Its FRIDAY TGIF Living in Catholic Time

Greetings,

Today is Friday, which is important in the Catholic life.   Every Friday we step back and remember the passion and death of Jesus Christ.  Before 1969, every Friday of the year we were to abstain from meat as a small reminder of Christ's sacrifice.  Since 1969, we are still required to do SOMETHING on Fridays, but we get to choose.  We can abstain from meat, or we can had prayer, works of charity, fasting, it is up to us. (The rules are different on the Fridays of Lent).   Why is this important.

The spiritual center of all Christian life is the Paschal Mystery, the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  This is at the core of each of the sacraments, the heart of the scriptures and even the way we understand time.

Every Friday we remember the Passion and Death of Jesus.  We pray about it. We offer up little sacrifices.  It becomes part of every Friday.  Then on Sunday we celebrate the Resurrection.  We go to Mass, then we should do something to celebrate.  Every Sunday is a little Easter.   Perhaps you could get donuts after church, or invite friends over for a big meal, do something special with the entire family, go visit relatives.   Sunday is the day to celebrate and do something special.

If we live our week in this pattern, then the Paschal Mystery is not only a thought to be believed, but becomes an event we participate in.  It is a pattern in time which forms us.   It also keeps a balance in our lives.   There are times to fast and be solemn, and there are times to celebrate and be joyous.  As Catholics were are not puritan in our outlook in the world.   Fasting and Celebration go together.  We do both.

I would encourage you to live this idea of Catholic Time imprinted on the weekly Calendar, and it will touch your life in a special way.   And today, we should thank God it is Friday.  And even More we should thank God for that Good Friday where he gave his life for us.

peace