. And he said to the Jews, When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved Voice: “Behold, your king!” he said to his mother, Jesus: “Woman, behold, your son.” and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. Narrator: Then he said to the disciple, Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, Jesus: “Behold, your mother.” and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. Narrator: And from that hour So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish the disciple took her into his home. preparation day; After this, aware that everything was now finished, for the tomb was close by. in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, Narrator: The Gospel of the Lord.

Jesus: “I thirst.” All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Narrator: There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, Reflection/Discussion (If there is someone in your family who is able to give a short Jesus: “It is finished.” reflection on the readings, by all means, do so. However, this might be a good time to simply have a discussion about our Narrator: And bowing his head, Lord’s death on the cross) he handed over the spirit. Here are some questions if you’re not sure what to talk about: (Here all kneel and pause for a short time)

Narrator: Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on What parts of the Passion stood out to you? the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, Did you notice anything you’ve never the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and that they be taken down. noticed before? So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. Who in the story are you most like? But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, The prophet Isaiah says, “he was pierced but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. for our offenses, crushed for our sins; upon An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; him was the chastisement that makes us he knows that he is speaking the truth, whole, by his stripes we were healed.” so that you also may come to believe. For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be What does it mean to you that Jesus takes fulfilled: our punishment on himself? Not a bone of it will be broken. And again another passage says: They will look upon him whom they have pierced. Yesterday, Jesus gave us the New Commandment, to love one another as he After this, , secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews, has loved us. How does hearing the Lord’s asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. Passion change your understanding of that And Pilate permitted it. commandment? So he came and took his body. Nicodemus, the one who had first come to him at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus The Solemn Intercessions These ten prayers are prayed solemnly each year during the Good Friday liturgy. Each one is divided into two parts, an invitation to prayer by the deacon, and a presidential prayer by the priest. The text below has been adapted in order to remove the presidential prayer of the priest. The additional invitation to prayer introduced by Pope Francis “for the afflicted in time of pandemic” has been included.

I. For Holy Church VII. For those who do not believe in Christ

Reader: For the holy Church of God, Reader: For those who do not believe in Christ, that our God and Lord be pleased to give her peace, that, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, to guard her and to unite her throughout the whole world they, too, may enter on the way of salvation, and grant that, leading our life in tranquility and quiet, let us pray to the Lord. we may glorify God the Father almighty, let us pray to the Lord. All: Lord, hear our prayer

All: Lord, hear our prayer VIII. For those who do not believe in God

II. For the Pope Reader: For those who do not acknowledge God, that, following what is right in sincerity of heart, Reader: For our most Holy Father Pope Francis, they may find the way to God himself, that our God and Lord, let us pray to the Lord. who chose him for the Order of Bishops, may keep him safe and unharmed for the Lord’s holy Church, All: Lord, hear our prayer to govern the holy People of God, let us pray to the Lord. IX. For those in public office All: Lord, hear our prayer Reader: For those in public office, III. For all orders and degrees of the faithful that our God and Lord may direct their minds and hearts according to his will Reader: For our Bishop N., for the true peace and freedom of all, for all Bishops, Priests, and Deacons of the Church let us pray to the Lord. and for the whole of the faithful people, let us pray to the Lord. All: Lord, hear our prayer

