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| On Good Friday, our iPhone might pose the greatest distraction ( Yui Mok/PA Wire) |
This day is a challenge for iPhone owners, bloggers and Facebook users
On Good Friday, in these times, we have to do more than fast from
food in order to contemplate properly Our Lord’s agonising death. In the
internet age, our iPhone might pose the greatest distraction. We can
access entertaining YouTube videos and interesting Facebook statuses
that remove us from thinking about Our Lord’s death and even make
meditating on Calvary seem like something superfluous when we can amuse
ourselves so easily.
For most of us, it’s essential to be wary of Twitter, where following
the spat du jour can give an adrenaline rush and make us feel that a
bitter quarrel is much more worthy of our attention than giving our
minds to reflecting on Our Lord’s sufferings – sufferings that were
offered on our behalf.
There is a long list of what not to do. Making the day as
holy as possible means having the right to-do list, too. One thing that
I’ve learned over the years is to say the Sorrowful Mysteries of the
rosary as early in the day as possible. This paints the mind with scenes
from Calvary.
While this may sound a bit self-seeking, it can be very motivating to
remember the specific blessings that are attached to reciting the
rosary, especially those that relate to our own death. Our Lady promised that “whoever shall have a true devotion for the rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church”.
Doing the Stations of the Cross may mean that we gain an indulgence
for a loved one who has passed away. Some people find it useful to dress
in a sombre way by wearing black clothes, or by dressing in an
understated way. For youngsters, who may be outliers in their peer
groups, they might be avoiding a night out at the pub, in favour of
staying at home and fasting. This is a day of mourning, so bloggers
might modify their blog template and turn it black for the day.
One meditation proposed by Padre Pio is quite hard to do, but would
certainly mean that we are showing our share of gratitude to Our Lord.
Padre Pio suggested: “Imagine Jesus crucified in your arms and on your
chest, and say 100 times as you kiss His chest: ‘This is my hope, the
living source of my happiness; this is the heart of my soul; nothing
will ever separate me from His love.’”
