Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (RJP)
With Additional Pics by Roshan Digitals
Mangaluru, Apr 3: Christians across parishes observed Good Friday on April 3 with solemnity and religious fervour.
Good Friday, one of the most important days for Christians, marks the crucification of Jesus Christ.
Thousands of faithful took part in the Way of the Cross procession which depicted the events surrounding the crucification of Christ.
The church ceremonies on this day include reading of the Passion of Christ, reciting a string of prayers, unveiling and veneration of the Cross and communion service.
The faithful gathered in large numbers in their respective churches and took part in the Good Friday service.
Good Friday observed religiously at Rosario Cathedral
Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza with Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu, Fr J B Crasta, Fr Rocky Fernandes and Fr Amith Rodrigues held Good Friday service at Rosario Cathedral on Friday, April 3. Hundreds of devotees took part in the service.
After the Good Friday service and communion Fr J B Crasta, the parish priest of Rosario delivered the sermon of passion which is a tradition at Rosario Cathedral.
Fr J B Crasta during the sermon of passion said “Jesus was crucified for no fault of his. And he was not given fair trial at all. He was supposed to be tried under Jewish laws, but Roman laws were applied on him. He was tried in a hurry and not in court. They held his trial after dusk which was not right then. He was not allowed to defend himself nor was anybody allowed to represent him. In short, he was condemned to death in no time. Jesus died almost 2000 years ago. What is the point in raising the issue of injustice done to him then? We still talk about it because injustice continues even now and in a new form without any break,”
“Hitler killed millions of people. We witnessed massacres during independence and even thereafter, the recent being the massacre after the death of Indira Gandhi, massacre of Godhra and also the killing of Christians in Odisha. All these injustices continue because of the teaching of hate philosophy by some people,” Fr Crasta added.
“Jesus preached philosophy of love which only can liberate people from their woes. Hatred takes us nowhere. Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela won bigger battles by embracing philosophy of love and non violence. Good Friday is not a sad day but it is really a good day because crucified Christ saved us from sins. He gave us a message of peace. Let us be good human beings by following his teachings,” Fr Crasta continued.
“Let us not mourn the death of Jesus today, but let us cry for our sins, for our hatred towards others. Let us follow the right path from today. Let us abandon hatred. Then only Good Friday is meaningfully observed,” Fr J B Crasta said.
Fr J B Crasta strongly condemned the atrocities against girl child and women in the recent past. He remembered the rape victims like Nirbhaya who lost lives and some who still continue to live in misery left by rapes.
Soon after the sermon of passion, enactment of removal of body of Jesus from the cross was held. This is a unique tradition started at Rosario parish years back and still followed. A group of people dress like Jews and remove the body of Christ from the cross and then the body of the cross is taken in a procession. The bishop takes part in the procession with Holy Sacrament.
As per the tradition for years this year too, the procession was held with great devotion with people participating peacefully.
Mangaluru Diocese
Udupi diocese