All: Lord, hear our prayer IX b. For the afflicted in time of pandemic

IV. For catechumens Reader: For all those who suffer the consequences of the current pandemic, Reader: For (our) catechumens, that God the Father may grant health to the sick, that our God and Lord strength to those who care for them, may open wide the ears of their inmost hearts comfort to families, and unlock the gates of his mercy, and salvation to all the victims who have died, that, having received forgiveness of all their sins let us pray to the Lord. through the waters of rebirth, they, too, may be one with Christ Jesus our Lord, All: Lord, hear our prayer let us pray to the Lord. X. For those in tribulation All: Lord, hear our prayer Reader: That God the Father almighty, V. For the unity of Christians may cleanse the world of all errors, banish disease, drive out hunger, Reader: For all our brothers and sisters who believe in Christ, unlock prisons, loosen fetters, that our God and Lord may be pleased, granting to travelers safety, to pilgrims return, as they live the truth, health to the sick, and salvation to the dying, to gather them together and keep them in his one Church, let us pray to the Lord. let us pray to the Lord. All: Lord, hear our prayer All: Lord, hear our prayer Leader: Almighty ever-living God, VI. For the Jewish people comfort of mourners, strength of all who toil, may the prayers of those who cry out in any tribulation Reader: For the Jewish people, come before you, to whom the Lord our God spoke first, that all may rejoice, that he may grant them to advance in love of his name because in their hour of need and in faithfulness to his covenant, your mercy was at hand. let us pray to the Lord. Through Christ our Lord.

All: Lord, hear our prayer All: Amen. The Veneration of the Cross Now is a good time to play some pre-recorded music. There are so many songs about the crucifixion and about the cross. That said, don’t be afraid of singing something yourself. An easy and well known song is the spiritual “Were You There.”

If you decide to begin with the cross veiled, here is how to unveil it. The leader lifts it up high, and unveils only one arm of the cross. As he does so, he says,

Leader: Behold the wood of the cross, on which hung the salvation of the world. All: Come, let us adore.

Next, the leader unveils the other arm of the cross, leaving the upright beam veiled, and says again,

Leader: Behold the wood of the cross, on which hung the salvation of the world. All: Come, let us adore.

Finally, he unveils the entire cross, and says a third time,

Leader: Behold the wood of the cross, on which hung the salvation of the world. All: Come, let us adore.

Then, the leader should place the cross back on the altar so that he may venerate it, usually done with a kiss, whether the cross itself or the corpus if it is a crucifix. Then, depending on what works better for the space and the size of the cross, the leader could leave it in place on the altar, or take it up in his hands to hold for everyone else to venerate.

Do not rush this moment. After everyone has venerated the cross, the leader should stand it up on the altar where all can look upon it, and then spend some time singing or in silence. It would be appropriate for all to kneel before and after they each venerate the cross.

To conclude the time of veneration, you might pray together the Prayer Before a Crucifix:

Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus While I contemplate, while before Your face I humbly kneel and, with great love and tender pity, with burning soul, Your five most precious wounds, pray and beseech You pondering over them within me to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments and calling to mind the words which David, of faith, hope, and charity; Your prophet, said to You, my Jesus: true contrition for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment. "They have pierced My hands and My feet, they have numbered all My bones." Amen.

This is the time during the Passion liturgy in the church when we would receive Communion from the Hosts reserved after the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper. As such, it would be appropriate to make a spiritual communion.

The Lord’s Prayer

Leader: At the Savior’s command, and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:

All: Our Father… An Act of Spiritual Communion

(All kneel and pray)

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.

(Spiritual) Communion Song O Sacred Head, Surrounded, attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux

O Sacred Head, surrounded O agony and dying! by crown of piercing thorn! O love to sinners free! O bleeding Head, so wounded, Jesus, all grace supplying, reviled and put to scorn! O turn Thy face on me. Our sins have marred the glory of Thy most Holy Face, In this Thy bitter passion, yet angel hosts adore Thee Good Shepherd, think of me and tremble as they gaze with Thy most sweet compassion, unworthy though I be: I see Thy strength and vigor beneath Thy cross abiding all fading in the strife, for ever would I rest, and death with cruel rigor, in Thy dear love confiding, bereaving Thee of life; and with Thy presence blest.

Closing Prayer

Leader: Grant, almighty God, Almighty ever-living God, who have restored us to life by the blessed Death and Resurrection of your Christ, preserve in us the work of your mercy, that we may have a life unceasingly devoted to you. Through Christ our Lord. All: Amen.

Silence Just as there is no defined beginning to Passion liturgy, there is no end. In the church, all are asked to genuflect to the Cross. In the home, a profound bow would be sufficient.