Photo caption: Mosaic of the crucifixion at the Sorrowful Mother Shrine, Bellevue, Ohio.

During this very special Triduum, we’re offering these insights from Fr. Tim McFarland, C.PP.S., on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

“The cross, crucifixion, would have been a real scandal at the time. It was reserved for the outcast. No Roman citizen would have been crucified. Slaves, criminals, rebellious—those who died on the cross were cursed. It was a heinous punishment. It was also very bloody; there would not have been many witnesses, so the Romans could do what they wanted to do. Yet Jesus said to his father, “Not my will but thine be done.” This was to counteract what happened in the garden, when humans did what they wanted to do.”

Missionaries of the Precious Blood