Denver Catholic

8 APRIL 8-21, 2017 | DENVER CATHOLIC Cover Story — that he died for you per- sonally. We can arrive at that place by having a disposi- tion of fully entering into the rites and letting our hearts be moved through them, according to Father Daniel Cardo, pastor at Holy Name Parish and chap- lain at Christ in the City. "We should experience it in a very personal way — through the rites, we don't need to change anything — it's very ancient and that's very moving," Father Cardo said. "But through that, we should arrive to the experience of, 'He died for me,' to be able to say that and mean that." "The most important disposition is entering into the rites — it's clearly unique. Those prayers are very ancient, and we're not aware of how ancient they are," Father Cardo added. "The main point would be to pay attention, to listen, to see the gestures, seeing and adoring the cross as an expression of love." The rite of Good Friday o• ers us the opportunity to actually participate in Christ's su• ering through its various parts. It's important to note, however, that it's not Mass — it's technically a commu- nion service with four main parts: the Liturgy of the Word, general interces- sions, veneration of the cross and com- munion. So why a communion service instead of celebrating Mass? "Traditionally, there's never been a Mass on Good Friday per se. The main reason is that it's seen by the Church as a day of mourning, a day of participating in the su• ering of Christ, experiencing that absence," Father Cardo said. In the Church's tradition, the Good Friday rites developed organically over time, so that the structure that formed by the eighth century is what we still cel- ebrate today, according to Father Cardo. The fi rst part of the rite, the Liturgy of the Word, is special because we enter into the story of Jesus' passion and death on the cross. But we shouldn't listen to it as if it were any other Sunday Mass reading. "The main benefi t is participating in that su• ering and experiencing that pain. We shouldn't be afraid of it," Father Cardo said. "We have a very emotional understanding of joy, but there is room for participating in the pain of Christ, because we want to be where he is. We su• er with hope, and it's important to let our hearts be moved by what the Church o• ers." In participating in Jesus' o• ering of himself to God the Father, we have a spe- cial opportunity to o• er intercessions with him, and participate in the ancient tradition of the Church, where interces- sions originated. Next, the service o• ers a veneration of the cross — one of the most moving parts of the liturgy, said Father Cardo. "That rite comes from Jerusalem, when St. Helena discovered the cross. People would go and see the cross exposed and kiss the cross. That's why today we approach and kiss the cross," Father Cardo explained. "The Church invites us to break the routine so that we can appreciate more deeply the gift of the cross." "The other part is the communion service, a liturgy in which you don't con- secrate the Eucharist, but receive what's been previously consecrated," Father Cardo added. These various parts o• er for the faith- ful an opportunity to "stay awake" with Jesus. "It's saying to Christ, 'I'm going to be with you in your su• ering so I can con- tinue to be with you in your victory,'" said Father Cardo. We can do this by making an extra e• ort "to listen, to see, to let those ges- tures inform our way of feeling, to let him take us to his passion and resurrec- tion," he said. This experience of entering into the liturgy in such a profound way isn't just a "remembering," Father Cardo said. "One of the unique aspects to the Church is [the] liturgy makes those events a reality — it performs what it sig- nifi es. We're not just remembering, we are su• ering with him because he's su• ering for us." He pointed out that because the Triduum rites are so intense and carefully observed, it signals how carefully the rites are preserved from The rites can move us: 'He did it for me, He was thinking of me' « Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE Holy Thursday April 13, 2017– 5:30 p.m., Mass of the Lord's Supper* Good Friday April 14, 2017 12:00 p.m., Stations of the Cross 3:00 p.m., Liturgy of Our Lord's Passion* Holy Saturday April 15, 2017 – 8:15 p.m. , Easter Vigil* Easter Sunday April 16, 2017 Masses: 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m.* 12:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. *Celebrant Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila Confessions: Mon, Tue, Wed 6:30-6:50 am Mon & Wed 11:00 am-12:00 Noon Fri 12:45-2:45 pm Sat 3:00-4:00 pm Colfax at Logan St., Denver (2 blocks east of the Capitol) 303-831-7010 www.denvercathedral.org Be a Part of the Second Century Cathedral Basilica Immaculate Conception!! of the of the Your façade contributions will help repair and replace the missing, cracked and broken stone and carvings which have become a safety hazard. Your interior improvement contributions will address access, security, safety, wall and altar repairs. Help us preserve our historic and iconic Cathedral Basilica for the next 100 years. Your Help is needed. Your Help is needed. Thank you Thank you for your generosity! INTERIOR PAINTING & CLEANING INTERIOR PAINTING & CLEANING PROTECTION OF SACRED ITEMS, INTERIOR PAINTING & CLEANING PROTECTION OF SACRED ITEMS, ACCESS, SECURITY, FIRE SAFETY, There are several ways to donate: by mail, online, by kiosk at the Cathedral, or with a monthly or quarterly pledge amount. Visit www.denvercathedral.org or call us at 303-831-7010 for more information on contributing. Your Help is needed. All donations are tax deductible $2.3 million $2.3 million $4.4 million $4.4 million COLLECTED TO DATE: $124,240 COLLECTED TO DATE: $83,000 COLLECTED TO DATE: $124,240 COLLECTED TO DATE: $83,000 Father Ron Cattany - Pastor and Rector EXTERIOR EXTERIOR FAÇADE EXTERIOR FAÇADE REPAIR

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