“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 despised and forsaken by men, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, One of those from whom men hide their faces, spurned, and we held him in no esteem. Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, Our sufferings that he endured, While we thought of him as stricken, As one smitten by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our offenses, Crushed for our sins, Upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, By his stripes we were healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, Each following his own way; But the Lord laid upon him the guilt of us all. Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; Like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, He was silent and opened not his mouth. Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away, and who would have thought any more of his destiny? When he was cut off from the land of the living, And smitten for the sin of his people, A grave was assigned him among the wicked And a burial place with evil doers, Though he had done no wrong nor spoken any falsehood.”

THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS CHRIST

Sacred Scripture

MATTHEW 27:31-66 MARK 15:20-47 LUKE 23:26-56 JOHN 19:17-42

Catechism of the Catholic Church

#613-630

PARENTS’ & CATECHISTS’ READING REFLECTION & PRAYER

SUFFERING SERVANT

JESUS CHRIST...SON OF GOD AND SON OF MAN Lesson 20

Sacred Scripture

Grades K-4 New Catholic Picture Bible pp. 204-211 The Road to Calvary Jesus Dies on the Cross The Burial of Jesus Grades 5-12 MATTHEW 27:31-66 MARK 15:20-47 LUKE 23:26-56 JOHN 19:17-42 Catechism

Grades K-2 First Communion Catechism pp. 30-32, 42

Grades 3-6 Baltimore Catechism #1 pp. 40-45, 186, Back Cover

Grade 7-12 Catechism of the Catholic Church #613-630

STUDENTS’ READING REFLECTION & PRAYER

TEACHING STRATEGY & OBJECTIVES

THEME: JESUS SAID…

“NOW HAS JUDGEMENT COME UPON THIS WORLD, NOW WILL THIS WORLD’S ‘PRINCE’ BE CAST OUT AND I—ONCE I AM LIFTED UP FROM EARTH, WILL DRAW ALL MEN TO MYSELF.” This statement indicated the sort of death He had to die [JN 12:32]

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OPENING PRAYER: FOURTH AND FIFTH SORROWFUL MYSTERIES

OF THE ROSARY

REVIEW: (SEE PAGE 7 FOR TERMS COVERED IN SECTION 3) THE CREED FOR OUR SAKE HE WAS CRUCIFIED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE; HE SUFFERED, DEATH, AND WAS BURIED. AND ROSE AGAIN ON THE THIRD DAY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SCRIPTURES

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STATIONS OF THE CROSS

1. Jesus is condemned to death

Krilich Mosaics

The Stations of the Cross, sometimes called the Way of the Cross or Via Dolorosa (Sorrowful Way), is a devotion practiced especially during Lent.

Tradition holds that the Blessed Mother first retraced Jesus’ journey from Pilate’s house to Calvary. After Christianity was legal-ized by Constantine, the pathway was marked with different places or stations where the faithful could stop and pray.

In 1342 the Franciscans were appointed guardians of the Holy Land. When the Moslem Turks blocked access to the Holy Land, the Franciscans were allowed to erect stations in all of their churches worldwide. In 1742 Pope Benedict XIV encouraged all priests to erect these stations in their churches

5.Simon helps Jesus carry the Cross

10. Jesus is stripped of His garments

13. Jesus is taken down from the Cross

2. Jesus Takes up His Cross 3. Jesus falls the first time 4. Jesus meets His mother Mary

6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

7.Jesus fall the second time 8.Jesus Meets the weeping women

11.Jesus is nailed to the Cross 9. Jesus falls the third time

14. Jesus is placed in the tomb

12.Jesus dies on the Cross

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AT ABOUT WHAT TIME DOES THE “WAY OF THE CROSS” BEGIN FOR JESUS?

The Sanhedrin was in a hurry to see Jesus killed before their great feast day [on Saturday] so early on Friday morning—probably about 6:00 am they took Jesus before Pilate in the courtyard outside of the Antonia Fortress. Remember, Luke tells us in his Gospel that Jesus was also sent by Pilate over to Herod Antipas. Jesus’ Trial by day…the Scourging, and the Crowning with Thorns probably took half the morning until 9:00 or 10:00 am. It was then that Pilate passed his final sentence… “IBIS IN CRUCEM”… “To the Cross You Go,” sending Jesus to His death. That is why we say in the Creed, “He was Crucified under Pontius Pilate.” WHAT WAS THE CROSS LIKE? HOW HEAVY WAS IT?

