Good Friday was extremely important and moving for John Paul II. The Pope spoke about it many times, including on Holy Wednesday 1999: “Good Friday is a day of great emotion, on which the Church will have us listen once again to the account of Christ’s Passion.” He explained that at the center of the liturgy on that day is the adoration of the cross. And, then there is the “deep silence.” The silence lasts until Holy Saturday. And, then “Joy and light will burst into the darkness (…) of the Easter Vigil” and the singing of the “Hallelujah”. And, then the meeting with the Risen Christ – says Archbishop Mokrzycki. For this meeting, the Holy Father helped us to prepare with every word and gesture. Just as he was moved by the Child in the manger and the mystery of Christmas, so he was moved by the same Child who went to the Cross out of love for us, for our sins. “This mystery is so moving” – he said, – “that the Apostle Peter, in his letter to the faithful in Asia Minor, did not hesitate to write: “For you know that of yours, inherited from your ancestors evil conduct they have been redeemed, not by something transient, silver or gold, but by the precious blood of Christ, as an immaculate lamb without blemish.” Therefore – he explained to us – the cross is not a symbol of death on Good Friday, but a source of “authentic life”. On this day, he said, full of spiritual emotion, the Cross of Christ dominates the world, the banner of hope for all those who faithfully accept His mystery in their own lives.” These were words that brought hope – comments the Archbishop. Just as hope bore witness to his life, to his suffering. The Holy Father himself was the banner of hope of which he spoke.
With the consent of Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki – “Place for everyone”
Znak Publishing House, Kraków 2013