Some of the Crosses we see in Religious art are smooth and elaborate. It is not likely that the Romans put a lot of work into making a Cross. They probably cut and notched two logs, tying or nailing them together. They may have had the wood planed to that it would not be too heavy for the condemned men to carry them. To crucify a man about 6 feet tall, they might have used a vertical beam about 14 feet long [called a “stipes”], and a 6-foot crossbeam [called a “patibulum”]. At the time there were many cedar pine trees in the area around Jerusalem. If these were cut as described and used while the wood was still “green”…the cross would have weighed close to 450 pounds. HOW FAR DID JESUS HAVE TO CARRY THE CROSS?

If you look on the map, the distance from the Antonia, through the streets of Jerusalem, out the Ephraim gate and up to Golgotha [also called Calvary—“the place of the Skull”] is about 1800 feet, or 1/3rd of a mile. Keep in mind that Jesus also had been beaten and scourged terribly…and crowned with thorns. He also would have been walking barefoot over rough cobblestones. Remember too…the darkness and oppression…the “weight” of the guilt of all our sins was also upon Him. It is hard to imagine what Jesus suffered be-cause He loved us and wanted to save us from our sins. WHAT HAPPENED TO JESUS ALONG THE WAY?

The Gospels do not give us many details about Jesus’ terrible journey with the Cross. We know from the history of the Romans that soldiers would have guarded Jesus as He made His way through the streets. They may have carried a sign for the top part of the Cross [called a “titulus”] on which was written Pilate’s mocking words, JESUS OF NAZARETH: KING OF THE JEWS. We know from the Gospels that these words were written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek…but on most of the crucifixes in our churches and in art we “abbreviate” the message, taking the first letter of the Latin part of the inscription: Iesus Nazorem Regnarum Iudaiorum… “INRI”.

If we consider also what we learn from the Stations of the Cross, we know that Jesus fell three times under the terrible weight of the Cross. WHO DID JESUS MEET ALONG THE WAY?

The Gospels tell us of Simon the Cyrenian who was forced to help Jesus to carry the Cross. They also inform us of the Women of Jerusalem who wept for Jesus—and who were warned by Him of dark days to come. The Stations of the Cross tell us of two other meetings. We see Jesus meeting His Sorrowful Mother Mary on the way. We also see Jesus comforted by the courage and kindness of Veronica, who wiped His Holy Face and who received an Image of His countenance on her veil as a last gift from her Lord.

READINGS FROM SACRED SCRIPTURE: THE CRUCIFIXION AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST MT 27:31—66 and MK 15:20—47 and LK 23:26—56 and JN 19:17—42

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WHAT SORT OF NAILS DID THEY USE TO NAIL JESUS TO THE CROSS?

Those who crucified Jesus probably used Roman Joist Nails…terrible iron spikes from 10 to 12 inches long. They probably would have nailed Jesus through His wrists [the better to hold Him to the Cross] and one last nail through His feet held flat against the wood of the vertical beam. DID JESUS REALLY FEEL THE PAIN OF ALL THE THINGS WE DID TO HIM?

Some people think that because Jesus was God that He simply made the pain “go away.” But Jesus Christ is God and MAN and He felt the pain as any of us would. Jesus’ love for us as God and Man was so great that He did not merely forgive us, He willingly suffered “for us Men and for our salvation.” HOW DID JESUS TEACH US FROM THE CROSS?

First and most importantly by His Suffering Jesus showed us how much we are loved by God. He shed His blood and gave up His life so that we might live.

We also learn from His last “homilies”… also called THE SEVEN LAST WORDS OF CHRIST… 1. FATHER, FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO. Looking down from the Cross, in terrible agony, Jesus saw the soldiers who had crucified Him and heard the religious officials who were scoffing and making fun of Him. Christ showed us what True Mercy, DIVINE MER-CY truly is. “LOVE YOUR ENEMIES… PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU” … He had said it to the crowds so long before. Now He was practicing what He preached… and we [aided by Jesus’ example and the Holy Spirit] must try to follow His example. 2. AMEN I SAY TO YOU…THIS DAY YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE. The “Good Thief” who hung on a cross next to Jesus, even though he was guilty and dying justly for wrongs he had done, still had FAITH and HOPE. He asks Jesus for mercy… when He comes into His Kingdom. Jesus is quick to respond with these beautiful words of forgiveness. We always may dare to Hope…to Trust completely in Jesus’ Mercy and Love. 3. WOMAN, BEHOLD YOUR SON. BEHOLD YOUR MOTHER. A few brave women stood by the Cross of Christ. One of them was His Blessed Mother Mary. The Apostles had all abandoned Jesus…except for John. Now Jesus, seeing John [“the disciple whom He loved”] stand-ing by His Mother Mary showed that He was still concerned for His Mother’s welfare. Since Jesus was her only child [and since Joseph had long before gone forth from this life] Jesus chose John to take care of Mary… [and Mary to take care of John!] From this time John would take care of Mary like he was her son. When Jesus says, BEHOLD YOUR MOTHER, He is not merely speaking to John, but to all the world and to all peoples in all times. We are to “behold” … to “look at” Mary as our mother too…in the order of Grace. Hence, “all generations call her their Blessed Mother.”

4. I THIRST. Scourged and Crowned and Crucified…Jesus is parched with thirst. As the inspired Psalmist wrote nearly 1,000 years earlier… “My throat is dried up like baked clay, my tongue cleaves to my jaws; to the dust of death you have brought me down” [PSALM 22]. But Jesus thirsts not merely for water… He thirsts for souls… He thirsts for Love from an unloving world. In all the chapels of her religious sisters through-out the world, Mother Teresa instructed them to hang a crucifix and to inscribe those words, “I THIRST,” to remind her sisters that they are meant to be Je-sus’ love reaching out to the poorest of the poor.

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5. MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU ABANDONED ME? This “word” of Christ confuses many people. It sounds as if He no longer believes. It sounds as if He has lost hope. It is impossible for Jesus, who is God and Man not to trust completely in His Father. But a part of the Bitter Chalice He must drink to save us, is to feel as we feel [as sinners who are lost]. Even though He is the Sinless Lamb of God, He allowed Himself to experience in His passions and emotions the horror of sin and the darkness of despair. As in Gethsemane, He was overwhelmed by it...but did not consent to it! Another important consideration; these words are also from Psalm 22; they are the opening words of a psalm which begins in sorrow and darkness but which ends in light with confidence and hope. So Jesus is “praying” the psalms on the Cross…and is showing us that when things are most desperate, we too must pray. 6. IT IS FINISHED. Jesus was “lifted up” on the cross during “the sixth hour” [around 12:00 noon]. For three hours He hung between heaven and earth, drawing all men from every age to Himself. By the ninth hour [3:00 pm] Jesus’ suffering is drawing to a close. He is now prepared to deliver his soul to His Father in Heaven. 7. FATHER, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMEND MY SPIRIT. The final words which Jesus spoke in His mortal life are also a prayer from Psalm 31. He bows His Head. He breathes His last. He delivers up His Spirit. Jesus dies. His suffering is over. DID JESUS CHRIST REALLY DIE?

Yes He did…and we profess our faith in this truth every time we say the Creed, “HE SUFFERED DEATH, AND WAS BURIED.” Jesus’ human body and soul separated when He breathed His last. His soul “descended” to be with the souls of all those who had died from the foundation of the world. The souls of the just would soon follow Him out of that place of darkness and gloom into paradise. In order to better understand the Mystery of Jesus Christ’s Death, we will work to remember the Scripture Citation JOHN 19 as a place where we see this event in Sacred Scripture. WHAT DID THE ROMAN CENTURION DO TO JESUS, AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

He pierced Jesus’ side with a lance…and blood and water flowed out. Jesus’ blood reminds us of His Precious Blood in the Holy Eucharist. The water reminds us of the waters of Baptism which wash us clean of our sins.

In a stunning moment of grace, the Centurion’s faith is awakened… in the very shadow of the Cross bearing the One he crucified and Longinus, the Roman Centurion declares, “Surely this was the son of God.” WHAT DID THEY DO WITH JESUS’ BODY?

The Gospels are very clear and precise. Jesus’ lifeless body is taken down from the Cross and swiftly prepared for burial. Because dusk was approaching and Jews were forbidden to make such preparations the evening before a High Feast, they quickly put Jesus into the new tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. They roll a large stone over the opening and depart. The holy women watch all of this and plan to finish properly the washings and anointing of Jesus’ Body…

HAIL, O Cross, our victory and hope. Hail, O Cross, our defense and our life. Hail, O Cross, our liberation and redemption. Hail, O Cross, our sign of salvation and bulwark against the enemy.

Portion of “Ave, Crux Sancta” Prayer attributed to Saint Anselm

Crucifixion Tintoretto, 1568

Terms from Lesson 16 The Rock Block CATHOLIC CHURCH BAPTIZED FOLLOWERS OF JESUS BELIEVE, WORSHIP, AND ARE SANCTIFIED IN HIS MYSTICAL BODY WHICH IS ONE, HOLY, UNIVERSAL AND APOSTOLIC MAGISTERIUM THE TEACHING AUTHORITY OF THE SPIRIT-GUIDED CHURCH THROUGHOUT HISTORY INFALLIBILITY THE POPE, GUIDED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, CANNOT MAKE A MISTAKE WHEN HE TEACHES ON MATTERS OF FAITH OR MORALITY SALVATION JESUS SAVES US FROM OUR SINS AND LEADS THOSE WHO FOLLOW HIM TO HEAVEN DIVINITY THE QUALITY OF BEING GOD RESURRECTION JESUS CHRIST WAS “CRUCIFIED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE, HE SUFFERED DEATH AND WAS BURIED, AND ROSE AGAIN ON THE THIRD DAY,” HIS BODY AND SOUL UNITED FOREVER IN A GLORIFIED STATE

Terms from Lesson 17 Holy Week THE TWO GREAT YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD COMMANDMENTS WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND ALL YOUR SOUL AND ALL YOUR MIND AND ALL YOUR STRENGTH… AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

Terms from Lesson 18 The Last Supper CONFESSION THE SACRAMENT IN WHICH JESUS FORGIVES THE SINS WE HAVE COMMITTED OURSELVES THE HOLY SACRIFICE JESUS CHRIST’S DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF THE MASS ARE MADE PRESENT FOR THOSE GATHERED AND WE RECEIVE HIM IN THE HOLY EUCHARIST ACCIDENTS THE EXTERNAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A PERSON OR A THING WHICH CAN BE KNOWN BY THE SENSES SUBSTANCE THE INTERNAL REALITY OF A PERSON OR THING TRANSUBSTANTION THE MIRACLE OF THE MASS IN WHICH THE ACCIDENTS OF THE BREAD AND WINE REMAIN UNCHANGED WHILE THE SUBSTANCE OF THE BREAD AND WINE BECOME THE BODY, BLOOD, SOUL, AND DIVINITY OF JESUS CHRIST HOLY EUCHARIST THE SACRAMENT GIVEN TO US BY JESUS AT THE LAST SUPPER AND AT MASS IN HOLY COMMUNION— THE BREAD OF LIFE IS REALLY AND TRULY JESUS’ BODY, BLOOD, SOUL, AND DIVINITY HOLY ORDERS THE SACRAMENT IN WHICH A MAN IS MADE A PRIEST OF JESUS CHRIST, WITH THE POWER TO FORGIVE SINS AND TO OFFER THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU CHARITY THE VIRTUE WHICH GIVES US THE ABILITY TO LOVE WITH GOD’S LOVE

Terms from Lesson 19 Gethsemane and the Trial of Jesus SACRED SCRIPTURE THE BIBLE...THE WORD OF GOD, INSPIRED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WRITTEN BY MEN IN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT ORIGINAL SIN MAN DISOBEYED GOD IN THE BEGINNING AND BROUGHT SIN, SUFFERING, AND DEATH INTO THE WORLD TRUTH GOD’S UNDERSTANDING OF REALITY REALITY THAT WHICH IS